2018 Geneva motor show preview
The biggest motor show of the year is almost here. Latest additions - LVCHI Auto Venere, VW Vizzion concept, Ssangyong e-SIV, Renault Zoe R110
The Geneva motor show is the largest event on the motoring calendar by a long way.
This year will be no different as the world’s car industry and media prepare to descend upon Switzerland from 8-18 March to see the latest supercars and mass-market models.
More and more cars are confirmed for Geneva every week, so here’s what we know is coming so far:
Geneva motor show 2018 - the cars
With a new BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class on the scene, the Audi A6 is the oldest of the ‘big three’ executive saloons. The brand has already confirmed that the new A6 will make its debut at Geneva, and it’s likely to follow in the Prologue-like look of the A8.
It’s a race between Jaguar and Audi to see who can get their electric SUV on sale first, but they’ll both be revealed in production form at the Geneva show. We’ve already seen both in concept form and neither is due to stray far from their concept’s flavour.
Bentley Bentayga PHEV and Bentayga V8
Bentley has already revealed the Bentayga V8 away from a motor show, but its first in-the-metal appearance will be at Geneva. It will sit alongside the brand's first electrified model, a plug-in hybrid version of the Bentayga that uses the same 3.0-litre hybrid powertrain as the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid.
BMW's 600bhp flagship doesn't arrive until 2019, but BMW will show a concept precursor to the Aston Martin DB11 and Mercedes-AMG S63 rival at Geneva this year. With various leaks of the 8 Series, we know what it'll be based upon, but the M-honed version will add a layer of performance on top of the luxury coupé.
The first-generation X4 has only been around since 2014, but the overhaul of the X3 means that the closely related X4 will be dragged into its next generation as well. First deliveries for UK customers are planned for August. A hot M40i variant of the X3 is coming as well.
The first (alphabetically) of three PSA group van-like MPVs heading this way, and due for a reveal at Geneva. The new Berlingo Multispace gets both regular and long-wheelbase variants, and luggage capacity of up to 4000 litres with the seats folded flat.
David Brown Automotive high performance GT
David Brown's at it again - following the Aston Martin DB4-inspired Speedback GT and the Mini Remastered, the Silverstone-based low-volume car maker is producing a high-performance model, but has as yet only revealed the badge.
711bhp, 0-62mph in 2.8sec, and a top speed of 211mph make the Pista Ferrari's most powerful V8-engined car yet. Aerodynamic and powertrain tech comes straight from the brand's GTE and 488 Challenge race cars.
Ford has only just revealed the facelifted Edge to the American market at the Detroit motor show, but the European version is coming, with a reveal set for the Geneva motor show. We'll only get diesels in Europe, and unlike the US, who get a V6-powered Edge ST, ST-Line is the sportiest version we'll get of the large SUV.
Ford's littlest model has been given a facelift for 2018, and a rufty-tufty SUV makeover as part of it. The facelifted Ka+ and Ka+ Active will go on sale later in 2018, alongside a Fiesta Active and a Focus Active, as Ford SUV-ifies its lineup for the industry's latest craze.
Honda's new Nissan Qashqai rival will head to Geneva, with styling mirroring that of the rest of the range. There's a new hybrid version on its way, too - Honda's first since dropping the Insight name from the UK market.
Honda's duo of retro-styled EVs are heading for Geneva, with the Urban EV planned for production next year and the Sports EV coming the year after.
Not content with an entry into one of the fastest-growing segments in the industry with the Nissan Juke-rivalling Kona, Hyundai is bringing an electric variant to market as well. With two powertrain options, it's got two ranges - one with 186 miles, and the other 292 miles - be afraid, Nissan Leaf.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is to enter its fourth generation, which will be revealed at the Geneva motor show. It's updated with a new look akin to the Kona above, as well as the brand's latest emergency braking technology - for reverse manoeuvres.
Italdesign Zerouno convertible
Italdesign celebrates 50 years this year, and is celebrating in style with a Zerouno convertible. So far, only a revealing preview shot has been revealed, but it's almost certain to have the same V10 engine and similar performance statistics to the coupé. It'll also likely share the coupé's seven-figure price tag.
Kia's all-new Focus rival will be revealed in five-door hatchback and estate forms at Geneva, with shooting brake and SUV variants due to arrive later. We've already had a drive in a prototype, which you can read about here.
If 2017 was the year of the SUV, 2018 is the year of the electric SUV. Jaguar will show the production version of the I-Pace at Geneva; it’s set to be the first direct rival to the Tesla Model X in the UK, but it won’t be on the market alone for long, with the Audi E-tron arriving imminently afterwards.
We’ve been waiting for the production version of Lexus’ first small SUV since the brand revealed its UX concept at the Paris motor show two years ago. It looks like Lexus will finally show its Jaguar E-Pace rival at this year’s Geneva show as the luxury small SUV segment explodes.
A new Chinese electric vehicle company called LVCHI has teamed up with Italian design house I.DE.A to produce a new model called the Venere, which it said is ready for production. We've had a go at lightening an image of the car below.
It's been nearly eight years since the Stratos was first revealed in 2010, but it's finally going into production - a 25-unit production run, with each car costing £487,000, plus the donor car, which is a Ferrari F430.
We’ve already seen the Senna – it was revealed at an event for customers at the brand’s Composite Technology Centre in Sheffield – but the Geneva motor show will be the car’s first public display. It has 660bhp, weighs 1198kg and is claimed to be the quickest-lapping production McLaren yet.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class facelift
The UK's best-selling saloon has been revealed in facelifted form ahead of a Geneva debut. It's now got more hybrids in the range, including diesel-electric powertrains, as well as the subtlest of styling refreshes.
Mercedes' ultimate S-Class has been given its mid-life refresh following the rest of the luxury limo's range. It now gets a two-tone paint job, more distinct front-end styling and new wheels - all of which take inspiration from the recent Maybach 6 concept.
The cooking G-Class was revealed at Detroit motor show, so it follows that the brand will bring its mad, 577bhp AMG G63 to Geneva. Outside, little changes over the outgoing G63, but the brick-like quick G-Wagen's acceleration to 62mph from a standstill has been chopped to 4.5sec.
Mercedes-AMG’s answer to the Porsche Panamera is almost upon us, a year after the GT concept was revealed. We’ll be seeing the production car at this year’s Geneva show with a 604bhp V8 under its bonnet. An 805bhp petrol-electric hybrid powertrain will come later.
Mercedes has achieved a lot with the A-Class - it’s in the top ten best-sellers in the UK and is the best-selling premium hatchback. The model is now entering its fourth generation and will adopt Mercedes' new family face, first shown on the third-generation CLS.
Mitsubishi is updating the Outlander PHEV for the 2019 model year, with updates to its plug-in hybrid powertrain, interior and exterior.
Mitsubishi e-Evolution concept
Mitsubishi teased us with the Evo name on its e-Evolution concept, as it gradually turns all of its historic sports cars into SUVs. The e-Evolution is getting a second outing at the Geneva motor show this year, after its debut in Tokyo.
The Aero 8 is being discontinued, and the Aero GT, a motorsport-inspired version of the retro-styled sports car, will make up the final eight units in its production run. The aerodynamic bodywork additions are described by the company as ‘drastic’.
Morgan Plus 8 50th Anniversary
The 4.8-litre BMW V8 engine dies with the Plus 8 50th Anniversary edition, which also serves as a run-out special to the Plus 8. Morgan is keeping tight-lipped on whether the Plus 8 will be replaced and any details on the 50th Anniversary edition. Expect it to cost well in excess of the regular Plus 8’s £85,461 starting price, though.
The self-proclaimed 'world's first commercial flying car' will make an appearance at Geneva, as the brand continues its publicity assault on the automotive industry. The £425,000 flying vehicle will be delivered to first customers at the end of the year.
Peugeot's replacement for the slow-selling 508 is due in Geneva, with dramatic new styling, which we've already caught a glimpse of in our spy shots and a leaked image. The brand is keeping tight-lipped on the finer details, but with a tide of SUVs beating the saloon market into submission, radical change is expected to keep the 508 going for another generation.
The second of the three PSA van-cum-MPV siblings, the Peugeot Rifter packs the same mix of practicality and utility as the Berlingo Multispace and Vauxhall Combo Life.
Polestar's first model, the Polestar 1, will be on show at the Geneva motor show as the car begins its publicity tour of the world.
Remember the Ferrari 488 Pista further up? Consider this its arch-nemesis - revealed on the same day, due at the same Geneva motor show, with performance statistics that are as closely matched as you can get. Heavens.
Remember the Range Stormer concept of 2004? Probably not, but it was basically a three-door Range Rover Sport that never made it out of the concept stage. It’s back, though, having been confirmed by the brand with an interior preview shot, as an SVO project with a quarter-million-pound price tag.
No, it's not the hot Zoe e-Sport we've been waiting for all this time, but it's as close as we're going to get until Renault makes a decision. Still, 107bhp and the same 250-mile NEDC range doesn't sound bad to us...
Rimac’s second model, following the electric Concept One, will be even more luxurious, faster and more exclusive. It won’t be called Concept Two. It has been described by the brand as "a true game-changer".
It’s been a while since we first spied the Cupra Ateca, but Seat's first fast SUV will finally arrive at the Geneva motor show as the first prong of Cupra as a fully-fledged sub-brand – something that's also expected to be announced at Geneva.
Skoda's facelifting the Fabia after four years on sale, with a design overhaul promised. It's got a new look, new tech from larger models, and not a single diesel engine in the lineup.
A 2019 small SUV is previewed in the lurid green-coloured Vision X concept, which also features a hybrid powertrain ahead of the brand's imminent adoption of hybrids. It's likely to remain largely unchanged for production, akin to other recent Skoda concepts.
Ssangyong's getting Sserious about its upcoming Nissan Qashqai rival, which is due in 2019. The latest concept, a development of the SIV-2 shown at last year's Geneva show, has an electric powertrain and the brand's latest autonomous tech.
Subaru is continuing its Viziv concept campaign in Geneva, with the Viziv Tourer concept - essentially an estate version of the Viziv Performance concept that's thought to preview the next-generation WRX.
Techrules' diesel turbine range-extended EV hypercar is already getting a pared-back track version, and it's heading to Geneva for its unveiling. All 1287bhp of it.
Toyota will launch its 2018 Aygo in Geneva with more power - well, a dinky 2bhp boost - and more significantly, a 3.5mpg improvement to economy. It also gets a colour coded X on its nose and new trim options.
It's as-yet-unnamed, but with a not-so-subtle reference to the return of a legendary sports car accompanying the single murky image, there's no two guesses as to what Toyota is hinting at with its upcoming concept. The Supra has been in development for over a year, so this concept is likely to be more than a slight clue as to what to expect.
The third of three PSA van-MPVs.
Volkswagen's latest ID concept - the Vizzion - is unlike all the others. It's a saloon, for a start, indicating that it's the long-awaited electric replacement for the Phaeton, but it also has no driver controls. Just four seats, and passenger entertainment.
One year after the XC60 was revealed, its estate sibling, the V60, will be revealed. It's the first glimpse we'll get at Volvo's new 60 series of cars, which will be completed by the S60 saloon, following the V60 a few months from its reveal. Both will go on sale in the UK in early 2019.
Zenvo has announced that it will take a new hypercar to Geneva - but that's it. It's yet to tell us how powerful, what it'll be powered by, or where it sits in relation to its other cars. The amount of exposed carbon fibre suggests it'll be the most hardcore model the brand has made yet, though...
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