The Geneva Motor Show is always a high-profile affair, with major International and European launches guaranteed from some of the biggest names in the automotive industry.
In 2018, plug-in hybrid and full electric cars were very much in the spotlight as the car market undergoes its biggest technological revolution in generations. But what key things did we learn?
1. The car industry is changing rapidly
Just a decade ago, the Geneva Motor Show was all about conventional vehicles. Audi, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Vauxhall and Volkswagen all introduced new ‘high-tech’ diesel engines, which today’s owners are being increasingly encouraged to scrap.
2. Old is the new new
Heritage is still a strong selling point, as evidenced by Jaguar Land Rover, which promoted its classic department with Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain’s custom XJ6 Series 3. David Brown Automotive’s modernised Mini was also a popular exhibit, along with the 50th Anniversary Morgan Plus 8.
3. Electric cars are cool
There was a time where the very definition of an electric car was something oddball and quirky, but far from cool. That’s all changed, though, with Geneva 2018 seeing two fully electric cars join the hypercar fray. The Croatian-built Rimac Concept 2 is said to accelerate from 0-60mph in 1.8 seconds, while the Chinese Techrules Ren RS has the equivalent of 1,287bhp and 7,722Nm of torque.
4. Electric cars are more usable than ever
Of course, electric hypercars aren’t everyday vehicles, but the EV revolution continues apace. The new Nissan LEAF made its European debut to much interest, while Porsche and Jaguar also revealed entirely new all-electric models. If these brands, loved by petrolheads, are embracing electric, the future is charging ahead.
5. Opel/Vauxhall is in austerity mode
It’s goodbye General Motors, and also goodbye Geneva for the Opel and Vauxhall brands, whose absence from the show was conspicuous. The Anglo-German brands that are now within the PSA Peugeot-Citroen weren’t at Geneva, though PSA hasn’t ruled out a return.
6. Diesel – it’s not dead yet
Ignore the soothsayers – diesel still has a future. That was in evidence with the new BMW X4 and the Ford Edge, which were both revealed with diesel-only powertrains, while Mercedes revealed its new ultra-economical C300de C-Class, moving plug-in hybrids in a diesel direction.
7. Jaguar is looking forward, not back
As a company that traded for years on the back of its heritage, Jaguar has reinvented itself as a technology leader. And the all-electric I-PACE is a clear example – a direct and striking rival to the Tesla Model S, the all-electric Jag can be fully charged in 45 minutes and has a 300-mile range.
8. Peugeot is looking back, not forward
Away from all the new technology, there are still some brands that are serving the more conventional sectors and Peugeot’s new 508 is a good example. The French brand’s mid-sized five-door hatchback does nothing radical, but there’s a mainstream market out there that’s currently underserviced, where it will be a welcome addition.
9. New niches are still there to be discovered
The electric executive performance grand touring coupe may be a) a mouthful and b) something you wouldn’t ever consider needing. But the Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo and BMW M8 Grand Coupe models both fulfil this previously undiscovered niche, and will no doubt find their fans.
10. The latest European Car of the Year is a Volvo
The Volvo XC40 was voted Europe’s favourite car by a panel of automotive journalists from across the region. It’s hardly surprising either – the Swedish SUV has its finger firmly on the pulse of the market, while the brand’s Care by Volvo package demonstrates an innovative new approach to car marketing.
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