The 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show showcased plenty of new metal slated to arrive in the near future. With the automotive industry undergoing transition from fossil fuels to electric powertrains, the German show provided a perfect stage for manufacturers to demonstrate their prowess with the new tech. And not all the concept were boring or outrageous, some of them are slated to hit the production line sooner rather than later. Here is our pick of the top concepts from the Frankfurt stage.
The Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1-based hypercar comes powered by the 2015 Championship winning 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engine. The two motors conjoined take the power output to 1000bhp! The hypercar looks subdued despite all the F1 wizardry going on under the body shell. The Project One was slated for a limited production run, and has been already sold out.
BMW i Vision Dynamics is an electric four-door Gran Coupe design study which could spawn the all-new i5. The Munich-based carmaker boasts of a range of 600kilometres, a top speed of over 200kmph and a 0-100kmph time of four seconds. The concept car looks futuristic with several elements borrowed from BMW’s other concept studies.
Kia Proceed Concept
The Korean carmaker took the stage with a preview of the next generation Cee’d hatchback in a new design study. The Proceed concept not only displays a new design language from Kia, but also previews a new shooting brake addition to the Cee'd range. Kia says the concept car represents “extended hot hatch styling”.
Honda Urban EV Concept
The retro-futuristic Urban EV Concept serves as a preview for a future Honda production model slated for launch in 2019. The design elements from the Urban EV will appear on future battery electric Honda production models. The styling is a bit retro, reminiscent of the hot hatches of the 1980-90s.
Audi has added two new models to its growing list of autonomous concepts - the Aicon and the Elaine. The Aicon is truly autonomous with Level 5 tech and all the futuristic connectivity features. It’s powered by motors on each wheel producing 350bhp with a range of 900km and quick charging.
The Elaine is based on the E-Tron Sportback concept. It is classified as a level four autonomous, loaded with the traffic jam pilot system. While the E-Tron Sportback is slated to go into production in 2019, there is no word about the Elaine’s fate.
The X7 IPerformance Concept showcases BMW’s new flagship SUV. The X7 will be revealed next year based on the Frankfurt concept. The show car was powered by a turbocharged petrol engine coupled with a plug-in hybrid system. In typical BMW Concept fashion, the X7 Concept has large kidney grille, sleek lights and lots of chrome coupled with a minimalistic interior.
Mini announced that an all-electric Mini is arriving as early as next year. At the Frankfurt show, the Mini Electric Concept showcased the new step in the British carmaker’s design and powertrain evolution. The concept was powered by lithium-ion battery. Still in early stages of development, no other details have been divulged yet. The showcar was unmistakably Mini, but with a lot of futuristic touches.
Smart has revealed its inclinations to participate in the autonomous EV race with its new EQ for Two micro car. Smart will use the EQ moniker. The peppy little car is straight out of a future-based sci-fi movie. The two-seater is loaded with screens, transparent bodyshell and autonomous driving tech. The interior too is futuristic with massive screens and connectivity features.
Volkswagen looks pretty serious about its electrification plan. The German giant showcased the ID Crozz at the Shanghai Motor Show. Now, a second iteration of the same concept took the stage at Frankfurt, inching closer to its production form. The production-spec ID Crozz is a glimpse of what we can expect from Volkswagen in the future.
The resurrected German carmaker, Borgward, marked the return of its Isabella moniker with an all-electric four-door design concept. The design study was on display at the Frankfurt stage. The Chinese-owned brand’s first halo product would take cues from this futuristic concept. The Isabella Concept is truly futuristic and a gorgeous looking vehicle.
