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  10 September 2003 (Shane O' Donoghue):
Well, until this morning I was impressed by the number of new car debuts and concept cars here in Frankfurt. Today though I am in awe. I visited the Mercedes-Benz stand (if you can call it that) for the first time only an hour ago and it truly is a work of art. The surroundings are stunning enough, with clever lighting and architecture (forget what you think you know about stylish show stands), but the cars managed to steal the show. In particular, the SLR McLaren and the surprise concept tagged the Vision CLS, which showcases the design direction for Mercedes. I approve. I must admit though that I was mesmerised for nearly 10 minutes watching a video of Klaus Ludwig driving the SLR around the Nurburgring. This is no ordinary footage though. First of all there are four screens (synchronised) - the view down the bonnet, a view of Ludwig's impassive face and hands, another aimed at his feet and the final camera positioned to show the rear spoiler/active airbrake in action. An additional trick is the carbon fibre spoiler positioned near the screens which moves in time with that on the video. Now that's German efficiency.

09 September 2003 (Shane O' Donoghue):
The 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show marks my first trip to the bi-annual event. Being here myself confirms my belief that it is one of the premier motor shows in Europe, possibly the world.

Where to begin? We have attempted to lay out this page in an easy to use format. You will find links to a mix of previews, press releases, image galleries and comments from The Car Enthusiast team at the show (thankfully I am not alone!). As I write this we are coming to the end of the first press day and I have still not seen half of the major manufacturers' stands!

Of note are some of the unexpected concepts - for instance the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and Audi Le Mans quattro. More details will be online just as soon as we can sort through the mound of press packs and photos.

07 September 2003 (Adam Jefferson):
The Car Enthusiast is attending both press days at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, and we will be bringing you exclusive live updates from the show. The 60th International Motor Show (IAA) will include 125 world premières, 60 of which will be completely new developments by automotive manufacturers, plus 13 European premières and 35 German premières. In addition to important mass-production models such as the Golf V and the Vauxhall Astra, there will be automotive treats such as the new Series 6 from BMW, the super sports car SLR from Mercedes, the 911 Turbo Cabrio from Porsche, the Ford C-Max and the smart forfour on show to the public for the first time. During the show, visitors to the IAA can test-drive cars on varied routes both in city traffic and on the motorway. There will also be a special show highlighting the milestones in the history of Formula 1 racing.

  The 2003 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show.

2003 Kia KCV-III concept car. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.

The Porsche stand at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 
 
  makes
  Alfa Romeo
Aston Martin
Audi
Bertone
BMW
Bugatti
Citroen
Daewoo
Ferrari
Ford
Hyundai
Jaguar
Kia
Lamborghini
Lancia
Lexus
Maserati
Mazda
Mercedes-Benz
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Peugeot
Porsche
Renault
Saab
SEAT
Toyota
Vauxhall
Volkswagen
Volvo
 
Alfa Romeo
  2004 Alfa Romeo 166 image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2004 Alfa Romeo 166 (image gallery)
Alfa Romeo unveiled the facelifted 166 in Frankfurt. It now fits with the rest of the range. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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  New cars galore from Alfa Romeo. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2004 Alfa Romeo new cars (live update)
Now that everyone knows Alfa Romeos are beautiful, Alfa are going for a new sales tack, 'Beauty is not enough', and having recently driven the 147 GTA I can testify that they are providing a lot more than just beauty in their new cars.

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  Detailed look at the facelifted Alfa Romeo 166 due later this year. Image by ItaliaSpeed.   2004 Alfa Romeo 166 (preview)
Alfa Romeo are hoping to raise the profile of the 166 with a facelift later this year. The car should be at Frankfurt.

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  Hot new Alfa sports car. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2003 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione concept car (full details)
We all want Alfa to make a production version of the 8C Competizione, but will Fiat allow a potential Ferrari rival to be made? The full details of the concept car are online now.

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  Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione concept car image gallery. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2003 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione concept car (image gallery)
Alfa Romeo treated the show goers to the gorgeous 8C Competizione concept car. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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Aston Martin
  Aston Martin DB9 image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2004 Aston Martin DB9 (image gallery)
The DB9 Aston Martin debuted in Frankfurt. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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  Aston Martin will reveal the all new DB9 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Image by Aston Martin.   2004 Aston Martin DB9 (preview)
The Aston Martin DB9, the first car to be produced at the company's modern and recently completed facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire, is making its world debut at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

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Audi
  V8 power for the Audi A4 Cabrio. Image by Audi.   2004 Audi S4 Cabriolet (preview)
This month's Frankfurt Motor Show will stage the international début of the potent new V8-powered S4 Cabriolet.

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  2003 Audi Le Mans quattro concept car image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2003 Audi Le Mans quattro concept car (image gallery)
The Audi Le Mans quattro marked Audi's dominance of the classic endurance race and was one of the undisputed stars of the Frankfurt Show. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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  2003 Audi Pikes Peak concept car image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2003 Audi Pikes Peak concept car (image gallery)
The Pikes Peak Audi concept does not deserve such an illustrious title in our opinions, but it does at least show how a future Audi SUV will look. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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  2003 Audi Nuvolari concept car image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2003 Audi Nuvolari concept car (image gallery)
Audi's Nuvolari concept shares a lot of its design with the new Le Mans quattro concept. Hopefully this means Audi will actually make something similar - presumably to replace the iconic TT. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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Bertone
  Bertone Birusa image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2003 Bertone Birusa concept car (image gallery)
Bertone's Birusa concept car is based on the discontinued BMW Z8. If only the Z8 were as forward looking as this! The gallery of photographs is online now.

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BMW
  BMW facelifts the X5. Image by BMW.   2004 BMW X5 (preview)
BMW will facelift the X5 early next year to keep it as fresh as its new brother the X3. Frankfurt will be the public unveiling.

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Bugatti
  2004 Bugatti Veyron image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2004 Bugatti Veyron (image gallery)
The Bugatti Veyron is perhaps the most over the top supercar of recent times: it has 1001 bhp and 16 cylinders for a start. It is unlikely that many owners will use all that though for fear of bankruptcy. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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Citroen
  2004 Citroen C2 image gallery. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2004 Citroen C2 (image gallery)
Citroen are referring to the smart new C2 as the "urban sports car". Will the Saxo brigade make it their new charge though? The gallery of photographs is online now.

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  Lounging around in a Citroen. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2003 Citroen C-Airlounge concept car (full details)
Sit down, relax, turn down the lights and enjoy the ride. That’s the idea behind Citroen’s C-Airlounge concept at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

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Daewoo
  Daewoo Lacetti image gallery. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2004 Daewoo Lacetti (image gallery)
Daewoo's Lacetti may not have caused a stir in Frankfurt, but it is a particularly important car for the Korean subsidiary of General Motors. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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  Surprise new 5-door from Daewoo. Image by Daewoo.   2004 Daewoo Lacetti (preview)
Daewoo reveals yet another new model in its widening product portfolio at the 60th International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt (September 13-21). The new front-wheel drive, five-door Daewoo Lacetti will compete in the popular compact segment and will reach the UK at the end of the first quarter of 2004.

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Ferrari
  2003 Ferrari Enzo image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2003 Ferrari Enzo (image gallery)
Though you can't go out and buy a new one, the Enzo is still a stunning car to look at. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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Ford
  The Ford Capri is back! Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2003 Ford Visos concept car (full details)
The Visos concept has been mooted to be a pointer at how a new Ford Capri could look. We took a look at some of the design detail.

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Hyundai
  Hyundai at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Image by hyundai.   2003 Hyundai CCS concept (preview)
Hyundai is set to unveil a showstopper at the Frankfurt Motor Show, with the first look of the Hyundai CCS.

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Jaguar
  Jaguar join the lifestyle estate brigade. Image by Jaguar.   2004 Jaguar X-type Estate (preview)
Jaguar has issued the first pictures of the stylish new X-type Estate, which will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show on 9 September 2003.

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  Jaguar reveals radical new design language with the R-D6 concept. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2003 Jaguar R-D6 concept car (update)
Jaguar has a bit of a problem with its image at the moment. The remit is for 'fast, beautiful cars' yet buyers tend to be 40 and over, rather than thirty-something. The Jaguar style has all but stagnated.

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Kia
  Kia to launch all new mini car. Image by Kia.   2004 Kia Picanto (preview)
Kia Motors will unveil a brand new A-segment car at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This new car gives Korea's second-largest automaker a competitive entry-level vehicle in Europe for the first time.

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Lamborghini
  2004 Lamborghini Gallardo image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2004 Lamborghini Gallardo (image gallery)
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Lamborghini Gallardo received a lot of interest in Frankfurt. Ferrari's 360 has a real fight on its hands. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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  2004 Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2004 Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT (image gallery)
One of the most evil looking cars at the show was the all-carbon Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT, which is Lamborghini's welcome return to racing. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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Lancia
  2004 Lancia Ypsilon image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2004 Lancia Ypsilon (image gallery)
The new Lancia Ypsilon has been aimed squarely upmarket. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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  2003 Lancia Fulvia show car image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2003 Lancia Fulvia show car (image gallery)
Lancia will have to make the Fulvia if press reaction at the Frankfurt show is anything to go by. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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  The new Lancia Fulvia - yes please! Image by Adam Jefferson.   2003 Lancia Fulvia show car (live update)
Anyone visiting the Lancia stand at the Frankfurt Motorshow this year could be forgiven for thinking that the last few years have all been a bad dream for the Italian marque. The Lancia stand is one of the most impressive at the show.

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  Lancia at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. Image by Lancia.   2003 Lancia show stand (preview)
Lancia have just released details of their stand at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and for a change it really is one to look forward to. Modern and cutting edge, whilst harking back to the 60s and 70s, the 1500m2 stand will feature all current Lancia models.

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Lexus
  New Lexus LS430 debuts in Frankfurt. Image by Lexus.   2004 Lexus LS430 (preview)
The new Lexus LS430, the third generation of the Lexus flagship model, builds on more than a decade of luxury car development, adding an 'emotional and advanced' design concept, dynamic performance and more advanced technology.

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Maserati
  2004 Maserati Quattroporte image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2004 Maserati Quattroporte (image gallery)
Maserati's Quattroporte will be competing against a wide variety of GT and luxury cars. It ceratinly has style, but is it good looking? The gallery of photographs is online now.

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Mazda
  Mazda will show a diesel sports car concept at the 2003 Frankfurt Show. Image by Mazda.   2003 Mazda Kusabi concept car (preview)
At the time of writing, only designer sketches and the outline plans are available for Mazda's radical concept car.

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Mercedes-Benz
  Mercedes-Benz steals the show. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2003 Mercedes-Benz show stand (update)
Having visited much of the Frankfurt Motorshow before reaching the Mercedes stand, I'd pretty much gauged the standard of the place. In fact I'd mentioned in my article on Lancia that they had perhaps the most impressive stand at the show. This had to be rapidly changed when we got round to Mercedes on the second day.

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Mitsubishi
  2004 Mitsubishi Outlander image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2004 Mitsubishi Outlander (image gallery)
Mitsubishi are the latest company to talk about 'crossover' vehicles - their first offering is the Outlander. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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  Mitsubishi frugal concept promised for production. Image by Mitsubishi.   2003 Mitsubishi i concept car (preview)
Mitsubishi has announced that the "i" small concept test car it will be showing at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show achieved maximum 5-Star ratings (lowest environmental impact) in fuel consumption and emissions testing conducted at the ADAC TechnikZentrum technology centre in Munich.

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Nissan
  2003 Nissan Dunehawk concept car image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2003 Nissan Dunehawk concept car (image gallery)
The Dunehawk represents Nissan's aspirations to move its large off-roader upmarket. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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Peugeot
  Shock new WRC car for Peugeot. Image by Peugeot.   2004 Peugeot 307 WRC (preview)
The 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show will mark an important moment for Peugeot Sport, as it announces the arrival of its 2004 World Rally Championship contender: the 307 WRC.

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  Peugeot concept shows design direction. Image by Peugeot.   2003 Peugeot 407 Elixir concept car (preview)
The 407 Elixir is an original concept car that gives visitors to the show a glimpse of how future Peugeot models might look.

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Porsche
  2004 Porsche Carrera GT gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2004 Porsche Carrera GT (image gallery)
The harsh show lighting does the Carrera GT's looks no favours, but the car looked great in action at Goodwood this year. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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  2003 Frankfurt Motorshow Porsche stand image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2003 Porsche 911 show cars (image gallery)
As usual, there were a selection of new 911s to drool over in Frankfurt. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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Renault
  More concept cars from Renault. Image by Renault.   2003 Renault Be Bop concept cars (preview)
Renault will unveil Be Bop and Be Bop at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Two interpretations of the compact MPV theme, one is an all-terrain SUV and the other a sporting model.

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Saab
  2003 Saab 9-3 Sport Hatch concept car image gallery. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2003 Saab 9-3 Sport Hatch concept car (image gallery)
Saab's 9-3 Sport Hatch looks almost ready for production. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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  Saab preview new Sport Hatch. Image by Saab.   2003 Saab 9-3 Sport Hatch concept car (preview)
Saab continues its recent product offensive with the Saab 9-3 Sport-Hatch Concept - a sporty, five-door, four-seat car that offers driver-focused performance and innovative versatility features.

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SEAT
  SEAT previews the new Altea MPV - in the form of the Altea Prototipo. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2003 SEAT Altea Prototipo (live update)
Taking pride of place on the SEAT stand is the Altea Prototipo. As the name suggests, this is more a production prototype than a concept, and is due to be launched in a very similar guise to the show car in 2004.

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Toyota
  Toyota at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Image by Toyota.   2003 Toyota show stand (preview)
The Frankfurt Motor Show will be the venue for the world premiere of the Toyota CS&S, a 2+2 open-top sports car concept which, in terms of size, falls between the current Celica and MR2 models.

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Vauxhall
  New Vauxhall Astra breaks cover. Image by Vauxhall.   2004 Vauxhall Astra (preview)
Vauxhall released images of its version of the new Opel-Vauxhall Astra - the 5th generation - in July. We are looking forward to seeing the bold looking car in the metal at the show.

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Volkswagen
  2004 VW Golf image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2004 Volkswagen Golf (image gallery)
The new Golf was centre of attention on the VW stand, despite the presence of a sexy new roadster. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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  VW joins the 'urban on-roader' club. Image by Wheels24.   2004 Volkswagen Polo Fun (preview)
Volkswagen is expanding the Polo range with a lifestyle-oriented model, the Polo Fun. The Polo Fun will be shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

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  Next generation VW Golf revealed. Image by vW.   2004 Volkswagen Golf (preview)
VW have released details of the 5th generation Golf. It debuts in Frankfurt.

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  2003 VW Concept R image gallery. Image by Adam Jefferson.   2003 Volkswagen Concept R (image gallery)
Continuing the 'must have a car in all markets' theory, VW revealed the rather tasty Concept R. Don't expect it to remain a concept for long though. The gallery of photographs is online now.

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  Secret VW Spyder revealed. Image by Wheels24.   2003 Volkswagen Spyder concept (preview)
Volkswagen is planning to build a sporty two-seater based on the new Golf 5 and sources say that the company may show a concept of this roadster at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show.

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Volvo
  Volvo S40 breaks cover. Image by Volvo.   2004 Volvo S40 (preview)
Volvo has released the first photographs of its all-new compact saloon, the Volvo S40, ahead of its world premiere at the Frankfurt motor show.

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