Geneva Motor Demonstrate 2017: the best cars, supercars and tech
T he 2nd day of the two thousand seventeen Geneva Motor Demonstrate has been almost as interesting as the very first. While many of the main events took place yesterday, we’ve spent more time in the enormous halls of Palexpo before doors open to the general public tomorrow.
For our coverage of yesterday’s activity packed day of launches, surprises, exposes and revelations, click here.
What we love. The Lamborghini Huracan Performante
We (and the rest of the motoring press) have covered the Ferrari eight hundred twelve Superfast at length, but have paid nowhere near as much attention to another Italian supercar in Geneva this week: the Lamborghini Huracan Performante. It’s now more powerful and lighter – 631bhp and a dry kerb weight of under 1.Two tonnes should make it an entertaining drive.
W hat’s more, it comes with a clever aerodynamic system that can vary the amount of downforce that the spoiler gives to each rear wheel. This is the kind of demented wizardry we love Lambo for.
Love swift cars? What about this McLaren 720S.
I t produces 0-62mph in Two.9 seconds and a top speed of more than three times the UK motorway limit. Yours for £208,600.
Wacky racer – the Morgan EV3
At the risk of sounding competitive, Britain won the Geneva Motor Showcase yesterday. We’ve already covered the epic Aston Martin Valkyrie, the eminently desirable Range Rover Velar, and the soon-to-be-legendary McLaren 720S. But there’s a much smaller UK manufacturer making flaps at Geneva, a plucky underdog known for its commitment to tradition and commensurate waiting lists: Morgan.
T he lil’ Malvern-based rock hard reintroduced its 3-Wheeler at the two thousand eleven Geneva Motor Showcase, almost sixty years since it stopped building the original. This year, it’s brought an all-electric version, one of Andrew English’s favourite cars of the two thousand seventeen display. There’ve been some development setbacks, but we’re optimistic about this one.
Coolest tech – DS seven SUV
T he DS seven Crossback made its debut at the Geneva motor display. It’s another large SUV – but it’s more than that, as DS says, it introduces a superb dollop (paraphrasing) of French couture and savoir faire to the genrre.
Not least of its features are the amazing LED headlights. Three pyramid-shaped LED units, with their jewelled backs facing you, glow purple then spin one hundred eighty degrees to face outwards when you unlock the car. The three units can rotate up and down as well as side to side. There are five modes, including one for motorway driving, which extends the reach of the slat. After dark, a fourth, cornering light comes into play.
Inwards, there’s amazing attention to detail. There is the usual premium choices of leathers, metals and wood finishes, but with a peculiarly French flavour – the colours are purples, reds and golds, the leather has an optional patina finish, the stitching is dots rather than dashes (they call it “pearl”). Petite details, but they stand out against the competition.
T he fully loaded “La Premiere” launch edition of the DS seven Crossback will cost from about £40,000 to £45,000 – subject to Brexit-related currency fluctuations. The regular range is expected to begin from about £30,000 when it emerges in UK showrooms early in 2018.
Best drop-top – the Mercedes-Benz E-class cabriolet
When Mercedes launches a fresh E-class, the world takes notice. There’s something about this indefatigable workhorse that makes it a perennial favourite with cabbies all over the world, many of whom consider a six-figure ODO reading “almost fresh”. The vanilla E-class won UK Car of the Year at the end of February, a decision we’re in stiff agreement with – we’ve driven the saloon, the estate, the four-wheel-drive estate, and the high-performance E63, and we reckon they’re all excellent.
T he newest addition to this range is the E-class Cabriolet. A convertible E-class might seem like a slight contradiction in terms these days, as the model becomes more wafty and comfort-orientated, but the car we spotted at Geneva looks like a sensational way to travel.
Our overall favourite – Alpine A110
Y ou’d be forgiven for not knowing who, or what, Alpine is. The French manufacturer hasn’t built a car in over twenty years, and apart from occasional motor demonstrate outings under the Renault banner, the brand has been largely gathering dust. Now, however, Renault has ultimately given it something to do.
T he Alpine A110 is a puny, pretty, mid-engined sports car. Expected to cost around £50,000 when it goes on sale at the begin of next year, the A110 is one car that the Telegraph Cars team unanimously want. It has a claimed 0-62mph time of Four.Five seconds and a (limited) top speed of 155mph, which means it’ll mainly rival the Porsche seven hundred eighteen Cayman S, while at the same time bothering Lotus, some top spec Audi TTs and the gorgeous-but-flawed Alfa Romeo 4C.
For more details, check out our Alpine A110 gallery. We despairingly want this car to be good.
For all the latest news, advice and reviews from Telegraph Cars, sign up to our weekly newsletter by injecting your email here
Geneva Motor Showcase 2017: the best cars, supercars and tech
Geneva Motor Showcase 2017: the best cars, supercars and tech
T he 2nd day of the two thousand seventeen Geneva Motor Showcase has been almost as interesting as the very first. While many of the main events took place yesterday, we’ve spent more time in the enormous halls of Palexpo before doors open to the general public tomorrow.
For our coverage of yesterday’s activity packed day of launches, surprises, exposes and revelations, click here.
What we love. The Lamborghini Huracan Performante
We (and the rest of the motoring press) have covered the Ferrari eight hundred twelve Superfast at length, but have paid nowhere near as much attention to another Italian supercar in Geneva this week: the Lamborghini Huracan Performante. It’s now more powerful and lighter – 631bhp and a dry kerb weight of under 1.Two tonnes should make it an entertaining drive.
W hat’s more, it comes with a clever aerodynamic system that can vary the amount of downforce that the spoiler gives to each rear wheel. This is the kind of demented wizardry we love Lambo for.
Love prompt cars? What about this McLaren 720S.
I t produces 0-62mph in Two.9 seconds and a top speed of more than three times the UK motorway limit. Yours for £208,600.
Wacky racer – the Morgan EV3
At the risk of sounding competitive, Britain won the Geneva Motor Display yesterday. We’ve already covered the epic Aston Martin Valkyrie, the eminently desirable Range Rover Velar, and the soon-to-be-legendary McLaren 720S. But there’s a much smaller UK manufacturer making swings at Geneva, a plucky underdog known for its commitment to tradition and commensurate waiting lists: Morgan.
T he lil’ Malvern-based stiff reintroduced its 3-Wheeler at the two thousand eleven Geneva Motor Display, almost sixty years since it stopped building the original. This year, it’s brought an all-electric version, one of Andrew English’s favourite cars of the two thousand seventeen demonstrate. There’ve been some development setbacks, but we’re optimistic about this one.
Coolest tech – DS seven SUV
T he DS seven Crossback made its debut at the Geneva motor display. It’s another large SUV – but it’s more than that, as DS says, it introduces a good dollop (paraphrasing) of French couture and savoir faire to the genrre.
Not least of its features are the amazing LED headlights. Three pyramid-shaped LED units, with their jewelled backs facing you, glow purple then spin one hundred eighty degrees to face outwards when you unlock the car. The three units can rotate up and down as well as side to side. There are five modes, including one for motorway driving, which extends the reach of the plank. After dark, a fourth, cornering light comes into play.
Inwards, there’s amazing attention to detail. There is the usual premium choices of leathers, metals and wood finishes, but with a peculiarly French flavour – the colours are purples, reds and golds, the leather has an optional patina finish, the stitching is dots rather than dashes (they call it “pearl”). Petite details, but they stand out against the competition.
T he fully loaded “La Premiere” launch edition of the DS seven Crossback will cost from about £40,000 to £45,000 – subject to Brexit-related currency fluctuations. The regular range is expected to commence from about £30,000 when it shows up in UK showrooms early in 2018.
Best drop-top – the Mercedes-Benz E-class cabriolet
When Mercedes launches a fresh E-class, the world takes notice. There’s something about this indefatigable workhorse that makes it a perennial favourite with cabbies all over the world, many of whom consider a six-figure ODO reading “almost fresh”. The vanilla E-class won UK Car of the Year at the end of February, a decision we’re in rock hard agreement with – we’ve driven the saloon, the estate, the four-wheel-drive estate, and the high-performance E63, and we reckon they’re all excellent.
T he newest addition to this range is the E-class Cabriolet. A convertible E-class might seem like a slight contradiction in terms these days, as the model becomes more wafty and comfort-orientated, but the car we witnessed at Geneva looks like a sensational way to travel.
Our overall favourite – Alpine A110
Y ou’d be forgiven for not knowing who, or what, Alpine is. The French manufacturer hasn’t built a car in over twenty years, and apart from occasional motor display outings under the Renault banner, the brand has been largely gathering dust. Now, however, Renault has eventually given it something to do.
T he Alpine A110 is a petite, pretty, mid-engined sports car. Expected to cost around £50,000 when it goes on sale at the begin of next year, the A110 is one car that the Telegraph Cars team unanimously want. It has a claimed 0-62mph time of Four.Five seconds and a (limited) top speed of 155mph, which means it’ll mainly rival the Porsche seven hundred eighteen Cayman S, while at the same time bothering Lotus, some top spec Audi TTs and the gorgeous-but-flawed Alfa Romeo 4C.
For more details, check out our Alpine A110 gallery. We despairingly want this car to be good.
For all the latest news, advice and reviews from Telegraph Cars, sign up to our weekly newsletter by coming in your email here