Green Meets Cutting Edge: Highlights from the Frankfurt Auto Show
If you’ve been waiting with baited breath to see the unveiling of the latest fleet of cars to fill your wish list from the Frankfurt Auto Show, then your wait is over. One of the largest automotive events in the world, the Frankfurt Auto Show began on September 10thand will be ending on the 22nd. The show takes place in Frankfurt, Germany and highlights the latest and most cutting edge vehicles available on the market, drawing a thousand exhibitors and typically around 1 million visitors.
Several of the cars on display, such as the BMW i3 electric car and the Audi Nanuk Quattro Concept car, will be highlighting diesel or electric options, which shows a general global move away from gas for either cost or environmental reasons. Another trend is towards smaller, more compact cars for similar reasons, particularly since outside of North America smaller cars are the norm.
One of the pint-sized cars displayed was the new Mercedes Smart four joy, which had its unveiling at the German car show. An advantage of the Smart four joy is its 4-seat capacity, which makes it a practical vehicle for families. The ultra-compact concept car employs electric drive similar to the Smart Fortwo, with a 78-hp electric motor that uses a 17.6 kWh lithium-ion battery. However, on the opposite end of the spectrum was Jaguar’s CX-17, their newest luxury SUV, which will have a V6 petrol engine, as well as the option of diesel or regular gas.
As for electric cars, BMW has released the i8, a plug-in hybrid sports car that uses carbon-fiber parts which allows the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 4 1/2 seconds. Those in an auto mechanic apprenticeship take note, as this could be the future of cars. It is also powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged triple and an electric motor that when combined produce 362 hp and 236 lb-ft.
Another car, which possibly predicts the direction that automotive technology is headed in, is the Mercedes Concept S-Class Coupe, which drives on its own with minimal driver assistance. Those studying to be an auto mechanic may find it interesting that the concept coupe has a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine, up to 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. And if you want to channel your inner Lewis Hamilton, you might find it impressive that it also drives up to 62 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 186 mph.
Overall, the Frankfurt Car Show combined two concepts at the forefront of the automotive industry, environmental concern with technological automotive advancement, to display a wide array of vehicles that will entice desire in any car enthusiast, especially those who have an interest in automotive careers.
