Top 10 new production cars at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2011

Top 10 new production cars at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2011

For all the mad concept cars at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, this is also the place to see real new cars - the ones that'll be appearing in car showrooms over the next few months.

And this year saw a particularly strong crop too, across all sectors. Yes, there were supercars. But there were also city cars, MPVs and regular hatchbacks all worthy of merit. Here are our 10 favourites.

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Porsche 911

Even more powerful, even more efficient, the brand new Porsche 911 even has even more gears, as it debuts the world's first seven-speed manual gearbox. Worth it for the new interior alone, the 911's position as the complete sports car is simply reinforced.

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Volkswagen Up!

After a mildly ludicrous number of concepts, VW has finally unveiled the production version of the Up!, a fun yet practical, tiddly city car powered by efficient three-cylinder engines, the best of which achieves just 79g/km.

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BMW M5

The latest iteration of the world's most famous super saloon takes its public bow - now complete with 4.4-litre twin turbo V8 power delivering 560hp. Performance is truly in the supercar league, with 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 190mph with the optional Driver's Package.

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Hyundai i30

Set to squeeze rivals on style and performance as well as warranty and price, this striking new family hatchback is certain to become Hyundai's most successful model yet. Launching a true Golf rival at Germany's premiere show demonstrates Hyundai's confidence

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Aston Martin V12 Zagato

Italian style meets British muscle in this £330,000 automotive sculpture. Often controversial, in this Aston Martin Zagato's always eye catching design is beautifully resolved. Aggressive, exclusive and uncompromising it's also a proven racer.

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Vauxhall Zafira Tourer

The new Zafira gets bigger to take on the Ford Galaxy, but retains the clever interior touches that have made previous versions so popular with on the go families everywhere.

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Fiat Panda

The cheerfully practical Panda is reborn with increased interior quality and some high tech gadgets - not to mention the introduction of ecocentric two-cylinder TwinAir engines.

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Mazda CX-5

The standard bearer for Mazda's clever new SkyActiv tech, what the CX-5 lacks in outright style it makes up with environmental efficiency and a sharp driving experience.

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Honda Civic

The new Civic has an impressively powerful 150hp diesel engine that emits just 110g/km CO2. It's facing some fierce competition though, not least in the shape of the Hyundai i30 also unveiled here at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

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Ferrari 458 Spider

Ferrari has built the world's first mid-engined supercar with a folding hard top. It still looks great, it still goes great and - by all accounts - it sounds even better.

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10 most 'liked' car brands on Facebook

10 most 'liked' car brands on Facebook

We've found the 10 most 'liked' car brands on Facebook, see if you're a fan too.

Whether you agree with it or not, social media is now part of most people's everyday life. Whether it's keeping up with friends on Facebook or chatting idly on Twitter, many people use social media to interact with all manner of people. Including car companies.

You see, they've figured out that if you interact with current and potential customers they're more likely to think of the brand in a positive light and go on to buy one. There are a few methods of interacting with 'your' brand - the most easy to measure is Facebook. You can see how many 'fans' a brand has and join in and ignore as you like

1. BMW - 6,437,807

The blue and white propeller is very well known indeed, and BMW's huge quantity of fans is proof of that. BMW is currently running a campaign called 2Originals, about character and how we're all different in our own way. There's also an active discussions board, video content and a link to their website. If you own or fancy a Beemer one day, this is the page for you...

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2. Ferrari - 5,031,256

Considering it's one of the best known brands in the world are you really surprised Ferrari is at number 2? The Ferrari page is a fairly simple affair. There are a few links to other Ferrari based pages (they'd never 'like' something that isn't Ferrari now, would they?) and there's plenty of video and written content to get your head around. If you like Ferraris, you could do worse than to 'like' the Ferrari page.

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3. Mercedes-Benz - 3,909,610

With nearly 3 million fans, Mercedes-Benz is doing something right... Their page has the usual mix of video and visual content, as well as links to Mercedes pages in your country. What caught our eye though, was the use of a bespoke reporter who goes to Mercedes events and answers questions from users directly. Very smart indeed.

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4. Audi - 3,795,332

There's plenty of glitz on Audi's page - product promotions, in depth pages on the latest models (the A7 at the moment), Flickr feeds for video and pictures and links to the various Audi regions all over the world. The Audi 'gimmick' (for want of a better, more accurate word) is to ask people for their stories. You can read owners' experiences with their cars and submit your own.

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5. MINI - 2,331,868

It's a brand that few seem to dislike, so having over 2 million fans is to be expected from Oxford's finest. In typical MINI fashion its Facebook page is bright, bold and rather exciting. There's the standard mix of pictures and comments (which anyone can add to), but their subpages are quite something. The stand out feature, however, is the MINI Photo Box. Get your picture taken on it and your face will be beamed to an interactive billboard in Berlin. Now that's user interaction!

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6. Porsche - 1,996,995

Most people, at some point, have toyed with the idea of owning a Porsche. Maybe not today, but at some point in the future. Well, if that thought's every crossed your mind the Porsche Facebook page is the one for you. There's info on the latest models, interactive apps and links to car building pages and the Porsche shop. When Porsche breached a million fans they created a one-off 911 with all its fans' names on it. That's a cool way to say thank you - how many people do you know have their name on the side of a 911?

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7. Jeep - 1,501,911

It's no surprise the all-American Jeep has well over a million fans. Especially because in some parts of the US only a Jeep will do... The Jeep page contains a myriad of interesting content, from music to video and pictures, it's all there. You can even find a dealer and book a test drive in a shiny new one...

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8. Honda - 1,258,880

Honda comes in 8th place with their page. Its approach is a mix of Aston's and VW's, so users can interact on the wall, while bespoke pages direct fans to various content. There's exclusive video, links to fan pages for individual models and even a page to help confused owners adjust settings, etc on their own cars. They also post related content on their wall, so fans can keep up to date with the latest Honda goings on.

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9. Aston Martin - 939,080

. Aston Martin's approach to Facebook is pretty simple. They don't 'do' special pages or tabs and lay out their content on the page's wall. This could be pictures of the new Zagato or videos of events. The cool thing is - because they publish on their wall anyone else can too. This means fans can post their own images or links alongside Aston Martin's own, making for a truly two-way experience.

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10. VW - 839,695

At number ten on our list is VW USA. Creating a car for the people means that pretty much everyone has had some interaction with the brand and over 800,000 like their page. Their approach is to give an overview of the company, its history and new models on the way. They've got extensive galleries and information on their cars, as well as deals and competitions. Want to know about VW? It's a great place to start...

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10 most 'liked' car brands on Facebook

10 most 'liked' car brands on Facebook

We've found the 10 most 'liked' car brands on Facebook, see if you're a fan too.

Whether you agree with it or not, social media is now part of most people's everyday life. Whether it's keeping up with friends on Facebook or chatting idly on Twitter, many people use social media to interact with all manner of people. Including car companies.

You see, they've figured out that if you interact with current and potential customers they're more likely to think of the brand in a positive light and go on to buy one. There are a few methods of interacting with 'your' brand - the most easy to measure is Facebook. You can see how many 'fans' a brand has and join in and ignore as you like

1. BMW - 6,437,807

The blue and white propeller is very well known indeed, and BMW's huge quantity of fans is proof of that. BMW is currently running a campaign called 2Originals, about character and how we're all different in our own way. There's also an active discussions board, video content and a link to their website. If you own or fancy a Beemer one day, this is the page for you...

---

2. Ferrari - 5,031,256

Considering it's one of the best known brands in the world are you really surprised Ferrari is at number 2? The Ferrari page is a fairly simple affair. There are a few links to other Ferrari based pages (they'd never 'like' something that isn't Ferrari now, would they?) and there's plenty of video and written content to get your head around. If you like Ferraris, you could do worse than to 'like' the Ferrari page.

---

3. Mercedes-Benz - 3,909,610

With nearly 3 million fans, Mercedes-Benz is doing something right... Their page has the usual mix of video and visual content, as well as links to Mercedes pages in your country. What caught our eye though, was the use of a bespoke reporter who goes to Mercedes events and answers questions from users directly. Very smart indeed.

---

4. Audi - 3,795,332

There's plenty of glitz on Audi's page - product promotions, in depth pages on the latest models (the A7 at the moment), Flickr feeds for video and pictures and links to the various Audi regions all over the world. The Audi 'gimmick' (for want of a better, more accurate word) is to ask people for their stories. You can read owners' experiences with their cars and submit your own.

---

5. MINI - 2,331,868

It's a brand that few seem to dislike, so having over 2 million fans is to be expected from Oxford's finest. In typical MINI fashion its Facebook page is bright, bold and rather exciting. There's the standard mix of pictures and comments (which anyone can add to), but their subpages are quite something. The stand out feature, however, is the MINI Photo Box. Get your picture taken on it and your face will be beamed to an interactive billboard in Berlin. Now that's user interaction!

---

6. Porsche - 1,996,995

Most people, at some point, have toyed with the idea of owning a Porsche. Maybe not today, but at some point in the future. Well, if that thought's every crossed your mind the Porsche Facebook page is the one for you. There's info on the latest models, interactive apps and links to car building pages and the Porsche shop. When Porsche breached a million fans they created a one-off 911 with all its fans' names on it. That's a cool way to say thank you - how many people do you know have their name on the side of a 911?

---

7. Jeep - 1,501,911

It's no surprise the all-American Jeep has well over a million fans. Especially because in some parts of the US only a Jeep will do... The Jeep page contains a myriad of interesting content, from music to video and pictures, it's all there. You can even find a dealer and book a test drive in a shiny new one...

---

8. Honda - 1,258,880

Honda comes in 8th place with their page. Its approach is a mix of Aston's and VW's, so users can interact on the wall, while bespoke pages direct fans to various content. There's exclusive video, links to fan pages for individual models and even a page to help confused owners adjust settings, etc on their own cars. They also post related content on their wall, so fans can keep up to date with the latest Honda goings on.

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9. Aston Martin - 939,080

. Aston Martin's approach to Facebook is pretty simple. They don't 'do' special pages or tabs and lay out their content on the page's wall. This could be pictures of the new Zagato or videos of events. The cool thing is - because they publish on their wall anyone else can too. This means fans can post their own images or links alongside Aston Martin's own, making for a truly two-way experience.

---

10. VW - 839,695

At number ten on our list is VW USA. Creating a car for the people means that pretty much everyone has had some interaction with the brand and over 800,000 like their page. Their approach is to give an overview of the company, its history and new models on the way. They've got extensive galleries and information on their cars, as well as deals and competitions. Want to know about VW? It's a great place to start...

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World's Most Faster Cars Top 10 list Prices 2011

World's Most Faster Cars Top 10 list Prices 2011

What is the most expensive car in the world? The 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe was sold for $8,700,000 in 1987. However, that car and many alike will not be included in this list because it is not available on the market today. It is hard to imagine someone would actually spend 8 million dollars on a car instead of using it for something more productive. However, if you had the money and opportunity, you would probably spend a small fraction of it on a collection of supercars for your private garage.

Here are the 10 most expensive production cars on the market; we will not include concept cars.

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1. Bugatti Veyron Super Sports $2,400,000.

This is by far the most expensive street legal car available on the market today (the base Veyron costs $1,700,000). It is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. It is also the fastest street legal car when tested again on July 10, 2010 with the 2010 Super Sport Version reaching a top speed of 267 mph. When competing against the Bugatti Veyron, you better be prepared!

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2. Pagani Zonda Clinque Roadster $1,850,000.

One of the most exotic cars out there is one of the most expensive. It can go from 0-60 in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 217 mph.

We have a tie for 3rd place:

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3. Lamborghini Reventon $1,600,000.

 The most powerful and the most expensive Lamborghini ever built is the second on the list. It takes 3.3 seconds to reach 60 mph and it has a top speed of 211 mph. Its rarity (limited to 20) and slick design are the reasons why it is so expensive and costly to own.

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3. Koenigsegg Agera  $1,600,000

. The Agera R can burn 0-60 in 2.8 seconds, reaching a maximum speed of 235 mph. It has the parts to reach 270 mph, but the supercar is electronically capped at 235 mph. With the completion of certain paperwork, the company will unlock the speed limit for one occasion.

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4. McLaren F1 $970,000.

In 1994, the McLaren F1 was the fastest and most expensive car. Even though it was built 15 years ago, it has an unbelievable  top speed of 240 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Even as of today, the McLaren F1 is still top on the list and it outperformed many other supercars.

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5. Ferrari Enzo $670,000

The most known supercar ever built. The Enzo has a top speed of 217 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Only 400 units were produced and it is currently being sold for over $1,000,000 at auctions.

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6. Pagani Zonda C12 F $667,321

. Produced by a small independent company in Italy, the Pagani Zonda C12 F is the 5th fastest car in the world. It promises to delivery a top speed of 215 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.

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7. SSC Ultimate Aero $654,400

. Don't let the price tag fool you, the 6th most expensive car is actually the 2nd fastest street legal car in the world with a top speed of 257 mph+ and reaching 0-60 in 2.7 seconds. This baby cost nearly half as much as the Bugatti Veyron, yet has enough power to compete against the most expensive car. It is estimated that only 25 of this exact model will ever be produced.

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8. Ascari A10 $650,000.

This badboy can reach a tested top speed of 215 mph, zooming 0-60 in 2.8 seconds. The British car company plans to assemple 50 of these supercars in their factory in Banbury, England.

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9. Saleen S7 Twin Turbo $555,000.

The first true American production certified supercar, this cowboy is also rank 3rd for the fastest car in the world. It has a top speed of 248 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. If you are a true American patriot, you can be proud to show off this car.

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10. Koenigsegg CCX $545,568.

Swedish made, the Koenigsegg is fighting hard to become the fastest car in the world. Currently, it is the 4th fastest car in the world with a top speed of 245 mph+, the car manufacture Koenigsegg is not giving up and will continue to try and produce the fastest car. Good luck with that!

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Top 10 New This century’s best exclusive cars

Top 10 New This century’s best exclusive cars

Whether it's a hot hatch or a one crore supercar, there are special editions for every budget.

Thanks to our genetic predisposition to be the best we're all looking for exclusivity. Whether it's a limited edition video game, a T-shirt that only four other people have or even a 'special edition' mobile phone, we're all after something that, by association, will make us and our lives feel a little more special. You know, like those celebrities on TV.

Car manufacturers have cottoned on to this. They know we're all after something special on our drives, or something that other car nuts will look at and appreciate its uniqueness.

With this in mind we've taken a shot at some of the best 'exclusive' cars the 21st century has to offer. Whether it's a revvy hot hatch or a near-as-damnit once crore supercar, there are special editions for almost every budget.

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Ferrari SA Aperta (80 made)

It's based on a 599, but has no roof and only 80 were made. They were all sold before the car's unveiling at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Up front is a glorious 6.0-litre V12 engine which pushed out 661bhp and 457lb ft of torque. The price wasn't revealed, but it was rumoured to set customers back Rs 2.6 crore.

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Lamborghini Reventon (20 made)

Lamborghini is known for making crazy sports cars. However, the Reventon is something else. Its design was inspired by the F22 Raptor fighter jet and underneath it was all Murciélago. Only 20 were sold to the public for an eye-watering Rs 6.3 crore.

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Citroën DS3R (200 made)

The Citroën DS3 has been a huge hit for the company. Its modern looks and 'just-right' amount of power encourage thousands to drive them out of showrooms. However, Citroën thought it could take just a little more power and threw a 200bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol under the bonnet

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Ford GT (4,500 made)

It may surprise you that only 100 Ford GTs were sold in Europe. Only 4,500 were ever going to be sold worldwide, but in the end 4,038 were made. It's hard to understand how they weren't all snapped up by collectors and the like. Who can, honestly now, resist a supercharged 5.4-litre V8

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Pagani Zonda Tricolore (3 made)

The Zonda is now gone, replaced by a car that sounds like a sneeze. But the Zonda didn't take its retirement lying down. There were many special editions, one of which was the Tricolore - only three were made for very, very well off people all over the world. The price? Rs 9 crore.

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Ford Focus RS500 (500 made)

For the few who found the standard Focus RS too tame, the RS 500 was the perfect solution. It came with 345bhp and a 0-62 time of 5.4 seconds. Only 500 were made and it really did look the mutt's.

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Audi RS3 (500 made)

It's an A3 with a huge amount of power. We're talking so much that it will get from 0-100 kmph in 4.6 seconds. Now, a few years ago that would be supercar pace; today you can get that in a family hatchback? That's progress or... something. It set owners back over Rs 30 lakh and they've all been sold.

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Porsche Carrera GT (1,270 made)

Produced form 2004-2006, only 1,270 Carrera GTs were made. It came with a 5.7-litre V10 which shoved out 612bhp. That was enough to send it to 100 kmph in an official 3.9 seconds (though it was clocked at 3.5) and on to 328 kmph. Which made it very fast indeed... It was a little bit of a handful though, which made it a car for serious drivers (or collectors) only.

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Mercedes McLaren SLR Stirling Moss (75 made)

What better way to pay tribute to the McDaddy of motor racing, Stirling Moss, than release a speedster version of the SLR? Only 75 were sold, coming with 640bhp and a 0-100 kmph time of LESS than 3.5 seconds. They only went to SLR owners and costRs 4.8 crore. We wonder if Moss himself has one?

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Morgan Aeromax (100 made)

The Morgan Aeromax was a coupé version of the beautiful Aero 8. Only 100 of the 4.8-litre V8 were made, which made it a truly special car. Owners of note include Paul O'Grady, Rowan Atkinson and Top Gear's own Richard Hammond (much to Jeremy's amusement).

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