Munich Auto Show: Top 10 Cars Of IAA Mobility 2021 - Forbes

Munich Auto Show: Top 10 Cars Of IAA Mobility 2021 · BMW i Vision Circular Concept · Mercedes EQB Electric SUV · Volkswagen ID.Life Crossover · Audi ... 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TheshiftingfocusoftheshowandcontinuingfalloutfromCovid-19meanareducednumberofparticipantingautomakersatIAAMobility,butthearrivalofmanycompaniesthatwouldn’thavepreviouslyattendedanautoshow. InsteadoflandingthefullspectrumofinternationalautomakersasFrankfurtusedto,IAAMobility2021encompassesmostalltheGermanbrands,RenaultandsubsidiaryDacia,Hyundai,aFordMustangMach-EasproxyfortheU.S.autoindustry,Polestar(butnotparentVolvo),andavarietyofChinesebrands.However,mobilitycompanies,automotivesuppliersincludingBoschandMagna,softwarecompaniesandahostoftop-tierbicyclemakerswereoutinforce. GermanChancellorAngelaMerkeladdressedtheshowonTuesday,highlightingtheautoindustry’simportanceinGermany,buttwofactorsmaydrivedownattendance.FearsaboutCovid-19continuetolinger,buttheshowwasalsogreetedbyclimatechangeprotestorscallingforaspeedierendtothesaleofdieselandgasolinecars.ActivistsfromGreenpeaceblockedseveralroadwaysonthefirstdayoftheshow,andannouncedplanstofurtherinterrupttheshowwithprotestslaterintheweek. Nonetheless,evenwithfewautomakersgracingMunichonasunnyandwarmweek,thereweremorethanenoughnewcarsandconceptstomakefor10greatnewvehicles.IAAMobilityrunsthroughSunday,Sept12,attheexhibitioncenterontheoutskirtsoftownandatmultiplepop-uplocationsdowntown. HereareForbesWheels’top10carsofIAAMobility2021inMunich: BMWiVisionCircularConcept CockpitoftheBMWiVisionCircular.Allthematerialsaremeanttoberecycledandreusedagain,perhapsinanotherBMW,thecompanysays.Thedashisa3D-printedcrystalsculpturethatuseslightingtosimulatethevehicle“thinking.”BMW TheBMWiVisionCircularConceptisBMW’slong-rangelookatwhatBMWsmightbelikein2040.ThissubcompacthatchbackisjustahairlargerthanBMW’scurrenti3EV.It’ssmall,yes,butspaciousinsidebecausetheelectricmotorandbatterypackdon’ttakeupmuchspace.“Circular”referstothecircleoflifeforthecomponents,whichare100%recyclable,eventhesolid-statebattery.ThebodyskinisunpaintedaluminumwiththeBMWlogoetchedintothemetalratherthanaplasticbadgegluedon.Tomakerecyclingsimpler,constructionusesquick-releasefasteners,cordsandpressstudsinsteadofbondedorrivetedcomponents.Someoftheconcept’sattributesmayappearsooner,around2025,inthenextiterationofBWW’sNeueKlasse(NewClass)lineupofEVsarrives.“NeueKlasse”isareferencetothesportysedansthatreinventedBMWinthe1960safterabrushwithbankruptcyin1959.ThosecarssetthetoneforBMW’sinternationalgrowthoverthenext30yearsandtheGermanautomakerhopesforsimilarsuccessinreinventingitselfwithafullyelectrifiedlineup. MercedesEQBElectricSUV Mercedes-BenzEQBcompactelectricSUVwithseatingforfivetosevenpassengers. BillHoward Mercedes-BenzcontinuestherolloutofEQ—electric—vehicles.InMunichthatincludedtheEQB.IftheEQBlooksabitfamiliar,that’sbecausethisisafully-electrifiedversiontheexistingGLB-Classcrossover.Whileitmightnotbethemostfar-outofMunich’sdebuts,theEQBislikelytobeoneofthefirstandmostaffordableMercedes-BenzEVstoreachconsumers.Acompactmachine184incheslong,itwillofferatinyoptionalthirdrowjustliketheGLB(maxpassengerheightforrowthree,Mercedessays:5-foot-4).Initiallytherewillbeall-wheel-driveEQBswith66.5-kWhbatteriesand168kWor215kWmotors,followedbyafront-drivemodelandfinallyalong-rangeversion.MercedesactuallybroughtfivenewEVstotheshow:theConceptMercedes-MaybachEQS,thenewEQB,thenewEQEmidsizesedan,thefull-sizeMercedes-AMGEQS534MATIC+sedanandtheConceptEQG(basedontheG-Classoff-roader,seebelow). VolkswagenID.LifeCrossover TheVolkswagenID.LifeelectriccrossoverconceptunveiledinMunichgoesonsalein2025,VWsays. BillHoward TheVolkswagenIDLifeelectriccrossoverextendsVW’sIDseriesdownwardinsize.IDLifeistheconceptforafuturesubcompactproductionvehiclethatwillbesmallerthanboththeID.4compactcrossoverandnot-sold-in-AmericaID.3hatchback.Thesmartly-styledIDLifewillgeta231-horsepowerelectricmotoranda57.0-kWhbattery,whichVWsaysitwillreturnupto249milesontheEuropeanWLTPcycle(WorldwideHarmonisedLightVehiclesTestProcedure).WLTPisgenerallyconsideredtobeabout10%moreoptimisticthanEPAratings,soprepareyourselffor225milesintheunlikelyeventthattheIDLifeendsupsoldhere.That’snotexactlyTesla-likerange,buttheIDLifeisanurbanrunaboutaboutthesizeofaHyundaiVenue.Theconcepthasabuilt-inprojector,atranslucentgrilleandasteeringwheelwiththetopthirdcutoff.Intheconcept.VWsaystheUSmaygetthelargerID.3,withfirstshipmentsin2025,butismumontheIDLife’schancesforU.S.sale. AudiGrandsphereConcept TheAudiGrandsphererepresentsluxurytravel.AproductionversionmayshareaplatformwithanupcomingBentleyEV.Audi “Aprivatejetfortheroad”ishowAudidescribesthesleekGrandsphere.It’slong,lowandsleek,biggerthanthesportyAudiSkyspherethatdebutedatthePebbleBeachConcours/MontereyCarWeekinAugust.Audiwillshowathirdconcept,theAudiUrbansphere,nextyear.GrandsphereisalsoaplatformforAudi’svisionofautonomousoperation,withasteeringwheelthatretractsintothewraparounddashboard,suggestingLevel4autonomy(meaningfullself-drivingonsomeroadssuchasinterstates,butconventionaloperationinlesscontrolledevirons).Thedashboardisflatwithnobuttonsortouchscreen;instead,informationisprojectedonthedashandaneye-trackerseeswhatinformationthedriverislookingat.Aproductionversioncouldbereadyin2025or2026. PorscheMissionR ThePorscheMissionRracergetsto100kph(62mph)inlessthan2.5seconds. Porsche ForthehardcorePorscheenthusiastwho’salsoracer,thePorscheMissionRracervaultshimorherintoelectricracing.PorschesaystheMissionRisgoodfor671horsepowerinracingmodeand1073horsepowerinqualifyingmode,withseparateelectricmotorsfrontandrear.Thattranslatestoa0-100kphtimeof2.5seconds.Powercomesfroman90-kWhbatterythat,theautomakersays,isgoodfor30-45minutesofracing.TheMissionrechargesfroma900-voltsystemwitharechargefrom5%to80%takingjust15minutes,assumingthere’sa900-voltchargeratthetrack.Today,theMissionRisafunctioningprototypeandnotslatedforproduction,butPorschesuggestsacustomer-availableracermightbereadyby2026.Attheleast,theMissionRhintsatfutureracecardesign,withacarbonfibersafetycagethatispartofthecar’sstructure.BuildingcustomerracecarsisalongstandingbusinessforPorsche,withmorethan4,000constructedovertheyears. SmartConcept#1 TheSmartConcept#1EVissimilarinsizetoaMiniCountryman. BillHoward AmericansmayremembertheSmartcitycar,acuteandtiny—butexpensive—machinethatfoundfavorinEuropebutnothere,butSmarthasalsoofferedlargervehiclesinEuropesince2003,withelectrifiedversionscomingonlinein2017.Smartisn’tsoldintheU.S.anymore,butSmartisbackintheheadlinesinEuropethankstotheConcept#1.A50-50ventureofDaimlerandChina’sGeely(parentcompanyofVolvoandPolestar),thisnewSmartwillbebuiltinChina,packselectricpowerexclusivelyandisSmart’slargest-evervehicle.Specshaveitas169incheslong,onparwiththeMiniCountryman,witha12.8-inchtouchscreenandround,almostLucid-likestyling.TheautomakeralsoclaimstheConceptwillhavethe“highestlevelofdynamichandling.”ItmightmakeabetterimpressiononAmericansthantheoriginalSmartcars,butsellingitherewouldmeanre-establishingsalesofSmart(whichendedin2019)andovercomingthe25%tariffplacedonChinese-builtcarsimposedbytheTrumpAdministrationandstillineffect. CityTransformer TheCityTransformercanbemadewiderwhendrivenoutsidecrowdedurbanzones. BillHoward Severalsmall,city-orientedEVrunabouts—smallerthanSmartcars—wereshowninMunich.Astandoutfordesignversatilityistheshape-shiftingCityTransformercar.What’sdifferentisthis:TheCityTransformercanexpanditswidthondemandforabitmorecomfort.Incompactmode,fourofthemfitinasingleparkingspace,saysCEOAsafFormoza.InCityMode,it’s1,000mmwide(39inches).InPerformanceMode,itexpandsto1,400mm(55inches).TheTelAviv-basedcompanyclaimstheseperformancenumbers:topspeedof90km/h(56mph),rangeof120-180km(75-112miles)andanunchanginglengthof2500mm(98inches).Thecompanyhasbeenaroundforseveralyears;itisstillin“pre-order”modewithpricesstartingattheequivalentof$15,000. Mercedes-BenzEQG TheG-Wagongetsfourelectricmotorsandcuteheadlamps. BillHoward Thesquare-rigged,iconicMercedes-BenzG-Classoff-roaderisgoingelectric.Itwillhavethesameandruggedsuspension—independentinfront,solidaxleattherear—thatallowsforseriousoff-roaddriving,butnowwithsomemodernEVtricks.AlthroughMercedesdidnotilluminateallofthedrivetraindetails,thoughitdidsaytherewouldbefourelectricmotors,onedrivingeachwheel.ThiswouldalmostcertainlyexpandtheG-class’alreadyformidableoff-roadcapabilities.Theclassicstylingcuesarethere:boxygreenhouse,bigspare-tirecarrieronthereargate(nowsquareinshapeandactuallyforstorage,includingchargingcable),andbigdoorhandlesandsidetrims.Therearedifferences,too,atleastontheconcept:thegrillehasilluminatedblueelements,theMercedesstarisilluminated,andthegrillesurroundandthetworoundheadlampshavelitwhiteborders.PricewillprobablybeinkeepingwiththetraditionalG-Class,whichstartsinthe$130,000range. MiniVisionUrbanaut MiniVisionUrbanautwouldgiveMinidealersabiggervehicletosell.BillHoward MinimaybeBritish,butit’sownedbyBMW,hencethisre-launchofa2020conceptEV.Unlikelastyear,however,MinihintstheUrbanautmayheadedtowardproduction.Aroundedminivan-likemachine,theUrbanautfeaturessofa-styleseatinginsideand—intheconcept,atleast—asteeringwheelthathidesawaywhenit’sdrivenautonomously.Minisaysit’s“immediatelyidentifiableasaMini,”althoughitlooksmorelikeaStarTrekshuttlecraftorearly1990sToyotaPreviathananyextantMiniCooper.WhatUrbanautcoulddoisgiveMinidealerssomethingbiggertosellwhenownersfindeventheCountrymancan’tholdwhattheywanttotakeontheiradventures.Togettomarket,Miniwouldlikelyhavetosacrificehigher-levelself-drivingambitionsandscentdispensers,butwiththesleeklookstheUrbanautcouldmakeaquirky,offbeatlineextension.AndMinifanslove“quirky.” DaciaJogger TheDaciaJoggerwon’tbecomingtotheU.S.butitshowshowtherestoftheworldisalsointerestedinaffordable,off-roadcapablethree-rowSUVs. Dacia NoteveryMunichdebutwasallaboutelectrification.DaciaisaRomaniancarcompanyownedbyRenaultsince1999,andthusbytheRenault-Nissan-MitsubishiAlliancethataccountsforoneofeveryninecarsalesworldwide.Daciaisthealliance’sbudgetbrandforinternationalmarkets,anditsearnedasolidreputationforvalue-packed,ifbasic,carsandcrossovers.TheJoggerisitslargestSUVyet,andthere’sanoptionforthree-rowseating,thoughit’llbeasnugfitinbackandaroofrackmightbeessentialforfamilytravel.TheJoggermaybebigbyDaciastandards,butnotbyU.S.ones.Thisnewmachinewillstartatabout$18,000,whichwouldbeextremelyattractivepricingifitevermakesitstateside,assmallSUVswithoff-roadabilityandeventinythirdrowsarehotcommoditieshere.However,consideringthedifficultyofestablishingaU.S.presenceevenbybetterknownnameslikeFiat,itseemsunlikelythatthisJoggerwilleverrunpastyourhouse. BillHoward ForbesStaff IhavebeenpastpresidentoftheInternationalMotorPressAssociation,pastchairoftheCornellMagazineAlumniCommittee,andformerpresidentoftheCornellAlumniAssociation.Mywritings,investigativereportingandcolumnshavebeenhonoredbytheComputerPressAssociation,theInternationalAutomotiveMediaCompetitionandtheAssociatedPress. Updated:Sep7,2021 LatestArticles TheHurricane:StellantisLaunchesNewEngineFamilyToImproveFuelEconomy DriveSmart:20WaystoSaveGas BestRVPowerCordsFor2022 MaseratiGrecale:ATridentAimedAtTheHeartOfTheLuxeCrossoverMarket Porsche718CaymanGT4RSFirstDrive:ATrackToySwansong ChipShortage,Covid,WarMakeCarOptions,SafetyAssistsUnavailable AudiPreviewsItsAll-ElectricA6Wagon,WithMoreElectrifiedA6sToCome Forpartnershipinquiriespleasereachouttousat [email protected]