2009frankfurtautoshow

2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: Mercedes-Benz S500 Vision Plug-in Hybrid

Who said driving a hybrid had to mean ugly Japanese hatchbacks built with the same quality as a lunch box? Certainly not Mercedes-Benz. The German automaker already offers a hybrid version of its top-of-the-line S-Class luxury sedan. But it's not about to stop there. Building upon the existing S400 Hybrid, Mercedes unveiled the S500 Vision Plug-In Hybrid concept at its home-ground Frankfurt Auto Show last week.

While the conventional S500 sedan uses a V8 engine, the S500 Vision hybrid concept uses the same 3.5-liter V6 as the existing S400 Hybrid, only paired to a larger battery that enables the big limousine to accelerate to 60 in only 5.5 seconds while offering nearly 20 miles of electric motoring before the gasoline engine needs to even kick in. At the moment it's just a concept car, but it's fully functional and hints at the next development from Mercedes. See for yourself in the high-resolution photo galleries below.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Mercedes-Benz S500 Vision Plug-in Hybrid

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz S 500 Hybrid

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2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: Volkswagen CC R-line

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

It was a highly unlikely candidate from the company that brought us the Beetle, but the Volkswagen CC was voted the most beautiful luxury sedan in the world. And with good reason: the Passat-based four-door coupe is one of the sveltest designs on the market. And it just got a bit more enticing with the debut of the new R-line version at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Unfortunately the R-line package, like the S-line offered by sister-company Audi, is purely cosmetic, so don't go looking for any giant V8s or turbochargers under the hood. But it does give the sleek sedan an aggressive edge to it, which is no mean feat for the world's prettiest luxury sedan. See for yourself in the photo gallery below.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Saab 9-5

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2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: all-new 2010 Saab 9-5

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Saab's entering a new era. After twenty years under the General Motors umbrella, the Swedish automaker has been sold to the supercar-maker Koenigsegg. And this is its first new product.

The result of several years of development, the new 9-5 shares many mechanical components with other GM products, but will be assembled entirely in-house at Saab's own factory in Trollhattan, Sweden. And the design is uniquely Saab, drawing from the company's background in aviation. Turbocharged engines include a 220-horsepower 2-liter four and a 160hp diesel, available with Saab's proprietary XWD torque-shifting four-wheel-drive system. Whether it will help Saab sink or swim in today's competitive premium auto market remains to be seen, but you can have an early look in the photo gallery below.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Saab 9-5

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2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

The Ultimate Driving Machine. That's the tag which BMW has ascribed to itself. And while the Bavarian automaker offers several sporty models, it lacks what industry insiders refer to as a "halo vehicle". That is, one model that sums up with the brand stands for. But they're said to be working on a new supercar – to rival the likes of the Audi R8 and Mercedes SLS AMG – and this could hint at the direction they could take it.

Called the Vision EfficientDynamics, we initially brought you details of the concept car a couple of weeks ago in the ramp-up to the Frankfurt Auto Show, where BMW finally took the wraps off the enticing new concept. But while its competitors continue building bigger and more powerful performance machines, BMW's concept takes a different approach. The engine is a tiny 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo-diesel, coupled to an electric motor for hybrid propulsion. Lightweight construction helps the Vision get up to sixty in just 4.8 seconds while returning 62.6 miles per gallon on the European cycle, figures which, combined, its rivals can only dream of. And so can we, but in the meantime we've got photos from the concept's debut in Frankfurt. Just click on the thumbnails below.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics

Gallery: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics

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2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: Lexus LF-Ch Hybrid Concept

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

The heat is on among the world's automakers to produce hybrid vehicles. And since they're all the rage among the trendy crowd, it should come as no surprise that luxury brands are getting in on the action in a big way. Foremost among them is Lexus, which has made hybrid drivetrains its cause-du-jour, offering gasoline-electric versions of many of its luxury sedans, in addition to the world's first dedicated luxury hybrid, the HS250h. As promised, Lexus rolled in to Frankfurt with a new concept called the LF-Ch.

Hinting both at a competitor for the likes of the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30 while previewing its design direction for upcoming models, the LF-Ch drew mixed reviews at the show. Viewed from some angles, the concept car had some interesting lines, but it looked bloated from others. We'll let you make up your own mind: just click on the thumbnail images below to enlarge in our high-resolution photo gallery.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Lexus LF-Ch concept

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2009 Frankfurt Auto Show: Porsche 911 Turbo, GT3 RS and Sport Classic

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Porsche has made a veritable science out of spinning off various variants from its iconic 911 range. The rear-engine sportscar can be ordered with two-wheel-drive or four; coupe, cabrio or targa; naturally-aspirated or turbo; and just about every permutation and combination thereof, to say nothing of special editions and the performance-oriented GT models. Since revising the entire range, Porsche has released new Turbo, Turbo Cabriolet, GT3 RS and Sport Classic models, all in the ramp-up to the Frankfurt Auto Show where the new models made their debut, and we were on hand to see them up close.

The Turbo coupe and Turbo Cabriolet pack a 3.8-liter engine with direct injection and variable turbochargers to offer up 500 horsepower at all four wheels. The GT3 RS is one of the most extreme variants in the 911 catalog, the GT3 RS drives 450 horsepower to the rear wheels in a track-oriented package with neon-colored wings and graphics, while the exclusive Sport Classic produces 403hp in a retro package. Even the largest Porsche dealers aren't likely to stock all three, so have a look in our high-resolution photo galleries below to see them each from all the angles.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Porsche 911 Turbo

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Porsche 911 Sport Classic

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Alfa Romeo Showcases Special MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde in Frankfurt

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

Alfa Romeo's badge has enough clout as it is. But to Alfa enthusiasts, the Quadrifoglio Verde carries even more prestige. The clover-leaf emblem symbolizes the pinnacle of the company's racing history, and is used sparringly on road cars to distinguish some of its most aggressive, performance-oriented models.

In this case, the new MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde boasts a new 170-horsepower MutliAir engine that uses the latest technologies developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies. The system optimizes airflow into the combustion chambers, thereby simultaneously improving both performance and fuel economy. The engine and new six-speed transmission are showcased in the Quadrifoglio Verde, and help the sportiest of MiTos get up to sixty in little more than seven seconds while returning an impressive 50 miles per gallon on the highway. Impressive.

To further set the Quadrifoglio Verde apart from ordinary MiTos, the special edition carries 17" wheels and trim in dark satin chrome, with an all-black interior offset by sporty white instruments. Plus, of course, the famous Quadrifoglio Verde emblem.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde