2017 Frankfurt Motor Show
Internal combustion engines still rule the road, but at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, electrics are getting ready for a more commanding role.
The show’s star was the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE. This plug-in hybrid Hyper-Car concept combines a racing V6 with no less than 4 electric motors for over 1,000 horsepower.
More practical is the Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA. A second member for their upcoming EQ electric sub-brand.
Or how about this Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL with ultra-compact hydrogen fuel-cell and battery technology.
Frankfurt was the world premiere for the BMW i Vision Dynamics. This four-door Gran Coupe, aimed at Tesla--has a 373-mile all-electric range.
For SUV fans, check out the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance. A three-row plug-in hybrid that seats 6 in high-tech luxury.
Even MINI’s iconic two-box design sees a brighter future with electric power.
Volkswagen I.D. electric sub-brand with include the I.D CROZZ crossover for 2020. Followed by the sure-to-be iconic I.D. Buzz microvan in 2022.
Audi is predicting electric autonomous driving with the Audi Aicon. Using artificial intelligence, but no steering wheel or pedals, it has the ability to drive itself nearly 500 miles on a single charge.
Audi’s all-new petrol and diesel powered A8 flagship already offers Level 3 automated driving, and a 48 Volt electrical system.
Porsche's 2019 Cayenne was unveiled just before the show, but a surprise Turbo version rolled onto the Frankfurt stage with 550-HP and a 0-60 of 3.7 seconds.
Jaguar announced their all-electric production car racing series, while over at Land Rover, the conventionally powered Discovery SUV gets the extreme SVX all-terrain treatment.
Not to be left out, Asian brands made Frankfurt news as well. Honda’s with its cute and tiny Urban EV Concept, and Toyota, with a hybrid concept of the C-HR crossover.
So clearly the way in which we drive is getting “amped up” in the not so distant future. And that’s it for this week’s Motor News.
New Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Porsche 911 Hybrid & BMW M4 Competition Sport
May 31, 2024 There have been a lot of exciting products coming from German brands lately. So, we’re starting with an off-roader with a lot of glitz, glamour, and a first-time powertrain…
Mercedes-Benz adds a new edition to its iconic G-Class, and this one with has gone all-electric.
The G EV trades a bi-turbo V8 for four electric motors, and a 116-kilowatt-hour battery, putting way more output to the dirt; 579 horsepower and 859 pound-feet of torque. It keeps the G’s rugged ladder frame, independent front suspension and solid rear axle. We expect over-the-top off-roading, with the luxury to match.
And now the excitement moves over to Porsche, which has just wrapped up development of the first-ever street-legal, gas-electric hybrid 911.
It’s been rumored for quite some time, but now we have our first look at the 911 Hybrid. According to Porsche, the hybrid system used is performance-focused– and it shows. In testing, the new model was able to complete a lap of Germany’s famed Nurburgring 8.7-seconds faster than a comparable gas-only 911. The new 911 Hybrid was tested in all sorts of conditions, from the freezing cold and demanding heat, clocking over 3.1 million miles of development driving.
And finally, our focus is on BMW where they haven’t forgotten their internal-combustion heritage with the release of a new M4 CS.
It starts with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, tuned here to output 543 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. That’s an increase of 20 HP over the M4 Competition Coupe. The high-revving engine sends power to the all-wheel drive system through an eight-speed automatic. All said and done, the M4 CS is aiming for 0-60 times around 3.4 seconds and an electronically-limited top speed of 188 mph.
And that’s it for this week’s Motor News.