Geneva Motor Show is home to a revered community of cars
06 Mar 2015|27,829 views
The Geneva Motor Show is considered to be one of the most important and attractive showcases in the automobile world. It is the only one to be held annually in Europe that is recognised by the OICA (International Organisation of Automobile Constructors).
More relevantly, almost 220 exhibitors presented some 900 vehicles at this year's show. From Audi's Prologued Avant concept (banner, above) and Volkswagen's Sport Concept Coupe (banner, page 3) to Honda's eye-catching Civic Type R and Suzuki's compact hatchback concept, the Geneva Motor Show is home to a revered community of cars.
Here are some of the highlights from the motor show:

The second generation Audi supercar is pure poetry in motion, both in terms of looks and performance figures. At 610bhp, the R8 V10 Plus now breaches the 600bhp mark - up from 550bhp from its predecessor. Mated to the seven-speed S-tronic gearbox, it'll complete the century sprint in just 3.2 seconds, making it the most powerful and fastest series-production Audi at the moment.
The cabin has also been upgraded, sporting digital displays and dials while important controls such as the start-stop button and the drive select button are grouped together on the steering wheel. Not to mention the design of the gear lever has been tweaked for an upmarket look and a better feel without compromising on its sporty disposition.
The Audi R8 V10 Plus is expected to arrive in Singapore in the second half of 2016.

According to Wolfgang Durheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, the EXP 10 Speed 6 is one vision for Bentley's future and we cannot disagree.
The styling of the concept model is a bold vision and will lead the way for the future direction of luxury and performance for the English carmaker. The iconic Bentley mesh grille, for example, is no longer a flat plane of latticework but includes varying depth with a complex 3D geometry only visible when viewed at an angle.
While we only managed to catch the interior of the vehicle from a distance due to the crowd, it's clear that the cabin is a work of art, with an interior trim and colour that takes luxury to new heights.

The new BMW 1 Series now sports a more coherent sheet metal that will match its capable drivetrain. Unlike before, a new lower apron combines with the reshaped BMW kidney grille to give the car a more stylish and sophisticated look. More relevantly, new headlamps that feature LED daytime driving lights bear BMW's current design language and thus no longer appears droopy.
An array of engines is available for the 1 Series - 118i, 120i as well as the 125i, amongst others - although at press time it's not confirmed which models Singapore's market will get.
The car is slated to arrive here in the second half of 2015.

Premiered at the Paris Motor Show last September, the Divine DS was also present in Geneva, alongside the new DS5, which inaugurates the DS brand identity.
Powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection THP petrol engine that's capable of 270 horses and a maximum torque of 330Nm, this concept car paves the way for other carmakers to follow with its leading edge of design.
On the inside, the central console sets out the driving functions, with main features including special toggle switches decorated with custom made stones and a digital clock with a stone set in its surround.

This boy racer of a car is every bit as Ah Beng as you can imagine. But it's a sophisticated one and we that's why it deserves a mention more than the Ford GT, which was also present at the show.
Developed by the newly established Ford Performance team, the third generation hot hatch is the first RS from Ford that is equipped with Drive Modes - including industry-first Drift Mode - and Launch Control. Mated to a six-speed manual shifter, the formidable 2.3-litre EcoBoost powerplant, which can also be found in the Mustang, delivers some 315bhp to all four wheels, allowing the car to have a century sprint of timing of close to five seconds.
Whether it's capable to take on rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG and the Volkswagen Golf R remains to be seen.
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According to Maurice Turrettini, President of the Foundation of the Geneva Motor Show, this is where the main marques from around the world meet every year, and it's the only exhibition that sees the most luxurious models displayed alongside the most exotic and extravant vehicles. On this very page, where you'll read about three concept cars, one exotic Japanese sports car and one good-looking compact SUV, it epitomises Maurice's very statement.

Admittedly, this car is featured here over the NSX for the very same reason as the Focus RS. Exceptionally an icon in Singapore, the Civic Type R sports a 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo unit under its bonnet. Performance figures stand at an astounding 305 horses at 6,500rpm and a peak torque of 400Nm at 2,500rpm - both higher than for any previous Honda Type R model. Mated to the slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission and a zero to 100km/h sprint time of 5.7 seconds, it makes this the fastest accelerating performance front-wheel drive hatchback, too.
Design wise, the car looks the part of a maniacal machine while the cabin reinforces the Type R's sporting character, thanks to the machined aluminium alloy gear lever knob and high-backed sports seats that will provide ample lateral support during harder cornering.
While this exact model that you see isn't coming to Singapore, Kah Motor, local authorised distributor for Honda, will be bringing in the 2016 Civic Type R model in the second half of next year.

Sitting tautly at 4,430mm long, 1,815mm wide and 1,520mm tall, the QX30 Concept makes for an ideal urban crossover. It's further complemented by hints at a full range of powertrains, both gasoline and diesel, to suit every need. On display though is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol powerplant that's mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox.
Francois Bancon, Infiniti Vice President, Product Strategy, said, "Its chiselled good looks ensure that it'll always be the trendsetter whether it's roaming the neighbourhood or wandering further afield."
And trendsetter this car deserves to be. The concept car's sleek exterior shape is composed of bold sections, deep uppercuts and intersections to create Infiniti's hallmark 'dual wave' effect. Further accentuating its confident capability are the 21-inch wheels and large tyres.

Designed at Kia's Frankfurt design studio, under the direction of Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer Europe, the Sportspace features a striking, sporty wagon silhouette.
It's also recognisably a Kia, thanks to its signature 'tiger nose' grille. More importantly, the concept wagon has a bold and dynamic shape that resembles premium brands such as Audi's Avant and Volvo's estates.
According to Kia, it will provide stylish and exciting transportation for four, without sacrificing the performance, sustainability and economy.

Size isn't everything. If history has taught us anything, it's that being small can sometimes be the new big. The Austin Mini and the BMW i3 are two extreme examples and it wouldn't surprise us if the design study from Lexus is one of them. Dubbed as the most compact Lexus ever, the SA stands for Small Adventurer but it undoubtedly retains the essence of the brand - luxurious, prestigious and bold.
This urban 2+2 concept stands at 3,450mm long, 1,700mm wide and 1,430mm tall but its compact measurements could also mean manoeuvrability and agility essential to a true city car. Should it make it to the production line, the LF-SA Concept will slot below the Lexus CT200h.

With the SkyActiv-D 1.5-litre clean diesel engine and SkyActiv-G 2.0-litre petrol engine, depending on the market, the Mazda CX-3 was developed to suit customers' creative lifestyles from inner city driving to the great outdoors. This fifth model in Mazda's lineup of new generation vehicles made its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show but it remained to be the star in Geneva.
The CX-3 is poised to go against competitors like the upcoming Suzuki Vitara, the Honda HR-V and the Nissan Juke and Qashqai. It is not known yet if the car will come to Singapore.
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No one wants to miss a category 'A' show such as this one. It isn't just about the number of cars or the big names who are bringing these cars in. It's about getting the opportunity to soak in the exclusive atmosphere of being the first few to sit in the cars and experience first hand how they feel. It's almost like undiscovered gems waiting to be explored. From admiring concept ideas to getting behind the wheel of production-ready cars, you'd be surprised at what awaits.

Created to take on the BMW X6, the GLE Coupe combines the distinct traits of these two genres of vehicles to boast a distinctive and striking character.
At the premiere, the car comprises of a petrol and diesel variant. The former is the GLE400, which sports a 3.0-litre V6 petrol unit. It has a maximum output of 333bhp and 480Nm of torque. The latter variant - the GLE350d - has a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel unit underneath its hood that's good for 258bhp and a mountain-moving torque of 620Nm.
Both models will also come with the marque's proprietary 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive system and the 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission.
The car is expected to arrive in the second half of this year.

Taking centre stage at Nissan's stand is the Sway and there's nothing bad luck about it. A concept conceived and developed using the same process that produced the best-selling Qashqai and the quirky Juke, the Sway is a striking four-door concept with further evolution of Nissan's design language.
Needless to say, with the concept, it also showcases the possible design direction for the new generation of compact Nissans.
Also at the stand was the radical front-engined, front-wheel drive GT-R LM NISMO, the car that will take on the best in the world in the race to glory at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

This is the new entry-level car of the Porsche GT family. Powered by a 3.8-litre flat-six engine with 385bhp, which was derived from the 911 Carrera S engine, the GT4 is handled by a six-speed manual transmission with dynamic transmission mounts. This combination lets the Cayman GT4 accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds and attain a top speed of 295km/h.
Looks wise, the car is a beauty. Wrapped in yellow, three distinctive air intakes at the front and a large fixed rear wing are elements of an aerodynamic setup that is uncompromisingly designed for downforce.
Alongside the GT4 is the 911 GT3 RS. Powered by a steroidal 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine with 500bhp and 460Nm of torque, the engine has the largest displacement and most power of any naturally aspirated engine with direct fuel injection in the 911 family.
Singaporeans can expect to see the Cayman GT4 at the end of this year.

Suzuki unveiled its new compact hatchback concept at the show, the iK-2. Known as the compact car expert, the Japanese marque takes the idea of the compact car to a new level.
The model is built around a new generation platform and comes equipped with the BOOSTERJET engine, a new 1.0-litre direct-injection turbo petrol unit. Measuring 4,023mm long, 1,920mm wide and 1,450mm tall, the compact hatch has a wheelbase of 2,520mm - 90mm longer than the funky Suzuki Swift.
The production model will also be available with SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) mild hybrid system and is to be released to the world in early 2016.

Making its world premiere - alongside a slew of cars such as the Passat Alltrack, the Sport Coupe Concept GTE and the updated Sharan - the Touran is the first MPV to be based on the highly versatile Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) platform. It has grown longer by 130mm in length and 133mm in wheelbase, yet it has shed 62kg of weight. A new range of on-board touchscreen infotainment systems is also offered.
There are three petrol and three diesel engines available for the Touran, although it is unknown which variants are coming to Singapore. What's known, though, is that the Touran as well as the updated Sharan will be arriving here at the end of this year.
The Geneva Motor Show is considered to be one of the most important and attractive showcases in the automobile world. It is the only one to be held annually in Europe that is recognised by the OICA (International Organisation of Automobile Constructors).
More relevantly, almost 220 exhibitors presented some 900 vehicles at this year's show. From Audi's Prologued Avant concept (banner, above) and Volkswagen's Sport Concept Coupe (banner, page 3) to Honda's eye-catching Civic Type R and Suzuki's compact hatchback concept, the Geneva Motor Show is home to a revered community of cars.
Here are some of the highlights from the motor show:

Audi R8 V10 Plus
The second generation Audi supercar is pure poetry in motion, both in terms of looks and performance figures. At 610bhp, the R8 V10 Plus now breaches the 600bhp mark - up from 550bhp from its predecessor. Mated to the seven-speed S-tronic gearbox, it'll complete the century sprint in just 3.2 seconds, making it the most powerful and fastest series-production Audi at the moment.
The cabin has also been upgraded, sporting digital displays and dials while important controls such as the start-stop button and the drive select button are grouped together on the steering wheel. Not to mention the design of the gear lever has been tweaked for an upmarket look and a better feel without compromising on its sporty disposition.
The Audi R8 V10 Plus is expected to arrive in Singapore in the second half of 2016.

Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6
According to Wolfgang Durheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, the EXP 10 Speed 6 is one vision for Bentley's future and we cannot disagree.
The styling of the concept model is a bold vision and will lead the way for the future direction of luxury and performance for the English carmaker. The iconic Bentley mesh grille, for example, is no longer a flat plane of latticework but includes varying depth with a complex 3D geometry only visible when viewed at an angle.
While we only managed to catch the interior of the vehicle from a distance due to the crowd, it's clear that the cabin is a work of art, with an interior trim and colour that takes luxury to new heights.

BMW 1 Series
The new BMW 1 Series now sports a more coherent sheet metal that will match its capable drivetrain. Unlike before, a new lower apron combines with the reshaped BMW kidney grille to give the car a more stylish and sophisticated look. More relevantly, new headlamps that feature LED daytime driving lights bear BMW's current design language and thus no longer appears droopy.
An array of engines is available for the 1 Series - 118i, 120i as well as the 125i, amongst others - although at press time it's not confirmed which models Singapore's market will get.
The car is slated to arrive here in the second half of 2015.

Citroen Divine DS
Premiered at the Paris Motor Show last September, the Divine DS was also present in Geneva, alongside the new DS5, which inaugurates the DS brand identity.
Powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection THP petrol engine that's capable of 270 horses and a maximum torque of 330Nm, this concept car paves the way for other carmakers to follow with its leading edge of design.
On the inside, the central console sets out the driving functions, with main features including special toggle switches decorated with custom made stones and a digital clock with a stone set in its surround.

Ford Focus RS
This boy racer of a car is every bit as Ah Beng as you can imagine. But it's a sophisticated one and we that's why it deserves a mention more than the Ford GT, which was also present at the show.
Developed by the newly established Ford Performance team, the third generation hot hatch is the first RS from Ford that is equipped with Drive Modes - including industry-first Drift Mode - and Launch Control. Mated to a six-speed manual shifter, the formidable 2.3-litre EcoBoost powerplant, which can also be found in the Mustang, delivers some 315bhp to all four wheels, allowing the car to have a century sprint of timing of close to five seconds.
Whether it's capable to take on rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG and the Volkswagen Golf R remains to be seen.According to Maurice Turrettini, President of the Foundation of the Geneva Motor Show, this is where the main marques from around the world meet every year, and it's the only exhibition that sees the most luxurious models displayed alongside the most exotic and extravant vehicles. On this very page, where you'll read about three concept cars, one exotic Japanese sports car and one good-looking compact SUV, it epitomises Maurice's very statement.

Admittedly, this car is featured here over the NSX for the very same reason as the Focus RS. Exceptionally an icon in Singapore, the Civic Type R sports a 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo unit under its bonnet. Performance figures stand at an astounding 305 horses at 6,500rpm and a peak torque of 400Nm at 2,500rpm - both higher than for any previous Honda Type R model. Mated to the slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission and a zero to 100km/h sprint time of 5.7 seconds, it makes this the fastest accelerating performance front-wheel drive hatchback, too.
Design wise, the car looks the part of a maniacal machine while the cabin reinforces the Type R's sporting character, thanks to the machined aluminium alloy gear lever knob and high-backed sports seats that will provide ample lateral support during harder cornering.
While this exact model that you see isn't coming to Singapore, Kah Motor, local authorised distributor for Honda, will be bringing in the 2016 Civic Type R model in the second half of next year.
Infiniti QX30 Concept
Sitting tautly at 4,430mm long, 1,815mm wide and 1,520mm tall, the QX30 Concept makes for an ideal urban crossover. It's further complemented by hints at a full range of powertrains, both gasoline and diesel, to suit every need. On display though is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol powerplant that's mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox.
Francois Bancon, Infiniti Vice President, Product Strategy, said, "Its chiselled good looks ensure that it'll always be the trendsetter whether it's roaming the neighbourhood or wandering further afield."
And trendsetter this car deserves to be. The concept car's sleek exterior shape is composed of bold sections, deep uppercuts and intersections to create Infiniti's hallmark 'dual wave' effect. Further accentuating its confident capability are the 21-inch wheels and large tyres.

Designed at Kia's Frankfurt design studio, under the direction of Gregory Guillaume, Chief Designer Europe, the Sportspace features a striking, sporty wagon silhouette.
It's also recognisably a Kia, thanks to its signature 'tiger nose' grille. More importantly, the concept wagon has a bold and dynamic shape that resembles premium brands such as Audi's Avant and Volvo's estates.
According to Kia, it will provide stylish and exciting transportation for four, without sacrificing the performance, sustainability and economy.

Lexus LF-SA Concept
Size isn't everything. If history has taught us anything, it's that being small can sometimes be the new big. The Austin Mini and the BMW i3 are two extreme examples and it wouldn't surprise us if the design study from Lexus is one of them. Dubbed as the most compact Lexus ever, the SA stands for Small Adventurer but it undoubtedly retains the essence of the brand - luxurious, prestigious and bold.
This urban 2+2 concept stands at 3,450mm long, 1,700mm wide and 1,430mm tall but its compact measurements could also mean manoeuvrability and agility essential to a true city car. Should it make it to the production line, the LF-SA Concept will slot below the Lexus CT200h.

Mazda CX-3
With the SkyActiv-D 1.5-litre clean diesel engine and SkyActiv-G 2.0-litre petrol engine, depending on the market, the Mazda CX-3 was developed to suit customers' creative lifestyles from inner city driving to the great outdoors. This fifth model in Mazda's lineup of new generation vehicles made its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show but it remained to be the star in Geneva.
The CX-3 is poised to go against competitors like the upcoming Suzuki Vitara, the Honda HR-V and the Nissan Juke and Qashqai. It is not known yet if the car will come to Singapore.No one wants to miss a category 'A' show such as this one. It isn't just about the number of cars or the big names who are bringing these cars in. It's about getting the opportunity to soak in the exclusive atmosphere of being the first few to sit in the cars and experience first hand how they feel. It's almost like undiscovered gems waiting to be explored. From admiring concept ideas to getting behind the wheel of production-ready cars, you'd be surprised at what awaits.

Created to take on the BMW X6, the GLE Coupe combines the distinct traits of these two genres of vehicles to boast a distinctive and striking character.
At the premiere, the car comprises of a petrol and diesel variant. The former is the GLE400, which sports a 3.0-litre V6 petrol unit. It has a maximum output of 333bhp and 480Nm of torque. The latter variant - the GLE350d - has a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel unit underneath its hood that's good for 258bhp and a mountain-moving torque of 620Nm.
Both models will also come with the marque's proprietary 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive system and the 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission.
The car is expected to arrive in the second half of this year.

Nissan Sway
Taking centre stage at Nissan's stand is the Sway and there's nothing bad luck about it. A concept conceived and developed using the same process that produced the best-selling Qashqai and the quirky Juke, the Sway is a striking four-door concept with further evolution of Nissan's design language.
Needless to say, with the concept, it also showcases the possible design direction for the new generation of compact Nissans.
Also at the stand was the radical front-engined, front-wheel drive GT-R LM NISMO, the car that will take on the best in the world in the race to glory at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Porsche Cayman GT4
This is the new entry-level car of the Porsche GT family. Powered by a 3.8-litre flat-six engine with 385bhp, which was derived from the 911 Carrera S engine, the GT4 is handled by a six-speed manual transmission with dynamic transmission mounts. This combination lets the Cayman GT4 accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds and attain a top speed of 295km/h.
Looks wise, the car is a beauty. Wrapped in yellow, three distinctive air intakes at the front and a large fixed rear wing are elements of an aerodynamic setup that is uncompromisingly designed for downforce.
Alongside the GT4 is the 911 GT3 RS. Powered by a steroidal 4.0-litre six-cylinder engine with 500bhp and 460Nm of torque, the engine has the largest displacement and most power of any naturally aspirated engine with direct fuel injection in the 911 family.
Singaporeans can expect to see the Cayman GT4 at the end of this year.

Suzuki iK-2
Suzuki unveiled its new compact hatchback concept at the show, the iK-2. Known as the compact car expert, the Japanese marque takes the idea of the compact car to a new level.
The model is built around a new generation platform and comes equipped with the BOOSTERJET engine, a new 1.0-litre direct-injection turbo petrol unit. Measuring 4,023mm long, 1,920mm wide and 1,450mm tall, the compact hatch has a wheelbase of 2,520mm - 90mm longer than the funky Suzuki Swift.
The production model will also be available with SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) mild hybrid system and is to be released to the world in early 2016.

Volkswagen Touran
Making its world premiere - alongside a slew of cars such as the Passat Alltrack, the Sport Coupe Concept GTE and the updated Sharan - the Touran is the first MPV to be based on the highly versatile Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) platform. It has grown longer by 130mm in length and 133mm in wheelbase, yet it has shed 62kg of weight. A new range of on-board touchscreen infotainment systems is also offered.
There are three petrol and three diesel engines available for the Touran, although it is unknown which variants are coming to Singapore. What's known, though, is that the Touran as well as the updated Sharan will be arriving here at the end of this year.
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