Frankfurt Motor Showcase 2015: news round-up

The two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Showcase delighted car fans and the automotive industry alike with some meaty fresh car launches, arousing announcements, world record attempts and the latest technology to thrust the car industry forward.

As Frankfurt battles to become the fattest motor demonstrate in the world, manufacturers lined up to out do one another to take the headlines.

German manufacturers were out in force to outdo one another and to predominate the demonstrate. However the Brits put up a good fight, debuting some titillating fresh models as well – and of course the rest of the world desired a look in, too.

Jaguar broke the world record with the world’s largest loop the loop as they unveiled their fresh all-terrain Jaguar F-Pace SUV. Albeit we’re not sure that was the terrain originally foreseen at concept stage. Bentley joined the SUV market with its sector creating super-luxury Bentley Bentayga.

Supercar headlines went to Lamborghini and Ferrari for their fresh Lamborghini Huracan Spider and four hundred eighty eight Spider. Us mere mortals can look forward to a fresh Vauxhall Astra, Alfa Romeo Giulia and Renault Megane.

There was much, much more too, with the Mercedes IAA and Porsche Mission E concepts lifting the curtain on the future design and tech thinking for their respective brands. On top of that, we witnessed a string of launches from Audi, BMW, SEAT, Nissan, Mazda and others.

Scroll down the page for a utter round-up of all the news, pictures and movie from the Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate.

The starlet cars of the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Showcase

  • • Alfa Romeo Giulia – The Giulia is a crucial car in Alfa’s bid to re-establish itself as a premium player
  • • Renault Megane – Renault’s Concentrate rival made its debut promising design flair and practicality
  • • Bentley Bentayga – After months of spy shots and teaser pics the Bentayga eventually arrived
  • • Jaguar F-Pace – Another fresh SUV arrival from Jaguar, will the British marque have a hit on its mitts?
  • • Vauxhall Astra – The fresh Astra will be a big seller and Vauxhall hopes this one will eclipse the Ford Concentrate.
  • • Mercedes IAA Concept – Mercedes shocked the showcase with its ‘Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile’
  • • Rolls-Royce Dawn – Craftsmanship and cachet come at a price but the Rolls-Royce Dawn looked well worth it
  • • Porsche Mission E – Porsche looks to challenge the Tesla Model S with an electrified spectacle car of its own

Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate: features

• Best cars at the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Display

Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate 2015: picture gallery

The best pics from our snappers on the Frankfurt showcase floor.

Frankfurt Motor Display: top news stories

The Frankfurt demonstrate isn’t just an chance to drool over the latest fresh cars and concepts. Our reporters trawled the halls, seeking out the top car industry execs on the hunt for the big news stories.

All-new Nissan Juke due in two thousand eighteen – Nissan will substitute the Juke crossover in two thousand eighteen with a possible hybrid model planned.

All Audis to be suggested with plug-in technology – Audi has underlined the importance of electrical cars in its future model line-up.

Frankfurt Motor Showcase two thousand fifteen – A to Z of fresh models

Alfa Romeo

Alfa caused a big stir with the unveiling of its titillating fresh BMW three Series rival. The dramatic, rear-wheel drive Giulia has been shown again in Frankfurt ahead of its mid-2016 release, and we we’ve got more details on the spectacle of the flagship 503bhp Quadrifoglio model.

The one issue that worried some was that Alfa still isn’t displaying ‘regular’ versions of the Giulia that most customers will buy, but we do expect there to be a range of four cylinder petrol and diesel engines available at launch.

The fifth-generation Audi A4 was unveiled at Frankfurt. While its design is similar to the outgoing version, the fresh A4 uses the VW Group’s MQB platform – with more interior space and a range of more efficient engines, as well as a raft of fresh tech. Audi also exposed the S4 spectacle variant which uses a 349bhp turbocharged V6.

We also eyed a fresh electrical SUV concept from Audi, the e-tron Quattro. It’ll go up against cars like the Tesla Model X, but won’t be going into production before two thousand eighteen and is expected to be badged as the Q6.

Bentley

Bentley’s very first production SUV was unveiled at the demonstrate. It propels the luxury brand into a fresh marketplace – the super-luxury 4×4 sector. Bentley describes the Bentayga as “the fastest, most luxurious and most off the hook SUV in the world” and with a mighty all-new 12-cylinder W12 engine under its giant bonnet that very first claim is certainly true. With 600bhp and 900NM of torque, the Bentayga will get from 0-60mph in Four.0 seconds and go on to 187mph.

BMW debuted the fresh X1. The second-generation of its puny SUV is larger and more rugged than its predecessor, with fresh petrol engines, enhanced interior space and the latest safety tech. We also witnessed the facelifted BMW three Series, which gets fresh, more efficient engines, an updated interior and little tweaks to the exterior.

There was a public debut for BMW’s flagship too. The evolutionary design of the fresh BMW seven Series is similar to the outgoing car, but key fresh tech such as the fresh touchscreen infotainment system, gesture control and a world very first ‘Parking Assistant’ features. The fresh model is 14cm longer, as well as being a notable 130kg lighter than the old model.

In addition BMW highlighted two fresh models adding to its range of hybrids. The 330e is a dedicated rear-drive, four-door saloon and aims to suggest hybrid advantages without alienating the current three Series customer base. It combines a Two.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electrical motor, which is capable of powering the car for up to twenty five miles on the batteries alone.

The 225xe uses a less conventional platform, which will underpin the next-generation X1. It uses the powertrain layout from the BMW i8, with that car’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine driving the front wheels and an electrical motor driving the rear wheels.

Borgward

Revived German brand Borgward is hoping to come back with a bang with a fresh seven-seat SUV. Expected to contest with the Kia Sorento, it will come with petrol and hybrid powertrains and four-wheel drive, but won’t arrive in Europe until 2017.

Bugatti

Bugatti exposed the Vision Gran Turismo concept. Designed as a virtual racer in the Gran Turismo movie game. The 1,600bhp Vision Gran Turismo includes lots of nods to Bugatti’s racing past and includes design features we’ll see on the Chiron – the successor to the Veyron.

Citroen

The Citroen C4 Cactus has been reimagined into a successor for the iconic Mehari. The Cactus M Concept is a convertible beach buggy with a waterproof interior, inflatable roof and raunchy plastic panels. The concept is closer to a real car than most – the designers took a standard Cactus straight from the production line in order to create this joy drop-top.

The nosey DS four was at Frankfurt, but the fresh car has also received a rugged makeover with a raised rail height and some extra bod cladding – and this version is called the DS four Crossback. Like many ‘soft-roaders’ it won’t be available with four-wheel-drive, and will be sold in conjunction with the facelifted standard DS Four.

Ferrari

Ferrari wowed the crowds with the roofless version of its storming four hundred eighty eight GTB at Frankfurt. With a six hundred sixty bhp Three.9-litre twin-turbo V8, the fresh four hundred eighty eight Spider is good for 0-62 mph in Three.0 seconds, and will hit 203mph despite the folding hard-top. But thanks to the controversial compelled induction it’s also capable of 24.7 mpg and CO2 emissions of two hundred sixty g/km.

Ford exposed its fresh Edge SUV in European spec ahead of its release in 2016. It sits above the Kuga as the rock hard’s flagship SUV in the range, claiming to suggest interior space to rival the VW Touareg and yet be priced below £30,000.

It’s been on sale in the US for a year, however. Alongside the Edge is the stiff’s all-new Ranger pick-up. It gets a butch fresh look, more efficient engines and Ford’s latest active safety and convenience tech.

Honda

• Honda Project Two&Four

Honda took the wraps off its radical Project Two&Four concept ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Showcase. The single-seater is a collaboration inbetween the brand’s motorcycle and automobile design studios, and is intended to combine the open-riding sensations of a motorbike with the manoeuvrability of a car. The hard is also showcasing the Civic Tourer Active Life, a bike-friendly Civic estate.

Hyundai

• Hyundai i20 Active

Hyundai caused a stir at Frankfurt with the launch of the ‘N’ spectacle sub-division and two fresh concept cars. The company claims to have carried out intensive testing and product development to come up with Hyundai ‘N’, a sub-brand aimed at providing a cut-price alternative to the likes of BMW M and Mercedes-AMG.

Hyundai’s prototype WRC car, based on the fresh i20 Coupe, appeared on stage at the event providing us a good idea on what’s to come, which according to Hyundai will be a utter “performance-orientated and race-track-capable” line-up.

The i20 Active was also seen for the very first time at the display, an attempt by Hyundai to cash in on the flourishing supermini-sized crossover market.

Infiniti

Infiniti’s fresh Q30 petite premium hatchback is aiming straight at the Mercedes A-Class, and even shares some of its powertrains and chassis. It’ll be produced at Nissan’s Sunderland plant alongside the Nissan Qashqai and the Nissan Leaf .

Jaguar

We ultimately eyed Jaguar’s fresh F-Pace ‘spectacle crossover’ in production form at Frankfurt. With premium rivals such as the Porsche Macan and the Audi Q5 in its glances, Jaguar has high hopes it can crack the mid-sized premium SUV class. Jaguar exposed the car by setting a world record for the largest loop-the-loop, and you can witness the amazing feat on our movie below.

The all-new Kia Sportage crossover hit the decks at Frankfurt, it clearly takes inspiration from the KX3 Concept that was exposed late last year. A accomplish engine range overhaul is expected, along with the possible inclusion of fresh turbocharged three-cylinder units.

With subtly updated styling, a fresh 1.0-litre ‘ecoTurbo’ three-cylinder engine, a fresh dual-clutch auto box, plus updated cabin and safety tech, the enhanced Kia Cee’d is set to go head-to-head with the recently refreshed Hyundai i30 when it goes on sale at the end of the year.

The fourth-generation Kia Optima was also on display at Frankfurt, featuring a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox for the very first time. It’ll be available with a 175bhp petrol or a 141bhp diesel engine, and also features wireless phone charging.

Lamborghini

The Lamborghini Huracan Spyder was unveiled at the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Showcase – providing us a taste for the full-blooded V10 drop-top before it goes on sale next year. UK prices have not yet been exposed, albeit we expect a £10,000 increase over the Huracan coupe (which starts at £180,720) when the roadster arrives in showrooms next spring.

The fourth-generation Lexus RX appeared at the Frankfurt Motor Showcase. As well as the Trio.5-litre V6 petrol and hybrid powertrains, we can also expect a Two.0-litre turbocharged petrol RX 200t with a target power output of more than two hundred twenty five bhp. The refreshed Lexus GS was also at the demonstrate in European specification.

Mazda

Mazda exposed a stunning fresh crossover SUV concept at Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate , which points the way to a production model sitting inbetween the current CX-3 and CX-5 . Dubbed ‘Koeru’’ – Japanese for ‘go beyond’ – it’s billed as a cut-price alternative to premium coupe SUV models such as the BMW X4 .

Mercedes

• Mercedes S-Class Cabriolet

Merc displayed a showstopping cabriolet version of its S-Class luxury coupe. The posh two-door is set to go on sale at the end of the year, with twin-turbocharged V8 and V12 engines to make it a cut-price (but still hardly cheap) alternative to the fresh Rolls Royce Dawn.

Mercedes also promises refinement and unrivalled luxury at a much lower price point in its swoopy fresh C-Class Coupe. With neatly styled lines and swept-back headlamps, it’s ready to take on the BMW four Series coupe in 2016, with a hot 503bhp C63 AMG and Edition one variant also debuting.

The Mercedes Concept IAA is a vision of things to come in the next decade from the brand’s luxury car range and it caused fairly a stir at Frankfurt. Albeit the over-exaggerated features won’t make it to future road cars, the brand is providing us a look at the future of Mercedes and it looks arousing.

Now the largest model in the MINI range, the fresh Clubman substitutes its unpopular ‘Clubdoor’ with a more traditional four-door layout, while keeping its traditional ‘barn door’ boot. The use of BMW’s UKL1 platform means that the fresh MINI Clubman will be taking on big players in the compact estate market.

Nissan

Nissan set out to take the Frankfurt Motor Showcase by storm with the unveiling of a fresh Gripz crossover concept. Albeit model timelines would suggest this could be a Nissan Juke replacement, sources suggest this concept is in-fact a preview for an all-new sports-oriented SUV in the Nissan line-up.

Nissan also displayed the all-new Navara pick-up in European spec at Frankfurt. The ‘NP300’ already on sale in other markets around the world, and we don’t expect many switches for the car heading to the UK. It gets updated styling, improved rail and treating and a fresh cabin design with extra safety tech.

Ultimately, the rock hard treated us to an upgraded version of the Leaf electrified car with a 30kw battery. The extra battery capacity will enable the EV to cover around 150-160 miles on a total charge, up from the realistic 80-100 miles expected out of existing Leafs.

Peugeot

• Peugeot three hundred eight R Hybrid

The fresh 266bhp Peugeot three hundred eight GTi hatchback made its debut at the display. The French stiff has also all but confirmed the bonkers 493bhp three hundred eight R Hybrid hatchback will go on sale.

The Fractal Concept was also on display, a car that indicates Peugeot’s fresh design direction. The bold design will be toned down before it’s seen on standard models, but features like a 3D-printed interior and keyless entry via smartwatch may be close to production.

Porsche

Albeit styling revisions will be typically subtle from the Stuttgart rock-hard’s facelifted 911, the iconic sports car gets a accomplish engine range overhaul as Trio.0-litre turbocharged engines make their way into the Carrera and Carrera S.

We were also treated to the Mission E concept, a high spectacle electrical car with the Tesla Model S in its glances.

Renault

Renault’s fresh Ford Concentrate rival appeared in the skin at the Frankfurt display. Longer, lower and broader, the fresh hatch gets a bolder and more dynamic design than before, with cues from the latest Clio and Kadjar SUV. LED headlamps help it stand out, while the rock-hard claims it will get a distinctly higher quality interior than the outgoing car.

Renault also showcased the Espace MPV and Talisman Estate at the display. The Espace adds crossover style to the 7-seat MPV sector, and is biased towards convenience rather than an involving drive. The estate version of the Talisman saloon is a successor to the slow-selling Laguna. Unluckily neither of these cars will be sold in the UK.

Rolls-Royce

V12 power and coupe-like refinement went in to making the fresh Rolls-Royce Dawn soft-top one of the starlets of the Frankfurt Motor Showcase. The cabin is mostly collective with the Wraith, and quality is exceptional – as you’d expect of a car that’ll cost £250,000 or so.

But the Dawn isn’t just a styling exercise. Lots of engineering effort has gone into making it amazingly refined. In fact, Rolls believes this will be the quietest cloth-roof car on sale, so you’ll only get a hint of noise from the Ghost-sourced 6.6-litre turbo V12, as the Dawn is more of a boulevard cruiser than the Wraith.

• SEAT Leon Cupra 290

SEAT unveiled its latest Ibiza Cupra, which fits in with the rest of the updated Ibiza range. The fresh car borrows the more powerful 1.8-litre turbo from the VW Polo GTI, developing 189bhp, and styling switches include a central harass and more aggressive bodykit. The rigid also previewed the Leon Cupra two hundred ninety – an uprated version of the Cupra two hundred eighty with 286bhp and the Leon Sport Cross which is said to preview a hot Leon-based crossover.

Brainy

The third-generation Fortwo city car will, like before, get the option of an electrical folding fabric roof. It’s due to go on sale right after Frankfurt and we were treated to a look at the car in the metal at the demonstrate.

SsangYong

SsangYong showcased two concept SUVs. The very first of these, called the XLV-Air, will be an elongated version of the Tivoli, but it’s unknown whether this will hit the UK. The 2nd, the XAV-Adventure, is a more rugged compact crossover, possibly built to substitute the ageing Korando in the UK.

Suzuki

Suzuki exposed total details on its fresh Baleno at the demonstrate. The B-segment model was very first display as the IK-2 concept at this year’s Geneva Motor Display . It’s designed to provide an extra dose of practicality missing from the current six-year old Swift , which is one of the smaller superminis on sale.

But it won’t directly succeed the Swift itself, as an all-new supermini is expected to arrive later in 2016. Also on the Suzuki stand was the Vitara S, a fresh version of the Vitara with a 138bhp turbo petrol engine.

Thunder Power

It’s not very often that a car brand comes around that we’ve never heard of, but freshly born ‘Thunder Power’ has the intention to build an electrical car to hammer the Tesla Model S. An early version of this Tesla trouncer was showcased at Frankfurt.

The Thunder Power electrified car is claiming to suggest 430bhp, with enough juice in the batteries for a 373-mile range. 0-62mph will be despatched with in under five seconds, and the car will go onto a top speed of 155mph – all exceptional numbers, especially form a start-up company.

Toyota

The fresh Toyota Prius hit the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Showcase before going on sale early next year. The brand says the fresh fourth-generation Toyota Prius will “establish fresh benchmarks in fuel economy”. The 1.8-litre petrol engine is set to remain with a downsized electrified motor and a separate electrified power unit to drive the rear wheels. This so-called ‘e-4WD’ system will only work at speeds of up to 37mph but will boost grip in poor weather conditions.

Toyota also astonished Frankfurt showgoers with the unveiling of a concept for a hybrid crossover. The ‘C-HR’ is a near-production preview, and Toyota bosses have confirmed it will be built and shown at the two thousand sixteen Geneva display .

Vauxhall

The all-new Astra made its debut in Frankfurt, hoping to steal the display from the fresh Megane. With a sharper exterior design, more upmarket cabin, extra safety tech and a more efficient engine range, it aims to be a credible rival to the Auto Express-award-winning SEAT Leon .

Vauxhall also showcased us the Astra TCR, an Astra-based racer destined for the TCR international touring car championship and the Astra Sports Tourer estate version. Van drivers will appreciate a special concept version of the Vivaro van called the Vivaro Surf concept.

Listen: special interview with GM CEO Mary Barra

Volkswagen

VW exposed the all-new Volkswagen Tiguan SUV at the demonstrate, providing more than a peek of the fresh model. We also got a look at the Golf GTI Clubsport, a special edition designed to feast forty years of the GTI. Volkswagen’s Caddy Alltrack was also on the stand, a fresh off-road version of the Caddy van.

Frankfurt two thousand fifteen press conference timeline

When did the covers come off the key cars at Frankfurt 2015? Find out the timing and content of each manufacturer press conference with our interactive timeline, click the links to read the utter stories on the key cars.

Frankfurt Motor Showcase 2015: dates and tickets

The dates of the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Showcase are Tuesday 15th of September to Sunday 27th of September. The press days were on September 15th and 16th when Auto Express reported live from the display as usual with utter details of all the fresh cars on this page. The 17th and 18th of September are reserved for trade and fleet visitors but tickets for the public days are available now from the official website .

Bookmark this page for all the latest news from the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Display as it happens!

Frankfurt Motor Display 2015: news round-up, Auto Express

Frankfurt Motor Showcase 2015: news round-up

The two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Display delighted car fans and the automotive industry alike with some fat fresh car launches, arousing announcements, world record attempts and the latest technology to thrust the car industry forward.

As Frankfurt battles to become the fattest motor demonstrate in the world, manufacturers lined up to out do one another to take the headlines.

German manufacturers were out in force to outdo one another and to predominate the display. However the Brits put up a good fight, debuting some titillating fresh models as well – and of course the rest of the world desired a look in, too.

Jaguar broke the world record with the world’s largest loop the loop as they unveiled their fresh all-terrain Jaguar F-Pace SUV. Albeit we’re not sure that was the terrain originally foreseen at concept stage. Bentley joined the SUV market with its sector creating super-luxury Bentley Bentayga.

Supercar headlines went to Lamborghini and Ferrari for their fresh Lamborghini Huracan Spider and four hundred eighty eight Spider. Us mere mortals can look forward to a fresh Vauxhall Astra, Alfa Romeo Giulia and Renault Megane.

There was much, much more too, with the Mercedes IAA and Porsche Mission E concepts lifting the curtain on the future design and tech thinking for their respective brands. On top of that, we spotted a string of launches from Audi, BMW, SEAT, Nissan, Mazda and others.

Scroll down the page for a utter round-up of all the news, pictures and movie from the Frankfurt Motor Display.

The starlet cars of the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Showcase

  • • Alfa Romeo Giulia – The Giulia is a crucial car in Alfa’s bid to re-establish itself as a premium player
  • • Renault Megane – Renault’s Concentrate rival made its debut promising design flair and practicality
  • • Bentley Bentayga – After months of spy shots and teaser pics the Bentayga eventually arrived
  • • Jaguar F-Pace – Another fresh SUV arrival from Jaguar, will the British marque have a hit on its palms?
  • • Vauxhall Astra – The fresh Astra will be a big seller and Vauxhall hopes this one will eclipse the Ford Concentrate.
  • • Mercedes IAA Concept – Mercedes shocked the display with its ‘Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile’
  • • Rolls-Royce Dawn – Craftsmanship and cachet come at a price but the Rolls-Royce Dawn looked well worth it
  • • Porsche Mission E – Porsche looks to challenge the Tesla Model S with an electrical spectacle car of its own

Frankfurt Motor Display: features

• Best cars at the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate

Frankfurt Motor Display 2015: picture gallery

The best pics from our snappers on the Frankfurt demonstrate floor.

Frankfurt Motor Showcase: top news stories

The Frankfurt demonstrate isn’t just an chance to drool over the latest fresh cars and concepts. Our reporters trawled the halls, seeking out the top car industry execs on the hunt for the big news stories.

All-new Nissan Juke due in two thousand eighteen – Nissan will substitute the Juke crossover in two thousand eighteen with a possible hybrid model planned.

All Audis to be suggested with plug-in technology – Audi has underlined the importance of electrified cars in its future model line-up.

Frankfurt Motor Display two thousand fifteen – A to Z of fresh models

Alfa Romeo

Alfa caused a big stir with the unveiling of its arousing fresh BMW three Series rival. The dramatic, rear-wheel drive Giulia has been shown again in Frankfurt ahead of its mid-2016 release, and we we’ve got more details on the spectacle of the flagship 503bhp Quadrifoglio model.

The one issue that worried some was that Alfa still isn’t showcasing ‘regular’ versions of the Giulia that most customers will buy, but we do expect there to be a range of four cylinder petrol and diesel engines available at launch.

The fifth-generation Audi A4 was unveiled at Frankfurt. While its design is similar to the outgoing version, the fresh A4 uses the VW Group’s MQB platform – with more interior space and a range of more efficient engines, as well as a raft of fresh tech. Audi also exposed the S4 spectacle variant which uses a 349bhp turbocharged V6.

We also spotted a fresh electrical SUV concept from Audi, the e-tron Quattro. It’ll go up against cars like the Tesla Model X, but won’t be going into production before two thousand eighteen and is expected to be badged as the Q6.

Bentley

Bentley’s very first production SUV was unveiled at the showcase. It propels the luxury brand into a fresh marketplace – the super-luxury 4×4 sector. Bentley describes the Bentayga as “the fastest, most luxurious and most off the hook SUV in the world” and with a mighty all-new 12-cylinder W12 engine under its hefty bonnet that very first claim is certainly true. With 600bhp and 900NM of torque, the Bentayga will get from 0-60mph in Four.0 seconds and go on to 187mph.

BMW debuted the fresh X1. The second-generation of its puny SUV is larger and more rugged than its predecessor, with fresh petrol engines, enhanced interior space and the latest safety tech. We also eyed the facelifted BMW three Series, which gets fresh, more efficient engines, an updated interior and lil’ tweaks to the exterior.

There was a public debut for BMW’s flagship too. The evolutionary design of the fresh BMW seven Series is similar to the outgoing car, but key fresh tech such as the fresh touchscreen infotainment system, gesture control and a world very first ‘Parking Assistant’ features. The fresh model is 14cm longer, as well as being a notable 130kg lighter than the old model.

In addition BMW highlighted two fresh models adding to its range of hybrids. The 330e is a dedicated rear-drive, four-door saloon and aims to suggest hybrid advantages without alienating the current three Series customer base. It combines a Two.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electrified motor, which is capable of powering the car for up to twenty five miles on the batteries alone.

The 225xe uses a less conventional platform, which will underpin the next-generation X1. It uses the powertrain layout from the BMW i8, with that car’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine driving the front wheels and an electrical motor driving the rear wheels.

Borgward

Revived German brand Borgward is hoping to come back with a bang with a fresh seven-seat SUV. Expected to rival with the Kia Sorento, it will come with petrol and hybrid powertrains and four-wheel drive, but won’t arrive in Europe until 2017.

Bugatti

Bugatti exposed the Vision Gran Turismo concept. Designed as a virtual racer in the Gran Turismo movie game. The 1,600bhp Vision Gran Turismo includes lots of nods to Bugatti’s racing past and includes design features we’ll see on the Chiron – the successor to the Veyron.

Citroen

The Citroen C4 Cactus has been reimagined into a successor for the iconic Mehari. The Cactus M Concept is a convertible beach buggy with a waterproof interior, inflatable roof and raunchy plastic panels. The concept is closer to a real car than most – the designers took a standard Cactus straight from the production line in order to create this joy drop-top.

The nosey DS four was at Frankfurt, but the fresh car has also received a rugged makeover with a raised rail height and some extra assets cladding – and this version is called the DS four Crossback. Like many ‘soft-roaders’ it won’t be available with four-wheel-drive, and will be sold in conjunction with the facelifted standard DS Four.

Ferrari

Ferrari wowed the crowds with the roofless version of its storming four hundred eighty eight GTB at Frankfurt. With a six hundred sixty bhp Trio.9-litre twin-turbo V8, the fresh four hundred eighty eight Spider is good for 0-62 mph in Three.0 seconds, and will hit 203mph despite the folding hard-top. But thanks to the controversial coerced induction it’s also capable of 24.7 mpg and CO2 emissions of two hundred sixty g/km.

Ford exposed its fresh Edge SUV in European spec ahead of its release in 2016. It sits above the Kuga as the rock-hard’s flagship SUV in the range, claiming to suggest interior space to rival the VW Touareg and yet be priced below £30,000.

It’s been on sale in the US for a year, however. Alongside the Edge is the rock-hard’s all-new Ranger pick-up. It gets a butch fresh look, more efficient engines and Ford’s latest active safety and convenience tech.

Honda

• Honda Project Two&Four

Honda took the wraps off its radical Project Two&Four concept ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate. The single-seater is a collaboration inbetween the brand’s motorcycle and automobile design studios, and is intended to combine the open-riding sensations of a motorbike with the manoeuvrability of a car. The hard is also displaying the Civic Tourer Active Life, a bike-friendly Civic estate.

Hyundai

• Hyundai i20 Active

Hyundai caused a stir at Frankfurt with the launch of the ‘N’ spectacle sub-division and two fresh concept cars. The company claims to have carried out intensive testing and product development to come up with Hyundai ‘N’, a sub-brand aimed at providing a cut-price alternative to the likes of BMW M and Mercedes-AMG.

Hyundai’s prototype WRC car, based on the fresh i20 Coupe, appeared on stage at the event providing us a good idea on what’s to come, which according to Hyundai will be a utter “performance-orientated and race-track-capable” line-up.

The i20 Active was also seen for the very first time at the display, an attempt by Hyundai to cash in on the flourishing supermini-sized crossover market.

Infiniti

Infiniti’s fresh Q30 puny premium hatchback is aiming straight at the Mercedes A-Class, and even shares some of its powertrains and chassis. It’ll be produced at Nissan’s Sunderland plant alongside the Nissan Qashqai and the Nissan Leaf .

Jaguar

We eventually eyed Jaguar’s fresh F-Pace ‘spectacle crossover’ in production form at Frankfurt. With premium rivals such as the Porsche Macan and the Audi Q5 in its glances, Jaguar has high hopes it can crack the mid-sized premium SUV class. Jaguar exposed the car by setting a world record for the largest loop-the-loop, and you can see the amazing feat on our movie below.

The all-new Kia Sportage crossover hit the decks at Frankfurt, it clearly takes inspiration from the KX3 Concept that was exposed late last year. A accomplish engine range overhaul is expected, along with the possible inclusion of fresh turbocharged three-cylinder units.

With subtly updated styling, a fresh 1.0-litre ‘ecoTurbo’ three-cylinder engine, a fresh dual-clutch auto box, plus updated cabin and safety tech, the enhanced Kia Cee’d is set to go head-to-head with the recently refreshed Hyundai i30 when it goes on sale at the end of the year.

The fourth-generation Kia Optima was also on display at Frankfurt, featuring a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox for the very first time. It’ll be available with a 175bhp petrol or a 141bhp diesel engine, and also features wireless phone charging.

Lamborghini

The Lamborghini Huracan Spyder was unveiled at the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Showcase – providing us a taste for the full-blooded V10 drop-top before it goes on sale next year. UK prices have not yet been exposed, albeit we expect a £10,000 increase over the Huracan coupe (which starts at £180,720) when the roadster arrives in showrooms next spring.

The fourth-generation Lexus RX appeared at the Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate. As well as the Trio.5-litre V6 petrol and hybrid powertrains, we can also expect a Two.0-litre turbocharged petrol RX 200t with a target power output of more than two hundred twenty five bhp. The refreshed Lexus GS was also at the display in European specification.

Mazda

Mazda exposed a stunning fresh crossover SUV concept at Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate , which points the way to a production model sitting inbetween the current CX-3 and CX-5 . Dubbed ‘Koeru’’ – Japanese for ‘go beyond’ – it’s billed as a cut-price alternative to premium coupe SUV models such as the BMW X4 .

Mercedes

• Mercedes S-Class Cabriolet

Merc displayed a showstopping cabriolet version of its S-Class luxury coupe. The posh two-door is set to go on sale at the end of the year, with twin-turbocharged V8 and V12 engines to make it a cut-price (but still hardly cheap) alternative to the fresh Rolls Royce Dawn.

Mercedes also promises refinement and unrivalled luxury at a much lower price point in its swoopy fresh C-Class Coupe. With neatly styled lines and swept-back headlamps, it’s ready to take on the BMW four Series coupe in 2016, with a hot 503bhp C63 AMG and Edition one variant also debuting.

The Mercedes Concept IAA is a vision of things to come in the next decade from the brand’s luxury car range and it caused fairly a stir at Frankfurt. Albeit the over-exaggerated features won’t make it to future road cars, the brand is providing us a look at the future of Mercedes and it looks titillating.

Now the largest model in the MINI range, the fresh Clubman substitutes its unpopular ‘Clubdoor’ with a more traditional four-door layout, while keeping its traditional ‘barn door’ boot. The use of BMW’s UKL1 platform means that the fresh MINI Clubman will be taking on big players in the compact estate market.

Nissan

Nissan set out to take the Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate by storm with the unveiling of a fresh Gripz crossover concept. Albeit model timelines would suggest this could be a Nissan Juke replacement, sources suggest this concept is in-fact a preview for an all-new sports-oriented SUV in the Nissan line-up.

Nissan also displayed the all-new Navara pick-up in European spec at Frankfurt. The ‘NP300’ already on sale in other markets around the world, and we don’t expect many switches for the car heading to the UK. It gets updated styling, improved rail and treating and a fresh cabin design with extra safety tech.

Eventually, the stiff treated us to an upgraded version of the Leaf electrified car with a 30kw battery. The extra battery capacity will enable the EV to cover around 150-160 miles on a utter charge, up from the realistic 80-100 miles expected out of existing Leafs.

Peugeot

• Peugeot three hundred eight R Hybrid

The fresh 266bhp Peugeot three hundred eight GTi hatchback made its debut at the demonstrate. The French stiff has also all but confirmed the bonkers 493bhp three hundred eight R Hybrid hatchback will go on sale.

The Fractal Concept was also on display, a car that indicates Peugeot’s fresh design direction. The bold design will be toned down before it’s seen on standard models, but features like a 3D-printed interior and keyless entry via smartwatch may be close to production.

Porsche

Albeit styling revisions will be typically subtle from the Stuttgart rigid’s facelifted 911, the iconic sports car gets a accomplish engine range overhaul as Trio.0-litre turbocharged engines make their way into the Carrera and Carrera S.

We were also treated to the Mission E concept, a high spectacle electrified car with the Tesla Model S in its glances.

Renault

Renault’s fresh Ford Concentrate rival appeared in the skin at the Frankfurt showcase. Longer, lower and broader, the fresh hatch gets a bolder and more dynamic design than before, with cues from the latest Clio and Kadjar SUV. LED headlamps help it stand out, while the rock-hard claims it will get a distinctly higher quality interior than the outgoing car.

Renault also showcased the Espace MPV and Talisman Estate at the demonstrate. The Espace adds crossover style to the 7-seat MPV sector, and is biased towards convenience rather than an involving drive. The estate version of the Talisman saloon is a successor to the slow-selling Laguna. Unluckily neither of these cars will be sold in the UK.

Rolls-Royce

V12 power and coupe-like refinement went in to making the fresh Rolls-Royce Dawn soft-top one of the starlets of the Frankfurt Motor Display. The cabin is mostly collective with the Wraith, and quality is exceptional – as you’d expect of a car that’ll cost £250,000 or so.

But the Dawn isn’t just a styling exercise. Lots of engineering effort has gone into making it amazingly refined. In fact, Rolls believes this will be the quietest cloth-roof car on sale, so you’ll only get a hint of noise from the Ghost-sourced 6.6-litre turbo V12, as the Dawn is more of a boulevard cruiser than the Wraith.

• SEAT Leon Cupra 290

SEAT unveiled its latest Ibiza Cupra, which fits in with the rest of the updated Ibiza range. The fresh car borrows the more powerful 1.8-litre turbo from the VW Polo GTI, developing 189bhp, and styling switches include a central harass and more aggressive bodykit. The rock hard also previewed the Leon Cupra two hundred ninety – an uprated version of the Cupra two hundred eighty with 286bhp and the Leon Sport Cross which is said to preview a hot Leon-based crossover.

Clever

The third-generation Fortwo city car will, like before, get the option of an electrical folding fabric roof. It’s due to go on sale right after Frankfurt and we were treated to a look at the car in the metal at the showcase.

SsangYong

SsangYong showcased two concept SUVs. The very first of these, called the XLV-Air, will be an elongated version of the Tivoli, but it’s unknown whether this will hit the UK. The 2nd, the XAV-Adventure, is a more rugged compact crossover, possibly built to substitute the ageing Korando in the UK.

Suzuki

Suzuki exposed total details on its fresh Baleno at the demonstrate. The B-segment model was very first showcase as the IK-2 concept at this year’s Geneva Motor Showcase . It’s designed to provide an extra dose of practicality missing from the current six-year old Swift , which is one of the smaller superminis on sale.

But it won’t directly succeed the Swift itself, as an all-new supermini is expected to arrive later in 2016. Also on the Suzuki stand was the Vitara S, a fresh version of the Vitara with a 138bhp turbo petrol engine.

Thunder Power

It’s not very often that a car brand comes around that we’ve never heard of, but freshly born ‘Thunder Power’ has the intention to build an electrical car to strike the Tesla Model S. An early version of this Tesla trouncer was showcased at Frankfurt.

The Thunder Power electrical car is claiming to suggest 430bhp, with enough juice in the batteries for a 373-mile range. 0-62mph will be despatched with in under five seconds, and the car will go onto a top speed of 155mph – all awesome numbers, especially form a start-up company.

Toyota

The fresh Toyota Prius hit the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate before going on sale early next year. The brand says the fresh fourth-generation Toyota Prius will “establish fresh benchmarks in fuel economy”. The 1.8-litre petrol engine is set to remain with a downsized electrical motor and a separate electrical power unit to drive the rear wheels. This so-called ‘e-4WD’ system will only work at speeds of up to 37mph but will boost grip in poor weather conditions.

Toyota also astonished Frankfurt showgoers with the unveiling of a concept for a hybrid crossover. The ‘C-HR’ is a near-production preview, and Toyota bosses have confirmed it will be built and shown at the two thousand sixteen Geneva display .

Vauxhall

The all-new Astra made its debut in Frankfurt, hoping to steal the showcase from the fresh Megane. With a sharper exterior design, more upmarket cabin, extra safety tech and a more efficient engine range, it aims to be a credible rival to the Auto Express-award-winning SEAT Leon .

Vauxhall also demonstrated us the Astra TCR, an Astra-based racer destined for the TCR international touring car championship and the Astra Sports Tourer estate version. Van drivers will appreciate a special concept version of the Vivaro van called the Vivaro Surf concept.

Listen: special interview with GM CEO Mary Barra

Volkswagen

VW exposed the all-new Volkswagen Tiguan SUV at the display, providing more than a peek of the fresh model. We also got a look at the Golf GTI Clubsport, a special edition designed to feast forty years of the GTI. Volkswagen’s Caddy Alltrack was also on the stand, a fresh off-road version of the Caddy van.

Frankfurt two thousand fifteen press conference timeline

When did the covers come off the key cars at Frankfurt 2015? Find out the timing and content of each manufacturer press conference with our interactive timeline, click the links to read the utter stories on the key cars.

Frankfurt Motor Display 2015: dates and tickets

The dates of the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Showcase are Tuesday 15th of September to Sunday 27th of September. The press days were on September 15th and 16th when Auto Express reported live from the display as usual with utter details of all the fresh cars on this page. The 17th and 18th of September are reserved for trade and fleet visitors but tickets for the public days are available now from the official website .

Bookmark this page for all the latest news from the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Display as it happens!

Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate 2015: news round-up, Auto Express

Frankfurt Motor Display 2015: news round-up

The two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate delighted car fans and the automotive industry alike with some meaty fresh car launches, titillating announcements, world record attempts and the latest technology to shove the car industry forward.

As Frankfurt battles to become the thickest motor showcase in the world, manufacturers lined up to out do one another to take the headlines.

German manufacturers were out in force to outdo one another and to predominate the display. However the Brits put up a good fight, debuting some arousing fresh models as well – and of course the rest of the world wished a look in, too.

Jaguar broke the world record with the world’s largest loop the loop as they unveiled their fresh all-terrain Jaguar F-Pace SUV. Albeit we’re not sure that was the terrain originally foreseen at concept stage. Bentley joined the SUV market with its sector creating super-luxury Bentley Bentayga.

Supercar headlines went to Lamborghini and Ferrari for their fresh Lamborghini Huracan Spider and four hundred eighty eight Spider. Us mere mortals can look forward to a fresh Vauxhall Astra, Alfa Romeo Giulia and Renault Megane.

There was much, much more too, with the Mercedes IAA and Porsche Mission E concepts lifting the curtain on the future design and tech thinking for their respective brands. On top of that, we spotted a string of launches from Audi, BMW, SEAT, Nissan, Mazda and others.

Scroll down the page for a utter round-up of all the news, pictures and movie from the Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate.

The starlet cars of the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Display

  • • Alfa Romeo Giulia – The Giulia is a crucial car in Alfa’s bid to re-establish itself as a premium player
  • • Renault Megane – Renault’s Concentrate rival made its debut promising design flair and practicality
  • • Bentley Bentayga – After months of spy shots and teaser pics the Bentayga eventually arrived
  • • Jaguar F-Pace – Another fresh SUV arrival from Jaguar, will the British marque have a hit on its palms?
  • • Vauxhall Astra – The fresh Astra will be a big seller and Vauxhall hopes this one will eclipse the Ford Concentrate.
  • • Mercedes IAA Concept – Mercedes shocked the display with its ‘Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile’
  • • Rolls-Royce Dawn – Craftsmanship and cachet come at a price but the Rolls-Royce Dawn looked well worth it
  • • Porsche Mission E – Porsche looks to challenge the Tesla Model S with an electrified spectacle car of its own

Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate: features

• Best cars at the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Display

Frankfurt Motor Display 2015: picture gallery

The best pics from our snappers on the Frankfurt demonstrate floor.

Frankfurt Motor Showcase: top news stories

The Frankfurt display isn’t just an chance to drool over the latest fresh cars and concepts. Our reporters trawled the halls, seeking out the top car industry execs on the hunt for the big news stories.

All-new Nissan Juke due in two thousand eighteen – Nissan will substitute the Juke crossover in two thousand eighteen with a possible hybrid model planned.

All Audis to be suggested with plug-in technology – Audi has underlined the importance of electrical cars in its future model line-up.

Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate two thousand fifteen – A to Z of fresh models

Alfa Romeo

Alfa caused a big stir with the unveiling of its titillating fresh BMW three Series rival. The dramatic, rear-wheel drive Giulia has been shown again in Frankfurt ahead of its mid-2016 release, and we we’ve got more details on the spectacle of the flagship 503bhp Quadrifoglio model.

The one issue that worried some was that Alfa still isn’t displaying ‘regular’ versions of the Giulia that most customers will buy, but we do expect there to be a range of four cylinder petrol and diesel engines available at launch.

The fifth-generation Audi A4 was unveiled at Frankfurt. While its design is similar to the outgoing version, the fresh A4 uses the VW Group’s MQB platform – with more interior space and a range of more efficient engines, as well as a raft of fresh tech. Audi also exposed the S4 spectacle variant which uses a 349bhp turbocharged V6.

We also witnessed a fresh electrified SUV concept from Audi, the e-tron Quattro. It’ll go up against cars like the Tesla Model X, but won’t be going into production before two thousand eighteen and is expected to be badged as the Q6.

Bentley

Bentley’s very first production SUV was unveiled at the showcase. It propels the luxury brand into a fresh marketplace – the super-luxury 4×4 sector. Bentley describes the Bentayga as “the fastest, most luxurious and most sensational SUV in the world” and with a mighty all-new 12-cylinder W12 engine under its giant bonnet that very first claim is certainly true. With 600bhp and 900NM of torque, the Bentayga will get from 0-60mph in Four.0 seconds and go on to 187mph.

BMW debuted the fresh X1. The second-generation of its petite SUV is larger and more rugged than its predecessor, with fresh petrol engines, enhanced interior space and the latest safety tech. We also eyed the facelifted BMW three Series, which gets fresh, more efficient engines, an updated interior and lil’ tweaks to the exterior.

There was a public debut for BMW’s flagship too. The evolutionary design of the fresh BMW seven Series is similar to the outgoing car, but key fresh tech such as the fresh touchscreen infotainment system, gesture control and a world very first ‘Parking Assistant’ features. The fresh model is 14cm longer, as well as being a notable 130kg lighter than the old model.

In addition BMW highlighted two fresh models adding to its range of hybrids. The 330e is a dedicated rear-drive, four-door saloon and aims to suggest hybrid advantages without alienating the current three Series customer base. It combines a Two.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electrical motor, which is capable of powering the car for up to twenty five miles on the batteries alone.

The 225xe uses a less conventional platform, which will underpin the next-generation X1. It uses the powertrain layout from the BMW i8, with that car’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine driving the front wheels and an electrified motor driving the rear wheels.

Borgward

Revived German brand Borgward is hoping to come back with a bang with a fresh seven-seat SUV. Expected to contest with the Kia Sorento, it will come with petrol and hybrid powertrains and four-wheel drive, but won’t arrive in Europe until 2017.

Bugatti

Bugatti exposed the Vision Gran Turismo concept. Designed as a virtual racer in the Gran Turismo movie game. The 1,600bhp Vision Gran Turismo includes lots of nods to Bugatti’s racing past and includes design features we’ll see on the Chiron – the successor to the Veyron.

Citroen

The Citroen C4 Cactus has been reimagined into a successor for the iconic Mehari. The Cactus M Concept is a convertible beach buggy with a waterproof interior, inflatable roof and harsh plastic panels. The concept is closer to a real car than most – the designers took a standard Cactus straight from the production line in order to create this joy drop-top.

The nosey DS four was at Frankfurt, but the fresh car has also received a rugged makeover with a raised rail height and some extra figure cladding – and this version is called the DS four Crossback. Like many ‘soft-roaders’ it won’t be available with four-wheel-drive, and will be sold in conjunction with the facelifted standard DS Four.

Ferrari

Ferrari wowed the crowds with the roofless version of its storming four hundred eighty eight GTB at Frankfurt. With a six hundred sixty bhp Trio.9-litre twin-turbo V8, the fresh four hundred eighty eight Spider is good for 0-62 mph in Three.0 seconds, and will hit 203mph despite the folding hard-top. But thanks to the controversial coerced induction it’s also capable of 24.7 mpg and CO2 emissions of two hundred sixty g/km.

Ford exposed its fresh Edge SUV in European spec ahead of its release in 2016. It sits above the Kuga as the rock hard’s flagship SUV in the range, claiming to suggest interior space to rival the VW Touareg and yet be priced below £30,000.

It’s been on sale in the US for a year, however. Alongside the Edge is the rock-hard’s all-new Ranger pick-up. It gets a butch fresh look, more efficient engines and Ford’s latest active safety and convenience tech.

Honda

• Honda Project Two&Four

Honda took the wraps off its radical Project Two&Four concept ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Showcase. The single-seater is a collaboration inbetween the brand’s motorcycle and automobile design studios, and is intended to combine the open-riding sensations of a motorbike with the manoeuvrability of a car. The rock hard is also demonstrating the Civic Tourer Active Life, a bike-friendly Civic estate.

Hyundai

• Hyundai i20 Active

Hyundai caused a stir at Frankfurt with the launch of the ‘N’ spectacle sub-division and two fresh concept cars. The company claims to have carried out intensive testing and product development to come up with Hyundai ‘N’, a sub-brand aimed at providing a cut-price alternative to the likes of BMW M and Mercedes-AMG.

Hyundai’s prototype WRC car, based on the fresh i20 Coupe, appeared on stage at the event providing us a good idea on what’s to come, which according to Hyundai will be a total “performance-orientated and race-track-capable” line-up.

The i20 Active was also seen for the very first time at the showcase, an attempt by Hyundai to cash in on the flourishing supermini-sized crossover market.

Infiniti

Infiniti’s fresh Q30 puny premium hatchback is aiming straight at the Mercedes A-Class, and even shares some of its powertrains and chassis. It’ll be produced at Nissan’s Sunderland plant alongside the Nissan Qashqai and the Nissan Leaf .

Jaguar

We eventually witnessed Jaguar’s fresh F-Pace ‘spectacle crossover’ in production form at Frankfurt. With premium rivals such as the Porsche Macan and the Audi Q5 in its glances, Jaguar has high hopes it can crack the mid-sized premium SUV class. Jaguar exposed the car by setting a world record for the thickest loop-the-loop, and you can witness the amazing feat on our movie below.

The all-new Kia Sportage crossover hit the decks at Frankfurt, it clearly takes inspiration from the KX3 Concept that was exposed late last year. A finish engine range overhaul is expected, along with the possible inclusion of fresh turbocharged three-cylinder units.

With subtly updated styling, a fresh 1.0-litre ‘ecoTurbo’ three-cylinder engine, a fresh dual-clutch auto box, plus updated cabin and safety tech, the enhanced Kia Cee’d is set to go head-to-head with the recently refreshed Hyundai i30 when it goes on sale at the end of the year.

The fourth-generation Kia Optima was also on display at Frankfurt, featuring a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox for the very first time. It’ll be available with a 175bhp petrol or a 141bhp diesel engine, and also features wireless phone charging.

Lamborghini

The Lamborghini Huracan Spyder was unveiled at the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Display – providing us a taste for the full-blooded V10 drop-top before it goes on sale next year. UK prices have not yet been exposed, albeit we expect a £10,000 increase over the Huracan coupe (which starts at £180,720) when the roadster arrives in showrooms next spring.

The fourth-generation Lexus RX appeared at the Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate. As well as the Trio.5-litre V6 petrol and hybrid powertrains, we can also expect a Two.0-litre turbocharged petrol RX 200t with a target power output of more than two hundred twenty five bhp. The refreshed Lexus GS was also at the display in European specification.

Mazda

Mazda exposed a stunning fresh crossover SUV concept at Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate , which points the way to a production model sitting inbetween the current CX-3 and CX-5 . Dubbed ‘Koeru’’ – Japanese for ‘go beyond’ – it’s billed as a cut-price alternative to premium coupe SUV models such as the BMW X4 .

Mercedes

• Mercedes S-Class Cabriolet

Merc displayed a showstopping cabriolet version of its S-Class luxury coupe. The posh two-door is set to go on sale at the end of the year, with twin-turbocharged V8 and V12 engines to make it a cut-price (but still hardly cheap) alternative to the fresh Rolls Royce Dawn.

Mercedes also promises refinement and unrivalled luxury at a much lower price point in its swoopy fresh C-Class Coupe. With neatly styled lines and swept-back headlamps, it’s ready to take on the BMW four Series coupe in 2016, with a hot 503bhp C63 AMG and Edition one variant also debuting.

The Mercedes Concept IAA is a vision of things to come in the next decade from the brand’s luxury car range and it caused fairly a stir at Frankfurt. Albeit the over-exaggerated features won’t make it to future road cars, the brand is providing us a look at the future of Mercedes and it looks arousing.

Now the largest model in the MINI range, the fresh Clubman substitutes its unpopular ‘Clubdoor’ with a more traditional four-door layout, while keeping its traditional ‘barn door’ boot. The use of BMW’s UKL1 platform means that the fresh MINI Clubman will be taking on big players in the compact estate market.

Nissan

Nissan set out to take the Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate by storm with the unveiling of a fresh Gripz crossover concept. Albeit model timelines would suggest this could be a Nissan Juke replacement, sources suggest this concept is in-fact a preview for an all-new sports-oriented SUV in the Nissan line-up.

Nissan also demonstrated the all-new Navara pick-up in European spec at Frankfurt. The ‘NP300’ already on sale in other markets around the world, and we don’t expect many switches for the car heading to the UK. It gets updated styling, improved rail and treating and a fresh cabin design with extra safety tech.

Eventually, the stiff treated us to an upgraded version of the Leaf electrical car with a 30kw battery. The extra battery capacity will enable the EV to cover around 150-160 miles on a utter charge, up from the realistic 80-100 miles expected out of existing Leafs.

Peugeot

• Peugeot three hundred eight R Hybrid

The fresh 266bhp Peugeot three hundred eight GTi hatchback made its debut at the demonstrate. The French hard has also all but confirmed the bonkers 493bhp three hundred eight R Hybrid hatchback will go on sale.

The Fractal Concept was also on display, a car that indicates Peugeot’s fresh design direction. The bold design will be toned down before it’s seen on standard models, but features like a 3D-printed interior and keyless entry via smartwatch may be close to production.

Porsche

Albeit styling revisions will be typically subtle from the Stuttgart rock hard’s facelifted 911, the iconic sports car gets a finish engine range overhaul as Trio.0-litre turbocharged engines make their way into the Carrera and Carrera S.

We were also treated to the Mission E concept, a high spectacle electrified car with the Tesla Model S in its glances.

Renault

Renault’s fresh Ford Concentrate rival appeared in the skin at the Frankfurt demonstrate. Longer, lower and broader, the fresh hatch gets a bolder and more dynamic design than before, with cues from the latest Clio and Kadjar SUV. LED headlamps help it stand out, while the stiff claims it will get a distinctly higher quality interior than the outgoing car.

Renault also showcased the Espace MPV and Talisman Estate at the display. The Espace adds crossover style to the 7-seat MPV sector, and is biased towards convenience rather than an involving drive. The estate version of the Talisman saloon is a successor to the slow-selling Laguna. Unluckily neither of these cars will be sold in the UK.

Rolls-Royce

V12 power and coupe-like refinement went in to making the fresh Rolls-Royce Dawn soft-top one of the starlets of the Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate. The cabin is mostly collective with the Wraith, and quality is exceptional – as you’d expect of a car that’ll cost £250,000 or so.

But the Dawn isn’t just a styling exercise. Lots of engineering effort has gone into making it exceptionally refined. In fact, Rolls believes this will be the quietest cloth-roof car on sale, so you’ll only get a hint of noise from the Ghost-sourced 6.6-litre turbo V12, as the Dawn is more of a boulevard cruiser than the Wraith.

• SEAT Leon Cupra 290

SEAT unveiled its latest Ibiza Cupra, which fits in with the rest of the updated Ibiza range. The fresh car borrows the more powerful 1.8-litre turbo from the VW Polo GTI, developing 189bhp, and styling switches include a central harass and more aggressive bodykit. The stiff also previewed the Leon Cupra two hundred ninety – an uprated version of the Cupra two hundred eighty with 286bhp and the Leon Sport Cross which is said to preview a hot Leon-based crossover.

Wise

The third-generation Fortwo city car will, like before, get the option of an electrified folding fabric roof. It’s due to go on sale right after Frankfurt and we were treated to a look at the car in the metal at the demonstrate.

SsangYong

SsangYong showcased two concept SUVs. The very first of these, called the XLV-Air, will be an elongated version of the Tivoli, but it’s unknown whether this will hit the UK. The 2nd, the XAV-Adventure, is a more rugged compact crossover, possibly built to substitute the ageing Korando in the UK.

Suzuki

Suzuki exposed utter details on its fresh Baleno at the display. The B-segment model was very first display as the IK-2 concept at this year’s Geneva Motor Showcase . It’s designed to provide an extra dose of practicality missing from the current six-year old Swift , which is one of the smaller superminis on sale.

But it won’t directly succeed the Swift itself, as an all-new supermini is expected to arrive later in 2016. Also on the Suzuki stand was the Vitara S, a fresh version of the Vitara with a 138bhp turbo petrol engine.

Thunder Power

It’s not very often that a car brand comes around that we’ve never heard of, but freshly born ‘Thunder Power’ has the intention to build an electrified car to hit the Tesla Model S. An early version of this Tesla trouncer was showcased at Frankfurt.

The Thunder Power electrified car is claiming to suggest 430bhp, with enough juice in the batteries for a 373-mile range. 0-62mph will be despatched with in under five seconds, and the car will go onto a top speed of 155mph – all exceptional numbers, especially form a start-up company.

Toyota

The fresh Toyota Prius hit the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Showcase before going on sale early next year. The brand says the fresh fourth-generation Toyota Prius will “establish fresh benchmarks in fuel economy”. The 1.8-litre petrol engine is set to remain with a downsized electrified motor and a separate electrical power unit to drive the rear wheels. This so-called ‘e-4WD’ system will only work at speeds of up to 37mph but will boost grip in poor weather conditions.

Toyota also astonished Frankfurt showgoers with the unveiling of a concept for a hybrid crossover. The ‘C-HR’ is a near-production preview, and Toyota bosses have confirmed it will be built and shown at the two thousand sixteen Geneva display .

Vauxhall

The all-new Astra made its debut in Frankfurt, hoping to steal the demonstrate from the fresh Megane. With a sharper exterior design, more upmarket cabin, extra safety tech and a more efficient engine range, it aims to be a credible rival to the Auto Express-award-winning SEAT Leon .

Vauxhall also displayed us the Astra TCR, an Astra-based racer destined for the TCR international touring car championship and the Astra Sports Tourer estate version. Van drivers will appreciate a special concept version of the Vivaro van called the Vivaro Surf concept.

Listen: off the hook interview with GM CEO Mary Barra

Volkswagen

VW exposed the all-new Volkswagen Tiguan SUV at the display, providing more than a peek of the fresh model. We also got a look at the Golf GTI Clubsport, a special edition designed to feast forty years of the GTI. Volkswagen’s Caddy Alltrack was also on the stand, a fresh off-road version of the Caddy van.

Frankfurt two thousand fifteen press conference timeline

When did the covers come off the key cars at Frankfurt 2015? Find out the timing and content of each manufacturer press conference with our interactive timeline, click the links to read the total stories on the key cars.

Frankfurt Motor Showcase 2015: dates and tickets

The dates of the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate are Tuesday 15th of September to Sunday 27th of September. The press days were on September 15th and 16th when Auto Express reported live from the showcase as usual with total details of all the fresh cars on this page. The 17th and 18th of September are reserved for trade and fleet visitors but tickets for the public days are available now from the official website .

Bookmark this page for all the latest news from the two thousand fifteen Frankfurt Motor Demonstrate as it happens!

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