Best of Beijing: Weird and wonderful cars

The 2014 Beijing motor show proved Chinese manufacturers are ready to compete on the world stage with Western brands. While most cars on display at the show preview production cars, some were simply concepts or showed off what Chinese tuners can do. 

Here are our favourite weird and wonderful cars from the show. Let us know yours in the comments section below.

Chery Concept Beta 

This is Jaguar Land Rover's Chinese partner, and Chery's Concept Beta is a radical-looking five-door SUV concept intended to preview a new SUV to be launched in 2016. Distinguishing features include large 22-inch alloy wheels, shielded wheel arches, a short wheelbase, large lights and a prominent grille.

Brilliance V5

Revisions for the V5 are intended to retain buyers' interest for the next few years. Power for the £10,500 SUV comes from a 136bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine or a 120bhp 1.6-litre naturally aspirated unit.

Hawtai Shengdafei

The impressively named Shengdafei is Hawtai's new moniker for its A25. Although a concept, local media says that a production version should be ready soon, with a choice of engines including a 2.0-litre diesel destined primarily for export markets.

Hongqi L5

The L5 is the civilian version of the favoured government staff car. Production versions for public sale will be virtually identical, but will do without the flagpoles. Prices are expected to be the equivalent of around £300,000.

BAIC BJ100

The BJ100 concept previews a big production SUV. Little has been revealed about the concept or the production version that'll arrive later, but BAIC says it will feature a hybrid powertrain without giving any more specifics away.

Peugeot Exalt

The impressive-looking Exalt could yet see the light of day as a Chinese-market saloon car. Its styling follows on from the Onyx concept and features wool-based fabric, leather, bare steel and ebony.

Chery Concept Alpha

Chery’s Concept Alpha has been conceived in the same vein as the VW CC and previews the Arizzo 5 saloon and compared to its Chinese contemporaries, has relatively restrained styling. Power will come from either a 1.5-litre atmospheric or 1.2-litre turbo.

CH Auto Event 

The strangely named Event is CH's latest attempt at an all-electric sports car. Here, 400bhp and 479lb ft is claimed to afford a top speed limited to 124 and a 0-63mph of five seconds. CH bosses say it'll cover up to 124mph between recharges, a process that takes some six hours.