21st March 2019
We look back at this year’s Geneva Motor Show
The doors to the 89th Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) have now closed.
Between March 7th and 17th, some of the biggest car manufacturers in the world (and some fresh faces) came together to welcome more than 602,000 visitors to the world’s largest showcase of the newest, fastest and most high-tech prototypes and motors that will be landing on our roads in the not-so-distant future.
Here’s our roundup of the metal that mattered:
#1 Ginetta Akula
We’re kicking off our roundup with a carmaker that’s very close to our hearts – and home.
Yorkshire’s very own Ginetta kicked off their GIMS by unveiling their newest roadgoing supercar: the Akula. Boasting a V8 engine that can easily push 200mph, a carbon fibre chassis (and matching body panels) and ceramic brakes, the Akula is Ginetta’s biggest yet.
Plus, there will only be twenty units made, and Ginetta claims that 60% of them have already sold, making the Akula one of the most in-demand cars, before it’s even hit the production line.
#2 Koenigsegg Jesko
Next on our list is the Koenigsegg Jesko.
The Jesko, which was revealed at this year’s GIMS, is the successor to the Koenigsegg Agera. It’s a show-stopping feat of engineering that features a modified version of the Agera’s engine. Boasting a 5-litre twin-turbo V8, the Jesko runs on both regular unleaded petrol or E85 biofuel. With petrol, the car has 1262bhp, or a mighty 1578bhp with the biofuel alternative.
Koenigsegg has reserved the top performance figures for the car, but the company sold 83 units before the conference began – and sold out within 5 days of having the car on display. Not bad, for a car with a £3million price tag.
#3 Pininfarina Battista
The Battista was originally known by its production name – the PF0 hypercar.
The car is Pininfarina’s first road vehicle. It’s fully electric and powered by a Rimac-produced powertrain, and has a range of 280 miles per charge – meaning it truly fits its ‘hypercar’ status. The Battista can reach 62mph in under two seconds, and can reach 186mph from a standing start in less than twelve. The hypercar also has a top speed of over 217mph, 1874bhp and 1696lb ft of torque.
There’s no denying that the Battista will be a mean car when it eventually lands on the roads in early 2020 – and that’s if you’re lucky enough to see one of the 150 units made.
#4 Polestar 2
The Polestar 2 is (unsurprisingly) made by Polestar, Volvo’s sibling brand.
The 2 is a rival to Tesla’s Model 3 – like the Pininfarina Battista, it’s fully electric, and has a 311-mile range, with 402bhp and a sub-five-second sprint to 62mph. Polestar also claims that the 2 features the same “Clean Scandinavian design” as their siblings at Volvo, but they’re not bound to the same practical designs. Does this mean the Polestar 2 is only the beginning?
Production for the 2 is expected to begin next year, so only time will tell if Polestar is able to upstage their sensible siblings on the Scandinavian car manufacturing stage.
#5 Bugatti Voiture Noire
Image credit: Car magazine
We wrap up our list with the most exclusive car revealed at this years GIMS.
The Bugatti Voiture Noire is the only one of it’s kind, and will soon belong to one lucky car collector, providing they can match the £13million price tag. The hyper-coupe is based on the running gear of the Bugatti Chiron and flaunts 1480bhp and 1180lb ft of torque. That’s all we know about it, because Bugatti was very reluctant to give away more details.
The introduction of the Voiture Noire shows how supercar manufacturers are starting to create personalised vehicles that are tailored to satisfy the tastes of the most prolific and imaginative of car collectors – it’s just a shame that a car that looks this good is just going to be kept in someone’s garage.
Finally…
There’s no denying that this year’s Geneva Motor Show has shown off some of the best luxury hypercars that the top manufacturers have to offer – from Yorkshire’s own Ginetta to the one-off, select Voiture Noire. If nothing else, this year’s GIMS has definitely shown that the electric revolution is here to stay – here’s everything you need to know if you’re looking to make the switch to a non-combustion engine.