Achtung! The Frankfurt Motor Show ist here!
The 64th Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung, or Frankfurt Motor Show to you and I, kicks off from Thursday with around 900 exhibitors foaming at the mouth, eager to wow you with their latest and greatest models and innovations.
But nine hundred?! You’ll never get round all that, even if you attend all ten days, honestly!
How fortunate then that FleetDirectory has done the hard work and whittled down the list, revealing who will really be worth paying a visit to when the event opens its doors to the public from 15-25 September.
Honda has kept the lid very tight on its new Civic in the run-up to its official unveiling. All we’ve seen so far of the ninth generation model is the rear spoiler [link] with not much in the way of detail so expect plenty of intrigue when it is revealed to press on Tuesday.
The Japanese manufacturer has been much more forthcoming over the cleaner and more economical Insight [below]. Boasting CO2 emissions of 96g/km, Honda has given the model a fresh look with a new front grille and carried out changes to the CVT transmission, reduced engine friction and improved air conditioning to achieve a more attractive fuel economy.
With the hybrid variation of the Insight Coupe already providing one of the most competitive fuel economies available [link], it’ll be interesting to see if Honda delivers with the VED/C-Charge/LEZ-exempt model.![White Honda Insight 2012 [click to enlarge]](http://www.fleetdirectory.co.uk/fleet-news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/image33.png "White Honda Insight 2012 [click to enlarge]")
![White Eterniti Hemera 2012 [click to enlarge]](http://www.fleetdirectory.co.uk/fleet-news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/image34.png "White Eterniti Hemera 2012 [click to enlarge]")
British newbies Eterniti Motors will be exhibiting what they’ve calling “the world’s first super-SUV”.
Hand-built in London, the Hemera aims to open up new levels of luxury and performance in the SUV segment with a limousine-esque rear cabin, including twin electric reclining seats, iPads and a drinks chiller.
With compact dimensions, 4×4 ruggedness and dynamic performance, Eterniti’s debut model is due to go into production some time next year.
A 30 metre interactive wall will dominate Volkswagen’s 8,893 square metre stand serving the premiere for VW’s single seater electric concept – the NILS – and their new ‘up!’ city car.
Estimated for a December street date, the up! (make sure that’s lowercase and with the exclamation mark) will be available with BlueMotion technology and a stop/start system, helping to deliver sub-100g/km CO2 emissions. Fuel consumption is also stated as 4.2L every 100km. A 100% electric variant could follow pending the model’s success.
The two debutants will be flanked by the recently unveiled new generation Beetle, Tiguan and Golf Cabriolet.
The new Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid will be on show too, featuring a new, more reliable and more compact lithium-ion battery which extends the range achievable on just electric power.
It is expected to set new standards for fuel economy, reaching up to 128.4mpg with CO2 emissions of 49 g/km.
Toyota say their hybrid system has an excellent track record built up through 2m sales worldwide.
A spokesperson added: “The new Prius Plug-in becomes the flagship of the Prius range, a showcase for new technologies and further advances in hybrid technology.
“In 2012 it will join an expanded Toyota hybrid range consisting of the Prius, the British-built Auris hybrid, the new, seven-seat Prius+ and the new Yaris hybrid, demonstrating Toyota’s commitment to introduce Hybrid Synergy Drive technology to the wider market.”
Renault will be there too, trying scare kids with its Monster Inc-esque Twingo. Renault say the second generation Twingo will have a typically expressive front face but we still think it looks like a monster.
Mazda will be parading its SKYACTIV technology in the new CX-5 compact crossover SUV.
The CX-5 is expected to deliver precise handling responses and a high-quality ride, matched with outstanding environmental credentials and an advanced safety performance.
The engine line-up for the European specification CX-5 will include Mazda’s SKYACTIV-G 2.0 gasoline engine and SKYACTIV-D 2.2 diesel engine, which will be available in Standard Power and High Power versions. Each engine has a record-breaking compression ratio of 14:1 for ideal efficiency.
Mazda’s engineers have focused on achieving exceptional environmental performance for a compact SUV and targeted CO2 emissions of less than 120g/km for the SKYACTIV-D 2.2 engined model.
![Blue Mazda CX5 2011[click to enlarge]](http://www.fleetdirectory.co.uk/fleet-news/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/image38.png "Blue Mazda CX5 2011[click to enlarge]")
There will of course be the usual weirdy concept cars on show, baffling all and sundry in a supposed attempt to scratch the most heads possible. From the seedy boudoir on wheels – Citroen’s Tubik van [below] – to the profound 1+1 Audi urban concept car [pictured right], the IAA is sure to throw up some utterly bizarre designs.
Hyundai’s best selling i30 will be sporting a new look with a hexagonal-shaped front grille and jewel-like headlamps.
Thomas Bürkle, Chief Designer at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre, said: “Distinctive daytime running lights present an angular shape within a more softly-edged recess, adding a strong personality to the vehicle, as well as a sense of refinement and luxury.
“Through the profile of the new generation i30, a strong character line runs over the front and rear wheelarches all the way to the tail lamps. A softer, lower character line rises up the car’s flank creating a play of light and shadow – a fundamental feature of fluidic sculpture.”
Hyundai expect the new-generation i30 to appeal to young, progressive buyers who want a car that not only performs well and looks great.
“The car has been designed to take on the leading vehicles in the C-segment and join the all-new i40 as a quality benchmark for Hyundai,” added Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe.
“Our ultimate customer care package, Five Year Triple Care, will be a valuable point of differentiation for the new-generation i30 in its highly competitive class.”
If you’re heading down, we hope that gives you a decent idea of what to expect. If anything particularly impresses you or you think we’ve missed something absolutely amazing, tell us in the comments box or tweet us @FleetDirectory.
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