German automakers dazzle at Frankfurt Motor Show

Ferrari also states that throttle responsiveness has been improved to a time of just 0.8 seconds, which the company says “essentially eliminates turbo lag”.

It is evident that the auto makers are trying hard to keep their independence from Google and Apple. Let’s hope to see this behemoth hit India sometime soon!

BMW will be unveiling its biggest sedan and smallest SUV, completely redesigned. The sedan has features such as gesture-control commands for its infotainment system and remote control directed self-parking.

The Frankfurt Motor Show has finally commenced and it is a huge electrifying event not to be missed. Mercedes-Benz will show off a new sporty convertible version of its S-class, the leading ride for executives.

The latest Fiat 500 makes its debut, although effectively an update of the current model, the brand claims to have made 1,800 changes although both the styling and engine changes are subtle.

While we are still clueless on the concepts that Volkswagen is planning to unveil, there is no doubt that the list includes the next-gen Phaeton and also the Audi A8.

Tesla will get competition in Frankfurt from various quarters, including Audi, which will preview its Q6 e-tron SUV at the show, an all-electric version of the SUV coupe the German company has slated for production in 2018.

This unusual marketing initiative kicks off the launch campaign for the new BMW 7 Series.

But the Brits will be flying the flag with some fabulous new cars, particularly at the high end of the market. There will be a number of SUV and CUV-crossover utility vehicle-launches in Frankfurt.

Toyota has chosen Frankfurt to lift the veil on the fourth generation of its flagship hybrid, Prius. It will be reopening this September to thousands of exhibitors and motor enthusiasts looking to catch a glimpse of the latest releases from major auto manufacturers.

The utility vehicle offering is also continuing to move upscale as luxury brands try to catch the wave of growth. Bentley already has pre-orders for 4,000 of them, according to IHS Automotive. The Maserati Ghibli-based Levante will compete with the likes of the Porsche Cayenne and newcomers Jaguar F-Pace and Bentley Bentayga.

Industry experts point out that the market penetration is still very low in China, so demand is likely to continue to grow in the medium term, even if at a less profitable rate for foreign makers.

The European market “is in better shape than expected”, said Carlos Tavares, head of PSA Peugeot Citroen, even if “we’re still a long way from the levels seen before 2007”.

“It’s just a question of how fast that will happen”, he said.