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Geneva Motor Show 2018 – preview & guide

Geneva Motor Show 2018 – preview & guide
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Geneva is a big show, so to get the most out of it you’ll need to go with a plan. Here’s our preview to help you navigate your way around the show easily and catch all the good stuff.

Geneva is one of the easiest motor shows to get to – it is quite literally a 5-minute walk from the airport. Manufacturers love to launch concepts there, the weather is often great in March and you’re only an hour from the ski slopes which makes it a great long-weekend destination. The downside – Switzerland can be a seriously expensive place to stay and eat – don’t say we didn’t warn you….

88th Geneva International Motor Show – https://www.gims.swiss/en/

Location:

Palexpo (right next to the airport)

Dates:

8-18th March 2018

Opening hours:

Monday – Friday 10 am to 8 pm
Saturday – Sunday 9 am to 7 pm

Entry Rates:
Adults CHF 16. (approx  £12.50)
Children from 6 to 16, pensioners: CHF 9.

Tickets

Our picks of the show

Based on what we know so far….. – there will undoubtedly be last minute announcements.  Most manufacturers will be represented, so we’ve focused on the prestige and performance brands that our customers purchase and the manufacturers who are bringing new cars.

Alpine

We’ve already looked at the launch-spec A110 “Premier” edition.  Hopefully, we should see what around £47,000 will buy you if you want the standard spec car.

Alpine A110 – Hall 4 [Image credit: Alpine]

Aston Martin

Aston Martin will be displaying the sharp new Vantage – AMG powered and with the new Aston styling language first seen on the DB11. They have confirmed taht they’ll bring one of the new Vantage race cars – no news on the presence of a Valkyrie as yet.

Aston Martin Vantage – Hall 2 [Image credit: Aston Martin]

Audi

The next-generation A6 is probably the model Audi is keenest to show off, but the Q8 is likely to wow the crowds more…

Audi Q8 – Hall 1 [Image Credit: Audi AG]

BMW

With any luck, we’ll see an evolution of the forthcoming 8 Series Concept – possibly the M8. It will compete with the Mercedes S-class coupe, Bentley Continental and Aston Martin DB11 bracket. Simply gorgeous.

BMW will be introducing the all-new X4 at the show.

BMW 8 series – Hall 6 [Image credit: BMW Group]

Bugatti

The Bugatti stand at any car show is always busy. Ok, so the Chiron may not officially be the fastest car on the planet ( see Koenigsegg), but it is still a  very special car, especially in the flesh.  Might Geneva be the place for  Bugatti to announce the first Chiron limited edition? Bugatti are in Hall 1.

Corbellati

Newcomers Corbellati  will be bringing with them “the fastest hypercar in the world”. With an 1,880hp 9.0 litre twin-turbo V8 and carbon fibre body, they hope it will achieve over 310 mph . Geneva is likely to be the last time you get to see this car in the flesh, so why not check it out…  Hall 2

David Brown Automotive

If you’re not familiar with the Speedback GT  it is a £500k+ coachbuilt GT based on Jaguar XKR underpinnings that looks a lot like an Aston Martin DB5. Coachbuilding on an existing platform is pretty rare in these modern times (although it is becoming less so), and this is a great opportunity to take a look at this very rare and unique car up close. David Brown Automotive will be revealing the limited -run Silverstone Edition at the show as well as treating us to the World Premier of their Mini Remastered.

Speedback GT Hall 2 [Image credit: David Brown Automotive]A classic Mini re-imagined for the 21st century. Hall 2 [Image credit: David Brown Automotive]

Eadon Green

Eadon Green launched their Black Cuillin retro-GT at Geneva in 2017. For 2018, they are bringing a new car named The Zeclat (with a capital T). Hall 2

Ferrari

The new Portofino will be the centre of attention on the Ferrari stand unless we are lucky enough to be treated to an appearance by the new 488 Speciale #unlikely. Update: Ferrari have since confirmed that the Pista will be unveiled at Geneva. Unsurprisingly, this stand is normally pretty popular but admission is restricted, so make sure you pull any necessary strings to get access.

Ferrari Portofino – Hall 5 [Image credit: Ferrari S.p.A]

Ford

Ford have a very strong model lineup, so we’d recommend going to check out what the Blue Oval has to offer.  The  Mustang Bullitt is now confirmed and there’s an outside chance we might see the next-generation Focus make an appearance, and there’s always the Ford GT... Hall  5

Hennessey

Hennessey know a thing or two about building fast cars having held the (un-official) production car speed record for a while with the Venom GT. They will be bringing the very good-looking, 300 mph, 1,600 hp Venom F5 to Geneva – the first time it has been seen outside the USA. Hall 1

Image credit: Hennessey

Honda

The Urban EV was arguably the star of the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show – go and find out what all the fuss was about! Hall 4

Italdesign

Italdesign have already teased us with images of the Zerouno convertible.  No, this isn’t just a concept, they are actually building them ( VW have a 90% stake in Italdesign). Just imagine this without a roof…..

Italdesign Zerouno – Hall 2 [Image credit: Italdesign]

Jaguar

No one outside of the JLR circle-of-trust has yet seen the production-ready i-Pace electric sports car, recently voted the most anticipated car of 2018 by What Car readers. It will debut at Geneva 2018. It  Also look out for heritage models such as the “new” D-Type and SVO/ Project cars.

Jaguar iPace – Hall 6 [Image credit; Jaguar Land Rover]

Land Rover

In the other half of the JLR stand, Land Rover will be revealing the SV Coupe  – a Rolls Royce Wraith baiting off-road coupe rumoured to be in the £250,000 price bracket. If we’re lucky we might even get a glimpse of the Velar SVR – if not, there should be a Discovery SVR to whet your appetite.

Range Rover SV coupe – Hall 6 [Image credit: Jaguar Land Rover]

Lamborghini

The Lamborghini stand is never a bad place to be at a motor show, and the mad new Urus SUV should make it even better. It also lools like the Hurancan Performante Spyder may also be revealed at the show.

Lamborghini Urus – Hall 1 [Image credit: Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A]

McLaren

The McLaren Senna promises to be the best road-legal track car of all time. Nurburgring lap times will fall, for sure, but if you’re not sold on its looks then Geneva is the place to go to see if it’s better in the flesh like everyone is telling us.

McLaren Senna – Hall 6 [Image credit: McLaren Automotive]

Mercedes

The Mercedes stand is always impressive at any show.  Mercedes-AMG could have a huge presence on its own without the massed ranks of daily drivers and family cars, so expect a display of the finest German beef. The new high-tech A-Class looks very promising, the facelifted  Mercedes Maybach S-class will be on display as will the new G -Class and the intriguing AMG GT4 which is set to rival the Porsche Panamera and Audi RS7. The facelifted C-Class will also receive its world premier.

This could also be a chance to view the amazing Project One hypercar, first revealed at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Project One [Image credit: Daimler AG]New A-Class interior – Hall 6 [Image credit: Daimler AG]Facelifted Mercedes Maybach S-Class – Hall 6. [Image credit: Daimler AG]

Mercedes AMG GT4 [Image credit; Car Magazine]Latest images of the AMG GT4 21 Feb 2018 [Image credit: Autoblog]

PAL-V

The PAL-V Liberty is a  flying car and PAL-V claim that the Liberty Pioneer Edition will be the very first certified commercial flying car ever delivered. It’s a pretty cool looking design that reminds us of the Carver – with prices starting from €299,000 (ex tax) this is one flying car concept that might just, well……

PAL-V Liberty – Hall 1 [Image credit: PAL-V]

Pininfarina

It’s hard to ignore the Italian styling house. They’ll be bringing their HK GT Granturismo Concept to Hall 1.

Pininfarina HK GT concept – Hall 1[Image credit; Pininfarina]

Polestar

Polestar is Volvo Car Group’s new performance road car brand. They will be introducing the brand and displaying the new Polestar 1 electric performance hybrid for the first time in Europe. Polestar 1  has 600hp, 1000Nm of torque and with a claimed 150km of range in Pure mode, has the longest electric-only driving range of any hybrid car in the world. This should be an interesting stand – to be found next to Volvo in Hall 5.

Image credit: Polestar

Porsche

Not much information is forthcoming from Porsche on exactly what they will be bringing to the show, but the good news is that they have confirmed that the next-generation GT3 RS will receive its premiere in Geneva. The show will, of course, be a good place to see cars you may not have already spotted on UK roads such as the new 911 GT2 RS and the Panamera Sport Turismo. Hopefully, the all-electric Mission E concept will be present. Porsche are in Hall 1.

Image credit: Porsche AG Porsche Mission E Concept [Image credit: Porsche AG]

Rimac

Croatian manufacturer Rimac has teased its Concept Two hypercar which it will reveal at this year’s Geneva show. It’s predecessor, the electric Concept One, is probably best known for being crashed by Richard Hammond while filming season two of Amazon’s Grand Tour.

Rimac Concept 2 teaser – see the real thing in Hall 6 [Image credit: Rimac]

Subaru

The Subaru brand’s star has fallen in the UK since the withdrawal of the WRX STi from the UK market, but those of a certain age will yearn for the return of the rally-bred Scooby. The Viziv Concept Tourer will be shown for the first time at the show and could be the first hint that the WRX estate is coming back.

Subrau Viziv Performance Concept – Subaru will be in Hall 2 [Image credit: Subaru Global]

Toyota

It looks like the new Supra will make its debut in Geneva if Toyota’s tweets are anything to go by. Hall 4

W Motors

W Motors is the Dubai-based manufacturer responsible for the very-limited run Lykan Hypersport.  You’ll be able to see their latest creation – the  £1.5 million Fenyr Supersport – at the show. Video courtesy of Mr JWW. Hall 2

[arve url=”https://youtu.be/3p8NdDPIIXc” /]

Zenvo

Danish hypercar manufacturer Zenvo have announced they will be bringing a new model to Geneva. Their last car – the TS1 GT – was a 1,100 twin-supercharged V8, so expect something extreme.

Zenvo’s new model – they’re not giving us much to go on… Hall 1 [Image credit: Zenvo Automotive]

Don’t forget…

Hall 1

Koenigsegg

Pagani

Hall 2

Techart

Volkswagen

Hall 4

Lexus

Hall 5

Alfa Romeo

Maserati

Hall 6

Brabus

Morgan

Rolls Royce

Volvo

Download  this useful site map  and floor plan to your phone for use on the day.

Click to download

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