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FRANKFURT 2009

The hottest cars and concepts from the biggest biennial car show on earth.

FRANKFURT 2009
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The IAA (Internationale Automobil Ausstellung), or the Frankfurt motor show, is undoubtedly the largest motor show on the planet.

Alternating with Paris on the motor show calendar every year, the Frankfurt show in the heart of German's car industry is the be-all and end-all of 'bahn-storming sports and luxury - though the Japanese and Americans also hike across the water to crash the Euro party...

Enjoy our top picks form this stellar auto exhibit, direct from the show floor.

Frankfurt by the numbers:

  • 11 halls
  • 170,000 square metres of total floor space
  • 71 press conferences
  • 135,000 attending media
  • 700 Exhibitor stands
  • 2000 cars on display
  • 120,000 litres of wine consumed


From the floor: Poppitt's picks:

Concept cars: Audi E-Tron. It couldn't not look stunning being based on the R8, but the sci-fi styling additions work a treat. Looked amazing in the metal. Scored bonus points for making electric cars sexy and fast.

Production cars: Lamborghini Reventon Roadster. How could I go past the Bull? It's being made in miniscule numbers, has a thirst David Boon would be proud of and costs so much it makes my head hurt, but it's an incredibly sexy car. Made everything other vehicle in the hall look bland, cheap and slow. Love it.

Manufacturer stand: BMW. Absolutely huge and packed with interactive displays and plenty of metal. Had a giant Scaletrix track two floors up with cars driving around it all day. Very impressive and a real highlight. Rumour has it the stand cost close to $30 million...

Glamour girls: No contest: the Lancia school girls. Maybe Lancia needed the most beautiful girls to detract from how ugly the cars were? Either way, best in show.

Quote of the show: "Does Audi know étron literally means 'a piece of s@#$' in French??" Anonymous public relations executive

Samantha Stevens

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