FRANKFURT, Germany -- The Frankfurt auto show -- Europe's biggest and traditionally the launchpad for optimistic sales projections -- is a study in contrast as automakers' prepared talking points collided with reality and came away dented.
While automakers from around the world unveil important new vehicles and promise hot sales for their wares, they all admit that Europe's 2010 sales outlook is pretty bleak. There's a consensus that U.S. sales will recover somewhat from 2009's nightmare, but Europe is primed for an 8% drop as the hangover hits from this year's ambitious cash-for-clunkers deals, according to IHS Global Insight's forecast.
On the show floor, a flood of electric vehicle concepts belied the reality that every European automaker but Renault says EVs are years from practicality, and more years from making a major impact on vehicle sales or emissions.
There was also much talk about the absence of American automakers and whether it signals a permanent decline for the U.S. industry. That theory smacked into the brick wall of a couple of inconvenient facts. First, that the probable best-seller among cars introduced in Frankfurt was the Opel Astra, and that GM developed the car and -- for the moment at least -- still controls Opel. Second, that two of the most interesting and innovative vehicles at the show were Ford's five- and seven-seat C-Max and Grand C-Max minivans.
Here's a look at some of the show's high- and lowlights:
HIT: Opel Astra
The 10th generation -- more than any other European automaker has made -- of GM Europe's iconic small car has modern and sporty looks, a roomy interior and will hit the road with a lower price than its archrival, the VW Golf. If you imagine the Astra with a trunk instead of a hatchback, you'll have a clear idea of what the premium compact sedan Buick will build -- probably in Michigan -- and sell in a couple of years looks like.
HIT: Ford C-Max and Grand C-Max
The first vehicles to come from Ford's global compact-vehicle engineering program, these two minivans embody the automaker's winning "kinetic design" approach to styling. The 5-seat C-Max is a Europe-only vehicle, but the seven-seater is bound for U.S. sales, and almost certainly for production at either Ford's Wayne or Louisville, Ky., plant. The Grand C-Max features a neat second-row seat that converts from a bench to two bucket seats and provides a passage for kids to walk through the van.
HIT: Jaguar XJ
Jaguar's new big sedan is really big, the first Jag that looks like it can compete with cars like the BMW 7-series on room and comfort. It's also a complete departure from Jag's hidebound design, even fresher and more contemporary than the striking XF sport sedan that's on sale.
MISS: Audi A5 Sportback
Audi's A4 sedan and A5 coupe are two of the most stunning cars on the road, but this unnecessary hatchback version of the A5 blurs the lines between them and detracts from the whole model line's appeal. A good hatchback can be a lovely and practical car. The A5 Sportback is neither. The good news is that Audi doesn't plan to sell it in the United States.
HIT AND MISS: Mini Cooper roadster and coupe
The Mini roadster is a sporty delight, and really, giving up the Mini's backseat isn't that much of a sacrifice. The car looks great with the top down, but perhaps ominously, Mini didn't give show-goers a look at it with the roof closed. There's no question that the roof on the Mini coupe is a problem, however. The squashed aluminum top and sharply angled rear window look more like what would happen if a giant stepped on a Mini than the result of a conscious design effort.
HIT: BMW EfficientDynamics concept
This spectacular concept melds the latest technology with a shape that's simultaneously a new direction for BMW and an homage to the classic BMW M1 coupe. The concept's low sleek body maximizes aerodynamics and visual appeal. The styling is new BMW design chief Adrian von Hooydonk's first triumph, and a hint at future production BMWs.
MISSING: Chinese automakers
After years of steadily increasing their presence at the auto show and pledging that each new model they showed would challenge the world's best, not a single Chinese automaker had a display. Whether it was the economic downturn or the slagging their cars consistently got from European journalists and regulators, companies from the world's largest car market were notably absent.
Article by, MARK PHELAN: 313-222-6731 or phelan@freepress.com