The Frankfurt Motor Show is as torturous as it is exciting. Many of the cars that debut here never make it to the United States. Most of the show cars fall into three categories that are generally shunned by Americans: wagons, diesels and microcars, all of which are popular in Europe. But there are occasional gems we wish were coming stateside but will probably never make it. Click through to discover these new vehicles from the Frankfurt show that we'd love to see on U.S. roads — soon.
Alpina B3 BiTurbo
German performance-tuner Alpina has been augmenting BMWs since the 1960s, but few of its masterpieces have made it to the United States. Neither will this one, which is based on the BMW 3-Series. Two turbochargers boost output of its 6-cylinder engine to 410 horsepower. The adaptive suspension and 8-speed transmission are also recipients of Alpina's magic touch. Zero to 62 mph goes by in 4.2 seconds; top speed is 190 mph.
Audi RS 6 Avant
Wagons are the ultimate stealth vehicle and hugely popular in Europe. The Audi RS 6 Avant can obliterate unsuspecting sports cars with ease, thanks to its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 553 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Twenty- or 21-inch wheels fill flared fenders, while gaping air ducts in the front bumper look large enough to suck in a scooter. The car is over 200 pounds lighter than its predecessor, which was even more extreme, having a Lamborghini V10 under its hood.
BMW M135i
BMW has long offered a hatchback version of its small 1-Series, but a coupe is the only version available in the U.S. That's too bad, because it is a hot little hatch, particularly the top M135i version with its 320-horsepower inline 6-cylinder turbocharged engine. Its performance shames many larger cars with bigger engines: zero to 62 mph in 4.9 secs, and a top speed of 155 mph.
Ford Mondeo / Fusion wagon
In Frankfurt, Ford announced plans to launch a line of exclusive paint and trim options called Vignale. It showcased examples of the high-end treatments on the Mondeo, aka the Fusion. The Vignale line, which debuts on the Mondeo in early 2015, is all well and good, but it's the wagon version of the Mondeo/Fusion Ford used to show off the concept that really piques our interest. It's a looker that we think would be a worthy addition to Ford's U.S. lineup.
Honda Civic Tourer
This little wagon is an exercise in brilliant packaging that only Honda can do. The cargo area holds two mountain bikes or three full-size Samsonite suitcases. Underfloor storage adds even more space and can accommodate taller items with the floor folded up. The Civic Tourer goes on sale in Europe in early 2014 with a choice of two 4-cylinder engines paired with either a manual or automatic transmission.
Jaguar XF Sportbrake
Another sexy wagon that Americans are being unfairly denied is the Jaguar XF Sportbrake. It is less than a half-inch longer and 154 pounds heavier than the sedan, but it has a much larger cargo capacity. Added headroom in the rear seat is a welcome side effect of the extended roofline that transforms the cramped quarters of the sedan into a space comfortable for adults. Best of all, the XF Sportbrake looks fantastic. It comes with 4- and 6-cylinder engines. There are currently no plans to bring it to the U.S.
Jeep Wrangler Polar Edition Diesel
To be honest, it isn't the Hydro Blue paint, unique front grille, 18-inch wheels and other embellishments that make us wish Jeep would bring this new special-edition Wrangler to America. What we like is that it can be ordered with a 2.8-liter turbodiesel 4-cylinder engine that deploys an impressive 339 lb-ft of torque, yet remains considerably more efficient than an equivalent gasoline engine. The Jeep Wrangler Polar goes on sale in Europe early next year.
Land Rover Range Rover Diesel Hybrid
Here's another diesel-powered SUV that is not coming to the U.S. in the foreseeable future. But this one adds a hybrid powertrain to boost efficiency even further. It's no slowpoke, either, producing 355 horsepower and a stunning 516 lb-ft of torque from its 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine mated to an electric motor. Based on European fuel-economy estimates, the Range Rover Diesel Hybrid could average more than 35 mpg. Land Rover is considering bringing this model to the United States, but currently there are no plans to do so.
Opel Insignia OPC Sports Tourer
The Opel Insignia is the same car as the Buick Regal sold in the U.S. Like the Regal, the Insignia gets a host of minor updates for the 2014 model year, including styling tweaks, streamlined interior controls and improvements to the available all-wheel-drive system. But the sleek-looking OPC Sports Tourer is the object of our envy. It packs a 325-horsepower twin-turbo V6 powerplant, which enables it to sprint from zero to 62 mph in 6.3 seconds and achieve a top speed of 156 mph.
Volkswagen e-Up!
The whimsically named Up! is Volkswagen's smallest car. Although it's not much bigger than a smart fortwo, it can seat four instead of just two, making it much more practical. A new electric version called the e-Up! debuted in Frankfurt alongside a new e-Golf. The e-Up! uses a 60-kilowatt electric motor built in-house by Volkswagen. It is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack located under the floor. The motor produces around 80 horsepower and 154 lb-ft of torque. The VW e-Up! can go about 100 miles on a single charge.
Matthew de Paula wanted to be an automotive journalist ever since reading his first car magazine in grade school. After a brief stint writing about finance, he helped launch ForbesAutos.com and became the site's editor in 2006. Matthew now freelances for various outlets.
Matthew de Paula wanted to be an automotive journalist ever since reading his first car magazine in grade school. After a brief stint writing about finance, he helped launch ForbesAutos.com and became the site's editor in 2006. Matthew now freelances for various outlets.
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