- The Frankfurt Motor Show kicked off this week and runs until September 22, serving as a showcase for the German auto industry.
- German automakers staged numerous debuts.
- Land Rover revealed its much-anticipated Defender SUV.
- Here are the coolest new cars and concepts.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
The Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA), colloquially known as the Frankfurt Motor Show, is held every other year and serves as a showcase for the German auto industry.
Media previews kicked off last week, with debuts from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, as well as other non-Teutonic car makers, including Jaguar Land Rover.
Electric vehicles both conceptual and practical populated the show floor. But much of the pre-show chatter was about the weakening of Germany's stalwart auto industry, amid a broader discussion about a downturn in Europe.
The Frankfurt Motor Show runs until September 22. Here are the coolest concepts and production vehicles:
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Audi showed its wild AI:TRAIL concept, an all-electric, autonomous off-roader that capitalizes on Audi's rally-racing heritage and the legendary quattro all-wheel-drive system. It has drones instead of headlights!
Audi showed its RS 6 Avant in Frankfurt. The high-performance wagon will have a hybrid V8 under the hood.
BMW unveiled its 3 Series Touring estate.
The BWM SUV party in Frankfurt also included the refreshed X1 ...
... And a the third-generation of the X6 "Sports Activity Coupé," as BMW prefers to label the fastback version of the X5 SUV.
The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupé, a sleek and powerful sedan from the Bavarians, was also in Frankfurt.
But BMW also revealed updates to the more modest, entry level 1 Series hatches.
The BMW Vision M NEXT is being touted by Bimmer as "a prototype version of the BMW driving experience of tomorrow." The concept showcases a hybrid-electric powertrain mustering 600 horsepower and notching a speculative 0-to-60 mph time of under three seconds.
The Concept 4 was divisive. "The high-standing grille gives the BMW Concept 4 its expressive face, a distinctive structure and decorative elements providing elaborate details," BMW declared. Not everyone agreed.
China's Byton showed its M-Byte Concept, yet another all-electric future contender.
Honda showed is Honda e, a compact electric city car.
Land Rover pulled off the cover of its much-anticipated new Defender, which replaces the beloved, rugged, boxy expedition vehicle that had been in the lineup since the 1980s.
The Lamborghini Sián uses a battery-less hybrid powertrain — it has a supercapacitor instead — to add 34 horsepower to the Aventador SVJ's 785hp V12. The hypercar debuted in the sheet metal at Frankfurt, giving us an idea of what might replace the Aventador as the brand's "big" Lambo.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel checked out the Mercedes EQS, the all-electric concept version the brand's flagship S-Class.
The Mercedes EQ Silver Arrow concept hit the show as a stylish all-electric homage to a car from the 1930s.
The Mercedes GLB 35 delighted the Frankfurt crowds. It's a compact crossover with a 306-horsepower, turbocharged four cylinder motor. Mercedes says it can dash to 60 mph in around 5 seconds.
Merc's EQV electric minivan has gone from concept at the Geneva auto show in early 2019 to production vehicle at Frankfurt. Range is estimated to be about 250 miles.
Porsche's hotly expected Taycan all-electric sedan was revealed at three different locations prior to Frankfurt, but Frankfurt attendees saw the innovative machine on the show floor. It should be the star of the Porsche booth.
But let's take nothing away from the new Porsche Macan Turbo, which looks stunning on paper, starting with a twin-turbo V6 that makes 434 horsepower in a small package.
Volkswagen was proud to show its new ID.3, calling it an electric-car for the masses.
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