Our 7 Favorite Cars From The Geneva Auto Show

This year, the Geneva Motor Show continues its tradition as being the place where cars leap into the future. Located on ‘neutral’ territory in Switzerland, automakers from around the world gather to unveil the best-of-the-best, while mixing it with an eclectic bunch: Bugatti, Koenigsegg, and a reborn Spyker are there, as are various Chinese automakers, conventional econoboxes, and a new Renault MPV. We’ve previously discussed the reborn Alpine sports car marque, as well as the world-topping Bugatti Chiron.

For our purposes, however, we’ll skip around to the good stuff. Here are the new models that have us most excited.

Abarth 124 Spider

Remember when Mazda made the turbocharged Mazdaspeed MX-5 and it set the world alight? No? Well, with the addition of a more powerful engine over the standard Fiat 124 Spider, the Abarth 124 Spider is tuned to 170 horsepower, with that figure pushing just 2,335 lbs. That’s about an average-sized passenger heavier than the Alfa Romeo 4C.

Those two cousins won’t even be competitors on-track—Abarth has already announced that the 124 Spider will be taken rallying, just like the original.

Aston Martin DB11

This is Aston Martin’s latest, and it is awesome. Replacing the DB9, the DB11 is packed with a 5.2-litre V12 engine, fed by two turbos, and will send you to the horizon on the back of 600 horsepower.

In my estimation, this is exactly the kind of car Aston Martin needed to send itself into the future; indeed, it’s the first in a long line of vehicles to be developed using techniques pioneered on this car. Its eight-speed automatic transmission may (now) seem conventional, and 3.9 seconds to 60 mph is fast, but the most impressive aspects of this car deal with its aerodynamics-shaped skin and its advanced construction. The line forms at the end of this year, be sure to bring about $212,000 Usd.

Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

Chevrolet keeps making the Corvette faster thanks to better materials. Think of this latest version of the car not as a boulevard cruiser, but as a Porsche 911-stomping track toy. Chevrolet uprated its brakes, suspension, rear differential, and will add—at additional cost—ceramic brakes and a set of the lauded Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Cup tires.

The version showed at Geneva is the “Grand Sport Collector Edition”—complete with an interior colored like a pool noodle. Yes, you can order the Grand Sport with a more sedate palette.

Lamborghini Centenario

Has anyone else noticed that a large part of Lamborghini’s business is simply selling the concept cars it makes? Twenty Centenario Coupés and 20 Centenario Roadsters will be built, they were priced at about $1.9 million Usd. but—as things would have it—the car is sold out.

What are you missing? A full carbon fibre monocoque and body, 770 horsepower V12 engine, zero-to-62 mph in 2.8 seconds, a top speed above 217 mph, and styling more insane than even a Countach’s.

Morgan EV3

It’s such a cool car that we’ve written a more in-depth piece on it. Priced like the gasoline Morgan 3-Wheeler, it must be the ultimate fair-weather urban runabout, no?

Opel GT Concept

This could be the future of small, rear-drive sports cars from General Motors, but even though it’s beautiful to behold, sized well, and punchy even with a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine, don’t expect it anytime soon at your local Chevrolet dealer. Shame, we’d love a reborn Monza.

Porsche 911 R

This is the lightest Porsche 911 you can buy at 3,030 lbs, though the car is apparently sold out. Cherry-picking the best parts from its catalogue to build the ultimate road-going 911 for enthusiasts, from the tail you’re looking at a 493 horsepower 4.0-litre flat-six, mechanical rear differential, ceramic brakes as standard, and a fully-trimmed interior that mixes plaid cloth sport seats with carbon fibre trim.

It may look like a normal Carrera, but it’ll do 200 mph. My advice is to order one in silver or beige, have them save the stripes for someone else, and see how long it takes people to notice that—yes—it is one of just 991 911 Rs built. What do you think?