For car fans, the biennial Frankfurt Motor Show remains the greatest show on Earth. MICHAEL McALEER , Motoring editor, reports on what’s on offer from the brands at this year’s event
ASTON MARTIN
Every motor show needs a car that makes your heart skip a beat, and this year it’s not the locals who stole the show but the British. Aston Martin has unveiled its new Rapide four-door saloon, which will go on sale in early 2010 as the company’s first true production saloon. The end result may seem a bit pointless in the current economic climate, but it’s a stunning-looking car in its own right.
The Germans can take some comfort from the fact that, while Aston remains a British brand, the Rapide’s 470bhp 6.0-litre V12 powertrain is built at the firm’s engine factory in Cologne, and the car itself will be built by the new owners of the Opel brand, Magna, in its Austrian plant. Aston plans to pit the Rapide directly against Porsche’s Panamera. On looks alone the Aston definitely wins out.
BMW
In its own dedicated hall – similar in size to the RDS – BMW gives centre stage to its efforts to lower emissions, with the introduction of a new hybrid model and several eco-friendly concepts that are still some way off production.
The biggest attraction is a new sports car concept called Vision EfficientDynamics. It is powered by a three-cylinder turbodiesel engine and two electric motors, powering it from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds, with fuel consumption of 3.7l/100km and CO2 emissions of 99g/km. It’s still very much a work in progress, but the technology is not far from production reality for the brand.
That is evidenced by the introduction of BMW’s first petrol-electric hybrid model. Several years after Lexus launched its RX hybrid SUV, BMW has unveiled production-ready versions of its petrol-electric X6 and 7-series models. The ActiveHybrid X6 and the ActiveHybrid 7 hybrids combine electric motors with powerful twin-turbocharged V8 engines to boost output, performance and fuel economy. They’re not going to challenge any superminis in terms of fuel consumption, but they do claim significant improvements over purely petrol versions of the same cars, particularly in urban driving.
CHEVROLET
Centre-stage for the Chevrolet brand is its new Spark, the five-door replacement for the current Matiz. On sale early next year, it is one of the first in a line of new model launches in this segment in the coming months, as car firms hope to cater for families seeking to downsize in cost without giving up too much in terms of space.
CITROËN
Citroën is marking its 90th anniversary with the introduction of production versions of its new DS3 and the launch of the new C3.
The DS3 is the first model in Citroën’s planned three-car near-premium range aimed at giving the French brand an image boost. It might be a long way from the iconic DS models of the 1950s, but the French hope it can give the likes of Mini and the Fiat 500 a run for their money. It’s admittedly a very ambitious plan, for previous efforts at quirky small cars have mostly ended in failure (remember the C3 Pluriel?). A lot will be determined by the price, but the car does look pretty smart. This DS3 will be followed by a DS4 – based on the C4 – and DS5, based on the C5. Both are due in 2011.
Meanwhile the brand is also using Frankfurt to reveal its second-generation C3. The most obvious change to the car is a new extended panoramic windscreen, which successfully creates a feeling of spaciousness in the cabin. When powered by Citroën’s 90bhp diesel engine, the firm claims the new C3 can achieve CO2 emissions of just 99 g/km, pitching it right alongside the likes of the Toyota Prius and its ilk. The car is due for sale next year.
Finally, the brand would not let a show go by without an interesting design concept: this time it’s the REVOLTe, a small C3-sized car with bolder lines, which the French hope can one day become as iconic as its legendary 2CV. We have our doubts.
HYUNDAI
Hyundai is busy preparing for a major product offensive in the coming months, and the first of the new models is on show here, alongside a concept version of the next models coming own the line.
The big news for Irish buyers is the introduction of the iX35, a replacement for the popular Tucson SUV. The new car features far more stylish lines than the outgoing model, along with a much-improved cabin. It’s set to offer a serious challenge to the popular Nissan Qashqai and Ford Kuga when it arrives next year.
The Koreans also give a world debut to their new hybrid city car concept, and a production-ready electric version of its i10. Called the ix-Metro, the city car concept offers some serious clues to the look of some of the upcoming models from the brand.
The i10 Electric is powered by a 49kW motor and a 16kWh battery, and has a range of 170km. The hatchback will go on sale in Korea next year, although there are no immediate plans to bring it to Europe.
JAGUAR
For many motoring fans, the Frankfurt show offers the first chance to see Jaguar’s new XJ in the metal. The new car has caused quite a stir since its summer launch. Building on the success and acclaim of the lovely XF, Jaguar is hoping the new look and added technology features will win new fans to the brand. It’s certainly a bold departure from the previous generations of XJ, and is a car that demands to be seen up close, and not judged on photos alone.
KIA
It’s a busy show for the Koreans, whose European headquarters overlook the Frankfurt showgrounds. Kia has added yet another new model to its range, adding some more much-needed distance between it and sibling brand Hyundai.
The new Venga is a small people carrier, and follows on from the launch of the Soul. It goes on sale early next year, vying for attention somewhere near the likes of the Opel Meriva.
The car will come to Ireland with a 1.4-litre 90bhp diesel engine, putting out 119g/km when fitted with Kia’s stop/start technology and low-resistance tyres.
Both features are due to be fitted as standard in Ireland, thereby putting the Venga into the lowest motor tax band.
The new car carries a similar front nose to the Soul and is nicely laid out inside, even if the plastics aren’t quite as good as we would have hoped.
Boot space is impressive, and with rear seats moved forward it measures up bigger than the current C’eed.
Alongside the Venga is a new Sorento SUV, which features a 2.2-litre diesel powertrain.
In terms of emissions, it puts out 171g/km in two-wheel-drive format and 174g/km in four-wheel-drive, giving it an annual motor tax bill of €630, down significantly from the current range, which suffered badly when the emissions tax regime came into play. Alongside these new models comes a mid-life facelift for the Cee’d.
Finally, not to be outdone, there is a hybrid concept car on show that is being used to wave the flag for the brand’s new EcoDynamics badge, due to feature on its most fuel-efficient models in the future.
LAND ROVER
Land Rover has been busy of late with the revamp of its Range Rover and Discovery models, and preparations for the addition of a new small SUV, the LRX.
In the midst of all this it has been getting to know its new owners, the Indian conglomerate Tata Motors, while trying to reduce the carbon footprint of its models.
We’ll report next week on it revamped Discovery and Range Rover Sport models but suffice to say the brand is in development mode at present.
MASERATI
As with Aston and Porsche, Maserati is focusing on making room for four occupants at present – and that’s what’s on offer with its first four-seat convertible, the GranCabrio.
The soft-top variant of the GranTurismo has a roof that opens or closes in 28 seconds, and it completes the three-car Maserati family, alongside the GranTurismo and Quattroporte saloon. Lovely as it is, a Maserati will remain a rare enough site in Dublin for the foreseeable future, never mind the niche convertible version.
MINI
Mini is offering a new coupé version, with a low-set coupé roof. The coupé’s roof is made of aluminium and should be on sale by 2012. The front-wheel-drive concept is powered by Mini’s most powerful engine, a 1.6-litre turbocharged gasoline powerplant found in the car maker’s high-performance models from tuning division John Cooper Works.
OPEL
While Opel’s recently announced plan to sell a 55 per cent stake to Canadian car group Magna was the talk of its stand, much was being made of the importance of its British brand, Vauxhall, for the future. Amid concerns over the long-term future of the British rebadged models, executives were at pains to underline the fact that Vauxhall has a future.
The big motoring news, however, is the launch of the new Astra (first tested in Motors several weeks ago). Taking several design and material cues from the Insignia family car, the new model pushes the range into a much more premium feel, though prices are not expected to change. It’s certainly going to offer serious competition to the likes of Ford’s Focus and VW’s Golf.
Opel is also demonstrating its new Ampera extended-range electric car in full production finish. The car may not be on our roads this year, but the hype over the plug-in electric car is already gaining pace.
PEUGEOT
Peugeot’s big news is the introduction of a new people carrier, the 5008 compact minivan. The car is targeting buyers for the likes of Citroën’s C4 Picasso and Renault’s Scenic range, and is based on the same platform as the current 308. It also shares its underpinnings with the newly arrived 3008 crossover, for which Peugeot unveiled plans for a diesel hybrid version to go on sale, starting next spring.
In keeping with the general electric theme of the show, the French brand is also showing its new iOn, based on Mitsubishi’s i-MEV electric car. It will go on sale in Europe by the end of next year, and can achieve a range of 130km on a full charge. Its lithium-ion batteries can be fully recharged in six hours or to 80 per cent of their capacity within 30 minutes.
Finally, the firm is showing its production-ready RCZ sports car, which it hopes will challenge the likes of the Audi TT. Sales will start next spring.
PORSCHE
Porsche could not come to Frankfurt without something eye-catching, and this time it’s the new seventh-generation 911 Turbo, in coupé and cabriolet forms. It is powered by a new flat-six 500-hp 3.8-litre engine. Sales start next year.
RENAULT
Renault is focusing its attention at Frankfurt on electric powertrains. Its show cars use the same technology found in the Nissan Leaf, a four-door family hatchback powered by lithium-ion batteries that Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn unveiled in Japan during the summer. The hope is to have the car to market by 2012, but before that there are likely to be electric versions of the Mégane and Kangoo available, at least on test fleets.
ŠKODA
For those who find the enormous Superb just a little too snug, Škoda is showing off its new estate version of the car, big enough to hold a car show inside.
It’s an incredibly practical car, and will be priced to compete with regular estates in the family market.
It could well offer a tempting alternative for families that need to bring the kitchen sink wherever they go.
TOYOTA
As expected from the brand that took hybrid models into the mainstream, Toyota is very much focusing on green technology.
Models such as the Prius hybrid plug-in and the Auris hybrid may carry concept tags here, but production versions are very much part of future plans.
Plug-in versions of the Prius are due to enter test fleets next year and the Auris hybrid is likely to go on sale in by the end of next year.
VOLVO
Volvo is debuting a facelifted C30 and C70 in Frankfurt, with a new front-end design, improved interior materials and trim aimed at giving a more premium feel. The redesigned front end was inspired by the S60 concept shown earlier this year in Detroit.
VOLKSWAGEN
Volkswagen’s star attraction at the show is the electric version of the Up minicar, which still awaits a sales launch in 2011.
Alongside this was the three-door version of the new Polo range. The new five-door is due to go on sale in Ireland this autumn, and this three-door model will follow shortly after, along with an estate version of the new Golf.
VW is also featuring a new range of its eco-friendly BlueMotion models which, it claims, cut emissions by 20 per cent. In the new Polo, for instance, the new 75 bhp 1.2-litre diesel engine records consumption figures of just 3.3l/100km and emissions of just 87g/km.
This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times
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