Of course, there are obvious stunners like the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo Concept, which is said to closely preview the 1,500-hp Chiron. Meanwhile, Ferrari's 660-hp 488 Spider was pitted directly against the Lamborghini Huracan Spyder, which also debuted at the show wearing a similar blue coat of paint. Let's not forget the Porsche Mission E Concept, a beautifully minimalist fastback that will fight the Tesla Model S should it hit production. Its philosophical doppelganger at the show was the Mercedes Concept IAA, another radically designed four-door coupe concept.

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Crossovers played a major role in Frankfurt, making up some of the most surprising debuts at the show this year. Toyota confirmed its radical C-HR concept would eventually enter production, while Kia showed off a whimsical new Sportage that promises added interior refinement compared to the outgoing model. Volkswagen debuted a new Tiguan, and Nissan rolled out the Gripz, an unusual concept with an equally bizarre name. Jaws also dropped as Mazda revealed its Koeru concept, a sleek crossover that likely previews a future CX-9.

In the luxury category, Jaguar took the covers off its very first SUV, and Audi introduced an E-Tron Quattro concept that will eventually hit production to deliver around 310 miles of range. Bentley also showed off a brilliant gold Bentayga, which features a W-12 engine and plenty of off-road prowess.