Top 10 Most Interesting Things We Learned at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show

The 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show is wrapping up and there were a ton of really cool new car debuts and concepts.

Here are the 10 most interesting things we learned at this year’s show.

10. BMW’s Tesla Killer Will Have More Range

BMW’s i Vision Dynamics concept is an all-electric sedan that previews a Tesla Model S competitor that BMW said will be produced soon. It has 373 miles of range, while the best Tesla Model S has 315 miles of range.

9. Kias Are Sexy?

Yes, we are going to go out on a limb and use the words “sexy” and “Kia” in the same sentence. Maybe we just love wagons too much, but this sleek design for a car that’s not coming to North America just looks so damn good. The Kia Proceed Concept was definitely one of the highlights of the show.

8. We Learned About the Aspark Owl

I don’t know about you, but I had never even heard about the Aspark Owl until this auto show. More than 1,000 horsepower and the fastest accelerating car in the world? These are bold claims and we’re excited to see if this car can back them up.

7. Autonomy is a Big Deal

So many concepts that debuted focus of driverless technology. Some even go as far as the Smart concept, which doesn’t even have a steering wheel or pedals. CarSharing is also a big trend being embraced by more and more automakers.

6. North Americans Are Missing Out

There were a ton of debuts for really cool cars we won’t get in North America like the Audi RS4 Avant. This makes us sad.

5. EVERYTHING is Getting Electrified

Nearly every big debut this year was either a hybrid, a plug-in, or all electric vehicle. If you needed more proof that electric cars are taking over, this is it.

4. Sports Cars and Supercars Are Still Alive

Those worried about the future of sports cars and supercars need not worry, however, because there were a bunch of performance cars that debuted that show us speed and driving joy are still top of mind for many automakers. The Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster, Ferrari Portofino, and Bentley Continental GT were all luxury performance vehicles that debuted at the show.

3. Mercedes-AMG’s Project One Hypercar Has 1,000 HP

The specs for this new hybrid hypercar are crazy. The F1 engine, a 1.6L turbo V6, can spin to 11,000 rpm and works with two electric motors to put more than 1,000 horsepower to all four wheels. Production has been capped at 275 units and the price? A cool $2.7-million.

2. Mercedes Wanted a Toned Down Design

I overheard a few conversations at the auto show criticising Mercedes for not being extreme enough with its Project One design. But the boss of Mercedes-AMG said that was on purpose because they wanted to focus on the innovative powertrain and driving dynamics first and foremost.

1. People Love Retro Simplicity