Geneva, you absolute beauty. From a 1,800hp McLaren P1 rival and the rebirth of the Honda Civic Type R to Bentley’s stunning EXP 10 Speed 6 concept and the Kahn Design six-wheeler Land Rover Defender, this year’s motor show made us feel all gooey inside.
Technically the Swiss show runs until the 15th of March, but we have already been and gone with the sole purpose of bringing you a shedload of videos, photos and specs of the cars that we will be selling our kidneys for in the months and years to come. Enjoy.
Koenigsegg Regera
If you put a Desert Eagle to our heads and demanded we pick a favourite, Sweden’s first attempt at a hybrid hypercar would be considered. With more than 1,800hp and 2,000Nm of torque, one gear and a 0 to 250mph time of less than 20 seconds, it doesn’t get more ‘hyper’ than the Koenigsegg Regera.
McLaren 675LT
The British know how to make a supercar and the 675LT – LT short for ‘long tail’ – is a prime example. It looks the part and, thanks to 666bhp (675PS) developed by a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, it can hit 0 to 120mph in 7.9 seconds. 0 to 62mph takes 2.9 seconds. More than fast enough for a mere mortal.
Honda NSX
Technically the new NSX debuted at the North American International Auto Show, but it was in attendance at Geneva so it is only fair we include it here. And include it we must because this 550hp Japanese rocket has three electric motors in addition to a twin-turbo DOHC V6, making it a potent return for an iconic car. Honda wants to take on the Ferrari 458 and Audi R8 and this is the weapon it will use.
Aston Martin Vulcan
Forget the One-77, the track-only Vulcan has it beat in virtually every way. 800bhp, a carbon fibre body, 7.0-litre naturally-aspirated V12 and a production run of 24 make it as mental as it is exclusive. £1.5million and she’s yours for the taking, if you can somehow get onto the list.
Ferrari 488 GTB
Many consider Ferrari’s 458 Italia one of the best supercars money can buy, so its 488 GTB successor has no easy task. But it will be putting up one hell of a fight as it has more power, more torque and sensational looks to boot. Think 661bhp, 760Nm and a lap around Fiorano faster than the Enzo – a car that not so long ago was the pinnacle of Italian machinery.
Audi R8 V10 Plus
Forget the V8 vs V10 R8 argument. Audi has decided it for you by ditching the former altogether in favour of two V10s of varying stupidity. In its second-generation you can expect a top speed of 200mph, 0 to 62mph in as little as 3.2 seconds, 532 or 602bhp and a 40 per cent improvement in torsional rigidity, thanks to the use of carbon fibre reinforced plastic.
Kahn Design Flying Huntsman 110 WB 6×6
Replace tears of sadness over the production end for the Land Rover Defender with tears of joy for coachbuilder Kahn Design’s six-wheeled version, known as the Flying Huntsman 110 WB 6×6. Buyers can enjoy a 6.3-litre V8 and a variety of options, including armour plating for those who worry about being shot at.
Lotus Evora 400
Thank the lord Lotus is here to remind petrolheads there’s more to Norfolk than flat land and a lack of motorways. The Evora 400 is named so because it has 400bhp at its disposal, making it more powerful than any road-going Lotus before it. Best of all, the 2+2 arrangement means you can scare more passengers than in your typical Lotus.
Lamborghini Aventador 750-4 SV
‘SV’ standards for super Veloce, which loosely translated means fast as f***. Seriously, this Italian stallion has 750PS to play with, owing to engine tweaks to the 6.5-litre V12. The car, meanwhile, is 50kg lighter than the standard Aventador so there’s less fat to lug around. No wonder 0 to 124mph comes and goes in 8.6 seconds.
Lexus LF-SA
Geneva was more than just a supercar extravaganza. Lexus put memories of the LFA supercar to one side as it unveiled a pint-sized urban runaround it calls the LF-SA. Space for up to four people gives a practical slant to a beautiful little hatchback. No wonder Lexus built the concept to celebrate 25 years since its first car came to be.
Bentley Exp 10 Speed 6
Whether or not you think there’s too much Aston Martin influence to be found in the Bentley Exp 10 Speed 6, we can all agree on how appealing it looks in that striking variation of British racing green. Modern design flair contrasts nicely with traditional rounded lights and a new Bentley grille to create something new yet familiar. Bentley was keen to point out performance is just as important.
Porsche 911 GT3 RS
If the Porsche Carrera GT is not for the faint-hearted then the much more powerful and faster 911 GT3 RS the equivalent of juggling chainsaws. A 4.0-litre six-cylinder gives anyone brave enough to drive it a whopping 500hp and 460Nm of torque – enough to get the car around the dangerous Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 20 seconds. That’s nine seconds faster than the Carrera GT.
Honda Civic Type R
Honda was on hand to remind everyone that, while supercars may be lovely, you can have just as much fun, if not more, in a hot-hatchback like the new Type R. There has never been a more powerful Honda that bears the red badge, so you can understand why its 310PS 2.0-litre VTEC engine is a big deal. 167mph top speed, anyone?
McLaren P1 GTR
Just when you thought the P1 was the pinnacle of hypercar insanity, McLaren went and unveiled a GTR version designed for track days only. The 986bhp British hybrid can hit 0 to 62mph in 2.8 seconds and has been aerodynamically optimised to slice through the air, while a fixed rear spoiler increases downforce by 10 per cent at 150mph. £2million gets you the car as well as driver training, but you also have to own a standard P1.
Suzuki iM-4
Forget the terrible Suzuki Jimny for a second. The iM-4 concept looks like a much more attractive offering for those who want a compact off-roader with enough attitude to take on the big-outdoors. But it’s the addition of a hybrid system that makes the iM-4 just a bit special, as it should be unusually efficient. Cute, too.
Aston Martin DBX 4×4
If there’s one car that divided opinion more than anything else on show, it has to be Aston Martin’s DBX 4×4. The DBX 4×4 is a grand tourer that has been lifted up a bit to improve ground clearance and given four-wheel drive for better traction, with an all-electric powertrain. It’s bonkers, but we want one.
Nissan Sway
Nissan must be aware the Micra is about as cool as Tenor pants because its potential replacement really goes overboard on the looks. Sure, the Sway’s interior is so simple a 95-year-old could work it, but the angular styling and grey and orange colour scheme is sure to be a winner with people young enough to know who One Direction are.
Seat 20V20
Although underwhelming next to the other cars in the list, we have a soft spot for Seat’s orange 20V20 SUV concept, especially when it could come with engines up to 300bhp in power and has some of the bold styling cues seen on the Leon. The V in the name is short for vision, while the 2020 bit is a reference to the year it is designed for.
Infiniti QX30
Last but by no means least is the QX30 compact crossover from Infiniti, the manufacturers attempt at a Mercedes GLA and BMW X1 rival. The car is aimed at those weekend getaways where you go off the beaten track – hence the generous ground clearance and chunky tyres. Possibly the best-looking Infiniti thus far.
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