His blisters now healed and floodlight-induced suntan fading, Glenn Brooks reflects on the best and biggest Frankfurt motor show he has attended.
Was there one overall impression gained from the 2011 Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung? Yes, and it was simple. That Volkswagen wants the world to know that it intends to become the global number one. And how did it get that message across at Frankfurt? By filling an entire hall plus one freshly-built architectural wonder with almost 150 of the Group’s cars.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Undoubtedly the most important new model at the IAA was Volkswagen’s up!, the first car on the new MHB platform. It was interesting to note that there was no sign, not even in concept form, of SEAT or Skoda’s forthcoming variants of the little VW. Clearly, Volkswagen believes that the largest volume and priciest car in the New Small Family project must not be overshadowed by its cheaper brothers.
The up! itself is an impressive effort and the many concepts which appeared alongside it on the VW stand showed just how important this new model series will be for the brand. The buggy prototype was no doubt a pure fantasy but you didn’t have to squint too much to imagine the five-door cross up! concept as a possible replacement for the CrossFox. That model, which is built at VW’s São José dos Pinhais plant in Brazil and sold mostly in the lower income parts of the Americas, will reach its eighth birthday in 2012 so an up!-based replacement next year would not be surprising to see.
The other important world premiere for Volkswagen was the Nils. This personal commuter concept is the latest preview of the VW019 project, which is due to reach production in 2013. Will Europeans buy these sorts of one-to-two-seater cars? Certainly VW seems to think so, as does Renault, which had several examples of the forthcoming Twizy on its stand.
Unlike the Twizy, the production version of Volkswagen’s commuter model might go close to being a true One Litre car (average consumption of 1.0 litre per 100km or 282mpg). A carbon-fibre bodyshell on an aluminium space frame is expected, and, possibly, a 1+1 seating arrangement, while the powertrain is likely to be a diesel-electric hybrid system. There might also be a pure EV version. But where would such a model be built? The former Karmann works at Osnabrück, now owned by Volkswagen, seems the most likely location.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataIn contrast to Volkswagen Group, European’s second largest manufacturer, PSA Peugeot Citroen had a relatively quiet Frankfurt. The diesel-electric version of the Peugeot 508 wagon had its global debut but this is never going to sell in great numbers, nor will the Citroen DS5 HYbrid4, which was making its European debut. These cars are significant nonetheless as they show how PSA is cleverly turning to niches within niches to push up the overall pricing of its model ranges. Both cars looked suitably upscale, with the DS5 in particular having an interior which one or two so-called premium German brands ought to take a close look at.
Another of the European majors, Opel-Vauxhall pulled the covers off the Zafira Tourer, GM Europe having noted the success found by Ford of Europe’s clever move in creating not one but two MPVs from the one basic model. So while the Zafira Tourer will soon be taking on the S-MAX, the old Zafira remains in production to compete with the Galaxy as well as smaller, older models such as VW’s Touran.
Ford itself was mostly about low-emissions petrol engines at Frankfurt, though the Fiesta ST concept showed that the company’s European arm still knows how to make its sports models stand out. The concept’s front end and distinctive tail-lights are, I was told, previews of next year’s mid-life update for the by-then four-year old Fiesta range.
Still with Ford, I also heard that the Focus ST wagon on the Ford stand would reach production during 2012, while a chat with Ford’s global design chief J Mays confirmed my suspicions that the front end of the Evos concept is a preview of a production model that he wouldn’t name. My money’s on North America’s next Fusion and its twin, the fourth generation Mondeo.
The results of the strategy that Fiat SpA adopted in response to the credit crunch in Europe and North America three years back were plain to see at Frankfurt. No new models for Alfa Romeo nor Lancia but Fiat at last revealed the replacement for the Panda, a car that will be almost nine years old when its successor hits the market in early 2012.
Fiat continues to believe that delaying new models in an attempt to conserve cash is what it needs to do. Luckily, a couple of high-margin cars such as the Alfa Giulietta and the Fiat 500 continue to sell very well indeed but is a mild refresh and the second name change for the elderly Punto (no longer Grande nor Evo but now Punto 2012) really going to be enough to keep that car going until 2013?
Another former great, now sadly fading in Europe at least is Honda. The cars have always been superbly engineered but the Accord continues to be too big and too pricey for its segment of the European market, the Jazz lacks a diesel and the Civic has one of those but its large capacity means that the Co2 average is uncompetitive.
Will the new Civic five-door, a world premiere at Frankfurt, improve matters for Honda in Europe? Undoubtedly, but until the promised smaller diesel arrives in 2012, the company is competing with one hand tied behind its back. And why must Honda Europe wait until this time next year for the new CR-V when the US market will have it in the coming weeks? There seems no logical reason why the Swindon plant in England must wait until Q3, 2012 to switch over to the fourth generation model.
The two brands which have caused so much damage to not only Honda but also Mazda, Suzuki, Mitsubishi and Toyota in Europe, had yet more new products to reveal at the IAA. Hyundai pulled the covers off its second generation i30, while Kia unveiled the three-door version of the new Rio. The next cee’d, incidentally, will reportedly be revealed at the Geneva show in March and will share its platform and powertrains with the new i30.
One of the questions on many people’s lips at Frankfurt was whether or not Kia Motors intends to build something along the lines of the GT, which most rated as the show’s most elegant concept. The company’s head of design, Peter Schreyer, says he would love to have a big executive car in the brand’s line-up but it’s hard to imagine that it would sell in Europe. China and the US, definitely, but despite all the impressive growth of recent years in certain European markets, the Kia badge still stands for value to most car buyers in the region.
In some ways it is unfair to group Toyota Motor Europe (TME) with the smaller Japanese brands that have also been suffering major sales downturns in EU markets for several years now. But while Hyundai and Kia’s constant stream of fresh, attractive models has hit these brands hard, Toyota has suffered more than most.
Toyota used the backdrop of the IAA to launch a facelift for the slow-selling Avensis. Hyundai’s response is the svelte and just-launched i40, while Kia’s is the equally fresh Optima with its seven-year warranty. Until Toyota shortens its model cycles back to the five years that they once were and matches the Korean brands’ styling, pricing and ownership assurance packages, it seems certain to have a steep uphill climb in Europe.
Aside from the major manufacturers (and yes, Renault really did have only a couple of facelifts and just the one new concept at Frankfurt so there’s not much to report upon), the list of significant other models at the IAA is long. So long in fact, that it’s probably best to examine it for yourself. You’ll find it at the bottom of this feature.
One final word. Like most people in this industry I’d be telling a lie if I said that my soul didn’t stir just a little at the sight of a certain all-new car at Frankfurt. It introduces the 9X1 architecture, modules from which will be used for the mid-engined replacements for two other core models in 2012. I shall remember the 2011 Frankfurt IAA as the show where that all too rare event took place: an all-new Porsche 911, a proper Porsche, was revealed for the first time.
just-auto’s proprietary Production Life Database (PLDB) contains an extensive number of codenames for future EVs, also lists expected launch dates for such models. PLDB is updated daily and can be rapidly searched for details of over 1,500 current and future global vehicles, from 187 makes/brands and 99 vehicle groups.
IAA 2011 world premieres
- Abarth 695 Competizione
- Abarth Punto Sport
- Aston Martin V12 Zagato
- Audi A2 concept
- Audi A5 facelift
- Audi S5 facelift
- Audi A8 hybrid
- Audi R8 e-tron prototype
- Audi R8 GT Spyder
- Audi RS 5 facelift
- Audi S6
- Audi S7 Sportback
- Audi S8
- Audi urban Sportback concept
- Audi urban Spyder concept
- Bentley Continental GTC
- BMW 1 Series (five-door)
- BMW 520d EfficientDynamics
- BMW i3 concept
- BMW i8 concept
- BMW M5 sedan
- BMW X1 sDrive20d EfficientDynamics
- Changan EADO
- Citroen Tubik concept
- Eterniti Motors Hemera
- Ferrari 458 Spider
- Fiat Freemont AWD
- Fiat Panda
- Fiat Punto facelift
- Fiat Punto TwinAir
- Fisker Surf concept
- Ford Evos concept
- Ford Fiesta ECOnetic Technology
- Ford Fiesta ST concept
- Ford Focus 1.0-litre three-cylinder
- Ford Focus ECOnetic Technology
- Ford Focus ST five-door and wagon
- Honda Civic five-door
- Honda Insight facelift
- Hyundai i30
- Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel
- Jaguar C-X16 concept
- Kia Rio three-door
- Kia GT concept
- Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale
- Land Rover DC100 concept
- Land Rover DC100 Sport concept
- Lexus GS 450h
- Lotus Exige S
- Lotus Evora GTE
- Maserati Kubang
- Mazda CX-5
- Mercedes-Benz B-Class
- Mercedes-Benz Concept B-Class E-CELL PLUS
- Mercedes-Benz F125! concept
- Mercedes-Benz M-Class
- Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG
- Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 CDI
- Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster
- Mercedes-Benz Viano Vision Pearl concept
- Mini Coupe
- Opel RAK e concept
- Opel Astra GTC
- Opel Zafira Tourer
- Peugeot 508 RXH
- Peugeot HX1 concept
- Porsche 911
- 911 GT3 RS 4.0
- Renault Frendzy concept
- Renault Koleos facelift
- Renault Twingo facelift
- SEAT Exeo facelift
- SEAT IBL concept
- Skoda MissionL concept
- smart fortwo electric drive
- smart forvision concept
- SsangYong SUT-1 concept
- SsangYong XIV-1 concept
- Subaru BRZ Prologue concept
- Subaru XV
- Suzuki Swift Sport
- Toyota Avensis facelift
- Toyota Prius facelift
- Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid
- Toyota Yaris three-door
- Volkswagen Beetle R concept
- Volkswagen NILS concept
- Volkswagen up!
- Volkswagen buggy up! concept
- Volkswagen cross up! concept
- Volkswagen e-up! concept
- Volkswagen eco up! concept
- Volkswagen GT up! concept
- Volkswagen up! azzurra concept
- Volvo Concept You
- Volvo XC90 facelift
- Yo-Auto concept
For more details on models shown at this year’s IAA: Frankfurt debuts
