Thursday 12th September 2013

Frankfurt finale: PH Blog

'That' Lexus, hidden treasures at BMW and a 700hp six-wheeled G-Wagen

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There's not much time for reflection at a motor show as big as Frankfurt so it's only now I've really had time to draw breath, go through my notes and pictures and recall some of the bits and bobs beyond the big stories already covered.

Lexus a runaway winner in 'most minging concept'

Out on a Porsche ticket, I had my fill of 918 and 911 50th related stuff. And make no apologies for getting a little swept away by the excitement surrounding the 'ring lap announcement and subsequent jubilation among the team. I said as much in a discussion following yesterday's blog but whatever your take on the actual rights or wrongs of hybrid hypercars, 'ring lap times or the rest at a personal level it was really inspiring to meet the team and hear the stories about the car and the lap that put the icing on the cake.

But you've heard enough about that already.

I'll put my chat with Audi designer Steve Lewis on the Sport Quattro Concept into a standalone story but he was unabashed at why they were having a second crack at it. "We really believed in the original Paris concept and wanted to have another go!" Fair enough. And more inspiring than the Parcour. Sorry, Nanuk. The latter a rare dropped ball by Audi and widely panned. But still nicer than that Lexus concept.

C-X17 did a good job of stealing German thunder

BMW didn't figure very highly on my personal show schedule and it was only on the way home sharing pics with another hack that I saw pics of the 435i decked out in all the M Performance bits that had been tucked away on the back of the stand. This merits further investigation but the focus for BMW - whose display is so vast it has its own test track - was more on the i3 and i8.

Having seen the C-X17 before the show I didn't seem to spend a whole lot of time with JLR either but I was lucky enough to catch Ian Callum between interviews when passing by the stand. I asked him how it was going and he said "well, people keep telling me it looks like a Jaguar which was kind of the idea!" An Evoque decked out for the Silk Road adventure for the Range Rover hybrid also did a pretty convincing impression of a 'proper' 4x4 rather than just High Street eye candy.

Brabus nails the blinged up G-Wagen thing...

The scale of Frankfurt means it's easy to miss the more interesting stuff that gets tucked away. The German tuners have a huge presence, the stands of Brabus, Alpina and the like often dwarfing those of 'proper' manufacturers. And, yes, I know they officially count as such but you know what I mean. Maximum madness points to Brabus though for the six-wheeled, 700hp G-Wagen. Yours for half a million, or thereabouts. Slightly more reasonable was the Fuchs Boxster Spyder, complete with retro style wheels I can't quite decide whether are awful or inspired. Better than those on the 50 Years Edition 911 anyway.

It's nice unearthing the odd retro things manufacturers bring along too, like the Subaru 360 tucked away around the back of the stand or the Abarth 595 placed alongside the modern equivalent. The latter will only look proper with the boot propped open and the linkage on the wipers in my book.

A few quick words on the Sport Quattro to follow and that'll be case closed on Frankfurt 2013 I reckon...

Dan

 

 

[yellowstreak]

"mmm the AMG G Wagen is great but how can we possibly make it more offensice to environmentalists, wait I've got an idea..."

I love that thing. Its on the post Euromillions win wish list.

[markh450]

I think Porsche may have to rethink the script down the side of that Boxster before release into the UK market!

[DB9VolanteDriver]

Brabus G-Wagen: Love it. Absolutely want one.
Lexus SUV: A cry for help, perhaps?

[Eviltad]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

Lexus SUV: A cry for help, perhaps?

Definite self harming going on there.