The press days of the IAA 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show are finally over, and the car brands were out in force. Here you’ll find all the details, including IAA 2017 news, dates, schedule – and cars, of course.
The Internationale Automobil-Austellung – commonly known as the Frankfurt Motor Show – is always an exciting time for car fans, and we’ve seen some seriously cool vehicles from some of the world’s biggest automakers, including BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz.
Read on for all the details, and be sure to check out our best concept cars round-up from the show too.
IAA 2017 News: The latest news, announcements and cars from the Frankfurt Motor Show
Audi at IAA 2017
Audi used the IAA 2017 to show off a brand new version of the Audi R8 sports cars, duly dubbed the Audi R8 V10 RWS.
Here’s the new rear-wheel drive variant of the Audi R8 (R8 V10 RWS) at #IAA2017. Just 999 to be made, costs £110k, 0-100kmh in 3.7 secs pic.twitter.com/7vHCeHUumj
— Sean Keach (@SeanKeach) September 12, 2017
As the name suggests, it’s got a powerful V10 engine and operates on a rear-wheel drive system – unique to this model alone. It’s 50kg lighter than its predecessor, starts at £110,000, and will only be available to 999 customers globally.
The German carmaker also showed off its vision for the future of driving in the form of the Audi Aicon. A somewhat wacky concept car, the Aicon has no pedals or steering wheel, instead carting round passengers in fully autonomous fashion.
Audi hopes that one day, rich people will sit in the back of the Aicon and enjoy luxury comforts, like hi-res movies and chairs that can move around the back of your car. Fancy, eh?
Some more shots of the driverless Aicon concept by @Audi at #IAA2017 pic.twitter.com/4yQ810fEg9
— Sean Keach (@SeanKeach) September 12, 2017
Bentley at IAA 2017
Bentley used the IAA 2017 motor show to finally debut its all-new Bentley Continental GT. The third-generation grand tourer replaces the old model, which ran/runs from 2011 to 2018.
We’ve not got pricing yet, but we’re expecting the new car to arrive on driveways in the UK in the first quarter of 2018.
The new Bentley Continental GT, coming to huge driveways in leafy Surrey circa Q1 2018 #IAA2017 pic.twitter.com/Q5qbADyTmQ
— Sean Keach (@SeanKeach) September 12, 2017
In a statement, Bentley CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer described the car as a “defining moment” for Bentley Motors. It’s easy to see why; the meaty tourer can output an impressive 626bhp, and promises a 0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds, as well as a top speed of 207mph.
BMW at IAA 2017
BMW managed to secure plenty of hype around its new concept car, the BMW i Vision Dynamics.
Formally debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the BMW i Vision Dynamics is an all-electric vehicle that sits between the existing BMW i3 and BMW i8.
It boasts a range of 600km (373 miles), manages a nippy top speed of over 200kmh (120mph), and can accelerate from zero to 100kmh (62mph) in just four seconds. Unfortunately, there’s no word on when (or even if) this car will become a production model, so exercise patience for now.
Bugatti at IAA 2017
The Bugatti stand was drawing plenty of attention at the Frankfurt Motor Show, largely on account of the Bugatti Chiron stationed there.
If you missed the hype, here’s the deal: this vehicle set the production car record for accelerating from zero right up to 249mph (400kmh) and then back to zero again. It managed that impressive feat in just 42 seconds, which is probably quicker than the time it took me to write these two paragraphs.
The Bugatti Chiron, which set the production car record for 0-249mph (400kmh) acceleration (and back to zero, too) – 42 seconds, yeah ? pic.twitter.com/oJ1KSYYLsJ
— Sean Keach (@SeanKeach) September 12, 2017
Disney at IAA 2017
“What?!” I hear you cry, “why is Disney there?” It’s a fair question, because Disney doesn’t even make cars. But it does make Cars.
And it turns out that the Cars it does make, are made from cars themselves. Car-ception, if you will:
In the future, all cars will be made from…cars #IAA2017 pic.twitter.com/PMZcHHOJjl
— Sean Keach (@SeanKeach) September 12, 2017
Jaguar at IAA 2017
Jaguar’s big announcement at IAA 2017 was the Jaguar eTrophy, a new all-electric race series to support the core FIA Formula E championship. Described as the “world’s first international championship for production-based electric cars”, the eTrophy series is set to begin in late 2018.
Alongside this announcement, Jaguar also revealed that it would be creating its own race car, based on the design of the upcoming electric Jaguar I-Pace. The modified motor will be dubbed Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy, and is being developed by Jaguar’s secretive Special Vehicle Operations unit in the UK.
Land Rover at IAA 2017
The Land Rover Discovery SVX is the headline news from Land Rover at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
Credit: Jaguar Land Rover
It’s described as the “pinnacle of the Discovery family”, and is basically the most extreme version of a Land Rover we’ve ever seen. With a huge 525hp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol powertrain, gargantuan 815mm all-terrain tyres, and a ground clearance that trumps even the new Land Rover Discovery 2017, this is a force to be reckoned with.
Better still, it was developed by the Special Vehicle Operations team that brought us the 200mph Jaguar F-Type SVR, and the same minds who are developing the electric Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy race car (also announced at IAA 2017).
New Land Rover Discovery SVX built by Jag’s Special Vehicle Operations team. 525hp 5L V8 petrol engine, 815mm all-terrain tyres ? #IAA2017 pic.twitter.com/0d1EhD95jk
— Sean Keach (@SeanKeach) September 12, 2017
Porsche at IAA 2017
Anyone swinging by the Porsche stand at this year’s Frankfurt motor show will be able to catch a glimpse of the new 680hp Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Executive, which is seriously long.
It can manage zero to 100kmh (62mph) in just 3.5 seconds, and boasts a racy top speed of 310kmh (192mph). Oh, and it looks like this:
The 680hp Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Executive is super long. I need a bigger driveway – and several raises #IAA2017 pic.twitter.com/1xIFOmxNmc
— Sean Keach (@SeanKeach) September 12, 2017
Qualcomm at IAA 2017
US tech giant Qualcomm wooed Frankfurt Motor Show attendees with an impressive presentation on DEVC – that’s dynamic electric vehicle charging, to you and I.
It’s basically a dynamic version of the existing Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging (WEVC) system, which uses pads to wirelessly charge electric cars.
With DEVC, the pads are embedded beneath road surfaces and energised by power stations on the roadside. This means it’s possible to charge an electric car while you drive along the road, without ever having to plug in your car. It could also be a major boon to taxi ranks and bus stops in UK cities.
Qualcomm has developed a wireless system that lets the road charge your electric car as you drive #DEVC #IAA2017 @Qualcomm_UK pic.twitter.com/gPWBXeaQuP
— Sean Keach (@SeanKeach) September 13, 2017
Sadly, it’s just a concept for now, but a Qualcomm spokesperson told Trusted Reviews that we could see such technology rolled out in as few as 10 to 15 years.
Renault at IAA 2017
Renault’s big launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show was the new Mégane RS, which is a new version of the standard Mégane, albeit with boosted performance.
This fierce hot hatch rocks four-wheel steering, an all-new 280hp engine with 390Nm of torque, and an 11% efficiency improvement compared to the previous generation.
Here’s a peek:
The new Renault Megane RS is yet more evidence that Renault is smashing design across all models #IAA2017 pic.twitter.com/ypZcsDOtfs
— Sean Keach (@SeanKeach) September 14, 2017
The real eye-grabber at Renault’s IAA 2017 stand, however, was the Renault Symbioz concept. It’s supposed to showcase Renault’s vision of the car of the future, and looks undeniably space-age.
The car, which is what Renault reckons vehicles might look like in 2030, is fully electric and autonomous, and connected to the environment around it. It won’t carry drivers, of course, but “travellers” who will “enjoy a cabin that feels like home”.
Renault’s Symbioz concept looks like something the Pope will ride around in circa 2055 #IAA2017 pic.twitter.com/PVF9MikTXL
— Sean Keach (@SeanKeach) September 14, 2017
Roborace at IAA 2017
In a surprise announcement, the long-awaited Roborace autonomous motorsport championship announced Lucas di Grassi as its CEO.
The Brazilian racer is a world champion of electric car race series Formula E, thanks to a first-place finish in the third (and most recent) season of the series. He’s also spent a year advising Roborace, so he’s not entirely new to the company.
NEWS: @FIAformulaE Champion @LucasdiGrassi joins Roborace as CEO! Watch our exclusive video with him on the future of Roborace #WelcomeLucas pic.twitter.com/UqML8Jxkge
— Roborace (@roborace) September 13, 2017
In a statement, di Grassi said: “We want to take Roborace where motorsport cannot go, focusing the platform on road-relevant autonomous technology. The future of mobility is autonomous, that’s an industry consensus now.”
He continued: “In the same way, I believe that motorsport is about the driver, who is the best human being behind the wheel. I want to develop the Roborace series to be complimentary to traditional motorsport, and not to replace it.”
Skoda at IAA 2017
Following a brief showing in Shanghai earlier this year, the all-electric Skoda Vision E concept made a proper European debut at Frankfurt’s motor show.
The design has been refined a little since Shanghai, but it’s still similarly space-age – especially on the inside.
Check it out:
The all-electric Skoda Vision E concept gets a revised look at #IAA2017, but not convinced by the bogey yellow paintjob pic.twitter.com/lRw9P13yP7
— Sean Keach (@SeanKeach) September 12, 2017
Related: New Audi A8 2017
IAA 2017 Dates: When is the Frankfurt Motor Show?
The IAA 2017 is officially held between September 14 and September 24 this year, but most of the announcements will had already happened by the time the show began proper.
That’s because the press days take place before the show actually opens, with major press conferences falling on September 12 and 13.
IAA 2017 Press Conference Schedule: All the key times
Here are the key press conferences from this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show:
Tuesday
- 08:30 – 09:15: BMW Group
- 08:50 – 09:05: Toyota
- 09:00: Lexus
- 09:10 – 09:25: Opel
- 09:30 – 09:45: Subaru
- 09:35 – 09:50: Mercedes-Benz
- 09:50 – 10:05: Renault
- 09:50 – 10:05: Smart
- 10:05 – 10:20: AMG
- 10:30 – 10:45: Volkswagen
- 10:45 – 11:00: Audi
- 11:15 – 11:30: Lamborghini
- 11:30 – 11:45: Porsche
- 11:45 – 12:00: Bentley
- 11:50 – 12:05: Jaguar
- 12:05 – 12:20: Land Rover
- 12:15 – 12:30: Seat
- 12:30 – 12:45: Bugatti
- 12:50 – 13:05: Disney
- 12:55 – 13:10: Hyundai
- 13:00 – 13:15: Suzuki
- 13:00 – 13:15: Maserati
- 13:15 – 13:30: Ferrari
- 13:20 – 13:35: Honda
- 13:40 – 13:55: Kia
- 14:20 – 14:35: SsangYong
- 16:00 – 16:15: BMW Motorsport
Wednesday
- 08:30 – 08:55: Michelin
- 13:05 – 13:30: Roborace
- 16:30 – 16:55: Segway
Related: Range Rover Velar
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