Car and Driver online lists BMW’s X6 as one of the Five Most Significant Debuts of the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show [[LINK http://www.caranddriver.com/autoshows/14034/5-most-significant-debuts-of-the-2007-frankfurt-show.html]]. Writer Steve Siler says, “With its unique profile, sloping rear end, and huge, wide-set wheels, the concept X6 is the ute that Porsche should have built but didn’t. It is one bad lux-u-vee with a blatant disregard for utility, that makes the “sport-activity” (versus “sport-utility”) part of the moniker seem a bit less silly. As for the “coupe” part, well, until they take two doors off the sides, that’ll always be silly.”
The other most significant concept cars:
2009 Audi A4 – “Look out, BMW 3-series, the Audi A4 is all grown up … [it] grows a whopping 4.6 inches in length and is the first Audi sedan to sit atop the stellar B8 architecture first seen on the splendid new A5/S5 coupes. This flexible architecture locates mechanical bits closer to the middle of the chassis, something that should help mitigate the A4’s chronically pushy cornering attitude.”
2009 Dodge Journey – “Chrysler is nothing if not persistent in its quest to get noticed by Europeans. And thus it chose Frankfurt to take the wraps off the ’09 Dodge Journey crossover. Riding atop a modified Sebring/Avenger chassis, the Journey offers space and utility and an optional third-row seat … Although it debuted in Europe, the handsome mid-sizer will be sold in the States first.”
Jaguar XF – “A scaled-back version of the saucy C-XF concept that stole the Detroit show last January, the XF replaces the little-loved S-type and is as fresh and modern as the S-type is trite and stodgy. … The chopped-roof, high-tail design takes Jaguar sedans into a new direction that’s interesting enough to turn heads if not immediately recognizable as a Jaguar (then again, this worked for Cadillac).”
Mercedes-Benz S400 and ML450 hybrids – “The S400 is a mild-style hybrid [doesn’t run on battery motor alone] powered by a 275-hp V-6 with a start/stop feature [and fuel economy an] impressive 30 mpg. … The ML450 … will be Mercedes’ first two-mode hybrid … able to move the heavy ute solely on electric power in low-load conditions. Fuel economy jumps from the teens for the ML350 to 31 mpg for the ML450 hybrid. … both clearly demonstrate how environmentally sound transportation is appealing to rich and poor alike—something Lexus has been telling us for years.”
