Frankfurt Motor Show concepts

According to the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), the International Motor Show (IAA) is by far the largest motor trade fair in the world, measured by the number of exhibitors and the area covered, and this year attracted one million people-an event record. Visitors to the 60th IAA held in Frankfurt in September were greeted with 125 world premieres, 60 of which were new vehicles by the world's automotive manufacturers. Prior to the public event, AEI editors scoured the show to put together this special section of Global Vehicles highlighting the best-in-show concept cars.

It is always difficult to assess what is the most outstanding car at an international motor show. Should that judgment be based on its novel mechanical applications and solutions? Should it be in recognition of bold use of advanced materials, including carbon fiber, for cars that are exotic, exceedingly costly, and at variance with a world of speed limits? Or should it simply be because it looks “right”-that it manifests a hard-to-define, almost esoteric element that singles out its design and engineering as something unexpected and special? If that third criterion is applied, then the Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione concept revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show is indeed outstanding.

Such judgments are totally arbitrary and the competition was fierce at Frankfurt: Mercedes-Benz's SLR McLaren and Vision CLS concept, the Jaguar R-D6 concept, Aston Martin DB9, and Audi Le Mans concept. The Alfa was unveiled to some razzmatazz, but compared to the welter of information released by most companies on their glossy new products, 8c Competizione was in another league. When asked for press information in English the company's representative said: “It is a new car. Just arrived. We have nothing.” Unusual in the extreme.