By: Ted Biederman
The first major auto show of the 2003/04 season opens this weekend in Frankfurt, Germany with great expectation that the product to be previewed will one day soon help the worldwide auto market to rebound from what has been a market based on incentives instead of product.
Here’s just a peek at some of the introductions to be made at the Frankfurt Motor Show:
Aston Martin will debut a new, larger, faster DB – this one the 9. The grand touring car will provide luxury for four and a 6-liter V12 with 440-horses will power the sleek new car built on a new (VH) platform.

Chrysler will have the 300C concept shown in Detroit in January make its European debut. Additionally the American arm of DaimlerChrysler will introduce a Touring version that will become available exclusively outside of North America late next year. The wagon will feature all-wheel-drive and will share most of the 300C sedan equipment.
GM Daewoo will offer up a new hatchback version of the Lacetti that was introduced as a sedan at the Seoul Motor Show last November. Giorgetto Giugiaro’s Italdesign studio in Turin is responsible for the design. The studio has done a number of designs for Daewoo including the new Verona and Forenza that Daewoo is building in Korea for Suzuki and a new entry-level car for Chevrolet.

Also from Korea comes the Coupe-Cabriolet concept from Hyundai that was designed in conjunction with German coachbuilder Karmann. Coupe-Cabrio is a stunning exercise in four-place, unique, open-air motoring that Hyundai hopes will become reality. The concept features a glass top that can slide back like a large sunroof or can completely stow away to become a full convertible.
Jaguar, which has already announced a price adjustment on the X-Type in North American – that will bring it more inline with its entry luxury competitors – will expand the X-Type range with the addition of an Estate wagon that could add some panache and punch to the X-Type sales. The Estate will feature all-wheel-drive and integrated roof rails and a two- piece tailgate that allows the rear window to open independently.

Mercedes-Benz will show its widely awaited SLR (Sport Light Racing) McLaren.
The SLR finds it roots in the current SL and its high-powered development from Formula One. McLaren also develops a Formula One car for the Mercedes team. In any case this new and spectacular gull winged car is sure to get notice from Porsche GT Turbo buyers. Get in line and bring money.
Volvo will show its all-new S40 sedan that will share a platform with Ford and Mazda, but little else. The look, the vehicle dynamics, the safety are all Volvo. This new edition of the entry-level luxury sedan (and the upcoming V50 Wagon that replaces the V40) is sure to make its mark, more so than its predecessor, in the premium compact segment. The S40 interior “borrows heavily” from the Volvo VCC concept car seen last year on the auto show circuit.
More from Frankfurt later.