Wintonsworld Frankfurt car show 2003.

Astra, Golf Launches Reveal Lack Of Ambition, Complacency
Kia Picanto, Peugeot Elixir, BMW6, Hyundai CCS Have Wow! Genes
Guess Who Wins The Pigdog Of The Show Award?

FRANKFURT, Germany
It’s the bland fighting the bland at this year’s Frankfurt Car Show.

With a languishing European industry desperately needing some adrenalin to inspire car buyers, VW offers the new Golf, barely distinguishable from the previous model. Fighting head to head with the Golf is the latest anonymous Astra from Opel/Vauxhall.

Both of these worthy but dull small family cars inspire yawns rather than passion. VW seems to think that the Golf can echo former glories and grab back the number one selling spot in Europe by just doing the same thing all over again. The Astra, which looks a little tidier than the model it replaces but only to make it more like the Golf, doesn’t look like providing much of a threat. At least VW has the excuse that it if tried to be too revolutionary, it might frighten buyers away from a success story.

I’ve finally seen the new BMW “5” series in the metal and it is not a pretty sight. The controversial car from chief stylist Chris Bangle looks fussy and over-designed, with a flaccid, chubby look about it. If Bangle had stopped trying so hard he might have produced a car looking as good as the new Honda Accord. The old “5” series was acclaimed as the best in its class. It not only drove beautifully, it looked great. I’m sure that this car will be at least as good to drive as the previous model, but its looks are going to put off buyers. The new Mercedes “E” class, with its simple lines and fabulous interior, might well gain the edge in this sector. I have to admit that the first time I saw the BMW Z4, with Bangle’s so-called flame-styling, I had negative thoughts but have since come around to liking the way it looks, but I don’t think this will happen with the new “5”. BMW also unveiled its new X3 sport utility vehicle, or sport activity vehicle as we are supposed to call it. But to restore faith in BMW, the company also unveiled its new “6” series coupe. What a stunning looking car. If only the “5” had some of its simple, flowing lines.

Golf Hegemony Challengers
There were some other challenges to Golf’s hegemony, and two were from Ford satellite companies. Mazda, of which Ford owns about one third, unveiled the Mazda3 - a terrific looking little car, using the handsome grille cues from the highly successful Mazda6 and will steal sales in the Golf-led segment. Volvo, wholly owned by Ford and part of its Premier Automotive Group (PAG), also has a solid contender with the new S40, which looks like a scaled down S60, er which looks like a scaled down S80. Another head- turner on the PAG stand was the new Aston Martin DB9.

Kia Picanto – Oh So Cute
Superminis are becoming more versatile, more popular, and cuter. Citroen unveiled its new little C2, a scaled down version of its C3, and which is supposed to follow in the footsteps of the iconic little Deux Chevaux of yore. Kia of Korea “dares you to defy the brand snobs” with its exceptionally pretty little Picanto, and it might just do that. The folks over on the Fiat stand were probably quaking in their boots at the likely low price of the Picanto. Fiat reintroduced its little Panda, which made its debut at the Geneva show in the spring when it was called the Gingo. Apparently Renault thought this sounded a bit too much like Twingo and sued. But I think that Fiat knew that the Gingo would soon end up as the Gringo, so they opted for the tried and tested Panda name.

There were some intriguing concept cars at the show – cars that may get into production some day if the public reaction is strong enough.

Elixir
One concept likely to be in a showroom near you soon is the Peugeot 407 Elixir, which gives some hint as to the styling of the 406 replacement next year. The 406 coupe was always a stunner and let’s just hope that the Elixir becomes the 407 coupe in the showrooms. It is just fabulous.

Mercedes Benz didn’t have much in the way of new product to show this year, which is a pity given the magnificence of its exhibition hall in Frankfurt. But it did show the Vision CLS, a big four-door coupe (whatever that is?), with a high-torque six-cylinder engine delivering 7.5 litres per 100 km or just under 38 miles per gallon.

GM presented the Opel Insignia concept, a handsome looking machine powered by a 344 bhp V8 Corvette engine. GM sounded pretty serious about getting back into the big car business in Europe. Rember the successful Omega and Commodore models?

Fabulous Hyundai
Hyundai was demonstrating a fabulous looking little coupe convertible, based on its under-rated Coupe series. The metal/glass roof folds back into the boot.

Hyundai of Korea was coy about the likely fate of the CCS (coup-convertible study), but judging by the beauty of the car’s looks, and the crowds it was pulling, expect to see this on sale soon.

Pigdog
The Pigdog booby prize for the show’s ugliest car goes to the Chrysler 300C Touring Concept. This is shame because I’ve always admired the old Chrysler 300M. But the fat-faced C Touring concept looks overweight and ugly from whatever angle you choose. What a pigdog, unless that’s being unfair to pigdogs.

Neil Winton, September 11, 2003