MPS Overview of trade fair highlights
07/21/2011
M it over 900,000 visitors the IAA 2011 once again clearly exceeded the result 2009. 'The' fascination of cars 'is - contrary to some statements of some so-called experts - very pronounced, especially among young people', summarized VDA President Matthias Wissmann. The VDA boss recognized the advance of premium, increasing hybridization and intelligent networking of cars as global trends.
Audi A5 with a fresh look
With the A5, Audi has gained its reputation as Designer brand consolidated once more. The look of the series consisting of Sportback, Coupé and Cabrio is now to be refreshed with a few tricks: The headlights have a small wave in the lower area, the lines of which will also be followed by the LED daytime running lights. The grille is given a slightly stronger arrow to give the beau a more distinctive look, and the LED taillights are redesigned. In addition to new materials, slightly modified seats are used inside.
As with the A6, a WLAN hotspot is moving in for wireless Internet access. There are few changes in the engine program. In the S5 Coupé, the V8 engine will in future be replaced by a supercharged V6 that develops 333 hp. Sales start at the end of the year. In 2012, the A4 will see the same upgrade. The Audi R8 GT Spyder, on the other hand, plays in a completely different league, with its weight reduced by 85 kilos compared to the conventional model. 560 PS strong, 317 km /h and 207,800 euros expensive, it should blow to attack the Italian sports car competition. The two-seater is being produced in a small series of 333 copies.
Porsche 911 with up to 400 hp
A classic went into the next round at the IAA, with the new Porsche 911 looking different changes only moderately. In return, the Porsche loses around 45 kilograms in weight, although it grows by 5.6 centimeters to 4.49 meters in length. The wheelbase increases by ten centimeters, which promises significantly better space. The automatic start-stop system is new and contributes to fuel savings of more than ten percent. The output of the six-cylinder engines with direct gasoline injection increases from 345 to 350 and from 385 to 400 hp.
Ferrari 458 Spider is coming with 570 hp V8
The German sports car elite will also face competition at the IAA - from Italy. Ferrari presented theopen version of the 458 with a 4.5 liter V8 (570 hp) mounted lengthways in front of the rear axle as an answer to the Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster or Audi R8 Spyder. The electrically operated soft top disappears behind the seats, and roll bars ensure safety. Shifting takes place via a dual clutch transmission.
BMW i3 as a city car
For the first time BMW presented at the IAA 2011 officially the first member of the new i-family: The i3 with a body made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic goes on sale in 2013 as a pure electric car with a range of 160 kilometers. The electric motor is 100 kW and the top speed is 150 km /h. The van-like five-seater with the kidney grille quotes classic BMW style elements, but in contrast to the models with combustion engines, they are closed here. Cooling air is not required at this point. The i3 gets all modern assistance systems as well as location-based services that should make it easier for the pilot to find shops, pharmacies or restaurants in the city. The new 1 Series will roll out in autumn - for the last time as a rear-wheel drive car. The next generation will be converted to front-wheel drive.
The 1 Series grows by 8.5 centimeters, the trunk volume increases by 30 to 360 liters. The base 116i is available at prices from 23,950 euros, the diesel 116d from 25,950 euros. The engine range includes five engines from 116 to 184 hp.
Mini as a coupé for the IAA
The mini family is increasingly taking on maxi forms: from autumn there will be an additional member Mini Coupé, which celebrated its premiere in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. The racing version develops 250 hp from the turbocharged 1.6-liter gasoline direct injection engine. The series is more moderate: the 3.73 meter long two-door is available as a gasoline engine with 122, 184 and 211 hp, the diesel is 143 hp. A rear spoiler, which extends automatically from 80 km /h and retracts below 60 km /h, ensures optimum contact pressure.
Mercedes M - and B-Class in a new form
The third generation of the M-Class, which was presented at the IAA and will be delivered from November 18, is more economical than ever before: The new four-cylinder ML 250 Bluetec ( 204 hp) is content with six liters of diesel per 100 kilometers and offers a range of up to 1,500 kilometers. In addition, the customer has the choice between the ML 350 Bluetec (258 PS) and the V6 petrol engine ML 350 Blue Efficiency (306 PS), whereby the exhaust emissions of the diesel engines are already at the level of the future Euro 6. In order to reduce fuel consumption by a total of 25 percent, Mercedes stepped on the weight brake and used aluminum in the bonnet, fenders and chassis. That is also noteworthydrag coefficient of 0.32 (previously: 0.34). Active Curve System is the name of an active roll stabilization of the air suspension, in which the stabilizers are regulated depending on the lateral acceleration, speed and chassis setting. The new B-Class cannot offer that - but more space, greater comfort, rear seats that can be moved for an additional charge and many assistance systems such as blind spot warning, high beam assistant, lane departure warning and drowsiness warning as well as adaptive cruise control.
The interior is characterized by a large central screen for navigation and radio, which seems to float almost freely in space, similar to an i-Pad. The four-cylinder diesels come from the C-Class, the petrol engines are just as new as the dual-clutch transmission. There won't be an automatic converter, but there will be an automatic start-stop.
VW Up is in the starting blocks
For years it has haunted trade fairs as a concept car - at the IAA 2011 the series model was finally in front of us: the Lupo successor VW Up (here all information and photos) . The city runabout is based on a new group platform from which at least Seat and Skoda will benefit. Whether Audi will also penetrate this 3.45 meter segment is still open, but a corresponding study should be in Frankfurt. The Up will be available from November as a two-door model at a price of less than 10,000 euros, the four-door model will follow in early 2012. Initially, three-cylinder units with 60 and 70 hp will drive, followed by four-cylinder units and a natural gas variant, which will also be presented at the IAA. It is shifted via an automated five-speed transmission. An electric version will follow in 2013.
The so-called New Small Family is being built in Bratislava and, despite the low price, should have extensive safety equipment with ESP and airbags as standard. As an option, there is the City Emergency Brake Assistant, which automatically brakes down if the driver does not react to an impending collision. The puristic interior is characterized by a central round instrument and the possibility of integrating MP3 players. The design of the IAA model has changed little compared to the studies.
Opel at the IAA with Ampera, Astra, GTC and Zafira Tourer
Full program at Opel at the IAA : For example, the new top model of the Astra series celebrated its premiere there, the 180 hp GTC, which is available with sports suspension and lower body at prices starting at 19,900 euros. The Ampera environmental car based on the Chevrolet Volt is aiming in a completely different direction. The plug-in hybrid costs 42,900 euros and has a purely electric range of 80 kilometers. An important new volume model in the Opel program is the next generation of Zafira, which clearlyhas grown: With a length of 4.66 meters, it towers over its predecessor by 20 centimeters. In the future, both will be built and offered parallel to each other, with the new generation now bearing the additional designation Tourer and with prices of around 25,000 euros also targeting larger models such as the Seat Alhambra.
Instead of a back seat, there are now seven individual seats in the interior. The middle seat in row two can be folded away so that the outer seats look like travel chairs. Technically, the Zafira is based on the Insignia in the area of the front axle, the torsion-beam rear axle with Watt linkage comes from the Astra. Sales will start in autumn with a charged 1.4-liter gasoline engine (120 and 140 hp) and the two-liter diesel (110, 130 and 160 hp).
Fiat Panda in a new form
The Lancia Ypsilon has barely been presented than the technically identical Fiat Panda is rolling behind: The little Italian will go on sale in February 2012. The four-door model is three centimeters wider, and the length changes slightly. The basic equipment may be upgraded with an ESP, the engine used in the 500 is the two-cylinder Twinair (85 PS).
Outlook for the new Ford Moneo
At the moment, the Ford Mondeo ranks well behind VW Passat and Opel Insignia in the sales statistics - and that should not change significantly before the 2013 successor appears. Because at the IAA, Ford initially gave an outlook on the new middle class in the form of a study, and it will take another year and a half for the market to be launched. When the model changes, the Mondeo is not only freshly styled, but also seriously revised. A hybrid variant is planned that can also drive purely electrically at speeds up to 75 km /h. He takes over from the Focus parking aid, drowsiness warning and lane departure warning system.
Mazda CX-5 as a four-liter car
With the VW Tiguan competitor CX-5, Mazda presented a car on the new Skyaktiv platform for the first time at the IAA, which is particularly weight-optimized and comes with an economical range of engines. The basic diesel with 150 hp should be modest with 4.5 liters consumption per 100 km. The five-seat CX-5, 4.50 meters long, is available with front-wheel and all-wheel drive. Sales will start at the beginning of 2012.
Toyota presents the FT-86 as Celica at the IAA
With a classy coupé, Toyota is back in the sports car segment in 2012. The FT-86 is only 4.16 meters long, but at 2.57 meters it has the wheelbase of a Scirocco (4.25 meters long). The four-seater's power is transmitted to the rear wheels, and a two-liter petrol engine works under the bonnet.
You can find all other highlights in our photo show.
