Luxury-EV war likely at Frankfurt show

German premium automakers appear ready to try to outdo each other with eye-catching electric supercars at the Frankfurt auto show.

BMW says it will unveil a plug-in diesel-electric supercar concept. Arch rivals Mercedes-Benz and Audi aren't talking but may respond by revealing electric-powered concepts of the Mercedes SLS and Audi R8.

Green technology and fuel efficiency will take center stage on the stands of most automakers at the show. New electric cars and hybrids will be displayed, along with smaller engines and fuel-saving technologies such as stop-start and brake regeneration.

Among the closely watched unveilings will be Volkswagen's electric car and a two-seat concept for an ultralight diesel-powered minicar said to achieve U.S. fuel economy of 238 mpg.

And Renault-Nissan -- whose CEO, Carlos Ghosn, says electric vehicles could account for 10 percent of the global market by 2020 -- will show a line of Renault EVs. The company already has said it will bring a Nissan EV, the Leaf, to the United States late next year.

(Source: Automotive News)