Some of the most impressive highlights of the Frankfurt motor show hailed from the UK.
Concepts and production cars alike wowed the crowds, and not just expensive exotica either – the ‘baby’ three-cylinder Caterham Seven could just prove to be a great driver’s car.
Here are our top five British stars of the Frankfurt show
The forthcoming entry-level Caterham Seven 160 was shown in public for the first time at the Frankfurt motor show. The 160 will be powered by a Suzuki-built 660cc, three-cylinder turbocharged engine developing 80bhp and 79lb ft of torque. Caterham Cars CEO Graham Macdonald said: “It is not engine size that matters; it is the grin factor that is our barometer, and we believe we have got the formula for our new entry-level vehicle just right.” The 160 will be priced at under £17,000. Production will begin in January 2014 and sales will commence next spring.
The new hybrid version of the Range Rover was revealed with claims of spectacular economy gains, “staggering” performance and uncompromised comfort. The hybrid system combines the Range Rover’s familiar TDV6 diesel and a 35kW electric motor integrated with the eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox to create a powertrain with peak power of 335bhp and 516lb ft of torque. The hybrid returns 44.1mpg on the combined cycle and emits just 169g/km of CO2. Land Rover dealers will start taking orders from 10 September and the first cars are scheduled to go to their owners early next year.
Aston Martin launched its “Q by Aston Martin” personalisation saying it offers “almost endless opportunity” for customisation. To showcase the service, Aston Martin showed a Vanquish Volante with some of the services offered. It is finished in unique Red Ember paint with bronze metallic leather and Gulf orange front and rear splitters. Aston Martin’s director of design Marek Reichman said: “The beauty of Q by Aston Martin is the service’s near-infinite flexibility”.
Honda’s new Civic Tourer will go on sale in early 2014 after its public debut at the Frankfurt motor show. Despite the car’s sporty, low-roofed appearance, Honda says the Tourer has the best seats-up luggage capacity in its class: an impressive 624 litres with the tonneau cover in place. Prices are expected to be £800-£1000 higher than the equivalent Civic hatch. The entry-level Tourer will be a 140bhp 1.8 i-VTEC petrol costing about £19,200. The Tourer is expected to account for one in every four Civic sales.
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Best of British
This is your best of British???
'This year's Frankfurt motor show starred the best of British'- i dont understand these exageratted comments.. there was no star from Britain was there? or did i miss soemthing.. apart from the Jag SUV.. where was the star?
If a Honda civic wagon( repeat a Honda), a RR hybrid that can only achieve 1 mile on electric power with so so CO2 figures are classed as best of british.. god help britain!
Dazed and confused
Would it be right to call Infiniti Q3 a British car?
After all it is to be made in UK albeit by Nissan.
Confusing? How about JLR owned by an Indian?
Begs the question how European is Volkswagen?
It's already selling more cars in China than Europe.
Incidentally that leads me to yet another question.
Are VW's recently shown AFVs aimed at China?
For I don't see Europeans fancying EVs just yet.
But in China pollution is visible to the naked eye.
And I know VW would do everything to maintain its lead in the fast growing market of China.