Car manufacturers see light as electric vehicles show way forward at Geneva
While luxury saloons and high-spec sports cars still turn heads, the move to hybrid and electric vehicles was very much on display at the motor shows.
Ford has announced details of a special Mustang, one which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Steve McQueen movie Bullitt which so helped make the car such an icon.
It features Ford’s 5.0-litre V8 engine enhanced to deliver an anticipated 464HP and 529 Nm of torque, introduces new rev-matching technology for seamless gear changes, and is offered with a choice of Shadow Black or classic Dark Highland Green exterior colours.
Special edition styling includes 19-inch Torq Thrust-style wheels, red Brembo brake callipers and a faux Bullitt fuel-filler cap.
The interior features Recaro sports seats, and each Mustang Bullitt will have an individually numbered plaque in place of the traditional Mustang emblem on the passenger-side dashboard. As a nod to the original car’s interior, the gear shifter features a white cue ball gearshift knob.
For their part, Jaguar/Land Rover also had a busy time with two ground-breaking models made their public
debuts on the JLR stand at Geneva.
The Jaguar I-PACE puts the legendary British brand at the forefront of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, while the Range Rover SV Coupé is the world’s first full-size luxury SUV coupé, from the originator of the luxury SUV sector.
Land Rover also revealed the world’s first full-size luxury SUV coupé: The limited-edition two-door Range Rover SV Coupé.
Made in Britain, SV Coupé is a dramatic and desirable addition to the Range Rover portfolio, combining a seductive body design and a supremely refined interior that sets new standards for materials and craftsmanship, with extensive personalisation options.
Seat used the Geneva Show to introduce the company’s new stand-alone brand Cupra and also the first car that will utilise the name — the Cupra Ateca.
Cupra is said to be a special brand designed to captivate car enthusiast with uniqueness, sophistication and performance. Cupra’s models will be as sporty and versatile as always, as fast on the track as they are comfortable and practical in day-to-day driving.
The Cupra Ateca is an SUV that signals the start of a new era and is the perfect car to launch the brand.
It is a unique model in its segment, until now only reserved for premium brands.
Highlights among the main optional extras include the Performance Pack, which includes 18” Brembo performance brakes in black, the Carbon Fibre Exterior Pack — rear spoiler and exterior mirror caps, the Carbon Fibre Interior Pack — a moulded carbon fibre dashboard, as well as leather seats.
The exclusive Cupra bucket seats will be available from mid-2019.
Renault introduced our vision of the future for shared mobility with Renault EZ-GO.
Built for the city and integrated within it, Renault EZ-GO is a car and a service. It’s consistent with the Renault Easy Life brand promise, providing an enjoyable and practical travelling experience.
It can be ordered through an application or through physical stations and it also has the comfort and privacy of an individual car while providing a hands-off, worry-free travel experience.
Renault say passengers can spend their travelling time reading, working, sleeping, etc and the company says it is also very affordable. As a shared service, Renault EZ-GO offers a highly competitive price/mile ratio.
The BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe was also on show in Switzerland.
The car, BMW says, illustrates the meaning behind the letter ‘M’ at BMW in impressive style: it stands for “more”, more of everything.
As well as dynamic excellence, the BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe embodies a new facet of luxury for the BMW brand — ultra-sporty, extrovert and polarising.
“The BMW Concept M8 Gran Coupe is designed to stir things up, to polarise — it should move you emotionally,” explains Domagoj Dukec, vice president design at BMW M and BMW i.
“With this car, we want to reach people who are looking for something special and who want to stand out from the crowd. Here, BMW M is unmistakably taking luxury out of its comfort zone.”
Bentley unveiled the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid. This is the first vehicle in Bentley’s family of cars to run on
hybrid power.
The 2019 Bentley Bentayga hybrid comes with a plug-in power dock made from sustainable materials and designed by the French designer and frequent Bentley customer Philippe Starck. It uses two power sources, a 3.0-litre V6 combustion engine and an electric motor.
The company made the first Bentayga in 2015 and has since produced more than 10,000 of them.
Aston Martin unveiled the new Lagonda Vision Concept, an all-electric saloon that heralds the revival of the special,
high-end Lagonda line that has been all but extinct for more than two decades.
“The Lagonda Vision Concept is our plan for the rebirth of a great brand,” says Andy Palmer, president and chief executive officer of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.
“It’s a new kind of luxury car from the first-ever, 100% battery-electric, luxury car brand.”
Palmer didn’t give many details about the new car, which, after all, is only a conceptual exercise, but he did say the Vision Concept will get 400 miles (650km) on one charge — enough to drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco in California in one sitting.
It will have self-driving capability and zero emissions.
