The Frankfurt Auto Show is among the largest in the world and is where German carmakers usually go all out in terms of new announcements. This year, fuel efficiency and safety will be recurring themes (read more about the trends here). Below are the vehicles debuting to the world for the first time. The show is open to the public Sept. 13 through Sept. 23.
Audi A4
The biggest change for the 2009
Audi A4 is its new chassis. It uses the same modular longitudinal platform (MLP) as on the new
A5 and
S5 coupes, which has enabled the carmaker to place the engine further back over the axle, making for shorter front overhang, wider wheelbase and better weight distribution, resulting in improved handling. Only the 3.2-liter V6 engine has been announced for the U.S. market so far, but expect a smaller engine, possibly the acclaimed four-cylinder 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, in base models. Front-wheel drive is standard, and the company’s all-wheel drive quattro system will be available. Gear selections will be handled by either a six-speed manual or optional six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. The interior, while well-appointed, doesn't deviate drastically from what Audi has been doing over the past five years. The new A4 will be released in Germany this fall, and will most likely hit U.S. dealers next fall as a 2009 model.
Audi RS 6 Avant
Audi has added twin turbos to the S6's mighty V10 engine (which itself is based on the Lamborghini Gallardo's V10) to derive a 5.0-liter powerplant for the new RS 6 Avant (wagon), producing 580 horsepower. While only the RS 6 sedan is on display in Frankfurt, the Avant details will be largely similar. (High-performance wagons are popular among European car enthusiasts. Read more about speedy wagons here.) The car will use a six-speed automatic transmission and Audi's quattro AWD system, plus a self-adjusting suspension system called Dynamic Ride Control. An all-new exterior features flared air intakes up front that curve around toward the wheels, and a new rear diffuser with large single exhaust pipes, replacing previous models' dual-tips. Inside, cargo room will top 58 cubic feet. The Audi RS 6 Avant will be launched in Germany in April 2008 for just over $140,000, a price converted from Euros that includes Germany's value-added tax.
BMW 1 Series Coupe
BMW is aiming its sporty,
1 Series Coupes — the 128i and the 135i — squarely at enthusiasts. The idea is to bring a smaller, driver-focused car back to North America, now that the popular
3 Series has grown over the years. It’s reported that the 128i will feature a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine producing 230 hp and 200 pound-feet of torque. BMW’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder, the same engine from the 335i, will power the 135i with 300 hp and 300 pound-feet of torque. Inspired by BMW’s high-performance
M series, the 135i is expected to accelerate from 0-62 mph in 5.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph. The 1 Series has only been available previously as a wagon in Europe — a body style that BMW is not planning to offer in the U.S. Expect the usual amenities, including MP3 capability, satellite radio, Bluetooth functionality, iPod and iPhone USB links, and BMW’s iDrive system, with much of its functionality bundled into a navigation option. The two-door 1 Series is expected to become available in the spring of 2008. J.D. Power estimates sales of 15,000 for next year.
BMW 3 Series — New Engines Debut
Starting this fall, all of BMW's 3 Series gasoline engines — both the four- and six-cylinder models — will feature direct fuel injection, a technology that allows fuel to be precisely aimed inside an engine, translating to more efficient fuel usage and improved response. A new generation of four-cylinder diesel engines will also be introduced in the 3 Series. At least for the European market, BMW will soon have five models with low CO2 emissions, each producing less than half a pound per mile.
BMW 520i and 520d
Two new entry-level engines will expand the mid-sized BMW
5 Series range. The BMW 520d features a newly developed 177-hp four-cylinder diesel, which BMW calls "the new benchmark for efficiency in this market segment." Average fuel consumption is 55.3 mpg with a CO2 output of about a half-pound per mile. The BMW 520i sports a 170-hp four-cylinder engine featuring direct injection and fuel consumption of 40.9 mpg.
BMW 6 Series
The new
BMW 6 Series Coupe and
Convertible maintain their sleek design and ample proportions while receiving some nuanced exterior changes for the 2008 model year: deeper side sills, taillights and front turn signals lit with LEDs, a third taillight integrated into the spoiler on the trunk hatch, and lengthier reverse lamps and reflectors. An optional six-speed transmission can be controlled with electronic paddle shifters on the steering wheel. A lane departure warning system is offered, and automatically adjusting cruise control can bring the vehicle to a stop in variable traffic conditions. A heads-up display is also optional. The Coupe and Convertible 650i both make use of a 4.8-liter V8 generating 360 hp. Availability has yet to be determined.
BMW M3
Although BMW has yet to confirm it, word is that the 2009 BMW M3 is set to make its debut in Frankfurt. What BMW has revealed thus far, however, is impressive. The production model of the fourth-generation high-performance model will be the first-ever M3 to have a V8. The all-new 4.0-liter engine is said to produce 420 hp with peak torque measuring 295 pound-feet, enabling the car to hit 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and reach a 155 mph top speed. Engineers worked hard to keep the weight down on the new M3 — BMW says it’s the first production vehicle in its segment to have a roof made of reinforced carbon fiber. Such roofs, often used in professional motor sports, reduce overall vehicle weight while lowering the center of gravity to enhance agility and handling. An all-new suspension also features “weight-optimized” aluminum components. BMW says the lightweight engineering has worked, because each unit of horsepower produced by the engine only has to move 8.4 pounds of car. Aesthetically, the new M3 is based on the BMW 3 Series Coupe — its load-bearing structure, two doors, trunk lid, windows and head- and taillights have been carried over from the latest model. The rest of the M3’s body features, such as the large air intake scoops on the front, flared wheel arches, side sills and dual tailpipes are specifically designed for the M3. For those who like to have fun in the sun, the new M3 will come in a convertible version as well. Expect U.S. sales to begin in the second or third quarter of 2008.
Cadillac BLS Wagon
Derived from the
Saab 9-3,
Cadillac’s first-ever wagon, the BLS, will debut in Frankfurt. The BLS Wagon will be sold in Europe alongside its preexisting sedan counterpart starting in the fourth quarter of 2007. It will introduce two new engines to the BLS lineup: A 2.0-liter FlexFuel unit will run on E85 and regular gasoline while a turbo-diesel version will be good for 180 hp. Market chatter has General Motors mulling over a possible BLS Wagon for North America, but such plans have yet to be confirmed. Earlier statistics released by GM described a 1.9-liter four-cylinder diesel engine delivering 150 hp, two 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline versions generating 175 hp and 210 hp, and a 2.8-liter V6 featuring a twin-scroll turbocharger good for 255 hp. The BLS Wagon can be equipped with a six-speed manual as well as five- and six-speed automatic transmissions. Luxury features will include touch-screen DVD navigation, hands-free Bluetooth capability and a Bose stereo.
Dodge Journey
Dodge has unveiled the 2009 Journey, an all-new compact "crossover" vehicle set for U.S. sales in early 2008. Built on the same platform as the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring Sedan, Dodge says the Journey will offer the "practicality of a minivan, the capability of an SUV and the overall efficiency of a passenger car." The company is targeting customers ranging from "young singles, couples and families with small children, to mature families who want the flexibility to do more in terms of seating people or storing gear." The Journey will come with four different engines: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder; a 2.7-liter V6 that can run on the ethanol-based fuel called E85; a 235-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine with optional all-wheel drive (U.S. and Canada only); and a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine matched with a six-speed manual or automatic for Europe and other markets. The front and rear suspension on all models was designed to "create a quiet ride, with less road noise, vibration and harshness," Dodge says. The Journey packs plenty of safety features, including front driver and passenger air bags, side air bags, three-row side-curtain air bags, four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Electronic Roll Mitigation. It also includes Chrysler's MyGIG multimedia audio and entertainment system. Third-row seats and 19-inch tires are available, as is a ParkView Rear Backup Camera.
Ford Focus
The new
Ford Focus goes into production at the end of the year as a three-door and five-door hatchback, and as a wagon. In early 2008, Ford will extend the Focus portfolio, adding the four-door sedan, the Focus Coupé-Cabriolet and the sporting flagship model, the Focus ST. The new Ford Focus gets what Ford calls a "kinetic design" makeover: There's a new interior with an improved center console, LED rear lights, a new capless refueling system and a PowerShift six-speed transmission, in which two transmissions, each with its own clutch, work together to maintain a high degree of smoothness without losing a sporty character. Ford says another advantage of the PowerShift design is that average fuel consumption is improved by 10 percent, and CO2 emissions are cut compared to a conventional six-speed automatic. The PowerShift transmission will be available from early 2008 in the 2.0-liter common rail turbo-diesel version of the new Focus, as well as in the Europe-only Ford C-MAX. Prices will be announced closer to market launch.
