An estimated 850,000 are expected come and worship at the motoring Mecca that is the Frankfurt Auto Show, Europe's largest gathering of new cars and stars, writes Michael McAleer in Frankfurt
The show, to be opened to the public tomorrow by German chancellor Gerhard Schröder, runs until September 21st. It's one of the main opportunities for international car makers to show off.
The show has been billed as the titanic (and teutonic) clash of the hatchbacks, important for us for it's the best-selling model type in Ireland. On home turf, Opel and VW went head-to-head with the new Golf and the very sharp Astra.
Yet, in the land of glorious motoring freedoms where autobahns teem with BMWs and Mercedes, few of the attendants have good reasons to be cheery. Many are finding it hard to make ends meet. The basic problem seems to be that Europeans, in particular Germans, are spending less on cars. And when Germany's car market is weak, the whole European motor industry suffers - Germany makes up almost a quarter of the continent's sales: 3.25 million cars last year.
Charles Young, analyst at JD Power-LMC forecasters, said customers were buying cheaper vehicles, ending a decade-long rise of luxury brands. "It has been more work-a-day little cars that are gaining market share," he said.
However, despite having to face into tougher straits, the "mine is bigger than yours" mentality still wins out when it comes to the size of the stands: large enough to keep many a European podiatrist in business for the next six months.
With a claimed 125 new models launched at the show (though we are baffled how they came to such a large figure), marques with nothing new on display were ploughing a lonely furrow.
Thankfully the old motor show tradition applies here: if you have nothing new to offer the customers, reveal a weird and wonderful concept car, and release the car industry spin masters with plenty of nudging and winking about the chances of the car ever making it onto the real world motorways.
And with every new "real" car launch comes the announcement that engineers and designers have created an entirely new segment with this car, one that will finally steal the heart of the modern-day motoring holy grail - young rich car buyers.
Opel surprised many at the Monday night pre-launch by revealing the Insignia, a concept upper-end luxury saloon featuring numerous innovations including its patented pantograph-action doors and tailgate that allow the rear doors to slide back without the need of a b-pillar. The rear-wheel drive concept car can transform from a regular coupé four-seater into a five-seat luggage carrier. Of course the hand of septuagenarian race car fan and GM vice chairman Bob Lutz can be seen under the bonnet, with the Insignia powered by a 344bhp aluminum V8 engine, offering a 0-62mph in under 6 seconds.
At the launch Opel chairman Carl-Peter Forster said: "It emphasises our message of the past few months, that 'Opel is back', and it also demonstrates the innovative ideas we come up with when we think about a 'big Opel'."
Yet, from the GM brand, the highlight of the show is undoubtedly the Astra, due on sale in the spring of 2004. It will be followed by a station wagon and more sporty three-door version. Initially five petrol and three turbodiesel engines ranging from 1.4-litre to 2-litre and power outputs of 80 to 200 bhp will be available.
There was also the premiere of the new Vectra station wagon, which Opel claims has the largest cargo volume in its class (up to 1850 litres). The new editions of Opel Agila and Corsa, are also making their first public appearances.
Among the other more mainstream motors unveiled was Volvo's new S40, an upmarket entrant which the Ford-owned car maker insists will take on the likes of Audi, Mercedes and BMW. It's due on Irish roads early next year and, though prices have yet to be agreed, we can expect it to be within the same bracket as the current model. It comes in at 50mm shorter than its predecessor, but taller and wider with extended track and wheelbase for excellent handling and premium, large car feel. New generation of engines include new turbocharged diesel units, developed through a joint Ford/PSA programme, in 1.6-litre (110 bhp) and 2-litre (136 bhp) format.
BMW has three important introductions at the show. A fortnight before the official Irish launch of the 5-series, the Munich-based firm revealed its new 6-series, due here in January and expected to sell for over €90,000. There was also the X3, a baby sports utility vehicle which will take on Land Rover's Freelander and Toyota's Rav 4. Finally, there was the announcement of a 2.2-litre Z4 onto the market. According to Clare O'Neill we should see the addition to the sharp roadster range in March next year.
Mercedes, a fellow Teutonic challenger for the upper end of the market and with one of the largest stands at the show, offered us the ultimate supercar with its SLR, alongside its "Jaguar fighter," an E class-based CLS coupé-sedan due to go on sale next year.
Volkswagen, meanwhile, is pinning hopes on the Golf - it has sold more than 20 million since the first model was launched three decades ago. However, though it originally built up the medium car segment, the Golf has fallen from its top position as Europe's best selling car and VW is hoping its new, fifth generation Golf will reclaim the top position from French manufacturers Renault and Peugeot.
Jaguar, usually the pinnacle of design and sportiness is taking an altogether more utilitarian line at this show, featuring an X-Type estate with a diesel engine. While it might stick in the throat of many Big Cat traditionalists, it makes financial and marketing sense.
As for the parent firm Ford, while it did not reveal a completely new car to the market, it did show the design concept Visos, which everyone was comparing to the Capri. According to Derrick Kuzak, vice president of Ford Europe's product development: "It builds on a history of Ford icons like the Model-T, the GT 40, the original Escort, the Puma and the Capri. And it says something about where we're heading in the coming years." While they are quick to point out that there are no plans for production, similar remarks were made about the Streetka and, if there are enough public calls for the car, we can expect something similar in the coming years.
Among the other strange and wonderful concept cars is the stunning Alfa Romeo Sc Competizione, which we hope they will build - and the Skoda Roomster which we do hope they don't.