Geneva Motor Show preview: Cars that will have your heart pumping

The Geneva Motor Show is the galumphing ground for European manufacturers to display their upcoming models and concepts. Most manufacturers launch new models in their range at the Geneva Motor Show and it gives consumers an insight into what they can expect in the auto industry. Prior to the show manufacturers releases teasers of their upcoming models to ensure maximum traction, aiming to make their teaser campaigns go viral. While some teasers have us at the edge of our seats, some have us lining the manufacturers with our checkbooks. This year around the Geneva Motor Show is brewing a lot of anticipation from auto manufacturers as they plan to launch some path breaking vehicles. Though we cannot cover all the new launches and concepts at the Geneva Motor Show, we’ll list down a few which will definitely grab your attention for all the right reasons. It wouldn’t be wrong to call them the show stoppers of the Geneva Motor Show. 

Ferrari 488 GTB

Unveiled last week, the Ferrari 488 GTB is the successor to the immensely popular Ferrari 458 Italia. Though the GTB sports a smaller 3.9 litre V8 engine, it packs a humongous power punch of 660 bhp with a torque of 760Nm. The Ferrari 488 GTB is the second mid-rear V8 engine car in the line-up after the 308 GTB, which was launched 40 years ago. This new baby in the prancing horse’s stable is smaller than its big brother in size, weighs less, borrows fragments from the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta and gives a performance better than its predecessor. The Ferrari 488 GTB will compete directly with the McLaren 675LT. Read More:

Aston Martin Vantage GT3 

Aston Martin says the Vantage GT3 is the most ‘extreme’ Vantage ever. Housed with a 5.9 litre V12 engine borrowed from the Vantage S, it is expected that the Vantage GT3 will dish out a power of around 600bhp. The Vantage GT3 will weigh around 100kgs less than its big brother thereby taking its power to weight ration from 339bhp per tonne to 383bhp per tonne, placing it leagues ahead of the Porsche 911 GT3 and on par with the Ferrari 458 Italia. Inspired by the GT racing series, the Vantage GT3 is designed for both road and track use. Read More:

McLaren P1 GTR

The McLaren P1 GTR is the fastest and most aggressive car from the McLaren stable. McLaren first released a teaser displaying just the rear which has a huge spoiler to keep the down force - hinting at the aggression the car imbibes. The GTR variant is based on the McLaren P1 and comes with a host of weight saving and track optimization features that make it stand apart; and take note, this is a track-only car, as most of its specification are too fast for road going car norms! It houses a V8 twin-turbo engine along with an electric motor, and combined the car delivers an output of 968bhp almost equivalent to the first Veyron Bugatti. The P1 GTR will be in the same league as the Ferrari XXX.

McLaren 675 LT 

McLaren describes the 675 LT as the quickest and lightest model in its Super series range. The 675LT pays homage to the iconic 'Long Tail' F1 GTR, which raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance event in 1997. LT refers to Long Tail air brake system, while 675 is the power produced by the 3.8 litre V8 tin turbocharged engine the car houses.  It is reported that the McLaren 675 LT will weight around 100 kgs lighter than the 650S. This car will compete with the Ferrari 458 Italia and going by the teaser definitely has a sweet exhaust note. Read More:

Lamborghini Aventador SV

As if having the Aventador wasn’t enough that Lamborghini decided to make a Super Veloche aka SV aka Super fast version of the Aventador. The new Aventador SV has been spotted testing in Europe and from the looks of it, it is a meaner version of its sibling. The aerodynamics of the SV have changed and what catches your attention is the full width rear wing, widened air-intakes with the rear looking less like a bumper and more like a grille. The Aventador’s 6.5 litre V12 engine currently makes 691bhp and 688Nm of torque, so we can assume the SV version  will deliver figures more than these. The Lamborghini Aventador SV will compete with Ferrari’s F12 Berlinetta and the McLaren 675LT. Read More:

The Flying Huntsman 105 Longnose

The Range Rover Defender is an iconic car and UK based Kahn design has furthermore increased the desirability appeal of this iconic machine by bringing in the ‘Flying Huntsman 105 Longnose’. This model is powered by a 6.3 litre GM LS3 V8 engine that dishes out power between 400 – 450 bhp and comes mated to a six-speed push button automatic transmission. The chassis of the Defender has been stretched by 400mm to accommodate the new powertrain. Besides the chassis, the suspension and braking systems have also been upgraded to allow better handling of the increased power. The designation 105 refers to the increased wheelbase.

Ford Focus RS

This third generation hatchback gets even better with a heart pumping output of 316 bhp from its 2.3 litre Ecoboost engine which will deliver power to all the wheels. The so-called All-Wheel-Drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring system is by far the most significant mechanical upgrade for the RS over other Focuses, including the ST. The Ford Focus is one of the most popular hatchback in the European and American market and this car’s popularity keeps increasing as it is the car Ken Block makes his Gymkhana videos with and rallies with. Read More: 

Honda Civic Type R

The Civic Type R will be the star attraction at the Geneva Motor Show. The Type R is the highest performance Civic by Honda and will comes with a 2.0 litre engine that will deliver at least 276bhp. The looks of the car are as aggressive as the performance numbers it is aiming for; Honda has boldly stated that they aim for the new Civic Type R to become the fastest front-wheel-drive production vehicle to lap the Nurburgring.
 
A few months ago Honda released a teaser ad for the Civic Type R that went viral in the digital media space. Read More:

Porsche Cayman GT4

The Porsche Cayman GT4 is developed by Porsche’s motorsport division and comes with a larger engine borrowed from the 911 Carrerra S hooked to a manual gearbox. It features a 3.8 litre flat six engine that produces 380bhp of power and 420Nm of torque. It has as many GT parts as possible - The front axle and suspension are borrowed from the 911 GT3 along with the dampers. Read More:

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Touted as one of the best track machines the new 911 GT3 RS will be among the first to be powered by a new generation of flat six engines. These will now be turbocharged instead of being naturally aspirated. Porsche product boss Wolfgang Hatz said the new GT3 RS will be even more aggressive and extreme than its predecessor with power figures in the range of 500 bhp. Porsche’s computer simulations indicate the GT3 RS will be capable of lapping the Nurburgring Nordschleife in comfortably less than 7min 20sec. The current GT3 has been timed at 7min 25sec.