The 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show that opened with a great fanfare saw every major automobile company showcasing their upcoming cars as well as the concept cars. The show stoppers this year were the sports car displayed by likes of Porsche, Mercedes, Maserati and Ferrari. Besides, the hybrid concept cars were the ones that stole all the limelight.
Highlight of this year’s show was Bentley Continental GTC, which is powered by 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W-12 engine. This new Continental GTC comes with an aggressive front fascia, a vented hood and new headlights. Another elite launch at the top of the spectrum was Porsche 911 Carerra, which would be going on sale in Europe from January 2012. With longer wheelbase and adaptive suspension damping, the new 911 is believed to be more comfortable.
The German carmaker, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG which is powered by a 6.3 litre V8 engine. Audi came up with its Audi 2012 S6, which is packed with the twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 that churns out 420 horsepower. Among the luxury launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show was the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Stardale. This Lamborghini is powered by a 570 horsepower V10 engine that can go from 0 to 100 kmph in 3.4 seconds.
Hyundai, the South Korean automobile giant, launched i30 car in two variants. There are speculations that this car might come to India as the Elantra sedan, instead of a hatchback. The Frankfurt Motor Show also witnessed launches of SUVs like the super-SUV Hemara by UK based Eterniti Motors. Powered by a twin-turbo V7 engine, this SUV is capable of generating a maximum power of 620 hp.
Italian brand Maserati also showcased it’s first-ever SUV, the Kubang at the auto show. The Kubang’s engine that will be integrated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox will be developed by Ferrari. Moreover, there are speculations that this car may be produced at the same plant as the Jeep Grand Cherokee as they share the same platform.
Besides all these launches, the concept cars also made their way in the show. BMW i8, which is a superbly designed sporty concept car, grabbed the attention of all. This 4-seater car can reach up to 100 kmph within five seconds. The concept car by Jaguar, Jaguar C-X16 hybrid, was also showcased.
The Toyota owned luxury brand Lexus also came up with its models called the Lexus RX SUV and Lexus LX 4WD. The company is looking forward to work on these models over the next 15 months. Smart’s ForTwo which had plastic wheels and hexagonal cut-offs (solar panels) on its semi-transparent roof was also unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show.
Futuristic in design and transmission, the VW’s Nils electric car was another show stopper. This single seater car is powered by a 15 kW electric motor and a 5.3 KW/hour lithium ion battery. Like every year, the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show displayed the future of automobiles with eagerly-awaited saloons and performance models.
