For one month every couple of years, Frankfurt becomes the car capital of the world. Forget about waiting for Detroit, if you want to see the really cool stuff, visit Germany. But what can you do if a visit to Deutschland is beyond your budget? Don't worry, we've got you covered with video coverage of the most exciting and significant cars on show.
2016/2017 Volkswagen Tiguan
Volkswagen has taken the wraps off the all-new Tiguan in Frankfurt. This is a compact SUV that competes with the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, but it's a lot bigger than its predecessor, especially in width.
From bumper to bumper, the Tiguan is redesigned with the global market in mind. This first SUV based on the MQB platform knows every trick from the Golf and Passat, so we'd be surprised if it doesn't sell well.
Clever engineering and a better materials have helped it move the pounds while brand new turbocharged engines give it power and efficiency. In Europe, the Tiguan will become available early in 2016 with a choice of no less than eight different engines. The most powerful and interesting is a 2-liter TDI Clean Diesel that delivers 240 PS thanks to twin turbochargers. It also packs V6 levels of torque, so it should be fast.
America will be a little less fortunate, receiving the Tiguan as a 2017 model year about a year from now. Only two or three engines will be sold, including the 1.8 TSI and the 2.0 TDI from the Passat.
The options are what really set this car apart from all its competitors, and it proves Volkswagen now makes premium vehicles. For instance, you can have a digital dashboard similar to the Audi R8's and the R-Line body kit makes this SUV look like the Range Rover Evoque's prettier sister.
We've played with our fair share of luxury vehicles, including the Porsche Cayenne and the G63 AMG. But this takes the cake. Reports suggest that the Bentayga is already sold out for 2016, which means very rich people decided they want one in one or two days. If that's not a success story, we don't know what is.
Theoretically, the Bentley is related by blood to the Audi Q7, but it has rockstar characteristics. For example, the engine is unlike anything you may find in another SUV, and the interior puts most mansions to shame.
Not only is this the most expensive and luxurious SUV, but Bentley claims it is also the fastest in the world. Thanks to a W12 twin-turbo engine developed together with Volkswagen, the monster calls upon over 600 horsepower to get to 100 km/h (62 mph) in around 4 seconds.
With multiple offroad driving modes, adjustable suspension and hill descent control, the Bentayga may be capable of conquering a desert. But given the price tag, the SUV is more like a status symbol on bigger wheels.
If you want to know why everybody is so wound up about this white car, well just look at it for a couple of seconds. Under the sexy body of a four-door sportscar is a gigantic battery pack that powers 600 hp worth of electric motors.
While we were standing there looking at the sexy lines, half the Mercedes board came around to look at the Mission E. Audi's new design boss also had a couple of visits. Porsche isn't known for rocking the boat with their designs, so elements from the 911 and the 918 Spyder were combined.
Of course, the Mission E also has four doors and four seats, so people are hoping that it previews the next Panamera or the baby Pajun sedan that's been rumored. Porsche generally doesn't build concepts just for the sake of it, so by 2020, we might have an all-electric Prancing Horse.
As the name suggests, the Vision Gran Turismo is designed as a video game car. This one-off will not hit Silverstone soon, but you can download and play with it on your console without any problems.
Bugatti has amazing fabrication skills, and if you look closely enough at the concept, you might notice sensual blue carbon fiber and precisely cut aluminum elements. Also, it looks so delicious that we were tempted to lick it.
These amazing styling features will be wasted, as they will inspire the next supercar from Bugatti. Rumor has it that it's called the Chiron after a mythological creature and 1500 horsepower will be used to shame every other hypercar.
Volkswagen has taken the wraps off the all-new Tiguan in Frankfurt. This is a compact SUV that competes with the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, but it's a lot bigger than its predecessor, especially in width.
From bumper to bumper, the Tiguan is redesigned with the global market in mind. This first SUV based on the MQB platform knows every trick from the Golf and Passat, so we'd be surprised if it doesn't sell well.
Clever engineering and a better materials have helped it move the pounds while brand new turbocharged engines give it power and efficiency. In Europe, the Tiguan will become available early in 2016 with a choice of no less than eight different engines. The most powerful and interesting is a 2-liter TDI Clean Diesel that delivers 240 PS thanks to twin turbochargers. It also packs V6 levels of torque, so it should be fast.
America will be a little less fortunate, receiving the Tiguan as a 2017 model year about a year from now. Only two or three engines will be sold, including the 1.8 TSI and the 2.0 TDI from the Passat.
The options are what really set this car apart from all its competitors, and it proves Volkswagen now makes premium vehicles. For instance, you can have a digital dashboard similar to the Audi R8's and the R-Line body kit makes this SUV look like the Range Rover Evoque's prettier sister.
2017 Bentley Bentayga
You think you know what an SUV is, but you have no idea! The Bentayga is Bentley's first-ever SUV, and it made its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This is our first chance to get up close and personal with the world's most expensive 4x4.We've played with our fair share of luxury vehicles, including the Porsche Cayenne and the G63 AMG. But this takes the cake. Reports suggest that the Bentayga is already sold out for 2016, which means very rich people decided they want one in one or two days. If that's not a success story, we don't know what is.
Theoretically, the Bentley is related by blood to the Audi Q7, but it has rockstar characteristics. For example, the engine is unlike anything you may find in another SUV, and the interior puts most mansions to shame.
Not only is this the most expensive and luxurious SUV, but Bentley claims it is also the fastest in the world. Thanks to a W12 twin-turbo engine developed together with Volkswagen, the monster calls upon over 600 horsepower to get to 100 km/h (62 mph) in around 4 seconds.
With multiple offroad driving modes, adjustable suspension and hill descent control, the Bentayga may be capable of conquering a desert. But given the price tag, the SUV is more like a status symbol on bigger wheels.
Porsche Mission E Concept
Let's try to stay under the Volkswagen Group umbrella while we still can and check out the Porsche Mission E Concept. It is not the only debut, as the new 911 models with downsized turbo engines were also shown, but the Mission E stole the show.If you want to know why everybody is so wound up about this white car, well just look at it for a couple of seconds. Under the sexy body of a four-door sportscar is a gigantic battery pack that powers 600 hp worth of electric motors.
While we were standing there looking at the sexy lines, half the Mercedes board came around to look at the Mission E. Audi's new design boss also had a couple of visits. Porsche isn't known for rocking the boat with their designs, so elements from the 911 and the 918 Spyder were combined.
Of course, the Mission E also has four doors and four seats, so people are hoping that it previews the next Panamera or the baby Pajun sedan that's been rumored. Porsche generally doesn't build concepts just for the sake of it, so by 2020, we might have an all-electric Prancing Horse.
Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo Concept
The Veyron is kind of boring, but you would be hard-pressed to find a more interesting car than the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo Concept. Because of the race car look and the classic blue paint, this is my favorite vehicle in Frankfurt. I suspect that if it ever enters production, the power figure would overshadow the Bentayga easily (little birdies suggest 1500 hp).As the name suggests, the Vision Gran Turismo is designed as a video game car. This one-off will not hit Silverstone soon, but you can download and play with it on your console without any problems.
Bugatti has amazing fabrication skills, and if you look closely enough at the concept, you might notice sensual blue carbon fiber and precisely cut aluminum elements. Also, it looks so delicious that we were tempted to lick it.
These amazing styling features will be wasted, as they will inspire the next supercar from Bugatti. Rumor has it that it's called the Chiron after a mythological creature and 1500 horsepower will be used to shame every other hypercar.