FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW
Read the Carsales Network's coverage from this year's Frankfurt motor showGreen Day: carbon is all the craze at Frankfurt
Cars for the age of climate change were the main agenda at IAA
There may have been horsepower highlights but green sympathies were soothed en masse on the opening day of the Frankfurt IAA Show.
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Volkswagen's up! concept city car might have got the lion's share of media coverage at Frankfurt, but it's Wolfsburg's other star that the VW faithful gathered to see and that will impact Aussie buyers first.
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New people's car stars at VW gala
VW's up! headed an eight-brand new model bonanza in Frankfurt last night
Forget the current Golf-based bubble, Volkswagen's true spiritual successor to the Beetle capped off a night of eight world premieres in Frankfurt
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Toyota shares VW city car craving
Toyota Europe's design smarts on show at Frankfurt
Volkswagen wasn't the only manufacturer looking for carbon PR credits at Frankfurt. Taking pride of place on Toyota's stand at the giant German show was the iQ.
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BMW X6: high-riding fashion in the metal
It might be labelled a concept, but BMW's segment creating X6 is coming to a road near you
Forget the concept label, and don't be sidelined by the hybrid-powertrained stablemate, BMW's X6 is on its way to markets like Australia and sooner rather than later.
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Suzuki makes a Splash but new medium concept is star car
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Renault's stunning coupe concept
Gallic brand pulls the wraps off its sexiest offering since the 1960s Alpine coupe
Renault wowed Frankfurt show-goers with a stunning two-door version of its Laguna, and the design study derives its inspiration from the 2004 Fluence concept.
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The big Kizuna - Mazda6 for 2008
Someone jumped the gun, but now Mazda has revealed all concerning the next Mazda6
It seems like every new Mazda must be launched with a Japanese buzz-word or catch-phrase to frame the car's character. In 2005 it was 'Jinba Ittai' ('rider and horse as one') for the NC platform MX-5. Now Mazda introduces more Japanese to the English language with 'Kizuna' -- 'emotional connection'. The new word accompanies the new Mazda6, which is officially launched with effect from the Frankfurt motor show
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Fresh Focus and 'DSG' for Ford
Frankfurt saw the unveiling of Ford's freshened Focus
Any resemblance is purely intentional. Restyled to sit alongside the new Mondeo, the next generation Fiesta (unveiled in the form of the Verve concept) and the all-new compact SUV Kuga, the new Focus is an altogether sharper looking car.
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Pro_cee'd puts best foot forward
Kia's European design studio has unleashed a competitive new three-door hatch and three design studies at the Frankfurt motor show
Two 'green' concepts, one sports coupe concept and a new production model based on the cee'd platform make up the core of Kia's exhibit at the Frankfurt motor show.
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Accord Tourer concept
Is it a new wagon... is it a new Accord... could it be both?
Cleverly side-stepping "we were there first" accusations from BMW and Peugeot, Honda's new wagon concept has been called the Accord Tourer -- not the Accord Touring.
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Schuey on hand for 430 Scuderia launch
Frankfurt, Ferrari and Schumacher; they all came together for the launch of the latest model, the 430 Scuderia
Not many companies are privileged to be able to call on the services of a seven-time World Formula One champion. Ferrari is one of the 'not many'.
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High-rise 500
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New models lead Maserati to profit
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Fitted with a 1.3-litre turbodiesel engine, the Flextreme has an 'electric-only' range of 55km, meaning that the car will run on just electric power for that distance before the engine bursts into life to replenish the battery.
Unlike the Volvo ReCharge Concept which will also make an appearance at the motor show, the Opel has just one electric motor. That motor is the sole motive force for the car and it's powered by a lithium-ion battery which is charged by the turbodiesel engine. Although the clothing is all new, much of the on-board drive system technology and the platform were introduced with the Chevrolet Volt concept.
Opel Corsa hybrid
We're a way off seeing the Opel Corsa Hybrid in Australia, but if Daewoo bases the next Aveo/Kalos/Barina on this same platform, the hybrid drivetrain should carry over without much fuss.
How does it work? It's a turbodiesel with an integrated starter/alternator driving/driven by a belt to/from the IC (internal combustion) engine. The Corsa Hybrid is electrically driven until additional torque is required or the lithium-ion battery needs recharging.
This suggests that the Corsa Hybrid runs a 42-Volt system, not 12-Volt. Opel estimates that the Corsa Hybrid uses just 3.75lt/100km.
Porsche Cayenne Hybrid
Due to go on sale before the end of the decade, Porsche's hybrid-drive Cayenne offers drivetrain simplicity lacking in other hybrids and yet offers improved efficiency and driveability.
The Porsche system makes do with the 3.6-litre direct injection FSI V6 Volkswagen engine coupled to an electric motor with its own clutch system and a battery pack in the rear. Combined, the two drive units provide better torque than the V8-engined Cayenne S (550Nm versus 500 for the conventional car).
Work on the Cayenne Hybrid will progress further, with Porsche aiming to reduce fuel consumption from the present 9.8lt/100km to 8.9lt/100km in combined cycle testing.
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Renault Clio Estate
If Renault's new wagon is an 'Estate', it must be one of those modern, high-density neighbourhoods where everyone lives cheek-by-jowl.
Such a tiny parcel of property to wear the grandiose title of 'Estate'. One hardly expects herds of antlered quadrupeds to be grazing in the luggage compartment, stalked by corpulent gents in jodhpurs and riding boots.
Still, an Estate it is...
Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Clio Estate is a production-ready version of the Grand Tour concept introduced at the Geneva Motor Show back in June.
Mechanically, it shares the floorpan and mechanicals from the Clio hatch.
Given Peugeot is committed to bringing the 207 Touring to Australia, there's at least an outside chance that Renault will import the Clio Estate also.
Renault Kangoo Compact
Although it bears the name of Renault's light commercial vehicle, the Renault Kangoo Compact is a concept vehicle that is intended to appeal to those seeking a youthful and exciting lifestyle. It's sort of mini cargo sporting chic for friends, if that helps you work it out.
Renault has finished the car in Fireball Orange and brushed aluminium to give it that gym-shoe look and seating is modular for the sake of flexible packaging. The company describes the car as being like a 'sitting-room on wheels'. As far as sitting rooms go, the Kangoo Compact's interior décor will probably date as fast as lava lamps and bean bags.
Drive is by a Euro IV-compliant 1.5-litre diesel.
Renault Koleos
A 'cross-over' concept that matches MPV utility with off-road capability, the Koleos features a 2.0dCi turbodiesel engine jointly developed by Renault and Nissan.
Concept or not, we're certain it's going into production, based on spy pics seen recently (more here).
Saab Turbo X
Thirty years of Saab Turbo tech celebrated in a new limited edition model
Swedish maker Saab unveiled its first turbocharged model, the 99 Turbo at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1977.
This year marks thirty years since that fairly momentous event in the company's history. To commemorate the first Saab Turbo, GM's only global prestige brand will return to Frankfurt with a limited edition model based on the 9-3.
Back in the late seventies, it seemed like every Saab Turbo had to be black -- perhaps to hide the soot, oil and water stains when the engine expired?
Whatever, black Saabs were iconic in their own way and the Turbo X will be a touchstone with those formative days of production turbo technology.
Turbodiesel hybrids are rapidly becoming all the rage in Europe. The stumbling block until now has been the conflict between stopping/starting diesel engines and the draconian constraints of Euro IV emissions legislation.
Obviously the code has now been cracked. Peugeot's 308 Hybrid relies on the same sort of technology as the Opel Corsa Hybrid to delivery a combined cycle fuel economy figure as low as 3.4lt/100km.
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Slightly longer than the current CH model, the new Lancer is also taller and wider, to liberate more interior space. Three engines are specified for international models, an 80kW 1.5-litre petrol four, a 105-kW 1.8-litre DOHC four and a 103kW 2.0-litre turbodiesel. We would expect to see the 1.8 in Australia, with the possibility of the diesel following or even, given the presence of the Astra CDTi and Ford Focus TDCi, at the same time as the launch of the petrol engined-model.
A five-speed manual transmission is specified for the 1.8, with the option of a four-speed automatic available also.
New Lancer introduces knee airbag for driver, along with side and curtain airbags.
Other safety features include adapative front lighting and rain-sensing wipers.
Also read the Carsales Network's preview news of the Frankfurt motor show:
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Jaguar XF: combining heritage and modernity
Jaguar, committed to unveiling the replacement for the S-Type at the Frankfurt motor show, has released comprehensive details in advance
What's with the sudden, inexplicable tendency of car companies to equate sedans with coupes?
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Hyundai will whip the covers off a trio of debutants -- including a concept that points to the next-generation Tiburon -- at this week's Frankfurt motor show.
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Kia set to hatch a sporty 3-door
Korean brand will pull the wraps off its sporty pro_cee'd three-door hatch -- in full production trim -- at the Frankfurt show
Kia has already launch its Toyota Corolla-rivalling c'eed hatchback internationally, but set to follow in its wheeltracks is a sporty three-door version, dubbed the pro_c'eed.
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Ford Kuga set to pounce
Blue oval prepares to unleash its first baby SUV in near-production-ready form
We saw a rendering of it two months ago, and now Ford has issued the first official photos of its all-new Kuga crossover, which debuts at the Frankfurt motor show.
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The world's premium car makers are rushing headlong towards a greener future -- and Mercedes-Benz plans on taking that lead from Lexus.
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Porsche set to unleash rapid Cayenne GTS
Zuffenhausen's skunkworks conjures up a bad-boy version of its V8-powered SUV
It's not as though Porsche's V8-powered Cayenne S was a slug in the first place, but the Stuttgart mob will use this week's Frankfurt motor show to reveal an even faster, more hardcore version of its SUV -- and it's appropriately badged GTS.
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Volvo ReCharge Concept
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First pics, Mazda6
New '6' shows Lexus and Honda influences, but there's a lot of RX-8 DNA in it too
As is the way with the web these days, 'wallpaper' pics of the new Mazda6 have been published ahead of the car's official launch at the Frankfurt motor show (IAA) this week.
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Citroen C-Cactus concept
Citroen has prepared an exciting concept for the Frankfurt motor show -- and strewth, it's succulent...
What does Citroen have against the humble camel? The zany French guys could have named their latest concept the 'C-Camel' and conveyed the same concern for liquid resource conservation.
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Maserati gives Quattroporte sporting edge
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Dodge Journey concept ready for Frankfurt
'Journey' by name, Dodge's new wagon is a natural for an extended trip
Early Australian sales of Nitro have exceeded expectations, so Dodge will be on fire to flog the 'Journey' here too.
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Kia sports coupe heralds new look
Korean brand set to pull the wraps off an offbeat two-door design study
You could be forgiven for thinking this swoopy concept was penned by the design studios of one of the exalted Euro car manufacturers, but -- believe it or not -- it's the handiwork of Korea's rapidly emerging Kia brand.
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