Geneva 2015 - News hub
Your one-stop shop for all the Geneva news and unveilings! [Last updated 1200h, 4/3/2015]
Yup, it’s going to be quite a show.
To help you keep abreast of what’s going on we’ve collated links to all the major stories from Geneva right here in this preview, which will evolve into our news hub once the event gets under way. Suffice to say we’ll be updating it as new stories come to light, both from the show and in the days building up to it.
Stay tuned!
Recent updates:
- Audi R8 pricing
- Rolls-Royce
- Mercedes
- Glickenhaus
Alfa Romeo
Yes, the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider was actually shown at last year’s Geneva show – complete with the improved headlights – and again most recently at Detroit. And, to bring things full circle, it’ll be at Geneva again, this time in production form.
A busy stand at Aston Martin, no doubt attempting to make itself heard above the noise from rival supercar manufacturers like Ferrari, Porsche, Audi and others also showing equivalently fast and exotic metal. In terms of Porsche the road legal Vantage GT3 would appear to be pitched directly at potential buyers of the 911 GT3 RS and does a pretty convincing impression too. Not rare or extreme enough for you? We’re also promised the track-only, strictly limited production Aston Martin Vulcan. At time of writing little was confirmed, beyond a mysterious video. It does have a very cool name though.
Yet another stand with a big performance car debut. Two in fact. With Ferrari launching an all-new car and McLaren also expanding its Super Series range with the 675LT Audi is unveiling the (relatively) sensible pants, everyday alternative in the shape of the all-new R8. Ahead of the show we saw the pre-production car and were driven in it by a crazed factory Audi loon. And now it'sbeen revealed in all its undisguised glory, with prices confirmed at the show too. Suffice to say they haven’t exactly gone off-piste with the looks… Also making its show debut is the newRS3, the most potent yet evolution of the VW group’s MQB platform. 367hp and an optioned up price easily capable of exceeding £50K have already ensured plenty of discussion here on PH…
Bentley
You might have thought the Bentayga SUV would be ready for its show debut but we’re told it won’t be at Geneva. Instead we’ve got an updated Continental range, the W12 GT getting a power boost to 590hp and all models benefitting from revised styling and expanded options. The related Flying Spur also gets some tweaks. Also announced is a new styling concept called the EXP10 Speed 6, said to preview Bentley's future design language. Which, in a word, would appear to be 'sporting'.
BMW
Traditionally a quiet show for BMW, the best we can find among the 2 Series Active Tourings is some info about a water injection system for the forthcoming M4 GTS, here previewed on the MotoGP safety car.
Bugatti
Motor shows won't be motor shows without the latest one-off special edition Bugatti Veyron being unveiled. So we'd best savour this one because we're told it's the last. Done. End of. Or, as Bugatti has it, La Finale.
Only the twin-turbocharged replacement for the 458 Italia, so nothing really of significance… Technical details and press pictures have been issued ahead of the show unveiling of the 488 GTB but the scrum around the Ferrari stand when the satin sheets come off will doubtless be one of the biggest of the day. Will it be the same withoutLuca di Montezemolo though? Some thoughts from the show stand.
Ford
Ford Performance is now a global concern but the new Focus RS is very much European in spirit so after the fireworks of the new GT and Shelby Mustang GT350R it makes sense to show it off here. With this, the RS3 and the Civic Type R Geneva 2015 has as much to excite hot hatch drivers as it does the supercar crowd – no complaints from us. Latest update from the show here.
After – literally – years of build-up Honda has finally shown us the production version of theCivic Type R. Praise be! The bar set by the competition has been rising constantly throughout its gestation though, not least by the arrival of the Focus RS. More info on how it'll measure up here. Making its European debut, thenew NSX will also be a focus of attention on the Honda stand as the brand returns to making PH-worthy cars after a long beige spell. Nice to have you back!
Koenigsegg
Geneva is always a hotbed of super- and hypercar action, Koenigsegg delivering a new Agera RS that will possibly surpass them both as yet another Swedish 'megacar'. Oh, and a 1,700hp hybrid...
Lamborghini
As expected Lamborghini has fixed a ruddy great wing to the back of the Aventador and set it off prowling the show to bloody the nose of any young turbocharged pretender. The Aventador LP750-4 Superveloce - to give it its full name - is, by any stretch, A Proper Lambo.
Land Rover
Land Rover confirmed a facelifted Evoque ahead of the show, the popular compact SUV gaining JLR's latest Ingenium diesel engines behind a subtly restyled grille.
Making a noise amid the huge supercar debuts taking place this year at Geneva is going to be a struggle for anyone but one car deserving of making itself heard is the revamped Evora, now known as the Evora 400. The first significant new product under boss Jean-Marc Gales it will be much scrutinised but will inevitably face tough comparisons with the Cayman GT4 making its debut on the Porsche stand.
McLaren
McLaren wasn’t going to let Ferrari launch its 488 GTB without some sort of spoiler, though it demeans the new 675LT somewhat to describe it as merely that. Full details released ahead of the show paint the LT as a proper Speciale beater - limited production and pricing now confirmed. Also on the stand is the finished version of the P1 GTR, just six months after it was shown as a bare-bones concept model at Pebble Beach. It’ll be on the stand alongside the Harrods liveried Le Mans F1 GTR that inspired its paint scheme.
Mercedes kept its powder dry ahead of Geneva but the competition version of the AMG GT [UPDATED!] will be making its debut on the stand, along with European debuts for the GLE and CLA Shooting Brake previously shown at Detroit. Also confirmed for the stand is the mad G500'squared', a beefed up G-Wagen taking the portal axles from the crazy 6x6 version, doubling the ground clearance and making it look ready to drive out of the show hall and straight up Mont Blanc. Hopefully then the Maybach Pullman is waiting for the journey home.
Morgan
A new Aero 8 is the big draw on the Morgan stand, with new styling and a reconfigured interior the main talking points. It sits alongside the usual selection of Plus and 3-Wheeler models, an enjoyable throwback in a very forward-looking show
Opel/Vauxhall
Believe it or not there is more to Geneva than diamond encrusted hypercars! And keeping it real a revised Corsa VXR – showing here under Opel OPC branding of course – promises a new take on a hot hatch favourite. 207hp for starters is enough to keep pace with rivals like the Clio 200, Fiesta ST and Peugeot 208 GTI, an optional Performance Pack with a differential and bigger brakes hopefully able to keep up with the 30th anniversary edition of the latter.
To all those who’ve moaned about Porsche prostituting itself by making SUVs and saloons the GT department flicks two fingers up – first theCayman GT4 that apparently answers all the complaints levelled at the 911 GT3 and then theRS version of that car to underline the full potential of the ‘senior’ track-focused Porsche. More on the new RS here.
Radical
British interests are well represented at Geneva this year, with everyone from Lotus to McLaren and even Morgan showing new cars. Joining the fray is Radical with its RXCTurbo 500, a newly enhanced version of its ‘LMP for the road’ RXC and out to prove some chaps on an industrial estate in Peterborough can outrun the technical might of even Porsche with the threat of an even faster ‘ring lap time than the 6min 48sec already posted by the SR8 LM.
Renault
The Clio Trophy is back! And PH has already had an exclusive behind the scenes briefing with the guys at Renaultsport. Read it here.
Rolls-Royce
A silk-lined Phantom is Rolls-Royce's Geneva highlight. Yes, really. And it's not quite as silly as that sounds. Full details here.
Skoda
The Octavia vRS is the latest beneficiary of the VW group's MQB parts bin pick'n'mix, gaining a 10hp boost to 230hp and gaining the VAQ 'diff' that transforms the Golf GTI Performance and SEAT Leon Cupra into such weapons.
Toyota
What’s that? An all-new Avensis? Hold the supercars, this is going to be THE car for PH at this year’s Geneva show...
A tour of the more specialist tuners and modifiers is always an entertaining way to conclude the Geneva show and we’ll be sure to bring you plenty of pictures of gold-plated, carbon fibre ‘enhanced’ supercars and SUVs from the Palexpo. Confirmed already – and relatively tasteful by its standards – is the 850hp Mansory Lamborghini Huracan. Also dressed for excess is Brabus's 850hp take on the Mercedes S-Class Coupe. Also making a debut is James Glickenhaus's latest creation, theSCG003. The name might not be romantic but the style and performance make up for it with both road and race versions planned. Oh, and Kahn is joining the fray with a six-wheeled Land Rover Defender, now known as the 'Flying Huntsman 110 WB'. More when we see it in the metal...
[Lead image: WestportWiki via Wikipedia Commons]
off on the 9th, anyone else going?
http://www.renault.co.uk/innovations/engines/tce_1...
Getting the handling right on it will be tricky for Renaultsport to do.
Other than walking around with a home-made PH sign to aid mutual identification, is there anyone up for an informal meet-up at lunch time? There must be an eatery in there we could congregate at. Say 1PM local time?
http://www.renault.co.uk/innovations/engines/tce_1...
Getting the handling right on it will be tricky for Renaultsport to do.
off on the 9th, anyone else going?
off on the 9th, anyone else going?
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff