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Geneva Show preview

Given that Switzerland's contribution to the car industry is Rinspeed, a company which will be showing a sub-aquatic Lotus-Elise-alike at the Palexpo, it's surprising just how important the Geneva Motor Show has become. The Swiss event, the first of the year in Europe, always boasts a large amount of world exclusives, and as ranges continue to diversify and expand, this year looks like being busier than ever.

Small cars are big news

Downsizing, that seems to be one of the themes that are permeating the car industry at the moment. And small cars are big news at Geneva in 2008. Perhaps the most important small car reveal is Ford's new Fiesta. Ford has stuck with the Fiesta name for its venerable supermini contender, the new car looking like it'll be the overall star of the show. It promises to bring Ford's usual driving appeal, combined with a sharp new style and interior quality and space that are new to the Fiesta. If it looks half as good in the metal as it does in the pictures the new Fiesta is sure to continue, and build on, the tremendous success of its predecessors.

Ford isn't the only firm with a new small car on its stand. Vauxhall's Agila will be on show on the Opel stand, while its Suzuki twin, the rather oddly named Splash will also be on show. Also on the Opel stand will be a concept version of the new Vauxhall Meriva. GM's small car assault doesn't stop there either; there'll be a new three-door Chevrolet Aveo, the budget supermini expected to be in UK showrooms this summer.

There's real excitement over Toyota's new iQ city car, the three+one-seat machine all about miniaturisation, everything about it being small - including the fuel consumption and emissions. Fiat is showing the Abarth tuned 135bhp 500 at Geneva, the 500 not the only small car to get a sporting make-over in Switzerland, Renault also unveiling a Renaultsport version of its Twingo.

Not everything's small though

Small cars might make up a good number of the reveals at Geneva, but there are a few more generously proportioned machines under the lights at the Palexpo. Rolls-Royce's stand will feature its new Phantom Coupé, and we doubt anything else in the show's halls will have anywhere near the presence of this massive and gloriously indulgent machine.

It's not often you'll find Skoda following a Rolls-Royce, but the Czech firm is showing its new Superb at Geneva, and it could well be the thinking money's choice for a big, comfortable and discreet luxury machine. A novel touch is that the Superb is both a saloon and a hatchback, the boot's 'Twindoor' system allowing different levels of access depending on what you're putting into the capacious boot. Clever.

SUVs continue to appeal

Despite the media besmirching four-wheel drives, or SUVs as the manufacturers prefer to refer to them as, there'll be a number of new models to choose from at Geneva. Ford is late to the market with its Kuga offering, but first impressions look like the Blue Oval's contender has got it just right. It's a good looker for starters, Ford initially only offering it with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine that manages a best in class CO2 figure of 169g/km. Combined fuel consumption is quoted at 44.1mpg. Toyota is also showing a more environmentally conscious SUV, the Urban Cruiser claimed to be aimed at 'the market for urban all-road vehicles and meeting motorists' priorities for low fuel consumption and emissions.'

Volvo's XC60 debuts in the land of chocolate and watches too, the Swedish firm calling the XC its most 'stunning' and 'safest' model ever. The most stunning part is a matter of personal taste, but it's undoubtedly a safe machine, it debuting Volvo's City Safety, a system that will brake the car in urban traffic to avoid slow speed knocks due to lack of driver attention. Renault is also showing its new Koleos, Nissan a new Murano and Subaru its latest Forester - SUVs clearly not quite the dying niche some media outlets would have you believe.

Concepts galore

A motor show wouldn't be complete without concepts, and Geneva has more than its fair share. Hyundai is showing its HED-5, a six-seat machine that promises to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 29% by using existing technologies. It's touted as near production, too. Fellow Korean marque Kia is showing three 'Soul' concepts that aim to underline the fun side of the company, while the Japanese firms will be showing a number of interesting machines - Suzuki its Concept A-Star and Kizashi 1 and 2 concepts together for the first time. Mitsubishi has its near production ready Lancer hatchback in Prototype-S form, Mitsubishi also showing its i-EV (electric vehicle) i-Car again - signalling its intent to have it in showrooms soon.

Toyota is exhibiting its 1/x Plug in concept, unsurprisingly the environment being a big factor in the majority of concepts on show. BMW is showing its latest ideas with its Vision EfficientDynamics concept, an X5 that features a mild active hybrid system mated to a twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine and new eight-speed automatic transmission. It even features solar panels mounted in the roof. Honda will be showing its latest hybrids, every manufacturer's stand certain to have a concept in some shape or form that previews energy saving technology.

Ordinary production cars too

It's not just fanciful concepts that will be on show at Geneva; there are a good number of new cars that you'll be able to get your hands on in showrooms soon, too. Audi's A4 Avant is on show, as is Renault's new GT version of its Laguna; Peugeot is showing its new 308 SW (estate) and Subaru has its new diesel engines on display in its Legacy models. BMW is bringing its new 1 Series Convertible, some more specialist offerings being on offer from KTM and Alfa Romeo with the X-Bow and 8C Spider, respectively.

And a new brand

One of the most interesting new introductions at the show isn't an individual car, it's a new brand. Nissan's Infiniti luxury marque will be officially introduced in Western Europe - the toughest luxury market in the world. Already a success in the USA, Infiniti's launch will be spearheaded by the second generation of Infiniti's FX 'performance crossover'. It's not just the one car the brand will be launching with in Europe either, as joining the FX will be the G luxury saloon, G Coupé and EX coupé crossover, these available to buy from October. It all promises to be a hugely interesting show, and not just because of Rinspeed's bizarre sub-aquatic roadster...

Kyle Fortune

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