The Geneva Motorshow 2013 was all about bringing the best of cars from around the world under one roof. This year too, there were some fantastic cars lined up
Ferrari F150 LaFerrari
Ferrari revealed its new hypercar at the Geneva Motor show called the LaFerrari. Everyone wants to know the vital stats and performance figures first so here it goes – powered by a 789bhp 6.3 litre V12 along with a 160hp electric motor, the hybrid drivetrain produces a total of 949bhp, which provides performance figures of 0-100km/h in less than 3sec. If you thought that was amazing, it can do 0-200kmph in less than 7 seconds, and it tops out at a speed in excess of 350km/h. The most astonishing figure however is that the 0-300km/h mark is achieved by the car in a mere 15 seconds. Obviously there are comparisons being made between the LaFerrari, the Porsche 918 and the McLaren P1 as all three have adapted advanced technologies from their motorsport programs for these exotic street-legal sports cars. The LaFerrari though represents the pinnacle of Ferrari’s technology and such technology will filter down to other models in time. If you were wishing to own one though, you are out of luck as Ferrari says that production is limited to just 499 models while it has already received over 700 bookings for the car.
McLAREN P1
P1 is a transformation from concept to production car and McLaren has made every effort to not move away from the design showcased originally. We already knew that this mid-engined machine is built around a carbon fibre monocoque, while all the body panels are made with carbon fibre, as McLaren wants to keep the car as light as possible. The P1 gets an updated version of the engine that appears in the MP4-12C – the 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8. In addition to that, it gets an electric motor, which is mounted directly onto the underside of the V8. As a result the P1 sprints from 0-100km/h in less than 3 seconds, 0-200km/h in fewer than 7 seconds and 0-300 km/h takes just 17 seconds. The petrol engine, on its own, churns out 727bhp and 720Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a kinetic energy recovery system, KERS (which we get to see in F1 cars) that adds another 176bhp and 260Nm torque to the kitty. An Instant Power Assist System (IPAS) button on the steering wheel activates this 176bhp churning, 96kg electric motor, thus taking the tally of the combined output to 903bhp. With bits and pieces of F1, like the Drag Reduction System (DRS), make the P1 an exquisite piece of machinery.
And make no mistake, the P1 vs LaFerrari is going to be the most hotly anticipated contest of this year or even perhaps this decade.
Bentley Flying Spur
The company has done away with the ‘Continental’ badge for its four-door saloon and has also redesigned the car to give it a more ‘sporty’ and ‘athletic’ shape. The new roofline gives the car a sportier edge and the side windows add a more contemporary look. With a more upright front grille and LED headlamps, the Flying Spur is every bit a Bentley, but the difference is that the company claims it is the fastest, most powerful four-door saloon Bentley has ever produced. Under the hood, is the familiar twin turbocharged 6.0-litre, W12 engine, which is used in the Continental GT Speed. This 12-cylinder engine now produces 616bhp and close to 800Nm of torque. Mated to a new 8-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system, the Flying Spur sprints from 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 312km/h. On board it gets a central touch screen, which handles infotainment and also WiFi, and an eight-speaker audio system that rounds off the entertainment. Expect to see the Flying Spur being launched in India later this year.
RR Wraith
Rolls Royce showed off the new Wraith and as expected, there were no efforts spared to make it luxurious and brilliant. It is in fact RR’s most powerful car yet. How did they manage to do it? Well the Wraith gets an updated version of the Ghost’s 6.6-litre twin turbo V12, which now produces 624bhp and 800Nm torque. The eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox powers the rear wheels and takes it from 0-100km/h in a matter of 4.4 seconds. Speed apart, it still looks graceful with a sleek roofline and a shorter wheelbase compared to the RR Ghost, while featuring the luxury expected of a Rolls Royce product. It also comes with new technology like a Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT) technology that uses GPS mapping data to get help the gearbox select the correct gear ratio for the road ahead. It is in fact Rolls’ answer to the Bentley Continental GT, albeit in true Rolls Royce style, done up much more opulently and of course, costing a lot more money.
Lamborghini Veneno
Lamborghini wanted to make a car to celebrate its 50th anniversary. What started off as a car, ended up looking like a Viking or a being from another planet rather than a conventional car. But it does have some history. Lamborghini has named the car after one of the fastest and strongest fighting bulls ever, which was actually responsible for killing a matador. This Aventador-based hyper car gets the 6.5 litre V12 producing 750bhp, which tops out at 350 km/h. Lamborghini has gone patriotic with the Veneno as the three customer cars will each be finished in green, red or white (colours of the Italian flag). However, the most astonishing aspect of the car – other than the transformers style design – though is the price tag, which is close to $4.5 million, which sounds outrageous, but the fact of the matter is that all three cars slated for production have already been sold. Just goes to show what value Lamborghini commands as a brand, especially when it comes to a limited edition product.
VW XL1
The Volkswagen XL1 is the most fuel-efficient production car in the world according to the German manufacturer. With a fuel consumption of 0.9L/100 km, the XL1 has been designed using principles borrowed from sports car design. As a result it’s a two-seater, is lightweight at just 795kgs and the aerodynamics have been designed to make sure it has a slippery shape to achieve efficiency. Powered by a plug-in hybrid system consisting of a 1.0 litre, two-cylinder, TDI engine, which churns out 47bhp and a 20kW electric motor that produces 26bhp, the XL1 goes from a standstill to 100km/h in 12.7 seconds. Mated to a 7-speed dual clutch (DSG) gearbox, the XL1 boasts of a top speed of 160km/h, which is truly amazing considering its fuel economy figures. Thanks to its plug-in hybrid system, the two-seater can cover a distance of up to 50 km in all-electric mode with zero emissions. However, reports indicate that due to how expensive the XL1 one is to produce, only a very limited number of these cars would be manufactured and sold.
Golf GTI
Virtually identical to the concept, which we saw at the Paris Motor show, the Volkswagen Golf GTI has been revealed in Geneva in its production avatar. The GTI retains the sporty body kit with modified bumpers, a rear diffuser and a tailgate-mounted spoiler. With xenon headlamps, tinted taillights and a sport-tuned suspension, the GTI gives you a hint at what the two-door hatchback can be capable of. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine powering the car produces 220bhp and 350Nm of torque, which is a slight increase from figures of the last-gen car. This power enables it to accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 246 km/h. If case you think that 220bhp is not enough, you can opt for the performance package, which increases the engine’s output to 230bhp.
Touring Superleggera Disco Volante
The striking thing you are looking at is the production ready Touring Superleggera Disco Volante, and the company is in fact taking orders for it. The Italian coach builder – Touring – has confirmed that it will build 500 Disco Volantes and each will be tailored according to the demand of the individual buyers. Based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, it’s easy to spot where the Disco Volante gets its good looks from. Head of Design, Louis de Fabribeckers wanted to celebrate the myth of the 1952 style icon, referring to the original C52 Disco Volante, which graced the world’s motor shows morethan 60 years ago. And the results speak for themselves. The engine is a 4.7-liter V-8 with 443bhp, which drives the rear wheels via a six-speed automated manual gearbox with paddle shifters. Touring says that 0-100kph can be achieved in 4.2 seconds and it would have a top speed of 292 km/h making it a car that not only looks good but goes fast too. All the modifications carry a two-year warranty and maintenance and the car can be serviced at all dealerships that service the Alfa Romeo 8C.
Mercedes A45 AMG
It was not the usual ‘pulling the covers off’ launch for the Mercedes A45 AMG. Technically it made its debut in a video game recently, but now it’s here and there couldn’t be a better place than Geneva to unveil it. The A-Class in its latest avatar has looked pretty sporty and it was only time before Mercedes decided to stick the ‘AMG’ badge on it. But, it’s what’s under the hood that makes a world of a difference, as this is the first time AMG has fitted a four-cylinder engine on to one of their cars. The A45 AMG’s turbocharged petrol engin, produces 360bhp and a massive 450Nm of torque. This power helps the A45 to go from 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and the top speed is close to 250 km/h, making the A45 a proper pocket rocket. However, while the A-Class is indeed scheduled for launch in India later this year, the A45 is sadly not going to make it to India.
Renault Captur
Renault introduced the Captur, its first urban crossover, which impeccably manages to bring the three worlds – style and driving position of an SUV, cabin space of an MPV, and the agility of a compact saloon, together into one package. You might have guessed it by now, indeed, the Captur is a Crossover and the French car manufacturer has managed to pack in all of this into this beautiful looking car.
Based on the same platform as the new Clio, the purpose of the Captur, according to Renault, is to give the customer what they want and that is why it boasts of comfort refinements expected of an MPV, such as a high-up driving position, large boot, modular interior and innovative stowage solutions. The standard Renault Captur will up the ante with features like hands-free entry, hill start assist and rear parking sensors. It will also be available with the new, Renault R-Link touchscreen multimedia tablet, plus a system that comprises six loudspeakers, Bluetooth connectivity, audio-streaming and Arkamys hi-fi sound. However, chances of the Captur making it to our shores seem highly unlikely.
Koenigsegg Agera S Hundra
It’s been a decade that Koenigsegg has been part of the automotive fraternity. Its hypercars are world-renowned and there is no doubt about the performance of the cars that this Swedish car manufacturer produces. Koenigsegg’s workforce has grown from a handful of dedicated craftsmen and engineers, to over 50 full-time employees and more than hundred proud customers, and what better way to celebrate it, than to produce a special edition. The Koenigsegg Agera S Hundra is the result of all this celebration. Featuring a twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 engine, which churns out 1040bhp, this one-off commemorative edition gets 24-carat gold leaf inlays, creating an intriguing mix of traditional and hi-tech craftsmanship. A lot has transpired over the last decade as Koenigsegg has evolved from being a small and unknown car developer, to becoming a household name and now evolving as a very strong brand in the rarefied world of high-performance cars. And with cars like the Hundra, the company’s future looks to be in good hands.
Toyota FT 86 Convertible
The FT 86 Convertible was also unveiled for the first time at Geneva and is essentially an open back version of the famed GT86 sports coupe. The car was showcased at Geneva to see how the motoring world would respond to the concept, and whether or not it would be viable for the Japanese carmakers to put into production. Judging by the way it looks, we can only hope that it was received well and that Toyota would seriously consider producing this concept. The FT 86 uses the exact same platform and powertrain as the GT86. At its heart is the naturally aspirated, horizontally opposed 1,998cc four-cylinder “boxer” engine. Because of its slightly altered design the company has pinpointed numerous areas that will need further engineering evaluation to assess the impact of the cabriolet’s design on performance, vehicle rigidity, balance, weight and aerodynamics. Even if the concept doesn’t become a reality we still wish the company would launch the original GT86 on Indian shores.
Alfa 4C
The Italian car manufacturer, Alfa Romeo, unveiled the production version of the 4C two-seater coupe at Geneva. There hasn’t been much change from concept design to production for the car and that maybe one reason why the 4C had a charm of its own and no one could dare look it in the eye (the headlamps are seriously weird!), but it was nevertheless highly admired by all. Underneath the sleek looking sports car is a powerful and brand new 4-cylinder 1750cc turbo petrol engine that delivers more than 230bhp to the rear wheels.
The engine also features cutting-edge technical solutions including direct fuel injection, dual continuous variable valve timing, a turbocharger and a revolutionary scavenging control system that gets rid of any turbo lag. Mated to an innovative Alfa TCT automatic twin dry clutch transmission, the driver will also have the option to use shift paddles. With options like Dynamic, Natural, All Weather and Race modes, the 4C promises to be at par with the top driver’s cars in the world. Needless to say, with Sergio Marchionne’s aggressive plans for Alfa, this is one of the models the manufacturer is banking on to give it a resurgence in the global markets.
Porsche 911 GT3
Porsche unveiled its all-new fifth-generation 911 GT3, which will currently sit at the top of Porsche’s naturally aspirated 911 range till the GT3 RS comes along next year. The 911 GT3 gets a new 3.8 litre flat six engine (from the 911 Carrera S), but has its share of mechanical improvements. Most of the engine components have been upgraded with exotic materials such as the titanium connecting rods and forged pistons, which tremendously improves engine output. The number thus climbs from the last generation car’s 400bhp to 475bhp. All that power is sent to the rear wheels of the 911 GT3 via Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch transmission. For all those expecting a manual transmission, the GT3 doesn’t get one but that does not stop the 911 GT3 to go from 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds. It tops out at 313km/h and as Porsche put it, is capable of a seven and a half minute lap around the Nurburgring in Germany. In addition to all of this, a new active rear wheel steering system – the first ever fitted to a production Porsche – makes its way into the car. The rear steering system can move the back wheels in the same or opposite direction of the front wheels, which Porsche says improves both stability and agility.
For all the 911 track freaks out there, this presents probably the pinnacle of the 911 range, which offers outstanding performance on both road and track.
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