Geneva show debuts range from exotic to econo
Vehicles ranging from exotic sports car to SUVs and minicars will debut next week at the press days Tuesday and Wednesday for the Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland.
The Geneva show signals an unofficial start to the spring buying season in Europe.
General Motors' German Opel brand will announce its return as a full-line automaker with the Karl, an inexpensive subcompact hatchback. Opel reluctantly tried to move upscale when GM decided to try to sell Chevrolets in Western Europe.
Chevy's retreat from the region creates room again in Opel dealers for the Karl, which uses the same architecture as the upcoming Chevy Spark replacement. The Karl is powered by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine and measures 144.9 inches long, 0.2 more than the current Spark.
Audi will show a couple of high-end stunners: the next generation of its R8 sports car and a concept wagon that hints at the next generation of sedans. The sleek Prologue Avant wagon reportedly contains numerous design cues the A6, 7 and 8 sedans will share.
The new R8 will be Audi's technological show piece. Among other new features, look for optional laser headlights. Audi says the laser high beams have double the range of LED lights. The R8 uses the same 610-hp V10 engine and architecture as the Lamborghini Huracan exotic car.
Ford's upcoming Focus RS 315-hp compact will make its public debut. Expect lots more information on its performance oriented all-wheel-drive system. Europe also gets its first look at the Ford GT super car that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in January.
Japanese luxury brands Lexus and Infiniti will both show concepts of sporty small vehicles. The Lexus LS-FA concept hints at a production model that intended to challenge the Mini Cooper. Infiniti's racy QX 30 compact crossover concept is nearly identical to a production model coming early next year.
Fiat Chrysler's Ferrari brand will show the 488 GTB, a typically stunning sports car with a 660-hp twin-turbo 3.9L V8. Expect 0-100 kmh (62 mph) times around 3.9 seconds. Fiat Chrysler's other brands will keep a low profile in Geneva as the automaker focuses on the unveiling of its vital new midsize sport sedan in June.
Kia's striking Sportspace station wagon concept previews the styling of the next-generation Optima midsize sedan. Kia's German styling studio reportedly created the concept to show how the new Optima would look as a wagon, a body style Europeans love
Europeans are also enamored of small SUVs, and Geneva will offer several. Hyundai will show the Tucson SUV a month ahead of the popular model's US debut at the New York auto show. Renault's new Kadjar compact SUV shares an architecture with the Nissan Qashqai and its American cousin, the Rogue.
BMW will continue to explore new segments with a smaller, front-wheel-drive 1-series that will offer a three-cylinder diesel and the 2-series Gran Tourer, a compact minivan that can seat up to seven.
Mercedes will test the upper limits of its appeal with the Maybach Pullman, a chauffeur-driven stretched version of its S-class sedan that features four seats that face each other in an expansive rear compartment and a partition panel that turns from clear to opaque at the push of a button. Prices will start around $570,000, with armored versions reportedly topping $1 million.
