{UserName}

Renault is charging into the electric car game with four head-turning concepts that preview a quartet of production cars that will launch starting in 2011. Sept. 17 12:27 CET

Mercedes-Benz will launch a production hydrogen fuel cell car in the United States next year based on its subcompact B class currently sold in Europe. Of the 200 B-class fuel cell cars produced, about 100 will go to the United States, primarily in California where there are hydrogen filling stations, Thomas Weber, Daimler AG board member for r&d, said earlier this week at the motor show here. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 17
   • Fiat-Chrysler can reach up to 6 million sales, Marchionne says

Fiat S.p.A. will achieve its target of selling 5.5 million to 6 million vehicles with Chrysler Group, its CEO, Sergio Marchionne, said on Wednesday at the Frankfurt auto show. Marchionne considers 6 million cars a year critical for an automaker's survival. Fiat and Chrysler currently have total sales of up to 4.2 million units -- short of the minimum of 5.5 million units the CEO has always targeted for survival. Sept. 16 11:31 CET | UPDATED: Sept. 16 14:11 CET

Ford plans common global styling for its cars

Ford Motor Co.'s new global design language for small and mid-sized cars and crossovers will evolve from the styling used on current European models. Martin Smith, Ford's European design chief, said the styling theme will be called "kinetic 2.0." 12:38 pm U.S. ET | Sept. 16

Peugeot shows motorcycle-inspired electric car

Peugeot showed a concept at the auto show here for an compact electric car inspired by motorcycle technology. The French brand's boss, Jean-Marc-Gales said the BB1 concept exists "between the two- and four-wheel worlds." Sept. 16 06:01 CET

C-Max puts Ford back into the people-hauler business

Ford Motor Co. is stepping back into a people-hauler segment it abandoned in 2007. But Ford's plan for success this time involves a small, seven-passenger 2012 model to be called the C-Max. Its exterior styling will attempt to hide one sometimes unpopular minivan characteristic. 5:00 am U.S. ET | Sept. 15

Mini pops top on Roadster concept for Frankfurt

The Mini Roadster concept broke cover today at the Frankfurt motor show, and the two-seat soft-top is expected to join its coupe counterpart in production. The roadster borrows the 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbocharged engine from the Mini Cooper S, and it makes 175 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. The overboost function pushes output to 192 lb-ft. 10:43 am U.S. ET | Sept. 15

BMW will equip U.S. cars with 4-cylinder engines

BMW plans to offer four-cylinder gasoline engines in the United States in an effort to meet stricter fuel economy rules. Introduction of the powerplants, equipped with the automaker's next-generation twin turbochargers, “is the goal and we will do it,” Jim O'Donnell, CEO of BMW of North America, said today on the sidelines of the Frankfurt auto show. 3:46 pm U.S. ET | Sept. 15

Opel will price new Astra lower than the VW Golf

Opel wants the new Astra to be among the top three best-selling cars in Europe and will price the car starting at 15,900 euros in Germany, the carmaker's chairman Carl-Peter Forster said during the car's unveiling at the Frankfurt auto show. Sept. 15 12:34 CET

Audi e-Tron concept breaks cover for Frankfurt

One of the highlights of Audi's Frankfurt auto show display is the e-Tron, an electronic high-performance sports car. The car looks like Audi's R8 supercar, while the packaging allows for the specific realities of an electric vehicle. Sept. 14 16:33 CET

Bugatti Galabier 16C concept for Frankfurt previews luxury sedan

Bugatti has unveiled a concept sedan that points the direction the luxury automaker wants to head once production of the Veyron ends. The Bugatti Galabier 16C concept is one vision of a sedan that Bugatti wants to have in production around 2013. Sept. 14 16:01 CET

Frankfurt show A-Z: All the debuts

The 2009 Frankfurt auto show will mark a major step toward the introduction of production cars that run on electric power. In addition to eye-catching concepts such as BMW's plug-in electric supercar, automakers will unveil small electric cars that will be on the roads in cities within a few years. Volkswagen, Renault and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen are among volume carmakers that will show production-ready or near-production-ready electric cars. Sept. 13 06:01 CET | UPDATED: Sept. 13 12:40 CET

German paper reveals VW 1L two-seat Frankfurt show concept

Volkswagen's latest vision of a two-seat car that gets 238 mpg (1 liter per 100 kilometers) is set for a debut at Frankfurt this week. But photos of the concept have been published in Germany. Sept. 13 22:37 CET

Mercedes hedges bets on green technology with diverse lineup

Which green technology will power cars of the future? Whether it's full electric, hydrogen, gasoline- or diesel-electric hybrid, Mercedes-Benz aims to show in Frankfurt that it's ready for all possibilities. The German premium carmaker has four green debuts: a plug-in electric version of its flagship S class, an electric B-class concept with a range-extending gasoline engine, a fuel cell-powered B class and an E-class diesel full hybrid. Mercedes could even show a plug-in electric version of its new SLS AMG supercar that it will debut in Frankfurt, according to German press reports. Sept. 13 11:20 CET

Mercedes to launch plug-in electric S class

Mercedes-Benz will unveil a plug-in electric version of its flagship S class at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show. The car will debut as a concept, but Mercedes says it plans to bring the model into production as soon as possible. Called the Vision S 500 Plug-in HYBRID, the concept can drive for up to 30km (18.6 miles) at a time on electric power. Sept. 11 11:21 CET

Volvo C30's facelift to be revealed at Frankfurt

Volvo’s hatchback, the C30, is getting a light facelift that will be revealed at the Frankfurt motor show. The most significant changes come up front, where the car is fitted with a new honeycomb grille, fenders, headlights and a lower spoiler. The goal is to separate the C30 from other Volvo offerings such as the S40 and the V50. 10:49 am U.S. ET | Sept. 8

Peugeot releases details of its iOn electric car

Peugeot has released details of an electric car called the iOn that it will sell starting at the end of next year. Based on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, the four-door car will debut at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show. Sept. 7 22:08 CET

Rolls gives details of new Ghost ahead of Frankfurt

Rolls-Royce has released pictures and more details of the Ghost, which will be the brand's smallest model when it goes on sale after its debut at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show. With prices expected to be between 200,000 euros and 250,000 euros before taxes, the Ghost is intended to be a more affordable car from the BMW-owned super-luxury carmaker. Sept. 6 14:32 CET

Hyundai will debut hybrid city car and and electric i10 in Frankfurt

Hyundai will give world debuts to a hybrid city car concept and a production-ready plug-in electric i10 minicar at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show. Called the ix-Metro, the SUV-styled city car concept is designed to showcase the automaker's new environmental technologies. The concept is powered by has a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain. Sept. 5 12:04 CET

Ford to debut C-Max minivan in Frankfurt

Ford Motor Co. will give its new C-Max a more dynamic passenger-car look and new technologies to boost the minivan's appeal. Ford has released images of the second-generation minivan, which will be unveiled at the upcoming Frankfurt auto show. Sept. 4 09:15 CET

Porsche 911 Sport Classic to debut at Frankfurt

Porsche is planning some sports-car candy for the Frankfurt auto show: the limited-edition 911 Sport Classic, which blends styling cues from the brand's storied past with the always intoxicating notion of more power. The 911 Sport Classic will be limited to just 250 units and will start at 169,300 euros. Sept. 3 14:58 CET

Lexus releases more details on BMW 1-series rival

Lexus has released the name and a rendering of the entry-premium concept car that it will unveil at the Frankfurt auto show later this month. Called the LF-Ch, the concept previews a new five-door hatchback that the Toyota luxury brand is expected to launch to challenge the BMW 1 series and Audi A3. Sept. 2 09:10 CET

Skoda to unveil Superb wagon at Frankfurt show

At the Frankfurt auto show, Skoda will unveil a station wagon version of its Superb mid-sized sedan, marking the first time the Czech carmaker has created such a variant of its flagship model. Skoda has released a teaser image of the new Superb wagon ahead of its launch at the show on September 15. Sept. 2 12:14 CET

Mini's boss expects great response from coupe concept

Mini's U.S. boss expects a radical-looking coupe concept to be approved for production. The unnamed concept is distinguished by a low, sleek-looking roof that is made of aluminum. Mini's most powerful engine is under the hood. If approved, the car would be Mini's fifth model and probably would be targeted at male buyers. 1:35 pm U.S. ET | Sept. 1

Toyota will unveil Auris hybrid at Frankfurt show

Toyota will unveil a gasoline-electric hybrid concept of it Auris compact car at the Frankfurt auto show on September 15. The concept, which is called the Auris HSD Hybrid, is a step forward in the carmaker's plan to expand its hybrid lineup, the company said in a statement Tuesday. Toyota will begin production of the Auris hybrid at its factory near Derby, about 200km north of London, starting in mid-2010. Sept. 1 14:49 CET

Wandering around the Frankfurt auto show, you might think the electric era of the automobile is at hand. Virtually every automaker is displaying an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid. But behind the enthusiasm for green vehicles lies a sharp split in executives' views of the potential of EVs. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 21
   • Regulators help spur demand for green vehicles
   • VW considers bringing electric vehicle to U.S.
   • Tesla's tiny -- but CEO is full of confidence

A larger version of the tiny Volkswagen E-Up! electric-vehicle concept, unveiled here at the auto show, likely will be sold in the United States. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 21
   • EV debate: Bit players or mainstream?
   • EV debate: Bit players or mainstream?

The worst is over, execs say

The bottom of the financial crisis has been hit, industry executives said here last week. But a full recovery will be a long, slow process that may not occur until at least 2012. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 21

BMW plans 3 crossover launches in U.S.

Starting late next year, BMW Group will launch three crossovers within months of one another in the United States. Among them are the small X1, which debuted at the Frankfurt auto show. The X1 will be positioned as a niche vehicle in the United States when it arrives in late 2010. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 21

BMW's Mini E trial exposes infrastructure troubles

Early next decade, BMW of North America plans to sell an electric "megacity car" as a subbrand of BMW, similar to the brand's M high-performance cars. But further details are skimpy. BMW already is preparing for that launch. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 21

NEWS ANALYSIS: VW shines as its global rivals struggle

Its main rivals for global automotive pre-eminence may be reeling, but Volkswagen AG is radiating confidence. As CEO Martin Winterkorn pointed out at a press event here last week, VW made 1.4 billion euros (about $2.05 billion) in the first half of 2009 and gained 1.8 percent in global market share. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 21

Who gets the say: GM or Magna?

Carl-Peter Forster, as head of Opel now, unveiled a new Astra a Frankfurt auto show press conference that was only in German. Hummer and Cadillac were nowhere to be found. And, most important, neither was General Motors Europe. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 21

Metal health

For sure, these are tough times in a tough industry. But the head-turning products on display at the Frankfurt auto show brought some much-needed relief. Here is an assortment of concept cars and production models unveiled at the biennial German extravaganza. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 21

Power walking

General Motors Co.' CEO Fritz Henderson and GM Europe boss Carl-Peter Forster stroll the grounds of the Frankfurt auto show last week. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 21

Volvo plans plug-in hybrid

Volvo is developing a plug-in diesel-electric hybrid vehicle with a Swedish technology partner. CEO Stephen Odell said the vehicle will be in production by 2012, but he said Volvo has not decided whether to bring the vehicle to the United States. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 21

Night of honor

It is always one of the grandest events surrounding the Frankfurt auto show: Automotive News Europe's annual Eurostars dinner. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 21

Luxury-EV war likely at Frankfurt show

German premium automakers appear ready to try to outdo each other with eye-catching electric supercars at the Frankfurt auto show. BMW says it will unveil a plug-in diesel-electric supercar concept. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 7

C-Max on the way

Ford Motor Co. has taken the wraps off the redesigned Ford C-Max, a small, minivanlike vehicle that Ford will sell here and around the world. The five-passenger C-Max debuts Sept. 15 at the Frankfurt auto show. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Sept. 7

Mini may add coupe, boost lineup to 5

Mini may boost its lineup to five models by adding a coupe. A concept will be shown next month at the Frankfurt auto show. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 31

A little Lexus?

Lexus may roll out a competitor soon for such popular entry-level luxury models as the BMW 1 series and Audi A3. Toyota's luxury brand has released the sketch of a concept it will unveil next month at the Frankfurt auto show. 12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 24

Citing costs, Conti kills IAA stand

To save costs, Continental will not have an exhibition stand at the IAA in Frankfurt in September. The German supplier is the second automotive company to withdraw from Europe's biggest auto show. March 2 06:01 CET

Daihatsu, Nissan to skip Frankfurt

Following the example of Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and Daihatsu Motor Co. are turning their backs on the Frankfurt auto show in September, says VDA, the German auto industry association. Continental AG also announced it will not have a stand at the show. 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 2

'Financial challenges' keep Mitsubishi out of IAA

Mitsubishi is pulling out of Europe's biggest auto show, the IAA in Frankfurt in September. It cited “extraordinary business and financial challenges” as the reason. The Japanese carmaker also will not participate in the Leipzig auto show in eastern Germany next month. Feb. 16 06:01 CET