Pictures of NSX and many others at Frankfurt Auto Show

[matteni]

I had the great opportunity to travel to Germany for 2 weeks for work and was able to go to opening day of the Frankfurt auto show!

Wow!!!

Nothing like a triple digit drive on the Autoban in a BMW to get you in the mood. Once I arrived with my co-worker we couldn't believe how many people were there. We had to park 5 miles away on a grass lot and take a huge buss to the exibition halls.

Amazing how big this convention center is! It is about the size of 6 indoor football stadiums tied together with bridges. We were there for about 5 hours and there was no way to see everything.

What I did see was amazing! Anyway I need to capture my memories soon but here are some pictures from that incredible day.

Honda was showing off a 2004 (I believe it was?) NSX as well as a NSX racing car. They also had their robot from last year's circuit , the new TL, and their first ever TDI diesel engine.

BTW - be patient and use a high speed connection as there are hundreds of thubnails on the page.

http://www.ourfamilyinteractive.com/PhotoAlbums/2003/2003_09_14Frankfurt_Auto_Show/Page.html

 

[SOLOTYM]

WOW...GREAT PIC's.

Thanks for posting them, so many great looking cars....so little money

 

[NSXG35]

Hey Nick
Thanks for taking the time to post all those pics. They cars look fantastic. Man put me on the waiting list for that new Mercedes.

 

[nsxlover]

Some very nice cars. The Enzo looks great.

 

[cojones]

nice pix !

Thanks for posting, Nick!!

Do you have more info on the NSX racecar? Looks like its NA2 NSX-R derived. What series does it compete in ?? Specs? Looks more like JGTC GT300...

Exotics aside, there seem to be a number of cool "affordable" cars too -- lots of little convertibles (VW, Opel, etc).

 

[matteni]

Thanks guys!

I agree about the Enzo looking great. Funny thing is - I didn't think so before I saw it up close and personal. The italian models around it didn't hurt either! Same was true for the SLR - didn't look good in the pictures (hood looks too long) but STUNNING up close and personal.

Also - I was surprised by a couple of things. First I was surprised how close to production most of the concept / dream cars were. I had to ask sometimes if it was a production model only in Europe. Some of the memerable ones were the Audi "911TT" competitor the Le Mans, the VW R Concept "Porsche Boxster" competitor, the Alfa Romeo 8c (loved all the Alfa's - please bring them all here), the Jag RD-6 (never thought I would lust after a jag), the new Ford GT (ok I am starting to like this car in a "viper" sort of way), and of course the Austin DB9 (wow).

Of the production cars the Bentley is a winner and a virtual bargin for $160k! I was not a big fan of the Buggatti, there is something about the design of the new baby Lambo that bugs me, and the BMWs are getting beaten by the Chris Bangle ugly stick and are nearly beyond hope (how he could make such stunning cars so ugly is beyond me).

Also I was surprised how Volkswagon is going after a lot of what I would concider Porsche territory - especially with their controlling interest in that company.

You are right about a lot of affordable cars coming to the states. The new GTI looked like an affordable tight package, Suburu is throwing turbos at everything, and even the Koreans had some cool looking concepts.

Note to GM - don't you folks own Opel? Here is the plan - get rid of all your crappy cars you sell as Chevy, Buick, and Pontiac and just sell Opels. Even the diesels. The opels are much better looking (inside and out), the fit and finish is better, and the performance appears to be much better.

Anyway more ramblings as time permits and memory returns...

 

[NetViper]

OK.. there is the 2004 NSX...

I don't like the shift knob at all....

and where is the other change?? I can't see anything different?

 

[NCC-1701D]

Great pics!!!


yah WOW !! the ENZO looks great in red .........looks like you had a great time at the show.....

thanks for posting them up..the picture quality is great ....

 

[Rubber Chicken]

Great pictures...


http://www.ourfamilyinteractive.com/PhotoAlbums/2003/2003_09_14Frankfurt_Auto_Show/IMG_4521.JPG

Whats the big silver thing to the left of the engine?



http://www.ourfamilyinteractive.com/PhotoAlbums/2003/2003_09_14Frankfurt_Auto_Show/IMG_4511.JPG

Good work! Best picture you took.



http://www.ourfamilyinteractive.com/PhotoAlbums/2003/2003_09_14Frankfurt_Auto_Show/IMG_4545.JPG

Is there a car in this picture? Because I don't see one.



And the Gallardo, your pics confirm what believed the second it came out. The Styling on the Gallardo is actually better than its bigger brother. If the Gallardo had swing up doors, the Murcielago wouldn't sell.

Oh yeah, and what did you think of Germany? Nien Sprechen... I think that's the only thing I came away with. Oh and Einshudugon (sp)

 

[SOLOTYM]

http://www.ourfamilyinteractive.com/PhotoAlbums/2003/2003_09_14Frankfurt_Auto_Show/IMG_4545.JPG

Is there a car in this picture? Because I don't see one.



Well I do see HEADLIGHT's

 

[matteni]

Great pictures...

Thanks! Funny thing is - the crowds were so thick that my first view of some of the cars was when I got home. I was holding my camera in the air over everyone's heads hoping to get a picture. I took quite a few elbows for those shots!

http://www.ourfamilyinteractive.com/PhotoAlbums/2003/2003_09_14Frankfurt_Auto_Show/IMG_4521.JPG

Whats the big silver thing to the left of the engine?

That was the air intake system - very trick looking but I couldn't get a better picture at the time.

http://www.ourfamilyinteractive.com/PhotoAlbums/2003/2003_09_14Frankfurt_Auto_Show/IMG_4511.JPG

Good work! Best picture you took.

Yes - they were shameless! I was trying NOT to take too many pictures of them as my wife was going to look at the pictures and I wanted to maintain I was there for just the cars!

Here were some others:

http://www.ourfamilyinteractive.com/PhotoAlbums/2003/2003_09_14Frankfurt_Auto_Show/IMG_4545.JPG

Is there a car in this picture? Because I don't see one.

The girls where hamming it up for me and I was basically waiting for them to move so I could take a picture of the car! It was a lot of fun.

And the Gallardo, your pics confirm what believed the second it came out. The Styling on the Gallardo is actually better than its bigger brother. If the Gallardo had swing up doors, the Murcielago wouldn't sell.

I would love one - I just think maybe VW had too much influence on the design and it felt too German for a Lambo IMO

Oh yeah, and what did you think of Germany? Nien Sprechen... I think that's the only thing I came away with. Oh and Einshudugon (sp) [/B]

I loved it! Here are the pictures of me and my co-worker in Germany and the many fantastic sights and people we met. We worked at the Funari Barricks near Mannheim in what used to be an old Nazi Headquarters (note the b/w pics from the 40's). I am going back at least 2x more this year and would love to run the ring, see southern Germany, etc. Great food, people, and culture.:

http://www.ourfamilyinteractive.com/PhotoAlbums/2003/2003_09_12InGermany/Page.html

 

[whiteNSXs]

That's why I go to Paris regularly for the auto show and the motorcycle show. They alternate. This year is motorcycle show but I have to postpone my trip due to NSXPO and I will miss the show. BTW, the beautiful receptionists are eager to chat with you to practice their English.
Steve

 

[NSXLuvr]

great pics, the ferrari's are so

 

[matteni]

Re: nice pix !

Thanks for posting, Nick!!

Do you have more info on the NSX racecar? Looks like its NA2 NSX-R derived. What series does it compete in ?? Specs? Looks more like JGTC GT300...

Exotics aside, there seem to be a number of cool "affordable" cars too -- lots of little convertibles (VW, Opel, etc).

I didn't get any additional info on the race car. It was interesting to note the ads where all in English but don't know how unique that is in JGTC.

Also - it was cool that the NSX was open and you could touch, sit, explorer the car. Almost every car was locked and the cool cars were all roped off. Sitting in an NSX for 1 min made a lot of people's day. Good job Honda!

BTW - I too studied the dash and the pictures and couldn't tell any difference in the 04's. Also - up close the shift knob didn't look that good and felt large and a little akward compared to my Type R / Grupe M shift knob IMO.

 

[ncdogdoc]

That is the NSX run by the guys in Europe for the enduro at the ring. He ran really well for an independent. Finally had something break really late in the race but I think he finished in the top 5 or top 10 for his class. Deltef, MvM or Enzo I think had posted extensively about this car, including some disparaging (sp?) remarks by some "has to be japanese to be on an NSX" type folks. Do a search in NSX Europa or Track Talk?