KEY SHOW THEMES TOP 5 PRODUCTION CARS TOP 5 CONCEPT CARS INTERIOR INNOVATIONS EXTERIOR INNOVATIONS TRADE SHOW EXTRAS

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1 KEY SHOW THEMES TOP 5 PRODUCTION CARS TOP 5 CONCEPT CARS INTERIOR INNOVATIONS EXTERIOR INNOVATIONS TRADE SHOW EXTRAS

2 Mercedes S-Class - New Mercedes-Benz flagship saloon - Unprecedented levels of technology, including ability to self-drive when regulations allow - Vies with the Range Rover for title of best luxury car in the world Mercedes debuted the S-Class and also showed an S-Class Coupe Concept - a preview of an upcoming replacement for the CL, traditionally the coupe version of the S-Class sedan. It is built around three ideas: Intelligent Drive, Efficient Technology and Essence of Luxury. Significantly, it introduces new technologies, such as the ability to self-drive should regulations ever allow (Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche emerged on stage in the back of an autonomously driving S-Class.) It features no light-bulbs; suspension that reads the road; cameras and monitoring systems that will all-but prevent a crash, as well as a pair of TFT screens to display all vehicular information. Primary design features include the Mercedes sedan grille, and the dropping ponton line, along the side surface. - Pixel-effect texture heavily used in the speaker design but also in the way quilting patterns are applied to seat and dashboard materials - Simplified cabin, with huge display screens - controlled by new COMAND rotary controller, surrounded by auxiliary controls

3 BMW i3 - First production car from new i sub-brand - Uses carbon-fiber reinforced plastic and aluminium construction - Innovative life-cycle story - including use of recycled felt materials and sustainable eucalyptus wood The new BMW i3 was the car that designers and trend watchers were most impressed with. While BMW also launched the performance i8, it seemed less production-ready and has lost much of its concept car appeal, which the i3 retains. Impressively, BMW has the ability to develop an unusual new brand, complete with an authentic story and new design signatures, while the i3 is constructed using hybrid lightweight materials and an electric drivetrain, pushing the definition of the car forward. A diminutive package, the step-down rear window and suicide doors make the i3 feel roomy - accentuated when the sustainable wood and felt materials are chosen. Many i3s whirred round journalists at Frankfurt, creating a lot of buzz. - Suicide doors give access to fairly small interior package - Two floating screens form display interfaces - Eucalyptus wood trim is part of sustainable approach - Unusual design signatures include lamp shape, blue grille and logo surround

4 Porsche 918 Spyder - New flagship, follows the Carrera GT s lineage - New E-hybrid drivetrain uses V8 petrol engine, a large battery pack and 3 E-motors - Cutting-edge interior features numerous electronic screens and flying bridge center console Porsche s riposte to the hyper-cars, Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1 (seen at Geneva), is the 918 Spyder: a complex flagship model for the company, whose design remains faithful to the original 2010 concept. The Porsche makes 887 horsepower from a combination of petrol and electric power; it will drive on battery alone for 20km. The impact on its design is clear - the entire side volume of the car is swallowed by an outer rear volume - which creates a pair of huge, side air intakes to cool both rear-mounted motors and batteries. The interior features a simple architecture with a high-level of digital content. The outer dials are both digital, as is one in the cowl behind, and the main touchscreen interface is portrait - Porsche s center console is now similar to McLaren s. Lime green is used as an accent color inside and out, denoting the electrified powertrain. - Lime green on calipers - Tiny gearshift selector on dash - Lamps - much more a rounded than traditional Porsche 911 circle - Touchscreen features apps, controls spoiler - Engine bay detailing in gold

5 Peugeot Moves to more two-box form with better proportions in attempt to go upmarket - Uses unconventional high dials/small wheel interior arrangement as smaller Interior is much cleaner, fewer buttons and less switchgear Peugeot s C-segment hatch is notable for reestablishing Peugeot in a market where it has lost significant ground to cars such as VW s Golf. It is the first recent Peugeot to retain the same nomenclature as its predecessor. Proportionally, it follows the Golf s lead, with a more cab-rear premium form. The surface language and details are also calmer than before, although the 308 still lacks real distinction. The interior features the smaller 208 s novel small steering wheel, which drivers look over (not through) to see the gauges. A large center touchscreen dominates a clean, sparse cabin and is where many functions are accessed. Material quality is much higher than before. Notably, Peugeot also showed an R- concept version of this car, previewing a future performance sub-brand. - Front and rear lamps show attempt by Peugeot to establish design signatures - R-concept split color-way front to rear - Center touchscreen and vents surrounded in chrome, very clean auxiliary switch bank below

6 Kia Soul - Completely new car on new platform - Retains design theme and positioning of old car - Biggest apparent changes in interior Kia has chosen to follow the macro trend we highlighted in Paris last year, of studied evolution. Many commentators thought this new Soul was in fact a facelift of the old car. It also fits into the barely crossover trend - with a slightly higher seating point than a normal car, accentuated this time with optional gloss-black lower body cladding. The roofline color split is also more prominent than before and - as per the general trend - the Soul is more customizable. Inside, the changes to the Soul are much more apparent with a notably upgraded interior, featuring more high-quality materials, including contrast stitching on the seats and steering wheel, seat colors which are different on the squab and backrest and a large, integrated color touch screen up front. There are numerous small details like the pop-up cylindrical speaker cones on the dash top, all intended to underscore the Soul s fun, youthful style. - Overlapped hood shut-line is novel - Lower body gloss and texture cladding accentuates the crossover quality - Soul has a range of very Kia-brand wheels, which are quite flat and disk-like

7 Frankfurt Motor Show is the world s largest motor show This year s edition ran from September 10th - 22nd exhibitors 1 million+ visitors predicted to attend High-end technology debuts include the Mercedes S-Class with self-drive capabilities, and the Nissan Nismo Smartwatch Premium models return as brands push upmarket with bigger and more expensive vehicles Frankfurt Motor Show