Automotive media and automakers from around the world will descend on Frankfurt, Germany, September 10 and 11 to kick off the beginning of the auto show season.

The Frankfurt show, which alternates annually with a similar event in Paris, is generally the biggest show of the year for European automakers. Almost literally in General Motors’ Opel unit’s back yard, the event is also essentially home turf for Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz; each of those German brands occupies a large swath of the Frankfurt Messe grounds on the west side of the city.

But while German brands strut their stuff in Frankfurt, it’s still a big show for other European, Asian and American automakers. For instance, Chevrolet is dropping the top – literally – on its 2014 Camaro Convertible in Frankfurt prior to any show in the U.S.

Join us on September 10 and 11 for our live coverage of the Frankfurt show. In the meantime, here’s what you can expect:

Frankfurt Motor Show 2013 – Big Debuts

• Audi Sport quattro concept – Audi has been teasing us for years with a revived coupe… will it ever make production?
• BMW i8 - BMW’s new eco-friendly line’s stylish flagship is finally here… and it looks like a concept car, even though it’s headed to showrooms.
• Infiniti Q30 concept – Infiniti is finally ready to get serious about Europe with its new premium compact hatchback.
• Jaguar C-X17 – A close-to-production concept that previews Jaguar’s first-ever crossover.
• Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse - Who isn’t interested in a road-going Lamborghini race car? 
• Lexus LF-NX concept - One of the most outlandish concepts ever to come from Lexus, the LF-NX could preview its new small crossover.
• Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG 4Matic - Mercedes-Benz’s flagship sedan has officially been given the AMG treatment.
• Opel Monza concept - Opel hasn’t had a lot to be excited about over the last few years, but the new Monza concept shows that there’s plenty of life left in GM’s Euro subsidiary.
• Porsche 918 Spyder – After a brief appearance in Pebble Beach, Porsche’s gasoline-electric 918 Spyder will formally bow in Frankfurt.
• Volvo Concept Coupe - Designed to channel Volvo’s iconic P1800, the Concept Coupe shows off the Swedish brand’s new design direction.

Production Debuts

 

• 2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta
• ​2015 Audi A3 Convertible
• ​2015 Audi A8 and S8
• 2014 Audi TTS Competition
• 2014 Bentley Continental GT V8 S
• 2015 BMW 5-Series
• 2014 BMW X5 M50d
• 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
• 2014 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso
• 2014 Dacia Duster
• 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale
• 2014 Fiat Abarth 595 50 Anniversario
• Ford’s Vignale sub-brand
• 2014 Honda Civic Tourer
• ​2015 Hyundai i10
• 2014 Land Rover Discovery
• 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Hybrid
• 2015 Land Rover Range Rover LWB
• ​2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
• 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe
• 2015 Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-In Hybrid
• 2015 Nissan Rogue
• 2014 Opel Insignia Country Tourer
• 2014 Opel Insignia OPC
• 2014 Porsche Panamera Diesel
• 2015 Peugeot 208 HYbrid FE
• 2014 Peugeot 3008
• 2014 Peugeot 5008
• 2014 Renault Twizy Cargo
• 2014 Renault Megane
• 2015 SEAT Leon ST
• 2014 Skoda Rapid Spaceback
• Volkswagen e-Golf
• 2015 Volkswagen Golf R

Concept Car Debuts

• BMW X5 eDrive
• Citroen Cactus
• Citroen DS3 Cabrio Racing
• Ford S-MAX
• Kia Niro
• Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG Racing 
• MINI Vision
• Peugeot 308 R
• Renault concept
• smart fourjoy
• ​Suzuki iV-4
• ​Toyota FCV-R
• ​Toyota Hybrid R

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Billionaire, prepare to weep – Bugatti has reportedly scrapped plans for a production of its Galibier sedan.

The Galibier has been with us for a few years now in concept form, but the super sedan has failed to gain the approval of Bugatti brass. Part of that is down to the car’s not-quite-right interior and performance, while changes in leadership – Bugatti has had three CEOs in as many years – has also prevented the Galibier from moving forward.

Wolfgang Schreiber, Bugatti’s current CEO and the man responsible for the Veyron, recently said in an interview with Motor Trend that he doesn’t believe there is enough room in the Bugatti portfolio for a super sports car and a super sedan. Moreover, Schreiber’s attachment to the Veyron project has him pining for another supercar rather than a four door that was designed under someone else’s watch.

Had the Galibier given the green light, it would have out-classed luxury vehicles like the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

The news isn’t all bad for wealthy playboys, however, as it sounds as if Schreiber is keen for a second-generation of the Veyron. It remains to be seen how far along that project might be, but a car potentially better than the original Veyron has our interests piqued.

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Mercedes-Benz has published a teaser sketch of its upcoming S-Class Coupe on the company’s Facebook page.  The S-Class Coupe will make its world debut at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show.�

Replacing the CL-Class in Mercedes’ lineup, the S-Class Coupe will be a more stylish and evocative version of the S-Class sedan that recently bowed at a private event in Germany.

The S-Class Coupe will also eventually spawn a four-seat S-Class Cabriolet, which will complement the more sport-oriented SL-Class roadster at the top of Mercedes’ lineup. A new Porsche 911-rivaling sports car is also due from Mercedes soon.

The S-Class Coupe nameplate hasn’t been a part of Mercedes’ lineup since the mid-1990s, when the automaker introduced the CL-Class nameplate in an effort to differentiate the two models. However, as the market has gradually shifted away from ultra-premium coupes in most regions, Mercedes thinks that a tie-in with its vaunted sedan’s name will help spur an increase in sales.

Not much is known about the S-Class Coupe yet, but its powertrain choices should mostly mirror those of the sedan – at least in terms of gas-only variants. A hybrid and a diesel version of the S-Class Coupe are almost certainly out of the question for North America.

Stay tuned.<![CDATA[
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With customer deliveries just around the corner, McLaren has released one last video highlighting the development of its P1 supercar. The latest clip features the P1 undergoing hot weather testing on the west coast of the United States.

McLaren is billing the P1 as the “best driver’s car on road and track”, and in order to uphold the former the British automaker put the supercar through its paces in the scotching heat of Arizona, California and Nevada. Temperatures during the P1′s testing climbed past the 126 degree mark.

Having survived its on-road testing in triple-digit heat, McLaren also tested the P1 on track with those kind of temperatures. The supercar passed all tests with flying covers, clearing it for the first customer deliveries within the coming weeks.

The P1 program is the culmination of McLaren’s 50^th anniversary, which is taking place this month. The P1 is described as “everything the company has ever done”, with the automaker aiming to best Ferrari’s latest LaFerrari supercar.

McLaren will build just 375 examples of the P1 with each expected to carry a price tag north of $1,000,000.

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Maserati will unveil a new Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept car at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The stylish concept will make the transition to a production model for the 2014 model year.

Based on Maserati’s all-new Quattroporte, the Ermenegildo Zegna treatment gives the sedan and added dose of style and flair. The exterior of the concept is highlighted by a unique paint finish that “simulates the fluidity and purity of metal.” That effect is achieved through the use of a gloss black primer and the use of ultra-fine aluminium pigments.

The interior of the Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept is finished in warm colors like moka and greige and is said to be influenced by Zegna’s latest men’s fashion collections. Improvements include soft-leather seats, door panels and headliner, as well as a velvet-like fabric used for accents. Despite its delicate look, Maserati says the materials used in the car’s cabin will live up to everyday use.

Maserati says a model inspired by the concept will launch sometime in 2014.

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Toyota has announced two separate recalls covering 235,000 vehicles from the 2006-2011 model years.

The first recall covers 2006-2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrids and 2006-2008 Lexus RX 400h vehicles. In all, the recall covers approximately 133,000 hybrid SUVs.

Toyota issued the recall after it discovered that “transistors within the hybrid system’s inverter assembly can experience heat damage due to variations in characteristics of the transistors built in parallel circuits.” If that fault occurs, it could prompt the vehicle to go into “limp home mode” or shut off the vehicle completely.

The second recall involves 102,000 Lexus IS 350, IS 350C and GS 350 vehicles from the 2006-2011 model years. Toyota says the bolts used to secure the variable valve timing control device used on those vehicle can become loose, which could cause the engine to stall out. Toyota says the phenomenon is usually preceded by an abnormal noise just after start-up.

It remains unknown if any accidents or injuries have been linked to the recalls. Toyota also failed to release timing for either recall.

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