Audi, Volkswagen, Lamborghini: Report from Frankfurt by Forbes Autos

Our favorite car magazine "Forbes Autos" (regular readers know what we mean) visited Frankfurt and saw an industry in upheaval. What a surprise!

he 61st Frankfurt International Motor Show featured a disparate mix of Teutonic sport cars, hybrid sport utilities and a head-spinning array of global partnerships. The only thing hotter than the stifling temperatures inside the show halls were rampant corporate rumors and maneuvers.

But they made "a list of significant new high-end and high-performance vehicles that promise to impact the market."

Audi Q7
Borrowing the platform shared by Volkswagen's Touareg and Porsche's Cayenne, the Audi Q7 sport utility manages to offer more interior room than either while weighing hundreds of pounds less. And judging from first impressions, the Q7 is far more attractive than the ungainly Cayenne. Audi is overdue for a sport utility vehicle in its lineup and the Q7 will fill this slot in summer 2006. Capable of hauling up to seven passengers, the rear-most seats are best used by children. Engines will include a 280 horsepower 3.2-liter V6, or 350 hp 4.2-liter V8 and maybe even a V10. This latter model could cannibalize sales of the Cayenne and Touareg as much as it might win over buyers considering a BMW X5 or M-Class Mercedes. A hybrid-powered Q7 employing the V8 with an electric motor also rolled onto the Audi stand, though nothing concrete was mentioned regarding production. Standard equipment for the Q7 includes a six-speed Tiptronic gearbox with manual shift mode, parking assist with a rear mounted camera, hill descent control, an air suspension and all-wheel drive. Despite the off-road addenda, Audi says that the Q7 is biased more toward on-road behavior than the Cayenne or Touareg.

Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
The white Gallardo Spyder convertible on the Lamborghini stand seemed a bit vintage Miami Vice for a car that, in more seductive hues, is undeniably a jaw-dropper. Not content to merely lop the top off of the two-year-old Gallardo model, Lamborghini tweaked the suspension, lowered the gear ratios for quicker acceleration and tuned the 5.0-liter V10 for even more horsepower — now 520 hp at 8,000 rpm. Equally impressive is the elegant convertible roof which, when lowered, disappears completely with no ugly humps or bumps to interrupt the Gallardo's taut lines. The powered top lower in about 20 seconds at the touch of a button and takes residence in the engine compartment. A “service function” button repositions the stowed top to allow engine access. Celeste Phoebe (light blue) and Verde Picus (green) are colors unique to the Spyder and have been added to Lamborghini’s typically bold palate.

Volkswagen Golf R32 and Eos
Announcing that your company is in crisis and that thousands of jobs are at stake is not the ideal way to debut a sport hatchback and all-new hardtop convertible. Nevertheless, Wolfgang Bernhard was never known for being shy while heading up Chrysler some years back and the same is true in his new role as chief executive of Volkswagen. Despite the dire warnings, VW’s Frankfurt debuts did not have vultures circling overhead. With a 250-hp 3.2-liter V6 and all-wheel-drive, the Golf R32 is the most powerful Golf ever. A six-speed manual or six-speed sequential manual gearbox will be offered when the car goes on sale in Europe this fall. America has to wait until early 2006 for the Golf R32.

Even bigger news was the Eos hardtop convertible that VW is slotting above the New Beetle convertible in terms of refinement and price. The Eos features a clever five-piece folding hardtop. A wide range of four-cylinder and V6 engines will be available in Europe, while U.S. engine specs are still under wraps. Expect the 3.2-liter V6 and VW’s turbo-charged 2.0-liter four-cylinder to cross the Atlantic. Priced around $31,000 at current exchange rates, the Eos arrives Stateside in May 2006 as a 2007 model.