Frankfurt caters for all tastes in classy vehicles

By Russell Williamson

THE Frankfurt motor show, which opens in Germany next week, is one of the biggest displays of automotive hardware in the world.

With its myriad of new models and futuristic concept cars, it never fails to attract the attention of car enthusiasts the world over and 1997 will be no different.

For sheer excitement value, the battle royal this year will be between Mercedes-Benz and BMW -- both of which are launching midsize performance cars, the E55 and M5 respectively.

While both cars may appear understated on the stands, on the road it will be quite a different story.

The E55 and its smaller C-Class derivative C43 -- also being launched at Frankfurt -- are both products from Mercedes' performance partner, AMG.

Both cars are distinguished from the standard E and C-Class models by minor body and interior treatments but it is under the hood where the real difference lies.

The E55 packs a modified 5.5-liter V8 that is expected to produce about 260kW of power and a massive 580Nm of torque.

However, even this could look underpowered against the BMW M5's 5.0-liter V8 that is expected to produce 300kW.

The BMW is based on the 5-Series sedan and is prepared by the German car-maker's M division.

The smaller performance Benz, the C43 will go head-to-head against BMW's 3-Series-based M3 coupe giving the company its first serious competition in this niche market.

Although the C43 is a four-door sedan as opposed to the BMW two-door M3 coupe, the performance from the C43's modified 4.3- liter V8 engine is expected to come close, offering about 230kW compared with 236kW from the M3's 3.2-liter straight six.

Waiting in the wings offering both good looks and performance will be Porsche's new 911 -- the first all new 911 since the nameplate was introduced 34 years ago.

This car is also tipped to go into production here providing an export base for the Southeast Asian region.

The first cars off the rank will be the naturally aspirated models which use a new 221kW 3.4-liter flat-six engine that is water-cooled for the first time.

The car is bigger, lighter, more powerful and will cost marginally more than the existing 911 range.

The turbo 911 -- which is not due to surface until the Geneva motor show next March -- is expected to have a top speed of more than 300kmh and develop 350kW from its twin-turbo, 3.4-liter flat six.

While these cars may be the show stoppers, reality dictates that they will only end up in the hands of the privileged few.

For the mass market, the big news of Frankfurt will be the unveiling of the fourth generation Volkswagen Golf -- one the biggest selling cars in the world -- and Opel's new Astra.

The Astra, which is due to go into production at General Motors new plant in Thailand in 1999, could be a possibility for Indonesia if the world's car making centers of Europe, Japan and the United States and the government here can come to some sort of satisfactory agreement over the national car controversy.

The new car brings the Astra into the nineties with more contemporary styling both inside and out while the mechanics have been refined.

It borrows a number of design cues from the larger Vectra and is expected to incorporate many of its safety features including traction control, anti-lock brakes and dual airbags.

The new Golf -- which if it ever goes on sale here would be a worthy competitor for Peugeot's 306 -- shares its platform and some engines with the small Audi A3 hatchback.

The slightly softer appearance gives the impression the car is smaller, but at 4131mm it is a substantial 110mm longer than the present model.

It is also wider and the wheelbase, at 2513mm, has been stretched by 40mm. The increased dimensions translate into more passenger and load space.

In Europe, it will be offered with a choice of five petrol and three diesel engines, ranging in capacity from a 1.3-liter four cylinder unit to the 2.3-liter five-cylinder VR5 and 2.8-liter VR6 engines and outputs from 50kW to 110kW.

Not forgotten are the ever-increasing numbers of car buyers hooking into the recreational vehicle craze.

No longer are four-wheel drive vehicles the big cumbersome unrefined truck-like behemoths of the past.

The modern RV -- as they are now referred to -- offers versatility, practicality and car-like ride and handling in a range of body styles.

Three companies launching new RVs at Frankfurt offer a good cross-section of these new generation vehicles with the Landrover Freelander, Volvo V70 XC and Nissan Patrol each fitting into its own market niche.

The Volvo is a jacked up, all wheel drive version of the V70 wagon which is launched here next month.

Although the XC moniker denotes the "cross country" nature of the vehicle, this is not an all-out off-roader.

Ride height is up 50mm and ground clearance 25mm over the standard V70 and it has a stronger, more aggressive front end, new alloy wheels and new roof rails with cross bars.

Buyers can expect all the usual creature comforts from cruise control, electronic climate control air-conditioning, power windows and side mirrors, new-look luxury upholstery to front and side airbags.

Powering the new Swedish beast will be Volvo's 146kW 2.5- liter, five-cylinder low-pressure turbo engine coupled with either a five-speed manual or three-mode four-speed automatic gearbox.

The car carries over the sophisticated viscous-coupled all- wheel drive system used in the 850 AWD.

The LandRover Freelander is a Jeep Wrangler, Daihatsu Rocky rival and features several firsts for the legendary British company now owned by BMW.

In a dramatic departure with tradition, the Freelander features a monocoque body, steel panels, four-wheel independent suspension and a range of transversely mounted engines.

The Freelander comes in soft back and hard back three-door guise and in a steel hardtop five-door wagon.

The soft back version has a rigid removable roof panel, borrowed from Rover's small 200 coupe, above the front seats, and a fabric rear roof section that folds forward, unusually, toward the T-section rollover bar.

Nissan's Patrol is one of the more traditional off-roaders and comes complete with a dual range four wheel drive system, large capacity petrol and turbo diesel engines for plenty of towing power and enough space for seven people and plenty of bush gear.

However, even this vehicle is expected to offer a softer more urbanized appearance and car-like ride and handling.