Frankfurt Auto Show, world’s largest, transforms into more inclusive 2021 IAA Mobility show in Munich
In a sign of the times and our changing world, the IAA (International Motor Show Germany), which was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will return in 2021 as IAA Mobility with a new and broader focus on all forms of mobility. It will also be moving from its decades-long home in Frankfurt to a new location in Munich.
Electrek sat down for an interview with three members of the team to learn more about the radical shift awaiting the world’s largest automotive show.
Expand Expanding CloseA battery-powered MINI is still under consideration, but not coming soon
BMW’s MINI brand has been expected to come out with a battery-powered vehicle for a long time now. In 2009, when BMW was first working on its “i” program, which eventually resulted in the i3 and i8, the company produced a few hundreds “MINI E” to test its electric drivetrain technology, but the vehicle never made it to a wide release.
During the Frankfurt Motor Show, Auto Express spoke with MINI’s product management chief Ralph Mahler who didn’t rule out an electric MINI, but it wouldn’t be for anytime soon…
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Nissan LEAF sales down 56% again ahead of 2016 launch
Last month we reported that Nissan’s LEAF US sales were down 56% in August. Today the Japan-based automaker released its September US sales report and sales are still down 56% from September last year.
The company delivered 1,247 LEAFs last month versus 2,881 during the same period last year.
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Tesla Model S sales are up 84% in Germany, while BMW i3 sales are down 27%
Germany is in the spotlight of the automotive industry as the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show is coming to an end. While we are sorting through vehicle registration data, we decided to take a look at the top-selling electric vehicles in Germany. Unsurprisingly, the BMW i3 is the best-selling all-electric vehicle in its home turf, but sales are down 27% year over year while Tesla’s Model S is gaining market shares by growing sales 84% based on registration data.
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Artega unveils an all-electric quad-bike concept at IAA 2015 [pictures]
Last week we reported on Artega unveiling the Scalo, an all-electric sports car concept unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, today we’ll give you a brief overview of another EV concept unveiled at the show by the German automaker: The Karo.
The Karo is an electric quad-bike concept aimed at complying to driver license and insurance requirements for young people.
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Artega unveiled the “Scalo”; an all-electric sports car with 250 miles of range
The Artega Scalo joins the long list of all-electric luxury cars being unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week. The German sports car maker now focuses mostly on “electromobility” in partnership with battery maker Voltabox.
The company says it will achieve a range of 250 miles on a small 37 kWh battery pack. The claim is difficult to believe, but the range is most likely calculated based on the New European Driving Cycle, which allows for longer range than most real-life driving cycles.
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Volkswagen introduces a plug-in version of the Tiguan at IAA 2015 [picture gallery and video]
At the Frankfurt Motor Show this week Volkswagen introduced its first plug-in hybrid SUV: the Tiguan GTE. The German automaker revisited each trim of the gas-powered Tiguan and unveiled a new plug-in one, although unfortunately only as a “concept”.
The GTE is equipped with a 13 KWh lithium-ion high-voltage battery pack allowing for an all-electric range of 50 km (31 miles), then the direct-injection gas engine takes over.
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Audi: the e-tron quattro will not be a compliance car
During an interview at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi of America President Scott Keogh confirmed that the company doesn’t plan to make the e-tron quattro a “compliance car”, but instead he sees a global market for the all-electric SUV.
“Our number one thing is not to build a compliance car but to build a cool, desirable car, because that’s what’s going to help our brand and our customers are going to like it,” Keogh said.
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Mercedes-Benz unveils an interesting new plug-in hybrid concept: Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile
Mercedes unveiled an interesting new concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show: a sedan which can change its features automatically from design mode to aerodynamic mode once it reaches a speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). The concept is called the IAA, which stands for Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile, not to be confused with Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA), also known as the Frankfurt Motor Show, at which the concept is being unveiled.
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Thunder Power introduces new electric vehicles with a massive 125 kWh battery pack [picture gallery]
Thunder Power unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show today two new electric vehicles equipped with a massive 125 kWh battery pack.
Thunder Power is a Taiwan-based power-tool maker established in 1987, which recently changed its focus to electric vehicles. Its first entries are a 4-door sedan (picture above), the Thunder Power Sedan, and a sport car, the Thunder Power Race (picture below).
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BMW to soon introduce new all-electric vehicles by expanding its “i” lineup
In an interview at the Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW’s sales chief Ian Robertson revealed that the company is in the “final stages of consideration” to introduce new all-electric vehicles by expanding its “i” lineup.
Currently BMW only sells the i3 and the i8 under its electric “i” brand, but the German automaker is evaluating a “number of options” to take advantage of the new platform introduced in 2013.
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Nissan introduces the Gripz concept, a sport crossover powered by “Pure Drive” hybrid drivetrain
Nissan introduces a new sport crossover concept: the Gripz. The new concept is powered by Nissan “Pure Drive” hybrid drivetrain, a gasoline engine powering an electric motor.
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Audi unveils the all-electric e-tron quattro concept at IAA 2015 [first pictures]
Last month we showed you drawings of Audi’s new all-electric SUV concept and yesterday we published more advanced renderings, but today the company finally unveiled the vehicle at the Frankfurt Motor Show and we get some pictures.
Gallery of new pictures below the break:
Porsche unveils new electric car concept: Mission E, 600 hp, 500 km – 310miles range and 15 min charging
Ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show starting this week, Porsche introduced a new all-electric concept: the Mission E. The four-seat sport car is a first for the luxury car brand. The company is aiming for high performance with 440 kW output, 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and over 310 miles of range (500 km).
See gallery of pictures below.
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Audi releases new renderings of the quattro ahead of IAA unveiling [image gallery]
Last month we reported on Audi planning to unveil the quattro, a new SUV-crossover equipped with Audi’s all-electric e-tron drivetrain, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which runs from the 17th to 27th of September. Today the company released more advanced renderings of the concept ahead of the media launch expected tomorrow.
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk will be in Germany during the Frankfurt Motor Show
During a visit in Berlin at the end of the month, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is scheduled to meet Sigmar Gabriel, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, for a public conversation titled “Economy for Tomorrow”. The CEO’s visit in Germany coincides with the popular Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA), which runs from the 17th to 27th of September.
Tesla is not expected to bring anything new to the Frankfurt Motor Show considering the company’s predilection for unveiling products at their own events instead of at industry shows…
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Bosch to announce new thermal management system that could increase electric vehicle range by up to 25%
The German electronic and auto parts giant Bosch will introduce a new thermal management system at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which runs from the 17th to 27th of September, that could increase electric vehicle (EV) range by up to 25%.
The system would be especially advantageous for electric vehicles operating in a cold climate.
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BMW to introduce 2 new plug-in hybrids at the Frankfurt Motor Show
German automaker BMW is set to introduce 2 new plug-in hybrids at the Frankfurt Motor Show which runs from the 17th to 27th of September. The 2 new models , BMW 225xe and BMW 330e, are based on the automaker’s Series 2 and Series 3, but with BMW’s eDrive powertrain technology.
BMW’s eDrive technology allows the driver to switch between being entirely powered by the battery pack, and being powered by the three-cylinder combustion engine for the 225xe, or four-cylinder engine in the case of the 330e .
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