Green Cars At Shanghai Motor Show: Plug-In Hybrids AplentyGreen Cars At Shanghai Motor Show: Plug-In Hybrids Aplenty

China’s status as the largest new-car market in the world means the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show is now as important for car shoppers outside the country as it is for those within.
While there are still plenty of bizarre homegrown creations, the Shanghai show floor is also full of concept and production cars from global automakers.
Those vehicles hint at what’s to come in the U.S. and European, as well as the Chinese markets.
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The Chinese national government and some of its largest cities continue to promote “New Energy Vehicles”–including electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles–and that political influence can be seen in the list of new-car debuts.
That list is full of plug-in hybrids, as well as other green cars. We’ve rounded up the most notable debuts here, and will continue to update this article as more appear.
CONCEPT CARS
Audi Prologue Allroad concept, 2015 Shanghai Auto ShowAudi Prologue Allroad
The Prologue Allroad is a concept plug-in hybrid wagon that continues Audi’s Prologue series of future design previews.
It features the same powertrain that first appeared in the autonomous Prologue coupe Audi showed at the Consumer Electronics Show back in January.
So underneath the practical wagon bodywork, there’s a 4.0-liter turbocharged V-8 with an electric motor sandwiched between it and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
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A remarkable 724 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque is sent to all four wheels, while a 14.1-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack stores enough energy for 33 miles of electric-only driving.
The Prologue Allroad isn’t destined for production, but it strongly hints at the styling of future Audi models.
Audi is expected to eventually offer plug-in hybrid versions of nearly everything it makes, so a production plug-in wagon of some kind could end up in showrooms someday.
Chevrolet FNR concept, 2015 Shanghai Auto ShowChevrolet FNR
The FNR is a futuristic electric car with autonomous-driving capability. It features magnetic, hubless in-wheel electric motor motors and an automated wireless charging system.
Perhaps not surprisingly for such a fantastical design, Chevy didn’t discuss any specifications, let alone how any of these systems work.
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Self driving is achieved with onboard sensors and a roof-mounted radar unit, which allow the FNR to map its environment.
Its canopy-like bodywork and “dragonfly” doors conceal a four-seat interior, with front seats that swivel 180 degrees to face the rear seats during autonomous driving.
The FNR isn’t destined for production, but it shows how autonomous driving could affect future car designs.
Peugeot 308 R Hybrid concept, 2015 Shanghai Auto ShowPeugeot 308 R Hybrid
The Peugeot 308 R Hybrid is based on the French carmaker’s 308 hatchback, but it’s quite a different animal.
Beneath the two-tone bodywork is a hybrid powertrain that produces 500 hp–making this unlike any other compact hatchback you’re likely to encounter.
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That power comes courtesy of a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission, along with two electric motors and a 3-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Multiple modes allow the driver to switch from fully-electric operation to a “Hot Lap” setting that extracts maximum power from both the internal-combustion engine and electric motors.
At its fastest, the 308 R Hybrid will do 0 to 62 mph in 4.0 seconds, while the top speed is limited to 155 mph, according to Peugeot.
Volkswagen C Coupe GTE concept, 2015 Shanghai Auto ShowVolkswagen C Coupe GTE
Volkswagen’s latest plug-in hybrid concept previews the styling of future luxury cars from the German brand.
The C Coupe GTE is a “four-door coupe” larger than the current, Passat-based CC, with full-size rear doors and a low roofline.
Its powertrain consists of a turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine and eight-speed automatic transmission with integrated electric motor.
The two power sources send a combined 241 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels.
Volkswagen estimates the C Coupe GTE will return 102 MPGe combined–on the highly optimistic European testing cycle–with 31 miles of electric range at speeds up to 81 mph.
The C Coupe GTE itself won’t go into production, but its styling will be applied to future upscale VW models, including the next Phaeton full-size sedan.

Production Cars
2016 Audi A6 L e-tronAudi A6 L e-tron
Audi first showed a plug-in hybrid A6 L e-tron concept back in 2012, and now the production version is making its debut in Shanghai.
Its powertrain consists of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine and eight-speed automatic transmission with an integrated electric motor.
Together, they produce a combined 245 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque–which is sent to the front wheels only.
A 14.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides up to 31 miles of range, while Audi estimates fuel efficiency at 107 MPGe in mixed driving conditions.
The A6 L e-tron will only be sold in China, but given Audi’s penchant for plug-in hybrids something similar may come to the U.S. eventually.
2016 Audi Q7 e-tron 2.0 TFSI quattro (Chinese market)Audi Q7 e-tron 2.0 TFSI quattro
Audi will unveil yet another version of its Q7 e-tron quattro plug-in hybrid in Shanghai.
While the initial Q7 e-tron quattro featured a 3.0-liter diesel V-6, the Q7 e-tron 2.0 TFSI quattro gets a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine.
That engine works with an eight-speed automatic transmission and electric motor to drive all four wheels.
Combined output is rated at 367 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque–compared to 373 hp and 516 lb-ft for the diesel.
The 17.3-kWh lithium-ion battery pack can provide up to 33 miles of electric range, while Audi estimates combined fuel economy at 94.1 mpg on the Chinese testing cycle.
This Asian-market model will likely be one of three Q7 e-tron variants, along with the TDI diesel and a U.S.-spec model with a larger gasoline engine.
2016 BMW X5 xDrive 40e2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e
Unveiled last month, the 2016 BMW x5 xDrive40e is the plug-in hybrid X5 SUV the company has been teasing for over a year.
It’s powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission and electric motor.
When operating as a hybrid, the X5 can send 309 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels.
The 9-kWh lithium-ion battery pack also stores enough energy for an electric-only range of 19 miles, at speeds up to 75 mph.
U.S. sales are expected to begin this fall.

2016 Cadillac CT6 PHEV2016 Cadillac CT6 PHEV
The long-rumored plug-in hybrid version of the 2016 Cadillac CT6 sedan will also make its first public appearance in Shanghai.
The powertrain teams a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a pair of electric motors and an 18.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack–the same size as the one used in the 2016 Chevy Volt.
Total system output is estimated at 335 hp and 432 lb-ft of torque.
Cadillac expects fuel economy to be more than double that of a conventional CT6, but full range and efficiency figures will be revealed closer to the car’s U.S. launch.
That battery pack–essentially double the size of any other current plug-in hybrid pack–could yield up to 30 miles of electric range in EPA testing, though.
The CT6 PHEV also gets the Regen on Demand system first seen in the ELR coupe.
This system allows drivers to adjust the aggressiveness of regenerative braking, and is operated using steering-wheel paddles.
2016 Lexus ES 300h2016 Lexus ES 300h
A refreshed Toyota Camry Hybrid was unveiled over a year ago at the 2014 New York Auto Show, and now its Lexus ES sibling is getting a similar treatment.
The 2016 Lexus ES 300h features revised styling that includes a new grille, headlights, and LED daytime running lights, as well as some minor changes to the rear end.
Lexus also says it’s stiffened the structure and added more sound insulation. The Lexus Safety System+ suite of electronic driver aids is also newly available.
The powertrain remains unchanged, with a 2.4-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine and electric motor sending 200 hp to the front wheels.
2015 Volvo S60L T6 Twin EngineVolvo S60L T6 Twin Engine
Volvo continues to expand its range of plug-in hybrids with this S60 sedan-based model.
At its core is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that’s similar to the one used in the 2016 XC90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, but with just turbocharging instead of both turbocharging and supercharging.
That’s why it’s a “T6” and not a “T8.”
An electric motor is sandwiched between this engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Together, they send 306 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. A second motor can power the rear wheels, giving the car all-wheel drive.
For less vigorous driving, the 11.2-kWh lithium-ion battery pack can provide an electric-only range of 33 miles. Recharging from a home outlet takes 4.5 hours.
The Chinese-market S60L T6 Twin Engine will give Volvo a third plug-in hybrid, after the European-market diesel V60 Plug-In Hybrid, and the global XC90 T8 Twin Engine.
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