IAA: Rows Of SUVs Instead Of Electric Cars Ready For Series Production

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IAA: Rows Of SUVs Instead Of Electric Cars Ready For Series Production
IAA: Rows Of SUVs Instead Of Electric Cars Ready For Series Production

Video: IAA: Rows Of SUVs Instead Of Electric Cars Ready For Series Production

Video: IAA: Rows Of SUVs Instead Of Electric Cars Ready For Series Production
Video: Honda outlines new strategy for electric vehicle push 2024, March
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Electric cars ready for series production are in short supply at the IAA. At the moment, manufacturers such as BMW, Daimler and Co. are only saying what they plan to do in the future. There are rows of SUVs on display at the exhibition stands.

“See what moves tomorrow” was the motto of the IAA 2007, which focused on ecologically correct alternative drives. Rather incidentally, the X6 and Tiguan, two ecologically rather incorrect SUV models, made their debut.

In view of the hopes aroused ten years ago for a paradigm shift in favor of environmentally friendly drives, there should have been massive numbers of electric cars at the IAA (September 14-24) today. But E-mobiles ready for series production are in short supply. Several dozen SUVs are celebrating their premiere.

Customer demand is satisfied

The motto of the current IAA could be - heretically formulated - “SUV or die”. The industry reacts to the seemingly insatiable hunger for sturdy-looking long-legged people. In Germany, SUVs now lead the registration statistics: Their market share in August together with the off-road vehicle category was more than 25 percent, while vehicles in the compact class - formerly the bestseller segment - only accounted for around 24 percent of new registrations. According to the market research company “focus2move”, the proportion of SUVs in the first half of 2017 even increased to 36.7 percent globally.

The explosion of innovations in small and compact SUVs can currently be seen at the IAA. The VW Group is showing three variants: the most dazzling representative is the VW T-Roc, derived from the Golf, which aims to attract younger customers with an active lifestyle with a lively presentation. In comparison, the sister model Karoq from Skoda, which wants to score less with lifestyle than with strict chic, looks quite businesslike.

Technically, the Karoq and T-Roc are almost identical. From a marketing point of view somewhere between the two, Seat Arona, which is one size smaller and is the first SUV model of the VW Group to be based on the new Polo platform, is a Korean double pack in terms of size and price. The 4.17 meter long Hyundai Kona is equipped with stylish basic dynamics, and its robust paneling also aims to arouse the desire for adventure. Similar to VW's T-Roc, the Kia Stonic wants to inspire a younger clientele with funky colors and two-tone paintwork

Ford Ecosport with a facelift

Ford hopes to meet the taste of the SUV mainstream with another facelift with the mini-SUV Ecosport - after all, the Hochbeinern is all about the modern appearance. Citroen also knows that sales success depends on external appearances. The French show the successor to the C3 Picasso with the C3 Aircross. Instead of being a sensible Pampersbomber in a boxy van format, the compact space miracle comes with a striking SUV look - and with the promise of being able to drive where the paved roads end. The same applies to the particularly affordable Duster, which Dacia has brought visually and technically up to date in its second edition.

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One size larger, but still compact, is the second generation of the Subaru XV, which wants to score points above all with a modernized platform and many new assistance systems. A completely new model, albeit on an old platform, is the Jaguar E-Pace, with which the British will be offering a smaller alternative to the large F-Pace in the near future. The Land Rover Evoque is underneath the cat's stylish tin dress. Another old acquaintance in new clothes is the Opel Grandland X, which is technically based on the 3008 from the new sister company Peugeot.

And then there are some new editions of classics from the SUV scene at the IAA, such as the third generation of the Porsche Cayenne. The largely conventionally knitted all-wheel drive giant wants to score points with lightweight construction and some technical innovations. The third generation of the BMW X3 is also very old, but modernized in many ways. The Toyota Land Cruiser is more of an off-road vehicle than an SUV and can be viewed in Frankfurt with its revised design and renovated interior. Hyundai has also updated its Sorento nee with a fresh cell treatment

Mercedes GLC with fuel cell

Daimler has announced a hydrogen car for the coming year
Daimler has announced a hydrogen car for the coming year

Alternative drives are also an issue for SUVs. At the IAA there are consistently near-series versions. Mercedes is showing the GLC in the F-Cell fuel cell variant that runs on hydrogen. It is a pre-production model, the market launch will take place in winter. Honda's prototype CR-V Hybrid, whose market launch the Japanese have announced for 2018, runs on gasoline or electricity. Toyota is also presenting the C-HR Hy-Power as a hybrid study.

In 2020 VW plans to bring an SUV with a purely electric drive onto the market. The ID Crozz study shows what this model could look like. The X7 plug-in hybrid SUV presented by BMW as a study is particularly powerful. With the six-seater, the Munich-based company is not only breaking new ground in terms of space, with the all-wheel-drive giant the group is also showing new design elements such as a significantly larger grille kidney or a particularly tidy cockpit.

The Chinese manufacturer Chery is causing a stir at the IAA with the near-series SUV study Exeed. The Chinese do not need to hide behind the established competition, both optically and technically. For the start in Europe, which should take place in a few years, the technicians are planning a hybrid, plug-in and electric version. The Chinese know that ecological drives will also play an increasingly important role in the SUV segment. (SP-X)

VW at the iAA 2017

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  5. ZF at the IAA 2017 - 624296

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