5 most expensive cars at the 2023 Munich Motor Show

The 2023 Munich Motor Show – IAA Mobility (starting on September 4 in Munich, Germany) is Europe's leading automotive event taking place in 2023, bringing together many famous manufacturers as well as a showcase for startups entering this competitive industry.

Although some booths of emerging Chinese car manufacturers attracted a lot of attention, the most special and outstanding highlights still came from European manufacturers, such as Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen or BMW. Below are the 5 most "expensive" car models at the IAA 2023 exhibition that viewers could not take their eyes off.

1. Mercedes-Benz CLA Concept

The luxurious design style, the application of many LED lights and the stage lighting show turned the CLA's debut into a real fashion show.

At the 2023 Munich Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz officially launched to the public the all-electric Concept CLA, which will be almost 100% the official production version. At the same time, the company also said that this is a "super energy-efficient" car with an extremely reasonable 8.4km/kW, combined with the MMA electric vehicle platform, which Mercedes first applied.

With its captivating chrome details, the new LED-based “starry sky” grille and roof and interior, its mesmerizing red exterior and a classy light show, Mercedes-Benz seems to turn the 2023 IAA Mobility into a luxury fashion show rather than a mechanically-heavy auto show.

2. Volkswagen ID GTI

In order to compete with dynamic start-up manufacturers from China, Volkswagen decided to launch the ID GTI model to affirm that the appeal of this "national car company" has not decreased.

The compact electric hatchback model with the typical ID segment of VW for electric vehicles, while applying the classic GTI design style with the traditional features of the manufacturer, creates a product that is quite safe but very familiar to consumers.

The car model is considered by Mr. Andreas Mindt - Chief Designer of Volkswagen as a bridge to help consumers who love the German car company easily access electric cars with a starting price of only 25,000 Euros.

Despite its fairly safe design, the price of only 25,000 euros for an electric Crossover makes the VW ID GTI extremely attractive.

3. BMW Vision New Class

The BMW Vision Neue Klasse model was introduced by the manufacturer at the 2023 Munich Exhibition in an elaborately designed display booth that made viewers feel like this was an electric car from the future.

It can be said that, besides the Mercedes-Benz CLA, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse is also a product that has received a "shower" of compliments from both observers and the public. The slender A, B and C pillars, reminiscent of BMWs from the 1970s, along with the stylized radiator grille still bearing the BMW style, create an extremely attractive mid-size electric sedan.

Mr. Ian Callum - Former Design Director of Jaguar Land Rover, BMW's direct competitor in the European luxury car market, commented on his personal Twitter page: "Finally the typical flavors have returned on the new BMW".

4. BYD Seal U

This year, Chinese startup green energy carmaker BYD showed great determination at the 2023 Munich Auto Show through its latest electric SUV model called BYD Seal U.

Seal will soon be officially launched in the European market in the first half of 2024 with a starting price of around 42,000 euros. Overall, this is a fairly safe car, with a style that suits the general tastes of EU consumers, sturdy and somewhat imbued with Chinese technology.

Seal U is the latest electric SUV model that manufacturer BYD is developing aimed at the European market. Photo: BYD.

5. Avatar 12

Avatr is a Chinese electric vehicle startup founded by a joint venture between three major corporations: the world's number one battery company - CATL, technology giant Huawei and state-owned Changan Automobile Group. This year, the manufacturer chose the Munich Exhibition to announce its second smart electric vehicle and also the first electric vehicle in the sedan segment - the Avatr 12.

The Avatr 12 full-size sedan from China has an extremely attractive exterior.

During the event, Avatr CEO Tan Benhong said that the company is directly targeting the potential European market in the next 2 years.

In addition to its rugged exterior, a full-size electric sedan measuring up to 5m in length, the Avatr 12 also uses the new Shenxing fast-charging battery model announced by CATL, which can travel 400km continuously after only 10 minutes of charging. The manufacturer claims that this is one of the first vehicles to apply this superior technology in electric vehicle manufacturing.