2009 Frankfurt Motor Show

The 63rd-annual Frankfurt Motor Show is well underway. Frankfurt is well known for unveiling some of the newest and greatest vehicles set to be sold in the 2010 calendar year. This year is no exception, with many brands showcasing some very exotic and luxurious automobiles coming down the pipe.

Bentley showcased its new luxury sedan once again. The Bentley Mulsanne will replace the Arnage part way through 2010. It utilizes the tried-and-true 6.75-liter V-8, but now makes a bit more power, producing 505 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque. Read our Bentley Mulsanne overview here.

Mercedes-Benz showed off its new ultra-exotic, whose roots date back to the 300 SL of the 50s. The SLS Gullwing will be powered by a 6.3-liter naturally-aspirated V-8 making 571 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. Read our Mercedes-Benz SLS Gullwing overview here.

The SLR Stirling Moss sits next to its predecessor, the 300 SLR. A 300 SLR was driven by Sir Strling Moss, the Mercedes-Benz race car driver, and won the 1955 Mille Miglia race. Read our Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss overview here.

Lamborghini showed off its new über-exotic, the $1.7-million Reventon Roadster. Based off the Murcielago, but wearing carbon fiber skin everywhere but the door metal, the topless Reventon churns out 661 hp from its big 6.5-liter V-12 engine; good enough for a zero-to-60 sprint of 3.4 seconds. Read our Lamborghini Reventon Roadster overview here. 

Another special edition in the Lambo area was the LP670-4 SuperVeloce with its menacing-looking front spoiler and large rear wing out back. It uses the same 6.5-liter V-12 found in the Reventon and makes the same 661 hp, but due to its lower weight, is capable of sprinting to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Read our Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 overview here.

With the loss of its trademark—and rather eye-charming—side blades and engine window, the R8 Spyder was looking a little plain at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Although the styling is more mundane, its engine is not. That is because it will come out the box with the 525-hp 5.2-liter V-10 that debuted in the coupe this past year. Read our R8 Spyder overview here.

The Ferrari 458 Italia was introduced for the first time in the flesh. As a replacement to the F430, it utilizes a 4.5-liter V-8 making 562 hp—that’s 50 hp more than the F430 Scuderia! Read our Ferrari 458 Italia overview here.

The Porsche GT3 RS and Panamera were also in attendance. The RS is a spicier version of the already track-worthy GT3. Read our Porsche GT3 RS overview here. The Panamera is Porsche’s new four-door performance sedan and the Porsche Panamera Turbo overview is here.

The XJ has been in a styling funk for the past 40 years or so, until now. The new XJ design is mostly based off the well-received Jaguar XF. Read our Jaguar XJ overview here.

Expounding on the success of the Phtanom line, Rolls-Royce expects the Ghost to grab buyers that are new to the brand. Read our Rolls-Royce Ghost overview here. 

The Aston Martin Rapide is a four-door performance sedan that looks much like an elongated Aston Martin coupe. It uses a 6.0-liter V-12 engine making 470 hp.

[via UnitedPictures.com]