CAR shows in the rest of the world may be expanding year by year, but nothing can beat the sheer grandeur of the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA). This year’s show was no exception. The show that first started in 1897 has now fully leaped into the new millenia.
This year’s IAA, which is held in Frankfurt is packed to the brim with emerging technologies such as electric drive and autonomous technologies. However the passion and glamour that has always drawn crowds to motor shows is also evident with cars like the Mercedes Project One.
Mercedes Project One
With a plug in hybrid powertrain derived from Formula One, Mercedes promises F1 performance on the road with this bold new hypercar. With just 275 cars planned for production, the Project One is already destined for the automotive hall of fame.
The 1.6-litre V6 hybrid petrol engine with direct injection and electrically assisted single turbocharging comes directly from the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 racing car. It is a road going version of the same powertrain that drives Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 car.
To achieve high engine speeds, the mechanical valve springs have been replaced by pneumatic valve springs. The vehicle is mid-engined (ahead of the rear axle) and it can easily reach speeds of 11,000rpm, which is currently unique for a roadgoing vehicle. It develops 1000hp and can reach 200kph in under six seconds.
But its not just the power that is mind boggling. With a dizzying array of turbochargers and electric motors, the combustion engine has a thermal effieciency of 40 per cent — previously unheard of in production cars.
Aside from the Project One, Mercedes also unveiled the EQA concept — a fully electric compact car. Powered by two electric motors, instead of a conventional radiator grille, the show car features a black panel with integrated LED matrix at the front. The Concept EQA achieves a range of around 400 kilometres, depending on the battery capacity installed. It is powered by new generation, highly efficient lithium-ion battery with pouch cells supplied by the Daimler subsidiary Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE.
Also unveiled at the show were the S560E, Mercedes’ flagship sedan which produces 367 hp from a 3.0-liter twin turbo V-6 engine with an additional electric drive of 90kW or 121hp.
Mercedes also unveiled the new GLC F-CELL SUV powered by a hydrogen electric drivetrain. It can be driven 49km in full electric and 437km total with full charge and a full tank of hydrogen.
BMW
BMW revealed the i Vision Dynamics, a new concept sedan that may lay the foundation for an electric car that sits in between the i3 city car and the i8 supercar.
Performance figures include acceleration times of 4 seconds to 100kph, top speed of over 200kph as well as a range of 600km.
The concept is a lead up on BMW’s electrification plan, which will see the Bavarian automaker rolling out 25 electrified models until 2025, out of which a dozen will be fully electric.
Honda
Honda displayed its Urban EV Concept at the Frankfurt Motor show and confirmed a production model for 2019. The cute looking hatchback is a throwback to the small first generation Civic hatchbacks of the 70s and has an astounding amount of charm despite its small dimensions. It has coachlike doors which open facing forwards and a wood and gray interior with bench seats that are quite charming. There are no details on range or power however.
Toyota
Toyota unveiled a C-HR design study developed by its European Design Centre (ED2). Not much details are available on the drivetrain. The C-HR Hy-Power makes use of a new Dark Carbon silver paint with a matt finish. The Toyota booth also saw the unveiling of a new upgraded Land Cruiser at the Frankfurt show, with a new bonnet, front bumper, and new headlights with daytime LED running lights.
Renault
Renault revealed its Civic Type R fighter, the new Megane RS, powered by a 1.8litre four pot.
Developing 278hp at 6000rpm and 390Nm of torque from 2400-5000rpm, the new direct-injection unit outperforms the previous 2.0-litre iteration.
A six-speed EDC dual-wet-clutch automatic transmission is available, along with a six-speed manual gearbox for the purists.
Kia
Kia unveiled the Kia Proceed, a shooting brake concept which has been billed the Stinger for the family man. It shares the same face as the Stinger, but now has a big boot in the rear. With a low roofline and muscular proportions the Proceed
Land Rover SVX
Land Rover unveiled the SVX, a hard core offroad version of the Discovery powered by a supercharged V8 developing 518bhp and 461lb ft of torque. Equipped with hydraulic roll control, the SVX has extreme wheel articulation for off-road performance but at the same time does not compromise on-road driving dynamics. It is also equipped with a long-travel version of the Discovery’s air suspension system with more lift than the standard model.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen has announced that it would bring at least 80 new electric and hybrid models across its entire brand range by 2025.
Under ‘Roadmap E’ announced by Volkswagen Group chairman Matthias Mueller at the Frankfurt Motor Show, there would be at least one electric variant in each of the more than 300 models it manufactures. There will be 50 pure-electric vehicles and another 30 plug-in hybrids by then.
The company unveiled its new VW ID Crozz at the show, but the show stealer remained the ID Buzz van. The ‘Microbus’, which has been confirmed for production by 2022 will feature fully autonomous drive and electric drive.
Mini
Mini is prepping for its entry into electric mobility and showcased the MINI Electric Concept, and suggested that a production electric model could be ready in as short a time as two years. Based on the MINI hatch, the concept is unmistakably a MINI, but with much more smoother surface styling and a very differnt grille style.
It is very likely to share the powertrain technology from the BMW i3 if it makes it to production in 2019. That would translate into a range of over 300km as as a century dash in the region of 7.5 seconds.