2001 Frankfurt
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SHOW STARTS ON SOMBER NOTE. The bad news traveled fast, taking just minutes to spread across the kilometer-long Frankfurt Motor Show; the terror in New York and Washington quickly brought the events in Germany to a halt. Computer screens meant to display product specifications and prices were quickly converted to news centers, journalists and industry officials crowding around for any word on what was happening half a world away. Germans, Italians, French and Japanese stood side-by-side, finding ways to communicate despite their language barriers. Anyone obviously American was likely to get a hug, a pained smile, and some expression of solidarity. As the terrible Tuesday night drew to a close, Chrysler Group Chairman Dieter Zetsche sat with a flock of U.S. auto writers over dinner. “We were afraid it might not seem appropriate,” he said, clearly pained by the day’s events, “but we thought it would be better to give you a chance to be with your colleagues, rather than sit alone in your hotel rooms all night staring at the same pictures over and over again on CNN.”
THE SHOW MUST GO AGAIN—AT LEAST SOME OF IT. This year’s Frankfurt Motor Show was expected to bring an estimated 57 world premieres. But if anyone had the cool composure left to keep count, it fell short in the wake of the terrorist assault on the U.S., as carmakers and suppliers began canceling their news conferences and other media events. Among the most important no-shows was the long-awaited DaimlerChrysler Maybach. The ultra-luxury brand is expected to move the automaker into the rarified range once controlled by Rolls-Royce and Bentley. It will serve as an all-new marque, rather than an extension of the comparatively mass-market Mercedes-Benz. Now word on when the automaker will now lift the covers on Maybach, but it’s still more than a year away from production. Mercedes also canceled the rollout of an advanced safety concept vehicle designed not only improve a motorist’s chances of surviving an accident, but of avoiding the crash all together.

2002 Citroen C3
2002 Ford Fiesta

Ford Fusion Concept Frankfurt 2001
Opel Signum Concept Frankfurt 2001

Jaguar R Concept Frankfurt 2001
Saab 9X Concept Frankfurt 2001
BMW PRODUCT BLITZ. “In the next six years,” reveals BMW Chairman Joachim Milberg, the automaker “plans to introduce 20 new models and three new engines. That means we will double our model range.” Expect to see more niche products and some that will stretch the automaker’s range. The new 1-Series will take BMW down-market, while the next-generation 5-Series will push the design envelope, styling chief Chris Bangle revealed to TheCarConnection. Bangle insisted that none of the many spy shots circulating in the media come close to the direction he would take the 5er, but that they are correct in suggesting it will be markedly different from anything BMW has ever produced before. BMW’s policy is to produce “two generations and then take a big step.” Since the 5-Series has an image of being a “businessman’s sport sedan,” Bangle said, it has the most flexibility in its design. Look to the X-Coupe shown in Detroit last January for some hints as to the direction he’ll be taking, Bangle hinted.

2002 BMW 760iL
AMERICAN SPIRIT, EUROPEAN TECHNOLOGY. Chrysler has struggled to make any significant dent in the European market. But the American subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler is betting it can improve its fortunes with a pair of new engines. The hip, retro PT Cruiser will now get a 1.6-liter diesel, revealed Chrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche. For larger vehicles, Chrysler is introducing a 2.7-liter common-rail diesel powerful to propel the Jeep Grand Cherokee from 0-100 kph in 11 seconds. That’s 2.5 seconds faster than the diesel it replaces, even though it gets 16 percent better fuel economy. The CRD engine is notable for other reasons, since it is the first serious example of Chrysler borrowing technology from its sibling Mercedes-Benz division. Such a move “will not hurt Mercedes’ uniqueness,” insisted the German marque’s own CEO, Juergen Hubbert, as long as such an engine is tuned to deliver Chrysler-like performance. But is will definitely help Chrysler broaden its appeal, Zetsche emphasized.

2002 Mercedes-Benz SL55
SAVINGS EXCEED EXPECTATIONS. Partners General Motors and Fiat Auto now expect to achieve significantly greater savings than they had originally forecast, says Dan Hancock CEO of Fiat General Motors Powertrain. That’s one of two joint ventures teaming the two companies. When the deal was originally inked last year, Fiat and GM expected to save just over $1 billion through 2007 by combining powertrain operations. They’re now forecasting savings of well over $1.8 billion. Meanwhile, Mike Burns, head of General Motors Europe, told TheCarConnection.com “You will see more efforts” linking Fiat and GM. Not all will take the formal shape of a joint venture, however. Among other things, GM is likely to help Fiat re-launch its Alfa-Romeo brand in the U.S. by 2004. Burns cautioned not to expect his company to acquire Fiat, despite the so-called “put” included in the joint venture agreement. Technically, it could be used by Fiat to force an acquisition.
FIAT FORECASTS THIRD-WORLD GROWTH. Though sales have slipped in recent years, Fiat is looking for significant growth before the decade is out, with emerging markets providing most of the momentum. The Italian automaker expects to push sales from about 2.5 million this year to 3 million in 2003, CEO Roberto Testore told TheCarConnection.com. And by 2008, that could reach 4 million. The bulk of that growth is expected to come from the world’s smaller but fast-growing markets, including India, Brazil, Egypt, China and Southeast Asia. Some of that growth will depend on the assistance of General Motors, with which Fiat is linked by two joint ventures. Among other things, production will shortly begin on Fiat’s Alfa 156 model at the new assembly plant GM is running near Bangkok.
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