Geneva Motor Show detailed report

It’s official; optimism and positive thinking are back. Clear to anyone who visited the Geneva Show, where the car industry put its best foot forward after years, the show was choc a bloc with both concepts and new production models. Global financial meltdown, crazy oil prices and strict emission norms still pose a formidable challenge. But it’s clear, the car industry today has answers to at least some of these problems. So where as on the one hand the stalls were packed tight with hybrid, electric and hydrogen cars, there was a raft of new production models on display as well. Follow the gallery and the quick guide to see all the important cars you missed.

Alfa Romeo 4C Concept

4 C stands for four cylinders in Alfa Romeo. And the suffix C is traditionally only given to very sporting models or racing cars. This 200bhp-plus, mid-engined two-seater, which measures around four metres in length showcases a new lightweight construction that promises a kerb weight of under 850kg. This may be the best Alfa for years.

Audi A3 saloon concept

Audi is aiming the production version of its A3 saloon concept squarely at the US and China — but it hopes that the new model could nurture a market for premium small saloons in Europe and asia too. The A3, revealed in the metal after sketches were issued last week, is shorter than the VW Jetta (by 188mm) and existing A4 saloon (260mm). It is based on a VW platform and has a transversely located engine.

Audi RS3

Audi's new 335bhp Audi RS3 boasts a powertrain borrowed from the TT RS, a turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine mated to a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission. This makes it one of the fastest pint-sized cars around.

Aston Martin Virage

A new DB9-sized Aston Martin revives the famous Virage name of the 1990s. The new coupé and convertible models — available in a choice of two-seat and 2+2 configurations — fit between the DB9, and its DBS flagship.

Bertone Jaguar

The future styling direction of Jaguar will be mapped out by a sleek small saloon concept by Italian styling house Bertone. Called the B99 — Bertone 99 — the 4.6-metre-long Jag celebrates next year’s centenary of the design house and shed light on a possible new design direction for Jaguar. Its main competitors would be Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3-series.

BMW Vision ConnectedDrive

A two-seat BMW roadster concept at Geneva has launched a new styling language and driver information system, called the Vision ConnectedDrive. The two-seater features new headlamps and body surfacing, a shark-nose grille and next-gen driver information display, including a radical new three-dimensional dashboard interface.

De Tomaso SLS

The model that has relaunched De Tomaso at the Geneva motor show is this Pininfarina-designed BMW 5-series GT-rivalling luxury crossover concept, dubbed SLS. Former Fiat marketing executive Gian Mario Rossignolo presented De Tomaso’s new SLS (meaning sport luxury sedan) at theGeneva show and the Italian brand is also planning to launch new coupé and luxury saloon models.

Ferrari FF

Ferrari has revealed its first-ever production four-wheel-drive model at the Geneva motor show. It's a front-engined V12 four-seater GT that not only replaces the 612 two-plus-two coupé but also aims to attract a new kind of “all-roads, all-weathers” Ferrari customer. The new car, dubbed FF for its four seats and four-wheel drive, is designed by Pininfarina under the direction of Ferrari’s own chief designer, Flavio Manzoni, the FF is the first Ferrari to have a direct injection V12.

Hyundai Veloster

Hyundai will re-enter the affordable coupé market this year with the Veloster, shown for the first time in Europe at the Geneva motor show. The new car has the unusual layout of a single door on the driver’s side and two conventional doors on the passenger side. Hyundai says this format is the same on both left and right-hand-drive models.

Italdesign VW concepts

Italdesign has shown two ideas for Volkswagen cars at the Geneva motor show. The two cars are a rakish three-door Polo coupe concept called Tex and a more upright five-door MPV called Go, both of which have been built within a four-metre length. The Tex has a full-length panoramic glass roof and its front end is dominated by a particularly slim headlight and grille treatment. There’s a deep scallop in the door, drawn from what looks like a small vent at the rear of the front wheel arch. The car also features an orange ‘pinstripe’ of colour that runs from front wing to the edge of the tail.

Jaguar XKR-S

Jaguar is promising Aston Martin-busting performance with the most powerful mass-production variant of its XK coupé yet, the XKR-S. Featured at the Geneva motor show, the XKR-S gets a retuned version of the XKR’s supercharged 5.0-litre V8 powerplant. It features an ECU upgrade that takes power to 542bhp and torque to 69.40kgm, a gain of 5.6kgm over a regular XKR.

Koenigsegg Agera R

Supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg has featured its new Agera R at the Geneva motor show. The Agera R features a 5.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine producing an impressive 1100bhp when fuelled on E85 biofuel – this drops to 972bhp using regular petrol.

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

Lamborghini says it is making a “two-generation leap” with the Aventador LP700-4, its new V12 range-topper launched at Geneva motor show. The new supercar promises savings in weight, increases in power, greater efficiency and more performance than its successor, the long-serving Murciélago. Its 6.5-litre, dry-sumped V12 has eight per cent more grunt, at 691bhp — enough for the 1575kg, four-wheel-drive Aventador to reach 100kph in 2.9sec and 350kph of top speed.

Land Rover Evoque

Land Rover has revealed full details on the personalisation options that will be offered on the new baby Range Rover, the Evoque. The model, which is considerably more ‘style-led’ than any previous Land Rover, will be offered with three “design themes” - Pure, Prestige and Dynamic - instead of the traditional trim levels. Then buyers will be able to further customise their cars, with 12 exterior colours, three contrasting roof colours and seven alloy wheel designs (18in to 20in).

Mercedes-Benz C-class facelift

Mercedes-Benz has revealed a facelifted version of the C-class, which has made its public premiere at the Geneva motor show. The styling changes combine with optimisation of the aerodynamics, with new sealing at the front end and alterations to the cladding used underneath the engine bay helping to boost the new car’s drag coefficient to 0.26 in narrow-tyre base trim.

Mercedes-Benz SLK

Mercedes has also revealed its new SLK. The two-seat roadster has a new rear-wheel drive platform, a diesel variant and what engineers claim is a more sporting chassis. It also looks less aggressive than the outgoing model. The new SLK continues to eschew a fabric roof for a reworked version of the old model’s folding hard-top. It now offers the choice of a standard aluminium, fixed-tint glass or electro-magnetic variable-tint glass panel.

Mini Rocketman

Ignore, if you can, the ridiculous Rocketman name because this tiny Mini concept at the Geneva motor show is an important signpost to the future of the brand. The Rocketman provides clear hints about Mini’s future design language and how BMW will try re-inventing the marque and enhancing its premium status in a market where Mini is facing increasingly capable competition.

Mitsubishi Global Small Concept

This is Mitsubishi’s all-new Global Small Concept, revealed at Geneva motor show. The GSC is a crucial car for Mitsubishi, because it will become the successor to the firm’s bread-and-butter model, the Colt which is on sale in many European and Asian markets. Company sources claim the neat five-door “combines compact size with affordability and fuel efficiency”.

Nissan Esflow

Nissan has unveiled this new electric sports-car concept at the Geneva motor show. Dubbed Esflow, it features a bespoke rear-drive platform and electric components from the Leaf and it could inspire a future production model. The two-seater has a similar profile to the 370Z, and its futuristic looks mix 370Z and Leaf design cues. A pair of electric motors drives the rear axle – each independently controlling a wheel for optimised torque distribution and stability - allowing for a 0-100kph time of less than five seconds. The lithium-ion battery pack is also borrowed from the Leaf.

Pagani Huayra

This is the Pagani Huayra, the Italian firm’s one million euro hypercar replacement for the Zonda. Known in development as the C9, the Huayra – a ‘god of wind’ and pronounced ‘Wirer’ with a heavy Spanish accent – has taken Pagani seven years to develop and, according to company boss Horacio Pagani, offers a different flavour of supercar to the Zonda. The Huayra is powered by a 12-cylinder twin-turbo 5980cc motor developing 709bhp and 102.30kgm of torque.

Peugeot 308

Peugeot has revealed a facelifted 308, which has made its first appearance at the Geneva motor show. The new range will again be available with three body styles – Hatchback, CC, and Sation Wagon – and four trim levels – Access, SR, Active and Allure – with the top of the range CC THP 200 available in a single GT trim level.

Rolls-Royce 102EX

Rolls-Royce has fulfilled a two-year-old promise in Geneva by unveiling a battery-powered Phantom experimental model, code-named 102EX, which it says will be “crucial in in forming future decisions on alternative powertrains”. According to Rolls CEO, Torsten Muller-Otvos, the Goodwood-built car is the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment. After Geneva, it will go on a world tour of major markets during the rest of 2011, “seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future”.

Renault Captur crossover

Renault has unveiled this striking new crossover concept at the Geneva motor show. Dubbed Captur, and sized between the Clio and the Megane, the concept is the second in a series of six ‘human life cycle’ concepts from new Renault design chief Laurens Van den Acker that showcase Renault’s future design strategy. Van den Acker says the company is defining a new ‘human’ design language inspired by three key words ‘simple’, ‘sensuous’ and ‘warm’.

Rinspeed Bamboo

Rinspeed has revealed this concept at the Geneva motor show, described as a modern take on the convertible. The Swiss firm’s quirky BamBoo EV incorporates a range of concept car features, including colour-changing rollbars to indicate the driver’s mood and an 'Identiface' front grille enabling passengers to display social network site pages or offers for rides.

Skoda Vision D

Skoda has revealed its future design direction with this new concept, dubbed Vision D. The new Octavia-sized concept is an evolution of Skoda's current design language rather than a revolution. Its clean exterior look, which includes an enlarged gloss-finished front grille and widened lower air intake, are borrowed from parent firm Volkswagen. A slimmer design for the front headlights also features, as does a more distinctive design for the C-pillars and an integrated taligate.

Subaru concept

Subaru is showcasing its involvement in the development of the new rear-drive coupe with Toyota by revealing this ‘Boxer Sports Car Architecture’ concept at the Geneva motor show. The concept features a clear plastic body that Autocar understands does hint at the final styling of Subaru’s coupe. But the clear plastic is significant as it allows Subaru to show off its work in the project: the low mounted boxer engine, chassis and suspension package.

Suzuki Swift Sport

Suzuki's Geneva star is the S-Concept, said to be a close preview of the hot version of the recently launched Swift. It gets blistered wheel arches, a prominent roof spoiler and ‘intakes’ at the rear of redesigned side skirts. Power is expected to come from an upgraded version of the Sport’s 1.6-litre engine, while chassis tweaks will also make for a more dynamic drive.

Tata Pixel concept

Tata has showcased its vision for an ultra-compact European city car with this Geneva show concept, called Pixel. Based on the platform that already sits beneath the Nano, the rear-engined Pixel is just over three metres long but is capable, Tata says, of accommodating four adults. The design - the work of Tata’s own studios in <<> - incorporates scissor doors and a large glass area, including a panoramic roof.

Volkswagen Bulli

Volkswagen says it is “finishing what it started” with a second generation of reborn Microbus concept - a clear indication that this re-interpretation of the classic small people-carrier could be destined for production. Unveiled at Geneva, the Bulli carries the name given to the original 1950s Transporter 1 in several markets, including <<>. It follows on from the 2001 concept that came out of VW’s Californian studio (see sidebar) but has been styled by the VW Group’s design chief, Walter de’Silva, and VW brand design chief Klaus Bischoff.

Volvo V60 hybrid

Volvo has revealed a sub-50g/km diesel-electric plug-in hybrid version of its V60 estate at the Genevamotor show. Three driving modes are offered by the V60 plug-in: Pure, Hybrid and Power. In Pure mode the car operates on electricity-only for up to 32 miles; Hybrid is the default mode that balances economy and performance; Power mode is used to give the car its best possible performance. A full recharge takes 7.5 hours from a 230V/6A power socket.