Frankfurt's 63rd motor show is a compact version of the last event two years ago that will be jumpstarted by electric autos as the sector searches for a future without state lifelines.
The event, known by its initials IAA, opens to the media Tuesday and the public on Thursday, but this year there are fewer participants and visitors but more world premieres, the German VDA auto federation said this week.
"Innovation is the way out of the crisis" that global automakers have been in since last year, said Matthias Wissmann, head of the German VDA auto federation that organises the show in alternance with one in Paris.
A total of 781 auto and auto parts manufacturers from 30 countries are to present around 100 new models, VDA said Monday.
The sector is abuzz about electric vehicles (EVs) being developed by major auto makers, and cross-border cooperation is another hot topic of discussion.
In the background, western European car sales have fallen by 11 percent in the first half of 2009 according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, despite hefty government subsidy schemes.
Major markets in Germany, Britain, Italy, France and Spain have been spared the worst owing to "cash-for-clunker" programmes that encouraged drivers to scrap old cars for new ones, but the boost they gave will peter out in 2010.
In terms of visitors, the Frankfurt show expects around 750,000 people to turn up, compared with almost one million two years ago.
"There will be claims that the end of the crisis is in sight, but in truth the sector is in grave danger," warned the Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) newspaper as key Japanese brands like Honda and Mitsubishi bowed out of the show.
Wissmann nonetheless insisted that the number of new items would see this year's edition "gain in quality" despite the lower numbers.
Many manufacturers plan to present EVs or hybrid vehicles that run on petrol and electricity.
Among the eagerly awaited roll-outs are one from BMW's Mini unit and a four-auto range from city cars to utility models by Renault-Nissan.
"Electric vehicles will be seen on almost every stand," German auto expert Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer forecast.
Fuel-cell and hybrid vehicles from Mercedes, Peugeot and Toyota are getting polished up for opening day as well.
Sector experts will be looking meanwhile for automaker plans to boost joint efforts in a bid to bring down development costs, with former and current rivals possibly unveiling alliances.
Among the flashy high-end premieres, Audi, BMW and Mercedes have new models ready to roar, not to mention Ferrari's latest rocket, the 458 Italia.
Some highlights
• Speaking publicly for the first time at the Frankfurt Auto Show, Porsche's new president and CEO, Michael Macht, revealed that Porsche is working hard on an electric-powered sports car that would meet the high standards of the Porsche brand.
"I am also convinced that one day Porsche will have an electric sports car in its line-up," said Macht at the company's press conference today. While he cautioned that so far the available battery technology is not "sufficient to meet Porsche's strict requirements," he said "our engineers are already working hard on this challenge."
"An electric sports car would therefore only make sense for Porsche if it offers performance and a cruising range similar to that of current sports cars in the market," he said. "We are therefore taking the first step in this direction with a full hybrid - in the Cayenne, the Panamera and maybe in the not too distant future also in a racing car or a production 911. Why not?"
Macht pointed out that Porsche has a long legacy with hybrids as it was 109 years ago that Professor Ferdinand Porsche built the first fully functioning car with hybrid technology.
• Toyota reveals Prius plug-in Hybrid. Based on the third-generation Prius, the PHV Concept expands Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology, utilizing first generation lithium-ion battery technology and enabling electric operation at higher speeds and longer distances than conventional hybrids. When fully charged, the vehicle is targeted to achieve an electric-only range of approximately 20 km and will be capable of achieving highway speeds in electric-only mode. For longer distances, the PHV concept reverts to "hybrid mode" and operates like a regular Prius. This ability to utilize all-electric power for short trips or hybrid power for longer drives alleviates the issue of limited cruising range encountered with pure electric vehicles.
Beginning in late 2009, Toyota will begin global delivery of 500 Prius PHV vehicles. This program will allow Toyota to gather real world driving feedback and understand customer expectations for plug-in technology. In addition, the program will allow evaluation of the first generation lithium-ion battery's durability, reliability and performance.
"This is an important next step in the world's evolution of hybrid technology," said Stephen Beatty, Managing Director, Toyota Canada Inc.
• Ford will launch the all-new, 7-seat C-MAX in North America in late 2011 as a "whitespace" vehicle. C-MAX is the first of a new generation of Ford global C-cars scheduled for introduction during the next several years; lineup also will include next-generation Ford Focus.
• Audi presented the e-tron, a high-performance sports car with a purely electric drive system. Four motors – two each at the front and rear axles – drive the wheels, making the concept car a true quattro. Producing 313 hp and 3,319 lb-ft) of torque, the two-seater accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, and from 60 to 120 km/h in 4.1 seconds. The lithium-ion battery provides a truly useable energy content of 42.4 kilowatt hours to enable a range of approximately 248 kilometers.
• Lamborghini presented the Reventón Roadster, a sports car "of breathtaking fascination, menacing power and uncompromising performance." The 6.5 liter twelve-cylinder catapults the Roadster from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and onwards to a top speed of 330 km/h. The open-top Reventón is not only one of the fastest, but also one of the most exclusive cars in the world as Lamborghini has limited the series.
• MINI reveals a Roadster Concept in which it hopes to set "a new trend for individual mobility borne out by the brand." The MINI Roadster Concept is clearly recognizable at very first sight as a MINI. At the same time, with its two seats, a tight-fitting soft roof and innovative rear-end design, the new model opens up new perspective for the compact roadster segment.
• Audi revealed the Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro. The car has a lightweight cloth top, carbon fiber body parts, mid-mounted V10 engine producing 525 hp with zero to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 313 km/h along with the other technologies we've come to expect from Audi, such as Audi Space Frame (ASF), quattro permanent all-wheel drive, full-LED headlights and with an innovative seatbelt microphone available as an option.
• Aston Martin reveals four-door Rapide. Four 'swan wing' doors provide access to sports seats both front and rear giving occupants with ample accommodation. A 301-litre luggage compartment affords generous space for belongings for all four passengers whether they be sports bags or sets of skis. Rapide features a hand-built 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 470 bhp with peak power being delivered at 6,000 rpm and 443 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 5000 rpm. A specifically tuned six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission features as standard, allowing the driver to change gear automatically or manually via the steering column-mounted magnesium paddles.
• The Abarth 695 "Tributo Ferrari" makes its world debut at Frankfurt. This new performance version of the Abarth 500 confirms the link between Abarth and Ferrari based on shared values that include a passion for performance, a racing soul, attention to detail and Italian style.
• The Lexus LF-Ch compact hybrid concept made its world premiere. The LF-Ch concept was designed by Calty Design Research Inc., Toyota's North American-based research and design center located in Newport Beach, Calif. "The LF-Ch concept is the next evolution of the compact luxury vehicle," said Kevin Hunter, president of Calty. "We were able to create a beautifully designed hybrid with a deep sense of mystery and intrigue." It will also be on display for the first time in North America at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show in December.
Thursday 17 September 2009
Electric cars shine at Frankfurt Motor Show
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