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Weekly Recap: Takeaways from the Frankfurt Motor Show

We obsessively covered the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, and naturally, we selected our favorites from this fall's biggest automotive event. Now that the dust has settled, we're looking ahead to what it all means. Here are three takeaways from the floor in Frankfurt. The Germans are serious about electric vehicles: It's a bit cliche to say BMW, Mercedes, and Audi have downplayed electrics in favor of other technologies, like diesels. For a time that may have been true, but those three companies, along with Porsche and Volkswagen, are emerging as leaders in EV development. That was on display in Frankfurt, when all of them revealed either all-electric or plug-in hybrid models. Gas prices are relatively low in the United States, but clearly the Germans are thinking long-term and globally. Everyone is serious about SUVs: You gotta have one, even if you're Bentley or Jaguar. It's 2015 and it's what consumers want. As Jaguar design director Ian Callum put it, "Not to be in the sector would be a little naive for the sake of purity." It's not just the flashy exotic luxury makers. Nissan showed the Gripz concept, which is rakish, radical, and meant to blend traits of SUVs and sports cars into a vehicle that really crosses over. Look for more, especially in the luxury sector, as Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin ramp up their own SUV efforts. There's no ceiling to the luxury market: Speaking of high-end cars, companies are continuing to invest in extravagant wares beyond just SUVs. Even during the recession, ultra-luxury makers remained relevant, and now they're back at full stride. In Frankfurt, that was illustrated by yet another S-Class model, the cabriolet, which will come in S550 and S63 AMG variants in the United States. Ferrari also showed off the 488 Spider, and Lamborghini opened up the Huracan LP 610-4 Spyder. Meanwhile, Bugatti's Vision Grand Turismo concept reminded enthusiasts that it's plotting life after the Veyron. European auto shows always draw the glitziest reveals from luxury makers, and this year didn't disappoint. OTHER NEWS & NOTES 2016 Honda Civic redesigned with snazzier style, turbo power The 10th-generation of the Honda Civic debuted this week at events in Los Angeles and Detroit ahead of its launch in the United States this fall as a 2016 model. Honda fortified the Civic with LED lights, an available turbo engine, and a more tech-laden cabin.

Jeremy Clarkson chooses his top 10 cars for 2015 and 2016

Jeremy Clarkson is well-known for his role as co-host on the old Top Gear. But the frontman of the upcoming Amazon Prime Show, The Grand Tour, also has a standing column for The Sunday Times in the UK where he reviews the latest cars. With fall nearing, Clarkson put out a list of his top-10 cars from this year and 2015. Some on the list will surprise you, while others represent everything we've come to love about Clarkson. In order to make his list of star cars, the vehicles must offer what co-host James May calls "the fizz." The vehicles, Clarkson claims, have something that is out of the ordinary. Whether it's the car's looks, the way it gets up to speed, or its high-tech gadgets, Clarkson's top-10 list is made up of items that are more than just tools for getting from point A to B. So which ones made the list? Head over to the column in The Sunday Times. Mazda MX-5 Miata 2.0 Sport Recaro Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe Mercedes-AMG GT S Ford Focus RS Ford Mustang Fastback 5.0 V8 GT Volvo XC90 D5 AWD Vauxhall Zafira Tourer 1.6 CDTi Tech Line BMW M2 Ferrari 488 GTB Lamborghini Aventador Related Video: Featured Gallery Jeremy Clarkson's Star Cars For 2015 and 2016 View 11 Photos News Source: The Sunday TimesImage Credit: STEFAN HEUNIS / AFP / Getty Images Celebrities BMW Ferrari Ford Lamborghini Mazda Performance bmw m2 ferrari 488 gtb

Valentino Balboni launches Lamborghini parts company

After 40 years of helping Lamborghini develop some of the greatest supercars on the road, former test driver Valentino Balboni is going back to work. Balboni recently unveiled his own company, aptly named VB, which will specialize in aftermarket components for Lamborghinis. VB's first matter of business is to give Lamborghini's most hardcore supercar a better sound. Set to launch at the Concorso Italiano during this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance week, VB's first aftermarket part is a titanium exhaust system for the Lamborghini Aventador LP-750 SV. The titanium exhaust system weighs in at 13.8 pounds and is a bolt-on part that uses OEM mounts. Each exhaust system takes over 350 hours to make and will be limited to a production run of 30 units. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Pricing for the exhaust system hasn't been announced, but drivers with the means to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for an Aventador SV should be able to afford some aftermarket goodies. Balboni has an extensive history with Lamborghini. After starting as a mechanic's apprentice, Balboni went on to become a test driver at Ferruccio Lamborghini's request. Before retiring in 2009, Balboni was said to have driven roughly 80 percent of the automaker's entire production. Lamborghini even named a supercar after him, the 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni, as a way of saying thank you. It looks like Balboni isn't done with Lamborghini, yet, and VB's titanium exhaust system for the Aventador SV should be an aural delight. Related Video: Featured Gallery VB Lamborghini Aventador SV Exhaust System Related Gallery Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce: Geneva 2015 View 21 Photos News Source: Facebook, Valentino BalboniImage Credit: Valentino Balboni Auto News Aftermarket Lamborghini Performance exhaust system valentino balboni lamborghini aventador sv lamborghini aventador lp 750-4 superveloce