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Some of the world's top automakers showed off their latest models at the bi-annual Frankfurt motor show in early September, and I easily walked close to 20km over the two press days between the massive halls of Messe Frankfurt.
While manufacturers showed off many electric vehicles at one of the world's preeminent car show, many cars that dazzled show-goers boasting huge power and aggressive design elements.
Here are four standout cars from the show:
Audi RS 7 - Powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with 441kW and 800Nm which is transferred to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The engine benefits from cylinder deactivation technology and even has a mild hybrid system (MHEV) with a 48-volt main onboard electrical system. A belt alternator starter can recover up to 12kW of power and feed it into a lithium-ion battery as electricity says, Audi.
Top speed is limited to 250km/h but can be lifted to 305km/h as part of the Dynamic plus package. Riding on 21-inch wheels, the RS 7 has an air suspension as standard and a specific alcantara-clad RS sport steering wheel with RS modes accessible via the helm.
Audi South Africa has earmarked the final quarter of 2020 for the introduction of the RS 7.
Image: Sean Parker
Audi RS6 Avant - Like its RS 7 brother, the RS 6 is also powered by a 4.0-litre TFSI turbocharged engine with 441kW and 800. Zero to 100km/h is a claimed 3.6 seconds while 200km/h will take 12 seconds and the car is governed to a top speed of 250km/h.
But the RS 6 carries all the heritage of what an RS model should have, it's the ultimate Audi performance car with practicality to boot.
The station wagon or Avant in Audi-speak is utterly gorgeous in the metal and Audi South Africa says the model will arrive in the final quarter of 2020 and that the timing is subject to change.
Volkswagen ID 3 - Arguably the most important car shown in Frankfurt was the ID 3, an electric-powered hatchback for the masses according to Volkswagen.
The ID 3 is said to be the first carbon-neutral and emission-free car, and also the automaker's first-ever series production electric vehicle.
At launch, the ID 3 will be available in Europe with three battery size options and ranges of 330km, 420km, and 550km. VW says with its fast charging capability, the ID 3 will garner a range of around 290km within 30 minutes, using a charging output of 100kW.
The Golf-sized hatchback will go into production towards the end of the year and go on sale in Europe in 2020 with deliveries moving to China and then North America.
Volkswagen SA has expressed interest in bringing the ID 3 to local shores.
BMW M135i xDrive - The big news for the flagship 1 Series model is that's no longer powered by a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine, BMW has replaced it with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 225kW and 400Nm sent to all four wheels.
The M135i adopts an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The German automaker claims hot hatch has a top speed of 250km/h and can reach 100km/h from standstill in 4.8 seconds. South Africans will likely see it for the first time at the firm's 'M Festival' at Kyalami in late October.
Key rivals include the Mercedes-AMG A35, Volkswagen Golf R and the Audi S3.
