Frankfurt Auto Show

Many manufacturers like to wait to launch new vehicles until one of the big venues, like Tokyo, Detroit, or Geneva, with their record attendance and superior impact. As one of the largest and certainly best known auto shows on the annual automotive circuit, the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung in Frankfurt, Germany has launched more than its fair share of automotive icons over its 61 year history.

This year’s show, however, seems to be as much about displaying new executives as it is about new cars. Part of this has to do with the fact that a good part of the industry is playing “catch up” at the moment in terms of design and technology like hybrids and advanced electronics. Also, there have been some significant “changing of the guard” at several top automotive posts.

DaimlerChrysler

Among the white-collar reorganizations, DaimlerChrysler is one of the most significant. The early and somewhat controversial departure of Juergen Schrempp and subsequent resignation of Eckhard Codes at Mercedes-Benz were not anticipated, even in the face of the Mitsubishi and Mercedes-Benz fiascos. As a matter of fact, it seems that DC had already turned the corner in its latest recovery when it decided to make the largely symbolic changes in management.

Coming on the heels of the 300C success, substantial Mercedes-Benz improvements in terms of product development and reliability issues, and a global strategy reevaluation, one could argue that is was, in fact, the predecessors and their work that may have righted the ship. It is very safe to say, though, that Dieter Zetsche will garner much of the praise should this strategy pan out.

Volkswagen

While it doesn’t get near the amount of attention in our press as GM’s current implosion does, the problems at Volkswagen AG have grown eerily similar in many respects to those in Detroit. It is interesting to note the same legacy costs associated with healthcare and unions, coupled with the bureaucracy that comes with size and just a few poor management decisions can cripple a company. It is also worth noting that even the Asian brands are subject to several of these issues (Pre-Ghosen Nissan and current Mitsubishi, for example.)

Wolfgang Bernhard many be able to work his magic with cutting costs and setting precedent in Wolfsburg, but as we have seen, this is really only part of the equation. Many in Detroit criticized Bernhard while still at DC for trying to get too involved with the product development aspect of the business, and while it would be nice to have one person wave the magic wand and be the hero, the idea that one person is so proficient in all parts of a company is simply unrealistic.

The cyclical emphasis on design has predictably come back as companies look for causes to their problems. As such, there is also a lot of jostling for design talent among the majors.

Cars and Concepts

Of the cars to make the real debuts in Frankfurt, only a handful represent something new and aren’t a cobbled-together hybrid concept.

The category with the most promising entries was on the small side of the scale and included several new compact and sub-compact designs. Certainly a quicker and much less costly alternative to making large cars more efficient through new technologies is to simply build smaller vehicles with 1.0 to 2.0 liter power plants. Toyota (Yaris, Endo), Mazda, and Smart all had entries ready that didn’t come across as a simple “fix-it” it to current energy prices and rather as true, thought-out designs. Included in these were vehicles aimed at the now mature “mini SUV” or “mini wagon” niches with redesigned Rav4 and Mini Traveler.

In the mid to full sized category, the Ford group, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz all had some new concepts. While the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is really just the next version in the evolutionary progression of the top MB luxury liner, the car does have the obligatory set of new features, comforts, and technologies worthy of a redesign.

Ford introduced its new Fusion, which is aimed directly at the Camry/Accord crowd and is significant firstly because it represents the end of the Taurus era, which is being phased out. The story of the rise and fall of the Taurus line as the best selling car in America is a fascinating one, representing just about everything that has happened with the domestic manufacturers over the last 10 years.

Far more interesting from Ford is the Iosis concept. Designed for the European market, this new four-seat coupe design sports four flip-up doors and muscular, bulky features reminiscent of Aston Martin/new Jaguar design. Should Ford be able to filter these design elements down into the Ford brand, expect Dearborn to look to Europe to fix its bland North American styling.

Is it easy to see how Auto News mislabeled the Volkswagen Eos on its Web site as the Volvo C70 convertible, as the cars do share considerable design cues. Whether or not the car is positioned (and priced) within the Volkswagen segment or is used as another pawn in the attempt to move the VW brand upscale will likely determine its fate. The Eos showed up last year as a concept, but will go on sale in Europe this spring.

The SUV segment did see the introduction of the Audi Q7 (which is built on a lengthened version of the Cayenne/Touareg platform) and the Jeep Compass/Patriot concepts, which are both built on the Chrysler D platform. Really not much worth mentioning here.

By far the most intriguing and exciting design of the show comes from Porsche. Not only is the Caymen a Porsche (by definition making it neat), it also represents a new category for the manufacturer by slicing a razor-thin niche between the Porsche Boxster and the 911 (997) lines.

By combining all the feedback, control, and near-perfect driving characteristics of the mid-engine Boxter layout with nearly the same amount of power, refinement, and technology found in its eldest brother (911), the Cayman is the German version of a compromise providing Porsche enthusiasts with the proverbial best of both worlds. With the Cayenne behind us and the promise of not only a Porsche hybrid but also a four-seat luxury vehicle ahead, Porsche was well overdue for a design for the purists. While the names of Porsche SUB and newest couple may be similar, they could not be more different. One might say the Cayman is the antitheses of the Cayenne. The struggle between old and new Porsche is palpable.

If there was a common thread at this year’s show, it was hybrid technology. More than ever, fuel efficiency and new technologies are front and center on the collective automotive radar. The divide, however, between the “haves and have not yets” is also very clear. Honda and Toyota are able to exploit and further define the segment by simply converting their lines to hybrid technology, while the rest of the industry continues to scramble for partnerships, licensing agreements, and new hybrid products. The majority of the entries here were essentially of the “me-too” nature, like BMW’s X3 concept.

This year’s show is interesting in that it comes directly in the middle of some major transitions within the industry. Everything from personnel right down to the very fuel we used to power our cars is in a state of flux making for a unique offering across the board.

One thing is for certain: a lot of significant developments are going to have taken place by the time the next Frankfurt show rolls around. Hang on to your frankfurters.

Comments

[Broasognons]

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[Katalina]

BMW-X3 crossover, based on the aggregate third Bavarian family, a dynamic and versatile car and much more. X3 combines the characteristic proportions sportivno-aktivnogo and car pastors with classic and new BMW design elements.

BMW expands successful family of models with the symbol X : the new BMW X3 combines dynamic typical BMW with a wide range of sportivno-aktivnogo pastors and car (Sports Activity Vehicle-SAV). For the first time in the person of BMW X3 SAV offers on the market premium, which is below the H5 type, and can conquer the world with all the roads good and bad coverage. BMW X3 premiere at the International and car tomobilnoy exhibition (IAA), held in September 2003 in Frankfurt. Precursor xActivity prototype model has been shown to winter in Detroit.

More: http://review-bmw.blogspot.com/2007/07/bmw-x5-48i.html

[Katalina]

BMW Z8-model sports a double car pastors with aluminium body.

The prototype was introduced in the autumn of 1997 in Tokyo, the serial model BMW Z8 in 2000. Produced in small quantities in factories in Dingolfinge and Munich.

External design and car pastors recalls legendary model of the 1950s. BMW Z8 507, established Count Albrecht Gerttsom : long hood, big wheel. The designer Henrik Fiskersa paid tribute to the heritage of this sports car, and under a beautiful shell of aluminum and carbon panels hidden spatial aluminium frame, no less difficult than the suspension of many modern racing cars, which provides high rigidity of the body. Toeclip aluminum roof, and backboard in the open version, performed in conjunction with the rear wings, and "luggage" (actually a cover luggage as it is). The transformation of the body compartments in the rear of the roof and car pastors replaced entirely. Elements of the chassis is also made of aluminium alloy, and bumper - polyurethane

More: http://review-bmw.blogspot.com

[Katalina]

Make Infiniti models is a "luxury class" that the company produces for Nissan North American market.
Full-QX56 SUV is a better, more high-quality version of Nissan Pathfinder Armada.

The first public display Infiniti QX56 held at the January motor-shou in Los Angeles in 2004.

http://infiniti-review.blogspot.com/2007/07/infiniti-qx56-review.html

[Katalina]

BMW model in the 2002 Infiniti G35 is similar to Japan's Nissan Skyline. The car was set up on the classic canons : Front engine, rear-driving wheels. Bulletin with the body type sedan and coupe.

Infiniti G35 is a dynamic proportions, a combination of expressive, concise and original design details. Intersex and car pastors extradite him sports : the long hood, arched roof, high and short line of luggage. Interestingly, Royce and shortened version below sedan.

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[August]

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