The International Geneva Motor Show is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. It’s the first major European show on the calendar each year, so we always expect to see a strong turnout of new and fascinating production cars and ideas each year. The 88th Geneva Motor Show will be held from March 8 to March 18, 2018 with a focus on electric vehicles, due to the trends in the industry.
I had the opportunity to attend the Geneva Auto Show Conference and I got a sneak peak of some of the upcoming reveals.
Inside the Auto Show
Aston Martin
After presenting the hand-built, limited-edition, one-million-dollar Lagonda Taraf saloon in 2015, Aston Martin is again reaching to its Lagonda heritage dating back to 1904. But while there’s a new saloon concept to be presented, Lagonda has completely changed around it. Aston Martin is turning Lagonda into what it calls the first zero emission luxury brand. The herald of the newly born Lagonda is the Vision Concept, and it showcases the design language Aston Martin is preparing for a 2023 launch. While Astons still embrace the internal combustion engine, the letter “O” in Lagonda’s logo is re-purposed to signify zero emissions.
McLaren
World, meet the McLaren Senna GTR. This Senna follows in the legendary footsteps of the F1 GTR and P1 GTR, with impressive power and incredible aerodynamics. McLaren says the Senna GTR will be able to post lap times comparable to those of a Formula 1 car, largely thanks to its improved aerodynamics — up to 2,200 pounds of downforce. Following the 500-car run of the road-legal Senna, McLaren will produce 75 examples of the GTR. The track-focused monster made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show this week, and production will kick off in 2019.
Ferrari
Ferrari revealed its 488 Pista to Geneva with all of its scoops and vents and carbon fiber. The Pista packs Ferrari’s most powerful V8 to date, with 710 horsepower on tap. It will also be the most technologically advanced special production Ferrari model ever. At Ferrari, appearance matters and what better way to do it then to display 110-decibel video of vehicles speeding along a racetrack to convey the power and noise of its vehicles, sending powerful vibrations through the audience.
Jaguar
Jaguar is finally ready to show off the production version of the fully electric I-Pace crossover that debuted in concept form at the LA Auto Show in 2016. The I-Pace is a thrilling car for Jaguar for it challenges elements of conventional vehicle design – its unique proportions set the car apart from fuel-powered Jaguars especially since it will be packing more than 400 horsepower and should be able to go about 220 miles before a recharge.
Porsche
At the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show, Porsche revealed the Mission E Cross Turismo concept. The Mission E Cross Turismo is essentially 2015’s Mission E concept with a raised ride height and wagon-like tail. The original Mission E, which will spawn a production model in late 2019, was a sedan but with a svelte, almost coupe-like body. This new concept combines the everyday usability of the Mission E with the added bonus of off-road adventure. Porsche says the Mission E Cross Turismo is also just as quick as the Mission E. The automaker quotes a 0-62 mph time of less than 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.
Audi
After seven years since the A6’s last redesign, the curtain has been pulled back on the new 2019 Audi A6 sedan at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. The midsize model slots in between the A4 and the recently renewed A8, drawing more than a little influence from both models. Alongside the A6, Audi showed off the new E-Tron Prototype all-electric crossover. The full reveal for the latter will take place this August.
