Yahoo Finance What to watch for at Frankfurt motor show 2019: From Land Rover's new defender to a stunning hybrid hypercar
One of the biggest benchmark events for the car industry — Frankfurt motor show — will see thousands of visitors descend on the German city next week, which opens to the public on 12 September.
The atmosphere may be more subdued this year, given the drop in exhibitors, and the head-winds that are blowing over the industry, thanks to trade wars and faltering car sales.
While environmental demos and blockades will likely put a damper on things outside the front gates, inside there will be a bunch of new arrivals to get excited about, from hybrid hypercars to new electric runarounds. Here are a few of the most anticipated reveals coming up on 12 September.
READ MORE: Climate protests and economic clouds force changes at Frankfurt motor show
Land Rover’s new Defender
Land Rover fans have something to get excited about, as the wait for the new Defender ends. The Defender 2020 makes its world premiere at the show on 10 September, including one that is being driven 4,000 miles from Kazakhstan to Frankfurt to prove its ruggedness.
The big reveal will be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube.
Volkswagen’s big brand re-launch
As well as premiering its new brand design and logo, the German car giant is using the show to pulls the wraps off the first model in the all-electric ID series, built on its new modular electric platform.
Volkswagen (VOW.DE) is comparing the world premiere of the ID.3 electric car to the iconic Beetle and the Golf in terms of how it will shake up the motor world.
When it arrives — which might not be before the middle of next year—it will be available in three different battery sizes, and deliver driving ranges of between 330km (205 miles) and 550km.
VW says the ID.3 will start at €30,000 (£27,000). The first special edition of the car is limited to a run of only 30,000 units.
Hyundai’s new electric concept
The South Korean car company is bringing its electric prototype, the Hyundai 45, to the show—thus named to mark the 45th anniversary of the 1975 Hyundai Pony – the first one to sport the Hyundai badge and its first mass-produced hatchback.
The company has teased a rear picture, and it looks adorably angular and retro—but no technical details yet.
Hyundai will also present the new Hyundai i10 and an electric race car concept
Hybrid hypercar
Lamborghini released a sketch of its show-stopping V12 hybrid this week, called the Sián (which means “flash” or “lighting” in Bolognese dialect).
The Italian supercar brand said the Sián would be the fastest Lamborghini of all time, with a V12 engine, and a supercapacitor — an energy storage system, that is lighter than lithium-ion batteries— producing a combined 819 horsepower (602 kW), and scorching from 0-100 km/h (0-62mph)in under 2.8 seconds with a top speed of over 350 km/h.
Only 63 of them will be built, and they’re all spoken for, sorry.
The blackest car of all time
BMW is going to stun with a new X6 SUV in Vantablack that looks almost two-dimensional. Vantablack, created by Surrey NanoSystems in England, is a type of paint absorb more that 99% of visible light, and hasn’t been used on a car before — it gets used on space telescopes and military equipment.
"We turned down numerous requests from various automobile manufacturers in the past," NanoSystems founder Ben Jensen said in a statement, adding that he changed his mind after seeing the new X6.
Don’t get too excited though, the X6 Vantablack is not planned for production.
Electric Minis and Corsas
In the category of sensible cars that will definitely be produced, guests can take a spin past the Mini and Opel spaces.
BMW-owned Mini already presented the all-electric MINI Cooper SE in the UK earlier this year, but this is its public premier ahead of production start in November. There will also be a special 60th anniversary edition of the 3-door Mini on the stand this year.
READ MORE: BMW rolls out its first electric Mini in the UK
The Vauxhall (Opel in Europe) Corsa, one of the UK’s favourite hatches, will be at the show in both petrol and a fully electric versions—the Corsa-e. Opel is also bringing a 130hp Corsa-e Rally to spice things up too.
