The Geneva International Motor Show is the largest annual auto show in Europe, and its 87th edition, set to take place from March 9 to 19, 2017, will include a surplus of exciting new launches… even if a good number of them may never make it across the Atlantic to our shores, sadly.
Ahead of the Press Days that will precede the event on March 7 and 8, Auto123.com begins its coverage today with an overview of what auto manufacturers have in store for visitors to the show.
Luxury brands will be centre stage in Geneva, with the Alfa Romeo Giulia Coupé, the BMS 5 Series Touring wagon and the new-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet (which completes the manufacturer’s quartet, joining the sedan, the coupe and the wagon) all slated to be present. On a more affordable scale, salon visitors will be able to check out the Volkswagen Arteon, a 5-door hatchback coupe that is replacing the CC, as well as the 7th-generation Ford Fiesta featuring modernized styling and most notably a much more inviting and connected interior.
Also sure to attract strong interest are the latest new hybrid cars, particularly the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, whose fuel economy (2.9L/100 km according to the European driving cycle) has done nothing to impede its explosiveness (it can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds), and the Lexus LS 500h, based on the entirely redesigned flagship LS 500 model.
The Geneva International Motor Show is also a perennial focal point on the calendar for car designers. Thus this year Pininfarina, for example, will be putting its styling chops on display with the EF7 hypercar, fine-tuned by former driver and F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi. And let’s not forget the concepts, never in short supply in Geneva: Peugeot’s Instinct, Toyota’s i-TRIL, Nissan’s BladeGlider and more.
Sports car lovers will be salivating at the sight of new models such as the Aston Martin Vanquish S, Audi RS3 Sportback, Pagani Huayra, Ferrari 812 Superfast and McLaren 720S (these last two are the replacements of the F12berlinetta and the 650S, respectively). Many if not all eyes will be firmly focused on the Honda Civic Type R, the production version of which will be unveiled at last. Other must-sees include the promised hypercar from Italdesign Automobili Speciali as well as the 210-hp turbocharged (because why not?) Toyota Yaris GRMN.
Lastly, a number of new SUVs and crossovers will be making their global debuts at Geneva. Highly anticipated premieres include the second generations of the Volvo XC60 and the Subaru Crosstrek, as well as the all-new Range Rover Velar (slotting into the manufacturer’s lineup between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport) and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (likely the replacement for the RVR).
Check back here on Auto123.com over the coming days and next week to learn more about all these and other models and news out of Geneva. We promise a ton of photos and videos that we’ll be sharing with you. Let’s get dreaming!