Best of the rest at Frankfurt 2017
This year’s Frankfurt Motor Show saw global debuts from companies across the globe, but here we round up the best of the rest
The Frankfurt Motor Show is one of the biggest dates in the automotive calendar. This year’s show saw huge public debuts from Mercedes, Renault, Land Rover and Ford, as well as concept cars from BMW, Kia and Honda. But in amongst the glitz and glamour, a few cars (and planes, believe it or not) caught our eye. Here, we round up the best of the rest from the Frankfurt show.
AeroMobil
It wasn’t just road cars on show in Frankfurt, as AeroMobil showcased its updated flying car. The AeroMobil 4.0 is the brand’s third-generation prototype, and was first unveiled in Monaco earlier this year. Pre-orders are open now and the Slovakian company hopes to deliver the first customer orders in 2020.
Borgward Isabella
Chinese-backed German brand Borgward used its home show to unveil an electric 2+2 concept called Isabella. The four-door coupe is a stark departure from the maker’s current range of luxury SUVs, but harks back to the firm’s classic coupe from the 1950s. The Isabella’s sharp LED headlights and Z-shaped DRLs give it a distinctive look, while the interior is dominated by a large triangular infotainment screen.
Brabus Classic
Brabus is famous for taking new Mercedes models and tuning them with extra power, performance and wild bodykits. Few people realise the brand has a long and illustrious history of restoring and improving classic cars, too, and we spotted a range of them on display in Frankfurt. The beautifully crafted cars stood out among the modern metal, but they were no less intriguing. Especially the 600 Pullman – a €1.5m limousine with space for six.
Chery Exeed TX
No, it’s not a facelifted Land Rover Discovery Sport. The Chery Exeed TX is the Chinese maker’s latest SUV – and bosses say it’ll go on sale in the UK in next few years. The Nissan Qashqai-sized crossover will later spawn a seven-seat version, as well as hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and even a saloon.
Mercedes-AMG G 63 Exclusive
The Mercedes G-Class may be nearing the end of its life, but that hasn’t stopped the maker launching two new special edition models. On display in Frankfurt, the V8-engined G 63 and V12-powered G 65 Exclusive Edition cars get stainless steel plating, AMG stripes and a colour-coded spare wheel cover. They won’t be available in the UK, however.
Mercedes GLC F-CELL
Another model not available to UK buyers is the new Mercedes GLC F-CELL. The hydrogen-powered SUV will do 272 miles on a single tank of gas, and can also be charged from a plug socket for a small all-electric range. It looks much like the standard GLC albeit with different alloy wheels and some subtle blue detailing.
Renault R.S. 2027 Vision
The R.S. 2027 Vision is Renault’s take on the future of F1. First unveiled in Shanghai earlier this year, the sharp-looking race car gets 3D-printed bodywork, a closed cockpit and crazy gold paint. It even features LED information displays on the wheels – relaying relevant information for crowds and engineers every time it passes the pit lane.
Thunder Power SUV
Hong Kong-based EV maker Thunder Power unveiled its latest car at the Frankfurt show. Following its Zagato-designed saloon, the Thunder Power SUV is cleverly designed to maximise interior space, with rear-hinged back doors and a high roofline. There’s no word on UK sales, but it’s likely to be a few years before you see in showrooms over here.
Volocopter
The Volocopter isn’t a car at all. It’s an electric flying taxi – but that didn’t stop the maker showcasing its latest project at its home motor show. It’s a five-seat vertical take-off aircraft that should be ready to fly before the end of the year.
Volkswagen California XXL
Volkswagen’s evergreen California camper has been put on steroids. The California XXL is nearly six metres long and three metres tall – allowing room for a double bed in the rear. There’s a full-length panoramic roof, perfect for star gazing, as well as a retractable wet room-style shower. It’s only a concept for now, however.
Wey XEV
The Chinese had a huge presence in Frankfurt. In amongst the crazy concepts and not-for-Europe production cars sat the Wey XEV – a plug-in hybrid SUV with bold styling and gullwing doors. The maker has its sights set firmly on premium sector rivals from the likes of Volvo, Audi and Mercedes, though no details were given on a potential global launch.
What was your favourite car at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show? Let us know below...
