-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
New Models
AUTOS: Geneva Hosts World’s Greatest
Annual Motor Show attracts the best from major automakers and design specialists, with some stunning concepts and introductions.
Ferrari introduced the Pininfarina-designed F12 Berlinetta at this year's Geneva Motor Show. (Photo: Ultimate Car Page)
Steeped in tradition, the annual Geneva Motor Show is without equal, and during the past two days tt has been the automotive capital of the world. The Swiss show is conveniently located in the middle of the European continent on “neutral” ground, and it typically brings out the best from both mainstream and specialist manufacturers, who try their best to impress the gathered journalists, the show visitors and the competition.
During the past few, difficult years, little seemed to change in the PalExpo exhibition center where the show is held, with companies merely desperate to keep up appearances. It was again business as usual this year, but there were changes afoot, such as the sad absence of longtime exhibitor Saab, Bentley's expansion into the SUV market and the return of the Japanese sports car.
An even more surprising development was the lack of Chinese manufacturers, who in previous years were quickly making inroads into the European market. All the exhibitors that remained were on their best behavior and we were treated to one of the most interesting editions of the Geneva Motor Show in recent history.
All this and more can be found in our exclusive 280-shot gallery.
Green, greener, greenest
During the past decade, the green car has taken center stage mainly for company-image purposes, but now there is a financial incentive, especially in Europe. Surprisingly, it is the not the rise in fuel prices that has convinced customers to look out for greener alternatives as much as government subsidies, which dramatically cut the price of fuel-efficient cars.
The Geneva show has always catered to these clean machines, but this year went a step further with a separate pavilion in front of the PalExpo exhibition center. Here, visitors could not only take a look at alternate-fuel machines but try them on a short track in the park.
Appropriately, the extended-range hybrid Opel/Vauxhall Ampera – known in the U.S. as the Chevrolet Volt – was named European Car of the Year on the eve of the show.
Land of the rising sports car
One of the first companies to embrace hybrid technology was Toyota and most of the Japanese manufacturers quickly followed suit. Unfortunately this came at the expense of the sports cars, which no longer met the newly obtained image. Such exciting machines as the Supra and Acura NSX simply disappeared from the roster. Until now.
With the launch late last year of the Toyota GT 86 / Subaru BRZ, the tide seems to have turned. Shown in Europe for the first time, these also received plenty of attention here in Geneva. Toyota had put up a particularly lovely display with a GT 86 shown alongside a fabulous 2000 GT of the 1960s.
There is more to come as Honda displayed the NSX concept first seen as an Acura in Detroit. Although it also uses a hybrid drivetrain, it is hopefully every bit as quick as the original.
Nissan subsidiary Infiniti also jumped on the sports car bandwagon with the Emerg-E Concept. Like the NSX, the fabulously styled Infiniti uses a hybrid drivetrain, which is good for an impressive 400 horsepower. We understand that production plans are being assessed and that two running prototypes have also been built for testing.
During the past few, difficult years, little seemed to change in the PalExpo exhibition center where the show is held, with companies merely desperate to keep up appearances. It was again business as usual this year, but there were changes afoot, such as the sad absence of longtime exhibitor Saab, Bentley's expansion into the SUV market and the return of the Japanese sports car.
An even more surprising development was the lack of Chinese manufacturers, who in previous years were quickly making inroads into the European market. All the exhibitors that remained were on their best behavior and we were treated to one of the most interesting editions of the Geneva Motor Show in recent history.
All this and more can be found in our exclusive 280-shot gallery.
Green, greener, greenest
During the past decade, the green car has taken center stage mainly for company-image purposes, but now there is a financial incentive, especially in Europe. Surprisingly, it is the not the rise in fuel prices that has convinced customers to look out for greener alternatives as much as government subsidies, which dramatically cut the price of fuel-efficient cars.
The Geneva show has always catered to these clean machines, but this year went a step further with a separate pavilion in front of the PalExpo exhibition center. Here, visitors could not only take a look at alternate-fuel machines but try them on a short track in the park.
Appropriately, the extended-range hybrid Opel/Vauxhall Ampera – known in the U.S. as the Chevrolet Volt – was named European Car of the Year on the eve of the show.
Land of the rising sports car
One of the first companies to embrace hybrid technology was Toyota and most of the Japanese manufacturers quickly followed suit. Unfortunately this came at the expense of the sports cars, which no longer met the newly obtained image. Such exciting machines as the Supra and Acura NSX simply disappeared from the roster. Until now.
With the launch late last year of the Toyota GT 86 / Subaru BRZ, the tide seems to have turned. Shown in Europe for the first time, these also received plenty of attention here in Geneva. Toyota had put up a particularly lovely display with a GT 86 shown alongside a fabulous 2000 GT of the 1960s.
There is more to come as Honda displayed the NSX concept first seen as an Acura in Detroit. Although it also uses a hybrid drivetrain, it is hopefully every bit as quick as the original.
Nissan subsidiary Infiniti also jumped on the sports car bandwagon with the Emerg-E Concept. Like the NSX, the fabulously styled Infiniti uses a hybrid drivetrain, which is good for an impressive 400 horsepower. We understand that production plans are being assessed and that two running prototypes have also been built for testing.
2014 Cadillac CTS
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTOMOTIVE
-
GREEN: Porsche Adding All-Model Hybrids
Gas/electric plug-versions of its entire lineup – including… -
AUTOS: Porsche Boosts 918 Spyder Power
The upcoming supercar will produce 887 horsepower from its gas/electric… -
AUTOS: Acura NSX Details Revealed
The rebirth of the mid-engine sports car – now an all-wheel-drive… -
DRIVEN: Jaguar’s Many-Splendored XJ
The British luxury sedan comes in 10 different flavors, with plenty… -
AUTOS: Lamborghini Egoista Launched
The wild single-seat concept car is unveiled at the end of the epic… -
AUTOS: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Hot Pontiac G8
NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick helped his driver modify the 2009… -
VINTAGE: A Fast Historic Tour Of France
Vintage race and touring cars compete in the 22nd annual Tour de… - More News
