FrankfurtMotorShow2011
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Frankfurt Motor Show 2011 wrap-up
The 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show is still rolling, but as the throngs of eager German motor enthusiasts fill the halls we're grabbing our passports and fleeing back to the States. This year's show had more EVs and infotainment-stuffed cars than ever before and, if what we saw here is any indication, the car of the future will have at least one smartphone or tablet built in there somewhere -- maybe two. Enjoy the gallery below of random pictures from the show floor as we kick back in coach and try to catch up on some sleep. And, if you need even more coverage, head on over to our good friends at Autoblog. As usual they obsessively covered the show. %Gallery-134042%
Artega SE electric supercar is coming to the US, we go eyes-on
With the Tesla Roadster's tenure drawing to a close and a proper two-seat replacement seemingly just a twinkle in Peter Rawlinson's eye at this point, there's something of a coming void in the world of the electric supercar. Artega would love to fill that with the SE. It's an all-electric version of the company's GT supercar, and while the GT will not see a release on American shores, we got confirmation from Artega that the battery-powered SE will -- eventually. The 375 horsepower motor drives the car to 62MPH in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 126.5. Maximum range is 172 miles, but drive the car "more enthusiastically" and you can expect a more realistic 124. The car was announced earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show and here in Frankfurt we were able to spend a few minutes ogling its curves in a variety of interesting colors, including one model with a cut-away fender showing off the positioning of some of the 16 battery modules. 12 of those are scattered around the rear of the car, while four are up front, giving the car a rearward-biased 40:60 weight distribution. Cost is said to be 150,000 euro, or about $207,000. That's nearly twice the cost of a Roadster. Worth it? We'll see. %Gallery-134029% %Gallery-134031%
Parrot Asteroid Android-powered car stereo hands-on
Ca-Fi is an aftermarket Android car stereo that won't fit in your dashboard Parrot Asteroid to drive music, Android from your dash this October (video) Pioneer's AppRadio delivers iPhone integration, automotive and audio bliss for $400 Parrot has been teasing us with its Asteroid head unit for quite some time now, first showing it off at CES way back in January. It's finally coming to the US in October and we got a chance to try it out in Frankfurt. This Android-powered unit fits into a DIN slot in your car -- easily replacing many standard car stereos (and some non-standard ones too). It comes with a flurry of cables that includes a GPS receiver (which can be stuck somewhere outside the car to get better reception) and inputs for USB, 3.5mm audio, and even an iDevice. Through these you can pull tunes from just about anything to play on there, but if you tether the device with a phone to provide connectivity (or plug in a USB modem, or connect over WiFi) you can stream music directly on it. It also offers Google Navigation, including traffic and all the niceties you've come to expect from your smartphone -- but on an admittedly tiny (3.2-inch) screen. Connect a music device over USB and it'll index the contents via GraceNote, letting you speak any artist, album, or song to play it directly. The Asteroid ships to the US in October for $349. If you have room for a little more Android in your life, maybe it's time to make a little more room in your dash. %Gallery-133979%
Mercedes-Benz F 125! looks like the future, runs on hydrogen
As expected, the feature concept car being shown by Mercedes-Benz at Frankfurt this year was the F 125! But Merc isn't actually calling it a concept, rather a "research vehicle" that will help the company work toward a gasoline-free future. In this case it's a hydrogen-filled future, with this car running on compressed gas and so giving off only water vapor and oxygen as emissions. But, it's also a plug-in, meaning you can charge this thing up on your garage in addition to topping off the tank at your local H2 filling station -- at some point in the future when you actually have an H2 filling station. Read on for more details. %Gallery-134036%
Bentley demos 100,000 euro Executive dual-iPad interior for Mulsanne, we take a seat (video)
Lots of people do lots of things to make their cars and interiors more distinctive, but when Bentley does something to make the interior of one of its cars stand out, you know it's going to be special. And expensive. Welcome to the Executive Interior Concept, inserted in the Mulsanne. The Mulsanne is a big, luxurious auto with a twin-turbo V8 slung out front, and with this very special (100,000 euro option) package the interior's received some twin-augmentation as well: two iPads. Join us as we get comfortable. %Gallery-133762%
TomTom announces Z.E. Live navigation system to measure EV battery juice, keeps you truckin'
There's nothing worse than going for a late-night chili dog run only to find your EV sucked dry in a 7-11 parking lot. To reduce so-called "range-anxiety," there's the Carminat TomTom Z.E. Live, an in-dash navigation system that not only keeps drivers from getting lost, but also offers a visual cue to how much power's left. Sticking with the green theme, the device provides the most eco-friendly and efficient routes (with nearby charging stations) -- leaving drivers feeling good about putting the pedal to the metal. The nav will come pre-baked in all future Renault Fluence Z.E.s -- but we wouldn't be surprised to see other EV manufacturers implement similar add-ons in the future. Check out the full PR after the break.
Volkswagen Nils concept has an HTC Desire HD dashboard, seats one Engadget editor
Audi isn't the only one with a tiny little EV with exposed wheels at Frankfurt this year. Parent company Volkswagen has one too, but this is even smaller. It's called the Nils and it's designed for commuters in the "world of tomorrow" -- commuters who will be very thin and, apparently, short. Big people just don't fit well into this tiny thing, but if you're of modest size or below this could be an interesting little ride. It has only 34-horsepower (25kW) available from a rear-mounted electric motor, but since it weighs just 1,000-pounds (460kg) that should make for some peppy commutes -- of less than 40 miles (65 kilometers), which is the maximum range here. More details after the break. %Gallery-133771%
Mercedes-Benz debuts B-Class E-Cell Plus EV concept, the suburban limo revisioned
Family transportation has come a long way since it was all about piling in the back of the humble station wagon -- in particular, we're talking about the new Mercedez-Benz Concept B-Class E-Cell Plus EV that debuted today at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The plug-in series hybrid has a 136-horsepower electric motor with a 62-mile range, and a 67-horsepower, 1.0-liter three cylinder turbocharged gas engine for range-extending capabilities up to 373 miles. At low speeds, the petrol engine charges the lithium-ion batteries. When going faster, it acts on the car's front wheels, while the electric engine also chugs along -- very much like the Chevy Volt. Mercedes promises zero to 62MPH in 11 seconds and top speeds of 93MPH in both battery-only and range-extending modes. No word yet on when this dream ride will be available for family carpools, but eager June Cleavers can check out the photo gallery and full PR after the break. Update: We've added a gallery from Frankfurt! %Gallery-134032% %Gallery-133551%
Audi's electric Urban Concept says that less is more, really means it
You don't have to by an exotic, race-bred sportscar to get something made of carbon fiber with exposed suspension and racy looks. Thanks to Audi, you can actually go quite far to the opposite end of the spectrum. Meet the Urban Concept, a little guy with a big heart and just two seats -- offset slightly to give both driver and passenger maximum shoulder space in a decidedly slender chassis. With just 20 horsepower on tap it will hardly light your world afire, but weighing only 480kg (just over 1,000 pounds) and featuring a racy pushrod suspension, it should be quite the corner-carver. Power comes from a 7.1kWh battery pack that's inductively charged, meaning no need to plug in at the end of the day. A 45 mile radius means you won't be getting far out of town, but Audi did call this the Urban Concept, after all. (Presumably a future "Suburban Concept" would ship with bigger batteries.) Audi crafted both Sportback (with roof) and Spyder (without) versions but didn't say when -- or more importantly if -- either version will ever see production. %Gallery-133586%
Rimac Automobili unveils 1,088 horsepower Concept One electric supercar
When you need four digits and a comma to specify the amount of horsepower your car puts down, you know you're talking about something very, very special indeed. Such is the case for the Concept One, the first car from virtual unknown manufacturer Rimac Automobili, styled by designer Adriano Mudri. The firm (which is Croatian, not Italian, by the way) has created this machine and given it four electric motors. They combine for an astounding 1,088 horsepower but, perhaps even more importantly, enable torque vectoring across all four wheels -- varying the power at each corner to pull the car around turns. That performance equates to a 0 - 62MPH time of 2.8 seconds, while the maximum range is rated as 600km (about 375 miles) thanks to a 92kWh lithium ion phosphate (LiFePO4) battery. It is, alas, just a concept for now, but with a little bit of funding the folks at Rimac hope to bring it to market. And we hope they do too. %Gallery-133450%
BMW i3 electric and i8 plug-in cars on display at Frankfurt
We've seen 'em as sketches and we've seen 'em having fun on the snow, but now, after getting a few upgrades, they're parked on the stage at Frankfurt. BMW rolled out its new i3 and i8 electric cars, part of a new sub-brand focused on efficiency and responsive driving -- though it'll ultimately be up to the driver to determine just how responsively these behave on the road. The i3 is a pure electric, 150km range (about 100 miles) and a very lightweight construction of both aluminum and carbon fiber. The i8, meanwhile, is a plug-in hybrid that is said to deliver about 87MPG and yet still get from 0 - 60MPH in under five seconds. Spunky, then. It also sports those funky laser headlights that are both far more efficient and far more awesome sounding than current LED models. This is what they look like in the flesh, and if all goes according to plan you'll be seeing them for yourselves when they enter production in 2013. %Gallery-133335% %Gallery-129536%
Fisker Surf plug-in hybrid: five doors of good Karma
Like Fisker's Karma but need a little more room for the kids -- or maybe the dogs? Check out the Surf. Fisker just unveiled this new five-door at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and, while it's based on the Karma (that has just finally entered full production), as you can see it's grown a bit. It's a five-door version of the iconic shooting brake body style (a three-door sporty hatchback) that houses the same series hybrid powertrain that powers the Karma. That means 80km (50 miles) of pure electric driving and, thanks to the gasoline motor in there that acts as an onboard generator, you can go up to another 400km (about 250 miles). Because of the similarity between the two cars this prototype was actually able to roll off of the Fisker assembly line, and it's said to go into production sometime in mid-2012. Fisker also announced a new partnership with BMW, which will provide the 2.0 liter engine that will come along for the ride. Interestingly the car will be built in Delaware, meaning this European beauty has some decidedly strong American roots. %Gallery-133358% %Gallery-133395%
Volvo unveils Concept You luxury sedan, dripping with touchscreens (video)
The Frankfurt Motor Show is underway in Germany, where Volvo has just taken the wraps off the Concept You -- a new luxury sedan that features some pretty nifty, touch-based controls. Directly behind the car's steering wheel lies a monitor that digitally displays your basic driving information, including speed and a map of your trajectory. The wheel also features some sensor enhanced panels, which you can use to adjust your radio or cruise control settings. A touch interface on the center console, meanwhile, uses an infrared sensor to pick up on any hand or eye movements before activating to bring up the system's infotainment control mode, which boasts an unreleased FreshAir subwoofer from Alpine. From here, you can surf the web, swipe through radio stations, check for safety alerts or control your air conditioning, using only your fingers or customized gestures. Plus, there's an extra touchscreen placed between the two rear seats, meaning your kids won't be left out of the action, either. Cruise past the break for an exclusive video of the Concept You's so-called smart pad technology, along with the full PR.
BMW unveils concept Husqvarna Concept E-go electric motorcycle
There just aren't enough electric motorcycles in the world at this point, so thank goodness BMW just introduced a new one into the world. It's a slinky thing, with a single front fork and a spindly rear swingarm, two features that don't make it look particularly trail-ready -- despite the Husqvarna branding. (BMW bought Husqvarna back in 2007.) But, it does look a little more off-roadable than the electric scooter concept BMW also unveiled. No further details about range, speed, or indeed likelihood of production are available for either, but there are more pics of both in the gallery below. Update: We got some further details on the bike. It weighs just 80kg (about 150lbs) and riding it through traffic is said to be like playing a videogame. The press release after the break doesn't say which videogame, but we're hoping it isn't Frogger. %Gallery-133333% %Gallery-133403%
We're live from the Frankfurt Motor Show 2011!
The show's just about to kick off and already we've seen some unveilings. The Frankfurt Motor Show (aka the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung, the IAA) is one of the biggest auto festivals of the year, and the 2011 model looks poised to be the most tech-filled one yet, chock full of crazy electric-powered concepts plus new and exciting ways for us to boss our cars around with our smartphones. It's going to be a hectic couple of days, so buckle up and hang on tight. To follow all the action from Frankfurt, use the tag Frankfurt Motor Show 2011.
Ford electric E-Bike Concept packs a Galaxy S II on the bars, motor in the wheel
Ford already wowed us with the Evos concept, but the slinkiest hybrid we've seen so far here in Frankfurt has not four wheels but two. It's a concept bicycle from Ford called -- wait for it -- the E-Bike Concept. It packs an electric motor built into the front wheel that can power it up to a maximum speed of 25 km/h, driven by a 9.2Ah battery. Or you can power it the conventional way by pedalling, torque conveyed to the rear wheel over a carbon belt. (Oily chains are so last century.) Perhaps even more interesting is what rests up on the handlebars. No, that's no iDevice -- refreshingly it's a Galaxy S II. Through some custom software, riders will be able to change suspension modes and of course monitor battery charge, not to mention get a little assistance from Google Navigation and maybe pump out some Pandora too. The word "Concept" in the title here and the spindly frame design should give you a clue about when this thing will see production -- probably never. But, we'll be back with an update if that ever changes. %Gallery-133250%
Ford Evos cloud-connected concept car unveiled at Frankfurt
The 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show doesn't kick off until tomorrow, but already Ford's unveiled the tasty hunk of conceptual automotive design it teased us with a few weeks back. It's called the Evos, it's loaded with technology and, while it doesn't look much like any of the current autos you'll find down at the local Blue Oval dealer, it's actually said to be the precursor of a new model that's coming in just four months time. Join us after the break for more details. %Gallery-133254%
Daimler Smart Forvision: a solar-powered roof with plastic wheels never looked so good
No, it's not a Micro Machine -- it's the Daimler Smart Forvision. Daimler paired up with chemicals giant BASF to improve Smart's flagship EV after being soundly trounced by the Nissan Leaf's longer range. With an emphasis on efficiency, the Forvision goes up to 20 percent further than the standard Fortwo. It has a transparent solar-panel roof which generates power to keep the cooling fans running even when stationary, see-through dashboard and clear OLEDs for internal lighting at night. BASF's wizardry helped in the development of all-plastic wheels, a super-thin heat shield and aluminum fiber paints that insulate the car but allow for GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth signals to pass through unimpeded. The concept will be unveiled properly at the Frankfurt Motor Show but check out the preview gallery and press release to learn more. %Gallery-132455%
