Frankfurt

Frankfurt am Main (German pronunciation: [ˈfʁaŋkfʊɐ̯t am ˈmaɪ̯n]) is the largest city in the German state of Hessen and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2014 population of 717,624 within its administrative boundaries. The urban area called Frankfurt Rhein-Main has a population of 2,221,910. The city is at the centre of the larger Frankfurt Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region which has a population of 5,500,000 and is Germany's second-largest metropolitan region. Since the enlargement of the European Union in 2013, the geographic centre of the EU is about 40 km (25 mi) to the east.

Frankfurt is a centre for commerce, culture, education, tourism and web traffic. Messe Frankfurt is one of the world's largest trade fairs at 578,000 square metres and ten exhibition halls. Major trade fairs include the Frankfurt Motor Show, the world's largest motor show, and the Frankfurt Book Fair, the world's largest book fair.

Frankfurt is home to many cultural and educational institutions, including the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University and Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, many museums (e.g. Städel, Naturmuseum Senckenberg, Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt, Goethe House) and two major botanical gardens: the Palmengarten, which is Germany's largest, and the Botanical Garden of Goethe University.

Auto show

An auto show, also known as a motor show or car show, is a public exhibition of current automobile models, debuts, concept cars, or out-of-production classics. It is attended by automotive industry representatives, dealers, auto journalists and car enthusiasts. Most auto shows occur once or twice a year. They are important to car manufacturers and local dealers as a public relations exercise, as they advertising new products and promote auto brands. The five most prestigious auto shows, sometimes called the "Big Five", are generally considered to be held in Frankfurt, Geneva, Detroit, Paris and Tokyo.

History

There are other auto/car shows that occur on a more frequent basis, almost weekly. It is not known if there is a regularly accepted term for these more frequent, informal "car rallies" or "car enthusiasts events". Some meeting events have themes, such as classic cars, hot rods, etc. These events are more localized, typically consisting of car enthusiasts who meet to socialize and enjoy their enthusiasm with other car owners.

International Motor Show Germany

The International Motor Show Germany or simply International Motor Show, in German known as the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA - International Automobile Exhibition), is the world's largest motor show. It is held annually, with passenger vehicles (including some motorcycles) being displayed in odd-numbered years in Frankfurt am Main, and commercial vehicles in even-numbered years in Hanover, Germany. Before 1991, the show was held solely in Frankfurt.

The IAA is organized by the Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA – Association of the German Automotive Industry) and is scheduled by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles. Currently, the show in Frankfurt occupies twelve buildings.

History

In 1897, the first IAA was held at the Hotel Bristol in Berlin, with a total of eight motor vehicles on display. As the automobile became more known and accepted, the IAA became a fixed event in Germany, with at least one held every year, usually in Berlin. From 1905-1907, there were two per year, as the production had increased to an industrial level. In the next years, the show was suspended, due to the ongoing World War I, and was then reinstated in 1921 with 67 automobile maufacturers displaying 90 vehicles under the motto "comfort".

BMW M5

The BMW M5 is a high performance version of the 5 Series executive car built by the Motorsport division of BMW. Beginning production in 1986, the first incarnation of the M5 was hand-built utilizing the 535i chassis and a modified BMW M1 engine, being the fastest production sedan in the world at the time of its introduction. Subsequent iterations of the M5 have been built from each generation of the 5-Series platform, including the E34, E39, E60/E61, and most recently, F10, with the first orders delivered in late 2011.

E12 M535i

While not badged an M5, the 1980 E12 M535i is considered to be the predecessor to the M5. It was the third road-going automobile to emerge from the BMW Motorsport workshop. While the BMW 3.0 CSL and M1 had been limited-production, purpose-built sports cars, the M535i was a reworked 5-series sedan fitted with the M90 engine.

E28 M5 (1985–1988)

The first BMW M5, based on the E28 5 Series, made its debut at Amsterdam Motor Show in February 1984. It was the product of demand for an automobile with the carrying capacity of a saloon (sedan), but the overall appearance of a sports car. It utilized the 535xi chassis and an evolution of the bodykit from the M535i. At its launch, the E28 M5 was the fastest production sedan in the world.

Renault Mégane

The Renault Mégane is a small family car (C-segment in Europe) produced by the French automaker Renault since 1995, and was the successor to the Renault 19.

The Mégane has been offered in 3- and 5-door hatchback, saloon, coupé, convertible and estate bodystyles at various points in its lifetime, and has been through three generations. The first generation was largely based on its predecessor, the 19, and utilized modified versions of that car's drivetrain and chassis. In 1996, the Mégane Scénic compact MPV was introduced, using the same mechanical components as the hatchback Mégane.

For 2002, the Mégane entered its second generation with a substantial redesign taking place, and was voted European Car of the Year for 2003, whilst also becoming the first car in its class to receive a 5-star EuroNCAP rating. The Mégane entered its third generation in 2008, with another totally different design being used; the saloon version of the Mégane became known as the Renault Fluence for this generation, and it was introduced in 2009. A fourth generation Mégane is expected in 2015, with sales set to begin in 2016.