All 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show Articles
News, articles and pictures for concept cars, new cars and future cars.
2007 Frankfurt Auto Show Preview
The Frankfurt International Motor Show is of particular importance as it is one of a few to be held every two years. As such, it tends to be a well-attended show, bringing to light many of the newest and most creative designs looking to grab attention...
2008 BMW 1 Series
BMW 1 SeriesBMW adds an all-new vehicle for 2008 with the rear-wheel-drive 1 Series Coupe. When it makes its debut early next year, the car will be the least expensive in the company's impressive lineup. Available in two versions, the 1 Series uses the capable powerplants from its big brother, the 3 Series...
Ferrari 430 Scuderia
A quick spin in a Ferrari F430 is enough to make anyone — non-car enthusiasts included — appreciate the mystique of the prancing horse marque. The F430 positively screams "race car!" and demands complete driver involvement, whether speeding down the road or around a track...
Mini Clubman
The star of the Mini stand at the Frankfurt Motor Show will be the new Clubman wagon that first appeared as the Mini Concept at Frankfurt two years ago. The Clubman's most novel feature is the rear side-hinged doors (each with its own wiper), which copy the original Mini Traveller from the 1960s...
Peugeot 308 RC Z
Although Peugeot left the American market well over a decade ago, rumors of a return to the States still circulate. If the French automaker decided to return, it couldn't have a better offering than a production version of this 308 RC Z concept. Based on the 308 3-door hatch, this Audi TT fighter...
Ford Verve Concept
Insiders say the Verve concept that is set to make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show is a thinly disguised take on the next-generation Fiesta small car for Ford of Europe and as such, embodies the principles of “kinetic design” found on the larger S-Max and Mondeo...
2009 Dodge Journey
Signaling Chrysler Corp.'s global ambitions, the newly independent company took the wraps off the Dodge Journey crossover at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new people hauler-will be sold in America and export markets beginning early next year as a 2009 model...
Audi A4
In advance of its formal unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi has released photos and information on its next-generation A4. Using the same architecture as the recently introduced A5 and S5 coupe, the new Audi sedan shares the same expressive front-end styling, but in a more formal 4-door configuration...
Citroën C5 Airscape Concept
It's too bad Citroën no longer sells vehicles in the U.S., because that means you won't see the C5 family sedan and wagons cruising our highways, much less this stylish convertible concept derived from the French automaker's bread-and-butter line...
Mitsubishi Concept-cX
Small sport utes are big business in Europe, and Mitsubishi intends to be a player as shown by the Concept-cX. The Japanese automaker's concept is powered by a 1.8-liter diesel engine mated to the company's Twin Clutch SST (Sport Shift Transmission). In addition to delivering ample torque and good fuel economy...
2009 Jaguar XF
Jaguar's new XF sedan is labeled a 2009 model but will make its way into owners' hands in March 2008. The objective for the XF, according to chief program engineer Mick Mohan, was to create "a bold, striking, contemporary sports saloon [sedan]; a 4-door, 5-seater that blends sports-car performance with the luxury...
Auto Show Preview: Going Green in Frankfurt
Environmental friendliness, fuel economy and safety are the themes shaping up to dominate this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, which is expected to be the stage for the debut of at least 16 new production models and roughly the same number of concept vehicles...
2008 Aston Martin DBS
Let's see, the last time we saw James Bond in his new Aston Martin DBS, wasn't he upside down? Hey, it's okay because while that was a prototype, now 007 can buy as many as he wants. The English automaker unveiled its newest supercar at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Looking like a Captain America version of the Vanquish, the DBS has a body of aluminum...
Saab Turbo X Concept
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the introduction of turbocharging to Saab’s vehicles, the Swedish automaker has unveiled the Turbo X version of the 9-3 in both sedan and SportCombi body styles. Saab Turbos in both the 99 and 900 series featured black as a signature color. In keeping with tradition, the Turbo X...
Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang
The interior is also modeled on the coupe version, with the center navigation/ entertainment system neatly tied into the main tier of instruments. Auxiliary controls and the Multi-Media Interface (MMI) knob are nestled in the center console. Like the exterior, the cabin is understated, yet elegant, trimmed in high-quality materials including a choice of wood or satin-finish accents...
Mazda 6
The second-generation Mazda 6 made its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor show with a look that says the more things change, the more they stay the same. The car retains its same basic handsome lines in a bolder form. The grille is more pronounced, and the character lines are crisper with more definition and the overall feel of an athletic and sporty family sedan...
2008 Lamborghini Reventón
Remember the recent Pininfarina Ferrari P4/5 and Maserati GS Zagato? Well, Lamborghini is now building a specialty car of its own: the Reventón, a limited-edition version to be sold to 20 lucky customers as a designer piece. Deciding not to wait until a coachbuilder picks up a Murciélago to convert it into something different, Lamborghini decided...
Top Five Concepts from Frankfurt
As the largest auto show in the world, the biennial Frankfurt fest is noted more for its production-car launches than it is for show-stopping concepts like the dream cars that are the staple of the Geneva and Detroit exhibitions. Still, with every major manufacturer in the world present, invariably there is a wide selection of concepts on display...
Loremo LS and GT Concept
This mid-engine 4-passenger concept is designed to compete for the automotive X-Prize for the first production car to attain fuel economy of 100 mpg. With the first production model promised for 2009, Loremo says its car, in base LS trim, is capable of 117 mpg with its base engine, a 2-cylinder 20-bhp turbodiesel mounted amidships and mated to a 5-speed manual transmission...
Audi RS 6 Avant
Along with the unveiling of the new-generation A4 at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi is also showing the RS 6 Avant, which is a family-oriented vehicle and high-performance sports car all in one package. You may think "family" and "sports car" could not possibly be synonymous, but just take a look at the specs for this sports wagon: 580-bhp, twin-turbo V-10-powered quattro...
Citroën C-Catcus Concept
Yet another take on its midsize C-car platform is the eco-friendly C-Cactus concept from Citroën. Like the desert plant that doesn’t require much to live on, the C-Cactus boasts a significant percent of recycled or recyclable materials in its construction, as well as a fuel-efficient 70-bhp hybrid-diesel powertrain. In addition to the use of the eco-friendly engine and construction...
Fiat 500
Although it made its official debut earlier this year, the Fiat 500 continues to charm with its cute good looks and spunky performance. The spirit of the original 500, which was introduced on July 4, 1957, is embodied in the simple styling that incorporates traditional round headlamps and a front fascia that uses a lower intake rather than a traditional grille...
Ford Kuga
Inspired by the iosis X concept, the 5-passenger Ford Kuga is a crossover SUV based on the midsize Mondeo/S-Max platform. The shape of the car embodies Ford's "kinetic design" philosophy of flowing body panels that give the vehicle a sense of motion even when standing still. It is the first crossover for Ford completely developed in Europe and features a choice of front- or all-wheel drive...
Hyundai i-Blue Concept
It seems that the "i-craze" continues unabated, from the iPod to iDrive and now from Korea, the i-Blue, a fuel-cell concept vehicle from Hyundai. Developed at Hyundai's Design and Technical Center in Chiba, Japan, this futuristic 3-door hatchback incorporates the third generation of the company's fuel-cell technology. These earlier concepts were built on truck-based SUV platforms...
Kia Kee Concept
If you’d like a glimpse of what the next new Kia will look like, feast your eyes on the very un-Kia-like (read: sporty) Kee concept that made its world premier at the Frankfurt show. Officials said this 4-seat sports coupe signifies “a landmark moment in the Kia Motor Corporation’s evolution into a major global automotive company.” The Kee was styled at Kia’s European design...
Renault Laguna Coupé Concept
The Renault Laguna Coupé Concept is born from a close collaboration with Nissan. It is powered by a 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel that promises between 230 and 265 horsepower. That’s enough to propel the car up to speed via a 6-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. Besides the low CO2 emission and low fuel consumption of its diesel technology...
Opel Flextreme Concept
General Motors has adapted its flexible plug-in hybrid technology from the Chevy Volt to another concept car, the Opel Flextreme, with a couple of twists to cater to the unique needs of the European market. Unlike the hatchback Volt, the Flextreme is a small people mover — the kind of mini-minivan that has proven popular in the tight confines of European city centers...
Porsche Cayenne GTS
Hoping to give Cayenne sales a shot in the arm, Porsche unveiled the sportier GTS package at Frankfurt, which provides a boost in engine output, permanent all-wheel drive and for the first time, the availability of a 6-speed manual gearbox on the SUV. The revised suspension features a lower ride height and wheel-arch extensions that help cover the massive 21-in. wheels...
Seat Tribu Concept
Seat, VW’s Spanish subsidiary, introduced the Tribu, a 3-door sporty SUV that not only explores a new segment for the automaker, but also points a new design direction for other vehicles in the line. The Tribu features a large, bold trapezoid grille. Two large inlets on either side of the main grille have projector-beam headlamps that track with the Tribu’s front wheels...
Toyota IQ
As a prelude to jumping into the urban-car market, Toyota showed the IQ concept, its take on a future competitor to the smart. The IQ has similar proportions to the smart — a short wheelbase, virtually no front or rear overhands and a tall profile relative to its stubby overall length of less than 118 in. Although the silhouette is similar to the smart's...
Five Hot Picks from Frankfurt
The Frankfurt Motor Show is one of the biggest in the world. Many German automakers take their home court advantage seriously by showing off their best. But will other automakers turn up with a surprise and take the limelight instead? The experts at Road & Track have scoured the show floor, filtered through all of the media noise and found the...
The 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show-Part One
The heart of any auto show is what’s new in vehicles that consumers can actually see, smell and touch at their neighborhood car dealership. To drive is what makes buying a vehicle such a worthwhile experience. Mobility is something we all assume as a basic right, much like having clean air to breathe or fresh water to drink used to be. But if new vehicle introductions are at the...
The 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show-Part Two
A first time visitor to the Frankfurt Motor Show is sure to be overwhelmed by the sheer size and scope of the event. Spread out over nine exhibit halls, it is considered by many to be the benchmark for European auto shows. Having spent the better part of day one running between media events, day two was a time to put on a pair of comfortable shoes and jeans and get....
2007 Frankfurt Motor Show Wrap-up
On the flight home, I was asked by the passenger sitting beside me to describe my experience at the Frankfurt Motor Show in one sentence. As someone who generally elongates thoughts for the purposes of story-telling, I found it a challenge to try and condense two days of running from hall to hall into something so short. In the end, I came up with the simple...
