Volkswagen gave a lot of exposure to the two electric models, the e-up! and the e-Golf. The 160km range of the e-up! is probably quite adequate for its role as a city car, and first versions of it and the 190km range e-Golf will start to appear in showrooms in the middle of next year.
There's no motor show without a Ferrari to show, and this year it's the 458 Speciale, the fastest ever from the supercar brand leader. The 4.5 V8 can power the now lighter car to 100 km/h in a neck-wrenching three seconds. Some 90kg weight was saved by such techniques as using thinner glass, using carbon fibre in some engine components, and making special narrow spoked wheels.
Fiat continues to extend its 500 variants, and the 500L Living was the latest to be shown on the brand's Frankfurt stand. Seems to us that the 500 has become a brand in its own right? Anyhow, the Living is a 7-seat MPV. The 500L Trekking also featured, which is interesting because it has just been launched in Ireland, and stands out because of its higher ground clearance and greater length than the standard 500L.
A new Mazda CX-5? Actually, no. It's the concept for Jaguar's mooted SUV. And they're even calling it a CX ... with 17 attached. Well, really, C-X17. We're confused. Jaguar must be too. And as for Mazda ...?
No new Mondeo for Europe yet, but Ford has placed a marker on a tilt for the more affluent of its customers with a Vignale new grade level, shown on the Mondeo coming sometime next year. Apart from the trim and luxury extras, Ford promises free wash and vac for life, airport valet parking and fast-track through security for owners, and the use of an airport lounge. This is the new way to sell cars?
It's somewhat overdue, but Nissan's new X-Trail is coming along with a style and substance makeover that puts it right up there against Hyundai's Santa Fe and even some of the premium medium SUVs. There are people waiting for this one.
Opel is doing the business in the medium car segment at the moment with its Insignia, and in a serious upgrade it decided not to fix anything that isn't broken. The car got detail changes that give it more stylistic presence, and there are significant improvements to the engines.
OK, we saw this at Geneva, but Subaru's Viziv Concept model is always worth a second look. The style details will crop up in future production crossovers from the Japanese maker. The showcar is a hybrid, with a 2.0 boxer engine and three electric motors.
With the new 308 the star of Peugeot's show, and coming to Ireland for a first view at the Ploughing Championships, this hot version, the 308R Concept presages a real hot hatch in the proud Peugeot tradition is going to be added to the range, and sooner rather than later.
The power of even more dreaming woke up on Honda's stand, with the production version of its Civic wagon just as sexy looking as was the concept we saw last time out.
After the job they did on bigger brother Mazda6, it isn't unexpected that the star of their show, the new Mazda3, has come a long way up in the style world. A very neat interior and fine boot makes it a real concern for the other majors in the compact family segment.
The Chevrolet Corvette is not relevant to Ireland, but it's one of those cars you can't pass without a gawp and a picture. No more words necessary here.
It's big in electricity at BMW this year, with the production versions of its i13 EV and i18 hybrid sports car finally riding around. I hitched a lift in one of the 10 i3s they have circulating as shuttles between halls, and it seemed very impressive in many ways. Will depend on pricing and the green conscience of its target buyers.
BMW has just unveiled a new version of its X5 rival for the latest Range Rover Sport. They have detuned the style in the interests of making more room for people inside, and the engines are made more economical. Should continue to be a necessary accessory for the wealthier country set.
Everybody seems to be targeting the Nissan Juke these days, and Suzuki is no exception with this iv-4 Concept. It shows the thought for a new contender in the small SUV market now that the SX4 has grown into the S-Cross. Expect the production version in 2014
Audi had promised a great-looking limited edition production car to commemorate the iconic Sport quattro 20 years on, and they came through on the promise. The funky headlights hide a 700hp V8 under that big bonnet.
And this nanuk quattro Concept has shades of Lamborghini in it, with gullwing doors and a 530hp 5.0 V10 under the bonnet. They're really on the go-juice in the development department.
This is a view of Volkswagen's Sportsvan, what used to be called the decidedly unsexy Golf Plus in the previous generation of VW's bread and butter car. It comes with the options of all the technologies and nearly all the powertrains that the standard car has. For the larger family.It will be in Ireland in the middle of next year.
(All photographs ©Irish Car+Travel Magazine.)
