What to expect from the 2017 Geneva Motor Show
It's not just about supercars -- though plenty will be there.
Geneva plays host to one of the most interesting auto shows of the year, where supercars and conceptual masterpieces play alongside far more pedestrian offerings. This year looks to be no different, but before the show kicks off in the second week of March, let's give you a refresher on what to expect.
Alpine A110
Alpine never made a name for itself in the US, outside of hardcore motorsports fans and Gran Turismo junkies. But that doesn't make its return any less exciting!
Alpine is set to debut its first production car since the 1990s at the Geneva show, and it's looking quite promising. This Renault subsidiary promises a midengine, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe with proportions familiar to fans of the storied marque. And judging by the initial pictures we've seen, it's living up to those promises.
It might come to the US, or it might not, but no matter what, it'll probably end up in another racing game sooner or later.
It's nice to see something new in the somewhat-affordable, midengine sports car segment.
BMW 5 Series Touring
Do you like wagons? Do you like lusting over wagons you'll probably never see in the US? Then this one's for you, bud.
BMW will debut its 5 Series Touring station wagon at Geneva this year. It's basically the exact same as the 5 Series sedan, but with extra junk in the trunk, so you can store more, um, junk in your trunk. It arrives in Europe with four different engines -- two gas and two diesel. Were it to come to the US, those diesels probably won't hitch a ride across the pond.
There's no word yet on whether or not BMW will add the M5 to its Touring lineup, and we probably have a ways to go before we find out, because the M5 sedan hasn't even been announced yet. But here's hoping!
Ferrari 812 Superfast
With a name like Superfast, would you expect the latest Ferrari to be anything but? The successor to the F12 Berlinetta, the 812 Superfast packs a 6.5-liter V12 producing 789 horsepower and 530 pound-feet of torque. It's Ferrari's most powerful V12 to date.
It also packs electric power steering -- a first for Ferrari -- as well as four-axle steering. Its intake geometry is variable, as well, just like naturally aspirated Formula 1 engines. This might be a car for driving enjoyment, but it still makes good use of new tech.
Ford Fiesta ST
Look out, hot hatch aficionados, there's a new FiST in town.
The 2018 Fiesta ST is limited to Europe for now, but it could preview the next iteration of Fiesta in the US. It gets 197 horsepower from a 1.5-liter, turbocharged three-cylinder engine and torque is up to 213 pound-feet, from 202 in the previous iteration. It'll even deactivate one of those cylinders under light load to increase fuel economy. Have your cake and eat it, too!
The regular 2018 Fiesta will make an appearance, as well, but that's not as exciting to write about.
Honda Civic Type R
It's here. It's finally here. After being teased with a thinly veiled "prototype" version last year, Honda will finally debut the production version of the Civic Type R, and it promises to be one of the hottest hatches around.
Power is likely north of the 300 horsepower the last version put out, with all that power going to the front wheels through a limited-slip differential. We've heard rumors of everything from multiple drive modes to adaptive suspension, which means this hatch won't just be hot, it'll be expensive, as well.
Best of all, it's coming to the US! This is the first Type R to arrive in the US with a Honda badge, since the last one we received Stateside was the Acura Integra Type R, which was a bit of a beast itself. It's going to be a good year.
I imagine it will look exactly like this, but with actual paint and less tint on the windows.
Lamborghini Huracan Performante
If you thought the regular Huracan was the most capable V10 car Lamborghini could build, think again.
The Huracan Performante is likely to bow at Geneva, and it will bring some serious performance to the table. It'll pack the same V10 engine as before, but once you throw some active aerodynamics and weight loss into the picture, its track prowess will only expand.
In fact, we already know it's pretty damned capable, because it just claimed the production car lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, besting the Porsche 918 Spyder by a whopping five seconds. That's huge.
There's a Huracan somewhere behind all that crazy camouflage.
Land Rover Range Rover Velar
The Velar is the first new Range Rover model in a decade. It's a midsize SUV, built on the same chassis as the Jaguar F-Pace. It'll slot between the Evoque and the Sport in the Range Rover lineup, and with a starting price of $49,900, it should sell like gangbusters.
It looks the business, and much like other Range Rover models, it'll handle whatever business comes its way. Not only is it loaded with enough tech to keep a family happy, it can still wade through more than 2 feet of water without a single modification. So, in the event the mall parking lot floods, you won't have to go without a shopping spree.
McLaren Super Series
McLaren is set to debut the first supercar in what will become a revamped Super Series. Currently, that lineup includes the 570S, 570GT, 650S and 675LT.
Here's what we know so far. It'll pack a brand new carbon fiber monocoque, which will help drop curb weight to 40 pounds less than the current McLaren 650S -- 2,828 pounds, for those of you keeping score at home. You can even spec the car to show off a bit of its naked chassis after it leaves the factory.
It'll arrive with active aerodynamics that work to produce 50 percent more downforce than the 650S. A new door design aids cooling, boosting efficiency by about 15 percent. It's unlikely that this will be McLaren's first hybrid supercar (P1 notwithstanding -- that's a hypercar), but rest assured, those are on the way, too.
Spoiler alert!
Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet
What has the rear seats of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the off-road capability of a tank and the price tag of a small airplane? Why, the Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet, of course!
The G650 Landaulet is the latest creation from the ultra-posh Mercedes-Maybach sub-brand, and it'll be sure to please the dictator who loves to flaunt his or her wealth. The rear section of the car features a moving partition, and the fabric top can stow away for some open-air off-roading. Owners couldn't arrive in a flashier fashion if they rode in on a meteor.
Sadly, this Brobdingnagian behemoth won't be coming to the US. But, given the quality of our roads and bridges, that's fine, because this thing looks heavy enough to sink through solid ground.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Mitsubishi has a new SUV coming to Geneva. No, it's not as exciting as the McLaren, but for a brand that could desperately use a sales injection in the US, it'll be a good thing nevertheless.
The proportions look similar to the XR PHEV concept that debuted at last year's Geneva show, although the front end looks more in tune with the current Outlander. When it arrives in the US, the Eclipse Cross (ugh, that name) will slot between the Outlander and the Outlander Sport.
At least Mitsubishi isn't calling it "Outlander Middle."
Pagani Huayra Roadster
It's a Pagani Huayra without a roof. I hope you weren't expecting a revolutionary change here.
There are some changes between the $2.4 million Huayra Roadster and its coupe variant, though. Power output is up to 764 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque, thanks to a Mercedes-AMG V12 mounted mid-ship. Pagani promises a cornering force of 1.8g, which is just about unheard of with street tires. If rain is coming, you can toss on a fabric top or a more rigid carbon fiber roof panel.
If you'll excuse me, I'm off to buy a Powerball ticket.
Porsche 911 GT3 refresh
Porsche is in the midst of upgrading its entire lineup. First off, the 2017 911 boasted turbochargers on the base model. Other variants have since arrived, most recently including a refreshed GTS line. Now, it's the GT3's turn for a little touchup.
Auto Express reports that a refreshed GT3 will make its debut in Geneva. It should arrive with a six-speed manual gearbox (as the gods above intended) and a new motor. AE's report claims that motor will expand to 4.0 liters of displacement, with power levels north of 500 horsepower. Sounds good to us!
Yes please.
Subaru Crosstrek
This one isn't a supercar, either, but it's responsible for keeping Subaru's sales nice and super, that's for sure.
Subaru will debut a new XV at Geneva, and it will arrive in the US under the Crosstrek name. Like before, it is expected to be little more than an Impreza hatchback with a higher ride height and some additional body cladding around the wheel arches. That formula seems to work just fine, since it sells like hotcakes in the US.
No, there probably won't be a WRX or STI variant available. Yes, we wish there were, too. Hell, we'd be fine with a regular hatchback variant of either, but even that seems like too much to ask of Subaru these days.
If you expected more than a lifted Impreza, you expected too much, friend.
Toyota Yaris hot hatch
Yes, you read that correctly. Toyota will bring a proper hot hatch to Geneva, based on the diminutive Yaris. It may not come to the US, but it's a start.
This new Yaris is meant to split the difference between the current Yaris, which is rather boring, and Toyota's new Yaris rally car, which is the opposite of boring. It's expected to put out more than 210 horsepower, which in a hatch of its size sounds positively delicious.
The US hot-hatch market has been stagnant for some time. Sure, we get the occasional Ford Focus RS or Volkswagen Golf R, but when it comes to cheaper fun, the Ford Fiesta ST and Fiat 500 Abarth could stand to have additional competition.
It's the coolest Yaris I've ever seen, but that's not exactly a high hurdle over which to jump.
Vauxhall Insignia
You might be thinking, "What's a Vauxhall matter to me?" Well, considering the British car you see here will become the next Buick Regal, I'd venture to say it matters, even if only a little bit.
The new Vauxhall Insignia will make its debut in Geneva, and I'm actually pretty excited for it. Why, you ask? Because it looks the business! It's sleek, it's aggressive, and it's a far cry from Buick designs of yore. Between the new Encore, the new Lacrosse and this, Buick's got a design revolution on its hands.
New Vauxhall Insignia gives us a sneak peek at Buick's replacement for the Regal
See all photos
Volkswagen Arteon
Late last year, rumors cropped up regarding the imminent demise of the Volkswagen CC, a swoopy-coupe sedan that's basically a Passat but fancier. If it does get replaced, odds are the Arteon will be that replacement.
VW bills the Arteon as a totally new car that sits atop the Passat in the lineup, exactly where the current CC lives. It has the same sort of styling, albeit with a fresher coat of paint. It could expand its wheelbase, though, to better differentiate the brands and to better appeal to China, which has a love for long-wheelbase sedans.
It basically looks like a CC.
Volvo XC60
Volvo's reinvention has only just begun.
After the introduction of its -90 lineup, including the V90 wagon, XC90 crossover and S90 sedan, it's time for the -60 lineup to get some love. The first new vehicle from this lineup will be the 2018 Volvo XC60, which will debut in Geneva before going on sale later this year, most likely.
Like other modern Volvos, it should look stunning, with LED headlights and taillights. The overall silhouette isn't due to change that much. Undoubtedly, sedan and wagon variants will follow, but for the time being, we're focused on this lovely little crossover. It'll pack plenty of tech, including the Sensus Connect infotainment system and the Pilot Assist suite of semi-autonomous driving aids.
Stick around Roadshow to see our complete Geneva coverage starting next week!
There's no better name for any design element than "Thor's Hammer."
Update, March 2: Added more cars and updated information to the list.