IAA 2011: The Tuners of the Frankfurt Motor Show
Teamspeed.com – Frankfurt Motor Show 2011 Coverage
Text by Dan Trent - Contributing Editor

The Frankfurt Motor Show is the showcase for the German automotive industry and that includes the tuners just as much as the mainstream manufacturers. If you had any doubts about the might of these aftermarket boys just check out the size of some of the stands.

Brabus is always a big-hitter and is here with its latest CLS-based Rocket. This one has 800hp from a 6.3-liter bi-turbo V12 that's limited - limited - to 811lb ft from a 1000lb ft+ in standard tune. It'll hit 230mph but looks relatively restrained.

Techart's 720hp GT2 RS is rather less subtle but also debuts here at the show and is good for 219mph. Carlsson's stand reflects changing tastes and developing markets with a special GL for China and its own mega CLS with 'just' 649hp. And Ruf? It's here with an electric car. How times change!

 

The Mercedes and the Cayenne look great, but the others were kinda mediocre :/. Looked like they just slapped some funky wheels on em and called it quits.

 

The first image of that Brabus is simply amazing! Did anyone gran pics of the other tuners?

 

N.O. NO

 

^^^ Not a fan of tuning, but I have to say I like this. The new cls looks pretty awful stock imo. Wish everyone would leave the 1M alone though, it is one of the best looking standard cars and the stock wheels look so good.

 

I'm digging the new Alpina 650i drop top. Looks great in their signature blue.

 

Here was one many missed, and surely missed seeing the older outrageous creations that used to come from RUF:

FromRUF's Facebok page:

eRUF Elektro-Porsche Pressekonferenz @hybridelektroauto.com - YouTube

IAA Frankfurt - eRUF press conference

That's electric mobility in its sportiest form: The Siemens reserach department Corporate Technology and the car manufacturer RUF constructed a test fleet of ten electric sports cars based on the Porsche 911. The results of the pilot project - called "Emotion without Emission" – were presented at a the IAA in Frankfurt today afternoon. Since the German Ministry for Environment funded it, its Secretary of State Jürgen Becker joined the presentation, too. "It's a path breaking project and shows the wide range of electric mobility", Becker said. Gernot Spiegelberg, Head of Electric Mobility at Siemens Corporate Technology, added: "This project is one of Siemens' several mobility projects which help to underline the IAA claim 'Future comes as Standards'."

 

Alpina wins this thread!!!

 

Josh, these wheels are pretty tough to keep clean but I do think they are great looking as well!

 

I really like the new Alpina D5!!
A 350hp Diesel combined with good looks and low fuel consumption is the perfect mix for a DD with style


btw...Alpina is not a tuner!
It`s listed as an independent car manufacturer