It’s the end of the beginning – the Frankfurt Motor Show, the first event of the auto show season, has drawn to a close.

 
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.

 

In case you’re just tuning in, check out our in-depth wrap-up of the show below.

Highlights

Audi Nanuk Quattro concept

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the show is Audi’s Nanuk Quattro concept, a high-performance, off-road-ready crossover-coupe packing a torquey turbodiesel V10. It’s ridiculous, outrageous, and we love it, even if it is essentially a repurposed Italdesign Giugiaro Parcour.

 
2015 BMW i8

The halo model for the multi-billion-dollar bet that is BMW’s electrified “i” sub-brand, the BMW i8 blends impressive efficiency – it’s capable of 94 mpg in European testing – with the ability to sprint from zero-to-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. That’s an impressive mix of talents, although the i8’s bandwidth is certainly reflected in its $136,000 pricetag.

 
Jaguar C-X17 concept

Even a decade ago, the notion of a Jaguar crossover would have been blasphemous, but now that even Maserati is plotting a luxury SUV, it’s simply a good business idea. Expect the production model to look much like the attractive – albeit somewhat derivative – C-X17 concept, to feature Jaguar-appropriate handling, and to leave the off-roading stuff to its Land Rover siblings.

 
Lexus LF-NX concept

Appearing like a cross between a Lamborghini Veneno, a Toyota RAV4 and an enraged cyborg, the LF-NX previews a sub-RX Lexus crossover that should arrive in showrooms in the near future. We just have one question – will the final product look even the slightest bit like this extraterrestrial show car?

 
2015 Porsche 918 Spyder

Like it or not, hybrid tech is the way of the future for supercars, and Porsche’s 918 Spyder is at the forefront of the movement along with the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1. A very different beast than its predecessor, the lighter, manual-transmission-only Carrera GT, the 918 uses its 4.6-liter V8, trio of electric motors and dual-clutch automatic to produce gaudy numbers: 887 horsepower, zero-to-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, and a record-setting Nurburgring lap time of 6 minutes 57 seconds.

Production Debuts

 

• 2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta
• 2014 Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo
• ​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 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse
• 2014 Land Rover Discovery
• 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Hybrid
• 2015 Land Rover Range Rover LWB
• ​2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
• 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG 4Matic
• 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

• Audi Sport quattro concept
• BMW X5 eDrive
• Citroen Cactus
• Citroen DS3 Cabrio Racing
• Ford S-MAX
• Infiniti Q30 concept
• Kia Niro
• Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG Racing 
• MINI Vision
• Opel Monza concept
• Peugeot 308 R
• Renault Initiale
• smart fourjoy
• ​Suzuki iV-4
• ​Toyota FCV-R
• ​Toyota Hybrid R
• Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan
• Volvo Concept Coupe

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The compact crossover segment is on fire in Europe despite the region’s ongoing auto sales slump, and Suzuki is looking to get in on the action by adding a new trucklet positioned between the Jimny and Grand Vitara. 

 
We’ll have to wait until 2015 to see the crossover in production form, but for now Suzuki is previewing the model with a concept dubbed the iV-4 – that’s “i” for individuality, “V” for vehicle and 4 for 4-wheel-drive.

 

Dimensionally similar to popular soft-roaders like the Opel Mokka and Nissan Juke, the iV-4 wears an aggressive front end and a rugged overall look. Elements like a roof-mounted laser sensor, illuminated grille and 20-inch wheels help the iV-4 stand out on Suzuki’s Frankfurt stand but won’t be ending up in showrooms.

 

The yet-unnamed production version of the iV-4 will ride on the same platform as the SX4 S-Cross that debuted in Geneva last March.  The two cars will share a range of gasoline- and diesel-burning four-cylinder engines, but the Juke-fighter will be positioned a little higher up and be highly customizable inside and out in order to appeal to a young and trendy target audience.  Extra technology inside will help justify its slightly higher price.

Suzuki has a history of unveiling close-to-production concepts, so the iV-4 likely provides a very good idea of what to expect from the Japanese firm’s upcoming small ‘ute. <![CDATA[
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Hyundai has lifted the veil off of the second-generation i10 supermini at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Longer, wider and lower than the outgoing model, the second-gen i10 was largely developed at Hyundai’s European headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany, in order to take on the Volkswagen up! and its SEA and Škoda-badged siblings.  An evolution of Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture design language gives the i10′s front end a friendly face while the back end is characterized by a gently sloped D-pillar and rounded tail lamps.  

Interior pictures are not available but Hyundai claims that the bigger dimensions have freed up a noticeable amount of passenger space.  The i10 boasts 8.8 cubic feet of trunk space with the rear seats left up, a 10-percent improvement over the first i10 and a respectable amount for a supermini.

In an effort to shake the i10′s Spartan image and move it up a notch on the market, Hyundai offers the new model with automatic climate control, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel and cruise control.

A full set of details about the 2014 Hyundai i10 will be published in the weeks leading up to its debut in Germany.  The Turkish-built supermini will go on sale in Europe early next year but it has not been earmarked for the United States due to its diminutive size.

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In lieu of presenting a true new model in Frankfurt, Fiat’s performance-focused Abarth has unveiled a 500-based limited-edition that celebrates the iconic 595′s 50th birthday.

Appropriately dubbed 595 50 Anniversario, the car wears a retro-inspired livery that includes matte white paint with red stripes near the bottom of the doors, a large scorpion emblem on the hood, chromed exterior mirrors and period-correct badging all around.  Xenon headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels mounted on low-profile tires come standard.  

Inside, the 595 offers red leather-upholstered bucket seats with white inserts and the 595 emblem embroidered into both front head restraints, shift paddles and a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel adorned by a vintage Abarth emblem.

The 595 50 Anniversario is powered by a 1.4-liter T-Jet turbocharged four-cylinder engine that sends 180 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of torque to the front wheels via Abarth’s Competizione gearbox.  Brembo disc brakes with floating rotors and four-piston calipers help keep the power in check.

Abarth’s latest limited-edition model will go on sale in Italy on September 15th, exactly 50 years after the original 595 was presented at the Turin Motor Show.  Just 299 examples of the car will be built.  <![CDATA[
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