2007 Frankfurt Auto Show

Germany's version of an international auto show is largely similar to those same transportation parties that get thrown here in the United States. Stuff a heap of cars, trucks, and everything in-between in a huge convention center, add tons of lights, elaborate sets, curtains, covers, and flashing lights, and schedule dramatic premieres of production and concept cars punctuated by famous stars and quasi-celebrity alike. The difference between the Frankfurt and, say, the L.A. Auto Show is the reflection on the location in which the party is thrown.


Europeans have been dealing with expensive fuel costs longer than we have in the U.S. As a result, they have been driving smaller and more efficient cars for a longer time. An even greener way to transportation was the underlying theme to this year's Frankfurt IAA (Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung). While vehicles that spew forth less C02 and emissions may conjure up visions of driving as drudgery, the fact is that we'll all need to embrace higher efficiency and fewer emissions very soon. Fun might as well be part of that future.

Ultra-Compact Lure: Toyota IQ Concept

Tiny, ultra-compact cars are nothing new to the drivers of Frankfurt or the rest of Europe. Lilliputian hatchbacks and tiny coupes buzz around every corner of both narrow and wide street alike. Toyota's advanced European design studio created this slightly under ten-foot long IQ concept. The manta-ray influenced shape is designed to transport three plus one additional and presumably guppie-sized passengers with no compromise in either safety or fun. The Toyota IQ is even smaller than its big brother Yaris, but places a maximum emphasis on interior room in an urban-friendly small package.

And Tigger Two: Volkswagen Tiguan

As SUVs shrink slowly and inexorably back toward station wagon size, the Volkswagen Tiguan is not one to buck the trend. Along with sporty off-road capability and plenty of utilitarian cargo room, the Tiguan will deliver something familiar to European passenger vehicles into American showrooms—the turbocharged diesel engine. The Volkswagen TDI common rail diesel runs quieter and cleaner than ever, while delivering plenty of power from idle to redline. Since a diesel engine is inherently more efficient than its gasoline huffing brother, better mileage is part of the fun. Those who enjoy driving over rocks but for some reason find parallel parking impossible will enjoy the Tiguan's Park Assist feature.

Flexible Future: Opel Flextreme

Taking the E-flex hybrid architecture of the Chevrolet Volt across the pond is the Opel Flextreme. Like the Volt, the Flextreme concept is designed to mostly be a plug-in electric vehicle. The hybrid-in-the-electric component in this case is a tiny diesel engine, designed only to kick on and juice up the electric motor when batteries become depleted. The back of the Flextreme also houses a pair of Segway scooters, for additional transportation flexibility if parking happens to place the car too far from the final destination. The Flextreme shows that GM and its European Opel division are planning to embed the E-flex propulsion architecture in a panoply of vehicles from the future.