AUTOS CARS CUSTOM

Honda and its Chinese joint ventures, Guangqi Honda and Dongfeng Honda, have unveiled a raft of new models at the Shanghai motor show.

Among them is a new MPV called the Honda Concept M, which is mainly aimed at the Chinese market. Honda said that although the vehicle is a concept, it will inspire a production version that will go on sale next year.

Currently, commercial vehicles account for the majority of the MPV market in China, but Concept M is designed to bring more car-like qualities to the sector. Honda says it combines a comfortable, spacious cabin and a more involving driving experience.

Concept M is the work of the design studio at Honda's research and development division in Japan. Honda has already started work on the mass-production version that will follow.

Guangqi Honda showed off the Crider, the production version of the Concept C Chinese-market mid-size saloon that was first seen at the Beijing motor show last year. The spacious four-door is claimed to have "dynamic performance that exceeds other vehicles in its class". The Crider is due to go on sale in June of this year.

Guangqi Honda also unveiled a facelifted Li Nian S1 saloon. Li Nian, also known as Everus, is a relatively new brand set up by the Guangqi Honda joint venture. The S1 features renewed exterior and interior designs and uprated technology. It will go on sale in China next month and is part of a strategy to focus more on customers in inland areas of China.

Dongfeng Honda introduced the Jade, which is another production vehicle based on a concept shown at Beijing in 2012, in this case the Concept S MPV. The Jade is intended as a versatile people carrier to appeal to young, affluent car buyers. The model will go on sale in China in September, but has been designed to be a 'global' car.

Thanks to: Autocar