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Geneva 2010 contd

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Geneva 2010 coverage 1

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Geneva 2010

In the run up to Detroit there seemed to be as many announcements concerning Geneva as the NAIAS, and this was borne out in the shows themselves: the total of Detroit debuts was barely more than what any one of the big three would have fielded in a good year, and there were over 60 debuts of every conceivable type. In fairness, this seemed to be a particularly strong Geneva but the contrast couldn't have been more stark.

Porsche 918 spyder

One of the shows biggest stars was also one of the biggest surprises, as it was only announced late on the eve of the show (a welcome contrast to the Chinese water torture of the teaser shots favoured by most these days.) When announced, my first assumption was that this is was a preview of the rumoured entry level car based on the Bluesport / R4 platform, but on sight it's clear that this is a beast of a different (and more expensive) stripe.

It's hard to determine the significance as Porsche rarely does concept cars, this being the first since the original Boxster in the nineties (the Carrera GT doesn't really count as it was essentially the production item.) Some features are typical concept fare, such as the (quite odd in this case) rear view cameras, and the (lovely) side exhausts are illegal in most major markets, but they've also bothered with windscreen wipers and there is a cutline for front bumper & wing. 


Yes the headline is that it is a hybrid, but as the fossil fuel element is a 500+bhp V8

IAA09: Overview

Given how difficult the intervening period has been for the industry, it's little wonder that this IAA was more subdued than last - when things were pretty much at their peak - which then makes the sizeable haul of new metal on display even more impressive. Much has been made about the green theme to this years show but I'm not convinced - there was a lot of eco-friendly stuff being shown, but the vast majority of it was theoretical: a survey of the cars that will actually be available to buy in the near future paints a different picture.

Take Audi for example: their centrepiece comprised of three R8 variants. The e-Tron, an electric sportcar concept on sale date of?....... (how about never, is never good for you?) In fairness the mirror finish R8 V10 will probably only ever go on sale in Dubai, if at all - but the R8 Spyder is definitely going on sale, 520bhp Lambo-sourced V10 and all; but it's the e-Tron that's all over the coverage. Funny, that. Similar story over at VW - concepts: L1 & E-Up! - the former is a sort of Teutonic, 150mpg Sinclair C5, and the latter a new small car apparently aimed at natives of Yorkshire. Major production debut? The Golf R, a 267bhp Golf for those who find the Golf GTi underpowered. Mercedes? OK, the BlueZero concepts may have some production future, but the SLS AMG's is more definite and although an electric version is promised, most customers will plump for the drivetrain actually confirmed and already driven by a select few: a 6.3l V8 - and so on and so forth.

Of the majors debuts, again the more excessive end of the spectrum was well represented here - with the F458, Ghost, Mulsanne, Rapide, XJ and European debut of the Panamera vs. the C3, Venga & Astra; and though the Mini Coupé and Roadster both seem to have a production future and are small, describing them as eco-friendly is a stretch: the Coupé has 208bhp and the Roadster 'only' 175bhp.

None of this is a complaint, just an observation: I personally believe that the motor industry is an easy target for eco-warriors when in fact in the last 20 years it has done more than it's fair share in terms of efficiency & safety gains when compared to other sectors, so maybe a little greenwashing is permissable.