The Aston Martin Valkyrie takes the British brand into a new realm of performance and is among the top 10 "must see" vehicles in Geneva.
The 2017 Geneva Motor Show media days are over and it’s time for the motor buying public to start streaming into the big PALExpo convention center. But what should they be looking at?
With a doubled-up news conference schedule, more than 75 new and updated cars and crossovers made their debut in the City by the Lake. (Notice we left out trucks, as they have no measurable presence in Europe.)
Trying to decide which are our favorites is no easy feat considering the raw numbers and the wide range of product segments they represent. But after a fair bit of debate, here are the 10 (well, actually, 11) that really moved the needle for us during our visit to Geneva.
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* The Aston Martin Valkyriecould be a real game-changer for the British brand. Expect to see Aston produce only a small batch of these supercars, but the Valkyrie will not only provide a much-needed halo but influence future vehicle development. It will be the first in what could be a series of mid-engine models, for one thing. It also will use a Formula One-derived KERS hybrid powertrain. Add the fact that it’s a real visual treat.
Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e Concept
* The Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e is the second of several models debuting in Geneva that will use an F1 KERS powertrain. Just a concept for now, the Speed 6e Concept signals the British maker’s readiness to explore various battery-electric alternatives. Bentley already has a plug-in hybrid set to debut, a version of the big Bentayga. The Speeds 6e suggests we’ll see even more of a push into electrification, possibly including a fully electric Bentley, in the near future.
* Ferrari 812 Superfast. As we noted in our feature piece, “fast” is part of Ferrari’s name, but the 812 pushed performance to new levels. In this case, it does so the old fashioned way, with a big V-12 capable of launching the sleek, rear-engined belle macchina from 0 to 100 kmh (62 mph) in a mere 2.9 seconds. Despite Ferrari’s claim, the 812 is actually not the most powerful model it has ever produced. At 789 hp, it’s a bit short of the La Ferrari, but we’re not going to complain.
Ferrari 812 Superfast
* Honda Civic Type R. Honda has been rolling out a procession of new Civic variants over the last two years, the hatchback version making its first appearance in Geneva a year ago. But no model has generated more of a buzz than the Type R, which will finally make it to the U.S. market come late spring 2017. The five-door model, equipped with a 306-hp turbocharged four, will become the fastest version of the Honda Civic ever to reach U.S. shores.
* We’re loathe to name two models from the same brand, but Mercedes dropped a flood of new products on us in Geneva and two are real stand-outs. There’s the latest-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet, a car we’d love to have when spending a summer’s day wandering the countryside. There’s also the striking Mercedes-AMG GT Concept, a four-door version of the GT sports car that is another model using a KERS system to boost power – here to around 805 hp.
Honda Civic Type R
* Sadly, the Nissan Qashqi we see in Geneva won’t be making it over to the U.S. Yes, Nissan is bringing a version of the compact Qashqai crossover here under the Rogue Sport badge. But, for the indefinite future, it seems, we’ll only have the old model. The new one features not only some exterior style enhancements, and interior upgrades, but also Nissan’s new ProPilot, a semi-autonomous driving system. The good news is that we eventually should see the new Qashqi cross the Atlantic, too.
Range Rover Velar
* Peugeot Instinct Concept. It’s easy to skip the French makers when there’s so much to see at the show. After all, they haven’t been in the U.S. for decades. But with parent PSA clinching the purchase of Opel, we wandered over to the Peugeot stand and were reminded how French automakers can deliver striking – albeit sometime weird – designs. This one is a real stand-out, both visually – with its unusual door design — and technically with its sport-tuned plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
*Range Rover Velar. Okay, technically, it was unveiled a week ahead of the show, but when you’re looking at something this good looking, who cares? The fourth member of the Range Rover family, it slots between Evoque model and Range Rover Sport. The Brits insist this is no toned-down soft-roader, but something with legitimate Rover off-road creds. It also adds some neat new technologies including a semi-autonomous trailer “Tow Assist” function.
Volkswagen Arteon
* Volkswagen Arteon. Larger and more lavish than the Passat, Arteon will serve as the German maker’s new design and technology flagship.
First shown in concept form as the Sport Coupe Concept GTE at the 2015 Geneva show, the production version takes things a step beyond the old coupe-like Volkswagen CC, with what the German maker is billing as a more “progressive,” luxurious design. It also introduces a number of interesting technologies, including continuously variable, drive-controlled damping.
Volvo XC60
* Volvo XC60. Déjà vu? At first blush, one could readily confuse the all-new Volvo XC60 with the maker’s only slightly older XC90. But that’s not a bad comparison considering the praise heaped on the bigger utility vehicle. It has many of XC90’s most important features – which for Volvo buyers, starts with an assortment of the latest safety technology.
Meanwhile, the new XC60 will be easier on the pocketbook, with the price expected to start at around $40,000 once it reaches U.S. showrooms later this year.