Everyone in the industry loves to moan about the Frankfurt show, not least hacks ready to carp about the two days every two years they actually have to do some proper work for a change. We can feel the sympathy flooding in...
As the home show for the Germans it's very much a case of 'go big or go home' and with many European operations of overseas manufacturers also based here there's certainly plenty to see. We'll be bringing you the stories as stamina and shoe leather permits and here is our landing page for all things Frankfurt related. Keep checking by for more - it's going to get busy!
Last update - Tuesday, 1615h (Audi, Bugatti, Hyundai)
Alfa Romeo
Interesting that one of Frankfurt's bigger stories is not a German car at all but rather an Alfa Romeo aimed squarely at the local brands' heartlands of rear-driven, sporty mid-sized saloons. Jaguar's XE will be looking on nervously too. We've had the spiel, we've chased prototypes around the Nurburgring and now it's finally here! Now we have to pray it can deliver on the promise...
That's another Transporter film then...
Much going on at Audi? Only an all-new (honest) A4. Yup, that'll be reasonably significant then. You can catch up on our pre-show reveal story
here
; report from the stand as soon as we've seen it in the metal. And if that can't raise your pulse above resting how about the
new S8 Plus
? A 605hp, 190mph, twin-turbo V8 uber limo has certain appeal; we'll just wait for depreciation to do its work and then pounce! Elsewhere on the Audi stand we have possibly the most promising of the new A4s in the shape of
the new S4
and the latest iteration of the long-running
E-Tron Quattro
concept saga, this one possibly previewing a new production SUV.
Bentley
If the response to our pre-show reveal story is anything to go by the Bentley Bentayga is already one of the most talked-about Frankfurt debuts. A big car for Bentley, a big car full stop, the least you can say is that the production reality a huge improvement over the EXP-9F concept shown at the 2012 Geneva show.
AMG GT with even more power? Yes!
The tuning hall is always worth a look at Frankfurt and it'd appear Brabus has plenty to shout about, including a new tuning package for AMG's 4.0-litre 'hot-v' turbo engine. In both C63 and
AMG GT S
this bumps power to 600hp with a simple 'plug and play' box, crazy power Widestar G-Classes also available if this is all too boring and sensible for your tastes.
Bugatti
Now 'between jobs' having finished Veyron production the Bugatti styling department has been killing time by joining the Gran Turismo concept gang, in suitably spectacular style.
Ferrari
Maranello was never going to let Sant'Agata take all the supercar glory at Frankfurt. Aimed directly at the Huracan Spyder, the new 488 Spider boasts a smaller weight gain over the coupe than the Lambo and more power too thanks to that twin-turbo V8.
Focus RS
has already been seen and (considerably) hyped but Ford's announcement of a sub-£30K price tag, 165mph top speed and 4.7-second 0-62 time at the show is a nicely provocative touch in the face of German rivals like the Golf GTI Clubsport, updated Leon Cupra and others.
Hyundai
Like its partner Kia, Hyundai has an established presence in Germany with R&D facilities in Frankfurt and - now - a Nurburgring test centre too. It's been talking about its rally inspired, hot hatch based N performance brand for a while now, teasing us with that rather cool mid-engined RM15 and talk of hot i20s and i30s. Still nothing concrete on product you can buy, sadly, but the Gran Turismo concept looks pretty cool. Now, crack on and build some real performance cars!
Can you see the F-Type influence at all?
Big show for Jaguar, the 'game changing' F-Pace tasked with changing the way people perceive the Jaguar brand no less. That's what they're telling us at least. Can it succeed? Full details
here!
Lamborghini
If the Huracan hints at a sanitised, Audified Lamborghini the Aventador remains the 'proper' car in the range. And the SV is a proper hoodlum. No wonder it's decided to follow up the sold-out coupe with a roadster version too then, confirming a production run of 500 cars. OK, perhaps not quite as purist as the coupe. But if you accept Lamborghini is all about the pose there are few better ways of attracting attention. Or is there? The Huracan Spyder certainly isn't subtle!
Want to waft? This could be perfect...
As close to a 'home' show as Mercedes gets, Frankfurt is always a big deal. A new
S-Class Cabriolet
might not be a volume seller but as a symbol of Mercedes doing what it does best and a nod to the more opulent moments in its past it looks like it'll be a fine thing. More of a wafter than a sports car if you want something a little more ... PHey the new
C-Class coupe
C63 AMG version
, should give you reason to cheer. We'll be driving it soon. Expect more than just those from Mercedes as well.
Mansory
Carbon fetishists Mansory have gone to work on the otherwise elegant S-Class coupe and created a proper monster with just shy of 1,000hp. It's hardly shy or retiring but at the PH office we can't help but admit guilty pleasure in the unashamedly over the top looks.
Porsche
Much going on at Porsche this year? Only a makeover of the 911 range with all-new turbo engines! Relatively big deal this one, even if all we'll be able to really judge at the show are the looks. Which, in Porsche fashion, are not very different from before. True proof of the all-turbo Carrera range will be in the driving. Let's hope it's not too long to wait. Moreover, if the 911 update can be considered a little predictable, then the Mission E is a genuine show surprise; Porsche's fully electric future begins here...
Renault
An all-new Megane is important for Renault, even if there's no Renaultsport version for some time yet. The updated275 Cup-S will fly that flag for at least another year yet, in parallel with the new model when it comes on stream. To keep us interested in the meantime there's a 'warm' 205hp Megane GT with four-wheel steering and suspension worked on by Renaultsport.
... but could this be even better?
Mercedes S-Class Coupe just not opulent enough for you? Fear not, Rolls-Royce also has a big, wafty cabriolet for you. Its name -
Dawn
- has given Rolls-Royce marketeers all manner of opportunities for cringe-worthy publicity material based around this suitably wafty moniker. Is the car worth it? It's not shy!
SEAT
SEAT isn't German of course but its parent company and supplier of its parts, platforms and funding is. As such it's a busy show for the Spaniards, confirmed debuts ahead of the show opening including a lightly souped up, 290hp version of the Leon Cupra and heavily revised Ibiza Cupra following on from the changes introduced on the closely related Polo GTI. More power, a bigger engine and a manual gearbox? Sounds like a winner!
Volkswagen
With all the noise created by the R and various other related cars from its sister brands there's a danger of forgetting the best of the bunch - the Golf GTI. So it's good to report that the new Clubsport version is now here, boasting 265hp with a 290hp overboost function, more aggressive styling and fancy race-inspired seats. Still want that R?