Geneva Motor Show Preview 2017: All the New cars

March 6, 2017
, Automotive

Anticipation builds ahead of Europe’s first major car show of the year. Here’s what’s coming

There’s less than a month to go until the Geneva Motor Show and manufacturers are beginning to tease information about the new metal coming to this year’s event. Europe’s first major motoring show of the year often sees top manufacturers unveil their most significant cars. Last year’s event saw the launch of the Chiron, Bugatti’s successor to the record-breaking Veyron, as well as the Centenario, another ultra-rare hypercar from Lamborghini. With more supercars and mass volume vehicles set to appear, here’s what to expect at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

Porsche’s Panamera Sport Turismo estate comes five years after the company revealed a concept car with the same name.The production version is almost identical to the concept, with the same body-width tail light cluster and quad-exhaust layout. However, small details, such as angular rear arches and taller roofline, separate the 2017 car from its 2012 predecessor.Owners can enjoy an extra 20-litres of space over the Panamera coupe, says Evo, which brings the overall boot space up to 520 litres. Dropping the rear seats will open up a cavernous 1,390 litres and also reveals the car’s floor rails.Orders are open now, with AutoExpress reporting prices start from £73,017

Range Rover Velar

Land Rover has taken the wraps of its mid-sized Range Rover Velar SUV ahead of Geneva, which is set to sit between the smaller Evoque and Range Rover Sport.It’sed after the Range Rover prototypes of the late 1960s and incorporates a radically different design to other cars in the line-up. The sloping rear roofline and muscular wheel arches give coupe-like proportions, while a long tail light cluster is used to emphasise the car’s width.The Range Rover Velar goes on sale in July, with prices starting at £44,830, making it around £15,000 more than the Evoque and £15,000 less than the Range Rover Sport.

Lamborghini Huracan Performante

Lamborghini will unveil a lightweight, hardcore version of its Huracan supercar with active aerodynamics. A teaser video showing the highly camouflaged car driving around the iconic Nurburgring circuit reveals it to have electronically operated winglets within the front splitter to limit the effect of drag. It also appears that a small flap in front of the rear wing channels air through the spoiler to reduce drag, helping the Huracan Performante reach a higher top speed. Other additions include a large, fixed rear spoiler and a multipiece rear diffuser. There’s also a twin-exhaust layout similar to the Huracan GT3 race car and a more angular design to the front splitter. There’s no word on pricing yet, but it is expected to “only be available in limited numbers”, says AutoExpress.

Italdesign Automobili Speciali Concept

Renowned Italian design house Italdesign has unveiled an ultra-exclusive supercar due to make its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show – but it has yet to announce the car’s name.It is the first entry in the design house’s new range, Automobili Speciali, and will be limited to just five units.There’s no word on whether the car shares any architecture with an existing supercar, but it features a 5.2-litre V10 engine that can do zero to 62mph in 3.2secs. Additionally, the all-carbon-fibre bodywork and aluminium modular chassis suggest it could weigh very little. Styling cues appear to have been taken from some of Lamborghini’s most hardcore models, with much of the side profile bearing a resemblance to the Aventador while the rear section seems to reference the multi-million-pound Centenario.AutoExpress says prices could be enter at “over £1 million”, with a substantial options list expected for buyers to customise their car. Production is set to begin at the end of the year.

Ferrari 812 Superfast

The long-rumoured successor to the Ferrari F12 has finally been announced, with the new 812 Superfast set to make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. It’s Ferrari’s most powerful front-engined car ever, boasting a monstrous 789bhp and 530lb-ft torque from its 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine. It can achieve a zero to 62mph time of just 2.9secs and go on to a top speed of 211mph. Not only has Ferrari injected more power into its flagship GT car, but the chassis of the Superfast has also been tweaked. The car features the second generation of the company’s virtual short wheelbase steering system, which turns the rear wheels when entering a corner for better handling. The bodywork has been designed to incorporate numerous aerodynamic devices, including small electric winglets on the front bumper and two air outlets at the rear that help generate more down force. Prices and delivery dates are expected to be announced when the car debuts at Geneva.

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