FRANKFURT: Munich will soon be at a centre of the automotive world when the southern German city hosts the international IAA Mobility Show from Sept 7-12.
The trade exhibition has shrugged off the past by moving south from its decades-old Frankfurt location. It now aims to grab a wider audience as a window on modern mobility including bicycles and scooters.
The concept is new too and instead of mainly static displays there are multiple venues spread around the city’s handsome squares and other urban spaces.
New models naturally still dominate the first major public European car show since the world has been gripped by the coronavirus pandemic.
First off, there will be a raft of fresh electric cars. A combination of official announcements and behind-the-scenes gossip indicate that more than a dozen new electrified models will break cover in Munich.
> BMW has the biggest exhibition hall stand and will use its Bavarian home advantage to launch the low-slung i4 electric saloon and the futuristic, upmarket iX5 SUV. A hydrogen version of the iX5 will also be on show.
> Mercedes-Benz hopes its electric EQS flagship and the compact EQB SUV with up to seven seats will wow real-life visitors for the first time. It is also fielding the EQE as an electrified alternative to the fuel-sipping E-Class executive saloon.
> Volkswagen has already teased the sporty ID 5 GTX which weighs in as a rakish electric coupe SUV. It is largely based on the straight-backed ID 4.
> Korean makers Hyundai and Kia are presenting technically-allied but completely different approaches as shown by the sleek Ioniq 5 and crossover-styled EV6. Both cars are based on the new Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).
> Renault will use Munich as a launch pad for the new Megane EVision small SUV which ushers in a range of pure-electrics from the French brand. No petrol or diesel engines are planned for the new models.
SEAT is staying away from the show but the boldy-styled electric Tavascan SUV concept from spin-off brand Cupra should delight fans. Meanwhile Audi promises a glimpse of the Grandsphere luxury liner which previews the A8 limousine successor.
A concept showcasing the new electric-only Smart SUV should also attract much attention. “We have basically re-invented the brand,” said Mercedes-Benz design chief Gordon Wagener.
Details are still sketchy but the look and feel of the Chinese-built, five-door car is similar to the MINI Countryman and radically different from any Smart that went before. Sales are set to begin in 2022.
Petrol-heads will be catered for in Munich and BMW will launch the new 2 Series coupe complete with a rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive options.
Volkswagen will also be showing off two models with fuel nozzles.
The Taigo is a more aggressive-looking version of the brand's T-Cross aimed at lifestyle buyers while the new edition of the evergreen Multivan is now based on the Golf platform.
VW said the people-carrier gets more space inside, enhanced connectivity and new driver assistance systems. The Multivan will also be offered as a plug-in hybrid for the first time.
The car industry association VDA, which is organising the fair, hopes the new IAA concept will secure its future but the event is off the radar for many carmakers.
Famous brands like Ferrari and Maserati are not showing and visitors will search in vain for Frankfurt regulars like Toyota, Peugeot and Fiat. Even Germany’s Opel is not taking part this year.
This has little to do with a lack of new product in the pipeline since plenty of premieres from IAA stay-aways are due later this year.
The new Stellantis Group, which brackets Peugeot/PSA with FiatChrysler and includes Opel, is holding back three debuts, the new Opel Astra, a revamped Peugeot 308 and the elegant DS4.
"Why should we share the limelight in Munich with many other brands?" said outgoing Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller. The marque will unveil the next-gen Astra at home in Ruesselsheim - exactly one week before the IAA gets under way.
Toyota is also saving its new Yaris compact SUV for later along with Nissan whose battery-powered Ariya is waiting in the wings.
It seems many makers have been deterred from attending by dwindling IAA crowds in recent years. The success of digital premieres during the pandemic has also contributed.
