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.
Chrysler Adds Voyager as Base Van, 2025 Volkswagen Taos Reveal, & Ford Mustang GTD Confirmed Specs
October 10, 2024 Sticking with their all-minivan strategy, at least for the time being, Chrysler is bringing back the Voyager.
The 2025 Chrysler Voyager will serve as an entry-level model below the Pacifica, and unlike last time, it won’t be restricted to fleet purchases. A 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and a nine-speed automatic come standard.
Orders are open now with a starting price around $40,000.
Volkswagen revealed the first major update for their Taos subcompact utility, including additional power and more tech.
The 2025 Volkswagen Taos uses a 1.5-liter turbo-four, now producing 174 horsepower thanks to some engine revisions. The dual-clutch automatic used on all-wheel-drive models is gone, replaced now by a traditional eight-speed auto. Inside, an 8.0-inch infotainment screen comes standard on all four trims, paired up with a digital gauge cluster. These refreshed models are expected to arrive at Volkswagen dealers by the end of the year.
And on the performance side of things, Ford has confirmed that their upcoming Mustang GTD will put out a total 815 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. Ford is currently projecting a top speed of 202 mph, made possible by the high-revving, supercharged 5.2-liter V8.
And that’s it for this week’s Motor News.