Frankfurt Auto Show goes green
Judging by the array of shiny cars on display at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the future is less about emissions and more about conservation.
The world’s largest manufacturers are keen to show off a slew of new battery-powered electrics and hybrids, which combine electric motors with internal combustion engines. However, they also come with uncertain sales and profit prospects. Both types of car cost more, and pure electrics can give consumers a fear of running out of power.
That fear is a reason why plug-in cars such as GM’s Volt and Nissan’s Leaf have struggled to win market share in the US after three years on sale. Petrol hybrids are a tough sell in Europe, where people can get good mileage from cheaper cars running on diesel.
Some of the vehicles being displayed are high performers in luxury price categories. Electric motors can supply quick acceleration, while high-end consumers are more able to pay.
BMW has the i8, a hybrid sports car, Audi has a hybrid concept of its Quattro model, Toyota’s souped-up concept version of its Yaris compact comes with three electric motors, and even Volkswagen, long sceptical of electric vehicles, is rolling out an electric version of its flagship Golf hatchback and another of its tiny Up! city car.
Professor of automotive economics at the University of Duisburg- Essen, Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, says that hybrid cars may help companies meet EU fleet average emissions standards, even if sales are modest. Electrics have limited sales prospects so long as diesels are cheaper. Dudenhoeffer says VW will be lucky to sell 20,000 e-Golfs but: “The signal is, we don’t want to sell this car... We just want to show we can do this,” he said.
The mood at the show will be the recession is over “and we survived”, says analyst Christoph Stuermer at IHS Automotive. Sales in the US are back to pre- recession levels and could reach 16 million this year. EU sales are headed for just under 12m this year — far below the 2007 level of 15.6m.
* BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car: Uses carbon fibre parts to achieve light weight — 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds.
* Volkswagen e-Golf: Electric car has range of 190km and costs €3.30 to drive 100km.
* BMW Concept X5 eDrive hybrid electric: A large, luxurious SUV that BMW says gets an average 62 miles per gallon.
* Peugeot 308: French car maker needs this model to be a winner.
* Ferrari 458 Speciale: 0-100km/h in just three seconds.
* Mercedes S500 plug-in hybrid: Flagship S-Class with more horsepower and luxury features.
* Opel Monza concept: This concept car should provide clues to future designs from brand.
* Audi Sport Quattro concept plug-in hybrid: A four-seat coupe with 700 horsepower. Top speed: 305km/h.
* Dacia Duster: This moderately priced SUV has been an unexpected big seller; 2014 version gets updated front end.
* Toyota Yaris Hybrid R concept: Uses three electric motors and a four-cylinder turbo-charged engine to generate over 400 horsepower.
