The Mini Cooper Stretched
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Mini, the BMW division that makes the trendy little Mini Cooper, revealed a longer concept version of the Cooper at the Frankfurt Motor Show Monday.
The car, called the Mini Concept Frankfurt, still has only two side doors, but the long doors provide easy access to the rear seats. The car was inspired by the Morris Mini Traveller, a small station wagon version of the original Mini that was sold in the 1960s.
In back, the rear doors are hinged on the sides and open out. Both the side and rear doors hang on special "intelligent" hinges that minimize the amount of space needed to open them.
Inside, the Mini Concept Frankfurt's seats are mounted so that they appear to float above the floor, creating a feeling of spaciousness inside the car.
To see some of the cars introduced on the second day of the Frankfurt Motor Show see our regularly updated gallery of cars.
Volvo hard-top convertible
Volvo unveiled its new C70 at the Frankfurt Motor Show on Monday, as well. The four-seat C70 has a three-piece retractable hard-top that folds into the trunk.
The C70's side impact protection system uses airbags stiffened with slats. The airbags are designed to deflate slowly so they can continue offering protection in the event the car rolls over.
It has a five-cylinder 2.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 218 horsepower. While official pricing hasn't been announced, the C70 is expected to sell for about $39,000.
Toyota Rav4
Toyota revealed its redesigned Rav4 at Frankfurt Monday. The new version, to go on sale in the U.S. near the end of this year, is larger and has a more powerful engine.
The 2006 Rav4 is 14 inches longer than the current version and offers an optional third row of seats. The new Rav4's base engine is a 166-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder, similar to the current 161-horsepower base engine. A 268-horsepower 3.5 liter V6 will be offered as an option.
Toyota boasts that the new Rav4's ride and handling are "significantly improved" with redesigned suspension and a "more responsive" electronic power steering system.
Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
The Gallardo Spyder is a completely different car from the closed-top version, according to Lamborghini. It's powered by a 520-horsepower -- 20 more than the coupe version -- 10-cylinder engine connected to a six-speed transmission. The steering and suspension have also been changed for better precision. It's zero-to-sixty time is estimated at about 4.3 seconds.
From: http://www.cnn.com/2005/AUTOS/funonwheels/09/12/frankfurt_day_2/