ON THE TABLE - SEPTEMBER 11, 2013

Swinging Dick-ism. Editor-in-Chief's Note: It's nice to know that car company executive swinging dick-ism is alive and well at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Nissan is hell bent, or so it seems, on reminding everyone that they are the electric car visionaries, and that they have a four-year head start on every other automaker, particularly VW. Nissan's Andy Palmer even went so far as saying, as relayed by David Shepardson from The Detroit News, that "Electric and cars is as inevitable as tax and death," in a remarkably stupid quip. VW, not to be out done, suggests that VW will be the world leader in electric mobility by 2018, according to CEO Martin Winterkorn. Then again VW has their sights set on being the king of the automotive world long before that, and with 76-year-old uber chairman Ferdinand Piech staying on into 2017, there is no question that world domination is in The Plan for VW, electrified or not. Whether it's a discussion of who has the most brute horsepower or the most electrons on tap, nothing ever changes in the car business, it seems. - PMD

(Audi)
Audi may build a production version of this Nanuk quattro concept - a high-performance crossover - unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The concept, powered by a 550 HP turbo-diesel, was built for Audi by Lamborghini, another member of the VW Group.

(Infiniti)
The Q30 Concept made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. "The Q30 Concept represents a significant next step for Infiniti," said Johan de Nysschen, President of Infiniti Motor Company, Ltd. "The compact premium segment is crucial for our growth in markets like China and Europe and essential to meet the less conventional expectations of Gen X and Gen Y. Q30 Concept demonstrates how we intend to provoke the status quo with seductive product visions for a new generation of premium customers globally."

(Images courtesy of Mercedes-Benz)
The Mercedes-Benz Concept S-Class Coupé, unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, provides a clear vision of the next generation CL. Gorden Wagener, Vice President Design at Daimler AG, adds: "The Concept S-Class Coupé combines tradition and emotion, and is a symbol for the embodiment of our design style of sensual clarity. The perfected design with self-assured style and the highly exclusive appointments make the coupé a true design icon and an expression of modern luxury.“ With a wheelbase of 116 inches the coupé measures 198.8 inches in length, 77 inches in width and 55.5 inches in height. The Concept S-Class Coupé is powered by a V8 Biturbo engine producing 449 hp from a displacement of 4,663 cc. The peak torque is 516 lb-ft.

(BMW Group)
BMW has unveiled the BMW i8 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The plug-in hybrid 2+2 sports car will have a manufacturer’s suggest retail price of $135,925 (including destination and handling) when it arrives in US showrooms in spring of 2014.

(BMW Group)
The BMW i8 has a passenger cell made from carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). Curb weight: 3,285 lbs (1,490 kg); Cd: 0.26; low center of gravity (below 18 inches/460 millimeters).

(BMW Group)
The driver, front passenger and rear passengers sit down low in the i8 in lightweight seats. The standard leather trim extends beyond the seat surfaces to parts of the center console, instrument panel and interior door panels. The use of leather treated with natural substances, including olive leaf extract as a tanning agent, underlines the sustainable character of the BMW i8. Exposed CFRP sections of the passenger cell visible around the entry apertures when the doors are opened provide a reminder of the low weight of the BMW i8.

(BMW Group)
The plug-in hybrid system developed and produced by the BMW Group for the i8 is the first combination of BMW TwinPower Turbo and BMW eDrive technology plus intelligent energy management. The three-cylinder gasoline engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology has a displacement of 1.5 liters delivering 170 kW/231 HP and maximum torque of 320 Nm (236 lb-ft). Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. The model-specific hybrid synchronous electric motor delivers 96 kW/131 HP with maximum torque of 250 Nm (184 lb-ft). The power is channeled through the front wheels via a two-stage automatic transmission; lithium-ion high-voltage battery with liquid cooling and usable capacity of 5 kWh. System output is 266 kW/362 HP (max. torque: 570 Nm / 420 lb-ft). The BMW i8, with its curb weight of 3,285 lbs (1,490 kg), goes 0 – 100 km/h / 62 mph in 4.4 seconds. The EU fuel consumption is 2.5 litres per 100 km / 94 mpg (US).

(All images courtesy of Porsche)
The Porsche 918 Spyder is making its official début at this year's International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. The super sports car with plug-in hybrid drive marks the beginning of a new era, according to Porsche PR minions. "Never before has a super sports car designed for everyday use offered such an impressive dynamic performance combined with the fuel consumption of a compact car," says Porsche. Porsche suggests that the 918 Spyder will take on a pioneering role similar to that of the 911 when it was unveiled at the IAA fifty years ago.

The 918 Spyder was designed from the start to be a high-performance hybrid. It boasts, according to Porsche, "an unprecedented combination of performance - offering the 887 hp output of a super sports car - and the virtually silent, emission-free travel of an electric vehicle."

The Porsche 918 Spyder is able to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds and offers an average standard fuel consumption of between 94 mpg and 85 mpg. Oh, by the way? Your mileage will vary, especially if you drive around with your foot buried through the front bulkhead.

A number of the developments on the Porsche LMP1 racer for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014 were used in the 918 Spyder – and vice versa. The main drive source is the 4.6-litre, eight-cylinder engine with an output of up to 608 hp. Based on the power unit of the successful RS Spyder endurance race car, the engine delivers revs of up to 9,150 rpm and a power output per liter of approximately 132 hp/liter – 26 hp/litre more than that of the Carrera GT, making this the highest specific power of any naturally aspirated Porsche engine. The V8 is coupled to the hybrid module as the 918 Spyder is designed as a parallel hybrid like Porsche’s current hybrid models. The hybrid module essentially comprises a 115 kW electric motor and a de-coupler that serves as the connection with the combustion engine. Because of its parallel hybrid configuration, the 918 Spyder can be powered at the rear axle either individually by the combustion engine or the electric motor, or via both drives together. The power unit assembly in the 918 Spyder has been placed in front of the rear axle, and it does not have a direct mechanical connection to the front axle. A seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission handles power transmission to the rear axle.

In the the cockpit of the 918 Spyder systems like climate control, wing adjustment, lighting and the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system along with the Burmester High-End audio sound system can be operated via the multi-touch control functions on the black panel display.

The Porsche 918 Spyder has lapped the 12.8-mile (20.6-kilometer) Nürburgring Nordschleife in six minutes and 57 seconds, 14 seconds quicker than the previous Nürburgring record for a street-legal automobile, and 17 seconds faster than its run last September. "We promised a great deal with the 918 Spyder, namely to redefine driving pleasure, efficiency and performance. We have kept our word," commented Wolfgang Hatz, member of the Porsche AG Board of Management in charge of Research and Development. "The radical hybridization of the 918 Spyder from the very outset is what made this lap record possible," says Dr. Frank Walliser, head of the 918 Spyder project. "The lap time on the Nordschleife is and remains the toughest measure of a super sports car. Posting a time of 6.57 minutes, we achieved a result of which everyone in the development team and at Porsche as a whole is rightly proud." The record, which was previously held for four years, was broken during the first attempt in the test drive on the morning of September 4. All three drivers – former European Rally Champion Walter Röhrl, Porsche test driver Timo Kluck and Porsche factory driver Marc Lieb – were quicker than the existing record with each lap driving a different 918 Spyder, and posted lap times of less than seven minutes on numerous occasions. Ultimately, it was Marc Lieb who posted the absolute best time of 6.57 minutes, driving at an average speed of 111.5 mph (179.5 km/h), as measured by Wige Solutions. Marcus Schurig, editor-in-chief of the sports car magazine Sport Auto was on hand as an objective observer of the record-breaking runs. The two sports cars, which deliver an output of 887 bhp (652 kW), were equipped with the optional "Weissach package" to increase driving dynamics and the standard Michelin tires developed specifically for the 918 Spyder. Watch the video here.

(All images courtesy of Jaguar)
Jaguar is introducing its first ever sports crossover concept vehicle – the C-X17 – at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. The C-X17 "has been created as a design study to introduce Jaguar’s all-new advanced aluminum uni-body architecture on which an exciting range of future Jaguar vehicles will be built," says Jaguar.
The C-X17 concept "illustrates the diversity of vehicles that could be produced using the architecture," according to Jaguar. The four-seater sports crossover concept "blends sleek lines, sporting design and luxurious sophistication with enhanced flexibility and an assured driving position. In its exciting proportions, purity of form and its beautiful lines – overseen by Director of Design Ian Callum – the C-X17 is every inch a Jaguar car." Did they really just play the "it's every inch a Jaguar" card? Why yes, they did.
The interior of the C-X17 features four individual bucket seats. The car’s roof design features contoured vanes that provide a distinctive "elliptical" panoramic view to the C-X17 vehicle’s passengers," according to Jaguar. Two additional rear-mounted "leisure" seats incorporated in the cargo area floor swing out for recreational use.
 

The rear of the vehicle "has a distinctive touch of sports car about it, with the haunch, taillights and detailing all bringing to mind the seductive Jaguar F-TYPE," according to the Jaguar PR boffins who were clearly near a fit of ecstasy in describing the vehicle. Or maybe they were on ecstasy when writing the press release, because that's a real stretch, isn't it? They couldn't help themselves, apparently, because they go on to say that, "The roofline of the C-X17 swoops quickly rearwards, culminating in a distinctive cantilevered spoiler over a steeply raked rear window that enhances the crossover's sporting, ‘fast-even-at-standstill’ appearance." Oh my...

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Jeremy Clarkson's heartfelt driving impression of the Aston Martin Vantage and his commentary on the twilight of the high-performance automobile is simply one of the most powerful pieces of its kind ever created. Brilliantly written and graced with absolutely stunning visuals, it will resonate for years and years to come. As he says,"What it makes me feel though, is sad. I just can't help thinking that, thanks to all sorts of things... the environment, the economy, problems in the Middle East, the relentless war on speed, cars like this will soon be consigned to the history books. I just have this horrible, dreadful feeling that what I'm driving here... is an ending." Amen. Watch it here. - PMD