From
Chrysler, there'll be the revised
PT Cruiser and the
300C Touring (the latter closely related to the Mercedes E-Class estate, but with optional HEMI engine); both the Cruiser and the 300C ranges will show off their new diesel engines, too. Chrysler's
Jeep division has two striking concepts, the
Patriot and the
Compass Rallye, both variants on the compact SUV theme. One's a crossover-style lifestyle vehicle, the other a tougher-looking RAV4 rival. The most eagerly-awaited car from Chrysler will be badged as a
Dodge, though: the engineered-for-Europe
Caliber, a small family hatch to compete in the Golf/Focus/Astra sector.
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| Citroen C-SportLounge |
Citroen's all-new C4-based compact MPV to replace the Xsara Picasso is previewed by the
C-SportLounge concept - sportier-looking than the egg-shaped Picasso, yet promising to be armchair-comfy. Citroen will also be promoting its production-ready - and frighteningly expensive - top-end
C6, its successor to the XM and CX.
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| Fiat Punto |
Daihatsu may be a pretty tiny company, but it's coming out in full force at Frankfurt: an SUV called
D-Concept 4x4 will more than hint at the RAV4-sized replacement for the tiddling Terios, there'll be a hybrid petrol-electric, 4WD lightweight sports concept called
HVS, and there will also be the revised
Cuore supermini and
Charade city car. Rather more exotic, Lancia Stratos enthusiast and designer Christian Hrabalek is to show an open-topped version of the reborn
Stratos concept revealed in Geneva.
Ferrari claims it isn't going to unveil anything brand new in terms of production cars, though it may be saving us a surprise: perhaps a concept for the
600 Imola? It will, however, show off the stripped-out F430 Challenge racer with roll cage, Perspex door glass and track-spec suspension, wheels and brakes, for next year's championships series. Parent company
Fiat Auto is probably going to focus more on its bread and butter and mainstream models, though: fanfares, please, for the new Fiat
Punto, the recently-launched
Croma, the lightly-revised Idea mini-MPV and the Panda 4x4 with the 1.3 Multijet diesel engine. The
Sedici compact 4x4 will not now be revealed until the Bologna Motor Show this winter, though an appearance by a nearer-production version of the smaller Panda-based Simba is also possible. There'll also be the independently-produced
X1/99 concept roadster, the work of Turin design students and developed further from the show car first seen in Geneva. Fiat itself will no doubt be watching the reaction to this. But even if Ferrari doesn't oblige, supercar enthusiasts can check out the
Fisker Tramonto: the fantasy roadster created by an ex-Aston Martin designer now going it alone.
