The first major automobile exhibition since 2018 was held in Munich. It was clear that there had been a significant shift in the Munich International Automobile Exposition from just cars to a semi-tech show.
According to Engadget, ‘“After over a year of canceled auto shows due to the pandemic, Munich’s IAA Mobility 2021 auto show is the first big opportunity for automakers to display their upcoming vehicles to the masses.”
The conventional Frankfurt Motor Show was replaced by the 2021 Munich Motor Show, which was designed around the Summit area, a typical motor show venue with halls full of new cars. The exhibition was a true merger of technology, automobiles, and all things with mobility with three halls dedicated to e-bikes, scooters, buses, and self-driving pods.
There were relatively few automobiles with genuine engines since public opinion, legislation, and politics have altered the standards of a car. Automobiles as we know them are evolving quickly. Many brands are using these shows to unveil their electric cars, including Audi, BMW, Renault, and Porsche.
The Audi Grandsphere was one of the highlights of the event, boasting its futuristic design and curves. In Audi’s eyes, the future apparently doesn’t have shift buttons or caps locks. Audi’s newest concept, the Grandsphere pays homage to the open-topped, elongated Skysphere we saw in August. The Grandsphere features Audi’s digital cockpit, but rather than just the instrument cluster being digital, digital technology extends throughout the interior. Rumors say that the Grandsphere concept will be the replacement to the A8 line which originally debuted back in 1994.
Senior Faizan Khalid ‘22, as an owner of an Audi, “is excited to see the new turns the company makes with their out of the world concepts.”
The Mercedes EQG is another one of the legends that has been electrified, a battery-powered G-Wagen that demonstrates Mercedes’ commitment to their long-running G-Class series. The ladder-frame chassis and live rear axle of the standard G-Class will be carried over to the EQG.
The 2021 Munich International Automobile Exposition is the new model for auto shows, featuring ever-changing trends in style and electrification. Auto shows will make a drastic change from the car shows they were in the past to more of a tech-show-related approach as the two become synonymous.
