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Carmakers show off latest models at IAA

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Carmakers show off latest models at IAA
Photo: DPA

Electric cars by German builders are just some of the nearly 70 world premieres at the 65th edition of the IAA auto show which opens on Thursday. One million people are expected in Frankfurt to view the latest models.

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BMW has an entire hall to itself where pride of place will be given to the new i3, its first-ever fully electric model with a driving range of between 130-300 kilometres which is scheduled to hit Europe's showrooms in November.

Another hotly awaited model at the show will be BMW's plug-in hybrid, the i8. The Munich-based group will also present the definitive version of its new Series 4, the coupe version of its Series 3 limousine and the x5 eDrive prototype, a plug-in hybrid take on its x5 SUV.

Volkswagen, Europe's biggest car maker, is also going electric with its first fully electric models, the e-Golf and the e-Up!. The e-Golf, with a driving range of 190 kilometres, will hit the roads from

the beginning of next year.

CLICK HERE for photos of some of the best new models at the IAA

The e-Up!, a four-seater with a starting price of €26,900 and a range of 160 kilometres, will go on sale in Germany in October. VW will also show off its Golf R, a revved-up 300 horse-power version of its perennial Golf.

Mercedes-Benz is looking to draw the crowds with its concept S-Class Coupe and a third version of its A-Class - the compact sports SUV which is a rival to Audi Q3 and the BMW X1.

Smart is set to unveil a prototype of its door-less four-seater FourJoy, while Opel is hoping to create a buzz with its Monza concept car, a hybrid intended to lead the way for the brand-new style of the group's upcoming models.

Seat, the Spanish arm of the VW group, will unveil its new Leon ST estate car to be launched in November. And VW's Czech brand Skoda will show off a compact model of its Rapid family car, the Rapid Spaceback.

Sports car enthusiasts can gape in wonder at the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Squadra Corse, a limited edition with 570 horse-power, or the hybrid Porsche 918 Spyder with close to 900 horse-power under its bonnet.

Renault will lift the lid on a new concept car that will prefigure the successor of its Espace mini-van model in the form of a top-of-the-range crossover. The French group's efforts in this field are being closely watched following the failure of its VelSatis and Avantime models.

Peugeot is coming to Frankfurt with a new version of its 308 that will

rival VW's Golf 7.

Swedish group Volvo, owned by China's Geely, will show off a concept coupe and Fiat of Italy will lift the veil on its 500X, a crossover version of its 500 model.

The IAA runs until September 22nd and houses 1,100 exhibitors.

AFP/The Local/tsb

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