Frankfurt Motor Show
Ferrari crams unprecedented F1 technology into new 430 Scuderia
When Ferrari pulls the covers off a new model, the world stops to look – especially when it’s an up-spec version of an already phenomenal car that’s been lightened, pumped up with a dose of steroids and packed to the gills with barely-filtered technology fresh from the garage of the oldest and most successful Formula One team in the paddock. Here it is: the brand new and much-anticipated Ferrari 430 Scuderia supercar. Read More
September 13, 2007 According to Nissan research, teenagers have fallen out of love with the car – they see it as an oily, noisy throwback to the last century. Rather than drive across town to meet friends, they live in a virtual world where the internet is their vehicle of choice. Nissan, however, believes the Mixim show concept will ‘refresh’ their opinions. The futuristic electric coupe concept has a central driving position, a cloverleaf ‘three plus one’ seating layout, scissor doors, an F1-style wheel and controls, lightweight construction and plenty of power … and it’s all electric. Click here to see more highlights from the 62nd International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. Read More
September 12, 2007 Since time (automotive time that is) began, luxury has also by default meant big. Big meant more interior space, more power, more features, more cost and more prestige. As the world comes to terms with doing more with less, that trend seems set for a reversal – small in the future will no longer mean frugal, meagre and penny-pinching and that’s the key message Toyota is hoping to convey with the iQ concept car. Large cars don’t make a lot of sense on the crowded streets of Rome, Paris and London, so the iQ packs luxury features into a small form factor. Read More
Shades of the classic Beetle - Volkswagen’s up! concept
September 12, 2007 Designed to showcase Volkswagen’s vision for future small, efficient, city-going vehicles, the 3.45 meter long up! concept car features a new drivetrain and rear engined layout reminiscent of the original Beetle. Read More
September 12, 2007 Lamborghini yesterday unveiled the Lamborghini Reventon at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Only 20 cars will be produced and they come with a very exclusive price tag - EUR1 million (US$1.38 million) plus taxes. Although it is based on the Murciélago LP640, the exterior design of the Reventón is completely new and combines extraordinary styling with its limited edition status and price tag to make the supercar a symbol of extreme exclusivity. Read More
September 12, 2007 Unveiled yesterday at the Frankfurt Show, the Mercedes-Benz F 700 research car is arguably what a luxury touring sedan might look a few years from now. A small (1.8 litre) new design for the internal combustion engine in the form of the DIESOTTO motor (which combines the best properties of the spark-ignition engine and the diesel engine), a seating design that breaks with tradition to enable a spacious interior and a plethora of innovative technologies designed to create an exceedingly comfortable mode of travel. The technology which really interested us most was the suspension system - the car can anticipatively recognize the condition of the road and level out the uneven spots with its active PRE-SCAN suspension, further improving suspension comfort substantially. Click here to see more highlights from the 62nd International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. Read More
September 11, 2007 Described as embodying Renault’s vision of a top-of-the-range grand tourer Coupé, the Laguna Coupé Concept strives to exude a mix of power and refinement through its flowing profile, long-nose and very short rear overhang backed by a newly developed 170-195kW (230-265hp) V6 dCi powertrain and Four-wheel Active Drive chassis. Read More
Yet another eye-catching supercar will make its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in the form of the BRABUS BULLIT – a 720 hp (537 kW), 224 mph (360 kmh) automobile based on the new Mercedes C-Class that features the BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo displacement engine originally designed for the car that claimed the title of the world's fastest sedan in 2006, the BRABUS ROCKET. And the impressive numbers don’t stop there – the car achieves 0 - 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.9 seconds, reaches 200 km/h (124 mph) after just 10.49 seconds and breaks 300-km/h (186 mph) in 24.5 seconds. Read More
September 8, 2007 A new version of the Porsche Cayenne GTS, which makes its world debut at the IAA Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany, on September 11, features a specially developed chassis: it is the first Cayenne to offer the electronically-controlled damping system, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), with steel springs. This combination, which also lowers the Cayenne by 24mm, was previously reserved exclusively for Porsche sports cars. The car boasts an enhanced version of the direct fuel injection (DFI) 4.8-litre V8 petrol engine. The engine in the Cayenne GTS yields 405bhp (298 kW) at 6,500rpm – 20bhp more than in the Cayenne S. Read More
Aston Martin to show two DBS special editions in Frankfurt
September 7, 2007 Coinciding with the first European showing of the DBS, Aston Martin but will showcase two new special editions – the Aston Martin DB9 LM and the V8 Vantage N400 at this month's 62nd International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. Read More