Suddenly, being small is big news at the Frankfurt auto show. And like surly subway riders during the morning commute, car manufacturers are busy elbowing their way into the city-car market.
In a prelude to the brand’s arrival next year in the United States, Mercedes-Benz’s Smart division showed new diesel and electric-powered versions of its two-passenger Fortwo model.
Volkswagen introduced the Up! concept car, a sign that it’s officially returning to its small car roots. VW was light on the specifics of this 135.8-inch hatchback, but the company did admit that the four-passenger Up! is rear-wheel drive. Should the Up! reach production (and this seems very likely) it would be the first rear-wheel drive small Volkswagen since the original Beetle.
Small car fever isn’t limited to the Germans. Fiat has an elaborate display dedicated to its successful new 500 model, and Toyota unveiled its edgy iQ concept car. Even beleaguered Ford is displaying a stylish new small hatchback called the Verve. A size or two larger than cars like the Fortwo and Up!, the handsome Verve shows that Ford is serious about revamping its small cars – at least in Europe.
Ironically, as all these manufacturers jostle to introduce tiny cars, the auto company whose name is synonymous with small is now thinking big.
BMW’s Mini brand is using Frankfurt to showcase the production version of the new Mini Clubman, a pint-size wagon. At 156.4 inches long, the Clubman is roughly 10 inches longer than the regular Mini Cooper. The Clubman has a novel split “barn door” rear tailgate, rather than the single-piece hatch of the Mini Cooper. Each of the Clubman’s two rear doors has its own wiper and exterior handle. There is even a passenger-side-only, rear-opening half-door. Mini calls this the clubdoor. I call it a smart idea, as it allows easier access to the roomier back seat. With all these clever doors, does the Mini Clubman qualify as the world’s first 4.5-door wagon?
More importantly: Why Mini would risk sacrificing its “think small” brand ethos by introducing a less-mini Mini. The answer: bigger sales and profits. According to Mini, the Clubman wagon will help push yearly sales of all Minis past 240,000 in 2008. The Clubman arrives in showrooms later this year.
[source: nytimes]
More Excellent Car in 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show:
+ Frankfurt Motor Show 2007: Huffenpuff Edition (Random, funny and cool stuff)+ Frankfurt Motor Show 2007: Mercedes-Benz A-Class Edition 10 anniversary edition+ Frankfurt Motor Show 2007: Volkswagen's production Tiguan graces the stage+ Frankfurt Motor Show 2007: Carlsson Aigner CK65 Eau Rouge+ Frankfurt Auto Show 2007: Novitec Ferrari F430 TuNero+ Frankfurt Auto Show 2007: Fräuleins of Frankfurt
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