Frantic Frankfurt Fancies

First off it is a pleasure as always to report to teeming and inquisitive masses back home from the Frankfurt Motor Show about the developments in the automotive world as they happen. For starters, the biggest motor show in the world is the perfect sampling ground for any manufacturer worth his salt to display his wares and gauge popular public reaction. The reaction is often gauged through of the international automotive media for which Frankfurt at this time of the year is akin to Mecca, and taking news back home the dictat.

There used to be a time when an Indian in Frankfurt was a fancy foreigner who was more of a novelty, but these days it is interesting to see how the attitude of not just car makers but also the general audience at motor shows is changing for the better. And why should it not - from owning one of the choicest brands in international automobiles to finishing on the podium in Formula 1 to winning the world's first electric motorcycle Grand Prix at the Isle of Man, Indians are making their mark everywhere in the automotive world. Moving away from the news foreign car makers are finally beginning to realize the technological and logistical advantages that India holds. Add to it a bustling domestic market with a whole lot of pent up demand and you have the perfect recipe for growth. No wonder then that from Suzuki to Hyundai to Ford, as you will read in the story in this issue, are betting heavily on India as a small car manufacturing hub. The times are changing.

And how. From being technological fancies and at times hilarious contraptions, electric cars can now be said to be really coming of age. Green has been the buzzword for the last few years at almost every major motor show, but it is at Frankfurt this year that the real shift in power is being made obvious not only in terms of concepts but also keeping in mind the real world production. Our very own Reva Electric is here with its next-gen electrics as we had reported just last week, but every major manufacturer this yes even the Americans have at least one hybrid or electric concept that looks close to production.

This is not saying that the days of petrol and diesel powered cars are numbered for there are more exciting and invigorating cars from sports car makers that are managing the fine balance between cutting-edge performance and ever receding emissions. This looks like a good time for the international car scenario indeed where technology seems to be catering to everything that is on demand, be it environment friendliness or pedal to the metal fun, co-existence seems to be the order of the next few years as opposed to battles and wars.