It’s an exciting week in the world of motoring. As well as welcoming the brand new 16 plate to our dealerships, there is another big event that sets the precedent for all new cars to be launched in 2016.
What separates this auto show from the rest, is the big car debuts. Since it was first held in 1905, the Geneva Motor Show is renowned for revealing numerous iconic models to the public for the first time, including the Jaguar E-Type, Ford Capri and Audi Quattro.
Now, in 2016, the show is back bigger than ever. Spread over ten days from the 3rd to 13th March, the show is action packed with major European brands like Audi, Citroen, Jaguar Land Rover, Peugeot, Renault, SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen regularly joined by Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan and Toyota.
We take a look at the main show stoppers set to take the stage for the first time.
Volvo Excellence exemplifies luxury at its best
Volvo lifts the veil of its most luxurious car in the company’s 89-year history; the much anticipated four-seat XC90 Excellence. Based on the award-winning XC90 SUV, the top-of-the-line model complements the Swedish car maker’s premium range. The XC90 is built with T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrain as standard, offering three distinct driving modes in one car – Pure, Hybrid and Power. If that doesn’t mean much to you, maybe hearing that this provides the powerful machine up to 410 hp combined with notably low emissions.
SEAT’s first ever SUV!
It goes by the name ‘Ateca’ and it is being seen by the world for the first time at the Geneva Motor show. SEAT’s eagerly-awaited first SUV is all about style, dynamics and utility for the urban adventure. From the design, we can see it is 100 per cent SEAT and yet 100 per cent SUV. Could this be a new era for the SEAT we are used to seeing? Available in a wide range of options from spring 2016 – choice of powerful turbocharged TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines spans from 115 PS to 190 PS and so much more.
Ready, Set, Hyundai GO!
This isn’t the Hyundai GO! you may have already seen, this is the special edition. Bringing new unique design features to each model, the Hyundai i10, i20 and i30 will be showcased in the colours of the French flag. If you have to ask why, then you might not know about the biggest sporting competition to take place this year, the UEFA EURO 2016 championship.
As well as the GO! The car manufacturer will also be launching the IONIQ line up - the world’s first model offering three electrified powertrains – IONIQ Hybrid, IONIQ Electric and IONIQ Plug-in.
Ford's hot new hatch
The acclaimed Ford Fiesta ST compact hot hatch is about to get even hotter. Ford will unveil the most powerful production Fiesta ever, the new 200PS Fiesta ST200 at the exclusive show. So, what makes it so powerful? Well, it delivers 10 per cent more power and 20 per cent more torque, with 290Nm from a specially calibrated 1.6 litre EcoBoost petrol engine that can sprint from 0 – 62mph in 6.7 seconds.
Bravo Bentley Bravo!
Bentley takes luxury and performance to the stage and lifts the curtain of its new Mulsanne model range. This impressive line-up of bespoke craftsmanship sets a new benchmark for rear-seat passenger comfort at the Geneva Motor Show 2016. Handcrafted in the town of Crewe, the new range includes Mulsanne, the performance-focused Mulsanne Speed and the all-new, ultra-luxurious Mulsanne Exteneded Wheelbase with its new extended variant offering airline-style seat.
For the sporting side of luxury, Bentley unveils the Flying Spur V8 S to add to its Flying Spur Range, much more performance-focused as it develops 528 PS and 680Nm.
