It's press day at the 2018 Geneva show, and PH is on the ground and in amongst it. What can you expect? Well, the atmosphere will likely be electric as some of Europe's major manufacturer's goad each other into dramatic EV unveils, each looking for a vital toe hold in the zero-emission market. Some of the continent's tiny carmakers will be at it, too - reckon on some of the most prodigious numbers coming from them, with price tags to match.
Not that internally combusting fossil fuels is in anyway dead: there will be a raft of traditional supercars revealed, as well - a few of them more track focused than ever. There will also be room - as ever - for the weird and the wonderful, not to mention a handful of concepts based on big-name production cars that are very nearly ready for public consumption.
So, get quaffing. We'll update the list below as the day goes on, and post every major unveil to the homepage. You won't miss a thing.
Matt and Nic will both be on the expo floor over the press days tweeting and uploading photos and videos to Facebook and Instagram.
Abarth's 124 gets a new carbon fibre hardtop said to bring a touch more refinement. Add some OZ lightweight wheels and you have yourself a
124 GT
. No added power or torque though...
Alfa Romeo
Marking both the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio's record breaking success, Alfa has released two 'NRING' limited editions - limited to 108 units, painted Circuito grey and fitted with a plaque.
The reveal and drive of the A110 may have been a few months ago, but the company is bringing
two new versions to the show
. A pared back 'Pure' model and a more luxurious 'Legende' with three new colourways joining the standard car on the stand. Power outputs and chassis set up remain the same across all three cars. The company has unveiled
the GT4
- a track bred version with more power than the 270hp Cup, a race debut later this year and a price in the region of 160,000 euros.
The shift to SUVs is ever more apparent when the
likes of Alpina
get in on the game. 567lb ft and 388hp from its quad-turbo in-line six-cylinder diesel engine is more than UK customers can deal with apparently as we'll be stuck with the 'toned down' 516lb ft and 333hp version.
Huge show for Aston Martin: not only is the
new Vantage
here, but Gaydon has seized the opportunity to relaunch
Lagonda
- the venerable luxury brand it calls "a sleeping giant". Well, it's awake now, and set to become a new all-EV lineup of forward thinking super saloons and SUVs. Concorde, Palmer calls it. And just to show that it hasn't forgotten what's it important, the firm launched the
Valkyrie AMR Pro
first hybrid
to show - and wouldn't you know it, it's an SUV. The new model gets the Panamera E Hybrid's electrified gubbings, which sees it claim 75g/km CO2 emissions. Bentley's best ever, needless to say...
M8
has been a long time coming. And still isn't quite here yet, but we do have the
M8 Gran Coupe concept
, with the M5's 4.4-litre V8 and a rather fetching green paint scheme. As big fans of the previous M6 Gran Coupe, hopes are high for its indirect replacement. The M2 Edition Black Shadow is on the stand. As the name suggests, this sports Sapphire Black metallic paint as well as multiple black trim pieces including the kidney grilles and exhaust tips. The wing mirrors are 'carbon finish', as is the rear diffuser, and 19-inch matte black alloys complete the look.
Not to be outshone at Geneva, Bugatti has unveiled the
Chiron Sport
. Featuring torque vectoring, 'optimised' steering and lighter components - including the world's first production carbon fibre windscreen wipers - the Chiron Sport is aiming for "improved lateral dynamics on winding roads". A mission seemingly proven to be accomplished by a five second decrease in the standard car's Nardo handling circuit lap time.
stand-alone performance brand
has already occurred, so we'll expect to see Cupra make an appearance - particularly has it already has its first
production car
electric racecar
is surely to make some ears prick up, even more so when it is the first EV touring car in the world. If that still doesn't sell it, how about peak power of 670hp?
DBA's "most performance focused model ever" has been dubbed the
Speedback Silverstone
. Only 10 are to be built, each with over 600hp and styling inspired by '50s and '60s GT cars.
The successor to the 458 Speciale has arrived, and it's called the
Pista.
Expect Ferrari's stand to be mobbed when the covers come off this 720hp McLaren rival. There's borrowed race tech aboard, and a startling level of performance, too.
Ford
The Bullitt version of the latest Mustang had its debut at Detroit (naturally). But we're expecting to see it at Geneva, too. Cue ball shifter, 'n' all.
Italdesign
Following on from last year's Zerouno, Italdesign has this year released the targa-top Zerouno 'Duerta' - duerta meaning open in Piedmontese dialect. Using the Audi 5.2-litre V10 once more (no harm in giving that another outing, right?), Italdesign will make five Duertas in the same way it made five coupes. Set aside a couple of million...
The big news, of course, is the international reveal of the new
I-PACE
, Jaguar's first EV and world's first all-electric SUV (well, sort of almost). The car has been well previewed ahead of the show, and with good reason - if it all comes off, it might just be a strategic masterstroke from Gaydon. We'll know one way or another when it goes on sale in the summer. What we already know for sure is that the other new car Jaguar brought to Geneva is already a masterstroke: behold the '
Greatest Hits' XJ
, a one-off show car built to celebrate Gaydon's flagship of yesteryear.
gone topless
for Geneva, with Lamborghini showing the Spyder for the first time. 35kg lighter than a standard Huracan Spyder but 125kg heavier than a Performante coupe, the Spyder is capable of 0-62mph in 3.1 seconds - 0.2 seconds slower than its hardtop sibling. A 202mph top speed should ensure plenty of wind-in-the-hair thrills.
70 years of Defender and we get a
V8 version
to celebrate it. Apparently all are accounted for already, but we'll expect Land Rover to have one on stand regardless - as well as the new
SV
Coupe
, which will pay homage to the original two-door Range Rover.
You'd think the new Senna would be enough for McLaren and its customers, but oh no. Buyer demand has resulted in the
GTR variant
- apparently always on the drawing board - being shown as a concept. The big news? Well, it'll be lighter and more powerful and even better at fettling the airflow - meaning it'll be quicker round a track - second only to an F1 car in McLaren colours. Expect production next year, and a price tag beyond a million quid
If the Senna weren't quite new enough, McLaren has opted to treat us to something even more showy: the MSO Senna 'Carbon Theme'. 67 gloss-coated carbon fibre parts, 1,000 hours to produce and that doesn't even take into account the Solar yellow details. New centre-locking carbon-fibre wheels weigh in at just 7.5kg and will be a dealer-fit option. Cost of the theme? First, the £750,000 to get the sold-out car and then throw an extra £300,000.
Loved the AMG GT but wanted to bring more than just one friend? Mercedes-AMG has that covered with
AMG GT4
providing 630hp and enough room for four adults, plus luggage. And if you prefer sitting slightly higher up, the
new G63 AMG
with stiffer architecture and adaptive dampers will be on stand too.
Aero GT
to celebrate the final eight vehicles that roll out of the factory this year? Using knowledge gained from GT3 victories, every panel has been reworked by hand. If you weren't one of the lucky eight, Morgan is unveiling its
Plus 8 50th Anniversary
car at the show, too - the final version to feature BMW's 4.8-litre V8.
Just as Cupra broke away from SEAT to concentrate on performance, Polestar has also become a standalone brand focussing on the future - namely, all-electric performance. The
Polestar 1
is the company's first effort at electrifying the car market but it will only be available in left-hand drive. And not in the UK initially.
Obviously we knew the 911 GT3 RS was inbound, but Porsche filled out its show offering with the Mission E Cross Turismo concept - a reminder that it too is capable of building all-electric SUVs. Or Cross-Utility Vehicle in this case. The car is based on the firm's first EV (the saloon-shaped Mission E) but adds estate-style practicality and height-adjustable air suspension. Much talk of production, too. Already being built is the 991.2 991.2 version of the
GT3 RS
, which promises to be quite the machine. We already know it's got more power than its predecessor, and borrows other elements from the GT2 RS. It has the same 9,000rpm redline though - and is expected to conquer the green hell in 7:05. Another one to die for.
C_Two
makes its Geneva debut with 1,914hp and 1,696lb ft of torque from its four electric motors. Despite weighing in at a hefty 1,950kg - thanks largely to its 6,960 battery cells - the C_Two is still capable of 0-60 in 1.85 seconds and a top speed of 258mph.
Rolls-Royce
The Company decided not to show off its SUV, the Cullinan at the show, instead revealing three one-off bespoke Phantom commissions each of which fastidiously customised as well as covering the rear seats on a Dawn to reveal the Dawn Aero Cowling.
Ruf
Following last year's 'Yellowbird' CTR, Ruf has revealed the SCR at Geneva 2018. Using the CTR's carbon monocoque and body, the SCR eschews turbos for a purer, naturally aspirated experience. 500hp at 8,270rpm sounds rather good, doesn't it? Six-speed manual, too...
Alongside the mainstream manufacturer stuff, we're expecting a big turnout from the makers of the extremely high-end low volume stuff. In that regard, the
Ren RS
doesn't disappoint. A single-seat track car with a fighter jet canopy, the diesel turbine range-extended EV has six electric motors offering 1,305hp and 1,170km of range.
It has been about an aeon since we first saw the Supra concept, back then named the FT-1. We thought we might finally get to see the production car this year - alas, that was not meant to be. Instead, there is another show car in the works, this time
from Gazoo Racing
, and doesn't it look fantastic?
TSR-S
is the follow-up to the TS1 GT we drove last year. With 1,194hp the TSR-S is capable of 0-124mph in 6.8 seconds, although its real attention grabber is a Centripetal Wing. Rotating around two axes, it functions as an air brake, cornering stabiliser and an "additional rear anti-roll bar" all whilst generating three times as much downforce as the GT’s.
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