Editors' Picks -- 5 days ago
Words: Violet
The Geneva motor Show got off to an amazing start on March 6, with petro-pilgrims the world over flocking in their thousands for the chance to get up-close and personal with the latest automotive endeavours at the 84th Geneva Motor Show. So with things coming to a close this weekend we thought we’d fill you in on the definitive guide of what you should have seen…
AUDI, S1, As the smallest car in the Audi range, the A1 has been crying out for some S-attention since it was launched in 2010. Although the fearsome A1 Quattro satisfied a select few appetites in 2011, the production run was limited to 333 units meaning the masses were still hungry for a hot city nipper. Enter the 2.0-liter turbocharged, 228bhp Audi S1 which should give the Fiat 500 Abarth and Mini Cooper JCW something to think about when it’s launched in Spring 2014.
S3 Cabriolet, Just in time for summer, Audi has gone topless with the S3 offering the same 2.0-litre turbocharged engine as can be found in the S3 hatch. Priced at around £35,000, the S3 Cabriolet should be a winner for those wanting to feel the breeze in a comfortable and capable convertible.
ASTON MARTIN, V8 Vantage N430, Lacking in anything too radical to bring to the table at Geneva, Aston Martin has slapped on some race paint, shoehorned in 10bhp more, sprinkled some carbon fiber and shed some pounds off the V8 Vantage to bring you the V8 Vantage N430. Inspired by Aston’s Nurburgring 24-hours race success, the N430 is available in a variety of colour schemes and in Coupe or Roadster format.
KOENIGSEGG, One:1, The confusingly named Koenigsegg One:1 has been conjured up to compete with the likes of La Ferrari, the McLaren P1 and Porsche 918. Claiming the One:1 will reach a blistering top speed of 273mph (look out Hennessey), Koenigsegg are also keen to point out that this beast will develop 1329bhp which equates to one horsepower per kilogram, hence the name One:1. Boil it down, and that’s the motoring equivalent of attaching a chainsaw engine to a bag of sugar. Madness.
MCLAREN, 650S, We’re not playing spot the difference; it’s a new McLaren, honest! So zero points for creativity in the design department, McLaren has overhauled the 12C to create the 650S, which bridges the gap between the 12C and P1 hyper car. Already in production, the 650S promises to be more luxurious, powerful and purposeful than the 12C, with an asking price of £195,250 for the coupe and £215,250 for the folding hard-top.
MINI, Clubman Concept, Mini may have to rethink its brand name if its cars don’t start to slim down a little. The Clubman Concept is a substantial 262mm longer and sits 18mm higher than its predecessor. Nonetheless, it’s a step in the right direction looks wise with its sleeker and sportier profile. Expect the production version to not look too dissimilar when it goes on sale in late 2014.
MERCEDES, S-Class Coupe, Here’s one for those wanting limousine luxury with sports status. The S-Class Coupe is the successor to the CL and carries many of the features you’d find in the S-Class saloon. Of particular interest to the keen drivers out there, is the Magic Body Control System (N.B no witchcraft involved), which scans the road ahead for bumps and bends and adjusts the suspension accordingly to save any wear and tear on your derriere.
VW, GTE, A hot hatch with a soft heart; the VW Golf GTE is the tree-hugging sister of the petro-guzzling GTI and GTD we’ve come to know and love. With a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine, the GTE is supplemented with a 101bhp electric motor. Combined, both powerplant’s churn out a total of 201bhp and will reach 62mph in 7.6seconds. In electric (EV) mode, the GTE will achieve 188mpg and reach a top speed of 80mph.
T-ROC, The T-ROC concept would lead you to believe that VW has a soft-roader up its sleeve to rival the Nissan Juke and steal sales from the Range Rover Evoque. This is quite possibly a future consideration for the German auto giant. In the meantime, the T-ROC certainly hints at what’s in stock for the next generation of VW SUVs, namely the Tiguan and Touareg. Watch this space.
By Rory FH Smith
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