Shanghai VW will debut its hydrogen fuel-cell Volkswagen Lingyu sedan at the upcoming 2008 Los Angeles auto show on November 21-30 in the U.S. It is the first China-made new-energy car model of the Volkswagen brand to be displayed at an auto show, said Shanghai Securities News today.

The hydrogen-powered Lingyu, based on Volkswagen Passat Lingyu, were manufactured by Shanghai VW on its latest fuel cell powertrain platform. The powertrain was jointly developed SAIC (Shanghai VW's parent), Tongji University and Shanghai Shen-Li High Tech Co., Ltd. It is the first-ever try to power a Passat car on the hydrogen fuel cell, said a top executive of Shanghai VW.

The eco-friendly Lingyu model runs on the power generated by the hydrogen fuel cell and achieves zero-emission by discharging only water from the chemical reaction of hydrogen with oxygen. With further innovation and maximization, the latest hydrogen fuel-cell Lingyu sedan can reach a top speed of 150 km/h and run more than 300 km at one hydrogen charging. Its safety and performance has been greatly improved.

SAIC's another global partner General Motors has also developed the zero-emission hydrogen fuel-cell model of Chevrolet Equinox and put it in service at the Beijing Olympics as well. GM's hydrogen fuel-cell Chevy Equinox seems to perform better but cost higher than the VW Lingyu, whose U.S. debut is likely to enhance its competitiveness with the close rival.

Amid the current global financial crisis, new-energy vehicles can give automakers in China a good opportunity of market growth. Reportedly, Shanghai VW had built 500 fuel-cell hybrid sedans for the green Olympic fleet and will mass-produce the hydrogen fuel-cell Lingyu by early 2010.