CAR’s deputy ed Ben Barry is a man on a mission at the 64th Frankfurt motor show: we’ve tasked him with seeing every single new car at the IAA… in one day. Follow his exploits here in the CAR Live Blog. We’ll update this page throughout the day on international press day at the Frankfurt auto show. All times are local German o’clock and we’ve highlighted the world premiers in bold.
Click here for the latest updates – added at the foot of the page
7.50am: Lotus goings-on
A promising start – just spied ex-AMG engineer Wolf Zimmerman and ex-Ferrari designer Donato Coco, both now with Lotus. Will be interesting to see what Hethel has to show us this year, plus if they continue the rather bizarre roll-out of celebs. We’ve already scooped their Exige rally racer; come back for full pics soon.
8.01am: Over to Mercedes
First port of call is Merc. Had dinner here last night with AMG boss Ola Kannelius who was on top form and very excited about the upcoming C63 Black Series and the carbon monotub that will underpin the SLS E-Cell production car – it’s just 15 months away. Wow! First things first, a seat in that Black Series. Love it! Let’s hope the stars align and I get to go on the Laguna Seca launch in November for CAR Magazine.
8.21am: The Mercedes DTM race car
Ah, next year’s Mercedes DTM car, based on the C-class coupe is still under wraps. Damn. That’ll be more shoe leather later. Lots more tasty stuff about too, but the big talk last night was hydrogen, with boss Dr Zetsche staking Merc’s long-term future on fuel-cells and showing the breathtaking F125 concept – a 620-mile (1000km) range thanks to hydrogen plus lithium sodium battery that can be charged while the car is in motion, or from a mains socket. All a bit distant. Not so the fuel-cell B-class that’s recently back from lapping the globe. Would love to see this work, but we need Barack Obama on side – he’s publicly dismissed hydrogen.
8.26am: An old Citroen van waiting outside
Spotted this outside among the delivery trucks. Random!
8.31am: What’s safe about Mercedes?
Just seen Maybach ‘safety car’ outside. Apparently it’s from the Billionaire’s Race. Only billionaires can enter and they drive from Gstaad to Ibiza. Two new SLKs on show: the diesel SLK 250 CDI which I reckon is a bit pointless now petrols are so efficient and owners typically do low miles. Also the SLK 55 AMG, a naturally aspirated 5.5 and first AMG to get cylinder deactivation – it kills four cylinders whenever it can and, promises the boss, is very subtle. Oh, and the system shuts off when the roof is down to ensure you get a V8 soundtrack.
8.40am: Beanbags at Kia, a space ship at Audi
Kia has giant bean bags outside while it appears audi has landed a spaceship – no messing about with using existing buildings for Ingolstadt. Money really is no object at the Frankfurt auto show for the home crowd.
8.49am: Overload at Planet Audi
The Audi stand is absolutely rammed with models, but enough about them, let’s focus on the cars. Audi Urban Concept is interesting with its McLaren F1/Caparo-style seating arrangement, but you’d be very low in traffic and it’s still too wide to filter between lanes like a bike. I’d take this over a motorbike, though.
9.02am: Infiniti to build a ZE mid-engined coupe
News just in: Infiniti will show a mid-engined sports car with zero emissions capability at the 2012 Geneva motor show. F1 partner Red Bull will have a say on materials and aero – it’s pitched at 911 money, could be built if Geneva reception favourable. Think that’ll be more interesting than a Seb Vettel fettled FX…
9.04am: Grey but hot
Oh dear, now in hall 3 of 11 and already feeling too hot in my suit. It’s going to be a long day…
9.06am: A trip down memory lane at Seat
Seat is right next to Porsche – triggering System Porsche Ibiza from the 1986 British motor show for me. That and the three-door Cossie. I digress. Onwards!
9.11am: Up, Up and away
Just poring over the Volkswagen Up, essentially a Fox replacement. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s disappointingly conventional after the rear-engined, rear-drive concept. No, I’m much more taken by the Polo R WRC car next door. Can’t wait to see this in action next year. Wonder if the team is tapping up Citroen’s disaffected Seb Ogier now Loeb has re-signed, or if Petter Solberg will get the drive. Must try to find motorsport boss Kris Nissen – I know he’s here somewhere. I presume VW is tucking away its Nils concept car for a later reveal. It’s so tough trying to juggle everything at the Frankfurt motor show – much planning required because this show is absolutely huge.
9.24am: The ‘Ring-winning Porsche Manthey. Mmm
The Nurburgring 24 hours-winning Manthey Porsche 911. Still battle-scarred, still dirty. Awesome!
9.46am: Confusing signage at the Frankfurt motor show 2011
And you thought there were ‘just’ 11 halls – introducing the point- something halls…
9.52am: Down millionaire’s row
A Ferrari 430 Scuderia rebodied, a Lancia Stratos reborn. Little interest here from the press. I’ll take the Scud, please.
9.56am: Buying a car or 79
Just texted Pollard to say I’ve already seen hundreds of cars and bought a couple too. He’s well happy!
10.05am: Suzuki and the Volkswagen rift
Into hall 3.1 and Suzuki. All the talk at Frankfurt is how it’s getting out of its tie-up with VW. The show stand and products feel a decade out of date, but I’m hoping the new Suzuki Swift Sport – its key unveil here in 2011 – will have a bit of insurance-friendly, Pug 106 XSi- style amusement to it.
10.56am: Infiniti and some bloke called Sebastian Vettel
Just persuaded Infiniti to give me a personal unveil of the Vettel FX50. Lots of genuine carbonfibre niceness including the entire front and rear bumpers. Lovely carbon and Alcantara interior, too. No plans for it to go on sale (don’t they always say that?) but UK Infiniti dealers have had four people wanting to place orders this morning. Surely it’ll happen. We’re putting your best questions to Vettel later this afternoon. Come back later for his answers!
11.05am: The next stage of the Daimler-Nissan deal
More intriguing Infiniti chat: the plan is to go from the current 400 cars per year to 20,000 by 2016, in the UK alone. How so? With a C-segment Audi A3 rival (‘that’s unique, not just an A3 clone’), with four-cylinder petrols and diesels from Merc by 2013. Dr Zetsche and Carlos Ghosn will be meeting with a small number of journalists tomorrow to explain more. There’ll also be a four-door electric production saloon in 2014 and we’ll see a two-seat, mid-engined sports car concept with zero emissions capability at Geneva in March. But no, it won’t have any Red Bull branding.
11.10am: Dacia go racing. Whatever next?
Dacia’s Pikes Peak 2011 car came third with a 10min 17sec run. Makes you think twice!
11.26am: Kia builds a sports car. Remember the Pride?
Wow! Kia’s GT concept is part Aston Rapide, part Citroen concept (well, that slashed front bumper, also used on – interestingly – the Hyundai Veloster). I like it, but I’d mentally pictured it as something aimed at a younger audience. I want to see Kia do a Toyota FT-86. Something else coming at Detroit, I’m told. The Koreans just can’t stop launching cars – they’ve obviously been watching Audi. Kia’s fresh stand and fresh product – the oldest car is 2008’s Soul that’s shown in facelifted form today – contrast starkly with the dowdy Suzuki stand just a short walk down the hall. I reckon Kia’s best car is the new Picanto – it’s more cohesive than the Rio – and it’s shown at Frankfurt in three-door Picanto guise for the first time. Another world debut! This one below’s from a six-event Euro race series. Want a go…
11.42am: Mazda’s soft-roader – and not even halfway…
Just seen the world premier of the Mazda CX-5 soft-roader. I’m convinced it will do everything its owners will ask of it, but must dash. There’s more interesting stuff to see and I’m worried my challenge is stretching ahead of me. I’ve only scratched the surface so far…
11.56am: Red Bull wings everywhere
Both Renault and Infiniti are understandably milking the Red Bull Racing F1 link. Vettel will be at the Infiniti stand at 2.15pm to unveil his FX. And here’s an RBR on the Renault stand. Just played the least realistic driving simulator of my life on the Renaultsport bit of the stand. I hope the cars don’t actually drive like that! Right, behind schedule – onwards into hall four. Four! Give me strength! Am tickled by lots of comedy falls off raised motor show stands by men in suits.
12.18pm: Tuner alley
Tuners Mansory have a ten-car stand and taste factor has improved. Serious players (should that be playerz?) now. But what’s this next door? Brabus has stuffed a bi-turbo V12 with up to 800hp into the CLS, E-class and SLS. Take that and stick it in your exhuast pipe, downsizing.
12.28pm: Time to drool Chez Jaguar and Land Rover
Oh my word. The Jag C-X16 looks bloody amazing. Can’t wait to get behind the wheel. Right next door is Land Rover’s reimagining of the Defender, circa 2015. The Land Rover DC100 twins are great too, but are the two Landie concepts really called Cool and Tool? A tip off from the Jag team – the Growler badge on the C-X16 is wearing glasses!
1.21pm: Not much to see at the Jeep stand
1.25pm: More Land Rover interiors chat
Just got sidetracked by a chat with Jo Keatley – interior designer on the Land Rover Defender DC100 concepts. She worked on the LRX (Evoque concept) and the interesting materials reappear here, but with a sportier, more rugged twist: the floor uses a super-fabric developed for extreme protective gear and used on gloves by NASA (they used to put things into space). The sportier concept (the yellow roadster) uses a lightweight training shoe-style mesh dubbed Tribal High-Tech. Purists will be glad to see heavy use of water-repellant, wipe-down surfaces.
1.37pm: A Radical departure!
Radical sports cars has a stand! Great to see a small British specialist (and near neighbour of CAR Magazine in Peterborough) at the world’s biggest motor show. Good on ’em.
1.41pm: Lotus – yet more surprises
The new Lotus Evora GTE – another world premier, ker-ching! – looks smoking hot, and nice to see the new Lotus Exige rally car lined up next to Talbot Sunbeam of Guy Frequelin (Seb Loeb’s old boss) and Jean Todt. This Lotus story just gets more and more amazing by the day. I do hope they can pull it off – and haven’t blown all their budget on countless motor show concepts. And look – there’s veteran car guy (whatever that means) Bob Lutz standing by the new GTE.
1.49pm: Fezzer under wraps
Ferrari 458 Spider was still under wraps at Ferrari when I last ran past, but a large crowd is now. I think the looks are a big move forward after the slightly awkward fabric-roofed 430 – it just looks much more cohesive. Well, that’s from the pics anyway – will try to pop later to have a gander.
2.21pm: Range anxiety
Apologies for the delay – iPhone battery died and I’ve been running around trying to find a helpful PR. Found one at Lexus, so the phone’s on charge while I log into wi-fi in the lounge. Which may explain why my postings are a bit jumbled in time over the past hour – but then that reflects my scrambled brain nicely. Also bump into associate ed Tim Pollard, who sticks a camera in my red and flustered face…
2.27pm: Maser’s SUV
Popped into the very Italian hall 6 just in time for the Maserati Kubang unveil – the marque’s first SUV. Do I like it? Not really. Would I green-light it if I were in charge? Absolutely, it makes a lot of sense. And a hell of a lot of people were there to see the wraps come off. Just think, one day we might be group testing the Kubang against the Cayenne, Infiniti FX Vettel, Lagonda SUV and Bentley SUV. Then someone will remind us we should’ve included a Range Rover.
2.07pm: Manners at motor shows
Being a hack at a motor show can be a bit like a posh version of being homeless. I’m aimlessly wandering around, tapping up PRs for a glass of water, a little food and somewhere to rest my phone. I pity some of the bar staff in the hospitality lounges – a very rude lady demanded four glasses of champagne from the Lancia guy, as if she was, like, you know, paying for it. He wryly replied: ‘it’s a deal, so long as you get on a plane to Tokyo on Sunday.’ I think she was Chinese. Was he confused, or purposefully trying to disorient (oh god, seriously, no pun intended) her?
2.11pm: Hyundai i30 – Korea on the march. Again
Impressed by Hyundai’s glitzy entrance to hall 6 – the only brand in there not owned by Fiat, rather strangely, and interesting that they kept themselves away from Kia. New Hyundai i30 looked good, but I don’t desire it – what I want is a hotter Hyundai Veloster, a proper GTI rival. It’s coming, so they say.
2.17pm: Transatlantic travel
Odd to see the re-badged Chryslers on the Fiat and Lancia stand, the disguised 300C and Voyager in particular. Will buyers fall for it? Is it short-term gain for long-term brand-equity pain. I fear it may well be…
2.27pm: Lexus goes all whispery quiet and refined on us
Right, into Hall 8, where I happened on the
new Lexus GS450h launch. Boot’s now nearly twice the size at 465 litres (the old one was tiny due to the hybrid gubbins) and it looks less amorphous too. Happily, Lexus European vice president Andy Pfeiffenberger said that production had not only recovered since this year’s tsunami, it had actually accelerated beyond previous levels, so much so that last year’s 30,000 European Lexus sales are on track to hit 45,000 in 2011.
2.34pm: Citroen go all hybrid and diesely on us
No sooner had the Lexus conference stopped than the Citroen one began, where we were treated to the excellent-looking
new DS5 complete with ‘sabre’ motifs on the bonnet, some video of the WRC DS3s in action (though no mention, understandably, of last weekend’s nul points disaster in Australia), plus the
quirky Tubik van concept – imagine an A-team van of the future as imagined by the people who render fish for Pixar movies. Interesting online concept too, with Citroen Multicity, a free online service that connects all kinds of transport and related booking services – trains, planes, car rental, hotels – into one handy place. The website has had a million hits since its 2011 launch in France, and expand into Germany in early 2012. Next stop the UK?
3.23pm: Peugeot explores new ground
Some interesting themes on
Peugeot’s HX1 concept plus the
508 RXH diesel hybrid looked pretty convincing in a kind of Audi Allroad way.
3.31pm: Toyota – from heart-stopping to flatlining
Really looking forward to the
Toyota FT-86 now – even if the wait has been painfully long. It’d better be good! Also on Toyota’s stand is a cleverly packaged,
seven-seat Prius Plus (a future taxi driver fave?) and the still forgettable but facelifted Avensis.
3.42pm: Subaru and land of make believe
Subaru has a cutaway display car of the new BRZ concept car – its version of the Toyota FT-86 project. I don’t know about you, but I don’t get the sense that this is anywhere near production… Why on earth are they letting Toyota take all the plaudits?
3.22pm: A Man’s Hybrid!
Now, that’s what I call a hybrid, the Peugeot 908 hybrid4 to be precise.
4.02pm: Opel, Vauxhall and autumn rakesMade a blunder on the Opel stand – the two-seat urban concept is the
Opel RAK e, not the Rake! The name comes from the 1920s rocket car that Adam Opel’s grandson, Fritz von Opel, drove in 1928. Designed by Mark Adams, it’s all electric, weighs 380kg and is built on a steel spaceframe and wrapped in composite bodywork. It’s also production viable with a sub 13sec 0-62mph time, 75mph top speed and 60-mile range. It would cost under £10k. Makes you think, doesn’t it?
4.06pm: Lexus, peace and quiet
Ah, the oasis of calm that is the Lexus hospitality area. But why no LFA Nurburgring on the stand after that record-breaking lap of a 21km-long and very local race circuit?
4.13pm: The race is on
That’s hall 8 covered. Onwards to nine for Ford, Honda, Volvo and Chevy. Time is running low, friends…
4.23pm: Lost. And found
Can’t find hall nine but stumbled across rival Korean tyre makers Kumho and Hankook. Five years ago I went to a Kumho bash where they declared they wanted to be the fifth largest tyre maker in the world. Here it seems Hankook is winning the war, especially with DTM tyre supply raising awareness and aligning them with premium marques. In Germany, at least.
4.34pm: Ford Evos and rally stuffHere’s the
Ford Evos concept. I like it, but it’s odd – especially given the name – that the front looks so Mitsu Evo like. Still, it looks like Fords are about to get a lot more interesting again, as this points the direction for a future generation of Blue Oval products. They also have a WRC simulator. It’s awesome – just had a go and made me (temporarily) forget I was at a serious industry event. Want one!
4.42pm: Civic dutyBit of a Centre Pompidou vibe going on at Honda. Wish those pipes would blow cold air though! Heavy curves on rear of
new Honda Civic make rear wheels look tiny.
4.47pm: Chevy’s centenary – as I approach my own century of a different sort
Chevy’s celebrating 100 years with the Miray concept, but is it a maker of US muscle cars or budget Korean superminis? Have now fallen off two motor show stands myself. Definitely not funny any more.
4.52pm: Cadillac
Visit to Cadillac stand reminds me how much I enjoyed driving the CTS-V saloon a couple of years back – must get a steer in the Coupe and Sportwagon. Ciel concept looks pretty intriguing too.
5.04pm: Romance and questions at Volvo Just saw a man and a woman holding hands in hall 9. Why does that feel wrong at a motor show? Am also intrigued as to how Volvo will translate the
Concept You study into the next S80. There’s something a bit Citroen C6 about it, in a good way. I also wonder if the chaps at BMW can give my phone a quick charge to get me to the end of the show. My iPhone is proving a handy reminder that battery life matters these days…
5.16pm: Mini bar
Mini stand has a bar and club vibe. Must. Not. Drink. Beer. Yet. Perhaps I’m getting delirious, but I’m totally convinced that the
Mini Coupe – another Frankfurt debutant, even though we’ve already driven the thing – was the right thing to do in the face of opposition from Citroen DS3. Makes the hatch look old now.
5.47pm: Nearing journey’s end
The final furlong at BMW and impressive stuff it is too, what with the
i3 city car concept and
i8 three-cylinder turbo supercar while a fleet of electric Minis and 1-series plus a Rolls EV circle silently overhead on an indoor road. But there are more pressing matters…
6.24pm: BMW and outWe’ll finish with a visit to the BMW M stand, star of which is the new twin-turbo
BMW V8 M5. Interesting fact from last night: Merc’s E63 is on terms with performance, but AMG offers a Performance Pack while M can’t because the seven-speed dual clutch transmission can’t take any more torque. Let’s guess which specs the Mercs will be rocking when it comes to the group test.
6.25pm: Fresh air!
Fresh air again at last. Goodbye Frankfurt. As I hobble down the main avenue, I glimpse this Opel Ampera plug-in hybrid police car on the way out. I know what you’re thinking: does he have a full charge or is he running on empty? Are you feeling lucky? Well are you, punk?
6.37pm: Perhaps he’s on the way to this…
Here’s why I don’t really like the idea of driving Caterhams and related flimsy track cars. A sombre note to end the Frankfurt show on. This German road safety campaign warns a shrill note to all passers-by. I’m feeling pretty bushed after a full day at Frankfurt, but this is something else…
8.30pm: A time for reflection
So, that’s it, back in the hotel, peanuts and a beer on the go, sore feet minus shoes hidden under a posh table. Can one man see every new car at Frankfurt? Quite possibly. Did I? Not quite. In just under 12 hours I got round every hall, but such was the timing of unveils that it was difficult to be in the right place at the right time, so some cars were still covered when I got to them and I’d already been sucked along to see something else and was several miles away by the time they’d been revealed. Clearly, I had the added complication of filing the CAR Live Blog plus I kept bumping into colleagues and PRs and getting sidetracked. The average punter wouldn’t have such distractions, but then they’d have to contend with a busier public day. But do I recommend you come? Absolutely. The Frankfurt motor show is a true big hitter, and you’ll see some pretty special car launches here where it’s easy to get around other shows in a couple of hours. Get a cheap flight, stay for one night at somewhere that’s either local (Frankfurt’s a cool city – well, I know it mostly in exhibition-hall form, or in dark-bar-at-night form, but I’ve enjoyed my visits) or well connected on the rail system that runs right up to the IAA exhibition halls and you’ll experience the car industry – and the German car industry in particular – in all its pomp. Just remember: Frankfurt is bi-annual and alternates with the also excellent – and closer – Paris motor show. But come on, get over in the next week or so – you won’t regret it.
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>> Watch CAR Magazine’s three wise(ish) men in a car review the Frankfurt motor show 2011 in our video below.