Tomorrow is a very big day for the motor industry. With the
lack of a British motor show this year due to costs car makers are using the
Frankfurt motor show to really show off what they have been working on during
this very difficult period for them. As has been the case at most motor shows
recently the big theme again is green. New hybrids and full electric cars are
going to be shown by most manufacturers.
A notable hybrid is the Toyota Auris HSD hybrid. This is Toyotas
first “full hybrid” production car, this means that the car can run
either fully on petrol, electricity or a mix of both. It will provide performance
not usually associated with hybrids with a 0-62mph speed of 10.0seconds, and
claims to have class leading combined cycle fuel consumption. One very
interesting feature on the concept is dashboard solar panels which can used to
charge mobile phones and other devices. The most important point to make though
is that Toyota is aiming to have hybrid synergy drive available on all their
models by 2020 perhaps the hybrid corolla will be the best small car of the future. I just hope car makers stop fiddling around with electrics and
push hydrogen fuel cells the true fuel of the future.
Now the motor show isn’t only about green cars, there is a
new MINI to be unveiled at the show. I make a post about it last week and I
have to say it looks fantastic from the pictures. I have always found it
difficult to like the MINI due to the type of people that seem to drive them,
but they are very good cars to drive and live with. With this new concept
looking to be a coupe MINI will have created a large product portfolio to cover
the small car market but will this new MINI be the best small car?
Hope you found my mini preview of the Frankfurt motor show
interesting and I will be keeping you up to date with any information as it is revealed
next week.