It’s that time of year again. With the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show just around the corner, we assess the five most anticipated cars that will be making an appearance. So without further ado, here goes the top five in reverse order.
In fifth place is the fourth-generation Toyota Prius:
As controversial as it may be and it is hideously gut wrenching to look at, the Prius is an important car and despite its negative connotations, it remains to be a highly successful car when it comes to alternative power. It’s likely to keep its 1.8-litre petrol unit mated to an electric motor, but the design shifts in a new direction. With a floating roof achieved thanks to the black C-pillar, the Mirai plays an evident role in the all-new Prius’s design.
In fourth is Hyundai who will be displaying its prototype i20 Coupe based WRC car:
The South Korean company will also be showcasing the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept. As well as these, the RM15 concept uses a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged 296 bhp unit in what is essentially a heavily-modified Veloster. This is the most important, as it signifies Hyundai’s future in what its calls its N division, an equivalent to BMW M and Mercedes-AMG. The first car to get the treatment is likely to be the i30 as early as 2017, putting it up against the Seat Leon Cupra and Ford Focus ST. This has been made a reality thanks to Albert Biermann’s move to Hyundai – BMW M’s ex-Chief Engineer.
In third is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet:
Building on the success of the recent S-Class Coupé, the Cabriolet loses its roof in 20 seconds and at speeds of up to 37 mph. Kicking off the range will be the 449 bhp twin-turbocharged 4.7-litre V8 S500, emitting 199 g/km. Mercedes-AMG has taken the car too, and produced an S63 which utilises a 577 bhp 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8 making it good for 0-62 mph in 3.9 seconds. Expect it to have a £10,000 premium over the Coupé, rivalling the BMW 6 Series Convertible (and M6) and even the Bentley Continental GT Convertible.
In second is the Rolls-Royce Dawn:
The Dawn falls short of number one position, a Wraith-based drop-top that will land early next year with a £250k price tag. Its roof takes a second longer than that of the S-Class Cabriolet and can only be operated at speeds of up to 30 mph. The specs? A 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged V12 found in the Ghost, kicking out 563 bhp and 780 Nm through an 8-speed automatic ‘box thrusting it to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds and onto a limited top speed of 155 mph. You wouldn’t know it weights 2.5 tonnes until you notice it’s said to average 19.9 mpg, emitting 330 g/km of CO2!
In first is the Bentley Bentayga:
And finally, the most anticipated of all. Bentley’s Bentayga, which is coming next year and is available from £160,200. The company claims that it’s “the fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world” and sits in a niche above the highest of Range Rovers and Mercedes GLS-Classes. The twin-turbocharged W12 punches out 600 bhp and 900 Nm. It gets to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and on to 187 mph, but it will emit 292 g/km and average a claimed 22.1 mpg. Maybe that’s the reason it needs an 87-litre petrol tank? But don’t worry, diesel and plug-in hybrid models will join the lineup soon.
Choosing the number one car was tricky, initially we had three joint front runners, all from the luxury SUV sector. The Jaguar F-Pace is the most rational of all – a Porsche Macan and Range Rover Evoque rival which is more than likely going to get a range of 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel units as well as range-topping supercharged 3.0-litre V6s. We can even expect a supercharged V8 to join, bearing an SVR badge.
And let’s not forget the Maserati Levante, said to be a game-changer for the Italian firm, expected to be the biggest seller in many of its target countries. It uses a ‘Q4’ on-demand all-wheel-drive setup, with power coming from a 410 bhp twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6, a 530 bhp twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 or a 271 bhp 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6. There’s even talk of a plug-in hybrid joining, a likely proposition that will further enforce its game changing title.
And there we have it, my top 5 stars of the Frankfurt Motor Show. But that’s not to say that all you have to look forward to is what’s described above. Oh, no! There’s plenty more! And here’s just a taste… Maybe you agree or agree to disagree with the selection.
The long awaited Alfa Romeo Giulia will be showing its face as well as Audi’s Q6 e-tron, the all-new MINI Clubman, the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé, the mad 493 bhp Peugeot 308 R HYbrid, and Volkswagen Tiguan. BMW hybridises its range with the 330e, 740e and 225xe, whilst two new family hatchbacks are introduced, the all-new Vauxhall Astra and Renault’s Mégane (which will sit next to the French firm’s Espace and Talisman, neither of which are coming to the UK). The next-generation Kia Sportage, an Alpina D3 Biturbo, Seat Leon Cupra 290, an extended battery life (150 miles) for the Nissan Leaf, the Ferrari 488 Spider, the list goes on and on.
