As we speak, global car manufacturers are showcasing their best efforts to the public at the 2017 Frankfurt Auto Show. The auto show began on 14 September and runs for 10 days. But, for those of you who aren’t available to be there (me included) to view your dream cars, we’ve got you covered. We’ve gathered the top 10 best cars both in concept form and production form on display and hopefully, they’ll head to Malaysian soil.
1. Audi A8
When you hear the brand name Audi, the first thing to strike your mind is “quality” or “luxurious”. Well, that may be true as the latest offering from Ingolstadt is the all-new Audi A8. First commercially seen in the latest Spiderman: Homecoming flick, the new A8 made its world debut sometime earlier, sporting an all-new design. The best part about the latest A8 is the omission of buttons and switches in the cabin. This alongside the world’s first Level 3 Autonomous Driving tech that makes it both luxurious and also jam packed with toys and gizmos. Under the hood is Audi’s current range of petrol and diesel powertrains but with the addition of a new Mild Hybrid system which helps to improve fuel economy. That said, having it on sale in Malaysia could possibly disrupt the luxury car segment throne, currently held by the Mercedes Benz S-Class and the BMW 7 Series.
Other models on display include the Audi R8 RWS, Audi Aicon concept car and the Audi RS4 Avant.
2. BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo
When the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo launched back in 2009, it defined a new category of cars at the time. The fastback styled German sedan was not exactly the prettiest, though. That is until now. BMW has revamped the GT with the new 5 Series design but has named it the 6 Series Gran Turismo instead. It now has a bigger rear for good reason. The new 6 Series Gran Turismo now has 610 litres of boot space, an additional 20 litres from the outgoing model. But wait, fold the rear seats down flat and the volume increases to 1,800 litres. Another benefit is the added headroom in the backseats.
Under the bonnet of the 6 Series GT is a 2.0L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder which produces 255bhp and 450Nm of torque. What do you think? Is the latest GT model better than the outgoing car?
3. BMW M5
Every time BMW does a showcase, they do it with a bang. This time around, they are showcasing the all-new BMW M5. New to the 2018 model is a new AWD system dubbed, M xDrive. Now, most of us would be howling at the omission of the RWD system, but BMW has got us covered. The new xDrive system has a trick switch that can actually put the car into RWD by disabling the front axles and therefore channeling power only to the rear wheels.
Also new is a revised 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 600bhp and 700Nm of torque. Other models on display include the new BMW X7 iPerformance Concept which is essentially a new 7-seater SUV, and the newly updated BMW i3 and i3S.
4. Hyundai i30N
The South Korean car company has been hard at work in producing stylish yet desirable models for the masses. But currently on display at Frankfurt is the all-new i30N. Their offering in the hot hatch segment is now “hotter” than a regular hatchback. Under the hood lies a 2.0L turbocharged inline 4-cylinder, which may sound boring. But what isn’t boring is the output. At 247bhp and 353Nm of torque, it starts to sound plentiful. If you prefer even more bang, then there is a performance pack which churns out 271bhp whilst torque remains the same as the standard N model. The i30N is meant to tackle the Golf GTi with high power figures and bold styling. If this does come to Malaysia, could you see yourself in one? Or would you prefer a more sedated looking Elantra Sport?
Other models include the i30N Fastback as well as the Hyundai Kona SUV.
5. Renault Megane RS
The current lineup of Renault models in Malaysia is catered to the family man and the trendy urban youths. So it wouldn’t be wrong if TC Euro would bring in a hot hatch now would it? If that’s the case, they should really consider bringing in the new Renault Sport Megane RS. It sits in the same segment as the Golf GTi as well as other competitors like the Mercedes A45 AMG and the newly-announced Hyundai i30N.
The Megane RS delivers a healthy output of 276bhp and 390Nm of torque from its 1.8L turbocharged 4-cylinder lump, in favour of the outgoing 2.0L engine. All of this power drives the front wheels.
Other models on display include the Renault Symbioz and a series of Renault autonomous car concepts.
6. Suzuki Swift Sport
Suzuki may have officially closed down in Malaysia, but it’s still has strong presence in other markets. Their latest offering may be rather promising. The all-new Suzuki Swift Sport. A favourite among pocket rocket fans, the happy revving hot hatch has the 1.6L VVT engine to thank. But now, the new Swift Sport has a new power plant that produces more power and more torque for an even more fun drive. It all comes down to a new 1.4L BoosterJet turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine which produces 138bhp as well as 230Nm of torque. The latest Sport will rival against the Ford Fiesta ST but in a more compact package. Should Suzuki ever make a comeback in the Malaysian market with the Swift Sport, do you think that the die-hard fans will love this all new one compared to the outgoing model?
7. Volkswagen Polo
One of the most commonly-seen continental car brands on Malaysian roads is Volkswagen, with one of the most popular offering being the VW Polo. In Frankfurt, Volkswagen has showcased the all-new Volkswagen Polo Mk6. Now bigger and wider, its dimensions are similar to the current Mk7 Golf. So the question now is…do you really need a Golf? The latest powertrain on offer includes a new 1.5L EcoTSI turbocharged which comes with active cylinder deactivation to save fuel. It produces 148bhp and replaces the aging 1.4L TSi. Could the new Polo be coming to Malaysia with the new EcoTSI engine? Also new is the Mk6 VW Polo GTi which comes with an enlarged 2.0L TSi engine that pushes out 200bhp. The new lump replaces the outgoing 1.8L TSi unit.
8. Volkswagen T-ROC
Another candidate for a Malaysian debut is the all-new VW T-ROC crossover. It sits on the same platform as the current Mk6 VW Polo. It shows off VW’s design and effort into making a car that stands out in the current VW range. If it comes to Malaysia, it will be up against competitors such as the Renault Captur, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX 3, the upcoming Toyota C-HR and the Subaru XV. Possible engine options for the T-ROC are the 1.5L TSi Evo producing 148bhp whilst at the other end of the engine range is the ubiquitous 2.0L TSi.
Source: IAA, Carwow, BMW Blog, Paultan, Netcarshow, Auto Evolution, Indian Autos Blog, YouCarPress, inautonews, Motor1,
