Geneva Motor Show 2012, according to PH
All the links in one place to PH's coverage from Geneva, and plenty of blogging, too
In anticipation of this we've collected together links to all the stories we've already done on cars launching at Geneva - see the bottom of the page for that. You can also see links to all the stories we've done live from the show pasted just below.
Let the show begin!
The PH Team
The stories of Geneva
MONDAY
PH joins the Mitsubishi convoy to Geneva
Getting a manufacturer gig to a motor show is always a treat and while Riggers mucks aboutwith old Vauxhalls in the sunshine I've driven out with Mitsubishi in a fleet of L200 Barbarians. Probably more suitable for the snow than the Morgan Plus 8Monkey is meant to be driving out in. I'll be glad of the L200 later when I drive off into Geneva for the VW group pre-show preview evening too.
Dan
Winkelmann: pointy shoes and sharp suits
Working my way through the stories in the build up for the show and, though I can't tell you about it yet, there's some great Lambo madness coming that'll divert some of Ferrari's limelight hogging with the F12berlinetta. Fight! Looking forward to finding out more later on at the VW group evening, not to mention observing how much pointier Stephan Winkelmann's shoes have become since last year and how much tighter his suit is. The metamorphosis from German industry man to Italian playboy is almost complete. All he needs now is a less Teutonic moniker and he'll be there.
Dan
Barbarian looks just the job for this
Right, here I go off to Geneva for the VW group preview evening. Plenty to see no doubt, including the Bentley SUV, Lambo's madness and more besides no doubt. Check back later for updates...
Dan
Those of a nervous disposition look away now
After a 40min 'chat' with Swiss customs - including the rubber gloves, though thankfully not for bodily orifices - my arrival at the VW group evening was somewhat delayed. But other than nearly reversing the Barbarian into an A8, probably containing some Audi top brass knowing my luck, we finally made it here to see various pre-show debuts. The apparently new Audi A3 looks, well, exactly like the last one. Surprise. Lamborghini has revealed a mad, one-off Aventador J (read allabout it here) and the long rumoured Bentley SUV is way, way worse than you could ever have feared. Am hoping it's a joke, Wolfgang Durheimer saying it expressed 'understated British design'. If that's the case he's been hanging out in the wrong places. Much to digest; must go and get some decent photos and write some more notes up. Oh, and the new Boxster looks fab.
Dan
Any better from the front?
More pictures of the Bentley you said. OK - I've manfully elbowed a few folk out of the way and here you go. Nope, not sure it looks any better close up. It's certainly the one generating the most talk, not necessarily for the right reasons. More info when I get back and digest the stats.
Dan
Meet the new A3, same as the old A3
A thankfully free passage through Swiss customs on the way back out of Geneva this time and back at the chalet going through pics and thoughts. The Bentley ... we'll come back to. But what about the Audi A3? I can just imagine the conversation back stage as it went out for its grand debut. "Horst, you idiot, I said the NEW A3." "That is the new A3." "No it's not, that's the old one. The new one is still on the trailer round the back. Scheisse!" Yes, it was a quiet day in the Audi design department when they knocked that one out and hardly the grand debut for VW's soon to be all conquering MQB platform they might have hoped.
Anyway, time for bed. Early start tomorrow for the show proper. Stay tuned!
Dan
TUESDAY
Early doors and PH is here
I'm in, Riggers is on his way, the internet is shaky but the coffee is strong. And thankfully we were too early for the Swiss customs so no rubber glove treatment on the way in. Time to gather thoughts, figure out what to ask the various interviewees and hit the show floor. Stay tuned!
Dan
0800h, Palexpo press room
Riggers has been and gone, we've fought for some bandwidth and stories on the Lambo, Boxster, Bentley and Bugatti are now live. Time to actually get on the show floor in time for my meeting with Toyota GT 86 man Tada San and grab some more pics for further updates.
Dan
On the way back from an interview with the engagingly enthusiastic Volker Strycek (Opel OPC/VXR engineering top dog), I popped by GTA for a gander at the production version of the GTA Spano and a natter with the chaps on the stand.
Nice car, with a truly exotic spec (820hp V10 is the tip of the iceberg), but 570,000 euros plus taxes? That's a lot of money. Full story soon...
Riggers
0930h, Toyota stand
Just met Tada San, AKA Mr GT 86. Not entirely surprised to hear one of his all-time favourite cars is the Porsche 944 Turbo, inspired by his time when he worked on the Toyota rally team, based in Germany.
Also showed another influence on GT 86; mega-cool Sports 800 from 1965. A Honda S800 rival, this dinky coupe also had a boxer engine. Only 45hp, mind, but it only weighed 580kg.
Dan
Spotted this Chrysler masquerading as a Lancia Thema. "Lancia is benefitting from its relationship with Chrysler," said a man over the PA. "The Chrysler platform makes the Thema one of the most impressive cars in the premium segment," he continued.
With looks like this, we seriously doubt it. A Lancia based on a Chrysler 300? Just isn't cricket, old chap...
Riggers
"Nicht moglich!" said the man in the suit guarding the entrance to the Porsche VIP area. "I have a very important appointment," I countered. And I did. With lunch. Hence the now compulsory wurst picture, complete with, ah, traditional German accompaniment. Porsche is always a good shout for lunch, this being the last refuge of conspicuous consumption on the motor show circuit. No poncy canapes here - beer and stodgy Swabian grub. Wasn't that long ago people were still smoking up here too.
Suitably fuelled it's off to Audi for a meeting with Mr Quattro.
Dan
As they say on a Saturday afternoon, if you don't want to know the score, look away now... This is Hamann's take on the McLaren MP4-12C.
Haven't seen the Mansory version yet. Wonder if it's less or more horrendous?
Riggers
Kimi tries once more with feeling
Clearly Kimi hasn't just signed for Jaguar but I'm chasing the internet and - sshhh! - I found it on the Jaguar stand. Much to digest, including my visit to Audi to meet Quattro boss Stephan Reil, a walk around the F12berlinetta and the loveliest Ruf ever. But Lotus was fun too, getting the lowdown on involvement in the Infiniti (it's an Evora underneath!) and then watching backstage as the press conference played out.
Couldn't hear anything but there was plenty of star spotting with Kimi, Gordon Murray and 'Maximum' Bob Lutz in attendance. Kimi looked almost cheerful too. Well, relatively. He was actually engaging in this bizarre activity known as 'public relations' and doing a moderately convincing impression of talking F1 with Jonathan Legard. Brain now reaching dangerous overload levels though. Not sure if I'm thinking Ferrari aero bridges, RS4 steering ratios or Lotus range extenders. More coffee is the answer. And dessert, I think.
Gordon Murray and ex-AMG man Wolf Zimmerman
Dan
1650h, Ford
All hail Ford and its wired internet; endless battles with patchy wi-fi solved with old school tech. Mopping up now and doing a last round of pictures to illustrate Monkey's musings, which'll follow later at some point. Highlights? Quattro boss Stephan Reil answer why Audi's performance division had nothing whatsoever to do with the A1 Quattro: "We were busy." OK. Chatting with Morgan and getting instructions on how to operate the roof on the Plus 8 I'll be driving back in, live on the stand. Very Morgan. Oh, and a very nice man indeed from the Porsche museum who said stuff like "Sure, you come over to Stuttgart and you can drive a 2.7 RS, an SC/RS, a 959, whatever you like - we get it out of the museum and you can take it away" while the UK PR manager looked on, somewhat concerned. So there it is, I think I've reached saturation point with coffee and I'm dead on my feet. Hopefully there'll be someone else to drive the Barbarian back to the base in Argentiere because I think I may just drop any second!
Dan
Previously on PistonHeads...
New RS4 revealed
Audi TT RS Plus
BMW M135i showcases three-door 1 Series
BMW M6 revealed
BMW M diesels: the official details
Citroen DS4 Racing Concept due at Geneva
Ferrari F12berlinetta confirmed
Ferrari California Handling Speciale
Detroit show: the NSX is back
Infiniti Emerg-E concept hits the web
Jaguar XF Sportbrake
Land Rover Evoque convertible revealed
Maserati GranTurismo Sport for Geneva
Mini reveals Clubvan concept
Mini unveils Countryman JCW for Geneva debut
New Mercedes SL63 AMG - official details
NISMO unleashed on the Juke
New Porsche Boxster unwrapped
Subaru: stripped out BRZ heading for UK
Driven: Toyota GT 86
New 280hp Astra VXR revealed
VW Golf GTI Cabriolet revealed
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