2015 Geneva Motor Show – Our Favourites
Every year, innovative products and interesting vehicles converge at the Geneva Motor Show. As always, the Swiss event was full of surprises this year. I’ve narrowed the list down to five just to keep things simple, but there were plenty of others that could have been included. These are five vehicles that caught my eye, presented in alphabetical order.
Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 Concept
I would buy this Bentley for its colour alone. This shade of intense green is truly unique, and all the chrome accents enhance its overall appeal. Its silhouette is absolutely superb. The Continental GT coupe has always been known for its elegance, but when you draw the same lines in a smaller size, the result is better than ever. The interior of this gorgeous machine comes swathed in the finest of leathers. And while there’s no word yet on its drivetrain, I think that a hybrid engine would make sense.
- Also: Porsche Cayman GT4 vs 911 GT3 RS: The Fight For First Place
- Also: Ford introduces the Focus RS in Geneva
Ferrari 488 GTB
The Italia is no more! Long live the 488 GTB! Even though the Italia was considered by many as one of the most elegant sports cars on the market, its replacement is even more spectacular and more refined. It also features some highly advanced aerodynamic characteristics. Interesting fact: the 488 GTB wasn’t designed by Pininfarina, as is generally the case with this automaker. This time, in-house stylists designed the silhouette and they certainly did a great job of it.
One of the biggest changes is the drivetrain. The 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 was replaced by a turbocharged mill with less displacement (now 3,902 cc). Thanks to the turbocharger, output is now 661 horsepower compared to 562. This Italian stallion reaches 100 km/h in 3.0 seconds, and can blast from 0 to 200 km/h in 8.3 seconds. It should come as no surprise that this premier was one of the highlights of the Geneva Motor Show.
Ford Focus RS
Ford hasn’t always invested much in developing sport versions of its compact model, but now that a new division was created specifically for sports cars, we’re hopeful that things may improve in this area. In fact, the Focus RS is already a good sign. This vehicle will be built in Germany and distributed worldwide. Its 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine delivers more than 300 horsepower and is paired to a six-speed manual gearbox. For the time being, only the five-door hatchback will be available, and always with all-wheel drive.
Porsche Cayman GT 4
For years, the Cayman coupe has been acclaimed for its road handling and ride. And yet, it hasn’t seduced enough sports car fans, primarily because it’s not as prestigious as the legendary 911. But now there’s the Cayman GT4, featuring several of the 911 GT3’s mechanical components, including the 3.8-litre flat-six and suspension and brake parts. It’s all part of an effort to create a very athletic machine. This version should definitely help the Cayman’s reputation. And, last but not least, its price is two times lower than that of the new GT3 RS.
Spania GTA Spano
What makes the Geneva Motor Show different than other international events? The space reserved for smaller automakers, artisans and builders of cult cars. With futuristic looks, the Spano is powered by a turbocharged V10 that unleashes 925 horsepower. This supercar comes with a panoramic roof with automatic opacity control and a chassis made of titanium, carbon fibre and Kevlar. Only 99 units will be produced. For ages, Spania GTA specialized in race cars, but its Technical Director, Domingo Ochoa, decided to change over to grand tourers. The company operates out of Valencia, Spain.
The premiers were as impressive as ever for 2015. If we wanted to expand the list, we’d definitely be adding the Mercedes-AMG GT3, Hyundai Tucson, Honda Civic Type R, Lexus LS, Quant, Toyota Auris and Volkswagen Variant. But I had to choose just a few, and I have no doubt that I forgot a few more.