Exciting car models at Frankfurt show

By C. Manmohan Reddy

FRANKFURT, SEPT. 22. The Frankfurt Motor Show is probably the world's largest automobile exposition and this year marks its 50th anniversary. One thousand one hundred exhibitors from all parts of the world are spread over more than 200,000 sq. metres (about 50 acres).

Automobile manufacturers are joined by vendors of every kind of component and system ranging from giants such as Bosch, Delphi, Denso and Visteon to some one selling 'Super Glue'.

This year has seen the simultaneous launch of many exciting new cars such as the Aston Martin Lagonda, Audi A4 estate and convertible, BMW 7 Series, Mercedes SL, Fiat Stilo, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Coupe and Terracan, Lancia Thesis, Renault Vel Satis, Skoda Superb, (European) Toyota Corolla and Camry and the Volkswagen Polo.

This list excludes ``face lifts" of existing cars as well as concept cars such as the Volvo Safety Car which has air bags for any pedestrian unfortunate (or fortunate?) enough to be struck by it!

Europe as a whole, and Germany in particular, has been ``environmentally minded" for some time now and this is reflected both in the special environmental stands and in individual company displays.

Ford, for example, has an advanced hydrogen fuelled, fuel cell powered car (a modified Focus), two running on compressed natural gas (CNG) and one displaying advanced recycling concepts on its large stand. Mercedes, on the other hand, has a fuel cell car (a modified A Class) with methanol as its fuel - the methanol being ``reformed" on board to produce hydrogen to power the fuel cell.

Jacques Nasser, Ford's CEO, set the ball rolling last year when he pledged that his company would improve the average fuel consumption of its vehicles by 25 per cent.

With General Motors and DaimlerChrysler (Mercedes) soon following suit, virtually every manufacturer now stresses the environmental friendliness of the products, with CO2 emission levels and fuel consumption labelling being mandatory.

Maximising usable space, while keeping the exterior dimensions roughly the same, is another recurring theme. Both BMW's new 7 Series limousine and the Ford Fiesta are about the same length as the models they replace, but provide substantially more useful interior room - the Fiesta by being wider and taller and the BMW by increasing head and leg room.

Simply Superb

The Czech automaker, Skoda, has added a fine contender to the prestige class segment with its new Superb. This front wheel drive, 'D Class' car, has a wheel base of 2.8 metres making it the most roomy and comfortable in its class that includes the Mercedes E Class and the BMW 5 Series.

Powered by advanced petrol and diesel engines from the parent Volkswagen group, it shows how the highest quality products can come from even ``transitional" economies.

The powerful and smooth (but economical) engines, coupled with fine transmissions and exceptional suspensions, make for a simply superb ride even over bad roads.

The Superb itself is the proud renewal of a name from Skoda's golden past of the 1920s and the 1930s. Skoda began manufacturing automobiles in 1906 thanks to a partnership between the businessman Vaclav Klement and engineer Vaclav Laurin (shades of Rolls Royce) and from the very first vehicle, Skoda claims that every car manufactured by Laurin and Klement was built according to their philosophy: that good workmanship is measured by the quality of the parts that you do not see.

The cars themselves were magnificent limousines that had nothing to hide and were marked not only by great beauty and technical precision, but also by their exceptional spaciousness - for their occupants' arms, legs and heads.

The new Superb has a well appointed cabin that complements its elegant exterior with fine leather, hardwood and metal creating a refined ambience.

Rear passenger room is probably unrivalled even among cars a size up, and that includes the Mercedes S Class! Taking even a short ride in the Superb, few will consider anything better.

After Word

It is good to see people from all over the world together here at Frankfurt so soon after the incidents in America.

For example, while I write this article on a German keyboard, I often have to ask for help from the staff of the Press Centre and I am amazed at how friendly the assistants, from Germany, Iran, Morocco and Portugal, are with each other even though the latter lost a friend at the World Trade Center.

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