The German automotive major Volkswagen highlighted the importance of affordable mobility and diverse design capabilities of all its group companies and brands at the Frankfurt Motor show, which begins here on Thursday.
Presenting an overview of the technology and innovations likely to impact the global automotive industry through the Volkswagen Group brands to the global media, the company management expressed confidence that it has strategies to meet challenges in different markets by de-risking its business.
Eco-friendly focus
On a night of packed presentations represented by all its group bands, Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Scania, Bentley, Buggati, Lambhorgini, Porche, Dr Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of Volkswagen AG Group, emphasised the challenges of sustainability and eco-friendly engineering.
He felt that the cars of current day and those under way must reflect the characteristics of modern life, while being eco-friendly. All innovations are aimed at achieving this objective.
Stressing the importance of affordability, he said that a car like Up! reflects several of these modern-day challenges, as it is mature and practical. An electrical version of the car is likely by 2013, he said.
Designing motor cars is fascinating where light-weight materials and hybrid cars will play a larger role in future. He said that the Group performance during the first eight months has been strong reflecting sales of over 5.4 million.
Innovative products
The evening, where all the Volkswagen brands made their presentations, showcased shape of cars to come and some of the production variants with new innovations. The Group believes that it is all about diversity of challenges of future markets and innovative products which people require.
Hinting at the possibility of changing driving patterns, the Volkswagen Group executives believe that the new big thing will be small cars that will drive mobility. However, these small cars do not mean ay compromises in terms of features of their capability. Therefore, affordability will become a major driver for cars of the future, they felt.
PARADE
This was a parade with a difference. It was where cars from the past blended with those made today and possibly few that would come in the next few years.
The sense and sensibility of cars designed by Seat was demonstrated by the company, it was work of performing arts from the sporty Lamborghini. While the Bentley paraded its latest offering Continental GTC, Buggati had 2011 model on display. The Skoda Auto had Mission L on display.