Alfa, Jaguar Add Sporty Glamour to Frankfurt Show

Self-driving cars, electric cars and supercars with lots of horsepower but fewer CO2 emissions are among the themes that will be center stage at this month’s show.

Below are the important debuts, listed from A-Z. The show’s press days when automakers will unveil their latest offerings are Tuesday and Wednesday.

Alfa Romeo

The Giulia midsize car launches Alfa Romeo’s turnaround bid. The Giulia Quadrifoglio will be shown in Frankfurt powered by a Ferrari-derived, 503-hp, twin-turbocharged V-6 as Alfa emphasizes performance in a bid to gain an edge over its German premium rivals.

Audi

Audi's e-tron quattro concept previews a rival to the upcoming Tesla Model X crossover. The all-electric, four-seat crossover will go into production in 2018. Audi hopes the production version's long range of more than 500km will win over customers previously put off by the relatively short distances EVs can travel before they need to be recharged.

Audi also debuts the latest version of the A4, its top-selling global model. The BMW 3 series and Mercedes C class rival is slightly larger than the current model with a revamped interior. The car keeps its conservative styling to appeal to business fleet buyers.

Bentley

Bentley’s first-ever SUV, the Bentayga, will be powered by a twin-turbocharged version of parent Volkswagen Group’s 12-cylinder gasoline engine making 608hp. Bentley says the Bentayga will be the fastest SUV available with a top speed of 301 kph (187 mph). Diesel and hybrid versions are planned.

BMW

BMW rolls out the latest generations of its 7 series range-topping sedan and the X1, its entry-level crossover. The 7 series gets advanced features to maintain its role as BMW's technology flagship, with 13 industry firsts and 25 innovations to BMW, according to company executives. The new X1 has a more rugged appearance and more off-road abilities to give the crossover more of an SUV look.

Borgward

German automaker Borgward is being revived 54 years after it closed with Chinese backing. Borgward will debut its first modern-day vehicle, an SUV aimed at models such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.

Citroen

The Citroen Cactus M concept takes inspiration from the brand’s iconic Mehari beach buggy and hints at a production SUV version of the C4 Cactus.

DS

DS Automobiles, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen’s new upscale brand, will unveil a crossover-styled version of its DS 4 compact car, called the DS 4 Crossback.

Ferrari

The 488 Spider gets the same 661-hp turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 that debuted on the 488 GTB coupe earlier this year, replacing the naturally aspirated unit of its 458 Spider predecessor. The hardtop convertible has aerodynamic features to create optimal downforce while reducing drag, two normally mutually exclusive objectives. These include a blown spoiler and an aerodynamic underbody incorporating vortex generators. .

Ford

Ford has given its Galaxy large minivan a fresh design, fuel-efficient engines and advanced safety and driver assistance systems. The 7-seat minivan is the first model in its segment to offer a feature that automatically raises or folds flat the third-seating row, Ford says. The company will also show its Edge large SUV with a diesel engine for European buyers.

Hyundai

Hyundai’s N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept car exhibits new technologies that foreshadow future possibilities for the brand’s sporty N lineup.

Infiniti

Infiniti hopes to increase its appeal to younger buyers with the Q30, its first compact car. The brand has given the Q30 a distinctive, polarizing design to help make it stand out from rivals such as the BMW 1 series and Audi A3. The Q30 is based on Mercedes-Benz’s MFA front-wheel architecture that also underpins Mercedes’s compact cars including the A class.

Jaguar

The F-Pace will be Jaguar’s first crossover and the brand is keen to emphasize that the vehicle’s performance, ride and handling will be in keeping with the brand's sports car heritage.

The F-Pace uses technology from the brand’s F-Type sports car to enable the crossover to deliver "outstanding" agility in all weathers and on all surfaces, Jaguar says.

Kia

Kia is updating its Sportage SUV with a sleeker design and what it says will be the highest-quality interior it has created to date as the brand seeks to move upscale from its image as a seller of affordable vehicles.

Mazda

The Mazda Koeru previews a “new foray into the growing crossover SUV market.” Mazda says. Reports said the concept might preview a replacement for the aging CX-9 crossover that will debut in production form at the Los Angeles show in November.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz will unveil the first convertible version of its S-class flagship sedan in in 44 years. Mercedes wants the car to be recognized as the "most comfortable cabriolet in the world." Comfort features will include an automatic wind protection system, a neck-level heating system and heated armrests.

Mercedes also debuts its latest C-class coupe with a sportier design to help it compete better against the BMW 4 series and the Audi A5. The high-performance AMG C63 coupe variant also debut. It has a wider body than the standard coupe, along with unique side panels and a longer domed hood.

The GLC gets its first public outing in Frankfurt after the compact SUV. The GLC has a sleeker design and is more luxurious than the boxy GLK it replaces. It is also bigger because the smaller GLA compact is now the brand’s entry crossover.

Mini

The new Clubman is longer and wider than the current model and because of its larger size it will be a compact, Mini’s first car in the segment. The Clubman sheds a quirky door design for four conventional doors. For the first time in a Mini, the Clubman will have a standard electric parking brake and electric seat adjustment.

Nissan

Nissan will show a crossover concept that preshow reports said will preview a new direction for the automaker's Z sports car subbrand.

Opel

The new Opel/Vauxhall Astra needs to be a success to help parent General Motors return its European operations to profitability. The latest Astra is shorter and lower in height than the current car but has more room inside. It will offer new infotainment and lighting technologies to help it compete better against rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus.

The Astra five-door hatchback and Sports Tourer wagons will be unveiled in Frankfurt.

Peugeot

The Peugeot Fractal concept car focuses on "acoustic ergonomics" aimed at helping drivers process an increasing amount of information. The two-door, four-seat concept is powered by an electric drivetrain.

Porsche

Porsche has face-lifted its 911 flagship sports car, adding turbocharged engines to help meet increasingly tougher fuel economy and CO2 emissions rules. The new turbocharged engines will offer a 20-hp increase on the current engines while lowering emissions, Porsche said.

Renault

Renault has given its fourth-generation Megane distinctive lighting signatures at the front and rear, along with a lower body and wider track to help the car stand out in the compact segment against rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf and Peugeot 308. The new Megane is based on the Renault-Nissan CMF-C/D platform that also underpins the brand's Kadjar compact SUV and the Nissan Qashqai.

Renault will also unveil the Talisman, its latest attempt to challenge the Volkswagen Passat. The Talisman has refined styling and improved quality compared with the Laguna and Latitude models it replaces.

The Alaskan concept, another Frankfurt debut, previews Renault’s first one-tonne pickup. The pickup will share underpinnings with the Nissan NP300 Navara and Mercedes-Benz’s first pickup.

Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce expects its Dawn convertible to attract more younger buyers and more women to the brand. The Dawn is based on the Wraith coupe but Rolls-Royce said that 80 percent of the Dawn’s body-panels are new compared with the Wraith.

Skoda

Skoda will show the station wagon version of its latest Superb midsize car. Already one of the roomiest wagons in its segment, the new Superb wagon is longer and wider than the current model with more passenger space and even more trunk space.

Smart

The new-generation Smart ForTwo adds a convertible version. The convertible’s so-called tritop design means the vehicle can be driven three ways: as a closed two-seater; with a large sliding sunroof; or as a full-fledged convertible. The fabric softtop is 4 percent larger than its predecessor. It opens automatically in 12 seconds, even when driving at top speed.

Suzuki

Suzuki plans to expand its European lineup with the Baleno subcompact hatchback that debuts in Frankfurt. The Baleno will be sold as a slightly larger alternative to its Swift, the company's current top-selling model in Europe.

Toyota

Toyota will unveil its new Prius hybrid car, which is says is lighter, 10 percent more fuel efficient than the current model and fun to drive. The fuel efficiency gains resulted from smaller and lighter components in the hybrid system, denser batteries that pack more energy and a more efficient internal combustion engine, Toyota said.

The automaker will also show a second C-HR concept for an SUV that could be positioned below its RAV 4. Toyota showed its first C-HR concept at the Frankfurt auto show.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen will debut its latest-generation Tiguan compact SUV. The second-generation Tiguan is based on VW’s MQB architecture, which allows it to grow in length and width, adding cargo space and more legroom. VW will add a seven-seat version for the U.S. and Chinese markets.