#FrankfurtAutoShow2009

It might not have been one of BMW’s main attractions at the Frankfurt Auto Show, but the world premiere of the all-wheel drive 7 Series is a welcome addition to the BMW lineup.

At the Frankfurt Auto Show, Volvo officially unveiled a sporty R-Design package for the XC60, giving the brand’s progressive luxury crossover an even more appealing look.

When it comes to hybrid and eco-friendly technology, it looks like blue is the new green. Both Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz have chosen the color blue to represent their environmentally friendly vehicles with their respective Blue Drive and Blue Efficiency brands. Hyundai’s latest hybrid concept, the Blue-Will, is a look into the future of eco-friendly vehicles.

As expected, Dodge unveiled its updated 2010 Caliber at the Frankfurt Auto Show, with a redesigned interior, more powerful base engine and a new diesel engine for Europe. The car wasn’t getting much attention, however, as it was located in the same hall as all those other brands that fall under the Fiat umbrella. Even a Caliber SRT10 wouldn’t get much notice next to a Ferrari 458 Italia or Fiat’s models in school girl uniforms (see below).

Volvo to chose the Frankfurt Auto Show to debut a mid-cycle makeover for the C30 premium hatchback.

As we predicted, Ford’s new Grand C-Max will make its way to North America. Freshly unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show, Ford of Europe boss John Flemming made the announcement that the company’s new seven-seat multi-purpose vehicle will make the jump across the pond.

Germany exotic car tuner Mansory continues to one-up itself with custom creations, the latest of which is an exposed carbon-body Aston Martin DBS. Looking like something you might find on a race track with black wheels, wider fenders, a massive rear diffuser and an additional spoiler, this custom DBS also sports a very special front end.

It isn’t every day that Rolls-Royce rolls out a new model, let alone the start of a new lineup of cars. In fact, the most luxurious luxury brand on the planet hasn’t had an entirely new model (based on a new platform), since 2003. Sure, there have been the Coupé and Drophead Coupé, but both of those models are based on the Phantom’s underpinnings.

Move over Corvette, Barbie has a new ride.

Unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the latest Brabus E V12 might be typically Brabus in that, like almost all Brabus models, it is “fast, black and expensive.” It’s also very uncharacteristically Brabus-like due to the wider rear end with bizarre fenders that cover over most of the wheels. Add on matte black paint and we’d almost think we were at Mansory’s booth.

Mercedes-Benz introduced its BlueZero E-Cell Plus concept car at the Frankfurt Auto show.

Audi has expanded its Sportback lineup, by adding an S5 model directly above the A5 Sportback. Unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the S5 Sportback is powered by the company’s new supercharged V6 engine rather than the S5 sedan’s 4.2-liter V8.

Lotus displayed its Exige Cup 260 race car at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The race-ready version of the Exige is powered by the same 257-hp supercharged 1.8-liter 4-cylinder as the street car, while weighing just 1,958 lbs.

Mercedes-Benz is expanding its E-Class family of vehicles with a new wagon. Called the Estate in European markets, the wagon will be available with ten different engine options.

Volkswagen made a big splash at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show with a total of nine new vehicles, including two new ultra fuel-efficient concepts that will one day see production. Included in the list of “normal” premieres was the 2010 Polo with a BlueMotion option that delivers futuristic fuel-economy right now.