Top 10: 2009 Frankfurt Production Car Reveals
The 2009 auto show season is still in full swing, but we’ll go ahead and call the Frankfurt Motor Show the biggest auto show of the year. All the top auto manufacturers were in Germany displaying their new wares and the year’s hottest cars made their debut at this show.
We’ll be talking about concepts like the BMW Vision, Audi R8 E-Tron and VW One-Liter for years to come, but the real stars of the show were the production (and production-ready) rides. New cars from companies like Bentley, Ferrari and Lamborghini made their world debuts at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, so we figured we’d take some time to pick our favorites.
There were so many amazing vehicles at the Frankfurt Motor Show that it was a really difficult task to pick just 10. We decided to feature just the cars set to hit a road near you in the near future, so that made things a bit easier, but we know we left some gems off the list. Don’t see your favorite here? Sound off in the comments section below.
The Volkswagen Golf R is the successor to VW’s hottest hatch, the Golf-based R32. Those familiar with the R32 know what to expect from this car: a massively powerful motor mated to Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system.
The new R version of the uber-Golf differs from the R32 we all know and love, though. The venerable VR6 motor has been tossed in favor of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four banger. AWD aside, the car doesn’t sound much different from a standard GTI. However, when you hear that the Golf R packs a 265-horsepower wallop (compared to the GTI’s 200 horsepower) and a 6.4-second 0-62 mph time, all starts to seem right with the world. The Golf R is eco-friendly too: it consumes 21% less fuel than the R32 it replaces.
The Golf R will hit German VW showrooms later this year. A release date for North America has been all but officially announced, but don’t be surprised to see the Golf R in your neighborhood sometime in 2010.
Ford will finally be bringing its C-Max to North America in late 2011. This compact 7-passenger van rides on the same platform as the next-generation Focus and will go head-to-head with rides like the Mazda5 and Kia Rondo. The original C-Max has earned the praise of the European motoring press thanks to its fun-to-drive demeanor, unique style and smart interior packaging. The C-Max we’re getting in North America will be identical to the new generation C-Max that hits Europe in late 2010, so our version should be pretty sweet as well. Powertrains haven’t been officially announced, but expect to see a turbocharged EcoBoost motor offered, at least as an option.
MINI’s Coupe Concept is MINI’s version of the ultimate driving machine. A John Cooper Works turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, rated at 211 horsepower and 192 lb-ft. of torque, provides motivation for this Coupe. In fact, everything below the greenhouse is basically a John Cooper Works MINI.
Speaking of the greenhouse, the MINI Coupe’s raked windscreen and aluminum roof were designed to decrease weight and increase downforce. As is befitting of a proper sports coupe, the back seats have been tossed to further reduce weight (not that they’d be of much use, anyway…). Outside of the addition of a second clock to record lap times, the Coupe’s interior is standard MINI fare, though wrapped in nicer materials for its journey through the auto show circuit. While it’s technically called a “concept,” the MINI Coupe is expected to go into production within the next couple of years.
Volvo’s eco-friendly ReCharge concept made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Based on the Volvo’s new C30 compact hatch (which also made its debut at Frankfurt), the ReCharge is most easily described as Volvo’s version of the Chevrolet Volt. The car is designed to draw power from a standard household electrical outlet, and individual wheel-mounted electric motors allow the ReCharge to drive up to 100 km on battery power alone. A 1.6-liter Flexifuel four-cylinder motor kicks in to act as a power generator when the car’s electric power reserve runs low. Volvo hasn’t announced an official release for the ReCharge in any territory, but as plug-in hybrids seem to be the next big thing, we wouldn’t be surprised if a production version is announced shortly.
Bentley’s Arnage successor, the Mulsanne, technically made its debut at Pebble Beach, but we had to wait until the Frankfurt Motor Show to get any dirt on the car. The legendary 6.75-liter engine returns, though it has been reworked so thoroughly it may as well be called all new. This motor is capable of pushing out 505 horsepower and 752 lb-ft. of torque, and thanks to a new variable displacement system (basically a cylinder deactivation system), CO2 emissions are reduced and fuel economy improves by 15%.
As is expected, only the finest hand-selected wood veneers, leather surfaces and stainless steel trim pieces find their way into the cabin of the Bentley. A premium audiophile sound system by Naim comes standard. One hundred and twenty-six color options come standard for the Mulsanne, allowing this already exclusive sedan to further stand out from the rest of the pack.
The first Mulsanne was auctioned off for a cool half a million dollars. Official pricing has yet to be announced, but expect it to come in at the much more affordable $200,000 range. Future Mulsanne owners can expect to take delivery of their luxury saloons sometime in mid-2010.
The Porsche GT3 RS seen at this year’s Frankfurt show isn’t necessarily a new model, but it’s been tweaked enough to earn a spot on this list. This race-bred Porsche’s motor has been upgraded from 3.6 liters to 3.8, and power is up by 15 horsepower for a total horsepower rating of 450. Gear ratios have been shortened for improved acceleration times, and various weight-saving techniques -- such as using a titanium exhaust and lightweight lithium-ion battery -- significantly reduce the car’s overall weight. The Porsche GT3 RS gets a Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system designed just for this car. A wider front track and aero bits are re-sculpted to improve downforce round out the list of major improvements. This hyper Porsche goes on sale in Germany in January 2010. Base price is 122,400 Euro (or $180,185 USD).
The drop-top version of Audi’s flagship sports car proves that everything is more fun with the top down. But this convertible offers more than just top-down driving thrills; powering the Audi R8 Spyder is a 5.2-liter FSI V10 that sends 525 horsepower and 390 lb-ft. of torque through Audi’s famous quattro all-wheel drive system.
The R8 Spyder may not have the blades that its fixed-roof sibling does, but it does have a lightweight, fully automatic cloth top. Also keeping the weight down are numerous featherweight carbon-fiber composite body panels. This combination of a big motor and light weight sure make the Audi R8 Spyder move: this car can run from 0-62 mph in just 4.1 seconds. Top speed is an impressive 313 km/h (194.49 mph).
One of the biggest stories to come out of Frankfurt is the debut of Mercedes’ new SLS AMG -- the first true successor to the legendary 300 SL Gullwing. With its iconic grille, long nose, stubby rear, and trademark gullwing doors, the Mercedes SLS AMG is a 21st century interpretation of the legendary Benz.
However, the SLS AMG is more than just a design exercise; this car was built to run. Nestled under that lengthy bonnet is an AMG-built 6.2-liter V8 good for 571 horsepower and 479 lb-ft. of torque. A carbon-fiber shaft connects this motor to a dual-clutch, 7-speed transmission -- located at the rear of the car to improve the Benz’ overall weight distribution. Aluminum was used extensively in the construction of the SLS AMG, keeping the car as light as can be. This combination of a powerful motor and light weight lets the Mercedes SLS AMG rocket from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.8 seconds. Top speed is an impressive 196 mph. Pricing has yet to be announced, but expect it to start at well over 155,000 Euros. The Mercedes SLS AMG is set to go on sale sometime next year.
Lamborghini’s stealth fighter-influenced Reventon replaced the Countach as the most badass Lambo ever made. Built atop the powerful LP640 platform, the angular hypercar feels as if it could outrun the stealth fighter itself. With only 20 copies ever made, you’re much more likely to run across the radar-absorbing warplane than the creased sports car.
Apparently, 20 copies of a standard Reventon wasn’t limited enough, as Lamborghini is releasing “less than 20” copies of the convertible version, better known as the Reventon Roadster. And there’s more to the Roadster than just a removable top; this new car is built atop the monstrous LP670 SV, so the 670-horsepower 6.5-liter V12 comes standard. The Lamborghini Reventon Roadster is said to hit 62 mph from a standstill in just 3.2 seconds. Top speed is tunnel vision-inducing 212 mph. All this limited-edition performance can be yours for the bargain price of approximately 1.15 million Euros -- about $1.7 million USD. If any copies of the Reventon Roadster are left, you can try to buy one later this year.
Ferrari has made some beautiful cars in its day, but the new Ferrari 458 Italia may very well be the most gorgeous car the house of Maranello has ever produced. It’s a stunning car, and it brings back a certain sex appeal that was missing from cars like the Enzo and F355.
The Ferrari 458 Italia is the successor to the F430, and like all things new, the 458 is bigger and badder than the car it replaces. A 570-horsepower, 4.5-liter V8 sits in the middle of the car. The 7-speed, dual-clutch transmission this motor is mated to is said to be faster than the F1 transmission found in current Ferraris. An aluminum chassis, plus a host of other lightweight materials, give the 458 Italia a dry weight of just a hair over 3,000 pounds. It supposedly takes just 3.4 seconds for the new Ferrari to run from 0-62 mph, and the top speed is a mind-bending 202 mph. As much as we respect the Ferrari 458 Italia’s performance, we almost don’t care about it. As long as it looks this pretty, we would sell our firstborn to have one.
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