Frankfurt 2013: VAG Preview Event

Traditionally the Volkswagen-Audi Group holds their VAG preview evening the night prior to the first press day at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2013, this year is no different and GTspirit was present to check out the latest premieres and highlights in the VAG lineup.

If one thing became clear right from the start is that the German manufacturers still consider the Frankfurt Motor Show their home show and spare no expense to make it a success. Over 1,000 journalist and Volkswagen-Audi Group employees gathered at the Fraport Arena just outside Frankfurt for a spectacular presentation of the latest premieres of all the brands in the group.

A small light show with music and dance set the tone for each brand, before the CEO of each brand presented its most significant premiere to the crowds. First up was Seat with a station wagon we can’t remember (but who can blame us), soon followed by Bugatti with their second legend: the Jean Bugatti special edition. Afer Volkswagen and Skoda the technical directors of three key brands appeared on stage: Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi.

Key theme of the evening and for the VAG strategy is electric and hybrid mobility. On stage appeared a Volkswagen e-Up, e-Golf, Audi A3 etron and Porsche Panamera e-Hybrid, all including hybrid and full electric technology. Volkswagen especially is making a big push towards electric driving and the Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen, Mr Martin Winterkorn would later say that the future of electric and hybrid mobility entirely lies in the hands of consumer. Volkswagen developed the technology, if customers are pleased with that and buy more and more electric vehicles up to 40 other models in the existing line-up could be offered as full electric cars.

But first from the future back to reality: Lamborghini was next on stage and the only this evening to stir up the venue with some proper engine sounds, on stage appeared two Gallardo race cars and the latest Gallardo variant; the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Squadra Corse. Stephan Winkelmann emphasized the importance of the motorsports activities for Lamborghini and the homage the Squadra Corse Gallardo is to the Squadra Corse motorsports division that Lamborghini developed in recent years.

After the Lamborghini’s roared off the stage again it was Bentley’s turn with the new Bentley Continental GT V8 S. Simply put the Bentley for people who want ‘more’ than a standard Continental GT V8. With only a few more brands to go we were still expecting two cars we were really looking forward to see: The Porsche 918 Spyder and the Audi Sport Quattro Concept, to everyone’s total surprise Audi didn’t show the Sport Quattro but a completely new concept with a V10 TDI engine and styling by Italdesign Giugiaro dubbed the Audi Nanuk Quattro.

Finally the Porsche 918 Spyder production version also saw its official introduction, after years and years of development the project 918 Spyder is really coming to an end. Some subtle changes to its exterior give it a more 2013ish look, under the bonnet strong (re)development make the 918 Spyder one of the fastest and unique supercars on sale today.

The presentation was wrapped up with a speech by Mr Winterkorn and a special light show and DJ performance after which all presented premieres appeared back on stage and the attendees were invited to take a closer look. This was not said to a deaf man and literally within seconds the area was so full of people we could barely see the cars. Time for us to go back to our hotel and write up this article for all our readers and fans around the world to enjoy!