European NewsAll News
Browse by News Category
Frankfurt 2009: 50th Birthday MINI Mayfair and MINI Camden
MINI is celebrating its 50th birthday with the release of two special edition models. The MINI 50 Mayfair and MINI 50 Camden were announced at the MINI United Festival but they made their public debuts at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The Mayfair comes in the “Hot Chocolate Metallic” paintwork available on the Clubman and Convertible….
Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen L1 Concept Gets 170 MPG, Production Planned for 2013
As Germany’s largest automaker, Volkswagen had big news at the Frankfurt Auto Show today with numerous new models that boast impressive fuel-economy. But even the BlueMotion Polo has nothing on the fuel-economy of the L1 Concept, a tiny two seater that uses just 1.38 liters of diesel per 100 km – that’s 170 mpg. And…
Frankfurt 2009: GranCabrio Completes Maserati’s Three-Pronged Attack
Maserati debuted its first ever four-seater convertible, the GranCabrio at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The GranCabrio joins the Quattroporte sedan and the GranTurismo coupe in Maserati’s product line-up, giving the company what it calls the three prongs of the Trident. The GranCabrio will be powered by the company’s top-level 4.7-liter V8, making 433hp. This seems…
Frankfurt 2009: Lotus returning to Formula One
Lotus is returning to Formula One racing with a team run by the Malaysian government and a group of Malaysian investors. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile selected the Lotus F1 Team to replace the withdrawing BMW team in the 2010 season. Lotus will be the 13th team, restoring the brand as an F1 constructor for…
Frankfurt 2009: Audi R8 Spyder World Premiere
At long last, its here; Audi’s R8 Spyder. With rumors of the car emerging almost simultaneously with the launch of the original V8-powered R8, it’s been a long time coming. Powered by the Lamborghini sourced 5.2-liter V10, the Spyder makes 525hp, allowing it to hit 62 mph in 4.1 seconds and blast on to a…
Frankfurt 2009: First Live Shots of 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo
For 2010 the Porsche 911 Turbo gets a long list of improvements including an all-new, larger 3.8-liter engine. Possibly more important, however, is the fact that the clumsy bush-buttons have been replaced with paddle shifters with the addition of Porsche’s impressive 7-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission. As for that engine, it’s the first entirely new one…
Frankfurt 2009: Ferrari Unveils 458 Italia
Ferrari introduced the 458 Italia, the F430 replacement, at the Frankfurt Auto Show today. Appearing on the company’s stand were two models, one in a traditional Rosso Corsa and the other in Giallo Modena Tristrato (pictured above). Using an aluminum chassis and plenty of other light weight metals and materials the 458 Italia weighs an…
Frankfurt 2009: Lamborghini Reventón Roadster World Premiere
Unveiled in a stunning light-matte-gray color called Reventón Grey, Lamborghini drew back the covers on Reventón Roadster at the Frankfurt Auto Show today. With just 15 models scheduled to be built Lamborghini’s pre-unveiling video reminded those in attendance that while your chances of climbing Mount Everest at 2,000,000 to 1 and your chance of having…
Frankfurt 2009: Audi E-Tron Electric R8 is For Real
Comments Off on Frankfurt 2009: Audi E-Tron Electric R8 is For Real
After plenty of rumors, denials and leaked images that looked like a photoshop hack job, Audi has officially taken the wraps off the E-Tron Concept, an electric R8… of sorts. And if you still find it all hard to believe, it might take some convincing to accept that the car’s power output numbers are for…
Frankfurt 2009: Volkswagen Golf R World Premiere
Sure Volkswagen’s main stage was reserved for environmentally friendly BlueMotion diesels, but is there was no car on the German automakers stand that deserves the spotlight like the 265hp Golf R. We have to admit being a little disappointed that the car won’t get the same turbo five-cylinder as found in the TT-RS, but sharing…
Frankfurt 2009: Gullwing Mercedes SLS AMG World Premiere
Mercedes introduced the SLS AMG supercar, the spiritual successor to the legendary 300SL Gullwing, at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 Formula One World Champion, was on hand for the SLS AMG’s premiere, hopping into the supercar’s driver seat as the press mobbed him. Powered by the same 6.2-liter V8 engine found in…
Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Porsche GT3 RS, First Live Photos
Porsche has just unveiled the 2010 GT3 RS model at the Frankfurt Auto Show, with more power, a wider front track, a reduced curb weight and increased downforce. When combined the GT3 RS gets even better and continues to be a motorsports-derived masterpiece. Thanks to an increased displacement from 3.6 to 3.8-liters, the new engine…
Frankfurt 2009: BMW Officially Unveils X1 Crossover
BMW has just unveiled its smallest SUV, the X1, and now for the first time we know what model North America will get. AutoGuide was invited to test drive an X1 prototype several months back and while we were impressed, the 23d diesel model was not headed for our shores. What we will get will…
Frankfurt 2009: First Live Photos of the MINI Roadster
MINI unveiled its new Roadster model alongside the the Coupe at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Sharing the same platform as the Coupe, the MINI Roadster is nearly identical to its sibling from the waist down. Above the waistline, the Roadster features a manually opening convertible roof. Like the MINI Coupe, the MINI Roadster’s windshield slopes…
Frankfurt 2009: Audi R8 Spyder Details and Photos Released
Just prior to its debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show later today, Audi has release a full gallery of images of the drop-top R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI. Powered by the Lamborghini sourced 5.2-liter V10, the Spyder makes 525hp, allowing it to hit 62 mph in 4.1 seconds and blast on to a top speed of…
Official: Lamborghini Confirms Reventón Roadster for Frankfurt With 670 Horsepower
Lamborghini has just confirmed that the Reventon Roadster will debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show tomorrow, but more importantly, it will come with the LP670 SV’s high-output 670hp engine. With full power at 8000 rpm, torque of 487 ft-lbs is available as of 6000 rm. When combined with Lamborghini’s all-wheel drive system the car blasts…
Frankfurt Preview: BMW 320d Efficient Dynamics gets 57.4 mpg
BMW is unveiling a high-mileage Efficient Dynamics Edition 320d sedan at the Frankfurt Auto Show with a claimed fuel mileage of 57.36 mpg with CO2 emissions rating of 109 g/km. Helping the 320d reach such figures are the fitted wheels and a lowered body, reducing the drag coefficient to 0.26. Parasitic losses are reduced by…
Frankfurt Preview: Golf R Revealed With 265hp and All-Wheel Drive
Forget the GTI or R32, Volkswagen has just released the Golf R, a high-performance, turbocharged, all-wheel drive hot hatch. We have to admit being a little disappointed that the car won’t get the same turbo five-cylinder as found in the TT-RS, but sharing the powerplant with the TT-S is nothing to scoff at. Instead of…
Official: Mercedes Confirms Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid for Frankfurt Debut
After information and photos of Mercedes’ plug-in hybrid S-Class emerged last week, Mercedes has now officially confirmed the car will debut tomorrow (September 15th) at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Better yet, Mercedes R&D boss Dr. Thomas Weber says the technology is likely to debut in production form in the next generation S-Class. “Although it will…
Breaking: Bugatti Galibier 16C Concept Photos Leaked
So much for private unveilings. Just a day after Bugatti displayed its next supercar at an exclusive event in Molsheim, France, pictures of the super-sedan have wound up online. Previously thought to be named the Bordeaux, the car’s actual name is Galibier – which refers to a difficult stretch of road in the Alps that…
Leaked: Audi R8 E-Tron Electric Car Concept Images Sneak Out Ahead of Frankfurt Debut
Audi has been teasing the world with rumors of an electric car debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show, but executives have gone so far as to flatly deny the existence of an electric R8. Now the folks over at WorldCarFans have received a selection of renderings for an R8 called the E-Tron. (Apparently Tron is…
Frankfurt Preview: Wiesmann Teases 507-hp MF5 Roadster
A day prior to the MF5 Roadster’s unveiling at the Frankfurt Auto Show, bespoke German automaker Wiesmann has released a single teaser image of the powerful sports car. Much like the MF5 coupe, the Roadster is powered by the same 5.0-liter V10 engine found under the hood of the BMW M5 and M6. Making 507hp,…
Frankfurt Preview: Bentley to Officially Debut Mulsanne Flagship
Technically speaking, Bentley already unveiled its Arnage successor at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, but the regal British automaker was tight-lipped about any specifics. Details of the new Mulsanne will be unveiled tomorrow (September 15th) at the Frankfurt Auto Show, where we expect to learn about the impressive fuel-economy improvements Bentley has made with this…
Frankfurt Preview: Bentley Continental GT Series 51
Along with the official debut of the highly-anticipated Mulsanne flagship, Bentley will also unveil a new “Continental Series 51” limited edition version of the GT and GTC at the Frankfurt Auto Show. “The Series 51 Continental models represent Bentley exterior and interior styling at its most vibrant and will enable customers to order ‘off the…
