Sure, there are some exotic vehicles on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show, including the Bentley Bentayga and the Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 Spyder. However, there are plenty of models coming to the U.S. that made their debut overseas and could impact your buying choices in the near future.
Kia Sportage
It seems hard to believe, but the 2017 version will be the fourth generation of the Kia Sportage. The European version was introduced in Frankfurt, but there’s little reason to believe the U.S. version will look substantially different on the exterior.
It should have more interior space with a wheelbase that’s slightly more than 1 inch longer than the current version. The front end will gain a little length, while the rear will see some shaved off. Those changes contribute to the most aerodynamic Sportage yet. No engines for the U.S. were discussed, but expect it to offer either the current 2.0-liter turbo or the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine.
Audi S4
Audi’s base A4 sedan is fine, but it’s the Audi S4 where the fun starts. The 2017 version will get a newly developed gasoline direct-injection V6 with turbocharging. The 3.0-liter engine will have 354 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque that you can tap into from 1,300 to 4,500 rpm.
The 2017 Audi S4 will have a 0-60 time of less than 4.7 seconds and will also feature a new 8-speed tiptronic transmission. The best part may be its fuel-economy rating of 31.8 mpg on the highway. And lest we forget, it also comes standard with quattro all-wheel drive.
Infiniti Q30
The 2017 Q30 will be Infiniti’s first compact crossover. Or is it a car? It’s tough to tell, but we think it’s a mix of both. Infiniti describes it as a compact for “a new generation of buyers who are not willing to be defined by their choice of vehicle body type.”
The Q30 will be built in England, the first time an Infiniti has been built outside Japan. The only powertrain available in the U.S. will be a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine producing 208 hpower. Infiniti says the Q30 will be 10 percent quieter on the inside than its segment competition.
Volkswagen Tiguan
The Volkswagen Tiguan, like pretty much every other compact crossover on the market, will get bigger when it comes to the United States. It will be longer, wider, and lower. The latter is most important for creating better aerodynamics.
It will have a variety of powertrains when offered. The most intriguing is the Tiguan GTE, a plug-in hybrid. Sure, that’s nothing extraordinary, but this concept vehicle features a solar roof module that, under the right weather conditions, will provide enough juice to power the vehicle up to an additional 620 miles annually.
Jaguar F-Pace
The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace will be a midsize crossover that seats 5. It’s designed with a longer wheelbase and seats aimed toward the outer edges so 3 adults can sit comfortably in the rear. One third of the vehicle is made from Jaguar’s aluminum alloy.
One of the cool features that caught our eye was the world debut of the activity key. Basically, it’s an optional waterproof, wearable vehicle-access technology (think smart key) in the form of a rubber bracelet that allows you to securely lock your keys inside the vehicle while going kayaking or swimming.
This will be the lower-priced Jaguar you may have heard about. Pricing will start from $42,390 for V6-powered versions and $40,990 for one with a 4-cylinder diesel. It will go on sale in the spring.
-Keith Griffin
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I’d love to see the S4 in black. It seems like it could be a really sleek James Bond-esque car.