By Rosie Ogden
The 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show is just weeks away, and there are plenty of exciting new models likely to make their debut in Germany.
Close to the heart of the European car industry, Frankfurt ranks alongside Geneva and Paris as one of the premier venues for car makers to showcase their latest models and new technologies.
Major launches are promised by Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bentley, Jaguar and Maserati, but there will be much more on display as well.
Alfa Romeo’s new rival for the BMW 3 Series, the rear-wheel drive Giulia, will be at Frankfurt ahead of its scheduled release in the middle of next year. Expect more variants on display alongside the flagship 503bhp Quadrifoglio that has already been revealed.
Audi’s fifth-generation A4 will make its debut at Frankfurt. Its design is very similar to the outgoing model, but the new car uses the VW Group’s MQB platform which makes for more space inside, and there will be a range of more efficient engines.
Bentley will unveil its first ever production SUV, the somewhat strangely named Bentayga. It propels the luxury brand into a new marketplace – the super-luxury 4×4 sector. The Bentayga will also be the first model to feature a petrol-electric powertrain, and is expected to offer a 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 engine as well as the familiar 6.0-litre W12.
BMW will be showing the new X1, which is bigger than its predecessor and boasts new petrol engines, and more interior space.
Meanwhile, the new 7 Series looks much like the previous model, although it’s slightly longer but over 120kg lighter. It introduces a new touchscreen infotainment system and ‘Park Assist’ features.
Citroën says the Frankfurt Motor Show will be an opportunity to showcase the brand’s ambitions with a bold and creative concept car showcasing its vision for the future with the European debut of the Aircross.
Fiat’s facelifted Fiat 500 will be making its world debut at Frankfurt, featuring an updated exterior design and upgraded equipment.
Infiniti’s new Q30 hatchback is made in the UK; it shares some of the Mercedes A-Class engines and plans to compete with the German giant.
Jaguar will give us a glimpse of the new F-Pace ‘performance crossover’ in production form. It is hoping the mid-sized premium SUV will rival the Porsche Macan and the Audi Q5.
Kia’s all-new Sportage crossover is reminiscent of the KX3 Concept that was revealed last year. The Korean marque says it “represents the future face of Kia” and will reportedly come with a new range of engines, including new turbocharged three-cylinder units.
Lotus’ quickest and most expensive series production car ever, the 3-Eleven, made its debut at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed, but will be pulling in the punters at Frankfurt. Two variations are available: Road and Race; the latter includes a more aggressive aero kit, a sequential gearbox and an FIA approved driver’s seat with a six-point harness. Its power to weight ratio is in excess of 500hp per tonne, and it can sprint from 0-60 mph in less than 3.0 seconds before reaching a maximum speed of 174 mph (280 km/h).
Maserati’s Levante is a luxury crossover SUV based on the Kubang concept vehicle first seen in Frankfurt in 2011. It will be built next year at the Mirafiori factory in Turin, and will feature a twin-turbo V6 engine as well as a V8 petrol powertrain.
Mazda will be revealing its Koeru concept car, a model that probably previews a large new crossover model from the Japanese car maker. What’s not clear yet is whether it will be a 7-seater.
Mercedes will be showing the new GLC, but it is looking to the new C-Class Coupe to challenge the BMW 4 Series coupe. “Powerful and efficient four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with ECO start/stop function provide for sporty performance and driving pleasure” they say, and compared with the predecessor they consume up to 27 per cent less fuel.
MINI’s new Clubman will use a four-door layout, but keep its traditional ‘barn door’ boot.
Nissan will showcase an upgraded version of the popular Leaf electric car, which has a greater range thanks to a 30kw battery; this means that the car can now cover about 150 miles on a full charge (at the moment that figure is 80 -100 miles).
Peugeot has indicated that the 308 R Hybrid hatchback (with a whopping 493bhp!) will probably go on sale, so it’s likely that the French giant will display a production version at the show.
Renault’s new Megane will probably be the star of their stand, but details are sketchy – it seems they are being kept under wraps until the grand unveiling.
Smart will show the third-generation Fortwo city car.
Suzuki will give details about the new Baleno at Frankfurt, and we can expect it to be based on the IK-2 concept car which made its appearance at the Geneva Show earlier this year.
Vauxhall will debut the all-new Astra, which apparently boasts a more luxurious interior, and a more efficient engine range.
Volkswagen: it will probably be a while before we see it in production, but we can expect the popular German car maker to show a concept of the all-new Volkswagen Tiguan SUV at Frankfurt, which should give a good indication of what’s to come when it finally goes into production.
The 66th International Motor Show (IAA) Cars in Frankfurt am Main will showcase the latest trends and technological highlights of the automotive year 2015. This year the IAA slogan is ‘Mobility connects’ – and the organisers aim to point up “the trend of connected and automated driving which, alongside electric mobility, will be a defining aspect of this automotive exhibition”.
The show will run from September 17th to 27th.
