Welcome to the greatest show on earth – the opening day in the life of the Frankfurt Motor Show
“Welcome to the greatest show on earth” was a line used by ring masters to introduce the great circus openings of yesteryear. Well, the doors opened this morning of the biggest auto circus in the world, the Frankfurt International Motor Show.
It all kicked off at 8.30 am (7.30 Irish time) with the BMW Group press conference and it follows on with Opel, Telsa, Audi, Aston Martin, Volkswagen, Michelin, Porsche, Volvo, Changan, Infiniti, Skoda, Jaguar, and we are just up to 11am. Time for a strong coffee. But first, here is a summary of what have been the stars and attention grabbers of the morning?
BMW’s new 4 Series Coupe – M4 Coupe remains a styling exercise, so few official engineering details on the chassis or engine. A power dome on the bonnet is a clue to a big engine beneath. Speculation is a new twin-turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder, designed to simultaneously improve fuel consumption and increase performance
BMW X5 – Available with a four-cylinder diesel engine for the first time and will also be offered with a new two-wheel-drive option. The new X5 goes on sale in November and changes are evolutionary rather than revolutionary both inside and out. A little more practicality, though, with a new 40:20:40 split in the second row of seats. Prices will start with the four-cylinder two-wheel-drive X5 sDrive 25d at £42,590 – almost £3,000 less than the current entry-level model
BMW Concept Active Tourer – The latest look at what’s in store in terms of front-wheel-drive Beemers of which there will be around 20 – including Mini – in the future. Good interior space with a “variable” rear compartment that offers usability and space for outdoor sports equipment. The boot also houses a bicycle carrier which folds away when not in use. The Concept Active Tourer Outdoor has been conceived as a plug-in hybrid which mates a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery.
BMW i8 – The latest news is that the i8 is close to production. The much anticipated i8 electric performance car first seen as a turbdiesel concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The i8 is due in production from next year.
Opel Monza concept – Show-stopping Monza concept previews future Opel design strategy. There was also a first glimpse of new Insignia range including Country Tourer and VXR models too.
The Opel/Vauxhall stand also featured new powertrains from their ongoing extensive engine renewal plans.
Audi A3 Cabriolet – Audi unveiled their all-new Cabriolet today for the first time. Drawing inspiration from the new Audi A3 Saloon with its flowing lines and finely balanced proportions, the compact class open-top will become available to order in Ireland later this year, and will reach its first customers here in March 2014.
To achieve its sleeker profile and provide the capacity for complete soft-top concealment when in open mode, the new compact class cabriolet has grown in length and width compared to the previous model. Only its height is marginally down on its predecessor. Luggage capacity has also grown by 60 litres and access to that space has been improved.
Audi’s Nanuk quattro concept and A3 e-Tron also featured prominently at their stand
Aston Martin had a major show line-up – the new DB9, the CC 100, and a number of Vantage versions including the V12 S, V8, Volante, and the SP10
Volkswagen e-Golf & e-up – Volkswagen presented two new and extremely efficient electric cars today. This means that Europe’s most successful carmaker is transitioning two high-volume production models to the age of electric mobility.
Both zero-emissions cars offer unlimited everyday practicality, each has four doors, and they are attractively equipped. Standard features: automatic climate control with parking heater and ventilation, radio-navigation system, windscreen heating, LED daytime running lights and, in the e-Golf, the Volkswagen brand’s first use of LED headlights.
The two newcomers are also leaders in energy efficiency: the e-up! consumes just 11.7 kWh of electricity per 100 km – this makes it the new world champion in efficiency. The e-Golf, positioned two classes higher, attains an excellent value of 12.7 kWh.
Innovative drive technologies are core competencies at Volkswagen. Therefore, the e-motors, gearboxes and lithium-ion batteries of the e-up! and e-Golf are developed in-house, and they are manufactured in large Volkswagen component plants in Germany.
Volkswagen has today revealed the Golf Sportsvan Concept, the successor to the Golf Plus. The new model is based, like the multi-award-winning Golf hatchback, on the MQB platform, and incorporates all the advanced technology of that car, but in a larger, even more practical body style. Its exterior design clearly follows the look of both the Golf, and Volkswagen’s more generic ‘DNA’.
And Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VCV) presented a further idea on the theme of ‘urban commercial mobility’. The electrically powered city delivery van concept is called the ‘e-load up!’.
In addition, VCVs’ Caddy is available in a number of different versions and with different engines, and this variety is a key reason for its success. Now, a very fuel-efficient version is being added: the new Caddy BlueMotion is the most fuel-efficient Caddy ever with a low fuel consumption of 4.5 litres per 100 km (62.8 mpg).
Porsche is also celebrating a special anniversary of the 911 sports car in Frankfurt with a commemorative 50 Years Edition. It’s exactly a half a century since the iconic coupé made its debut in the German city. Appropriately, the special model will be limited to 1,963 cars. The special edition is based on the 911 Carrera S, with rear-mounted, 400 hp flat-six engine. It features exclusive wider body combined with two-wheel drive chassis.
The new 918 Spyder and Panamera S e-hybrid also featured prominently on the Porsche stand.
Volvo Concept Coupé – The rapid transformation of Volvo Car Group (Volvo Cars) is highly evident today in Frankfurt. The new Volvo Concept Coupé, which was revealed at a press conference today, showcases the capability of the company’s new Scalable Product Architecture – and the new, super-efficient four-cylinder
Drive-E powertrains are now available in six Volvo models.
The Concept Coupé is the first in a series of three concept cars that demonstrate the new design direction of Volvo Cars. They are paving the way for the introduction of the all-new XC90 next year.
Infiniti Q30 Concept – Infiniti today revealed the next step in its strategy to expand into new premium segments with the debut of the Q30 Concept.
The sleek, seductive Q30 Concept is the design vision for a compact Infiniti vehicle with a contemporary, individualised character for a new generation of premium customers. The global compact premium segment is forecast for significant growth with the entry of young-minded affluent customers.
Skoda Rapid Spaceback – Two world premieres – the new Rapid Spaceback and the completely redesigned Skoda Yeti, increasing the number of model series in the model range to a total of seven. This year, Skoda will launch eight new or redesigned models.
Jaguar’s first crossover concept the C-X17 Sports proved very popular at their stand.
Jaguar also announced that it will launch a compact saloon to compete with the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class in 2015.
It will be the first production car to use the company’s new aluminium architecture, known as iQ Al, and will be built at a facility currently under construction within the Land Rover factory at Solihull, Birmingham.
Global product marketing director Steven de Ploey says it will be the most efficient car of its type in the world and will expand the appeal of Jaguar to a new audience. There will be versions with CO2 emissions as low as 99g/km and others capable of 186mph.
Continental, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, KIA, Bridgestone, Ford, Bentley, Bosch, Hyundai, Seat, Lamborgini, Hankook, Fiat, Toyota, Bugatti and we are just after 1 o’clock and only time for lunch on the hoof.
Mercedes-Benz Concept S-Class Coupé – Traditionally the top of the Mercedes-Benz product range is occupied by the grand coupé. With the Concept S-Class Coupé the company provides a concrete vision of the next model generation in Frankfurt. its gorgeous appearance and self-assured style it embodies the design philosophy of sensual clarity. In the interior with its spectacular architecture and truly exclusive appointments the four-seater defines the state of the art of modern luxury.
“The new S-Class Saloon was received enthusiastically in the market and perfectly lives up to its role as a representative of the power of innovation of Mercedes-Benz,” says Dr Joachim Schmidt, Member of the Management Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Sales & Marketing. “On the S-Class Coupé as the traditional top of our product range the designers take advantage of their additional freedom and thus create an automotive masterpiece.”
The new S-Class Plug-in hybrid, new S 63 AMG and the new GLA-Class all attracted a lot of attention on the Merceds-Benz stand,
KIA Niro – Kia’s dramatic new Niro urban-lifestyle concept, unveiled today Frankfurt certainly got a lot of attention from thousands of of journalists. It hints at a possible future B-segment contender ready to take on the city environment with style and tenacity.
Ready for any challenge that the assured modern motorist may throw at it, the Niro combines a mischievous character in a clearly robust and substantial yet stylish bodyshape featuring a mix of contrasting materials in compact, purposeful dimensions.
New KIA Soul – The all-new 2014 Kia Soul urban crossover has made its European debut today in Frankfurt, and it will go on sale in Europe next year. The smooth new-look exterior is inspired by the 2012 Kia Track’ster concept and introduces a thoroughly fresh, more grown-up appearance without losing its individualistic edge.
KIA Picanto LPG – Responding (it says) to growing customer demand in Europe for small cars with low running costs and low emissions, Kia is introducing a bi-fuel model to its Picanto small car range.
Upgraded KIA Optima – Kia has been inspiring and challenging many consumers to consider a bold and dynamically-styled Kia for the first time. Now, responding to customer feedback and developments in the ever-competitive European marketplace, Kia is introducing an upgraded Optima with an enhanced design, new infotainment, convenience and safety features, increased refinement, improved quality and a more premium finish.
New Ford S-Max concept – In the absence of any all-new product, it will be the centrepiece of the company’s stand. The second-generation S-MAX will share architecture, powertrains and technologies with the new Mondeo and be built alongside it at Valencia. It is expected to go on sale in 2015, along with a replacement for Ford’s other big seven-seater, the Galaxy.
The current car, which has been available since 2006, has been a huge success for Ford, helping to recover some of the sales lost by the Mondeo to other brands and different styles of car. Ford has racked up 372,000 S-MAX sales in Europe – with almost one in five of them in the UK.
Ford’s global platform- and powertrain-sharing strategy, which operates under the One Ford banner, has so far concentrated on shipping cars and technology from Europe to the United States, but in the next few years there will be a role reversal.
A new modular hybrid powertrain is being developed in the US and will eventually make it to Europe in the next-generation Mondeo and C-MAX. Ford is also hard at work on a new medium-large SUV, the Edge, and a new Mustang, both of which will be global cars for the first time.
Before then Ford will introduce a small Indian-built crossover, the EcoSport, to Europe, and there will be additions to its range of direct-injection turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engines
Ford will introduce a new luxury trim level and VIP levels of customer service on certain models in a bid to win back some of the customers it has been losing to so-called premium brands.
The high-end specification and service package will be marketed under the Vignale banner, resurrecting the name of an Italian coachbuilder which Ford acquired in the 1970s along with the Ghia styling house. For a while high-end Fords were subsequently badged as Ghias.
The decision to push upmarket has been prompted by customer demand for the current highest trim level, Titanium X. More than half of all Ford’s European sales are of this specification, a figure which rises to 70% with the S-MAX. But the company’s European vice-president for product development, Barb Samardzich, says that “10-15% of customers want an even higher specification vehicle, which Ford does not currently cater for”.
Bentley GT V8 S – Bentley has added a characterful new member to the Continental family today with the world premiere of the new GT V8 S. Available in both coupe and convertible forms, the V8 S models feature an uprated version of Bentley’s twin-turbo, 4.0-litre engine that now develops 521 bhp (528 PS / 389 kW) and 680 Nm (502 lb.ft) of torque together with careful suspension modifications and a selection of new exterior and interior features.
Complementing these two dynamic new models in Frankfurt is the pinnacle of Bentley luxury in the form of the flagship Mulsanne and the all-new four-door sedan Flying Spur.
New Hyundai i10 – Show debut for the all-new i10 goes into production this month in Turkey and India. Hyundai says it will offer big car features like automatic climate control, heated leather steering wheel and cruise control with speed limiter for the first time in the A-segment.
New SEAT Leon ST – A new estate becomes third member of the SEAT Leon family, following five-door hatchback and three-door SC. It has a large boot that extends from 587 litres to 1,470 litres with the rear seats down.
SEAT also unveils the Leon Ecomotive promising that it emits just 87 g/km and returns 85.6 mpg and the Leon TGI which runs on compressed natural gas ( CNG).
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse – it was presented for the first time in Frankfurt today. The Squadra Corse delivers high levels of performance while bringing the thrills associated with motorsport to the street-legal world.
Toyota Yaris-R Hybrid concept – This features the powertrain the company used in the racing car that finished second at this year’s Le Mans 24 hours race, a a pair of powerful electric motors that give it all-wheel drive capability combined with a Toyota Motorsport-developed 1.6-litre petrol engine. No clues on production but the concept is designed to be driven ‘both on road and track.
Ferrari, Lexus, Nissan, Honda, Renault, Mazda, Peugeot, Suzuki, Cadillac and Citroen, as well as those that have stands but no press conferences such as Chevrolet before you hit the marathon wall in mid-afternoon.
Ferrari 458 Speciale – it joins the Ferrari range alongside the 458 Italia and 458 Spider and, like all special-series Ferraris, is aimed at a specific kind of owner, in this case those looking for an even more focused sports car that offers extreme driving emotions.
Lexus LF-NX – the new Lexus mid-size crossover concept, the LF-NX made its
world-first appearanc. It is the Lexus vision for a mid-size luxury crossover model.
The show also hosts the first European public appearance of the new Lexus GS 300h, a full hybrid that should be added to the new GS model range in the Ireland later this year.
New Nissan X-Trail – It’s muscular, modern and packed with technology, and the new Nissan X-Trail made its world debut today. Building on Nissan’s respected 4×4 heritage but adding world-leading crossover know-how, the new X-Trail re-defines the compact SUV segment.
The US version, called the Nissan Rogue, made its world debut today. As a high-volume global growth product built on the new jointly-developed Nissan/Renault Common Module Family (CMF) platform architecture, it is projected to be available in 190 countries around the world.
At the same time as enhancing its predecessor’s go-anywhere credibility, new X-Trail takes inspiration from Nissan’s market-leading crossovers – Qashqai, as well as Juke and Murano – to create the ultimate, all weather, highly capable, modern family vehicle.
Nissan claim that the new X-Trail is just as tough and accomplished as the previous generation model, but adds crossover style and efficiency, exciting design, innovative technology and exceptional comfort to set a new benchmark in the fiercely competitive C-SUV market.
Nissan Friend-Me – The Friend-Me concept car is a fascinating exploration of how the car of the future may look. Designed using the same process that sparked Nissan’s range of game-changing crossovers, it showcases Nissan’s next-generation design language and explores the possibilities of a fully-connected, fully-interactive cabin.
The Nissan stand also featured the new LEAF, new Micra, new Note, new GT-R, as well as the Nissan ZEOD RC, Juke Nismo and 370Z Nismo.
New Honda Civic Tourer – Estate version of the new Civic with claimed class leading space – as much, if not more than some D-segment wagons. Suspension and steering has been modified for European roads and this model gets the same ‘magic’ seating configuration first seen on the Civic hatchback.
The refreshed Civic hatchback is also be shown here for the first time. The car benefits from exterior and interior refinements that give the Civic an even more distinctive, sportier appearance. Also on display is the CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC unveiled at Geneva earlier this year.
Initiale Paris, Renault unveils the sixth concept car in the design strategy initiated by Laurens van den Acker. Blending technical know-how with creative prowess, the new concept car previews the Espace replacement in an Initiale Paris version and embodies the brand’s expertise and ambitions in the premium segment.
The new Mégane family on show at Frankfurt emphatically strengthens the identity of the Renault range, focused on attractive design and innovation for all.
As on road, so on track. Renault, the holder of 11 F1 World Champion titles, is expressing all its engine-making expertise at Frankfurt with the Power Unit F1 2014 and moving enthusiastically into electric racing. Renault says that who other that it should pave the way, after pioneering and maintaining European leadership in the zero-emission market?
New Dacia Duster – First showing for the 2014 Dacia Duster which features revised styling. Particularly at the front which gets a modified grille and restyled headlights. There are also some interior changes and an updated engine lineup.
New Mazda3 – The all-new Mazda3 won’t go on sale in the UK until January 2014 but has already made its name on the road during an extreme 9,300 mile ‘Mazda Route3 Hiroshima-Frankfurt Challenger Tour 2013′ endurance test from Japan to Germany. Mazda says that standard equipment redefines the word ‘generous’ for a car in the C-segment class. A new connectivity concept makes the model one of the first in Europe to take occupants online.
New Peugeot 308 – Peugeot says it will price the new 308 below its rivals in the European compact segment, particularly the class leader leader, the Volkswagen Golf. Deliveries start at the end of September and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen is counting on models such as this to boost falling vehicle sales in Europe. The current 308 is Peugeot’s No. 2 best-seller in Europe although sales have been dipping. The new model is designed to help Peugeot in its ambition to move upmarket.
Peugeot 308 R – This concept is powered by the same turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine from the RCZ-R and produces 270hp and 243lb ft of torque. Compared with the standard 308, ride height is lowered by 26mm, and the track widened by 30mm. The doors, wings, sills, side panels, bonnet and bumpers are all new and made from carbon-fibre to reduce weight.
Peugeot RCZ R – This one actually made its first public appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and is a tuned up version of the sports coupe that goes on sale early next year. Power comes from a 270hp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine which makes it Peugeot’s most powerful production car ever.
Peugeot 208 Hybrid FE – The carbon-bodied 208 Hybrid FE features a reworked version of the three-cylinder petrol engine from the 1.0-litre VTi 208, and mow emits just 49g/km of CO2 and can be driven in pure electric mode for up to 12 miles at a time. Developed in co-operation with the fuel company Total.
Suzuki iV-4 – A mixture of the old and the new for Suzuki’s iV-4 which takes inspiration from models such as the Jimny and Grand Vitara with a touch of Range Rover Evoque thrown it. This is intended as a rival to the likes of the Peugeot 2008 or Renault Captur with two- and four-wheel-drive available along with petrol and diesel engines.
Citroen C4 Picasso – The latest model will go on sale in Ireland soon and it is already in demand in Europe where it has achieved 10,000 sales since its launch in June.
The surprisingly spacious new version is the first model using PSA Peugeot Citroën’s new EMP2 platform (Efficient Modular Platform 2), and despite a more compact exterior – 4cm shorter and 4cm lower – there is a remarkable amount of interior space and class-leading boot capacity.
Citroen C-Elysée WTCC – Premier for the car Citroen will run in the World Touring Car Championship with Sébastien Loeb at the helm and will be the first car designed in accordance with the FIA’s new regulations for the series. It is powered by a 380bhp version of the .6-litre direct injection turbocharged engine from the DS3 WRC car. The road car is aimed at emerging markets.
Citroen DS3 Cabrio Racing – According to the mags the Citroen DS3 Racing will go on sale next year and limited to between 200-400 units. This shows the future direction of the DS line, using hi-end materials and the latest technology.
The Citroen DS Wild Rubis concept also attracted a lot of attention.
Alfa Romeo MiTo – Mild facelift sees the addition of a chrome-plated grille, new colour choices and upgraded interiors.
Jeep Cherokee – Making its European debut, the new Cherokee will on sale by the end of the year and early in 2014 in Ireland. New Cherokee is built on the Alfa Romeo Giullietta platform and will feature a ZF 9-speed automatic gearbox first seen in the Land Rover Evoque.
Later next year comes a B segment SUV – said to be about the same size as a Skoda Yeti – based on a Fiat platform and likely to be built in Italy at an existing Fiat factory.
New Chevrolet Camaro Cabriolet – Chevrolet says the latest Camaro represents the most significant redesign since the introduction of the fifth-generation model in 2006. Improved aerodynamics give greater stability and cooling. Due on sale in the UK (but not Ireland) at the end of the year.
The stand also features the German premiere of the all-new Corvette Stingray.
Subaru WRX concept – This is an idea of next year’s successor to the Impreza WRX and there’s plenty familiar about it. Turbocharged, intercooled engine and four-wheel-drive. The car is due for launch next year but still no word on whether it is coming to the UK.
A feet transplant or at least soak them in ice clod water and a cool german beer would help the recovery, but instead you need to get a few hours on the latest and greatest written up and only when the last sent button has been touched on your equally deflated laptop can you entertain thoughts of recover before facing a second, albeit less demanding second day tomorrow. Well maybe a one wheat beer – after all, when in Frankfurt ……
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