2014北京车展开幕

 The 2014 Beijing auto show opens to the media today.

The grand opening...

86 press conferences, at the media-only day for the Beijing Auto show.

Brand new models, Superstars, and of course the crowds...

The exhibition has out done itself in terms of size this year, covering 230 thousand square meters, or the size of 30 football fields.

International automakers have also got preparations down to a T, adapting for the tastes of Chinese consumers.

Alan Mulally, president & CEO of Ford Motor Company, said, "On the Escort, what's neat about the Chinese is they want a little bit more room, a little bit more room in the back seat, they want to be able to handle their families in a neat, safe way, so I think this, led by China, is also going to be a preferred vehicle around the world but it really was led by the Chinese taste."

The auto show has attracted a record 118 new models making their global debut this year. And analysts say, 2014 is expected to be another strong year for car sales.

New energy vehicles are also under the spotlight, with 79 new units to be exhibited. As many Chinese cities are taking measures to cut down vehicle emission and and ease air pollution, manufacturers are hoping electric and hybrid cars will become their new source of profit.