Automotive

In photos: Supercars and sports cars scorch the floor of Frankfurt

In photos: Supercars and sports cars scorch the floor of Frankfurt
The Aspark Owl is on show at the Frankfurt Motor Show
The Aspark Owl is on show at the Frankfurt Motor Show 
View 94 Images
The Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster has rear-wheel steering
1/94
The Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster has rear-wheel steering 
The Aventador S Roadster is powered by a naturally-aspirated V12 engine
2/94
The Aventador S Roadster is powered by a naturally-aspirated V12 engine
The low, carbon splitter on the Aventador S Roadster
3/94
The low, carbon splitter on the Aventador S Roadster 
The Aventador S Roadster is meant to be a meaner, faster bull with rear-wheel steering
4/94
The Aventador S Roadster is meant to be a meaner, faster bull with rear-wheel steering
The Huracan Performante bends the air with a clever active aerodynamics system
5/94
The Huracan Performante bends the air with a clever active aerodynamics system 
The Lamborghini Huracan Performante is the most track-focused Huracan yet
6/94
The Lamborghini Huracan Performante is the most track-focused Huracan yet
The Aventador S Roadster doesn't struggle for presence
7/94
The Aventador S Roadster doesn't struggle for presence 
Hyundai is pushing its World Rally Championship program hard
8/94
Hyundai is pushing its World Rally Championship program hard
This isn't your average Hyundai i20
9/94
This isn't your average Hyundai i20 
This Hyundai i30N competed at the Nurburgring
10/94
This Hyundai i30N competed at the Nurburgring 
A throughly battered Hyundai i30 N development car
11/94
A throughly battered Hyundai i30 N development car
The N is the hottest Hyundai hatch to be created
12/94
The N is the hottest Hyundai hatch to be created 
Audi is known for creating subtle cars, but this R8 V10 Plus is anything but
13/94
Audi is known for creating subtle cars, but this R8 V10 Plus is anything but
The rear of the incredible Mercedes-AMG Project One
14/94
The rear of the incredible Mercedes-AMG Project One 
The AMG Project One is a proper F1 car for the road
15/94
The AMG Project One is a proper F1 car for the road
The Project One is powered by a Formula 1 powertrain
16/94
The Project One is powered by a Formula 1 powertrain 
The fin on the rear of the Project One is another F1-inspired touch
17/94
The fin on the rear of the Project One is another F1-inspired touch 
The Project One has four electric motors on board
18/94
The Project One has four electric motors on board 
The nose of the Project One is low and wide
19/94
The nose of the Project One is low and wide 
Up close and personal with the Mercedes-AMG Project One
20/94
Up close and personal with the Mercedes-AMG Project One
The turbocharged Ferrari 488 GTB
21/94
The turbocharged Ferrari 488 GTB 
The Ferrari Portofino is a bit more special than the average "entry-level" car
22/94
The Ferrari Portofino is a bit more special than the average "entry-level" car 
The Portofino replaces the California
23/94
The Portofino replaces the California 
Ferrari has slotted a twin-turbo V8 into the Portofino's nose
24/94
Ferrari has slotted a twin-turbo V8 into the Portofino's nose 
The Maserati GranTurismo MC
25/94
The Maserati GranTurismo MC
Inside the Maserati GranCabrio Sport
26/94
Inside the Maserati GranCabrio Sport
The interior of the Maserati GranCabrio Sport is comically outdated, but it's very pretty
27/94
The interior of the Maserati GranCabrio Sport is comically outdated, but it's very pretty
Maserati is sticking with its naturally aspirated V8 in the GranCabrio
28/94
Maserati is sticking with its naturally aspirated V8 in the GranCabrio
The Maserati GranTurismo MC
29/94
The Maserati GranTurismo MC 
The Maserati Levante is designed to take the Italian flair of the Maserati brand
30/94
The Maserati Levante is designed to take the Italian flair of the Maserati brand 
Maserati knows how to do a slinky four-door
31/94
Maserati knows how to do a slinky four-door 
Ford celebrates its legendary Le Mans wins with the new GT '67 Heritage special edition
32/94
Ford celebrates its legendary Le Mans wins with the new GT '67 Heritage special edition 
The Ford GT has finally been put into production, but it still looks like a concept car
33/94
The Ford GT has finally been put into production, but it still looks like a concept car
The Ford GT '67 Heritage looks brilliant in photos, but it's something else in person
34/94
The Ford GT '67 Heritage looks brilliant in photos, but it's something else in person
The Jaguar F-Type SVR looks mean in frozen silver
35/94
The Jaguar F-Type SVR looks mean in frozen silver
The F-Type SVR will hit 200 mph
36/94
The F-Type SVR will hit 200 mph
The F-Type SVR has a fixed rear wing
37/94
The F-Type SVR has a fixed rear wing
The silver blade on the nose of the Megane RS is designed to evoke Formula 1
38/94
The silver blade on the nose of the Megane RS is designed to evoke Formula 1
The chequered flag motif on the nose of the Megane RS is popping up across the performance Renault range
39/94
The chequered flag motif on the nose of the Megane RS is popping up across the performance Renault range 
The new Renault Megane RS will be offered with a dual-clutch gearbox
40/94
The new Renault Megane RS will be offered with a dual-clutch gearbox 
Renault has still managed to squeeze its central exhaust onto the new Megane RS
41/94
Renault has still managed to squeeze its central exhaust onto the new Megane RS 
The RoboRace car looks like a wheeled dog-bone
42/94
The RoboRace car looks like a wheeled dog-bone 
The Megane RS is powered by a 1.8-liter turbo engine
43/94
The Megane RS is powered by a 1.8-liter turbo engine 
RoboRace will be supporting Formula E
44/94
RoboRace will be supporting Formula E 
Aspark is making some pretty impressive claims about the Owl
45/94
Aspark is making some pretty impressive claims about the Owl 
The Aspark Owl will hit 100 km/h in under two seconds
46/94
The Aspark Owl will hit 100 km/h in under two seconds 
The Owl comes from a relatively unknown Japanese brand
47/94
The Owl comes from a relatively unknown Japanese brand
The Owl certainly doesn't lack for presence, with those wide lights and big wing
48/94
The Owl certainly doesn't lack for presence, with those wide lights and big wing 
The Aspark Owl is powered by a clever electric powertrain
49/94
The Aspark Owl is powered by a clever electric powertrain
The Aspark Owl is just a prototype at the moment
50/94
The Aspark Owl is just a prototype at the moment 
The Aspark Owl is on show at the Frankfurt Motor Show
51/94
The Aspark Owl is on show at the Frankfurt Motor Show 
Small McLaren or big box?
52/94
Small McLaren or big box?
The Acura NSX GT3 looks meaner than the road car, complete with that giant rear wing
53/94
The Acura NSX GT3 looks meaner than the road car, complete with that giant rear wing 
The NSX GT3 isn't a hybrid, but it should be very, very fast
54/94
The NSX GT3 isn't a hybrid, but it should be very, very fast
The rear diffuser on the Acura NSX GT3 looks like it could cut people off at the ankles
55/94
The rear diffuser on the Acura NSX GT3 looks like it could cut people off at the ankles 
The Mercedes-AMG Project One
56/94
The Mercedes-AMG Project One 
Mercedes-AMG has its full range on show in Frankfurt
57/94
Mercedes-AMG has its full range on show in Frankfurt 
Mercedes has seen some brilliant success in F1 recently, and now it wants to transition that experience to the road
58/94
Mercedes has seen some brilliant success in F1 recently, and now it wants to transition that experience to the road 
Mercedes has led the F1 pack since the new FIA regulations regarding turbo-V6 and electric powertrains came in
59/94
Mercedes has led the F1 pack since the new FIA regulations regarding turbo-V6 and electric powertrains came in
Mercedes is pulling out of DTM to focus on Formula E shortly
60/94
Mercedes is pulling out of DTM to focus on Formula E shortly 
The Mercedes-AMG Project One has more than 1,000 hp
61/94
The Mercedes-AMG Project One has more than 1,000 hp
There were some classics on show at Frankfurt, too
62/94
There were some classics on show at Frankfurt, too 
A look at just how much supercar interiors have changed
63/94
A look at just how much supercar interiors have changed 
This is the Bugatti Chiron that hit 400 km/h and stopped dead in just 42 seconds
64/94
This is the Bugatti Chiron that hit 400 km/h and stopped dead in just 42 seconds 
The Chiron went from 0-400-0 km/h in just 42 seconds
65/94
The Chiron went from 0-400-0 km/h in just 42 seconds 
Bugatti celebrates its 0-400-0 km/h record at IAA 2017
66/94
Bugatti celebrates its 0-400-0 km/h record at IAA 2017
The star of the show was undoubtedly the Mercedes-AMG Project One
67/94
The star of the show was undoubtedly the Mercedes-AMG Project One
The Project One has a low, wide nose
68/94
The Project One has a low, wide nose 
After much teasing, the Mercedes-AMG Project One was fully revealed in Frankfurt
69/94
After much teasing, the Mercedes-AMG Project One was fully revealed in Frankfurt 
There's no doubt the Project One has plenty of presence
70/94
There's no doubt the Project One has plenty of presence 
The Mercedes-AMG Project One
71/94
The Mercedes-AMG Project One 
McLaren had a serious presence at the Frankfurt Motor Show
72/94
McLaren had a serious presence at the Frankfurt Motor Show 
The Frankfurt Motor Show played host to the McLaren 720S
73/94
The Frankfurt Motor Show played host to the McLaren 720S 
The McLaren 570S looks like a scaled-down Super Series car
74/94
The McLaren 570S looks like a scaled-down Super Series car 
The McLaren 570GT is a softer take on the McLaren formula
75/94
The McLaren 570GT is a softer take on the McLaren formula 
The 570GT has a glass hatch where the 570S has an engine cover
76/94
The 570GT has a glass hatch where the 570S has an engine cover 
The McLaren 570GT on show in Frankfurt
77/94
The McLaren 570GT on show in Frankfurt 
The Porsche 911 GT3 with Touring Package is a pared-back version of the full-motorsport GT3
78/94
The Porsche 911 GT3 with Touring Package is a pared-back version of the full-motorsport GT3
The GT3 with Touring Package has a six-speed manual
79/94
The GT3 with Touring Package has a six-speed manual 
The GT3 with Touring Package has no rear wing
80/94
The GT3 with Touring Package has no rear wing 
The Porsche GT2 RS is mean, lean and ready to live up to the widowmaker name
81/94
The Porsche GT2 RS is mean, lean and ready to live up to the widowmaker name 
the GT2 RS is a seriously lean, mean 911
82/94
the GT2 RS is a seriously lean, mean 911 
Inside the Porsche 911 GT2 RS
83/94
Inside the Porsche 911 GT2 RS 
The Skoda Fabia WRC car
84/94
The Skoda Fabia WRC car 
Skoda is pumping up its little hatchbacks for a tilt at rally glory
85/94
Skoda is pumping up its little hatchbacks for a tilt at rally glory
The new Bentley Continental GT on show in Frankfurt
86/94
The new Bentley Continental GT on show in Frankfurt 
The new Continental GT is a luxurious, powerful GT like its predecessor
87/94
The new Continental GT is a luxurious, powerful GT like its predecessor 
The new Bentley Continental GT on show in Frankfurt
88/94
The new Bentley Continental GT on show in Frankfurt 
The rear of the new Continental GT was clearly inspired by the EXP-10 concept
89/94
The rear of the new Continental GT was clearly inspired by the EXP-10 concept 
The oval motif is strong on the rear of the Bentley Continental GT
90/94
The oval motif is strong on the rear of the Bentley Continental GT 
Audi has turned to rear-wheel drive in the R8 V10 RWS
91/94
Audi has turned to rear-wheel drive in the R8 V10 RWS 
The R8 V10 RWS is a new type of supercar for Audi
92/94
The R8 V10 RWS is a new type of supercar for Audi 
The naturally aspirated V10 in the R8 RWS
93/94
The naturally aspirated V10 in the R8 RWS 
Behind the wheel of the Audi R8 V10 RWS
94/94
Behind the wheel of the Audi R8 V10 RWS
View gallery - 94 images

We've taken a walk through some of the incredible concept cars launched in Frankfurt this year, but the madness doesn't stop there. Sports car manufacturers used the show to prove just how far hybrid technology has come as a way to lessen emissions and maximize power. From the Mercedes-AMG Project One to the neat-and-tidy 911 GT3 with Touring Package, here are the best sports cars from the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Mercedes-AMG Project One

The Mercedes-AMG Project One
The Mercedes-AMG Project One 

This is an F1 car for the road, pure and simple. It's been described as the "most ambitious project" ever undertaken by AMG and looks unlike anything else we've seen from the team in Affalterbach.

Power comes from a hybrid powertrain, directly derived from that in the highly successful Mercedes F1 cars of the past few seasons. Internal combustion power comes from a 1600cc turbocharged six-cylinder, and there are four electric motors hidden under the body as well: a 90 kW unit integrated into the turbo, a 120 kW motor linked to the crankcase and two motors on the front axle. Pure electric range is 25 km (15.5 mi).

Total system output is north of 1,000 hp (740 kW), for a top speed in excess of 217 mph (350 km/h). Mercedes-AMG hasn't provided a 62 mph (100 km/h) sprint time, but we know the car will hit 124 mph (200 km/h) in less than six seconds.

Aspark Owl

Aspark is making some pretty impressive claims about the Owl
Aspark is making some pretty impressive claims about the Owl 

You probably haven't heard of Aspark – we certainly hadn't – but the company certainly turned some heads with the Owl at the Frankfurt Show. It's a prototype at the moment, but Aspark says it will hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than two seconds, and carry on to 174 mph (280 km/h). Hang on tight, kids, you're going to feel that.

Beyond the headline figures, details about the Owl are difficult to come by. We've reached out to the company for more details, so stay tuned for a deeper dive. In the meantime, we can tell you the car weighs around 1,900 lb (862 kg) and outputs 429 hp (320 kW). A report from Autoblog says the car stores power in capacitors for quicker discharge, helping deliver that neck-snapping acceleration.

Since the slick-looking Owl is still a prototype, we're taking the bold performance claims with a grain of salt. But if the car does make production, there will be a few nervous executives over at Rimac and NIO ...

Porsche 911 GT3 with Touring Package

The GT3 with Touring Package has no rear wing
The GT3 with Touring Package has no rear wing 

Another year, another Porsche 911 to drool over. We know, it gets tiring. But the GT3 with Touring Package stands out among the ever-growing crowd of rear-engined racers from Stuttgart because it so elegantly blends outright performance with the kind of pared-back driver focus for which Porsche is famous.

Power comes from the same four-liter flat-six you get in the regular (991.2-generation) 911 GT3, but the car is only available with a six-speed manual gearbox. That's right, no double-clutch here. Gone is the towering rear wing from the standard car, and all the gloss black trim designed to signify the performance potential on the outside of the car is trimmed in shiny chrome. It's like a 911 R, but without the limited build run and sky-high prices.

Obviously, this is just a taste of what was on show in Frankfurt. Take a flick through our gallery for the full set of sports cars from the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, and check out the best concepts from the show once you're done.

View gallery - 94 images
1 comment
1 comment
guzmanchinky
Someday we will all be in self driving pods. Sportscars will be something we drive in VR.