frankfurtmotorshow2019
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Even BMW’s ‘Vantablack’ X6 gets caught by LiDAR
BMW decided to paint one of its X6 SUVs black. But not just any black; Vantablack the darkest pigment ever created. Then they brought it to the Frankfurt Auto Show and put it in a room with flashing lights and a video screen. But seriously, if they just put it on the show floor it would have been impressive.
Inside Volkswagen's all-electric ID.3
While the exterior of a car is important (no one wants to drive an ugly car), the interior is where you spend most of your time. While the powertrain (electric) and design (a smoother Golf) of the ID.3 are what people initially think of when they see the car, that brand new infotainment system and layout are worth a look. So I went and looked at it.
Hyundai's first electric race car is a souped-up Veloster
Hyundai is joining the ranks of automakers with electric race cars -- if in a somewhat predictable way. The company has started work on the Veloster N ETCR, a race-tuned EV edition of the Veloster N built for its namesake ETCR championship starting in 2020. There aren't many performance claims at this stage, but it'll have a mid-mounted motor and rear wheel drive to meet race regulations. The gigantic spoiler and race-ready wheels make clear that this isn't just a simple conversion, and we'd expect the inside to be stripped down to the bare essentials.
Land Rover's rock-climbing Defender will come in a PHEV version
After shelving the model in the US, Land Rover has brought back the rugged Defender and will soon launch a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the vehicle. The all-new model is far from the capable, but spartan 4x4 that last appeared in the US in 1997. It can still tackle any terrain, including 42-degree hills, but drivers will be able to go off-road with the kind of comfort and tech you'd expect from the luxury UK brand.
Seat wants to sell its Cupra Tavascan EV concept some day
After Spanish automaker Seat (owned by VW) spun out the Cupra sport sub-brand last year, it seemed like we were going to see some interesting vehicles from it. That's certainly the case at the Frankfurt Motor Show, where Seat has unveiled the Cupra Tavascan EV concept. It's not only a striking look at the possible future of Seat's Cupra EVs, but it might eventually become a production vehicle itself.
The uphill battle to build Honda’s first modern EV
Honda, like Toyota, has a troubled history with EVs. After pioneering them with the EV Plus in 1997 then releasing a very limited edition Fit EV, it's been radio silence from the company ever since. Now at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Honda has finally built a modern electric car that it plans to sell: the Honda E. This Europe-only EV won't be sold in the US, but it sure has attracted a lot of attention. Honda fans are eating up the retro-adorable styling, and the interior will be impressively high tech for a production vehicle. On the other hand, it's expensive and can't go nearly as far on a charge as rivals. These decisions might seem at odds with other automakers, but as the design team explained to me, Honda hopes that urbanites will love the technology and sportiness enough to forgive the lower range.
Audi teases the E-Tron Sportback with a short cameo
At the Frankfurt Auto Show, Audi gave attendees a sneak peek at the upcoming Audi E-Tron Sportsback via a rave-worthy light show. The vehicle isn't supposed to be unveiled until the LA Auto Show in November.
Honda reveals pricing for its lovable E electric car
Honda's E electric car is officially here and the production model has kept nearly all the charm and gadgets of the original concept. At the same time, Honda has unveiled pricing and specs for the urban EV, and that's where things get interesting.
How Byton is trying to bring its concept M-Byte SUV to the masses
Byton has hit a big milestone in the chase for its own Tesla-like EV dream by unveiling the final design for its M-Byte SUV. With a futuristic 48-inch display and multiple control screens, it has changed surprisingly little from the concept it first showed at CES 2018. On the exterior, the sleek EV certainly looks like it could compete with any modern SUV, including Tesla's Model X, especially considering that Byton is aiming for a starting price of $45,000.
Audi’s AI:Trail concept is an off-road EV with drones for headlights
Concept cars are a dime a dozen. Concepts that are built specifically to be taken offroad, those are a special breed of fun. At Frankfurt International Auto Show Audi unveiled the AI:Trail concept.
Mercedes' Vision EQS is a peek at its EV future
Mercedes' EQ EV sub-brand continues to grow with new cars being added seemingly every few months. That's good news for fans of luxury vehicles who also want to be pampered when they drive. The latest concept car though, it's something else.
Hyundai goes retro-futuristic with its 45 EV concept
Hyundai has taken the wraps off the "45," a retro-styled vehicle meant to show where it's going with future EVs. Teased last month, the styling is inspired by the 1974 Pony Couple Concept, the progenitor of Hyundai's popular Pony econo-mobile. The name "45" is thus a play on the anniversary of the original concept, and also a nod to the 45-degree angles on the roofline and other parts of the car. It also takes cues from 1920s art deco styling, the company said.
Lamborghini's V12 gets electrified with the 819HP Sian hybrid
The first electrified Lamborghini doesn't disappoint. If anything, the green-tinted Sian with its fins, channels and hyper-sharp styling feels like the most Lamborghini thing the company builds.
Volkswagen takes the wraps off the production-ready ID.3 EV
After announcing the MEB modular electric-car platform at CES in 2016 on the heels of Dieselgate, the automaker went on a tear announcing a microbus, dune buggy, crossovers and other vehicle types that would run on electrons instead of gasoline. Finally, we're seeing the first production vehicle that'll be part of the automaker's future.
Mercedes’ 350e 4MATIC EQ extends EV-only range to 26 miles
Mercedes has jumped into EVs in a big way with its EQ lineup, but realistically, it's going to be selling a lot more hybrid vehicles in the near term. To that end, the German automaker has unveiled the all-new GLC 350e 4MATIC EQ that uses its third generation of hybrid tech. The biggest update over the last generation is a 13.5 kWh battery, up from 8.5 kWh. That will allow it to go up to 26 miles in all electric mode (WLPT range) before the 208 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine needs to kick in.
