Geneva International Motor Show
March 6, 2018
The doors are open for press days at the 88th Geneva International Motor Show. Land Rover is bringing something new to the luxury SUV segment: Range Rover SV Coupe. This two door full-size luxury SUV gets the most powerful engine currently offered on the full-size Range Rover: 557-horsepower 5.0-liter supercharged V8. They’re handmade of course… but they’ll only make 999 worldwide. U.S. buyers will have to wait until the final few months of 2018 to get one. The price starts at $295,000 in the U.S.
The production version of the 2019 Jaguar I-PACE made its public debut in Geneva. The world first saw Jaguar’s all-electric SUV during a webcast last week. MotorWeek saw the concept before it’s reveal at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show. Two electric motors, one on each axle, will provide all-wheel drive performance with a 240-mile all-electric range. We now know the Jaguar I-PACE price will start at $69,500 in the U.S. before federal and local government incentives. Sales begin later this year.
The British invasion continues in Geneva with McLaren. They brought the new McLaren Senna. The 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 produces nearly 800 horsepower… making it McLaren’ s most powerful internal combustion engine in a road car. They had already announced they were limiting production to 500 units… and all 500 are already sold. Still interested? No worries. The company also unveiled the McLaren Senna GTR Concept. This is the track only version with more horsepower… and up to 2204 pounds of downforce. We’ll know the exact technical details later this year. The McLaren Senna GTR will be hand built next year… but they only plan to make 75.
BMW rolled out several new members of its stable. The crowd in Geneva saw the world premiere of the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe. It’s an early look at the new BMW 8 Series. We’ll have to wait until next year to see the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe and BMW M8 Gran Coupe.
Geneva was also the site of the world premiere for the new BMW X4. The second generation of this compact Sports Activity Coupe is lighter and longer than the previous model first introduced in 2013. The rear-wheel-oriented xDrive all-wheel drive came in handy as a BMW X4 took a tour from Munich, through the Swiss Alps to Geneva.
The audience in Geneva is seeing the newest member of the Volvo family in person. The new 2019 V60 mid-size wagon shares the Scalable Product Architecture with the new XC60. There will be two plug-in hybrid powertrain options.
The 2019 Lexus UX also debuted in Geneva. It’s the brand’s first compact luxury crossover. It’s also the first Lexus built on the new GA–C global platform which the company says has “exceptional body rigidity and a low center of gravity”. There will be two engine options: a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a CVT or a hybrid that uses that same 2.0-liter gas engine with a new fourth generation hybrid drive system.
One of the most anticipated reveals at Geneva was the Toyota GR Supra Racing Concept. The 5-th generation Supra is staying true to the front-engine/rear-wheel drive configuration. Some of the features include a large rear wing, composite materials and a lowered front and rear suspension.
The eighth generation 2018 Audi A6 made its world premiere in Geneva. Along with the new design language, the business sedan will feature a mild hybrid system as standard on both the gas and turbo diesel engine options. They go on sale in Germany in June.
Audi also showed their fully electric SUV prototype: the Audi e-tron. It’s Audi’s first all-electric model. They expect to launch the EV in Europe by the end of the year.
Porsche came to Geneva with a commitment to electric vehicles. They unveiled the Mission E Cross Turismo concept. Two electric motors will produce more than 600 hp for the four-door, four seater with all-wheel drive. Porsche says the 800-volt architecture can be charged in about 15-minutes. That will take you 250-miles.
Porsche also showed their third GT road-approved sports car within a year: 911 GT3 RS. The four-litre, six-cylinder naturally aspirated engine produces 520 hp… 20 more than the 911 GT3.
Hyundai filled their stage in Geneva. They showed the fourth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe. Engine options include hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
The crowd also saw the all-new Kona Electric. The fully-electric subcompact SUV will produce 200-hp and can go as far as 300-miles.
Hyundai revealed their vision for the future with the ‘Le Fil Rouge’ concept. They say this will “influence all future production designs”.
Honda showed the European production version of the all-new CR-V crossover. And just 5 months after unveiling Urban EV Concept, Honda says the production version of their battery electric vehicle will be on European roads late next year.
Aston Martin gave Geneva a lot to look at. They presented their Lagonda Vision Concept. They’re proposing an emission-free luxury vehicle capable of covering up to 400-miles between charges. They plan to begin production in 2021.
The British luxury brand is also showing the new twin-turbocharged V8 sports coupe Aston Martin Vantage, along with the DB11 Volante and Coupe together for the first time.
Aston Martin’s racing prowess was also on display including the world debut of the track-only Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro hypercar. The throttle will take you to 225 mph thanks to the hybrid V12 powertrain that can produce 1115 hp. In this case you can look, but you can’t buy. All 25 they plan to make have already been sold. You could see one on the track beginning in 2020.
Another premium brand moving into the EV arena is Bentley. The company is taking their first step toward electrification with the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid. The new plug-in hybrid model combines an electric motor with a new V6 gas engine. On a full charge Bentley says the electric range is more than 31 miles. They’ll start taking orders later this year.
Two years after the Bugatti Chiron stepped onto the world stage in Geneva, the company has raised the bar with the Bugatti Chiron Sport. It has the same 1,500 hp quad-turbocharged 16-cylinder engine, but the Chiron Sport is lighter and faster. The price for all this style and performance starts at $3.26 million. Come up with the cash and it could be in your garage by the end of the year.
Italian flair appeared in Geneva in the form of the Ferrari 488 Pista. 710 horses gallop out of the brand’s most powerful V8 engine. The design and technical aspects of the 488 Pista benefit from Ferrari’s racing heritage.
European drivers will have the chance to experience an iconic American car. The company unveiled the 2019 Mustang Bullitt in Detroit earlier this year. This cool car features a retuned 5.0-liter V8 engine that packs at least 475 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque and tops out at 163 mph. It was inspired by a 1968 Mustang GT fastback used in the award-winning movie “Bullitt” starring Steve McQueen. The 2019 Mustang Bullitt is due out in the U.S. this summer. Production begins for Europe in June.
Italdesign is celebrating the 50th anniversary with something special. This Italdesign Automobili Speciali Zerouno Targa promises amazing speed from a 610 horsepower V10 engine. Only 5 will be built.
Lamborghini unveiled the 2019 Huracán Performante Spyder in Geneva. It’s only been a year since the 640 horsepower 5.2-liter V10 Lamborghini Huracán Performante debuted on the Swiss stage. This open air driving experience can go more than 200 mph.
Mazda brought something new for the world to see: the new Mazda6 Wagon. It has the refined exterior design we first saw on the sedan in Los Angeles last year. i-ACTIVSENSE safety features expand with 360° view monitor and an intelligent speed assist system.
Mercedes-Benz always puts on an interesting show.
This year it was the World Premiere of the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe. The coupe design comes with four doors. The power will come from an in-line 6-cylinder or V8. Outputs will range ranging from 429-hp to 630-hp.
Mercedes is taking their off-road prowess to a new level of performance. The world saw the Mercedes-AMG G 63 for the first time. The AMG treatment produces 585-hp from a 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine.
The fourth generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class was also on stage after it’s global premiere in Amsterdam last month. It’s compact luxury Mercedes style. The company says the A-Class can drive “semi-autonomously in certain driving situations”.
The smart EQ fortwo und forfour stepped into the spotlight. Mercedes already announced smart will be an all-electric brand in North America. They’re expanding that decision to Europe and the rest of the world.
The HK GT Pininfarina electric powered gran turismo is heading for Asian markets. Contributing to the eonvironment can still be done with style, as see with these gull wing doors.