FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Porsche takes the sausage

Porsche’s Mission E electric super-sedan was the unquestionable star of the 2015 Frankfurt motor show amid intense competition. Frankfurt’s organisers claimed a record 200-plus world debuts for this year’s instalment of the biennial event — up by around a third on previous years.

Mission E has the potential to significantly move the goal posts in the real-world EV debate. Thanks to a move to an 800V system, energy density, but even more importantly charging times will both be improved. Unlike others, Porsche promises the Mission E will be able to deliver its full dollop of performance time and time again – something with which current super-fast EVs struggle.

Porsche insiders promise it will be built and that no conventional powertrain will ever pollute its EV purity. The fact that Mission E looks like a super-saloon for the next decade didn’t hurt its appeal either.

As expected, the German marques were Frankfurt’s heavy-hitters. The above mentioned Porsche easily overshadowed Audi’s remarkably restrained e-tron quattro electric sports SUV and even Mercedes-Benz’s wild Concept IAA.

The Audi looked at the same time over-styled and underwhelming. It promises to match Tesla’s range – but not until the battery technology comes online in around three years.

The Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA was not attractive in the true sense but was certainly striking.

Active aerodynamics were the car’s gimmick, but there was some reality buried in the show-car bling. Indeed, Concept IAA delivered two sneak-peeks at the Daimler brand’s future. It’s design hints at the future of AMG’s GT platform and the interior is an exaggerated version of that which will grace the new-generation E-Class which will debut at next March’s Geneva show.

But the home team didn’t have things all its way. Jaguar’s F-PACE crossover was one of the key production car releases. Despite the drip-feed Jaguar’s subjected us to, the Brit SUV didn’t disappoint. It’s handsome, cobby and substantial in the meta. Its interior is also a cracker and we can’t wait to drive it.

Mazda delivered one of the best looking Japanese concept cars ever at Frankfurt. Strong words, but the Koeru concept crossover (you can call it CX-6 – soon!) is a game-changer in the flesh. The most cohesive application of the brand’s Kodo design language yet.

Honda put NSX on centre stage (again!!! Will it be the first car to require a facelift before launch?), but its star was the capricious MotoGP-powered Project 2&4. The assymetric, elemental sports car has about as much chance of being built as I have winning next year’s F1 championship, but we loved it just the same.

Meantime, two production hatches were important for Australian observers at Frankfurt.

A good reception for Renault’s new Megane is all-important if the French marque is to move beyond novelty status Down Under. Design rich, the new five-door presents as a substantial, handsome hatch with (at last) an interior that can take on the best in segment and even ‘premium’ small cars.

But in so many ways, the most important production car at Frankfurt show for Australian buyers was Holden’s (nee Opel) Astra.

As Australia’s iconic lion brand moves from manufacturer to sales company, Astra will assume the burden of providing the marque mass-market penetration. Small cars are big business Down Under and the segment in which Astra will launch is the largest and most hotly contested.

Light commercial vehicles and SUVs are important but if Astra doesn’t fire then Holden will likely fall into the bottom half of the top 10 within a relatively short time. Yes, it’s THAT important.