Volkswagen revealed a number of different concept cars based on the up! city car at this year’s IAA. But among them the Cross up! is most likely to make it into production as the five-door up!

For the five-door up! VW decided not jut add the rear doors, but to differentiate the car over the three-door version by giving it styling cues of an SUV, including suspension raised by 15 mm all round. The five-door looks chunkier than the three-door.

To mention other changes over the base car, front air intake is also modified, with a honeycomb grille that is distinctly larger, especially towards the bottom.

VW apparenlty wanted this car to really be a crossover kind of thing, because they’ve also fitted it with silver-coloured underbody protection at both ends, roof rails, and 16inch alloy wheels. So you don’t get the same car with just two extra doors, it is actually a whole new experience, more versatile and more functional than the three-door up!

Order books for the three-door up! will open in October with the first models arriving in the UK in spring 2012.  The five-door model will follow later in the year.

Rolls Royce had nothing new to show at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, so they displayed a couple of famous people.

One of them was the photographer Rankin, accompanied by his wife and model Tuuli, who presented an exhibition of the latest in his collection of 100 portraits inspired by the Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy figurine.

The more importatnt guest was Rowan Atkinson, who brought his car from the upcoming movie Johnny English Reborn. You may remember in the last series of Top Gear Rowan showed his Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe and told the story about how they managed to have Rolls Royce put a V16 engine in it. Fascinating car this is. Mr. Bean has apparently fully recovered from his recent McLaren F1 crash.

Project Kahn revealed the new Vesuvius kit for Porsche Cayenne at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

This cool new Cayenne gets a massive body kit, but it kinda melts into the white color of the body and you don’t really notice it there! It does have a profound effect though and make the car look more elegant.

Some of the nice designer touches include rows of horizontal and vertical LED lights at front, buffed up fenders an of course, Kahn’s RS wheels. As always, the car also gets a bespoke interior treatment up to the highest standards.

This Cayenne is based on the diesel model, and Kahn promises a ‘monstrous’ engine upgrade for it. If you couldn’t see the car at IAA, wait for more details to be released.

It was about time that we showed you the most beautiful girls at IAA 2011.

So, is it all about the cars? Definitely not. Auto Shows are much more than just vehicles, wheels and shinny green car prototypes, and this is the perfect example; we just hope you can help us out selecting the most beautiful stand at 2011′s Frankfurt car fair.

Check the gallery after the jump and remember to let us know which one’s your favorite.

[View with PicLens]

Rimac finally revealed their new electric supercar in full, as the car goes on display at IAA. The Rimac Concept One is like the Koenigsegg of electric cars.

No, seriously, it is! For starters, it looks awesome. Not as outlandish as you might expect from a full-on supercar, but it’s definitely got a magnificent presence. Then there’s the powertrain, and that’s where things get really exciting.

Rimac doesn’t reveal the technical details of the motors, but they say the system develops a massive 1088 HP. That, given the 1.6 ton weight of the car, gives it a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration of 2.8 seconds and top speed of 305 km/h (limited). What’s more, they say thanks to 92kWh battery module, it has a range of 600 km before you need to charge it up. It’s brilliant.

Now, I know these figures are too good to be true, especially when a newbie from Croatia claims them. But based on the films we have seen of their factory and development center, these guys are for real.

They’ve even hired a team of former Pininfarina employees just to design the interior of this car, and then had the well-known specialist Vilner to make it. “Special attention has been paid to the infotainment system and gadgets like head-up-displays and soft-close doors which had to match the propulsion technology in its advancement” says Rimac.

Production of Rimac Concept One is planned for 2013, limited to 88 units. Pricing is yet to be announced.

The new Volkswagen up! city car is such a flexible design that can even spawn a buggy version!

It’s called very simply the Volkswagen Buggy Up! and it’s inspired by the original buggy made by Bruce Meyers in the 60s based on the Beetle. This lifestyle concept is an open-top vehicle with no doors, big wheels, and a high-tech, lightweight steel structure.

Compared to the up!, the ride height was lowered by 20 mm, the bonnet is built much flatter, the bumpers show an independent character, the roof is not just clipped off, rather it takes its idea from small convertible sports cars. It also has a completely new rear-end. The bootlid is constructed of two pieces; the main part of the lid lifts upward like a classic bootlid, but the section above the bumper folds down, like the tailgate on a pick-up.

This is an extremely fun vehicle with not much in the way of common sense. So chances of it getting into production are quite slim. But you can read more about it here anyway:

Safe

The designers also made this up! a purebred buggy in its side profile. Of course, it has no doors, but in their place it has extensive body reinforcements and a sturdy roll bar behind the two seats. Especially cool: the open side sills. This makes the experience of open-air driving even more exciting than in a conventional convertible.

Snappy

At 3,584 mm, the buggy up! is somewhat longer than the production up! with a hard top (+44 mm), and its width of 1,672 mm is somewhat wider (+31 mm). As might be expected, the height of the buggy up! comes in significantly lower at 1,288 mm (-190 mm). The minimalistic overhangs, front and rear, show sharp styling. Filling the wheel housings are 18-inch alloy wheels – enormous for a vehicle of this size – which have 205/40 tyres.

Colourful

The area above the bumper and the open side sills are in the colour “hot orange”, which was specially created for this vehicle; those who think back to the buggies of the 1960s when they hear this colour name are right on track. The bumpers and side sills are designed in a matt and rugged “metallic grey” colour. The same colour schemes dominate in the interior.

Waterproof

As is proper for a beach vehicle, the new interior styling is completely waterproof. Drains in the vehicle floor and the open side sills prevent flooding. Even the neoprene coated shell seats have water drains, so that no water accumulates in the vehicle after a swim in the ocean. If it should rain for a longer period of time, it is possible to stretch a sail between the window frames and the roll bar.

Sound

The controls for the infotainment system also sport a waterproof design. Among its features, the system has an iPod/iPhone dock. The entire module can be removed – including the integrated active loudspeakers – so that it can be used as a sound system for parties on the beach.

Go-kart

Compared to the two-door up! the buggy up! has a lower seat position – in keeping with the lower vehicle height. The specially designed seats were lowered by 58 mm compared to the production model. To ensure that everything makes ergonomic sense for the driver, engineers reduced the basic angle of the height-adjustable steering wheel by 4 degrees to an angle of 21 degrees. The result is a go-kart feeling. A sturdy handle is installed on the dash panel for the front passenger – just as it once was in the Beetle – because one never knows what lies over the next dune. In essence, the buggy up! is pure emotion, but it is easy to drive and very safe. A car that would not only be good to drive in California. One thing should be made up!solutely clear at this point: the New Small Family is just beginning to grow…

Maybach’s future is unsure, but at Frankfurt Motor Show they revealed a one-off model presenting exquisite new possibilities for individualization of the luxury limousine.

Called the Maybach Edition 125! it is also a tribute to 125th anniversary of the automobile, and honors the ingenious designer Wilhelm Maybach.

Highlights of this one-off model include the special Tahiti Black/ Patagonia Silver paint job, laser-engraved light motif in the front armrest, which represents the alluring double-M in a curved triangle illuminated from inside, glove compartment lid embroidered with the signature of Wilhelm Maybach, silver-coloured topstitching, trim in silver carbon fibre/black piano lacquer, matt black 20-inch wheels with high-sheen spokes plus a newly styled radiator grille.

All the normal Maybach models, 57 and 62, also benefit from tweaked styling with a restyled, horizontally structured bumper trim, daytime driving lights featuring LED technology and bordered with a chrome insert have been integrated into the outer air intakes, new exterior mirrors, dark red tail lights and chrome trim used on the handle in the boot lid.

The output of both Maybach 57 S and 62 S are enhanced as well, by 13 kW (18 hp) to 463 kW (630 hp), while there’s been a remarkable reduciton in consumption figures (from 16.4 to 15.8 l/100 km) and the CO2 output (from 390 to 368 g/km CO2). All the Maybach twelve-cylinder engines meet the EU5 standard/LEV2.

Maybach Edition 125 Interior:

The latest Alpina masterpiece, based on the latest BMW 6 Series convertible, revealed in full at IAA.

The Alpina BMW B6 Biturbo offers luxury, comfort, and speed in big lumps. But what sets is apart from the other hundred cars that do the same, maybe even better, is the exclusivity and feel of the Alpina badge.

The traditional Alpina body kit is still recognizable, even though it now comes with up to the minute features such as front spoiler with the integrated carbon fibre front splitter, rear diffuser and the elliptical shape double exhausts. Those exhausts are, by the way, made by Akrapovic from high-strength titanium and the sound they make after 3000 rpm complements the rumble of the B6′s V8 perfectly.

Speaking of the Alpina B6′s V8 biturbo engine, this all-aluminum unit makes 507hp (373kW) and 700 Nm of torque. It comes with teh Alpina SWITCH-TRONIC 8-speed Sport Automatic Transmission, and together they enable the 6er cabrio to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8s, and reach a top speed of 311km/h.

Alpina B6 Convertible features the latest electronic suspension technologies and comes with Drive Performance Control (electronically adjustable dampers) and Dynamic Drive (active roll stabilisation) as standard. It also comes with 20″ ALPINA CLASSIC wheels, with MICHELIN PILOT SUPER SPORT tyres in the dimensions 255/35 ZR20 front and 285/30 ZR20 rear. High performance brakes with discs of size 374mm front and 345mm rear are also at hand.

It is hard to resist this perfect blend of style, performance, luxury and coolness. But you should wait and see the new M6 Cabrio first before writing the check!

The most important debut for SsangYong at this year’s IAA was the XIV-1 Concept. This crossover marks the start of a new era for the Korean firm.

And in this new era SsangYong name is no longer synonymous with catastrophically ugly cars. Thanks to the new design language they have applied, the new models are going to look cool and crisp and trendy, reflecting on SsangYong’s corporate product development philosophy, ‘Robust, Specialist, Premium.

The XIV-1 is a concept car that blend functionality of a B-segment SUV with the affordable running costs of a small family car, according to SsangYong. And that, affordability and simplicity is going to be its real winning card in this busy segment of the market.

The car is not going into production like this, of course, it has too much conceptual details such as the suicide doors or glass roof. But it will eventually spawn a new crossover vehicle. And it’s not jut the exterior design that is an exercise for the upcoming model, they’ve spent a lot of effort on the interior too.

The user interface embraces the concept of an extended living space rather than providing just a means of transport. Control of many of XIV-1 functions is via the interaction of Smart mobile devices and the vehicle itself. Using the kind of devices that the driver and passengers are likely to be carrying at all times, they can control everything from the audio system, the display of information on the dashboard and online communications.

TECHNICAL DATA

Korean car maker SsangYong unveiled the production version of the SUT-1 pickup truck in Frankfurt.

Exterior design of the SUT-1 remains pretty very similar to the astonishing concept car revealed in Geneva earlier this year, and looks very muscular and versatile. The car features SsangYong’s new design philosophy which is clear in the bird-wing shaped radiator grille and headlamp silhouette. The SUT-1 reminds us, to some extent, of the old Chevy Avalanche.

This pickup has a five-seat cabin and a large 2m² deck. What’s more, the company promises cabin comfort and luxury of a premium SUV for this robust pickup truck.

That’s why it comes with loads of equipments, including sunroof, RDS & Bluetooth audio, rear view camera, hinge sprung tailgate and a trip computer. Safety equipment hasn’t been forgotten either, with functions such as ESP and dual airbags fitted to make SUT-1 a genuine alternative to a conventional 4×4.

In terms of powertrains, the SUT has a 2.0 Active Diesel Engine developing 155 ps and 360 Nm of torque, 190 of which available at only 1000 rpm. This engine is fully compatible with Euro 5 standards.

EQUIPMENT

Mechanical

- 155ps 2.0-litre diesel engine with particulate filter

- Part-time 4WD

- 6 speed manual transmission

- 6 speed automatic transmission

- Double wishbone front suspension

- 5 link rear suspension

Seats

- Electric driver’s seat

- Electric passenger seat

- Leather upholstery

- Heated front seats

Climate control

- Manual air conditioning

- Fully automatic air conditioning

Appearance

- 16” alloy wheel

- 18” alloy wheel

- Leather steering wheel

- Sunroof

Convenience

- Cruise control

- Power folding rear view mirrors

- Electro chromatic inside rear view mirror

- Steering wheel audio systems controls

- 2DIN MP3 CDP with RDS function

- Bluetooth system

- Trip computer

Safety

- Ultra-rigid frame

- Dual airbags

- Immobiliser

- Reversing warning system

- Disc brakes on all 4 wheels

- Front and rear fog lamps

- Daytime running lights

- ISOFIX child seat attachments

- Electric windows

- Electronic stability program (ESP)

Volkswagen unveiled the hotted up version of the new Beetle, in concept form, at Frankfurt Motor Show.

The high-performance Beetle R comes with a body kit featuring new bumpers at front and rear, rear diffuser and a tall rear wing, wider fenders, “Serious Grey” pain job, 20-inch “Talladega” alloy wheels, and blue brake callipers in R design. The wheels, and the design of the body kit on the whole, are inspired by VW’s Golf R and Scirocco R.

Inside the cabin you get motorsport shell seats in gray nubuck leather, upholstered in black Nappa leather, with R logos and space blue stitching. You also get Black High Gloss and aluminum accents ad trims for more sporty feeling.

No word on performance figures, but since this car is similar to the the R members of VW family, Golf and Scirocco, it should have 260+ hp.

Audi S7 Sportback, the sportier version of the A7, is finally revealed featuring a 420-hp V8 engine.

Granted, the car might not look all that different than the A7, but at least you are not stuck with that V6 anymore if you want this swell looking vehicle. The new V8 is the same 4.2 unit powering the new S6, and offers 309 kW (420 hp) and 550 Nm (405.66 lb-ft) of torque.

The twin-turbo V8 accelerates the five-door coupe from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.9 seconds, and top speed is limited to 250 km/h (155.34 mph), and it averages 9.5 liters per 100 km, equivalent of 24.25 US mpg.

Other technical features are familair, and include seven-speed S tronic and the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system with a self-locking center differential and torque vectoring, adaptive air suspension sport and the Audi drive select dynamics system.

The S7 comes with 19-inch wheels, internally ventilated disc brakes front and rear andr matt black calipers sport S7 logos (carbon-ceramic option available).

Styling changes that set the S7 apart form the A7 include single-frame grille, the front bumper, the side mirrors, the sills, the rear bumper, the diffuser and the tailpipes.

It also has sportier interior, distinguished by S badges, the red ring on the start-stop button, the S7 logo in the illuminated door sill trims, the aluminum strip on the S tronic selector lever and the aluminum shift paddles. The footrest and the pedals are made of stainless steel, and the soft keys of the MMI operating system are in an aluminum-look finish.

Delivery of the Audi S7 Sportback is scheduled to begin in spring 2012. Among the standard equipment highlights are the xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights, the driver information system with color display and the versatile MMI radio plus audio and operating system. Both information hubs are easy to operate. The Audi S7 Sportback can be optionally equipped with all of the high-end extras of the model series. Moreover, all driver assistance and infotainment systems are available, including the Bluetooth online car phone that connects the Audi S7 Sportback with the Internet.

Further details of the second generation Hyundai i30 released as the car makes its debut in Frankfurt.

Replacing a best seller in Europe, the new 2012 i30 has got a lot to live up to, and by the looks of things it’s got all the bases covered. The car looks much better then the outgoing i30, inside and out, it is even better equipped, and has got more efficient engines.

The new-generation Hyundai i30 also bears Hyundai’s signature frontal feature – the hexagonal-shaped grille, and the new head and tail lights design which is common between all new models.

The overall length (4300 mm) and width (1780 mm) have been increased, while the height has been reduced (1470 mm), generating sportier exterior proportions without compromising functionality. Cargo capacity in the new-generation Hyundai i30 is 378 liters with the rear seats upright – an increase of 10% compared to the original model.

Engine-wise the new i30 will be available with a choice of three gasoline and three diesel variants, with power outputs ranging from 90 to 135 ps. There is the 1,6-liter variable geometry turbo (VGT) ‘U-II’ diesel unit with 90 or 128 ps, and featuring Integrated Stop & Go (ISG), low-rolling resistance tyres and an alternator management system, and the Hyundai’s 1,6-liter ‘Gamma’ GDI (gasoline direct injection), a 1.591 cc unit that generates 135 ps and 164 Nm of torque.

Cabin refinement and specification on the new i30 have been inspired by the high standards of the all-new i40. You get Hyundai’s new Flex Steer option with three operating modes – Comfort, Normal and Sport – the system can be used to vary the level of steering assistance and feedback in order to suit driving conditions and make the journey more pleasurable.

A large TFT Supervision cluster is available in the same quality found on i40 – providing a wide range of essential information to the driver in high-resolution clarity. Located in the centre console, the navigation system is displayed via a 7-inch touch-screen.

he new-generation i30 features the latest active and passive safety technologies to ensure maximum protection for its occupants. Active safety features include ESP (Electronic Stability Program), ABS (anti-lock braking system), VSM (Vehicle Stability Management) and Emergency Stop Signal. In terms of passive safety, the new-generation Hyundai i30 will be fitted with six airbags as standard – front, side and curtain – while a driver’s knee airbag is optional.

Lotus unveiled the all-new Exige S in Frankfurt, as the ultimate lightweight high performance sportscar.

The Exige S achieves its great performance through lightness, and big power to weight ratio. The targeted weight for this car is about 1080 kg, and it’s got 350 PS to carry that weight around.

The new Exige also has a race car body kit fro maximum downforce and features high performance bespoke tyre package with Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres as standard. A Lotus DPM (Dynamic Performance Management) switch allows the driver to switch between three driving modes: Touring, Sport and DPM off.

You can also order the Race Pack option which addds a Race mode to the driving settings, Launch Control and an optimised suspension.

There are two new interior package options available: Premium and Premium Sport. The Premium Pack provides added comfort and style where as the Premium Sport option focuses on creating an internal space optimised for ultimate driver involvement.

Lotus Exige S Technical Specifications

• Engine: Mid-mounted, transverse, 3456 cm3, 2GR-FE engine, V6, 24 valve
• Max Power: 350 PS / 257.5 kW / 345 hp @ 7000 rpm
• Max Torque: 400 Nm / 295 lb ft @ 4500 rpm
• Transmission: EA60 6 speed transverse Sports Ratios manual gearbox with open differential
• 0-100 km/h: ~3.8 seconds
• 0-160 km/h: 7.9 seconds
• Maximum speed: ~274 km/h / ~170 mph
• Fuel tank capacit: 40 litres ( 8.8 gal [UK] )
• Dimensions
  • Wheelbase: 2370 mm
  • Track
    • front: 1453 mm
    • rear: 1499 mm
  • Overall length: 4052 mm
  • Overall width (door mirrors excluded): 1802 mm
  • Overall height – midladen (as per unladen with 2x 75 kg occupants): 1153 mm
  • Overhang
    • front: 880 mm (including splitter)
    • rear: 802 mm
  • Ramp Angle
    • front: 7.4 degrees
    • rear: 16.4 degrees
  • Target Vehicle mass – kerb: 1,080 kg

At his Frankfurt Motor Show press conference, Infiniti VP Shiro Nakamura confirmed they will launch a a compact zero emissions luxury sedan in 2014.

The above sketch shows a silhouette of this yet unnamed luxury EV, revealing a sporty design which according to Infiniti will be a segment leader, just like the M35h which is officially the fastest full Hybrid available, or the new JX that is the first seven-seat crossover.

Here’s the most important bits of Mr. Nakamura’s speech:

Infiniti plans to take 10 per cent of global luxury segments by 2016*. At today’s levels that would be 500,000 units. That is a giant step up on the number of cars we sold last year. The good news for my team is that we expand our global line-up to 10 models by 2016, so plenty for us to design.

And we come to our first Frankfurt show with our full range of cars and crossovers and a glimpse into the future with the Etherea compact luxury concept.

But we need to tell more people about our story and reach new global audiences. In March we announced our partnership with Red Bull Racing in Formula One, a relationship that is literally delivering rapid results for Infiniti.

We were also proud to have RBR driver and F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel, join with Infiniti as our first ever global brand ambassador. Having a world champion of the caliber of Sebastian has been truly inspiring…and has lead directly to the car we will show you today…..

The new family of Renault Twingo revealed to day in Frankfurt, promising a wide range of models and personalization options.

The new Twingo is an important car because it is the first Renault to feature the all-new design language. And by the looks things it is a good one. The previosu Twingo was a totally girly car, and not even a pretty one. This new model doesn’t have that gender issue.

The new front grille on the Twingo will be seen on every upcoming model by Renault, and so will be bubbly lights at front, not in the same exact position of course, but somewhere similar. The whole design has become more curvy. And it even continues inside the cabin.

Inside, Twingo’s bubbly side is enhanced through the harmony of colour and material. All the upholstery options have their own personality. The seats feature new patterns, with edging picked out in contrasting colours. All stitching, as well as the leather or TEP panels, are coordinated. The colours also feature on the door inserts and climate control and heater system controls. The lateral air vents come in different tones, depending on the market (Gloss Black, Majorelle Blue, Anis Green, Gunmetal), and their controls are detailed in chrome.

Powertrains:

The range of engine for the new Twingo include the 1.2 TCe 100hp engine, which boasts peak torque of 155Nm, the 1.2 16V 75hp petrol engine or the dCi 75 and dCi 85 diesels. From 2012, New Twingo will achieve benchmark emissions standards: 85g of CO2/km for the dCi 75 and dCi 85 diesel-powered versions and 102g/km with the 1.2 16V 75hp petrol engine. Driving economically, a full tank can ensure a range of up to 1,000km (diesel version) or 750km (petrol).

New equipments:

All the audio systems in the New Twingo range will feature Bluetooth functionality and audiostreaming with USB connectivity as standard. This makes it easy to play digital music, from a player, phone or USB stick. In this area, too, New Renault Twingo delivers the same features as Renault models in other segments. As an option, the audio system can be used as a docking station for the iPhone and latest-generation iPod Touch. This audio system permits the use of GPS navigation thanks to a Renault-developed iPhone application. This app uses Bluetooth to communicate with the car and analyses the driver’s ‘eco-driving’ behaviour in real time with a view to providing fuel-saving tips.

Although not finished, Subaru decided to bring the new BRZ sportscar to Frankfurt as a sort of preview. That’s why they call it the Prologue.

The BRZ is Subaru’s version of FT-86 project, which will be powered by the totally new 2.0-litre Subaru Boxer engine exclusively designed for the new sports car. Subaru BRZ will also be a rear-wheel-drive car. So on paper, given the low center of gravity of that boxer engine and the weight distribution, it should be a sweet handling car.

SUBARU BRZ is currently under development with an ambition of Subaru and Toyota to provide driving pleasure to a wider range of customers by making full uses of both companies’ expertise, and its start of production is expected in spring 2012. Thanks to its front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout; further lowered centre of gravity; and compact and lightweight body, SUBARU BRZ delivers new ways to enjoy “Pure Handling Delight” driving experience.

Major Specifications
Body size (Overall: Length x Width x Height): 4,200 x 1,770 x 1,270 mm
Wheelbase: 2,570 mm
Engine type: 2.0-litre direct injection naturally-aspirated
four cylinder Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine

Subaru proudly presented the new XV SUV at Frankfurt Motor Show, but for some reason chose this horrible color for the press pictures they released!

In any other color the XV is a good-looking crossover and is sporty, elegant and versatile at the same time. OK, so maybe not that elegant. But cars like this which have virtually no image are generally considered cool.

The XV, like all other 4WD Subarus, is incredibly tough, efficient and thanks to its rally roots, very fun to drive. That brings us to the principle upon which this car is developed. The fundamental product concept that Subaru adopted for the XV is “Urban Adventure.” In specific terms, a vehicle that would be perfectly suited to exciting, lively, yet stress-free use in the city.

The XV will get 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol Boxer engines, and the option of the new Lineartronic (CVT), and a newly developed “Auto Start Stop System”. More details on the car’s equipments and features in the press release below:

Major specs:

• Overall Length x Width x Height (mm): 4,450 x 1,780 x 1,570
• Wheelbase (mm): 2,635
• Track Front/Rear (mm): 1,525 /1,525
• Minimum road clearance (at kerb weight)(mm): 220
• Seating Capacity: 5

Packaging / Utility

This vehicle’s interior provides unmatched comfort levels to all passengers and best-in-class spaciousness.

·       The XV features an extremely roomy passenger compartment, a cargo area that is both spacious and convenient, and excellent riding comfort.

·       The door opening dimensions have been enlarged and the higher seat position allows much easier ingress and egress.

·       With a focus on convenience, ample storage space for small objects is provided at ideal locations. The Multi-Function Display (MFD) is highly visible in the upper middle section of the instrument panel for comfortable driving.

Exterior design

Coined from the terms “professional tool” and “trendy design,” Subaru’s “Protren” design concept symbolizes the fusion of SUV functionality and urban persona.

·      It features a new type of crossover design that combines a stylish, flowing form with a high body and side cladding that enhances the sense of functionality of SUV.

·      Equipped with a hexagon grille and hawk eye headlights, these design features emphasize the unique identity of Subaru vehicles. The innovatively designed alloy wheels and cut-away cladding give the XV a sporty and attractive appearance.

·      The corners of the front and rear bumpers were designed with special edges that enhance the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle and also contribute to better fuel efficiency.

Interior design

Along with the roomy and comfortable interior, a stylish design was selected to bring out the best qualities of the chosen materials and give passengers a feeling of quality.

• The instrument panel is styled horizontally, which gives a more roomy feeling.
• A luxurious interior was created that perfectly balances the different tactile and emotional qualities of leather, metal, and cloth.
• The Multi-Function Display is highly visible in the upper middle section of the instrument panel and provides the driver and passengers with information necessary for practical driving in a highly intuitive format. For high-grade type^*1, a large 4.3 inches full-colour LCD is equipped with advanced infotainment such as eco-driving display and vehicle information display which supports the driver in a great many ways.

*1: Option for all models

Safety

• By integrating the partition windows into the front doors and putting the door mirrors on the door panels, top-level forward visibility in this class was achieved, and blind angles were reduced. A stylish profile with a more streamlined rear roof edge was designed without impairing the rear field of view.
• In addition to SRS driver’s/passenger’s airbags, SRS side airbags and SRS curtain airbags, SRS driver’s knee airbag are installed as standard in all models.
• VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) is installed in all models as standard. Its intervention timing was optimised and incorporates control logic that demonstrates effectiveness in danger avoidance situations. A brake assist function is also incorporated into the VDC system. This provides the XV with world leading danger avoidance performance and increases driving confidence.

The finest member of Audi S5 fmily revealed today in Frankfurt as the new RS5.

This nicely proportioned coupe features the new normally aspirated 4.2 liter V8 developing 31 kW (450 hp) and 430 Nm (317.15 lb-ft) of torque. Zero to 100 km/h is dealt with in 4.6 seconds and as for the top speed, well it’s 250 km/h, but upon request Audi can raise it to 280! Why wouldn’t they set the 280 as default then? Who wouldn’t like to have a faster car?!

Like all RS models, this Audi too benefits from the advantages of Quattro 4WD system, which thanks to the 40:60 ratio of the rear-biased configuration, not only won’t cause that much understeer, it’ll let you pull spectacular tail slides if you know how to.

Features of the car’s interior apart from the sport steering wheel and all the leather, include a carbon design package is available for the engine compartment, as are a variety of styling packages for the body in black or matt aluminum look. A broad range of high-performance assistance and communication systems round out the optional extras program. Among these are adaptive cruise control, Audi side assist, adaptive light, MMI navigation plus, the Bluetooth online car phone and the Bang & Olufsen sound system.

That’s all you need to know about the new RS5. It’s a brilliant car. You should only decide if you like the way it looks. We don’t.

Among the most important debuts today at IAA was this, Fisker Surf Concept, the shooting brake version of Fisker Karma.

There is nothing to say the Surf’s design, since it’s the same as Karma, apart form the rear compartment. Henrik Fisker believes this is the most elegant station wagon ever created, but that’s arguable.

The surf has a few unique features though, that give it a unique character, such as the new three-dimensional honeycomb pattern grille, or the solar roof panel. The optional solar panel not only captures sunlight to power the car, it is actually see-through, with a dark-tint translucence that adds to the sense of openness inside the car, specifically in the rear seats. Standard is a tinted-glass panoramic roof panel that tilts open at the back for added ventilation.

It also gets specially designed roof rails to suit the style of the car. After all, this design is the most lavish green car around and they didn’t want to ruin it for the sake of practicality.

The beautiful and superbly crafted interior now has a luggage area inside it, which is divided into three functional regions, starting with the trunk space at the rear, for large items such as golf bags and suitcases. Set off forward of that is a raised shelf designers refer to as “the podium,” to handily accommodate smaller objects and give useful function to an area constrained by the presence of the electric powertrain’s large invertors under the floor.

The powertain is the same as Karma, consisting of a 175kW generator/260 hp turbocharged and direct-fuel-injected gasoline engine. Two driving modes, Sport and Stealth, are available to the driver at all times:

In Sport mode, full power is available and the driver can command the unmatched 981 lb-ft (1,330 Nm) of torque to accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 5.9 seconds, and achieve an electronically limited top speed of 125 mph (201 kmh).In the default Stealth mode, calibrated for efficiency, the Surf uses only battery power and accelerates from 0-60 in 7.9 seconds. Top speed is 95 mph (153 kmh). Under normal driving conditions, battery power alone will drive the Surf about 50 miles (80 km). After that the gasoline engine/generator and 9.5-gal (36 l) fuel tank provide another 250 miles of range for a total of 300 miles (483 km).