Geneva Motor Show 2015: What to look out for
- Published
The Geneva show has traditionally been an occasion to unveil some of the industry's most exotic and groundbreaking cars, mixing the breathtaking with the downright daft. So what should you look out for in 2015?
The Quant F is developed by NanoFlowcell, a small German firm making big claims for its new-generation energy storage technology. These are early days but it's claimed the car can do 500 miles on a single load of electrolyte fluid and has a top speed of over 180mph.
Not a new car, but a final one. The last ever Bugatti Veyron has been sold, and will be on show at Geneva. The €2.3m (£1.7m) Veyron was deemed an engineering masterpiece and until last year was the fastest road car on the planet, reaching 268mph. Jeremy Clarkson was a fan: "It’s rewritten the rule book, moved the goalposts and in the process, given Mother Nature a bloody nose.”
Making its global debut, the Cayman GT4 is Porsche's latest road car - but the company clearly expects it to spend a lot of time doing track days. The engine and aerodynamics have been geared to racing, and the car will do 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 183mph. Price tag: €85,700 (£62,800).
Borgward was once a famous name in motoring but went bust in 1961. It's now making a highly anticipated return, led by Christian Borgward, grandson of the company's founder. This is the only view you'll get of the new car until its official unveiling.
Aston Martin's new Vulcan supercar is a track-only monster, but the styling and engineering will no doubt find their way into future road cars. Aston Martin describes the Vulcan as "our most intense creation to date". At £1.5m (including driving lessons) it's also the company's most expensive.
Morgan, Britain's only remaining independent, family-owned carmaker, has fans equally as passionate as Ferrari (though a touch more reserved) so a new Morgan is always an event. Details are thin on the ground, but the engine is likely to be the same supercharged 4.8-litre V8 used by other Morgans.
Ferrari's 488 GTB is the successor to the much-lauded 458 Italia. The firm's PR hype talks about "seamless integration" and "sporty ambiance" but what really matters is that it goes from 0-124mph in 8.3 seconds and has a top speed of more than 200mph. That power is delivered by a turbocharged engine.
McLaren's 675LT (LT stands for long tail) sits at the top of the firm's "super series" and has Ferrari's 458 Speciale in its sights. Faster, lighter and louder than the McLaren 650S, the new car will do 0-124mph in 7.9 seconds with a top speed of 205mph. The 675LT goes on sale later this year with an expected price tag of around £260,000.
Audi is debuting its long-awaited new R8. Lighter and faster, this second-generation model has a price tag of about €165,000 and can do 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds. The car draws on technology in the Lamborghini Huracan. There will also be an electric version, pitching Audi against Tesla.