2019 Frankfurt Motor Show: round-up

The 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show opened to the public on the 12th of September. Frankfurt is one of the biggest annual events in the automotive calendar, with a number of the world’s biggest manufacturers showing off new models for the first time. The press day of the show saw reveals from the likes of BMW, Cupra, Land Rover, Porsche, Volkswagen and many others.

Organised by the German Association of the Automotive Industry, the Frankfurt Motor Show is of huge importance to both German and international manufacturers alike. For 2019, both concept cars and forthcoming production models packed the floors.

2019 Geneva Motor Show round-up

This year’s show has undoubtedly been one of the most important Frankfurt shows in recent years. It reflected the general direction of the car market, with a number of electric cars on show from manufacturers including Honda, Volkswagen and Porsche.

Conventional petrol and diesel powered cars also vied for attention, with the much anticipated new Land Rover Defender shown to the public for the first time.

On this page, we’ve pulled together a list of all the important cars that were revealed at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show and selected what we think will be key new models for UK car buyers...

Key cars of the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show

Audi A1 Citycarver: Lifted, and rugged looking version of the A1 hatchback.Audi RS6: New generation of the RS6 super estate boasting 592bhp.Audi RS7 Sportback: Super saloon variant of the RS6 Avant Estate.BMW X6: All-new third-generation version of BMW's coupe-SUV.BMW Concept 4: Concept that previews the 2020 BMW 4 SeriesCupra Tavascan: A performance all-electric concept that could make production.Honda e: Honda's new urban electric city car capable of 125 miles of range.Hyundai i10: Updated version of Hyundai's city car with revised styling and new engines.Land Rover Defender: Long-awaited all-new replacement for the legendary Defender 4x4.Lamborghini Sian: 808bhp limited-run hybrid supercar based on the Aventador.Mercedes EQS: A concept previewing the next EQ model in the Mercedes’ model range.Mercedes EQV: Mercedes first pure-electric passenger van with a range of 252 miles.Porsche Taycan: Porsche's first electric car that will be gunning for the Tesla Model S.Skoda Citigo e iV: The first all-electric Skoda boasting 165 miles of range.Smart ForTwo and ForFour: Facelifted versions of the electric EQ ForTwo and EQ ForFour.Vauxhall Corsa: All-new Corsa boasts a new range of engines and an electric Corsa-e model.Vauxhall Astra: New Astra gets a new design, and new engines with updated technology.Vauxhall Grandland X Hybrid4: Latest plug-in hybrid version of the Grandland X.Volkswagen ID.3: The first of the ID range of electric cars will have up to 260 miles of range.Volkswagen ID.4: A fully-electric SUV that will be the firm’s second ‘ID’ model.

Audi A1 Citycarver

The Audi A1 Citycarver is a raised, more ruggedly styled version of the standard A1 hatchback. The firm says it can cope with rougher terrain along with the usual city commuting. No prices have been revealed, but the Citycarver will rival the Ford Fiesta Active and small SUVs such as the VW T-Cross.

Read more about the Audi A1 Citycarver here.

Audi RS6 Avant

The new Audi RS6 Avant estate made its public debut at Frankfurt. For this new model, the German manufacturer has given the RS6 super-aggressive styling, including flared bodywork and larger air intakes. Power, as you’d expect, is anything but modest, with 592bhp on tap from the twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine that’s shared with the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga.

Read more about the new Audi RS6 here.

Audi RS7 Sportback

The new Audi RS7 Sportback was also unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. Like the new RS6 Avant, the RS7 features a 592bhp engine, mild-hybrid technology and aggressively styled bodywork. It will arrive early next year with prices starting at around £100,000.

Read more about the Audi RS7 Sportback here.

BMW Concept 4

The BMW Concept 4 was revealed at Frankfurt and was one of the most intriguing cars at the show. It gives us an idea of what the next BMW 4 Series will look like when it’s revealed in summer 2020 and represents a striking departure from the current model.

Read more about the BMW Concept 4 here.

BMW X6

The all-new third-generation of the BMW X6 made its full Frankfurt debut following its reveal a few months ago. It gets all-new styling, including light-up kidney grilles. Based on the same underpinnings at the new X5 SUV, the new X6 features a range of petrol and diesel engines, with the most powerful being a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol that produces 524bhp.

Read more about the BMW X6 here.

Cupra Tavascan

The Cupra Tavascan coupe-SUV broke cover at the Frankfurt Motor Show and is a model that is being considered for full production. Beneath the futuristic styling, this concept sits on the VW Group’s MEB platform, which is shared with the all-electric ID.3 hatchback. As a potential halo model for the Cupra range, the Tavascan gets a potent twin-electric motor setup giving it a total of 302bhp and four-wheel drive.

Read more about the Cupra Tavascan here.

Honda e

The production-ready version of the long-awaited Honda e was revealed at Frankfurt for the first time. Featuring retro-styling and a host of futuristic onboard tech, the Honda e has 125 miles of WLTP-certified driving range and space inside for four adults. It is also rear-wheel drive, with Honda claiming it has perfect 50:50 weight distribution.

Read more about the Honda e or our prototype drive review here.

Hyundai i10

The updated version of the Hyundai i10 city car was revealed at the show, along with a sportier I10 N Style variant. Both have an array of technology updates that include an upgraded infotainment system shared with the latest i30 hatchback. Other changes include updates to the car’s styling and engines.

Read more about the Hyundai i10 here.

Land Rover Defender

After years of waiting and 750,000 miles of testing, the new Land Rover Defender arrived at Frankfurt. It gets an all-new upmarket design, a swish tech-filled cabin and thoroughly modern underpinnings, with Land Rover claiming the new Defender is equally at home on the road as it is wading across a river.

Read more about the new Land Rover Defender here.

Lamborghini Sian

The Lamborghini Sian is the firm’s first hybrid model. It’s largely based on the Aventador supercar, using a tweaked version of the 6.5-litre V12 petrol engine combined with an electric motor to produce 808bhp. Unlike other hybrids, it uses a supercapacitor instead of a conventional battery giving it treble the power of a lithium-ion battery but with the same weight. The production run of the Sian is limited to 63 cars, all of which are already sold.

Mercedes EQS

Mercedes’ next EQ electric model was shown in concept form at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Mercedes EQS will be a luxurious saloon in a similar vein to the Mercedes S-Class. It’s claimed the concept can manage 434 miles of range but we’ll be waiting until at least 2021 before the production version arrives.

Read more about the Mercedes EQS here.

Mercedes EQV

The Mercedes EQV makes its public debut in Frankfurt as the second model in the electric EQ model line-up alongside the EQC SUV. This pure-electric passenger van will arrive in dealerships in 2020. It offers a claimed driving range of 252 miles per charge, with recharging from 10 to 80% taking less than an hour.

Read more about the Mercedes EQV here.

Porsche Taycan

Porsche’s first electric car, the Taycan, will rival the Tesla Model S and launches with two models, Turbo and Turbo S. The former boasts 671bhp on overboost, with the latter producing a total of 750bhp. The range-topping ‘S’ badged variant sprints from 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds, with 0-124mph possible in only 9.8 seconds. The Taycan uses a 93.4kWh battery, which offers a range of up to 279 miles in Turbo trim.

Read more about the Porsche Taycan here.

Skoda Citigo e iV

The pure-electric Skoda Citigo e iV was showcased on the firm’s stand at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The key numbers are 165 miles of range from a 36.8kWh battery with fast charging to 80% taking an hour. Pricing has yet to be confirmed but we expect it to cost around £18,000 when it arrives early next year.

Read more about the Skoda Citigo e iV here.

Smart ForTwo and ForFour

Facelifted versions of the now electric only range of Smart cars were on display at Frankfurt. These included the Smart EQ ForTwo and EQ ForFour electric cars. Changes included restyled front and rear lights, a new front bumper and grille, and new interior personalisation options. Both models are expected to arrive in the UK early next year.

Read more about the Smart ForTwo and ForFour here.

Vauxhall Corsa

The 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show marked the first public appearance of the all-new Vauxhall Corsa. It shares its underpinnings with the new Peugeot 208, with conventional petrol and diesel models joined by a Corsa-e electric variant that can achieve a claimed 211 miles of range on a single charge.

Read more about the new Vauxhall Corsa and Corsa-e here.

Read our prototype review of the new Vauxhall Corsa here.

Vauxhall Astra

The facelifted Vauxhall Astra appeared in public at Frankfurt for the first time. It features mild design tweaks and a new range of three-cylinder engines. It also gets a new suspension setup and updated interior tech, with Vauxhall claiming the revised design makes it the most aerodynamically efficient model in its class.

Read more about the facelifted Vauxhall Astra range here.

Vauxhall Grandland X Hybrid4

Vauxhall also showcased their Grandland X Hybrid4 plug-in SUV in Frankfurt. It features a petrol-electric powertrain that produces 296bhp, giving it an electric driving range of 32 miles. It’s on sale now, priced from £35,590.

Read more about Vauxhall Grandland X Hybrid4 here.

Volkswagen ID.3

The Volkswagen ID.3 is the first of the firm’s pure-electric ‘ID’ family of cars. Making its public debut at Frankfurt, it was revealed that the first ID.3 models will boast a 58.8kWh battery for a range of 260 miles. Higher-spec models will get bigger batteries for an estimated range of 341 miles.

Read more about the Volkswagen ID.3.

Volkswagen ID.4

The Volkswagen ID.4 was also teased by the manufacturer at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. It's an all-electric SUV and will join the ID.3 hatchback in the German firm's EV model line up. A pre-production version was heavily disguised in a smoked display case at the show. It's anticipated the new model will arrive in UK showrooms by the summer of 2021.

Read more about the Volkswagen ID.4

Best of the rest at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show

Further show highlights included new models from Alpina, a manufacturer that unveiled a tweaked version of the BMW 3 Series Touring estate. Dubbed the B3 Touring, it will use a tuned version of the M340i’s turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six engine that produces more than 400bhp.

Audi introduced a fully electric off-roader dubbed the AI:TRAIL quattro. It offers a preview of how future Audi SUVs could look, and boasts 310 miles of range and 429bhp from four electric motors.

Hyundai pulled the wraps of its retro-themed 45 Concept at the show. It borrows styling from the Pony Coupe concept car from the 1970s but adds modern tech that may well make it into production models in the future.

Do you want to know more about the best car’s coming soon? Check out our picks for the best cars coming in 2019, 2020 and beyond.