2015 Frankfurt Motor Show: Supercars, SUVs and Electric Concepts Lead the Line-up
From the Bentley Bentayga SUV to Audi’s e-tron quattro concept and Ferrari’s 488 Spider, the 2015 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show delivered headline debuts across luxury, performance and electric segments.
The 2015 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show opened its doors with a wave of high-profile launches, led by the global debut of the Bentley Bentayga, Bentley’s first SUV and a model pitched as the world’s most luxurious 4x4. Alongside it, Rolls-Royce revealed the Dawn convertible, while Ferrari and Lamborghini each brought open-top versions of their latest mid-engined supercars.
Supercars and Luxury Convertibles
Ferrari’s 488 Spider arrived as the open version of the turbocharged 488 GTB, delivering 661bhp from its 3.9-litre V8. Lamborghini responded with the Huracán LP 610-4 Spyder, using a naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 and all-wheel drive. Rolls-Royce’s Dawn took the Wraith coupé’s underpinnings and transformed them into a four-seat convertible aimed at the very top of the market.
Bentley’s Bentayga, meanwhile, drew attention as the brand’s first foray into SUVs, offering a 6.0-litre W12 engine and a claimed top speed of 187mph. Its arrival signalled a new phase in the luxury SUV battle, with rivals from Rolls-Royce and others expected to follow in the coming years.
Electric and Hybrid Concepts
Audi previewed its future electric ambitions with the e-tron quattro concept, a large SUV intended to rival the Tesla Model X. The concept used three electric motors and a claimed range of over 300 miles, marking a clear move towards production-ready electric SUVs. Porsche also updated its 911 for the 2017 model year, now offering rear-axle steering as an option for the first time.
SUVs and Saloons for the Mass Market
Jaguar chose Frankfurt for the world premiere of the F-Pace, its first SUV, targeting the premium crossover segment. BMW launched the new 7 Series flagship saloon, the latest X1 compact SUV and a revised 3 Series. Audi brought the new A4, while Mercedes-Benz revealed the S-Class Cabriolet, C-Class Coupé and C63 AMG Coupé. MINI grew in size with the new Clubman, and Smart presented the latest Fortwo Cabrio.
- Infiniti Q30 compact hatchback made its first global appearance.
- Lexus unveiled the LX 570 SUV and updated GS saloon.
- Jaguar F-Pace entered the luxury SUV segment.
- Mercedes-Benz expanded its S-Class and C-Class ranges.
Volume brands also made news. Suzuki returned to the European market with the new Baleno, and Dacia introduced the Duster Edition 2016 with an automated manual transmission, both covered in more detail at Suzuki Baleno returns to Europe at 2015 Frankfurt Motor Showand Dacia Launches Easy-R Automated Manual and Duster Edition 2016 at Frankfurt
Concepts and the Road Ahead
Concept cars remained a major draw, with several manufacturers using Frankfurt to hint at future design and technology directions. A full round-up of the most striking concepts from the show can be found in our dedicated feature at Frankfurt 2015: The Concept Cars That Stole the Show.
