Dancing electric supercar, million-dollar booth steal limelight at Singapore Motorshow 2025
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The Yangwang U9 by Chinese carmaker BYD at the Singapore Motorshow 2025. The car can hit 100kmh in 2.36 seconds.
ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
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SINGAPORE – Stepping into Singapore Motorshow 2025, visitors are immediately face-to-face with BYD’s massive million-dollar stand. The Chinese carmaker apparently spent more than $1 million to set up its display at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The dramatically styled U9 electric supercar from BYD’s luxury sub-brand Yangwang takes pride of place. With close to 960kW (1,287hp) from its four electric motors, it can seemingly teleport to 100kmh in 2.36 seconds.
But on the show stand, its party trick is to “dance” on the spot, thanks to its active suspension system that can rapidly alter each corner’s ride height. It has to be seen to be believed.
Visitors who want to catch the dance act can head to BYD’s stand on the fourth floor exhibition hall at 2.30 or 6pm. There are no plans to sell the U9 in Singapore for now.
That headline act aside, BYD’s mainstream models are on display as well, from the M6 and Atto 3 to the little Dolphin hatchback and the best-selling Seal. The stylish new Sealion 7 electric mid-sized SUV makes its debut, and looks well-placed to take a big bite out of this lucrative market segment.
Another BYD sub-brand, Denza, is at the event too, represented by the big D9 luxury MPV.
Besides the dancing Yangwang U9, BMW has the other eye-catching stand – because the enormous three letters of the brand are LED-lit and mounted high up.
This is the only exhibitor at the motorshow, which is on from Jan 9 to 12, to have set up a mezzanine floor. Open to new owners who bought a BMW at the exhibition, the upper deck lounge offers a great view of the entire hall and boasts a fine beverage list, including cocktails and mocktails. Grab a coffee, or at least a waffle, from the cafe at the entrance of the booth before heading up.
Three other cars worth the trip to Suntec
The motorshow also gives a sneak peek of three cars that have not been officially approved for sale, but will eventually ply the roads here: the made-in-Singapore Kia EV5 electric SUV; the quirky Smart #5 electric SUV; and the highly anticipated Toyota GR Yaris facelift, which comes with an automatic transmission.
South Korean carmaker Kia unveiled the EV5 electric SUV at the motorshow. The car will be built at the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS) in Bulim. Kia is part of the Hyundai Motor Group and holds an ownership stake in HMGICS, according to an official statement.
Singaporean son: The Kia EV5 will be assembled at the factory in Jurong West.
ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
The EV5 will be the third car that HMGICS is assembling in Singapore for the local market, after the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. It is expected to go on sale in the second quarter of 2025. No official price and specifications are available, but the car will provisionally come with 110kW of power, qualifying it for the more affordable Category A COE.
Also making an appearance was the Smart #5 mid-sized SUV. The car was unveiled in Australia in August 2024 and launched for sale in China in October. This is the first time it is being shown outside China and Australia.
Smart, a Mercedes-Benz and Geely joint venture, has a stable of three cars. The #1 was launched in Singapore in 2024 and was one of the top 10 contenders for The Straits Times’ Car of the Year.
Rugged chic: Smart #5 is the third model from the Mercedes-Benz and Geely joint venture for Singapore.
ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
A representative of Smart’s local agent Cycle & Carriage said #5 is expected here in the second half of 2025.
While many of the new or facelifted cars unveiled at the event were EVs, there were several new or refreshed cars powered by internal combustion engines (ICE), such as the BMW 1-series, Honda Accord sedan, Hyundai Tucson AWD crossover and Mini Cooper Convertible.
The most exciting one is arguably the facelifted Toyota GR Yaris. It was first launched in Singapore in 2021 as a two-door, three-cylinder, six-speed manual, all-wheel drive rally-bred hot hatch. Enthusiasts swiftly snapped up the initial batch of 22 cars brought in by Toyota agent Borneo Motors in 2021.
The facelifted Toyota GR Yaris unveiled at the Singapore Motorshow. The car is expected in Singapore in May, with an indicative price tag of about $240,000 without COE.
ST PHOTO: TOH YONG CHUAN
Meanwhile in Japan, the GR Yaris was facelifted in January 2024 and received an eight-speed automatic gearbox and a refreshed cockpit. The engine output has been increased to 276hp (from 257hp) and 390Nm (from 360Nm).
The facelifted GR Yaris was unveiled at the motorshow with a “not for sale” sign on its windscreen, as it was not approved for sale in time for the show.
However, a Borneo Motors representative has confirmed that the car is expected in Singapore in May with an indicative price tag of about $240,000 without COE, putting it in roughly the same retail price bracket as the Volkswagen Golf R.
Some purists may question whether the automatic transmission will weaken the car’s hallowed status as a rally-bred car, but the automatic transmission can widen its appeal to more drivers.
Book It/Singapore Motorshow 2025
Where: Levels 1 Atrium, 3 and 4, Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Raffles Boulevard motorshow.com.sg
When: Jan 10, 11.30am to 9pm; Jan 11, 10.30am to 9pm; and Jan 12, 10.30am to 8pm
Admission: $10 including $1 booking fee from
Additional reporting by Edric Pan and Shreejit Changaroth.
