First Look: Frankfurt 2009
September represents the unofficial start to the New Year for the vast majority in North America. School is underway and the well-travelled luggage leftover from summer vacation is finally stored in the closet. Those in the work force are settling back into a regular routine. Coffee has once again surpassed iced tea or cola as the drink of choice. At least for now, work is on our minds while recreation has become a distant but fond memory.
This shift in seasons also brings a sense of newness and expectation to the automotive industry. If you take time and listen closely, car talk is everywhere.
“Have you seen the latest vehicle from…” or “What do you think of the new…?” are questions asked not only around the office water cooler, but the gas station, corner store and school parking lots while waiting for the kids.
The upcoming auto show season has all the makings of being spectacular. Alternating on a yearly basis with the Paris Motor Show, the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show is certain to fulfill expectations plus offer a few surprises. Here are several of the vehicles we expect to see at the Frankfurt, 63rd International Motor Show.
Maserati GranCabrio
Maserati is famous for designing magnificent automobiles with exclusive performance at somewhat less than stratospheric prices when compared to Ferrari, Lamborghini and Bentley. To own a Maserati is to possess a piece of Italy. Each vehicle is a work of art, perfectly sculpted lines stretched over a taunt canvas of metal.
If you were to ask a Maserati owner, or potential buyer, what one vehicle they crave, the answer is most likely a cabriolet. Driving a Maserati can only be improved by steering and applying the accelerator and brakes pedals while wind blows through your hair.
In answer to this need within the niche market of exotic sports cars, the automaker will introduce the 2010 Maserati GranCabrio in Frankfurt. This will complete the third prong in the Trident symbol, offering a product line that includes Quattroporte, GranTurismo and now GranCabrio.
What makes this a first for Maserati is the fact four people can sit comfortably in the confines of a luxurious, grand touring cabriolet. The 2010 Maserati GranCabrio is powered by a 4.7-liter V8 producing 433 horsepower. Featuring a canvas-only roof, more will be revealed as details emerge at the motor show.
Ferrari 458 Italia
Just down the road from Modena, Italy where Maserati resides, the factory at Maranello is set to introduce a new a radical sports car sure to start a stampede. In Frankfurt, Ferrari will take the wraps of the highly anticipated Ferrari 458 Italia and by all accounts, it’s a stunner!
A replacement for the outgoing Ferrari F430, power comes in the form of a mid-engine 4.5-liter V8. Producing a staggering 562 horsepower and 398 lb.-ft of torque, it screams all the way to a redline of 9,000 rpm. Zero to sixty is easily attained in 3.4. And, for the first time ever in a V8 Ferrari, top speed is expected to exceed 200 miles-per-hour, (202 mph).
It is said Michael Schumacher played a significant role in the design of the new Ferrari 458 Italia. A Seven Times Formula One Champion, he understands the need to reduce weight to a minimum. As such, the new 458 Italia tips the scales at a mere 3,042 lbs. Official photos confirm styling cues to be reminiscent of the current F430 with a little Ferrari Enzo thrown in for good measure. Watch for more details as the covers come off in Frankfurt.
Audi S5 Sportback
Audi is on a roll. One of the few automakers to achieve success in the current downward marketplace, the design team in Ingolstadt, Germany has been burning the midnight oil to produce additional new vehicles. More than one new car is set to be unveiled in Frankfurt, plus there are rumors of a few very big surprises.
The Audi S5 Sportback is the pinnacle of the new Sportback line. A four-door hatchback, styled specifically for a European market, it showcases elegant lines, a racy stance and powerful haunches certain to stir the racer in all of us.
Power comes from a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 producing 333 hp and 325 lb.-ft of torque. A mere 5.6 seconds is required to reach 62 mph while top speed is limited at 155 mph. A 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and quattro all-wheel drive is standard. Plans to bring this vehicle to North America are still in the works. European sales commence in Spring, 2010.
Audi R8 Spyder
Though it has yet to be confirmed, rumors are rampant that Audi will showcase the new R8 Spyder at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. And why not? With the advent of Iron Man 2 in 2010, it seems only fitting Tony Stark would make the switch from coupe to spyder.
Power and performance figures are most likely to carryover from the current R8. Structural changes will be necessary to accommodate a soft top, but rigidity won’t be an issue given the excellence of Audi’s design team. Additionally, it is rumored Audi will showcase the R8 ePerformance electric concept as a way to demonstrate the future for exotic automobiles. It promises to be a very exciting motor show.
Much More to be Revealed
Additional manufacturers getting ready to display their wares include BMW with the ActiveHybrid 7 and X6 ActiveHybrid. Bentley is certain to impress with the hyper-exotic Mulsanne sedan and Mercedes-Benz will unwrap the new E-Class Convertible. Not to be outdone, Rolls-Royce is certain to reveal the new Ghost, an “affordable” luxury sedan and Aston Martin will most likely own the show with their new Rapide.
Not all is expected to exclusive at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Hyundai will unveil the ix35 SUV as a replacement for the Tucson. Volvo will expose the 2011 Volvo C70 and 2010 Volvo XC60 R-Design. And, bringing a previous concept car to life, Mini is set to introduce the Mini Crossover, plus the all-new Mini Coupe concept.
Conclusion
The 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show is set to usher in a new and busy 2010 auto show season. Several of the vehicles we will see introduced in Germany will never make it to North America. Thankfully, however, this is less so than in the past. Ford, as an example, has taken very seriously the idea of bringing some of their most popular vehicles across the Atlantic for sale here. It’s about time!
What additional vehicles will inspire such entrepreneurial thinking is yet to be seen. But we’ll be there with cameras and laptops in hand to bring you the best in coverage starting next week.
