2016 Geneva Motor Show – full coverage
Don’t miss a thing with our full coverage from the 2016 Geneva Motor Show
By Shahzad Sheikh
Morgan EV3
We love the Morgan 3-Wheeler, and now there’s an all-electric version, and it’s as bonkers as ever!
It’s the company’s first EV and production will start by the end of this year with pricing and performance comparable to the current petrol 3-Wheeler.
It weighs less than 500kg and has a range of 240km with 0-100kph in under 9 seconds thanks to a liquid cooled motor, and a top speed of 145kph (and believe us, in a Morgan 3-Wheeler, that’s more than plenty!).
It’s the first Morgan to use composite carbon panels. Brass conductive cooling fins encase the batteries and there’s an asymmetric front with the off-set tri-bar headlight.
2017 Corvette Grand Sport
The ‘purists’ Corvette, the Grand Sport combines lightweight, aerodynamics package and Michelin Sport Cup 2 tyres to generate up to 1.2g or conering grip with the Z06 package.
It also gets carbon ceramic brakes from Brembo, electronic LSD and a choice of an 8-speed auto or a 7-speed manual transmission with active rev-match.
The engine is the 460bhp LT1 V8 with active exhaust. There’s also bespke front fender inserts, Z06 style grille and wider rear fenders.
Lamborghini Centenario
Based on the Aventador, the Centenario is limited to 20 coupes and 20 roadster priced at Euros 1.75million. And if you were thinking of saving up, don’t bother, they’re all sold.
They get a 770bhp V12 and now have rear-wheel steering, as well as the carbon fibre monocoque. With a weight of 1520kg, that’s good for 0-100kph in 2.8seconds, 0-300kph in 23.5seconds and 350kph.
Quickest ever Lotus cars
Four new models from Lotus representing the quickest line-up of Lotus cars ever. All lightweight, all from carbon fibre and all capable of 0-100kph in 3.9 seconds or less.
The four cars are Exige Sport 350 Roadster, Evora Sport 410, Elise Cup 250 and the 3-Eleven.
Aston Martin DB11
I still maintain that the DB10 really wasn’t all that good looking, but this new DB11 is truly gorgeous, combining a strikingly futuristic rear with a retro front reminiscent of the meaty Vanquish from 2001.
This is supposed to be the first product launched in the company’s ‘Second Century’ Plan, although we’re not taking hybrids and electrikery – there’s a twin turbo 5.2-litre V12 crammed under the bonnet, putting out 600bhp for a 0-100kph time of 3.9seconds through an 8-speed ZF transmission.
They claim it has a brand new bonded aluminium platform, lighter, stronger and more space efficient – this is supposed to be as dynamic a leap forward as the DB9 was in 2003. And about bloody time!
There’s electric power steering and Torque Vectoring braking. There’s new instruments and displays inside, surround view cameras, plus wider door openings and even ISOFIX childseat anchors.
China’s first supercar concept
Okay, so who have they copied for this, the Techrules AT96 Trev – China’s first supercar concept. It even features ‘Turbine-Recharging Electric Vehicle technology’. I just really like that the word ‘Turbine’ is in there!
When Turbines are upto speed (sorry had to do that) it will producing 1030bhp giving it a 0-100 time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 350kph with a range of over 2000km. Of course this is a bit of fantasy at the moment!
Fiat 124 Spider
Official debut of the Fiat 124 Spider with a 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo producing 140bhp and 177lb ft for 0-100kph in 7.5 seconds and 215kph.
It’s based on the Mazda MX-5 and they’ve also announced special editions celebrating 50 years since the original Fiat 124 Spider. Please Fiat – bring this here!
New Renault Scenic
The Renault Scenic (like its Espace big brother) is something of a European legend. And now there’s an all-new fourth generation version 20 years after the first Scenic was born.
The compact family MPV is probably the first car in its normall humble segment to offer 20-inch wheels as standard across the entire range, and yet with the same height sidewalls as the previous 17-inch wheels, they shouldn’t compromise ride comfort.
Rolls-Royce ‘Black Badge’
Back in black for the ‘best car in the world’ – the Black Badge Rollers are a bespoke series of cars for high-achievers.
Available in Ghost and Wraith guises, the grille and even the Flying Lady are in black.
If you want the meanest and moodiest of all luxury cars, look no further!
Subaru XV Concept
Remember the crazy Subaru XV Concept is a precursor to an all-new XV compact crossover production vehicle.
It’s also meant to showcase Subaru’s next-generation ‘Dynamic X Solid’ design philosophy. And that paint? It’s called Glacier Khaki Silica.
Alfa Romeo Giulia range
We’ve seen the supercar-chasing Giulia Quadrifoglio with 510bhp (it’s even been to Dubai in concept form), but now the ‘regular’ versions has been revealed. The petrol engine range will also include a 2.0 200bhp Turbo. Can’t wait for them to confirm this for our region!
Fiat Tipo hatchback and Estate
Remember the Fiat Tipo? It debuted at the Dubai Motor Show last year. Well now there’s a hatchback version and an estate.
The hatch provides, well, hatchback practicality, whilst the Estate add an additional 110 litres of boot space and is 20cm longer.
Ferrari GTC4Lusso
First chance for rich punters to check out the Ferrari GTC4Lusso in person. It’s the updated FF of course – now with a facelift and four-wheel steering (plus of course the ridiculous name).
Ssangyong SIV-2 Concept
New concept from Ssangyong suggests a future SUV – the SIV-2, a midsize premium SUV running a hybrid 1.5 power unit.
Audi Q2
New compact SUV from Audi – the fourth member of Audi’s SUV range, slotting under the Q3.
Cool looks and a range of efficient engines, we expect to see this here later this year.
Porsche 911 R
This is the new Porsche 911 R – it’s a hard core road-racer edition with 500bhp, with a 0-100kph time of 3.7 seconds and 323kph – plus you can only work the high revving naturally aspirated six-cylinder through a MANUAL transmission.
Theyre only building 991 (the codename for this gen 911) examples of the lightweight 1370kg car, and they’re mostly all sold anyway. Shame – would have been great to give this amazing thing a go!
Bugatti Chiron
Finally revealed, the world’s worst kept secret is also billed as the world’s most powerful, fastest supercar.
The new Bugatti Chiron has 1500bhp and 1180lb ft of torque. It will reach 420kph after obliterating the 0-100kph dash in 2.5 seconds and will hit the Jumeirah Beach ‘Crawl’ in Autumn 2016 – one-third of the total production volume (500 units) is already spoken for. Basic price – Euro 2.5 million!
I’ve got to say, I do like the styling better than the Veyron, which always looked a bit too bug-like for me, and the finally
Ford Fiesta ST200
The Ford Fiesta ST200 has 10% more power and 20% more torque than the Fiesta ST hot hatch giving a 0-100kph time of 6.7 seconds. It gets 200bhp and 214b ft from the 1.6 Ecoboost engine. Production starts in summer. No word on if we’ll ever be lucky enough to get it.
Volvo XC90 Excellence
We love the Volvo XC90 and now there’s a super luxury version called the ‘Excellence’. It’s a four-seater with lashings of luxury including cystal cut glasses, massage, folding tables.
Forward thinking Volvo is making this car available for ordering online in some markets. It will have the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain giving it 410bhp.
Vauxhall GT Concept
Harking back to the 1966 Vauxhall XVR and 1965 Opel Experimental GT concepts is the new Vauxhall GT Concept – a front-mid-engine sports car with rear-wheel drive.
And they’ve introduced it at the Geneva Motor Show as a film. The 78-second film carries the message “If you can dream it, you can create it”.
Volkswagen Phideon
A new luxury saloon from Volkswagen? Hang on – didn’t they try this already with the Phaeton (now the world’s most affordable used luxury car). Ah but this one is for China only. Over 5 metres long, it’s the first VW to be beased on the Modular Longitudinal Matrix (MLB) which underpins the Bentley Bentayga.
Hyundai Ioniq
The all-new Hyundai Ionic is the Korean company’s answer to the Toyota Prius and comes in three flavours – hybrid, full electric, and plug-in. Don’t worry, we won’t see it here for a while.
SEAT Ateca
All new from SEAT is the Ateca SUV, it’s first, based on the VW Tiguan.
Skoda Vision S Concept
All new design language for Skoda is highlited by the Vision S Concept inspired by Czech Cubism and the tradition of Bohemian Crystal Art (says the press release). Like the new SEAT SUV, it’s also based on the VW Tiguan platform.
Maserati Levante
Officially launched at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show is the new Maserati Levante SUV – it’s first. It’s based on an englarged Jeep Grand Cherokee chassis, and will hit our shores later this year.
Volkswagen Up!
Sadly we don’t get this little cutie from VW, but this year there is a new model, and yes it’s got efficient drivetrains etc (consuming just 4.4L/100km), but it also now gets a 300W BeatsAudio sound system! I’d love to try this little car.
600bhp Alpina B7 BMW
Based on the new BMW 7-Series the Alpina B7 boasts 600bhp and gives a 0-100kph time of 4.0seconds and an unrestricted 310kph.
McLaren 570GT
Another motor show, so another new version of a McLaren. This time it’s the 570GT which is said to be the most ‘refined and road-biased McLaren yet’. It’s the third model in the McLaren ‘Sport Series family’ joining the 570S and 540C.
Volkswagen T-Cross Breeze
The Volkswagen T-Cross Breeze concept heralds a new small SUV – and it looks like a rival to the Range Rover Evoque Convertible to us, but this thing only has a 1.0-litre Turbo engine putting out 110bhp. Looks like fun though.
Bentley Mulsanne Grand Limousine
The ultimate Bentley saloon is this Mulsanne Grand Limousine by Mulliner (the coachbuilding division). It’s a whole metre longer than the Mulsanne and 79mm taller.
Inside there’s ‘smart glass’ which can turn the rear windows and the interior divider from clear to completely opaque – let you’re imagination run riot with that one!
