Motoring

5 cars to look out for at the 67th Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) 2017

From Ferrari’s 70th anniversary special to Bentley’s ambitious new offering, here are some of the cars that are set to spark the most fanfare at this year’s Frankfurt motor show.

Sep 12, 2017 | By Pameyla Cambe

Itā€™s that time of the year again. Some of the worldā€™s biggest carmakers gather to show off their latest accomplishments and automotive innovations at the International Motor Show (IAA) at Frankfurt, Germany. From September 14 to 24, the annual auto industry show will host bigwigs like Ferrari and Bentley, as well as homegrown brands such as Porsche, Volkswagen and Audi.

The 67th editionĀ of the IAA will also beĀ shining a spotlight on cleaner cars of the future, following the “dieselgate” scandalĀ at last year’s show. In response to the criticism surrounding harmful emissions from diesel and petrol engines, automakers around the world have been shifting their focus to electric and automated vehicles, many of which will be unveiled at the IAA.

Nevertheless, theĀ trade show will still feature good old automobiles that meet all the requirements of a traditionalist:Ā excellent craftsmanship, ingenious functionality and beautiful design. Here is a round-up of cars to look out for atĀ one of the industry’s biggest events of the year.

Ferrari Portofino

FerrariĀ will be celebratingĀ its 70th year anniversary with a bang thatĀ comes in the form of the Ferrari Portofino. The 2+2 convertible, which succeeds the longtime fan favourite Ferrari California, boasts a twin-turbo V8 engine capable of unleashing an impressive 600hp. According to the Italian carmaker, theĀ Ferrari Portofino is also able to sprintĀ from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds. With its retractable hardtop and gorgeous Rosso Portofino coat, the Ferrari Portofino will undeniably be one of the most powerful ā€” and stylish ā€” supercars on display.

Bentley Continental GT

You know what they say: the third time’s the charm. And itĀ certainly is for Bentley’s third-generation Continental GT, the latestĀ incarnation of the British brand’s Grand Tourer. The all-new Continental GT has been revamped with a heavily revised 12-cylinder engine that outputs an impressive 626bhp. With the makeover, the carĀ can now go from 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds, and accelerateĀ to a 333km/h (207mph) top speed.Ā The successor toĀ Bentley’s most popular car also boasts sleeker exterior lines and a range of cutting-edge driver aids, which will no doubtĀ be a source of fascination for visitors later this week.

Porsche Cayenne

One of the major contenders from Germany itself isĀ Porsche, whichĀ will be unveiling its third-generation CayenneĀ SUV. For a while, fans had only a rendering of the new car to go by. However, those who make theĀ trip to Frankfurt will get to seeĀ for themselves exactly what Porsche has in store for them: an impressive Cayenne that is now longer and wider, yet lower and lighter. The SUV will also feature a range of technologies from its seminal 911, including rear-wheel steering to boost handling and poise ā€” even off the road.

Audi A8

Guests at theĀ biennial Frankfurt show will get to say hello to Audi’s all-new flagship vehicle: the A8 luxury sedan. The A8 has already been at the vanguard of motoring technology for some time now. The new model that was unveiledĀ to the international press back in July, however, promises to be the first production car with a Level 3 autonomy. The all-round high-tech beast will be premiered alongside its sportier little brother, the A7 four-door coupĆ©.

BMW M5

Besides a range of SUVs and other concepts, BMW will also finally reveal itsĀ new M5 super sedan. Set to be one of the highlights for this year’s show, the 600bhp supersaloon is the company’s first vehicleĀ to come with all-wheel-drive as a standard. The new M5 also breaks a previously long-held tradition ofĀ BMW’s with itsĀ 190mph top speed. That puts the carĀ miles ahead of the company’s past production cars, which wereĀ electronically restricted to 155mph.


 
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