Thank you for your requests on these ideas, you’ll be glad to hear I’m interested. I’m tagging in the editor of S.A.M. and the general email for the auto show crew to keep them updated.
So what are we thinking here? Schedule an afternoon to go and do stuff basically? Start off with some lunch and then head out for some driving perhaps, the DSDR fans and EADC crew can all meet up with the cars and then we’ll take it from there.
I already have a day of driving some EADC rally cars booked for next week, so this will be a chance to drive some more of them and even give the fans a chance too. Either way, I’d be very interesting in doing some writing for this.
Regarding the photoshoots; I’m assuming you mean the ‘Tauga’ when you say ‘Toga’? While I’m keen to get a go in that, I don’t think its quite in the same league as the sports coupes we’ve seen released at the show so far, though I am very interested in doing a photoshoot with them if Miller, Grandea and Garou are too.
With the supermini’s and city cars, would that just involve the ones released at this years show or the ones currently availible on the market in general?
Maesima Motor Corporation introduces a refreshed Devina for the 2017 model year, offering updated styling with customer-focused technology and features. The Devina stands at the vanguard of our 2017 Geneva Auto Show exhibit. The refreshed features a more distinctive front fascia and all-new LED lights from and rear, 16" alloy wheels, Devina 's new look further enhances the vehicle’s signature styling. And when mated to a standard 1.4-liter Gasoline Direct Injection ActivBoost engine, the formula comes together to deliver a vehicle that both looks and feels compelling while also remarkably efficient. Devina’s acclaimed styling, crisp handling and spacious interior won’t break the bank either, as 2017 Devina pricing will start at just $14,300.
17:00 (5 PM), Airborne Automotive stand, Geneva Motor Show.
There are 4 car places occupied, standstill is not open yet. All the spectators are waiting for official opening of Airborne’s stand. At 17:20, it finally opens with classic S4 on stand, new Alphas: standard ones, that are coupe, sedan and estate named Gamma (except Alpha Estate name in Italy due to Lancia’s copyright reasons) and sports coupe named Alpha Clubman which is replacing legendary Synth Clubman after 21 years of Clubman name’s absence.
After ten minutes Airborne’s CEO walks on the scene, waves to everyone as he everytime does and begins speech:
Hello people! I guess you’ve went here because you want to see what we have to offer on this stand. Well, today we’ve got one classic beauty (points at S4), but I’ll tell you about it a little later. Now let’s get to the bomb of the show: Alpha Clubman! (clapping)
CEO: This specific car was initially scheduled to be launched with first generation of Alpha from 2014, but overall since the car was pretty moderate it wasn’t a good platform for the Clubman due to rigidity stuff and fact that the car couldn’t handle good engine at all. When we were designing second-gen Alpha we thought also about possibility to make sportier versions of it. And there we go, there’s the Clubman. Daily-drivable, can be regulated in many matters - don’t worry, if you get one you can adjust everything if it comes to suspension and aero, data shown here is data for default “preset”, let’s name it like that. Engine wise, we took our freshly-developed 3.4 litre direct injection V6 unit that was mounted in S340 C1 Concept first and gave it some power. Final dyno test shown that the car has 340 hp, that is 26 more than S340 C1’s engine. Now let’s go and compare it with it’s legendary precedessor: Synth Clubman from years 1991-1996. For first, Alpha has better fuel economy. For second, it’s more aerodynamic, for third: it’s better than ever. End. Let’s jump to standard Alphas.
Alpha ST Sedan. ST stands for standard - it has all normal interior, new 2 litre turbocharged economical engine. Just a car for corporations. Note that new Alpha sedan is actually bigger than outgoing model.
This is the Alpha Estate in Italy or Gamma anywhere else. Just a wagon version of the Alpha sedan, this car is more like family oriented. Same 2 liter engine and construction, just additional weight and space.
Alpha coupe for midlife crisis guys and fresh drivers who want to get at least some sporty feel from their car.
At the very end, 1981 Airborne S4. The unit we’ve brought was built in 12/1980 and it’s labelled as Test Car #7. It has unused wheel arch design for easier brake changing and better cooling, but along with some ideas this was scrapped. You can see that the car went here on Porsche Fuchs wheels. Hell, it even has some Porsche plates on the body! The reason is because S4 started as Airborne’s re-entrance into GT market after 1973 collapse and the company asked Porsche for cooperating again like they did with Mirage mass-produced model. But back to S4 - this car was built on unused body of 930 Carrera Flatnose, which wasn’t even presented to public and our construction actually was built in approx. 330 units before going out of scene in early 1983. The Airborne S4 has some luxury additions but it’s also pretty narrow and can be deadly in uxperienced hands. It can also scare people… (CEO looks somewhere else, laughs and shouts) Gavin, I’m looking at you! How was the journey? (laughs again) Okay, back to stuff that may interest you. It’s nothing new, so I’ll reminder: three liter V6 with Bosch mechanical injection generated 227 hp and that could launch the car to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds and S4 could reach 257 km/h. It was also the first and last rear-engined car of post-1973 Airborne. Stay tuned for reveals during next days and feel free to watch the expo! (drops the mic)
A new standard has been set in the premium supermini segment, with the brand new Evgenis Nemean which will offer new levels of customisation within one of the most upmarket packages. All this while following the motto "Premium. Standard."
DESIGN
The Nemean continues the trend recently offered on all recent models from the Evegnis lineup, including the lightning-bolt LED strip defining the lower section of the headlight cluster. This LED strip serves the dual purpose as our newly introduced sweeping indicator, to be featured as standard on all future models, and these indicators feature on the rear of the car as well. The prominent Evgenis badge, located in the centre of the grille remains, albeit a more circular design for this model. In true Evgenis fashion, we’ve kept the design clean and simple, without coming across as basic.
As mentioned previously, our main design focus was to offer a heavily customisable vehicle, key to this segment. Alloy wheels are fitted as standard across the range, with a multitude of design options being available from 15" to 18". Paint choices are all metallic as standard, something only normally offered on the most upmarket of vehicles, but this car can be customised in one of thousands of possibilities, thanks to the different choices of contrasting roof colour, and the introduction of our new Evgenis Custom Collection, where you can specify exactly what shade you would want your car in.
ENGINES
The Nemean is available with our full range of 1.2-litre petrol engines, ranging from 80 bhp to 120 bhp, with only the latter being available in North American markets, as well as the full range of the new 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged diesel engines, also ranging from 80 bhp to 120 bhp. Thanks to the car’s relatively low kerb weight, aided by the usage of aluminium in the construction, performance is brisk, with the 1.2T 120 being capable of covering the 0-100 kph sprint in under 9 seconds.
These engines are paired to a 6-speed manual as standard in all markets, with an optional, fine-tuned, 8-speed ZF autoamatic gearbox being available, unheard of in this category.
Of course, efficiency is key in this category, and we have worked hard to offer a competitive package in this area. The 1.2T 100 is capable of 5.2l/100km in mixed, real-world driving, 4.8l/100km on the highway at 120 kph and getting an incredible 3.7l/100 km on the European cycle. We are also proud to announce that the 1.5-litre diesel in its base form is the first diesel vehicle in its class to obtain a sub-3l/100km rating.
TECHNOLOGY
On-board technology has always been of the upmost important at Evgenis, and even the smallest of packages don’t go without our latest offerings. As standard, a 6.5" TouchPoint 2.0 touch-screen infotainment system is fitted, which can control almost all of the cars main fuctions, including audio, phone, navigation (if added), and climate controls, with an upgraded 9" TouchPoint Pro system being available with the addition of Apple Car Play and Android Auto as standard (optional on the 6.5" system). 4G connectivity is fitted as standard across the range, being free for the first 3 years of usage, and automatic emergency callout being available for free for life.
Safety technology is also important, particularly in small packages like these which will be used in more urban environments, meaning automatic emergency braking is fitted as standard, working at all speeds and against both other vehicles and pedestrians. The car can also detect inevitable collisions and prepare the cars safety features to deploy at optimal times.
INTERIOR
The customisation doesn’t end on the inside of the vehicle either, with there being multiple choices of seat designs, colours and upholstery, steering wheels, inserts and even surrounds for certain elements such as vents. The design is logical yet quirky, reflecting the youthful look of the exterior. This also means that, thanks to the infotainment system, the centre console can be cleaned up, with a minimum number of buttons, with only some audio controls and climate controls keeping a physical form.
Interior quality is something most manufacturers use heavy cost cutting measures on a car of this category, but we’ve made sure that all surfaces are nice to touch and the whole thing is put together in an incredibly solid way to prevent any unwanted creaks from surfacing.
DRIVING
Small cars must have enjoyable handling, and we have made sure that this is the case. The biggest gripe with most modern cars is the lack of steering feel, and with the Nemean we have made sure that we use as little electroncial assistance with the steering in order to maintain the most natural and responsive feel to it. Grip levels are exceptional, and thanks to the low weight we believe we have made a properly fun car to drive. This being said, we also want to make sure that the ride is comfortable, and thanks to the stiff structure we’ve been able to use a softer suspension setup without upsetting the handling. Adapative suspensions are available as an option, meaning even the driving dynamics are customisable.
Available in all markets in Summer/Autumn 2017.
UK pricing starting from £14,495
EU pricing starting from €14,995
US pricing starting from $15,495
Credit goes to @titleguy1 again for the awesome pic
######Credits to @titleguy1 for the photoshop
Powered by the same 2.0 inline 4 turbo engine found on the Quasar RS, producing the same 325 hp, which power all four-wheels via the same 7-speed twin-clutch gearbox, the Kilimanjaro RS is the car for those who need practicality, yet also want a fast car.
How fast? 0-100 in 5.3 seconds fast. Enough to get the kids sick in the morning, that’s for sure.
The RS comes with 19" wheels, designed to give extra kerb appeal, if not extra kerb proofing. The interior packs a 8.5" infotainment with satnav and bluetooth.
#Daily Round-Up - Press Day 2
Welcome back to Geneva where Press Day 2 has just finished. The weather has been gorgeous today, and that’s certainly lifted everyone’s spirits and made todays releases all the more better. We saw a clash of superminis and a new era begin for one company, plus much more.
Let’s get into the nit and gritty of today’s action!
A large group of journalists were gathered around the AL Autos booth in readiness for the morning’s first release, only to be slightly let down as it turned out they were just announcing their line-up for the show. Still, 12 cars are expected to be displayed by the company, as well as whole host of 'R’s…
Then came one of the most hotly anticipate releases of the show so far; Iurlaro debuted the new Teodora to excellent appraisal. The luxury Italian maker has been quiet for a while, but this is most certainly a return to form for the company. At first, we were a little split on the looks - chrome looks great, as does the muscular shape of the body, but the fixtures seemed a little lacking in flair. In saying that, they’ve grown on me throughout the day, seemingly conveying a subconcious aura of ‘presence’ which is exactly what you want from a car like this.
The real talking point, however, comes from the comfort. Oh my, the comfort. Iurlaro took us out on some test drives, insisting that we be the passenger, and I’m very glad I didn’t argue otherwise. The level of comfort this car exults is phenemonal, seemingly beyond belief. The suspension just absorbs bumps without you even noticing in the slightest. I had to look out of the window to confirm that we really were driving down a cobbled street as I thought the driver must be lying. This is an entirely new level of refinement that other companies will struggle to match.
Engine wise, a typical range of big luxury power units will be on offer, the 3.8l i6 in our test car certainly pulling this 2.5 ton giant with no issue whatsoever. The 7.2l V12 sounds particularly interesting, and we look forward to seeing how it stacks up against rivals like the sportier trims of the Zavir Squalo and Dimension Assyemtry 7.0 SSP.
EADC revealed the list of what to expect at their display, including the Weasel KIT which we’re excited about and a new SUV called the Sojourner. OAM followed suit, announcing improved versions of the Chevalier II and Traveler II that have been updated since we last saw them at Detroit. We can expect details of European trims of these cars too.
Galt gave us a glimpse at the new Riviera today, leaving the automotive press divided on what is a very new look indeed for the car. The family run-about now looks like its come straight out of Blade Runner, though it doesn’t get away from the odd retro-future styling that we aren’t too convinced by. In saying that, the pricing looks good, and for a car as advanced as this, $14k is very good indeed.
Miller followed up yesterday’s announcements with an exciting glimpse into the motorsporting side of the company. A new endurance racer called the MS R55 (we’re digging the name by the way) was debuted, powered by an 816hp 5.5l V8, built out of carbon fibre and decked in the latest in motorsport advancement. However, weirdly enough, they’ve yet to decide whether it will actually compete in anything, which seems like a hell of a lot of development for a one-off vehicle.
The upcoming Espada was teased by Zair as they joined the Taillights Bandwagon. More to follow.
At last, a little after lunchtime today, the new Hodan Rizun was revealed, having been previously teased in a couple of images. The cute looking mid-engined sports car concept is aiming to compete with the entry-level market, more likely the upper end of this segment thanks to its dinky little 220hp i3 that sits in the middle. All-round push rod suspension was a particularly neat feature to hear about; it’ll likely compromise on practicality, but this is 930kg insect of a car - that really isn’t the point. We’ll have a test drive for your very soon.
Saminda made their first announcment of the show in the form of the new Type R, their mid-range hot-hatch. This 310hp machine looks absolutely brilliant, and we can’t decide which angle we like best. 0-60 in 5.4 seconds puts it right into competition with the Baltazar Quasar 325, a comparison we’d love to see. As as we know, this car will sit just below the eagerly awaited C2000R on the Saminda range.
The facelifted Devina was revealed by Maesima today to wide acclaim. The smart supermini has been styled brilliantly, certainly adding a really unique looking car into this sector of the market, now sharper and more angular than its predecessor. Test drives will be coming soon, and we’ll be looking to see how this revised model does up against the current supermini crop.
Airborne revealed their brand new Alpha Clubman today, beginning a new era for the performance car maker. The abstract sports coupe is a lightweight, agility focused machine that just about manages to make its big rear wing look tasteful. It’s powered by the same 3.4l V6 from the S430 concept earlier this year. Shortly after, the base model Alpha was revealed, carrying the same abstract looks and apparently retaining a lot of the sportiness of its Clubman superior. Great economy, great comfort and slightly unnerving drivability, the Alpha is a sweet compact to drive, though we aren’t sure how it’ll stand up against more established rivals like the Saminda S3 and Maesima Prova.
Also on display was a company classic: the S4. The Porsche-derived sports car still looks just as great as it did back in 1981, and as you’ll see later, it’s still just as scary.
Then, a real stunner came in - Evgenis launched the new Nemean almost seemingly in response to Maesima earlier, proclaiming to be setting a new standard of premium compact motoring. There’s no denying it looks great; the small and detailed fixtures meld well with the subtle roundness of the body, and it has a great stance to it. A great choice of engines including a 1.5l turbo-diesel i3 are on offer, with an incredible 8 speed ZF Auto 'box as an option too - we’ll be keen to see how that goes on such a small car.
Excellent economy and a whole host of technology mean you’ll be certainly getting your money’s worth. They even offer adaptive suspension as an option. Prices look to be very much alongside that of the Devina, which quickly drew comparison from various journalists, and we’ll certainly be reporting back on how these cars stack up when we test drive them both.
The day ended with a release from Baltazar in the form of an RS tuned trim of the new Killimanjaro crossover. The handsome semi-off roader has been tuned well, packing the same 325hp 2.0l i4 turbo from the Quasar RS. It even manages to keep pace with it, with 0-60 dealt with in 5.3 seconds.
On the road, it retains the same good posture as the base model, dealing with its higher centre of gravity well, and is seriously comfortable. Handling is nice, though not as sharp as the Quasar RS, though that’s a tough comparison anyhow. For those wanting comfort and performance at this price range, though, it seems to be the perfect package. Yes, we’re actually praising a cross over. And no, the world isn’t ending.
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As part of the release of their new Alpha Clubman, Airborne organised a secret test-drive even for Gavin that saw him get just a little bit scared… And here’s a little soundtrack to go with it!
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That’s that for Press Day 2. We’re already seeing some great competition and some stunning new cars, and the show hasn’t even got fully underway yet! That all starts tomorrow when the doors open to the public. We’ll see you then, I’m off to search for a cheese and wine night I got tipped off about at lunchtime today. Ta-ta for now!
“I’m shitting myself. Mei is grinning like a child.”
Too bad that “Deja Vu” on casettes wasn’t a thing here.
Thanks for mentioning and this test review! This is definitely a good idea.
I think about hooking Gavin for third time if he will continue his journey as journalist. (lol buttery butter)
The day isn’t over just yet. The real fun starts now.
IMP/Monolith:
First of all, we’d like to celebrate the Monolith M-X winning the highly coveted “Automation SUV/Crossover of the Year 2016” award with a Limited Edition.
The M-X LE has every option on the price list as standard, and has a special multi-coat Aubergine colour as well as Nickel instead of Chrome exterior trim. All LE’s are equipped with IMPs universal weapon 3.4L Diesel and a 7-speed Manual transmission. 500 units will be built, but it will not cost more than a entry-level non-LE M-X 340D.
Monolith also shows off a new version of the GST (Grand Sport Truck) Ute, with the new 410hp 4.25L Diesel first seen in the IMP Opera.
It too has the new 7-speed manual transmission and can claim to be the fastest Diesel powered pick-up truck in the world, with a top speed of 306kph when fitted the optional aerodynamic bed cover. Without the cover, top speed is limited to 280kph. Naturally it also returns a fuel consumption of 7,3L/100km.
IMP also presents two different interpretations of a 400+hp performance car.
The Impakt S1 is the high-performance version of the standard Impakt Sedan. Today’s presentation features the S1 k, the Estate variant of the Impakt. The S1 is equipped with a 415hp version of IMPs venerable 3.8L RA-238 V8 engine, with the option of a 7-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission. Final performance figures will be released over the course of the year.
The GS 260R is the track-focused variant of the GS250. It uses a modern version of the very same 2.6L V6 that made the Impakt 260R a legend in 1990s Touring car racing. This newest version is the first to abandon the naturally aspirated formula in favor of a “Hot-Vee” Biturbo setup. It produces around 405hp coupled to the extremely lightweight carbon fibre GS body with a high-downforce aero package.
LaVache:
The only new addition to LaVache is the introduction of the Thundercracker X’s Turbo with 350hp from its 2.3L V6 coupled to the AWD system of the Cliffjumper.
AMCC:
AMCC has but two world premieres lined up for Geneva, but also some mouthwater for canadianophiles in form of the Hercules pick-up truck, here with the modern 3.8L Turbo V6.
One of the new models is the all-new Comet, with a sleek 4-door Combination Coupe body and engines ranging from the 3.8 V6 to a 5.7L V8 Turbo.
The Comet is expected to go on sale in late 2018.
The bigger reveal though was the equally new Hurricane X. It has been announced before that the Hurricane will feature a 4.8L Supercharged Flatplane V8, and now it’s been revealed that the engine makes 680hp, with AWD as standard and an 8-speed automatic transmission.
This newest Hurricane has been designed as an analog everyday supercar, without active aerodynamics or suspension. It does however feature a high pressure pneumatic lift system for increased ride height in supercar adverse conditions. The engine features two mapping for performance and economy. In ecnonomy mode allows average fuel consumption of just 7,58L/100km. The Hurricane X will start at €135.800.
Nuntius:
In time for it’s 15th anniversary Nuntius proudly reintroduces the 3.7L V8 in the european-spec Exedra after a 3-year absence due to the introduction of the Euro 6 Norm.
The direct-injected engine now produces 370hp, and like on previous Exedras comes with AWD and an automatic transmission as standard.
EADC would like to present our latest car, the Corsair CRX. Based on the chassis of the Corsair, the CRX is a street legal ‘race car’ version of the Corsair 1. With a CRX tuned version 7.1L V12 from the original concept, producing 808 HP. All this power of course is directed to the rear wheels through a 7 Gear DSG. So tune in later this week to learn more about this CRX, but for now, heres the specification sheet as a teaser
CEO: …featuring an AL’s 4.8 L Twin Turbo Flatplane V8 connected to a 7 Speed Sequential delivering 1025 HP to the rear wheels through an Electric LSD making this engine have the highest HP/L output we have ever gotten out of a car, 213.542 HP/L.
CEO: …featuring an AL 5 L Twin Turbo V12 connected to a 7 Speed Sequential delivering 944 HP to the rear wheels through an Electric LSD in a car that only weighs 2988.1 lbs/1355 kgs
CEO: …featuring an AL 7.7 L Twin Turbo Flatplane V8 (Forgot to correct the engine name in pic) connected to a 7 Speed Sequential delivering 973 HP to the rear wheels through an Electric LSD in a car that only weighs 3290.8 lbs/1492.7kgs
CEO: …featuring an AL 6.4 L Twin Turbo Flatplane V8 (Forgot to correct the engine name in pic) connected to a 7 Speed Sequential delivering 1177 HP to the rear wheels through an Electric LSD in a car that only weighs 3539.7 lbs/1605.6 kgs
CEO: Please feel free to check out all of our cars inside and out as they are unlocked. Please go to one of our associates on the floor if you have any questions. Thank you and have a wonderful rest of your time here at the 87th International Geneva Motor Show!
As the public doors are opened over at he DSD stand the Saratoga I and Turbo trims are rolled out onto display. Test drives are being offered over the last two days of the Motor show.
Pushing the limits of design and ideas, this is a look at what could happen to design. Nobu extends thoughts of the future, and beyond. Small, economical, powerful engines, in aerodynamic and light frames. Nobu is the start of that ideal. Nobu is the Unknown. Nobu is the Future.
Pegasus is the New American and European brand from Hodan. This is their first creation, the Ceres. Five models will be produced, Low-Range, Mid-Range, Mid-Range2, High-Range, and CeresRS. Today, the Mid-Range2 and CeresRS will be shown. The white model is the Mid-Range2, utilising a 2.7L V6 making 200hp, it allows the Mid-R2 to be able to run for long whiles on a full tank. Price is $33,000
The CeresRS is a pure monster. 600hp, 3L TTV6, Wider Stance, AWD, and Aero Bits. With a top speed above 300km/h, and a full suit of add-ons, this turbo lagging menace will be on sale for $60,000.
The S1 is equipped with a 415hp version of IMPs venerable 3.8L RA-238 V8 engine, with the option of a 7-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission. Final performance figures will be released over the course of the year.
