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22/09/2005: "Frankfurt Car Show"

Supercars and stunning concepts may be the crowd-pleasers at Frankfurt, but the most exciting sight for many potential buyers was the huge number of new superminis on display.

Completely new models included Fiat's Grande Punto, the Renault Clio, Toyota's Yaris and the VW Fox. They were joined by revised versions of Ford's Fiesta and Fusion, the Citroen C3 and Hyundai's Getz. Together, the newcomers account for more than 60 per cent of the UK's small car market.

There were also a host of concepts pointing the way to future small vehicles, including Peugeot's 20Cup and the Mazda Sassou. And of course, the stunning MINI Traveller, previewed elsewhere.

For many, the star was undoubtedly the Renaultsport Clio. With an aggressive bodykit, wide track and a rumoured 200bhp 2.0-litre engine, the hot hatch - offering 150mph and 0-60mph in under seven seconds - looks like setting new standards among performance cars. The standard three-door model is now on sale, so expect a production version, possibly badged RS, this time next year.

Meanwhile, Ford's facelifted Fiesta will launch later this year with bolder headlights, a new grille and uprated interior. The changes apply across the range, including the 148bhp ST hot hatch and Fiesta-based Fusion MPV.






(this article was written by Sam Hardy for autoexpress.co.uk)