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2008 Geneva Motor Show Preview
Geneva, Switzerland is a city filled with graceful architecture and classical history. As the setting each year for one of Europe’s most prestigious motor shows, the halls of Palexpo will once again resonate with the thump of metal doors and hoods closing and opening in rhythm to the sound of clicking cameras. It is a grand sight and one we look forward to each year...
2009 Audi A4 Avant
It's a good day to be a station wagon fan. Audi has just taken the wraps off its new 2009 A4 Avant. This wagon is based on the redesigned A4, and both will go on sale this fall in the U.S. We're really impressed with the design, as it's a much more noticeable departure from the previous wagon than the new sedan is from the old version. The rear slopes severely...
2009 Ford Fiesta
If you think the all-new Ford Fiesta looks like the Verve concepts we've been seeing over the past year at various auto shows, you're right. This production car takes those concept car cues and turns them into reality. Don't take our word for it, just check out the interior, which closely resembles the concept car. Ford says this is the first car that will truly be a...
2009 Mini John Cooper Work
A new John Cooper Works version of the Mini debuts for 2009 and is available as both the regular two-door hatchback and the new extended-length Clubman. Whereas previous JCW Minis featured a supercharged four- cylinder, both of these models are powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder that makes 207 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 192 pounds-feet of torque at 1,850 rpm...
Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe
Rolls- Royce introduced its latest Phantom Drophead Coupe — aka convertible — to rave reviews from the automotive elite last year. The big, brutish, brush-steel-finished coach led to big sales for Rolls- Royce. So what does the British carmaker do to follow it up? Meet the Rolls- Royce Phantom Coupe. This is the "sporty" version of the Phantom. The company promises this is...
2009 Volvo XC60
Volvo is jumping into the small luxury SUV game with the XC60. It joins an ever-growing group of very good vehicles, like the BMW X3, Acura RDX, Land Rover LR2, Infiniti EX35 and Mercedes- Benz's upcoming GLK. Can Volvo play the safe card and win buyers? That's what the company says it isn't doing, at least with the design. While it certainly isn't boxy...
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics
BMW has chosen its X5 luxury SUV as the platform on which to showcase a hybrid concept, dubbed Vision EfficientDynamics. The all-wheel-drive concept utilizes a 204-horsepower, twin-turbo 2.0-liter diesel engine that's supplemented by an electric motor, according to BMW. Unlike the previously shown X6 hybrid concept, the mild hybrid system in...
2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560/4
Presented in Geneva, the refreshed Gallardo will come with the designation LP560/4, which describes its beefed-up V-10 (now at 5204 cc) that delivers 560 horsepower (an increase of 40) and its all-wheel drive. Lamborghini claims it will run to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds, while its top speed will be 6 mph higher, at 202. The new LP designation, similar to that used...
VW Scirocco
Back in 1974, Volkswagen took a Golf platform and added a Giugiaro design to create an affordable, fuel- efficient coupe, named after a warm desert wind from North Africa. Good decision, as the Scirocco proved to be a great car, becoming quite famous even in the U.S. The second-generation Scirocco wasn’t as successful, with production ending in 1992...
Saab 9-X BioHybrid Concept
Looking to become a serious player in the upscale compact market against competitors like Mini, Saab introduced the 9-X BioHybrid Concept 3-door hatchback. The sleek design is inspired by Saab’s Aero X and 9X concepts. This long-roof hatchback (or shooting brake) has the wheels pushed all the way out to the corners for minimal overhangs and smooth, fuselage style...
Opel Mireva Concept
While we’ve seen small minivans from Opel before, like the Zafira, they’ve often received scant attention because GM kept these vehicles in Europe. However, with the closer ties between Opel and Saturn, the Meriva concept is one worth noticing, not only for its unique design, but also because someday it may be headed our way. Although its shape is a monospace design...
Alfa Romeo 8C Spider
Based on the heavily praised 8C Coupe (R&T Road Test, January 2008), the Spider version of Alfa Romeo’s stunning sports car made its debut in Geneva. Technical specifications are largely similar. Power comes from a 4.7-liter aluminum V-8, which produces 450 bhp and 354 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed paddle-shift, automatic-clutch manual...
Bugatti Veyron Fgb par Hermes
This rather long appendage to the Bugatti nameplate reflects a relationship that the factory says goes back to 1927 when Ettore Bugatti sought fitted luggage from the Parisian design house. That relationship has come full circle in this limited-edition Bugatti with styling cues developed by Hermes. The Fgp appellation refers to Hermes’ headquarters on...
Italdesign Giugiaro Quaranta
Quaranta is Italian for 40 and the name of this innovative concept car from ItalDesign Giugiaro, which was built to commemorate Giorgetto Giugiaro’s 40th year of auto design.It is the first concept car to incorporate Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive in a mid- engine layout. The idea was to create an extreme, but ecological, 4- wheel-drive supercar with a cabin...
Lorinser Nardo3 SL
If you’re looking for the ultimate bad-boy ride, Lorinser may have your number with the Nardo3 SL, a pumped-up version of the Mercedes-Benz SL 2- seater.Named after the famed high-speed Italian oval, the Nardo3 is simply a beast. The German tuner has worked its magic on the twin-turbo 6.0-liter V-12, boosting output to an amazing 660 bhp and promising...
2008 Suzuki SX4
What better place than Europe for Suzuki to show off the SX4? The new car shined in Geneva, showing the world that making compact hatchbacks is not restricted to the Europeans. The all-wheel-drive SX4 sat near Suzuki’s star of the show, a car appropriately called Concept A-Star. While the A-Star offered a glimpse into Suzuki’s expertise in making small cars...
Suzuki Concept A-Star
The next big thing is small cars, as demonstrated by the Suzuki Concept A-Star, an A-class minicar designed with a fuel-efficient and low-emissions 3-cylinder 1.0- liter engine built in India. This small 5-door hatchback has a large single frame grille flanked by projector -beam headlights with turn-signal “eyebrows.” Although tiny, the A-Star looks mean thanks to the...
2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG
Another eagerly awaited car bowing at the Geneva show is the all-new Mercedes- Benz SL63 high-performance roadster. This AMG-built 6.3-liter V-8 powerplant should produce in excess of 500 horsepower and will most likely be mated to Mercedes’ 7-speed automatic transmission featuring AMG Speedshift steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters...
Fioravanti Hidra Concept
It’s been 20 years since Leonardo Fioravanti left Pininfarina to set up his own design house, so to commemorate the anniversary, he has created the futuristic Hidra concept, a sleek 2-box 5-door study. Similar in appearance to last year’s Thalia, the Hidra, like most Fioravanti concepts, is designed to showcase a particular technology and not necessarily something found under the hood...
TechArt GTstreet
Aftermarket tuners, especially German ones, simply love the Porsche 911 Turbo. TechArt is no different, turning its considerable talents to Zuffenhausen’s 997 edition of the 911 Turbo to create one of the most potent street-legal machines ever. The GTstreet edition turns up the boost on a pair of BorgWarner Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG) turbochargers to add an extra 150 bhp...
Rinspeed sQuba Concept
Swiss car designer Frank M. Rinderknecht has a fascination with the 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me, wherein James Bond’s Lotus Esprit was able to drive underwater. In that vein, Rinderknecht’s latest Rinspeed creation is a Lotus Elise converted into “the world’s first real submersible car,” according to the company. The conversion was largely performed by Swiss engineering specialist Esoro...
Pininfarina Sintesi Concept
Legendary Italian design firm Pininfarina has formed a joint-venture with the French Bolloré Group, a major battery producer, to build a plug-in hybrid fuel-cell car that will be ready for sale by 2010 in Europe, Japan and the U.S. Called Sintesi, the concept offers four seats, four doors and stunning looks in the best Italian tradition. The sleek body has a drag coefficient of just 0.27...
Magna Steyr MILA Alpin Concept
Austria-based Magna Steyr has been building a variety of vehicles for established manufacturers from its Graz, Austria, factory and is most noted for its expertise in building SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz Gelandewagen and BMW’s X3. In fact, it has been tapped by Mini to build a crossover version of its new Clubman. Magna has decided to showcase its talent...
2009 Bentley Brooklands
It's tough to get more "automotively English" than Bentley and Brooklands. The former is, of course, the famous automaker while the latter is a historic- if-now-defunct high-speed race track near London. Put the two names together in 2008 and you have a new coupe that is the sum of 6.75, 530, 774, 3, 5.0 and 340,990. How does it add up?...
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Those expecting to see a new entry-level Ferrari at Geneva, possibly called the Dino, were disappointed. But we do hear such a car may be possible at the Paris show later this year. In the meantime, Ferrari unveiled an updated version of its 2+2, the 612 Scaglietti. Although the exterior appearance remains largely the same, many of the updates are beneath the car’s sexy skin...
Maybach Landaulet Study
Because Maybachs clearly aren’t exclusive enough, the Landaulet Study could very well become the most coveted limousine in the world. By adding a folding black soft-top roof over the passenger compartment of the Maybach 62 S (while the chauffeur’s compartment remains enclosed, in true landaulet style), the German super- luxury manufacturer says it has...
2009 Maserati GranTurismo S
One year after the GranTurismo coupe’s debut, it’s time to rev the car up a bit. The new GT S version can be recognized by its sinister alloy wheels and by its extra howl, coming from the exhaust pipes of the larger 4.7-liter V-8, up from the original 4.2 liters, which now packs a 440-bhp punch (up from 405). Also new is an electro-actuated transaxle-mounted gearbox with sequential paddle...
KTM Dallara Challenge
Austrian motorcycle maker KTM stunned the Geneva show last year when it presented the concept version of its X-Bow, the company’s first automobile. Designed primarily as a track car, KTM’s lightweight roadster, which tips the scales at less than 1500 lb., is powered by a 240-bhp turbocharged, direct-injection 4-cylinder engine from Audi. That engine...
Zagato Bentley Continental GTZ
The Italian design house of Zagato is famous for building rebodied specials off existing production cars, and this year’s star on its stand is no different. This time, the Turin-based coachbuilder has turned its attention to the recently introduced Bentley Continental GT Speed, a sumptuous 4-passenger touring car with a thumping 6.0- liter twin-turbocharged 12-cylinder...
2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe
In 2007, Rolls-Royce sold 20 percent more cars than the year before. Since BMW took over one of the most traditional British brands in 1998, only Emily (the nickname of the Flying Lady that adorns the cars’ grilles) remains. Today, Rolls-Royce resides in Goodwood, U.K., manufacturing its Phantom models. After this summer, this Phantom Coupe will be added...
2009 Mini Cooper/Clubman JCW
Mini unleashed a potent new model at the Geneva show. Wearing the John Cooper Works badge, this Mini packs a 207-bhp punch, enabling the car to sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) in a claimed 6.5 seconds. Torque is listed at 192 lb.-ft. at just 1850 rpm, although a turbo overboost function ups this to 207 lb.-ft. for short bursts. The 1.6-liter engine is based on the Mini Challenge...
k.o7/8
The lightweight k.o 7 and k.o 8 sports cars are the brainchild of Ken Okuyama, the former chief designer for Pininfarina, among whose credits include the Ferrari Enzo. Striking out on his own, he is seeking to re-create Spartan sports cars similar to Colin Chapman's famed Lotus 7. These 2-passenger cars feature a mid-mounted 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 250 bhp...
2009 Audi A4 Avant
Looking at the all-new Audi A4, one might rethink ordering an A6, as the A4's increased length and wheelbase over the previous model means passengers will find the difference in roominess negligible from the A6. Audi traditionally offers a more flexible 5-door-version, with an intelligent storage system (including rails and lockers), hence the wagon you see here...
Morgan LifeCar
The Morgan Motor Company celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2009, though its LifeCar exhibited at Geneva is most definitely a look to the future. The LifeCar is a hydrogen-fuel-cell hybrid concept, culminating a 2 ½-year project developed jointly with U.K. government support. The fuel cell comes from QinetiQ. Oxford University designed the four wheel -mounted electric motors...
Tata Nano
Geneva served as the European launch for the Tata Nano, which at $2500 is the world's cheapest car. This Indian-built car is also one of the world's smallest, measuring just 118.5 in. long, 59.1 in. tall and 63.0 in. wide. It also looks alarmingly similar to R&T's own Cyclops, but that's another story (see R&T, May 2008, Ampersand). It has four seats...
Kia Soul Concepts
Kia showed off three versions of its Soul concept at Geneva, each of them dressed quite radically to have its own identity. Or, rather, to give future buyers ideas for what will be possible in accessories with the upcoming production version (which will make its entrance at the Paris show in September), of which these three are closely related. The original Soul...
BMW M3 Convertible
Although BMW had previously revealed photos of its all-new M3 Convertible, the Geneva show was the car's official world premiere. And it won't be long before lucky U.S. buyers can hop behind the wheel, as the M3 Convertible goes on sale here in May, just a couple of months after the M3 coupe and sedan hit the market. The M3 Convertible follows the form of the 3 Series Convertible...
Mitsubishi Prototype-S
This 5-door Lancer is essentially a "productionized" version of Mitsubishi's Concept-Sportback from 2005. It's also a very close-to-reality preview of the 5-door Lancer Sportback that will be launched later this year in Europe, a car that is expected to represent 70 percent of Lancer sales. Europeans, remember, are big fans of hatchbacks...
2008 Geneva Motor Show - Day One
The Geneva Motor Show is unlike anything we experience in North America. While we prefer glitz and glamour as the platform for launching new vehicles, Europeans favor a “let’s get down to business” approach. Adding a flashy tie to a navy blue suit and punctuating the stage with a bevy of beauties is another sure sign the spotlights are on and the show has begun...
Extreme Car Concepts
While Switzerland is a neutral country and has no indigenous automaker of its own, independent design houses the world over have adopted the Geneva salon as their “home” show. As a result, the annual gathering throws a spotlight on some of the most innovative concept cars you’ll ever see. Based in Turin, just on the other side of the Alps from Geneva, Pininfarina created...
High Roller Rides
Swiss bank accounts, high-end watches, exclusive spas, Geneva has it all to cater to the super rich. The auto show is no exception. Crowded cheek-by-jowl in the Palexpo are the world’s most expensive rides….as the old saying goes, if you have to ask how much, you can’t afford it. So, you’re the grand marshal of a parade and you want to bring your own vehicle...
Bad, Crazy, Scary…
The Geneva Motor Show is a study in contrasts. From high-buck exotics to entry-level econoboxes, you’ll find it all on the show floor at the Palexpo Convention Center. While the sheer volume of vehicles can be overwhelming, there are the few cars that are awe inspiring just because of their sheer audacity. Here are our picks of the Bad, the Crazy and the Scary cars...
