Jaguar's Unique SUV

While the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show was themed around eco-cars like plug-in hybrids, SUVs were also a major highlight. Riding the global trend of popularity for large SUVs, several noteworthy models were announced.

The most talked-about model was the Jaguar F-PACE. Design Director Ian Callum's words, "We were conscious of the connection to the F-TYPE," were borne out by its beautiful, sleek body with a drag coefficient of just 0.34. It is Jaguar's unique SUV, defined by the manufacturer as a "performance crossover."

The Jaguar F-PACE's body exceeds 4.7 meters in length, yet its height is kept to 1.6 meters, giving it a low, sporty impression. Initially, three engine options are available: a 132kW 2-liter 4-cylinder diesel, a 280kW 3-liter V6 gasoline, and a 221kW 3-liter V6 diesel, all paired with a full-time 4WD system. The interior, in line with the Jaguar XE and the new XF, is sporty and full of character. Even with Range Rover in the same group, they have succeeded by pursuing a different direction.

"Every Jaguar must be eye-catching even from 200 meters away. I am confident that the F-PACE is a creation that has no rivals in its class. We designers expressed the lightweight aluminum structure, and as a result, created an elegant and atmospheric style." These are the words of Ian Callum, mentioned earlier.

Although Bentley was quite a distance from Jaguar in the large exhibition hall, it was no less impressive in terms of visitor interest.

The Overwhelming Presence of the Bentley Bentayga

"Extraordinary." This adjective was used repeatedly when Bentley Motors unveiled its SUV, the "Bentayga," to the press. The words came from CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer, who confidently introduced this vehicle with its large body exceeding 5 meters in length.

The Bentley Bentayga makes a strong statement with its massive grille and large four-eyed headlamps. Moving to the side, the styling with flared rear fender arches is reminiscent of the Continental GT, but the impression is one of overwhelming presence rather than sportiness.

The Bentayga, introduced with a string of superlative adjectives such as "the fastest, most powerful, most luxurious, and most exclusive of all top-class SUVs," is equipped with a 6-liter W12 engine, boasting a maximum output of 447kW and a peak torque of 900Nm. It features a full-time four-wheel-drive system that normally distributes power with a 40:60 front-to-rear ratio, and its off-road capability (though not explicitly stated as "most" in the speech) also seems to be a point of pride, with footage of it driving on rough terrain being shown.

Bentley Motors' booth at the show was relatively small, and it was quite difficult to photograph the entire Bentayga while avoiding the crowds. The press staff limited access to small groups at a time, and those inside the vehicle stayed for extended periods. The three-dimensional seats with cross-stitching were sporty, and the dashboard design, with its symmetrical style reminiscent of the Continental GT, also suggested a focus on sportiness. This shared a commonality with Jaguar (though likely in different markets).

The Volkswagen Tiguan, likely the most familiar to us, also had its full model change announced at this show.

The All-Round Capability of the New Tiguan

Volkswagen's (VW) Tiguan, first unveiled at the Frankfurt show in 2007, has been popular as a reasonably sized SUV with a length of 4.4 meters. In fact, the previous model sold a remarkable 2.64 million units worldwide. The new model is 60mm longer and has a 77mm extended wheelbase. While a bit technical, its biggest feature is the use of VW's MQB platform, shared with the Golf, for its transverse engine layout.

"The completely redesigned new Tiguan, meticulously thought out down to the last detail, is an all-round vehicle for a new era." This is how Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Development of the VW brand, defined it. Looking at the model lineup, one can grasp the meaning of "all-round" in his statement.

The new Tiguan lineup consists of the following: the "Tiguan R-Line," emphasizing a sporty character; the standard on-road model; a model specialized for off-road use; and the "GTE," a plug-in hybrid that was exhibited as a concept model at the Frankfurt show.

Japanese Manufacturers Exhibit Concepts Hinting at the Future

At its press conference, VW emphasized the presence of the Tiguan GTE. The GTE, already known from the Passat and Golf, is a sub-name indicating a plug-in hybrid. It drives the front wheels with a direct-injection gasoline turbo engine (115kW 1.4 TSI) and an electric motor, producing a system output of 160kW. In "E-Mode," it can cover 50km on electric power alone.

Fuel consumption in the European combined cycle is 1.9 liters/100km (approximately 53 km per liter), which translates to CO2 emissions of 42g/km. This is well below the European Commission's 2020 target of 95g/km.

A unique feature of the Tiguan GTE, claimed to be a world-first, is the integrated solar module in the roof. Under ideal conditions, VW states that the electricity generated annually by this solar module can extend the zero-emission driving range by up to 1,000km per year. Since similar results were achieved in Southern Europe, good performance can be expected in Japan as well.

It was also noteworthy that Japanese manufacturers uniformly displayed concept models that offered a glimpse into the future of SUVs. Toyota Motor Corporation debuted a 5-door version of its compact crossover hybrid, the "C-HR Concept." Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. exhibited the "GRIPZ (Gripz) CONCEPT," a crossover EV that briefly stirred up the press with speculation about it being the next Fairlady Z.

Mazda exhibited the "Koeru" concept, also a crossover. Its styling is based on the company's consistent "Kodo" (Soul of Motion) design theme, and its mechanics utilize Skyactiv technology. This is likely a model that foreshadows a future new vehicle.