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4 Reasons to Be Excited About The 2018 Geneva Motor Show
05 March 2018
The 2018 Geneva International Motor Show, one of the world's most anticipated automotive expositions, is just around the corner. And if last year’s show is anything to go by, where we saw introductory models from Alpine and DS and new releases from Audi, Honda, Volvo, and Seat, 2018 will be another grand display of automotive power.
You wouldn’t be wrong in thinking that Geneva 2018 will mostly be about autonomous technology and electric vehicles - the two central running themes of recent years. But Geneva is also the time when performance cars get their share of the spotlight, with exotic brands coming out of the woodwork especially to showcase their new rides.
So what does this year's Swiss-based motor extravaganza have in store for us, and, more specifically, which brands and models are going to run away with the show?
Toyota Supra
Originally debuted in 1978, the infamous Supra had a production run of just over two decades. With a racing background and appearances in many major racing games, it was known as the ultimate budget boy’s toy.
The new Supra 2019 line, however, promises something different. It was developed with BMW and is set to be released as four models — the basic Supra, Supra GR, Supra GR Sport, and the Supra GRMN — under the Gazoo Racing nameplate. The entry model will have a significantly lower price point than the other models, which will be somewhat pleasing to die-hard Supra fans, but the real excitement will but at the top end where the BMW M4 Coupe and Porsche 911 have been modelled as performance benchmarks.
Mercedes A-Class
After months of teasers, Mercedes' new and improved A-Class will be debuted at Geneva (along with its price tag). Finally, its bold claims of bringing a new level of luxury and technology to the market will put to the test.
For a car that sits in the same market as the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series, Mercedes have their work cut out. But the brand believes it will deliver, in part thanks to its reinvention of the conventional dashboard set-up. Two free-standing instrument panels, a set of turbine-style vents, and ambient lighting are used to separate each section and give the dash a highly-evolved feel, while the Mercedes-Benz User Experience system allows it to be personalised and adapted to each user’s experience.
Morgan Aero GT
Little has been seen or heard of the Malvern-based manufacturer’s Aero GT, set to be debuted at Geneva 2018, but one thing we do know is that it will be “the most extreme road-going Morgan to date”.
Built to commemorate 17 years of the Aero 8 sports car, the Aero GT will feature a hand-built aluminium body and come with the Aero 8’s 4.8-litre V8. Its appearance at Geneva 2018 is a chance for the public to appreciate the craftsmanship of the car, as only a handful of models are being produced and have already been sold to Morgan’s most loyal customers.
Rimac Concept Two
The second release from Croatian hypercar manufacturer Rimac, the Concept Two has big boots to fill. The Concept One debuted back in 2016 featuring four oil-cooled electric motors, a power output of over 1,000 bhp and a 0-60 speed of 2.6 seconds - all while having a range of 220 miles.
Although the Concept One had a whopper of a price tag - £676,000 - it came in considerably lower than other hypercars like the McLaren P1. With the Concept Two, Rimac will likely hit the 1,500 bhp mark, placing the car up there with the Bugatti Chiron and Koenigsegg Agera. But as an all-electric vehicle, it has its sights more so on rivals such as the Tesla Mk2 Roadster and the Nio EP9 EV - two other EVs known for being speed demons.
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