Words and photos by Mark Richardson
The show's the thing... ▲What's coming to Canada?
There are thousands of new vehicles on the show floors of Frankfurt’s International Motor Show but not nearly all will make it to the Canadian market. Following is our pick of those ultimately coming to Canada. ▲Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe
Removing two doors, resulting in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe, makes the car much sexier. It’s a little longer and wider than the previous generation, and will come on sale early next year. ▲Infiniti Q30
We’ll only get one version of Infiniti’s new compact Q30 when it arrives next year. It’ll come with a 2.0L, four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive. ▲Infiniti Q30
Don’t confuse the hatchback Infiniti Q30 with the QX30, which will be a very similar compact crossover with all-wheel drive. It will debut in November at the Los Angeles auto show. ▲Jaguar F-Pace
With crossovers and SUVs selling so well, it was only a matter of time before Jaguar got in on the action with its new F-Pace. ▲Jaguar F-Pace
The sporty F-Pace is a Jaguar shaped like a crossover, not a crossover that was pushed into the shape of a Jag, says its chief designer, Ian Callum. ▲Bentley Bentayga
Not to be outdone, and also cashing in on crossover popularity, Bentley pulled the wraps off its ultra-luxury Bentayga. There’s no Canadian price announced yet, but it’ll be expensive. ▲Rolls-Royce Dawn
The Rolls-Royce Dawn will be more expensive, though – because it’s a Rolls-Royce. ▲Rolls-Royce Dawn
The Dawn is a smaller four-seater convertible than the Phantom-based Drophead Coupe. That doesn’t mean it’s small: its 6.6L twin-turbo V-12 engine makes 563 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. Don’t open the door at speed… ▲BMW X1
There wasn’t an official press introduction for BMW’s X1 after the company’s chairman fainted on stage, but the wraps were removed anyway. ▲Kia Sportage
We don’t yet know any specific details about the Canadian edition of the next Kia Sportage. It’ll look like this European edition, with a sportier appearance, a new grille, and higher quality materials. ▲Toyota Prius
Toyota’s fourth generation of the Prius hybrid will also look more sporty, and will be longer, wider and lower than before. ▲Toyota Prius
According to the bumph, the new Prius is supposed to look like a runner in the starting blocks. There’s no word yet on its fuel consumption, except that it’s improved upon the current generation. ▲Mazda Koeru concept
We won’t get the sleek Mazda Koeru concept car, but we will get the next generation of the CX-9 that will based on it. ▲Volkswagen Tiguan
Europeans will get the next Volkswagen Tiguan early in 2016, but we’ll have to wait another year for it to arrive in Canada. When it comes, it will be only the long-wheelbase version. ▲Mini Clubman
We’re also getting this longer wheelbase edition of the Mini Clubman. Its extra 10 cm of length makes it the longest production Mini ever made. It still has the distinctive double-doors of the current generation at the rear. ▲Smart Fortwo
If you prefer your cars even smaller, the latest generation of the Smart Fortwo now comes as a cabriolet, in both conventional- and electric-powered versions. ▲Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet
Also topless, and also on stage with Mercedes, is the new S-Class Cabriolet. It uses 12 heaters and 18 actuators to keep the climate just as you want it, whether the roof is up or down. ▲Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet
When the three-layered roof is in place on the S-Class Cabriolet, Mercedes claims it has class-leading quietness – almost as insulating as the hardtop. ▲Alfa-Romeo Giulia
Alfa-Romeo’s Giulia is intended to compete with the compact sedans of the German makers, but with Italian style. ▲Alfa-Romeo Giulia
There’s no word yet on Canadian specifications or prices for the various models of the Giulia, but it should be similar to other premium compact sedans when it’s sold here next year. ▲Ferrari 488 Spider
Of course, no European auto show is complete without a new Ferrari. ▲Ferrari 488 Spider
Ferrari’s 488 Spider will use its 670 hp to accelerate from zero-to-200 km/h in only 8.7 seconds. ▲Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4
Not to be outdone, Lamborghini took the top off its Huracan LP 610-4. ▲Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4
The Huracan Spider only has 610 hp and takes slightly more than 10 seconds to accelerate from zero-to-200 km/h. Good luck explaining that to the police at the side of the road when it arrives in Canada next year. ▲null