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From Swedespeed.com Events Coverage Geneva, Switzerland - This year marked the 74th International Motor Show to be held in Geneva, Switzerland; a city known for beautiful sights and eccentric and expensive wares. Historically known as “neutral territory”, Switzerland plays host each year to not only all major automotive manufacturers, but also an eclectic mix of specialty car manufacturers, world-renowned design houses and aftermarket accessory manufacturers.
Alfa Romeo The Alfa display reminded us that Italians have the market cornered on sexy cars. From the 147 GTA to the GT Coupe to the 166 Sedan, there wasn’t a boring car to be seen at Alfa. Geneva played host to the world debut of the 156 Crosswagon JTD, a 150 hp diesel version of the handsome crossover wagon. Also receiving much attention was the 8c Competizione supercar with a supercharged Maserati 4.2-liter V8.
Aston Martin – Bertone – Zagato For Aston Martin, Geneva meant the European debut of the new DB9 convertible. Aston’s line continues to grow more attractive under the Premier Automotive Group’s tutelage, though Aston’s thunder may have been stolen by some specialty manufacturers. The Geneva Auto Show is known for its eclectic mix of exhibitors, including European design houses and other specialty manufacturers. Amongst these, Zagato and Bertone both showed their own interpretations of Aston Martin sports cars. Zagato’s Vanquish Roadster is billed as a “Provocation” built with Aston Martin’s support. Unlike the two recent offerings that were sold as limited production models, neither Zagato nor Aston Martin have yet to confirm that this drop-top Vanquish will be built, though we’d guess if your pockets are deep enough, anything is possible. At the very least, it hints at future collaboration between the Milan-based design house and the Gaydon-based automobile manufacturer. Bertone, another Italian design firm, shared their Jet 2 concept. Paying homage to the original Aston Martin Jet designed in 1961 by Nuccio Bertone, this new concept shows a “2+2” configuration we might best define as a “shooting brake” with it’s wagonesque rear design.
Audi Though not a surprise, the big news at Audi was the new A6. Introduced in various ceremonies around Europe prior to the show, this was still the first viewing of the car for many of those attending Geneva. In the sheet metal, the A6 is quite handsome, albeit quite close to Audi’s A8 in appearance. One A6 on the floor was equipped with a manual transmission and a three-spoke steering wheel; as of yet unseen in photographs released by Audi. The new A6, with 3.2-liter FSI V6 engine will debut in the USA next fall, alongside a 4.2-liter version. Unlike the old A6, the 4.2 will have the same body panels as the 6-cylinder cars. When pushed further about U.S. engine availability, a representative of Audi also mentioned a new 2.0T with FSI, planned for the upcoming A3 5-door and new “B7” A4. Regarding diesel, we were told Audi is very interested in the potential for Diesel in the USA, and even though 2006 will bring lower sulphur content fuel in the states, 2007 ushers in tougher emissions restrictions. At this point, any Diesel planning for the states will have to conform to 2007 standards. Speaking of diesel, Audi also chose Geneva to debut its new A3 2.0 TDI with 140hp. The most powerful diesel engine thus far for the A3, it propels the car from 0-100kph (0-62mph) in 9.5 seconds. Audi’s rich aftermarket was also well represented at the show. At SPORTEC, a hot modified RS6 debuted, while Oettinger showed off a modified A3. Downstairs in the vendor area, a heavily modified B5 S4 could also be found. Considered a concept, Valmet Automotive of Porsche Boxster manufacturing fame showcased their third folding-hardtop prototype this year. Though the two predecessors were based on the Volvo C70, this A4 Cabriolet-based car shows their most recent evolution of the folding hardtop.
Bentley Now Bentley’s oldest production model, the Arnage received an attractive facelift that moves it even further from it’s BMW-traced origins and stylistically much closer to the larger Bentleys developed prior to the BMW tie-in with Rolls-Royce and Bentley during the past decade. One of the new Arnage models displayed was this Limousine referred to as a “C” limousine assumedly due to its wide C-pillar. While it might provide a heck of a blind spot, it also helps shield passengers riding in the back and aid in their incognito status… as incognito as one can be in the back of a Bentley limousine. We’re told a well-off Swiss customer of Bentley’s already placed an order at the show. Celebrating last season’s overall win at Le Mans, Bentley also had two of its EXP Speed 8 prototype racecars positioned close by the ultra-luxurious limo. BMW BMW debuted two new 5 Series cars at Geneva; one a production model and one a so-called concept. The production car was the new 5 Series Touring. Arguably better looking than its sedan sibling, the 5 Touring is both graceful and functional. The somewhat awkward taillight treatment of the sedan is rearranged on the wagon in a more conventional manner. The new Touring should sell well, especially in Europe, where it is still more fashionable to drive a wagon than an SUV. The real star of BMW’s stand was the Concept M5 sedan. This beefed-up version of the venerable 5 Series looks absolutely nasty, and that’s a good thing. Deeper bumpers and side skirts visually draw the vehicle downward, giving it a commanding road presence. Special lightweight 19-inch wheels fitted with enormous 285-section tires enhance the aggressive stance, with the wider front fenders boasting the signature M3-style air vents. As stunning as the Concept M5 looks, the real magic is under the hood, where Formula 1 technology meets the street. Power comes from a 5.0-liter V10 engine producing 500 bhp. All that muscle is transmitted to the wheels through a race-derived 7-speed sequential gearbox. Though BMW insisted on calling the M5 a concept car, it’s pretty obvious that it is ready to roll. The company said they intend to offer a production M5 by the end of the year, and it’s a safe bet it will look a lot like their concept. Other standouts at the BMW display included the X5 and 330i Security models, along with a very well-appointed 318ti Compact. The upper level of the display featured a showcase of probably every die-cast BMW model ever made. Bugatti With delayed production announced of the upcoming Veyron, Bugatti still was in no position to announce start of production on what looks to be the fastest car ever produced. Nevertheless, a stunning two-tone blue version of the car sat in the Bugatti stand alongside a classic Type 57 Venteoux.
Chrysler Speaking of American brands with their eyes set on Europe, Chrysler was also pushing heavily at Geneva. The European-only 300C wagon version using the cabin structure of the Dodge Magnum made a second showing following its Frankfurt reveal back in September. Nearby, both coupe and convertible SRT-6 versions of the attractive Crossfire sports car have been worked over by AMG. Supercharged 3.2-liter V6 engines in both put out 330-hp, which should help these SLK-based cars gain some street cred. Citroen The last bastion of French quirkiness, Citroen uncovered the C4 prototype, a 3-door coupe with a long, sloping roofline and virtually no C-pillar. The C3 compact sedan is clearly a descendant of the classic 2CV without playing into the retro fever found elsewhere in the industry.
Ferrari/Maserati Geneva was first European showing of the two new Italian superstars, the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and the Maserati Quattroporte. Both cars seat 4 passengers in true luxury and are powered by Ferrari engines. The Scaglietti is 2-door grand touring coupe, propelled by a 5.75-liter V12 engine producing 540 hp. Power is transferred via 6-speed F1-style computer-controlled transmission. The Quattroporte name literally means “four doors”, which is simple enough. The large sedan is powered by a Ferrari 4.2-liter V8 that makes 400 hp.
Fiat Italy’s oldest carmaker showed their Trepiuno concept, a retro city car that harkens back to the original Fiat 500. The small car seats four, but offers exceptional versaitility in such a small package. Another Fiat debut was the all-new Multipla compact MPV, which received amore conventional front-end treatment versus its predecessor. More significant is the new Panda, which won the European Car of the Year Award for 2004. Also present was the aging Barchetta, now approaching ten years old.
Ford Buzz letters at Ford these days are RS and ST. Ford’s newly developed Team RS is behind the hot new production version of the Fiesta ST, shown at Geneva alongside a concept Fiesta RS road car. We hear sporty ST and uber-sporty RS models of most Fords will be built in what looks to be a highly effective way of spicing up the blue oval’s European lineup.
GM – Chevy Think GM isn’t serious about carving out an international demand for more of its brands? Think again. It’s not every day that a manufacturer launches one of their best-known icons in a foreign market, and even less likely that it’d be an American brand. Nevertheless, Chevrolet chose the bold move of a worldwide introduction of the new Corvette Convertible. Though there’s no real ground-breaking design differences from the coupe, the very fact that this car surfaced in Geneva shows a new attitude from the General. As if the Vette droptop wasn’t enough, Opel-tuner Irmscher also displayed a CTS V-Series in their stand not far from the GM area of the show. Irmscher has built Cadillac’s before, showing a Catera in the US during the production of the CTS’s predecessor. The Catera, basically an Opel, wasn’t that much of a departure for the German tuner, though the new CTS is as-of-yet unseen wearing an Opel badge. Ballsy move or simply brand expansion, a tuner CTS-V is certainly the right direction to push if Cadillac wants to be taken seriously in a niche where tuned BMW M3s and Audi S4s are fairly commonplace.
Honda With several racecars and previously seen concepts in the Honda booth, one might have easily overlooked this Civic-based design study. With it’s blister fender body kit and large alloy wheels, we believe it would leave North American Civic Si owners green with envy.
Jaguar News at Jaguar focused mainly on the refreshened S-type alongside the new X-type wagon. Though it will be sold in Canada, Jaguar USA doesn’t seem to think the 5-door baby Jag fits the lineup. We disagree. Amongst the design houses at Geneva, Fuore Design International chose to show their own interpretation of a Jaguar roadster. The BlackJag concept shows the Barcelona design firm’s interpretation of what an F1-inspired Jaguar roadster might look like, complete with 10-cylinder engine.
Lamborghini At the house of the raging bull, the Murcielago Roadster wowed show attendees. With styling almost identical to the Murcielago Barchetta concept shown in Detroit in 2003, this new variation on the Murcielago theme offers the ultimate in open-air motoring. Top?!?…We don’t need no stinking top. I guess if you’re going to own one of these vehicles, Lamborghini figures you can afford a garage. We’re guessing they probably figured correctly. Lancia Lancia, the slightly quirky Italian maker, displayed an array of classy cars and MPVs. The executive-level Thesis makes quite an impression in person, defying its awkwardness in pictures. The Phedra minivan on exhibit was appointed with an Alcantara-covered dashboard and sumptuous leather seating, something not seen on any other minivan at the show. The Musa compact MPV, based on the 5-door Ypsilon, made its first appearance at Geneva.
Land Rover Land Rover’s Range Stormer concept had its European debut at Geneva, while other current models were also shown in the Land Rover stand. Though there didn’t seem to be anything entirely new, it’s always a pleasure to see the original Defender models still in production, even if they aren’t still sold stateside.
Mazda Already its second concept so far this year, Mazda unveiled the MX Flexa. Not your typical subject of a sexey concept car, Mazda successfully created a very attractive minivan study that shows how the youthful brand might make such a vehicle attractive to younger buyers who might not consider it otherwise. Also in the stand were Mazda's MX Micro concept from Detroit and the RX-8 with rotary hydrogen engine.
Mercedes-Benz Daimler Chrysler wasn’t content to just show new American models at Geneva. The Mercedes brand showcased two new models including an AMG version of the new SLK and a production CLS coupe/sedan hybrid. How the latter will slot in with C-class and E-class sedans and coupes remains to be seen. The approach of the new AMG SLK 55 is less revolutionary. Open top roadster gets whopping power in the form of 360hp V8 isn’t groundbreaking, but it’ll sure put a smile on your face. Though design is a little busy, few people will see much more than a blur as the car rockets to 62 mph in a claimed 4.9 seconds. Mercedes just raised the bar for the Audi TT and BMW Z4.
MINI - Carrozeria Castagna This year MINI was all about the droptop, debuting the first variation on the original theme. The MINI Cooper Cabrio is a handsome and chic all-season convertible, featuring a sliding sunroof within the convertible roof. Another unique feature is the rear “hatch” which folds down like a tailgate for easy access. Add to that the fact that you can raise the rear edge of the roof for additional access, and you have a genuinely practical convertible, at least with the top up. MINI was able to forego the common B-pillar roll-hoop in favor of an active rear rollover protection system located behind the rear seats. This gives the little Cabrio a cleaner appearance and delivers a more open view from the rear. The beauty of the Geneva show is that it brings all of the small specialty firms out of the woodwork. One such company is Carrozeria Castagna, a small coachbuilder from Milan. They proudly displayed three variations of small station wagons based on the popular MINI Cooper. Castagna stretches the standard MINIs about 10 inches, offering more rear seat legroom and more cargo space. The three variations included the standard Wagon, a Woody Wagon, and an SUWagon. All featured unique interior appointments, such as seats, dashboards and door panels covered in fine Italian hides. The Woody boasted handcrafted wood panels on the outside, while the SUWagon featured wider fenders, a brush guard with foglights, and height-adjustable suspension.
Mitsubishi Utilizing corporate sibling Smart’s chassis architecture, Mitsubishi pulled the wraps off of its new Colt offerings. A four-door production model shows a high level of utility and flexibility, though it was a three-door CZ3 with 17-inch alloy wheels that was the real head-turner. Look for a production model, potentially badged with the fabled EVO moniker by the Paris Auto Show in September.
Opel The General’s German brand Opel also had a few Trixx (pardon the pun) up its sleeve with its latest concept. This bright yellow design study not all that different from a Smart micro-car in dimensions shows the potential for Opel in this segment, and makes use of reverse sliding doors for use in even tighter confines. Owners of Smart cars find themselves parking face-in where traditional cars do parallel parking. We’d imagine in situations like that, these unique sliding doors would be quite useful. OPC models, those cars tuned and accessorized in-house by Opel, also adorned the Opel stand, though it was simply Opel’s Vectra station wagon that really caught our eye. Unlike the Chevy Malibu C-Max that shares its platform, this traditional wagon looks like it has much more capacity and we can’t help but wonder why a version of it isn’t sold in the USA. Surely someone in some marketing office is telling GM that traditional station wagons are not cool, and that trick 5-door half-wagons or hybrid minivan/SUVs are infinitely cooler. Still, when you look at cars like the new Buick Terrazza, you have to wonder why this wagon isn’t in the Buick lineup. Peugeot In an effort to make a foothold in the booming Chinese auto market, Peugeot took the wraps off the 307 Sedan, a notchback 4-door design specifically for China. More significant to the European market was the debut of the all-new 407 range, which includes a 4-door sedan and a wagon called the Break. Renault The venerable French carmaker showed two new models at Geneva, the Modus Z77 microcar and the Wind Z15 2-seat roadster. Other notable attractions included the mid-engined Clio V6 and the funky Megane II hatchback, as well as the premium MPV Grand Espace.
Rolls-Royce With sales of the new Phantom limousine already over 500 units in the just a year, the ultra-premium carmaker decided to tease the public with a two-door luxury convertible to honor the company’s 100th anniversary. The stunning 100EX drew mixed reviews, with its suicide doors and polished aluminum hood. One thing is for sure, the car has monumental poise, literally looking like more a sculpture in granite than a creation of wood, metal and leather. Rolls-Royce insisted that this car is purely experimental, hence the EX designation. Logic would tell us that in the absence of the classic Corniche convertible, it would make a lot of sense for Rolls to offer a slightly toned-down version to the market. SEAT Too large to be a Leon replacement, and too sporty to replace the Alhambra minivan, the new A5-based Altea somewhat defies niche categorization. Irregardless, this highly attractive vehicle stylistically points the new direction for SEAT as it slots itself into the Audi Brand Group. A particularly sporty blue Altea with large alloy wheels was parked in the stand near other more subtly equipped Alteas. The all-new Altea wasn’t the only new model for SEAT at Geneva. A hot Cupra TDI version of the Ibiza also debuted with a whopping 160-hp, a rather aggressive setup only 20-hp shy of the turbocharged gasoline version. Skoda The new A5-based Skoda Octavia was fairly ground-breaking news at the Volkswagen Group’s Czech division. Replacing a highly successful model, the new car exhibits more refinement and higher material quality levels in this new iteration. Inside, plastics might make a Golf owner blush, something we hope doesn’t hurt VW in the long-run. The rest of Skoda’s range was also on hand alongside the new Octavia, including the old Octavia Combi (wagon in Skoda speak). Also of note was the Fabia WRC racecar parked next to its road-going cousin the Fabia RS.
Smart Smart launched its third model with the new for-four. Weighing in at 2200 lbs. this new heavy-weight (for Smart) offering is roughly 12 feet from bumper to bumper and moves Smart into some more mainstream markets. The more sexy Smart Roadster got a boost with a new Brabus edition with 101-horsepower, up 20-percent over the standard model. Of course, the big Brabus alloys may steal some of that increased power, though they totally transform the look of the car. If and when Smart comes stateside, we hope they do so with this car.
Of note in the Smart stand was an open-top two-door. Standard Smart fair, we did notice a modular iPod holder that seems to be part of Smart’s modular electronic accessory mounting system. We noticed most Smarts had some sort of electronic accessory mounted, including PDAs and mobile phones, but the iPod installation looked clean, natural and strikingly like it could be made to fit other phone-mounts outside of the Smart range. For the iPod lovers amongst us, it’s an intriguing mounting solution. Spyker Specialty car manufacturer Spyker Cars of the Netherlands once again showed their full range of beautifully detailed sports cars. These ultra-exclusive sports cars with tweaked Audi S8 4.2-liter V8 make generous use of airplane-inspired design, part of the brand’s rich history.
Subaru Subaru’s debut for Geneva was the new Legacy 3.0R spec.B . This new flagship boasts 18-inch wheels, Bilstein suspension, 6-speed transmission mated to the company’s 3.0-liter H6, more commonly found stateside in Outback models. Subaru’s stand also featured the B9SC roadster concept and R1e concept. The current Impreza WRC racecar, G3X Justy and European market WRX anx WRX STi could also be seen.
Volkswagen The obvious highlight at Volkswagen's booth this year was their Concept C folding-hardtop convertible. This concept is a slightly more elaborate version of an actual production model that will be introduced in 2006. Based on a Jetta V/next-generation Passat platform, the Concept C also gives a glimpse of the future design direction we can expect from Volkswagen with "tear-drop" headlamps and a new grill and nose treatment with polished aluminum accents. The unique folding hard-top sports an all-glass panel roof design that still permits a sunroof function in addition to the ability to fold in completely into the trunk. We expect the production version to be powered by a 200hp 2.0l turbo or a 250hp V6 with six-speed manual or automatic and start at around $30 thousand. Volkswagen also introduced the "Caddy Life", a compact van based on a commericial vehicle that has been adapted for special use with generous side glass, 2nd and 3rd row seating and trimmed similar to more common minivans, but with a more utilitarian look. The Caddy Life it targeted at the European market as a "lifestyle" vehicle. In other VW news: the Phaeton entry level V6 model will also now be available with 4motion and long-wheelbase option; the Passat gets an optional DVD entertainment system for rear seat passengers; the Touran gets a new 2.0l FSI and DSG transmission combo; the New Beetle Cabriolet receives a new (to Europe) 150hp 1.8T engine option; and the Golf gets a new entry level normally aspirated diesel with 75hp.
Volvo Not known for being controversial, Volvo’s YCC seems to have gone and stirred up generous amounts of comments; both good and bad. This handsome gull-winged coupe pays more than passing homage to Volvo’s 1800 coupe, now out of production for over 30 years, though in a thoroughly modern way. The key factor in the car’s controversy revolves around Volvo’s choice to staff the car’s design team entirely of women. Critics of the car have panned it for features a more masculine team wouldn’t have considered such as a total lack of engine compartment opening. While we think access to an engine is critical, we wouldn’t go so far as to say Volvo made a mistake in its all-woman design team decision. The YCC is an attractive vehicle that shows the coupe/sports car potential for the new compact P1 platform and it is – after all – a concept. We’re confident that were Volvo to build such a beast, every male owner out there would be able to prop the hood and ogle the innards.
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