The 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show witnessed a new wave of electric cars and future concepts. But that doesn’t mean there was no place for true-blue performance vehicles which keeps our blood pumping. Major manufacturers took the opportunity to demonstrate their mechanical prowess at the Frankfurt stage with their performance machines. Here are the top performance cars from this year’s Frankfurt Motor show.
Suzuki Swift Sport
The third generation Swift Sport is lighter with a turbocharged 1.4-litre BoosterJet engine under the hood. The Japanese hot hatch produces 138bhp of power and 223Nm of torque mated to a six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. The Swift Sport offers better performance and fresh style upgrades as compared to the older generation. The bumpers are aggressively designed with blacked out side skirts and sporty diamond-cut alloys.
Land Rover’s most powerful SUV is also the most extreme one. The Discovery SVX is powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 that belts out 518bhp and 625Nm. It boasts of an increased ground clearance, lifted suspension, wheel articulation and large all-terrain tyres. There is a specially designed suspension set up to wade through tough terrains. The hardcore Discovery sits alongside the RR Sport SVR and SVAutobiography.
The new generation BMW M5 made its public debut. In its sixth generation now, the German super saloon gets the xDrive all-wheel-drive for the first time since its inception in 1985. It is also the biggest, quickest and the most powerful M5 till date. Powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 monster, the super saloon produces 592bhp of power and a monumental 700Nm of torque.
Audi R8 RWS
Audi revealed the first ever rear-wheel driven R8. The R8 V10 RWS (Rear Wheel Series) is the first production Audi with rear-wheel-drive available with a limited production run of 999 units. Sending power to the rear wheels is the same 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 belting out 540bhp and 540Nm. With the R8 RWS, Audi wants to bring the driving concept of the R8 LMS to the streets.
Ferrari Portofino
Ferrari’s all-new hardtop convertible, the Portofino, also made its public debut. It is named after a beautiful port town in Italy. The hard-top convertible has a 600bhp 3.9-litre turbocharged V8 mounted just behind the front axle. The 760Nm torque is sent to rear wheels via an automatic transmission. With the roof up, the Portofino can clock over 320kmph.
Renault Megane R.S.
Renault’s third-generation hot hatch gets a new engine, four-wheel steering (first in the segment) and two transmission options. At its debut, the R.S. comes in two variants – Sports and Cup. Under the hood is a turbocharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine producing 280bhp with a peak torque of 390Nm. It comes mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed DCT. The hot hatch benefits from Renault’s motorsport expertise.
Jaguar -Pace eTrophy
Jaguar stormed in with the concept of world’s first international championship for production-based electric cars. The Jaguar I-Pace racing series comes as a support race series to the FIA Formula E Championship. The fifth season of Formula E will kick-start at the end of next year. The I-Pace race car is built by JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations based on the I-Pace electric SUV.
Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Package
Porsche expanded the 911 family with a new GT Series. The 911 GT3 Touring Package gets a six-speed manual transmission paying homage to the 1973 911 Carrera RS Touring. The Touring Package is powered by a 4.0-litre six-cylinder boxer engine that generates 500bhp and 460Nm. The 316kmph supercar can be had with a few features from the standard GT3.
BMW M8 GTE
BMW Motorsport’s all-new range-topping race car, the M8 GTE, will help the Bavarian carmaker to return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Before the 8 Series Coupe marks its return next year, the M8 GTE race car will compete on the track next season at the FIA World Endurance Championship. The race car is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, powering the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential transmission.
Alpina D5
Alpina unleashed its latest fire-breathing and tyre melting D5 S G30 sedan. Based on the latest 5 Series from BMW, the D5 is powered by a triple-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six producing 388bhp/800Nm. It’s got record numbers that would put many petrol cars to shame. The D5 has got all the luxuries found in a BMW but with the Alpina badge, you get sportiness in terms of the exotic materials.
