Straightline
Frankfurt Auto Show
June 22, 2009
Inside Line has confirmed that the upcoming Audi R8 Convertible will appear in the sequel to Iron Man due out next May. Spotted on the Nurburgring almost a year ago, the soft-top version of the Audi R8 is expected to make its official world debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show in September.
Spy video: Audi R8 Convertible on the Nurburgring
May 28, 2009
A report in the German press of an all-electric Audi R8 appears to be a little optimistic. Auto Motor und Sport claimed that the alt-power R8 would appear alongside the R8 convertible at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show.
When we contacted Audi to confirm the story, a spokesman gave us a much different and very precise answer: "Nope, not true."
So at this point, it depends on who you believe, but we won't be expecting anything more than the convertible in Frankfurt at this point.
May 21, 2009
Photographs of the upcoming 5-series GT have leaked out ahead of the, er, thing's presumed reveal at this fall's Frankfurt auto show.
And, sadly, it has not gotten any prettier on the road from concept to production. French car magazine L'Automobile had photos first. We expect more information to be revealed in the coming days on this bizarre mash-up of sedan, wagon, crossover and toothpaste tube.
It's hard to imagine that the 5-series GT won't be offered with a twin-turbo inline six or a twin-turbo V8, at least for the U.S. market. All-wheel-drive will almost certainly be an option too.
For now, have a look at these photos -- if you dare.
Read Inside Line's full story on the 5-series GT concept.
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund May 21, 2009, 11:51 AM
- Categories: BMW, Crossovers, Frankfurt Auto Show
April 24, 2009
Earlier this week, Volkswagen announced that it would build its new minicar lineup in Slovakia starting in 2011. The new vehicles would be the production versions of the Up! minicars shown at the 2007 Frankfurt and Tokyo shows.
Today, Volkswagen of America told Inside Line News that this lineup was definitely headed to America. Which models and what they would be called are still being determined.
Inside Line News: Volkswagen New Small Family Bound for U.S. Market
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig April 24, 2009, 3:46 PM
- Categories: Auto Industry, Concept Vehicles, Coupes, Frankfurt Auto Show, Future Vehicles, Hatchbacks, Tokyo Motor Show, Trends, Volkswagen
April 22, 2009
Remember the Up! minicar concept that debuted in Frankfurt almost two years ago now? It's now headed for production, at least in sedan form, and Volkswagen has announced that its Slovakan plant will build the new car.
Although Up! was shown with a rear-mounted engine, expect to see a more traditional layout when it goes into production. According to Volkswagen the first sedans will be rolling off the assembly line in early 2011.
April 14, 2009
This is the first official image of the 2010 Aston Martin Rapide. Now set for a debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show in September, the four-door Aston Martin is expected to go on sale early next year.
The Rapide will be powered by Aston's 6.0-liter V12, delivering 470 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque and mated to a Touchtronic automatic gearbox.
IL News: Production Version of Aston Martin Rapide Unveiled
April 8, 2009
#NYIAS Funny how these things work. We don't really know what the 563-hp 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS "Gullwing" will look like or how much it will cost, exactly. But we know that its steering wheel has a diameter of exactly 14.4 inches, its glovebox can accommodate 3.7 liters of something and that the COMAND infotainment system's short-stroke buttons require only 4 newtons of force to operate.
Mercedes-Benz took a little break from the New York International Auto Show to give a group of journalists a sneak peek at the interior of the SLS "Gullwing," which should go on sale next spring. Don't look for it at the Javits Center, though. It's tucked away at an off-site location. And the body still wears some camo. We won't see the car in its full production glory until the Frankfurt show this fall.
Make the jump for full details and photo gallery.
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As the latest move in a long striptease of the upcoming Gullwing-door-having Mercedes-Benz SLS sports car, the company has released these sketches of the exterior.
Judging by the anime-style, computer-y renderings, the SLS will have 33-inch wheels carrying tires with a 0.05 aspect ratio and will be fitted with leftover Nissan GT-R headlamp assemblies.
Uh, wait, is that a porthole on the B-pillar? Possibly that is supposed to be the world's most prominent fuel filler. Such is the trouble with early sketches.
Otherwise, the design of the SLS is what most expected, a long-nosed two-seater with a number of retro flourishes nabbed from the 1955-'57 300SL "Gullwing." Beyond the gullwing doors, which Mercedes has taken to calling "swing-wing" doors, the new car references the original with its twin longitudinal hood bulges, big front grille, fender vents and a tapered rear end with tiny, horizontal taillights.
How close are these sketches to revealing the real character and details of the eventual 563-horsepower, seven-speed dual-clutch, $250,000 SLS? We haven't a clue really. But we won't have to wait too much longer to find out. The car should finally be unveiled at this fall's Frankfurt auto show.
Read Inside Line's full story on the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS "Gullwing"
April 1, 2009
Remember that "R" version of the Golf we told you about earlier this week? Well, this could be it, at least in prototype form.
Caught just yesterday testing on the Nurburgring, the R20 as it may be called will get a 260-horsepower version of the 2.0-liter TFSI engine used in the GTI. It will also get all-wheel drive like the old V6-powered R32, and by the looks of this prototype, a pair of center-exit exhaust pipes.
Volkswagen Confirms Golf GTD and R Models for Europe
March 30, 2009
It feels like we've been waiting too long for the 2010 Audi RS5 to arrive. First spotted in prototype form last summer, the high-powered coupe was expected to debut in Geneva.
Instead, we got the RS version of the TT. Not a bad placeholder, but hardly the big-displacement coupe we were hoping to see. These new spy photos prove there's definitely an RS5 on the way, however, so it shouldn't be long before Audi unleashes the V10-powered coupe.
This latest prototype shows off some revised bodywork in back, but the wheels certainly aren't new. Expect to see something a little more exotic at each corner when the production version debuts later this summer.
Clash of the Titans: MW M3 CSL vs. Audi RS5
March 2, 2009
We've shown you various spy photos and spy videos of this car over the past couple of years, and now it has an official name: the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
Hidden under Viper body panels during its early testing days, the latest prototypes are still covered in camouflage but there's no mistaking the gullwing-style doors and retro bodywork. Yep, this is a modern day 300 SL alright.
We were expecting AMG to unleash a monster of an engine for this exclusive super coupe and we were wrong.
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February 25, 2009
Not hard to see this one coming. With the debut of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe set for the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, the appearance of a cabriolet version shouldn't be a surprise to anybody. Sources have told Inside Line that the soft-top version of the two-door E-Class is scheduled for a fall debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show.
Geneva: Auto Show: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
February 9, 2009
Remember the Mini Crossover concept shown at the 2008 Paris Auto Show? Well, here it is as a full blown production prototype. Caught during cold weather testing in Scandinavia, this test mule gives a pretty clear look at the final design.
A slightly larger, more utilitarian Mini, the Crossover will offer the same lineup of engines as the current Cooper. It will debut with front wheel drive only, but an all-wheel drive will be added later.
According to Wolfgang Armbrecht, head of Mini brand management, the Crossover in Cooper trim with front-wheel drive will start just above the base price for a Cooper S convertible: around $29,000. A Cooper S four-wheel-drive Crossover should be priced at or above $34,000. Since style and functionality are more the point than sportiness, there will be no John Cooper Works edition of the Crossover.
A final production model will be shown at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show in September, so expect U.S. sales early next year.
Video of this prototype in action after the jump.
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February 5, 2009
We covered the Citroen C-Cactus Concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. We were taken by its amoeboid shape, its six-tentacle 21-inch wheels, its bathtub cockpit and the water lily cut-outs in its front seats.
"It would be powered by a diesel hybrid powertrain," Detroit Senior Editor Dan Pund wrote, "and many of the body panels would be biodegradable were it to ever make it to production, which it won't. But if Woody Allen ever produces a remake of Sleeper this is the car he should use."
Now comes a report from Auto Express that the Citroen C-Cactus is going into production. And in addition to pairing a small-displacement diesel engine with an electric motor and battery pack, additional C-Cactus variants might use all electric or all gasoline motivation.
Auto Express
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- Posted by: Erin Riches February 5, 2009, 11:40 AM
- Categories: Citroen, Concept Vehicles, Diesels, Frankfurt Auto Show
January 28, 2009
Following a positive reception at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, the 2010 Mini Crossover has been approved for production and will debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show. Mini officials told Inside Line that the new crossover will launch with front-wheel drive only at first and then add an all-wheel drive version later.
The Crossover in Cooper trim with front-wheel drive will start just above the base price for a Cooper S convertible: around $29,000. A Cooper S four-wheel-drive Crossover should be priced at or above $34,000. There will be no John Cooper Works edition of the Crossover.
Inside Line News
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig January 28, 2009, 8:05 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Future Vehicles, Hatchbacks, MINI
September 14, 2007
One new vehicle at Frankfurt that should at least get a mention is the new Subaru Justy, not because it's a great vehicle, but because it's the first Subaru in over a decade to be sold outside Japan that is not AWD, or at least even offers AWD as an option.
This is surprising because the the Daihatsu Boon, of which the Justy is just a rebadged version of, offers as AWD as well as FWD models. So might this be a hint of things to come? Meaning do you think Subaru may offer FWD on some of their other vehicles sold outside Japan?..
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- Posted by: Bob Holland September 14, 2007, 6:16 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Frankfurt Auto Show, Subaru
September 13, 2007
There's an interesting article over at China Car Times (here) about the stumbling blocks that the Chinese auto industry is facing as they try to become a world player. China Car Times took a story that ran in the Shanghai Daily on this subject.
Straightline, other auto blog sites, and other auto and general interest news sites have commented on many of the problems—but as perceived by Western eyes. Now we have a Chinese perspective...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland September 13, 2007, 4:00 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Frankfurt Auto Show
September 12, 2007
I thought this looked interesting - like a GTI or Civic Si but with a little more character and spunk. The Seat Leon 2.0T FSI Cupra has a name that says it all. That 2.0T FSI engine is VW/Audi sourced and is good for 240 hp. 0-100km is listed at 6.4 seconds - more than quick enough for U.S...
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- Posted by: Brian Moody September 12, 2007, 11:29 PM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show
Look familiar? Both the Peugeot 4007 and Citroen C Crosser are essentially the Mitsubishi Outlander. Each version has a slightly different nose but inside it looks just like the Mitsu, chevron or lion logo on the steering wheel notwithstanding.
My favorite part is how garish and un-European the large subwoofer and Rockford Fosgate logo look when you open the rear tailgate...
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- Posted by: Brian Moody September 12, 2007, 11:10 PM
- Categories: Citroen, Frankfurt Auto Show, Mitsubishi, Peugeot
You see Renault Kangoos everywhere in Europe. Mostly they're driven by small-business owners, but the Kangoo's low price and highly space-efficient design make it a draw for small families as well. The original Kangoo had been on sale since 1997, and Renault has just redesigned and enlarged it to help fend off the competitors it spawned (Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Partner).
What you see here, though, is not a standard Kangoo, but the Kangoo Compact Concept...
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- Posted by: Donna DeRosa September 12, 2007, 12:05 PM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show
Excess pudge and average performance credentials relegate the production Suzuki SX4 to blah status in the economy car class, despite the fact that it's an attractive car. Recently, a Suzuki product planner told us that younger owners of the car were asking for a turbocharger option -- a fair request, we think, given that the hatchback version already has all-wheel drive.
The existence of the Suzuki SX4 WRC offers reason for hope. Suzuki had the 2007 version on display in Frankfurt, and the '08 iteration of this car will enter rally competition in the 2008 calendar year. --Erin Riches, Senior Content Editor
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- Posted by: Erin Riches September 12, 2007, 10:19 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Hatchbacks, Motorsports, Suzuki
It's very easy to see where Honda is going with the Accord Tourer concept. This is pretty much the exact shape the new European-market Accord will take when it debuts in production form next year in Geneva. This is a good-looking wagon that we'll never see in the U.S...
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- Posted by: Erin Riches September 12, 2007, 9:48 AM
- Categories: Acura, Frankfurt Auto Show, Honda, Sedans, Wagons
If VW continued to sell the Westfalia Camper in the U.S., this is what it would look like. This is a camper or caravan conversion of a VW Multivan plus it's a limited-edition California No Limit -- love Euro names.
Part of the special edition includes suede seating and painted appliances which consist of a two-burner stove, sink and fridge. Of course there's the pop-up sleeping compartment and hidden storage spaces throughout...
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- Posted by: Brian Moody September 12, 2007, 9:34 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Volkswagen
Please enjoy these pictures of the Porsche 911 GT2. We don't have much to add to our First Look story (link below) other than that seeing it in person, in red, brought us a great deal of joy. --Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit, Inside Line
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund September 12, 2007, 8:19 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Porsche, Sports Cars
Walking around the modern, sterile halls of the Frankfurt auto show, with all their escalators and moving walkways, you might get the impression the whole city is stuffy and all-business. But within a couple miles of the Messe, you see things that just wouldn't be possible in the United States. For instance, a Mercedes-Benz dealership where human-size stuffed rabbits are allowed to ride in SLK350s.
![Rabbit in Mercedes SLK350 - E...]()
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- Posted by: Erin Riches September 12, 2007, 6:29 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz, SMART
Here's another reason to love the French. They are the Japanese of Europe. By this we mean only that the car companies of both countries seem to understand what a concept car should be.
Production cars with big wheels, fancy paint and side mirrors that have been replaced by mini cameras are not concepts. But the French, they get it...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund September 12, 2007, 5:50 AM
- Categories: Citroen, Frankfurt Auto Show
Maybe you saw our news story on the Fiat Panda Aria, a wonder version of Fiat's minicar with a 900cc two-cylinder engine that runs on a gasoline-methane-hydrogen mix.
Surprise, surprise, Fiat had no further details on how such a car would work in real life, but it's not every day you see a Panda in a field of daisies -- under the glass panels.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches September 12, 2007, 5:28 AM
- Categories: Fiat, Frankfurt Auto Show, Green Tech
For those of you who might believe that Americans have a monopoly on bad taste, we offer this collection of photos as evidence to the contrary. There are three different makers of such vehicles represented here at Frankfurt. We admit that we interviewed no one in preparing this report. And we promise that we never, ever will...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund September 12, 2007, 5:09 AM
- Categories: Carnival of Cars, Frankfurt Auto Show
September 11, 2007
According to Aston Martin's CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez, the new DBS is like Muhammad Ali. It is, in other words, all about grace, elegance and power. Having been introduced to us in the James Bond movie Casino Royale, the DBS is finally available for (rich) mere mortals to buy. The first customer cars will be delivered in November and will cost $265,000. Aston claims already to have orders for a thousand cars, equivalent to two years production...
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Mercedes calls the F 700 the “future of big sedans,” and it is indeed a striking mix of luxury and efficiency. The swoopy sedan is loaded with all manner of future tech, but the biggest news is under the hood. The breakthrough 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine, dubbed DiesOtto because its dual mode of operation combines conventional spark ignition with the compression ignition of a diesel, delivers 258 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque -- good enough, says the literature, to take the luxury sedan from 0 to 60 mph in less than 8 seconds while also providing up to 40 mpg.
This best-of-both-worlds technology is wrapped by a sleek, three-box design penned in Mercedes-Benz’s California design studio under the direction of Gorden Wagener, vice president of Global Advanced Design...
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Subaru's Frankfurt press conference should have been an opportunity to rally the WRX faithful in the wake of recent disappointments -- all related to the softening of the 2008 model. And indeed plenty of fanboys showed up to get a photo of Petter Solberg.
But the Subaru WRC Concept was little more than eye candy, a fiberglass shell, and no tantalizing specs were released. In fact, no specs were given at all. It was just an opportunity to take a photo to stare at on your desktop wallpaper -- something to busy your mind until the STI production car debuts next month in Tokyo.
No question, the WRC Concept recovers some of the old WRX's edginess, but it's hard to know if that will be enough until we know what's underneath.
Solberg kept his comments brief, noting that "I'm a rally driver first and foremost." He of course noted that the new Impreza's stiffer chassis provides more stable handling characteristics in the prototypes he's driven thus far. He also said that Symmetrical All Wheel Drive is a great thing. Who would have guessed? -- Erin Riches, Senior Content Editor
More photos after the jump...
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- Posted by: Erin Riches September 11, 2007, 12:49 PM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Hatchbacks, Motorsports, Subaru
I'll admit it, I have odd taste in cars. I've even been accused of not liking cars at all because I'd rather spend the day in a Lexus rather than a WRX STI.
I really love auto shows like Frankfurt because there's so much stuff that we never get to see or drive in the U.S. Peugeot's 407 Coupe is a car I'd love to take home...
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- Posted by: Brian Moody September 11, 2007, 12:28 PM
- Categories: Citroen, Frankfurt Auto Show, Peugeot
In almost a decade of covering motorshows, only once before has an unveil created such a stampede of attention. And that had more to do with the appearance of Australian pop sensation Kylie Minogue, than precious metal. This time, the uncivilized stampede was caused by two things -- the Ferrari 430 Scuderia and seven-time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher, who was joined on stage by Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo.
The chisel-jawed German was in Frankfurt to unveil a car in which he has had considerable personal input...
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- Posted by: September 11, 2007, 10:55 AM
- Categories: Coupes, Ferrari, Frankfurt Auto Show
It was difficult not to feel slightly sorry for Maserati. While noisy crowds besieged the Ferrari stand in search of a glimpse of Michael Schumacher and the 430 Scuderia, Maserati quietly got on the with the business of unveiling its own new pretender, the Quattroporte Sport GT S.
In essence, this is an uprated version of the deliciously beautiful, Pininfarina-styled Quattroporte. It blends the flexibility of a fully automatic, six-speed gearbox, with a suspension setup tuned for the enthusiast...
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- Posted by: September 11, 2007, 10:30 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Luxury Cars, Maserati
The Lamborghini Reventon was back on display at the Lambo booth today, and everyone wanted a piece of it. Ten-year-olds with cameras elbowed their way through the throng, and grown men took pictures of each other posing in the driver seat. In short, dignity of any sort died as soon as the sheet came off the Reventon.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches September 11, 2007, 10:06 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Lamborghini, Sports Cars
Environmental concern was the key phrase of the BMW press conference. The BMW of today and tomorrow, we were told, is all about "Efficient Dynamics" -- driving pleasure with a conscience. It was strange then, that when they took the wraps off the hybrid X5, they chose to smother it in dry ice, which is composed, of course, of carbon dioxide. 
This obsession with "Efficient Dynamics" explains why, when they unveiled the new 1 Series Coupe, the Germans chose to hero the 123d, rather than the much more exciting 135i...
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- Posted by: September 11, 2007, 9:36 AM
- Categories: BMW, Coupes, Frankfurt Auto Show
Suzuki calls the Splash its fourth world car in recent years. Hoping to capitalize on the relative success of the Wagon R, the Splash is a multipurpose vehicle that will likely appeal to those with small families and a limited budget -- maybe that's redundant.
For now, the Splash is not headed to the U.S. But given the popularity of cars like the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa plus newcomers like the Kia Rondo, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to see this car on U.S. roads within the next few years...
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- Posted by: Brian Moody September 11, 2007, 9:07 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Suzuki
If there was any doubt about the theme of Frankfurt 2007, it was vividly dispelled by Mercedes-Benz’s extravagant, Cirque du Soleil-esque floor show of twirling trees, dancing flowers and giant birds, emphasizing the firm’s commitment to eco-friendly, sustainable mobility.
Oh, and there were some new cars on hand, too — 19 of them, in fact — which Daimler chief Dieter Zetsche called “True Blue Solutions” to the seemingly contradictory goal of melding driving pleasure with social responsibility.
The star of the show was the striking F 700 research vehicle, joined by seven hybrids from five different model series; an E300 Bluetec version of the E320 that was voted “World Green Car of the Year 2007”; three Smart cars with electric, gas-electric and diesel-electric powertrains; an E350 CGI with second-generation gasoline direct injection; B-Class cars with natural-gas and fuel-cell drives; S300 and E300 Bluetec Hybrids; an S400 Hybrid; and the ML450 hybrid, which, when it comes to market in 2009, will be the world’s most economical gas-electric-powered SUV in its class.
The ML’s two-mode hybrid system allows it to be driven with just its two compact electric engines or in tandem with its V6 gas engine, the combined system boasting an output of 321 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. A new four-speed transmission is said to combine the advantages of a multiple-speed automatic with the efficiencies of a stepless CVT gearbox...
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We were expecting a little more from Toyota's city car concept when it rolled out this afternoon in Frankfurt. After all, Thierry Dombreval, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Europe, said in his pre-reveal speech that the iQ Concept would be as revolutionary as the Prius. So when the iQ rolled out and we saw nothing more than a really, really small hatchback, we couldn't help wonder where the revolutionary part was hiding.
To its credit, the iQ manages to seat four despite the fact that it's only 11 inches longer than a Smart Fortwo...
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig September 11, 2007, 7:48 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Hatchbacks, Toyota
Mazda introduced the Mazda 6 with the accompaniment of a vast array of talented musicians. Once of them, whom we'll call Tambourine Boy, bopped and leaped around in a frenzy, like a Michael Flatly from Lord of the Dance on amphetamines.
Tambourine Boy scared me, partly because his antics were wholly unnecessary. The Mazda 6 looks flat-out great and needs no such forced hoopla. Here's a car with true grace...
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- Posted by: J to the K September 11, 2007, 7:47 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Mazda, Sedans
This humdrum-looking C30 variant, the 2008 Volvo C30 Efficiency, packs a surprise. President of Volvo Cars Fredrik Arp mentioned it in his opening remarks, but we doubt the glassy-eyed jet-lagged throng of journalists in attendance caught on.
First, the car. The C30 Efficiency sips fuel at a rate below 4.5l/100 km and generates CO2 emissions below 120 g/km...
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- Posted by: J to the K September 11, 2007, 7:24 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Volvo
Although the second-generation Outlander has gone over rather well in the U.S., it's too big and thirsty to appeal to most European buyers. Much like the VW Tiguan and Ford Kuga, Mitsubishi's Concept-cX is an attempt to sate Europeans' SUV desires without losing the battle for fuel economy and CO2 reduction.
Mitsubishi officials wouldn't disclose the Concept-cX's platform origins, but considering its 99-inch wheelbase is within five inches of the 2008 Lancer and its 59.4-inch track is less than an inch narrower, it's a pretty safe bet these two are at least distantly related.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches September 11, 2007, 7:11 AM
- Categories: Diesels, Frankfurt Auto Show, Mitsubishi, SUVs
I found this odd concept in some side stage among the aftermarket exhibitors. It's a four-seater -- two in front and two kids facing rearward. (A company spokesperson specifically said they were child seats.) They get in by opening the large rear hatch. Its midengine layout uses a small diesel engine...
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- Posted by: Brian Moody September 11, 2007, 6:39 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show
True to the spirit of New Chrysler, Executive Vice President Mike Manley was careful to emphasize that the 2009 Dodge Journey is the product of rational thinking at today's press conference: "We focused on meeting customers' needs -- and our customers had some very practical needs." Children and cargo were apparently foremost on buyers' minds.
Somehow words like "sporty," "sexy" and "functionally cool" also entered the speech. So did quick-change artists, "David" and "Dania," who transitioned between day and evening wear on stage to re-create the fast-paced lifestyle of a prospective Dodge Journey owner...
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- Posted by: Erin Riches September 11, 2007, 6:33 AM
- Categories: Dodge, Frankfurt Auto Show, SUVs
Kia unveiled a design concept here that will set the tone for future styling from the Korean automaker. The lime green Kia Kee sport coupe is marked by uncluttered body panels that exude a simplicity rarely seen in automotive design. The front is a bit busier with an LED strip that arches from the headlight to the lower fascia. In place of the overly used quarter-panel vent, Kia has left a small accent crease...
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Designer Ian Callum and the gang over at Jaguar introduced the sedan they hope will save the storied British marque. The event was low-key in the British tradition, but the Jaguar XF is anything but boring. When it goes on sale in March the XF will replace the S-Type in the company's lineup and take the brand in a completely new styling direction.
"A very handsome car with too many references to the past doesn't make a Jag," Callum told us...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham September 11, 2007, 6:22 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Jaguar
OK, now I remember what Suzuki showed - two cars actually, one was this Kizashi concept. Company officials say they have a three point strategy for selling cars worldwide. The focus of those vehicles is to be sportiness, families and status. Guess which one this fulfills?
Suzuki says it's going to build a car like this but it will likely be more grounded in reality than this concept...
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- Posted by: Brian Moody September 11, 2007, 6:19 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Suzuki
Suzuki held a press conference to unveil a new concept -- I think they were talking about the car, but I was having a hard time focusing. -- Brian Moody, Road Test Editor
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- Posted by: Brian Moody September 11, 2007, 6:14 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show
It had no interpretive dance performed by man/birds. It had no crazy concept. And yet, somehow, Audi's press conference had its own surreal appeal. How does super-Canadian Bryan Adams performing a hit live on stage grab you?..
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund September 11, 2007, 6:02 AM
- Categories: Audi, Frankfurt Auto Show, Hybrids, Luxury Cars, Wagons
Ford wins the award for the worst press conference. In a quick 15 minutes the company introduced the new European market Ford Focus, the Ford Kuga crossover and the Ford Verve Concept. But the presentation packed all the insight of a children's book and was launched with the excitement of an insurance seminar. The girls in pink pulling the wrap off the Verve were a nice surprise, although they looked like a pack of misplaced bridesmaids.
Which was perfect considering the band...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham September 11, 2007, 5:48 AM
- Categories: Ford, Frankfurt Auto Show
One look at the wildly cambered front wheels and we knew the Mini John Cooper Works Challenge was a real-deal racecar. Intended to compete in the Mini Challenge racing series in 2008, the JCWC is the racecar based on the latest Mini Cooper S.
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- Posted by: J to the K September 11, 2007, 4:05 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, MINI, Motorsports
General Motors kept the surprises to a minimum but continued to push its barrage of green technologies at this morning's press conference. Hydrogen, ethanol, diesels and hybrids all received playing time as Carl-Peter Forster, president of GM Europe, drove home his message that, “low emissions and price economy should not be exclusive.”
The HydroGen4 is Europe's version of the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell. A fleet of about 100 test vehicles will be on the road around the globe by 2008. Just don't expect hot-rod performance...
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Club, man. The partylike atmosphere of the 2008 Mini Clubman press conference included fresh-faced Mini reps, bumpin' beats, and was packed with sweaty bodies. Despite all those people, few bothered to look up at the Clubman lurking precariously overhead.
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- Posted by: J to the K September 11, 2007, 2:44 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, MINI
Everyone knows the BMW 6 Series coupe and convertible are good to drive, but would you want to wake up to that face every morning? Perhaps it's an indelicate question to ask at this price, but when you see the nose on the 2008 6 Series, you have your answer.
The front end is sleeker, and your eyes naturally follow the progression from A-pillars to grille, as opposed to honing in on the hood cutlines. Along with wider air intakes, reshaped headlight units aid in the viewing experience, and they are of course bi-xenon. All other light sources on the car (turn signals, taillights) are LEDs...
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- Posted by: Erin Riches September 11, 2007, 2:32 AM
- Categories: BMW, Convertibles, Coupes, Frankfurt Auto Show
It lasted about four seconds. Half the crowd missed it. But Mercedes showed the 2010 E-Class at the Frankfurt Auto Show.
It was easy to miss...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham September 11, 2007, 2:25 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Future Vehicles, Mercedes-Benz
Porsche announced today at the Frankfurt show that it will produce exactly one infinity of variations on its Cayenne SUV. There will be a Cayenne for everyone. There's the Cayenne, the Cayenne S, the Cayenne Turbo, the Cayenne Bob, the Cayenne powered by rabid squirrels and many, many more. Or at least there will be two new Cayennes: the GTS and the Hybrid...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund September 11, 2007, 2:20 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Porsche, SUVs
Although this Frankfurt auto show marks the world premiere of the 457-hp 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, the highly anticipated sedan was not part of the 14-hour-long Mercedes press conference. It wasn't even mentioned. But we found one. It's hidden away on the third floor of the epic Mercedes display, which takes up an entire hall the size of the Superdome...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham September 11, 2007, 2:03 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz, Sedans
During the endless Mercedes-Benz press conference, which included something like 400 cars and even more dancers dressed as trees, we spotted Formula 1 phenom Lewis Hamilton (right) talking up the Mercedes brass. This season the British driver has four poles, three wins and is right now atop the points standings. His Mercedes-McLaren, however, was not part of the four-hour-long dog and Bluetec show. -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham September 11, 2007, 1:29 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz, Motorsports
Amidst BMW's heavily evironmentally oriented presentation, the 2008 BMW M3 snuck in. Yeah, you know all about this fourth generation of the M3 already. Here in Frankfurt, though, the M3 finally made its public debut.
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- Posted by: J to the K September 11, 2007, 12:46 AM
- Categories: BMW, Coupes, Frankfurt Auto Show
Hybrids never used to get any respect here in the land of the oil burners we like to call Europe. But that's changed drastically. Porsche and Mercedes will both show hybrid-powered SUVs here. And this morning BMW unveiled its gas-electric take on the SUV with the fetchingly named BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund September 11, 2007, 12:37 AM
- Categories: BMW, Frankfurt Auto Show, Hybrids
September 10, 2007
Volkswagen made a big deal about a very small car at tonight's pre-show unveil party. It's called the up! Concept, and it's Volkswagen's answer to the Smart city car. Chairman of the Board, Martin Winterkorn, said it was the first project he turned his attention to when he became head of the German automaker...
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The VW Group's pre-press-preview-days press conference was so big that it had its own traffic jam. In an almost GM-level of bigness, VW unveiled a car from each and every one of its passenger car divisions. It was so big it was housed in a converted basketball arena. It was so big that the Chinese Minister of Science was in the house...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund September 10, 2007, 2:10 PM
- Categories: Audi, Frankfurt Auto Show, Sedans
No, this is not 50 Cent's car. This, sir, is the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Pur Sang. And, hoo boy, is it ever shiny. Unveiled at the Volkswagen Group's nonstop extravaganza the night before the Frankfurt show began, the Pur Sang nearly blinded several bystanders...
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- Posted by: Daniel Pund September 10, 2007, 1:44 PM
- Categories: Bugatti, Coupes, Frankfurt Auto Show
The rumors of a new super Lambo are true, but the most remarkable aspect of the new Lamborghini Reventon isn't its horsepower or torque, it's the price -- 1 million euros even. That's more than a 300 percent premium over the Murcielago upon which the Reventon is based.
Forking over an extra $700,000 gets you about 20 extra horsepower, loads of carbon-fiber trim and some questionable bodywork. So yeah, it's not much of a deal, but with only 20 slated for construction in 2008, the exclusivity of the Reventon is the real draw.
"It's the most powerful and expensive Lamborghini ever built," said Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Lamborghini SpA at the reveal here in Frankfurt. Apparently a phrase like that is enough, as all 20 Reventons have already been sold. -- Ed Hellwig, Inside Line Lead Senior Editor
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig September 10, 2007, 1:31 PM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Lamborghini, Sports Cars
We've just returned from an evening out at Frankfurt's Restaurant Remise, sipping German beer, chatting with acquaintances about nothing in particular, listening to a DJ spin progressive rock -- doing all the things that the future owners of this red 2009 Dodge Journey will never get to do. Because they're in the having-kids phase of life's journey. And with enough children to necessitate a 7-passenger SUV, they can't be drinking 5 euro heffenweisen. As consolation, they'll enjoy third-row seats that are easy to fold and the ability to chill juiceboxes on demand.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches September 10, 2007, 1:19 PM
- Categories: Dodge, Frankfurt Auto Show, SUVs
The first unveil of the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show is in the history books and the auto show hasn't even opened its doors yet. Tonight General Motors turned the historic Bockenheimer Depot, an old train station in downtown Frankfurt, into the hippest and greenest Internet cafe on earth (even the laptops were 100% fuel cell powered so said the sign). The event was called GM Premiere Night, and it was the perfect setting to introduce the Opel Flextreme, the next evolution of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid.
Essentially a packaging exercise, the Flextreme concept shows that GM's plug-in hybrid platform can support a four-door sedan...
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham September 10, 2007, 12:22 PM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, General Motors, Green Tech
September 6, 2007
Mazda will debut this snappy new Mazda 6 at the Frankfurt auto show. Like the popular Mazda 3, this is a very good-looking car and should prove to be another winner for Mazda.
When it hits Stateside, expect a 3.5L V6 as well as a base four-cylinder model. Early reports say the car will weigh less than the outgoing model and will emit less pollutants...
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September 5, 2007
The Citroen C-Cactus concept is going to be right up there as a top contender for the "Most Controversial Design" award at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show—a show in which controversial design is pretty much a given. This is nothing new for Citroen, as being on the far edge of design thinking has long been part of their corporate DNA.
Aside from the styling, the C-Cactus concept offers some real-world (again advanced) thinking in terms of construction and diesel hybrid drivetrain.
Gotta admit Citroen—and the French in general—really get you thinking about vehicular design, as you've likely never thought about it before.
Full story here. More images and Inside Line report after the jump.
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August 30, 2007
Inside Line has obtained these spy shots of a new, uprated version of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Developed to complement the standard Vantage, the new model will feature upgrades to the suspension, brakes and engine. Expect better breathing and a new ECU to deliver improved throttle response with more power and torque.
Comparisons with the Porsche 911 GT3 are obvious, but Aston insiders insist the new car will not be as radical as its German rival...
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August 29, 2007
Audi will debut its all-new 2009 A4 at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show next month.
As with many new cars, this one has grown a bit, as it is 4.6 inches longer and 2.2 inches wider. Here in the USA expect initial models to be powered by a turbo four (FWD) and a 3.2L V6 (AWD).
Here's Inside Line's take: Frankfurt Preview: 2009 Audi A4
August 27, 2007
Dodge will debut its new Journey CUV at the Frankfurt auto show next month. Based on a lengthened Avenger platform, the seven-passenger Journey will be a world vehicle.
It has some clever features, one of which is the way the sliding middle-row seat base folds up to allow better access into the third-row seat.
"Calling it a crossover is a bit of a stretch...
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August 24, 2007
Ford is going to debut its Verve Concept at the Frankfurt auto show next month. The car hints at what we can expect the next Focus to look like.
Here's Inside Line's take: Frankfurt Preview: Ford Verve Concept
More images after the jump.
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- Posted by: Bob Holland August 24, 2007, 4:00 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Ford, Frankfurt Auto Show
August 21, 2007
First official pictures and info on the Citroen C5 Airscape concept have been made public. The car is powered by a 208 hp 2.7L V6 HDI, and has a "Snow Motion" feature, which supposedly(?) is almost as good as AWD. The UrbanHybrid system uses regenerative energy to power the air-conditioning and sound systems. The car will be debut at the Frankfurt auto show next month...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland August 21, 2007, 4:00 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Citroen, Frankfurt Auto Show
August 13, 2007
After months of seeing the 2009 Jaguar XF sedan covered in camouflage, we can finally bring you the first shots of an almost completely uncovered production model. The rear end looks much like the C-XF concept and features "Jaguar" script on the trunklid, a "leaper" above the lettering and a pair of nicely integrated tail pipes. As we expected, vents in the front quarter panels mimic the current XJ sedan and XK coupe. The wheel design is new -- and not particularly very attractive...
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Suzuki will be using the Frankfurt auto show as the stage to debut their Kizashi (which means 'prelude' in Japanese) concept. The production version, when it eventually appears in showrooms, will fall in between current Suzuki sedans in terms of size, and will be a global vehicle.
In addition, Suzuki will debut the spunky-production-ready Splash, and the spunky-to-the-max SX4 WRC.
Full story here...
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August 8, 2007
You might accuse Kia of being overly cute with the "Pro-cee'd" name and its trick spelling, but I kinda like it. I also like what I see so far here of the car, which admittedly isn't much.
The 3-door hatch will be built in Slovakia, and sold in Europe. Hmmm....
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- Posted by: Bob Holland August 8, 2007, 4:00 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Frankfurt Auto Show, Hatchbacks, Kia
August 2, 2007
VW is going back-to-the-future at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show with their City Expert concept. How so you ask? Think basic "People's Car."
Oh, wait you want more... Okay, how about an über basic automobile (projected price to be under $12,000) with a rear-mounted flat-four (boxer) engine?..
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July 30, 2007
Okay, I gotta admit I'm not a big fan of Peugeot styling. That goes for all their vehicles. They're French. They're interesting, for sure...
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June 29, 2007
Even though the VW Tiguan won't be announced until the Frankfurt auto show this fall, official images have been released.
The handsome small SUV will powered by a choice of three TSI and two TDI engines. Of these the completely new developments are the extremely quiet TDIs with common rail fuel injection. They achieve 103 kW / 140 hp and 125 kW / 170 hp and at 1,750 rpm already output 320 Nm or 350 Nm in four-wheel drive. Both TDIs already meet the limits of the Euro-5 standard first coming into effect in 2009.
Full story here.
More images and Inside Line's take after the jump.
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June 26, 2007
It looks to be another home run for the Mini folks. The vehicle is reported to be officially introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Full story here at MotorAuthority.
May 22, 2007
It won't be long now until we see the 2009 Mercedes-Benz GLK in production trim, but this prototype caught recently on the Nurburgring test track gives a pretty good idea of what it will look like. The GLK will match up with the BMW X3 is both size and price when it goes on sale late next year. And judging by the wheels and tires on this prototype, the GLK should come close to matching the X3 when it comes to performance as well. Built on a shared platform with the new C-Class sedan, the GLK is expected to use the same 3.5-liter V6 and seven speed transmission along with Mercedes' 4Matic all wheel drive system...
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May 10, 2007
Also caught in Audi's backlot today is a new SUV based on the same platform as the upcoming A4. The Audi Q5 will slot in below the Q7 in the lineup and should measure up closely with the BMW X3 in terms of price and size. Like the A4, this prototype is well covered but you can get a pretty good idea of what it will like anyway.
Here are some additional spy photos of the 2009 Audi A4. With the cover still in place there isn't much to see, but you can get some idea of the sedan's overall size and shape, which not surprisingly are pretty close to the current Audi A4.
Audi has mastered the art of camouflage as of late. Instead of the usual black tarps and tape, it's going with the full blown car cover to keep us guessing. Our best estimate from these spy photos? This is the next generation A4 sedan scheduled to go on sale next year...
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April 16, 2007
It may be covered in hideous camouflage, but this is most certainly the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Caught during cold weather testing in Northern Scandinavia, these sedan prototypes show only minor differences from the current models. Most of the greenhouse appears unchanged, so expect the most noticeable differences to come in the way of new front and rear fascias. You can bet on plenty of additional new technology too, although the hybrid drivetrain that's expected to debut in the S-Class probably won't make it into the E-Class for another year or two after its launch.
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March 30, 2007
We recently delivered a full test of the 2007 Porsche 911 GT3. In short, it was the sickest 911 we had ever driven. So where does that leave the upcoming 2008 Porsche 911 GT2 you see in our latest spy photos? With as much as 500 horsepower expected from its turbocharged flat six and a suspension setup similar to the GT3, it's safe to say the GT2 could become our new favorite 911. Expect to see it official debut at the Frankfurt auto show in September...
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March 14, 2007
The roll out of the 997 series continues. This prototype of the 2008 Porsche 911 GT2 spotted during cold weather testing shows a few unique new body panels in addition to a set of serious looking brakes. Some of the more outlandish styling elements are probably nothing more than a little camouflage, but the deep front diffuser looks ready for production. Also note the roll cage bars behind the front seats. Given that the standard 911 Turbo is rated 480 horsepower, expect the GT2 to push beyond the 500 mark when it debuts later this year.
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January 31, 2007
No sane Boxster owner would subject his softop sportscar to this kind of cold weather punishment, so it's pretty obvious that the Porsche in our latest spy photos is a prototype. We guessing it's the 2009 Porsche Boxster as there's minor camouflage on the headlights and taillights. The front air dam has been reconfigured as well, but the rest of the car looks unchanged. Expect the usual level of horsepower and torque enhancements, although given there's already 280 horsepower 236 pound-feet of torque in the Boxster S, the need for even more power seems unwarranted.
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January 25, 2007
It's not like we haven't seen the 2008 Mini Clubman numerous times already, but these latest spy photos are some of the clearest shots yet of the upcoming three-door. That's right, three-door as this new model from Mini will have an additional access door on the passenger side. It will also have a set of barn doors out back for easier access to the enlarged cargo area. According to Motoringfile, the Clubman will make its official debut at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show in September with U.S. sales beginning in early 2008.
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January 11, 2007
These are the latest spy photos from the streets of Munich and they appear to reveal the upcoming BMW Z9 roadster. Although at first glance, it may look like a next-generation Z4, the proportions on this prototype suggest a bigger, more substantial roadster along the lines of a Mercedes-Benz SL. Look closely and you can see a separate, blacked-out side window. The current Z4 uses a single pane for its ultra tight cabin. Also note the big dual exhaust pipes that suggest a possible V8 under its long hood. We haven't heard any firm dates on when this new roadster is expected to go on sale, but given how far along this prototype looks, a debut at next fall's Frankfurt auto show is possible.
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October 2, 2006
About a month ago there was a post on a BMW M3 enthusiast site claiming to show specs and pricing for the upcoming BMW super coupe. We were suspicious, and after a careful examination of the information we were even less convinced. Now comes word from the Australian website www.drive.com.au that the M3 won't be unveiled until next fall's show in Frankfurt. This puts the U.S...
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig October 2, 2006, 5:06 PM
- Categories: BMW, Coupes, Frankfurt Auto Show
January 10, 2006
Is it possible to turn out a bad Mini concept? I don't think so, or at least I haven't seen one. The Mini Traveller concept is yet another retro show car. This time based upon the original Mini Traveller of some 40-odd years ago...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 10, 2006, 6:31 PM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Chicago Auto Show, Detroit Auto Show, Frankfurt Auto Show, Geneva Motor Show, LA Auto Show, MINI, New York Auto Show, Paris Auto Show, SEMA Show, Tokyo Motor Show
January 9, 2006
Despite all their problems, GM is going all out at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, to show that they are far from being dead and buried. They plan to make a big splash with the introduction of new production and concept vehicles.
"They are showcasing their turnaround," said Erich Merkle, director of forecasting for IRN Inc., a Grand Rapids-based automotive consulting firm. "They're saying, 'We're serious about it...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland January 9, 2006, 1:00 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Chicago Auto Show, Detroit Auto Show, Frankfurt Auto Show, General Motors, Geneva Motor Show, LA Auto Show, New York Auto Show, Paris Auto Show, SEMA Show, Tokyo Motor Show
