What to expect at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show

[Zeus™]

The upcoming 2018 BMW M5 looks ready to shred despite all-wheel drive -- a first for an M car. We should see a production version at the 2017 motor show.

 

The 2017 Frankfurt motor show, aka the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung, or IAA, will take place this Sept. 14 to Sept. 24. Much of the buzz around the event earlier this year involved the major automakers -- including Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot, Volvo and Nissan -- that were skipping the exhibition, and indeed, even some of the automakers slated to be at the German event pulled the covers off their flagship models well before September (we're looking at you, Audi A8).

But a ton of important reveals are set to take place. Many of the cars from the likes of Seat and Dacia are less than relevant to American buyers, so here we're focusing on the cars that will eventually be sold in North America. We’ll update the list as we get wind of more impending reveals -- and we’re hoping for a few surprises, too.

Aston Martin: We may see the new Vantage minus camouflage as soon as the show.

Bentley: The Continental GT is finally getting a ground-up redesign.

BMW: BMW has the busiest debut lineup so far, including the all-wheel-drive M5 sedan and 6-series GT. Additionally, we could see a 3-series electric vehicle or at least a concept; a “surprise” of some sort is said to be in the works as well, though whether that’s an i8 Spyder, an X7 crossover or the upcoming 8-series coupe remains to be seen.

Hyundai: We expect to get another look at Hyundai’s Kona subcompact SUV, and the Korean automaker will show off some of its N-badged performance products (which aren’t headed to our shores just yet).

Jaguar: Jag revealed the E-Pace crossover (the internal-combustion-powered one) in July, but keep an eye out for a production version of the I-Pace (the all-electric one).

Kia: Kia's Stonic, a compact-crossover platform-mate of the Hyundai Kona, will likely be in Frankfurt in production guise.

Mercedes-Benz: We’ll get another look at the production X-class pickup, which is interesting even if it doesn’t head to the North American market. Another EV concept -- a follow-up to the EQ C crossover -- is likely in the cards.

Mercedes-AMG: We should see AMG’s unreal Project One hypercar, perhaps the most hotly anticipated car of the show.

Porsche: We might get a look at the upcoming third-generation Cayenne SUV.

Volkswagen: VW signals its desire to jump into the subcompact crossover fray with the T-Roc concept.