Important cars of the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show!
Car manufacturers constantly creates new models, technologies, engines etc, and revealing them through newspaper and radio just wouldn’t cut it. This is where motor shows comes into play. Motor shows, also known as auto shows are meant to show the world what they can offer, and to spread the interest and enthusiasm of cars to the public. The Frankfurt Motor Show is one of the largest and most well known motor shows in the world, and with hundreds of brand new models, concepts, and technologies revealed at this year’s show, I could only write about some of the most important cars from this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
Please click below to read all about the cars!
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale
Based on the Lamborghini Gallardo Blancpain Super Trofeo race car, this 150 limited production Gallardo uses the same V10 engine from the Superleggera which produces 570hp. The main difference is the loss of a whole 70kg of unnecessary weight. It also comes with a many visual changes such as a gloss black roof, matte black front spoiler and rear diffuser, as well as a huge rear spoiler.
Fun Fact: At 1340kg, this car weighs less than than your typical BMW 1-Series!
New generation Porsche 911
Looks almost exactly identical to the one it replaces. However, everything about this new 911 is improved in every way. Read all about the all-new Porsche 911 here.
Fun Fact: Nine generations on and the basic shape of the 911 had never changed!
Aston Martin V12 Zagato
Basically an Aston Martin V12 Vantage with a touch of Zagato coach builders. Every single piece of it’s aluminium body panels including that beautiful double-bubble roof are hand crafted without any machines aid. And combine that craftsmanship with a limited production run of only 150 units, you are looking at a car which cost $520,000. Read more about the V12 Zagato here.
Fun Fact: Two racing version of the V12 Zagato are produce for racing purposes and one is named Zig and the other Zag!
Ferrari 458 Spider
Don’t be fooled by that name, it does not have eight arms nor does it spin webs. Spider (sometimes known as Spyder) is a convertible version of the 458 Italia. Unlike any other typical convertible with complex mechanism, the 458 Spider make do with a genius flip-over hardtop which just flips over in under 14 seconds. Read all about the Ferrari 458 Spider right here.
Fun Fact: While driving top down at speeds over 200km/h, Ferrari claims that you can still have “normal conversation” on board without shouting!
Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG
The is Mercedes-Benz most powerful compact convertible hardtop. With a naturally aspirated 5.5 liter petrol engine, this pocket rocket can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in under 4.6 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155mph). Looks great in white too! Read all about the SLK 55 AMG here!
Fun Fact: When driving under low rpm which is between 800 to 3,600 rpm, the engine will shut down four of its cylinder to further save fuel!
New generation Lexus GS
The is Lexus’ all new competitor for the E-Class and the 5-Series. Made with typical Lexus precision and attention to detail, the new GS promises to beat the Germans in terms of quality and driving dynamics. That’s what they claim at least. The new GS will be offered in three versions, the GS250, GS350 and the GS450h hybrid. Read all about the new Lexus GS here!
Fun Fact: Lexus claims that their new air-conditioning system is ten times more powerful than the previous system! Who needs such powerful wind blowing our face?!!!
Maserati Kubang Concept
Despite having the concept name, the Kubang actually previews Maserati’s very first production SUV. Designed to compete directly with the German Porsche Cayenne, Maserati promises to make it’s very first SUV to be authentically Italian. But is Kubang an Italian name? Not liking the name.
Fun Fact: The supposedly very Italian Kubang is going to be based on the very platform used to produce the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is from America. Hmmm…
Land Rover DC100 Concept
The modern Land Rover Defender had been around over 21 years and counting. People loved it’s simplicity in both design and technology which at the same time, born one of the most iconic and capable off-roaders. So it is about time to replace it with something more ahead of it’s time. Land Rover previewed the next generation Defender with these two concept cars. The DC100 is in a standard SUV body while the Sport is a topless version of the same car. Don’t get too excited right now though, the production version will only arrive in 2015.
Fun Fact: Great news to all extreme off-roaders! The interior is entirely water-proof so you could just rinse it with a hose if the inside gets filthy!
Eterniti Hemera
Eterniti is a brand new British luxury car manufacturer based in London, and the Hemera is their very first model. Claimed to be the “world’s first Super-SUV”, the Hemera can be easily recognized as a heavily modified Porsche Cayenne. Despite being based on a Cayenne, Eterniti claims that all body panels are new and there would be bespoke LED headlamps on the finished product. The Hemera you see here is still a pre-production model, and therefore the interior was not shown. Eterniti said that the interior is going to be “almost 100% unique”. Almost, mind.
Fun Fact: It’s still just a Cayenne with more power, 620bhp to be exact. Just buy the Maserati Kubang shown previously if you have better taste.
BMW i8 Sports Concept
The BMW i8 Concept is basically the 2009 Vision EfficientDynamics concept study but with a working drive train and a different name. Powered by just a turbocharged 1.5 liter petrol engine located at the rear, combined with a front-mounted electric motor, this hybrid sports car produces an impressive 349hp and yet drinks as little fuel as 2.7 liter per 100 km. Production will begin in 2013.
Fun Fact: This concept car was used by Tom Cruise in his upcoming new movie, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol!
New generation Honda Civic Euro
European are lucky fellas. They make great cars, their cars are cheap, and they always get the good stuff, just like their very own Honda Civic. The Honda Civic sold in Europe are completely different from the ones sold in the US as well as Asia. European Civics are designed and engineered in their homeland in order to suit the people’s taste. And what can I say but what good taste they have on cars! The previous generation Civic Euro featured a very futuristic design with a compact hatchback body as opposed to the sedan version from other regions. The same thing can be said with this all-new Civic!
Fun Fact: The rear lights reminds me of a certain bug. Oh, and Honda’s CEO said that the new Civic is “not just an evolution, it is an evolutionary revolution” What?
New Hyundai i30
Looks great doesn’t it? I was talking about the car. It is a Hyundai by the way, set to dominate to now dull-looking Ford Focus and even duller Volkswagen Golf. The i30, also called the Elantra in the US, looks good thanks to Hyundai’s latest “fluidic sculpture” design language which was applied first for the new Sonata. With this striking design slowly appearing in every single Hyundai model, this Korean car manufacturer is definitely “flowing” towards the right direction.
Fun Fact: Despite being a Korean car, the i30 was actually completely designed and engineered at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany. No wonder!
