Going through a very tough year, automotive industry is seeking a way through the crisis with electric and ecological  cars. Ecological cars manufactured in Turkey left their mark at the 63rd Frankfurt Motor Show where more than a hundred new models were displayed , 82 of which celebrated  their world premiere.Electric version of Renault Fluence manufactured at Oyak Renault Plant in Bursa was unveiled as the first preview of the "electric  car" as a breakthrough of the French company prepared for the post-economic crisis period. Moreover,  Auris' hybrid version manufactured at Toyota's plant in Adapazarı and electric version of Transit Connect manufactured in Kocaeli appeared as battery electric cars mass produced in Turkey.

Signed as "Made in Turkey"

The motor show first opened its doors for the journalists on September 15th and 16th. Along with electric and ecological cars shown at the motor show, Renault Grand Tour, Toyota Verso, and Peugeot Bipper Tepe stood out as "Made in Turkey" cars.Renault Megane Sedan's replacement Fluence manufactured in Bursa and Fiat Fiorino's Trekking version made their world premiere in Frankfurt. Renault made a 110 million-Euro investment for Fluence in Bursa plant, which will be manufacturing 100,000 cars  per year and exporting to 84 countries.

Korean company Hyundai's eco-friendly small car i20, which is to be manufactured at Hyundai Assan Plant in İzmit by 2010, was also  displayed at Frankfurt. Hyundai Assan made 75 million Euros investment to manufacture i20 and expects to reach a profit of 500 million Euros

1 Million Visitors Expected

Press members were allowed at the show on September 15th and the official opening  by German Chancellor Angela Merkel took place on September 17th. This year's theme was " A Moving Experience".

Girgin Signature on Mazda Concept

Along with  "Made in Turkey"  cars, MX-5 Superlight concept designed by  famous designer Hasip Girgin made its debut in Frankfurt Motor Show. Created by Mazda's Europe Design Team led by Hasip Girgin, the concept will be predecessor of MX-5, the best-selling roadster in the world.

Ferrari's New Master Manufacture 458 Italia Takes Advance Orders

The new Ferrari 458 Italia was among the most  acclaimed models. Ferrari and Maserati's Turkish Distributor FerMas' General Manager Orhan Ülgür expressed that 458 Italia has already drawn great demand in Turkey and they have been taking advance orders. Ülgür said: "We are trying to purchase more  Ferrari F458.

After seeing its features, Ferrari F430 consumers want to switch to 458 Italia. The car will be 10 percent more expensive than F430." Ülgür asserted that they will reach a total of 19 Ferrari sales in 2009 and they aim at 20 sales in 2010.

Hyundai Aims at Leadership with ix-35 Model

Kwang-Heum Um, CEO of Hyundai Assan expressed that they will have a significant tax advantage due to ix-35's 1.6 liter engine and said: "With ix-35, we will become the leader in this segment".

Minicargo's Greek Interior Designer Creates World's Smallest Four-Seater Car

Athanassios Tubidis, Greek interior designer of Minicargo manufactured in TOFAŞ's Bursa plant for Fiat, Peugeot, and Citroen, created world's smallest four-seater car which was shown off in Frankfurt Motor Show. Asserting that he knows Bursa and Turkey very well as he worked in Bursa a long time ago, Peugeot's leader designer Tubidis said: "I have worked. in automotive  supplier industry companies in Bursa. I have been there five times for three months period." Expressing that he has been the interior designer of Minicargo manufactured by TOFAŞ, Tubidis asserted: "After my experience in Bursa, my relationship with Turkey continued through Minicargo project". Tubidis said that he created world's smallest four-seater car of just 2.5 meters long and that it is a brand new model inspired from a motorcycle. Tubidis asserted: "We are testing the car in crowded metropolis like Roma and Barcelona. Manufacture depends on the demand. The car was inspired from the driving philosophy of a motorcycle rather than an automobile. The car  is electric.After starting the car, it is powered by solar energy."

Source: Hürriyet