A journey through the Geneva Motor Show, where amid 1,000-horsepower electric cars and zero-emission limousines, the first (true) flying car makes its debut — priced at $400,000
The 88th Geneva International Motor Show is about to open its doors. Tomorrow and the day after, it will welcome the press and industry insiders, before opening to the public from 8 to 18 March. No fewer than 110 world or European premieres are expected, along with more than 180 exhibitors and 700,000 visitors (here for all practical information). This makes it one of the world's most important motor shows, chosen by manufacturers to present the trends shaping the mobility of the future. From the world's first flying car to an electric sports car with over 1,000 horsepower, right through to the first zero-emission limousine — here is a preview.
One can hardly claim that the opulent Bentley Bentayga is an example of sustainable mobility — quite the contrary. But even luxury is beginning to set some virtuous examples. The Geneva Motor Show will see the debut of the plug-in hybrid version of the enormous British SUV. In place of the energy-hungry 12-cylinder engine, a more fitting 2.9-litre V6 paired with a second electric motor; total power output stands at 462 horsepower, with an electric range of 50 kilometres.
Designed in Switzerland and built in Germany, the Elextra is a limited-edition electric supercar. "Only 150 units will be made," declared Swiss designer and entrepreneur Robert Palm, CEO of Classic Factory. The idea is an electric supercar that combines Italian style with the most advanced technology, making extensive use of carbon fibre (20 per cent lighter than aluminium). The Elextra features four-wheel drive and two 680-horsepower electric motors that allow it to reach 100 km/h in 2.3 seconds. The top speed is limited to 250 km/h. The declared electric range is 600 km, provided the speed does not exceed 100 km/h — a truly difficult feat in a car like this…
The well-known tyre manufacturer, which previously worked on a project using rice husks as a recycled material in tyre production, is presenting at the Geneva Motor Show a concept for a "smog-eating" tyre. How does it work? Thanks to the presence of living moss inside the sidewall, this prototype would be capable of activating photosynthesis and cleaning the air, while simultaneously generating enough electricity to power the on-board systems of an electric car.
It is the first offering, but others will follow in the coming months. SUVs, once seen as polluting and unwieldy vehicles, are being transformed into cars capable of combining practicality, style and electric drive. The Hyundai Kona is available immediately in two versions: with a 39.2 kWh battery and a 135-horsepower (99 kW) motor offering a range of up to 300 km, and in the long-range version with a 64 kWh battery, a 204-horsepower (150 kW) motor and a range of up to 470 km. The South Korean manufacturer is also bringing to Geneva the NEXO, a hydrogen SUV equipped with numerous autonomous driving technologies.
The electric car market is gaining new models, and with its trio of electric concepts Honda brings its first concrete proposals to Geneva. The Concept Urban EV returns to Europe after its world premiere at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show and is Honda's offering for low-emission urban mobility; the production version is scheduled for next year. Also at the Honda stand is the Concept Sports EV, the electric sports car of the future, and NeuV, an electric concept equipped with artificial intelligence and a wide range of autonomous functions.
The Lexus UX makes its unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show — a compact urban crossover that combines practicality, space and luxury with the dynamic qualities of a hybrid saloon. Full specifications remain top secret, but it is certain that the UX will adopt the well-known Toyota-school hybrid drivetrain.
City cars abound. Saloons too. SUVs are on the rise. What the market was missing was an electric limousine, for heads of state and business leaders who want to combine the prestige of a flagship vehicle with sustainability credentials. Born from Chinese expertise, Venere is a project developed by I.DE.A Institute, a Piedmontese company that will oversee the construction of the first full-length electric limousine in Turin.
The I-Pace, Jaguar's new electric SUV, makes its debut at the Jaguar stand in Geneva. The new model combines AWD all-wheel drive — perfect for quiet excursions in nature — with an electric powertrain delivering 400 horsepower and impressive performance: the I-Pace reaches 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds, on a par with a sports car. The 90 kWh lithium-ion battery offers a range of 480 kilometres, and thanks to a 100 kW DC fast charger the manufacturer claims a charging time (from 0 to 80 per cent) of 40 minutes, with the first 15 minutes providing 100 km of range. The I-Pace is already available to order at a price of €79,790.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF_1H2pllYs&feature=youtu.be
Following the unfortunate events, past and more recent, involving the German group, with the I.D. Vizzion Volkswagen brings to the Geneva Motor Show the first of the 20 electric cars that will be introduced by 2025. It is a concept that previews a large saloon built on the new "All-new electric architecture" platform, which will be shared with other VW electric models. According to the German manufacturer's statements, in 2020 the compact electric I.D. should debut first, followed by an electric SUV and, finally, the long-awaited I.D. Buzz van., heir to the legendary Bulli of the 1960s.
The Dutch manufacturer — long engaged in a vigorous campaign against the automotive industry — assures that this is the "world's first flying car for sale". It is called the Pal-V Liberty, it makes its very first appearance in Geneva and is (according to the manufacturer) the first flying car already ready for production (and already bookable for €2,000). The question? How will they sell it without the necessary certifications for road and air travel? The permits could arrive by the end of the year and sales in 2019. The price? Around $400,000. A video here shows how it works.
It is called the Polestar 1, it is an electric coupé and it is the first Volvo car to reach the market under the new Polestar sub-brand — the marque chosen by the Swedish manufacturer for its forthcoming hybrid and electric models. In this case, the model on show at the Geneva Motor Show is a hybrid that combines a petrol engine with electric drive, for a total output of 600 horsepower. The goal? Tesla and its performance electric cars. From 2019 onwards, with Polestar, Volvo will bring a new brand dedicated to high-performance electric and hybrid cars to market. Polestar 1 is a luxury four-seat coupé, built with extensive use of carbon fibre to keep its weight down. Going on sale in mid-2019, the new coupé will be powered by a 2-litre petrol engine paired with two electric motors and a 34 kWh battery pack. The declared all-electric range is 150 kilometres.
A world premiere debut for the Mission E Cross Turismo, the concept of an electric Cross Utility Vehicle (CUV) — in other words, a performance SUV designed for both road and off-road use with electric power. Among its features: all-wheel drive, two synchronous electric motors with an output of over 600 horsepower, and sports car performance: 0 to 100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds. "The Mission E Cross Turismo is an expression of our idea of an entirely electric future," said Oliver Blume, CEO of Porsche AG. The production car that will derive from this concept will be launched in 2019.
The 2018 model year of the compact electric Zoe makes its debut at the 2018 Geneva Moto