2011 Frankfurt: What’s Coming to Canada

By John LeBlanc FRANKFURT—If you’re in the process of looking for a new car, you may want to wait. This year’s Frankfurt auto show provided plenty of glimpses of what will be arriving in Canadian new car showrooms in the near future. As Germany’s largest automaker — with the long-term goal of outselling No. 1 General Motors and No. 2 Toyota worldwide — the Volkswagen Group’s plethora of production car unveilings dominated the Frankfurt show’s floor. the VW brand’s focus was the launch of the European-market Up! city car, Canadians will be seeing the redesigned 2012 VW Tiguan (above) compact crossover later this fall and, more than likely, a production version of the all-wheel-drive, 240 hp Beetle R Concept in a few years. VW’s premium Audi brand introduced updated versions of its entire lineup of Canadian-market S high-performance cars. The 2012 S4 sedan and S5 coupé and convertible, all boasting facelifts, will go on sale early next year. A new twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 (developed with VW’s Bentley) will appear in Audi’s flagship S8 sedan with 520 hp, and in detuned form with 420 hp in the mid-size S6 sedan and S7 hatchback (left) — all three to arrive later in 2012. VW’s Porsche debuted the first iteration of what will no doubt be a long line of lighter, lower, wider and more fuel-efficient, new-generation, 911 2+2 sports cars.The first to go on sale in Canada early next year will be the rear-wheel-drive 911 Carrera, available with both 3.4 and 3.8-litre flat six engines, making 350 and 400 hp, respectively. Germany’s BMW Group’s debuts included both old and new schools of thought. “Old school” BMW unveilings included the latest M5 mid-size sports sedan (seen left, and due in Canada in mid-2012 with 552 hp from its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8), and the 2012 6 Series two-door coupé, available this fall. “New school” Bimmers include the 2012 Mini Coupé. It will arrive in dealerships at the end of the year. As well, BMW confirmed delivery of the all-electric i3 compact, due in 2013, and the i8 sports car EV, due one year later. Mercedes-Benz’s Frankfurt premieres for the Canadian-market showed the breadth of its product lineup. At the top end, it revealed the soft-top convertible version of the existing rear-wheel-drive SLS AMG two-seat super car (left) — obviously without the coupé’s signature “gull wing” doors. At the other end, both in performance and price, was the world debut of the next-generation front-wheel-drive 2013 B Class compact four-door hatchback. When it goes on sale in late 2012, the new B will feature improved fuel economy, more space for both passengers and cargo, and plenty of “big car” safety kit. While Ford unveiled its own “gull-wing” Evos concept (it drops clues as to the styling of the Fusion mid-size sedan replacement for 2013), the U.S. automaker’s production premieres featured a pair of its existing small cars. Ford’s first “global performance car,” the new compact four-door Focus ST hatchback (left), will launch around the world — including Canada — in 2012. Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with 247 hp channeled through a six-speed manual. In addition, a 175-180 hp ST version of the subcompact Fiesta was also seen here in “concept.” Ford said that if it decides to build the Fiesta ST, and bring it to North America, it won’t happen until 2013. Korea’s Hyundai-Kia Motors also focused on small cars. The new, European-market Hyundai i30 compact four-door hatchback is what we’ll call our next Hyundai Elantra Touring. Expect it to arrive in Canada sometime in 2012. Kia had already announced a new 2012 Rio5 subcompact four-door hatchback for Canada. The two-door Rio hatch (left) that debuted here in Frankfurt hasn’t been confirmed for our market yet, however. But Kia officials say they are seriously considering importing the attractive-looking car. Although an it’s-on-sale date hasn’t been confirmed, Fiat’s Maserati unveiled the brand’s first-ever SUV. Dubbed the Kubang, the mid-size SUV is based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It will be built in the same Michigan plant as the Jeep and powered by engines from both Fiat-owned Chrysler and Ferrari. Japanese automakers made little news relevant to the Canadian market here in Germany. Toyota showed its redesigned 2012 subcompact Yaris four-door hatchback, as well as another concept version of its long-awaited FT-86 small sports coupé that should go on sale next year. The premium Lexus brand displayed its new GS 450h, the gasoline-electric hybrid version of the 2013 GS 350 mid-size sports sedan. Subaru displayed a production version of its compact XV crossover, first seen at this year’s Shanghai show. Although not signed-off for North America, the Impreza-based XV seems like a natural for the Canadian market.

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