VW Boss Caught on Film Impressed by the Hyundai i30’s Quality, Displeased with his Staff

Up until now, we were used to seeing Japanese and later on, Korean and Chinese executives measuring and taking pictures of every detail of their rivals’ cars at major auto shows.

But now the tables have turned, and in a big way: at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show we saw none other than VW CEO, Martin Winterkorn himself, examine Hyundai’s newest C-segment hatchback, the i30.

And boy was he impressed with the i30’s quality…But at the same time, he seemed to be frustrated by the work his own staff is doing in VW Group models. “I hear nothing!” Winterkorn said about the absence of any rattles while adjusting the steering wheel. “How did they do it?," he continued.

Read more »

Study Shows that New Porsche 911 Garnered the Most Web Buzz from the Frankfurt Motor Show

Now that the 2011 International Auto Show in Frankfurt has passed into history, analysts are crunching the numbers to see which carmakers and models sparked the crowd's interest the most.

UK-based Kantar Media Precis released the results of a study that looks into the number of online stories from websites, Tweets, blogs and other social media starting from two weeks before the first press day of the Frankfurt Motor Show on Aug. 30, 2011, until the end of the second press day on Sept. 14, 2011.

The study reveals that the most talked about model on the internet was the new Porsche 911 sports coupe, while next up was the Mercedes-Benz B Class small MPV, followed by the BMW i3 Concept hatch, the Audi Urban Concept studies and the Ford Evos Concept.

Read more »

Toyota’s New Chief Designer Promises More Aggressively-Styled Models

If there's one thing Toyota can’t lay claim to - minor a few exceptions such as the Celica, it's that its vehicle have an emotion-inspiring design. In fact, one could say that, almost its entire line up leans towards the conservative side.

But now, the company's new global head of design, Akihiro 'Dezi' Nagaya, plans to change all that and adopt CEO Akio Toyoda's call for a “more emotional approach” when it comes to styling.

Read more »

Lamborghini to Roll Out More Limited Production Supercars like the Sesto Elemento

Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelman surprised everyone when, on the eve of the Frankfurt Motor Show, announced that the Italian company would put the impressive Sesto Elemento concept into production.

The carbon fibre-bodied Sesto Elemento is powered by a 570HP V10 and, thanks to its low weight of 999 kg (2,202 pounds), accelerates from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 2.5 seconds.

Now, if you thought that this was a surprise, here comes another one: Winkelmann revealed that the very limited-production Sesto Elemento (20 units) is only the beginning.

Read more »

Honda CEO Confirms New NSX and “Hot” 2012 Civic Type R

[2003 Honda HSC Concept pictured above]

Last April, we told you about Honda CEO Takanobu Ito's plans for a successor to the much-missed NSX supercar. Ito had then hinted that the “new NSX” would be more environmentally friendly, possibly using a hybrid powertrain like the Japanese firm's new small coupe, the CR-Z.

On the sidelines of this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, Ito-San reaffirmed the company's commitment to build an NSX successor.

“I spent part of my early career at Honda developing the NSX, and specifically the aluminium body," Ito told reporters from UK's Autocar. "I really enjoyed the experience and learned much, so my wish is that Honda engineers have the experience of developing a sportscar like the NSX in the future. Within Honda, our engineers are already looking at developing such a car,” he added.

Read more »

Video: Volkswagen Unleashes Guerilla Campaign for Small Up! City Car

To demonstrate how important size is when it comes to parking in modern day cities, Volkswagen launched a new guerilla campaign for its new Up! city car right outside the Frankfurt Motor Show hall.

In the early hours of the morning, the German company's marketing team covered a line of cars in textiles featuring a life-size print of the new Up!.

You can watch the video right after the break.

Read more »

IAA 2011: Ford's Pure Electric E-Bike Concept

Lost somewhere between the world premieres of the production 2012 Focus ST and the conceptual Fiesta ST and EVOS at Ford's Frankfurt Motor Show gig, is the E-Bike Concept that was created to demonstrate how the company's design language can translate into a bicycle.

The pure electric bicycle was developed by a Ford Design team headed by Executive Design Director Martin Smith, in partnership with cyber-Wear, the German brand behind the automaker's lifestyle collection products.

Read more »

Renault to Resurrect Alpine Brand with a New Sports Car

Renault is planning to develop an all-new sports car, and one of the options examined by its management is looking to its past and, more specifically, a brand that has ceased to exist for close to two decades.

Speaking to journalists at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault product manager Beatrice Foucher said that the next-generation Megane and Laguna, due to be launched in 2013/14, will be based on a common C/D platform. And this platform will surely include a sports car.

Read more »

IAA 2011: Pretty Cars, Pretty Women Part 3

The 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show opened up to the general public today (it will remain open until September 25), which means it’s the end of the road for us.

It has been a truly great ride with some 150 world and European premieres, so what a better way to celebrate the end than to finish up with the third part of our series (see Part 1 here, and Part 2 here) on the booth professionals of the show.

So follow the break and take a gander at our gallery.

Read more »

Carscoop's A-to-Z Guide to the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show Debuts [Updated]

Frankfurt is playing host to the world's largest and most important motor show of the year and this here is our list of the production models and conceptual studies that are making their debut in Germany.

The 64th IAA International Auto Show, more commonly referred to as the Frankfurt Motor Show, runs for the media from September 13 to 14, and for the public, from September 15 to 25.

Read more »

IAA 2011: Kia's RWD GT Concept Hints at Production Version [Updated Gallery]

The all-new Kia GT Concept that will made its world premiere at the 64th IAA is the South Korean company's first ever attempt to create a rear-wheel drive model. It is also the most powerful thanks to a 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 engine that delivers an output of 390HP and 534 Nm (393.8 lb-ft) of torque that are sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

Even though development of the concept began less than a year ago, in November 2010, Kia’s European design team has been considering a rear-wheel drive car for quite some time.

The South Korean manufacture's chief designer Peter Schreyer explains: “This concept allows us to explore exciting new design directions, as using a rear-wheel drive layout creates very different proportions compared to a front-wheel drive car".

Read more »

IAA 2011: Mercedes F1 Drivers Reveal New C-Class Coupe DTM AMG Racer [Video]

Mercedes Formula 1 drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg were at hand at the IAA to unveil the Stuttgart-based automaker's new contender in the German touring car championship, the DTM.

The new racing model is based on the recently launched C-Class Coupe and replaces the most successful model ever in the DTM series, the C-Class, which has won 84 victories in 156 races, a record in the championship’s 27-year history.

Read more »

Ford Says New 2014 Mustang will be Less Retro, More Modern

In 2014, Ford will celebrate the Mustang’s 50th anniversary and it will do so by launching a brand new model. The revelation comes from the company’s design chief, J Mays, who spoke to journalist during the 64th International Auto Show in Frankfurt.

According to Mays, the design of the next-generation Mustang has already “locked down” three years ahead of its launch. The real surprise, though, is that Mays states that the new version of Ford’s iconic pony car will look more into the future than in to its past.

Read more »

IAA 2011: The Ladies of the Frankfurt Motor Show Part 2

Here is our second –but not last- photo tribute to the beautiful booth professionals of the 64th International Auto Show. For those of you that missed out on the first part, click here.

We're guessing that few if any will read these words (what's the point when the pictures talk for themselves...) so we'll let you enjoy the parade after we remind you that we're preparing a third and much more comprehensive gallery that will go live tonight.

Read more »

IAA 2011: Volkswagen Pays Tribute to Fender with New Beetle Concept

The high-performance Beetle R Concept was joined at VW's Frankfurt Motor Show stage by a second conceptual study that pays tribute to famed U.S.-based music instrument manufacturer, Fender.

Mimicking the styling used on an electric guitar customized by Volkswagen Design, the Fender Telecaster, the bespoke Beetle study is painted in a high-gloss "Black" finish with a fine red line framing the side windows.

Read more »

IAA 2011: New Mercedes-Benz B-Class Keeps Old Model's Pricing

Good news for European consumers interested in the second-generation of the B-Class, as Mercedes-Benz is launching the new small MPV at the same price as the outgoing model, despite the numerous improvements and additions to the standard equipment.

Available for order now with first deliveries to arrive in November, pricing for the 2012 B-Class starts at €26,001.50 (about US$35,900) including 19% VAT in Germany for the B 180 BlueEFFICIENCY (BE) that is motivated by a 1.6-liter petrol engine delivering 122HP, 7HP more than the preceding model.

Read more »

IAA 2011: New Lexus GS450h Full Hybrid Sedan

Having revealed the new gasoline-only GS 350 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, Lexus chose the 64th International Auto Show in Frankfurt for the unveiling of the hybrid variant that we will come to know as the GS 450h.

The full hybrid model is based on the fourth generation body style and it uses a 290-horsepower, 3.5l-itre V6 Atkinson cycle petrol engine, in conjunction with a two-motor hybrid system.

The total system output is 343-horses [DIN] at 6,000 rpm and 345Nm (255 lb-ft) of peak torque at 4,600 rpm. Power is channelled to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential-shift E-CVT.

Read more »

IAA 2011: New Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupé Black Series with Aero and Track Packages

We first gave you a taste of the new C63 AMG Coupe Black Series fitted with the special track and aerodynamic packages back in August when we spied a prototype testing at the Nürburgring, but Mercedes-Benz showed the production model at this week's Frankfurt Auto Show.

Available as separate options on the limited edition C63 AMG Coupe Black Series, which is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 pushing out 517-horses, the AMG Track and Aerodynamic Packages were designed to further enhance the two-door model's driving dynamics.

Read more »

IAA 2011: The Schöne Frauen Edition Part 1

When the curtains close in Frankfurt in ten days' time, the 2011 edition of the International Auto Show will go down as one of the most exciting in recent memory with more world and European premieres than we could possibly list here.

And as with most events of this magnitude, there were plenty of beautiful faces throughout the halls to keep things even more interesting… Hop over the jump and enjoy the first part of our photo special on the booth professionals of the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Read more »

Videos: 2012 Honda Civic Hatchback Filmed In, Out and on the Road

The new Honda Civic hatchback is perhaps one of the most significant production models to make its world premiere at this week's Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany.

We've already brought you a barrage of photos and all the preliminary details on the ninth generation of the European market Civic that will launch early next year as a five-door hatchback, so now it's time to show off Honda's latest creation on film.

Read more »