GENEVA 2024 THE END OR A NEW START
In February 2020 the international Geneva show went through a terrible time – on the cusp of massive lockdowns, the organisers had to cancel the show – some stands were finished, some were half built and some were just a pile of boxes. Since then, the show has been held in Qatar, during 2023.
For the first time in four years the international show for automotive designers finally took off. Praise for BYD, MG Motor, Lucid, Renault, Dacia (also Renault) and a whole raft of support from owners of gloriously rare vehicles for making this a special event.
The Totem, for example, is a modern interpretation of a 1960s Alfa Romeo Giulia complete with bi-turbo V6 engine, rear wheel drive and 600 hp. This is not about absolutes but the way one gets there. Another example was Kimera 038 Evo, which followed 037 Evo and was based on Lancia Rally 037 – the prettiest Group B rally car. Of course, surrounding 038 Evo were eight Martini Racing rally and racing cars.
Upstairs there were plenty of exotic cars – including Bugatti type 41 Royales. Chassis No 41111, was commissioned in 1932 with a roadster body, but was re-bodied in 1939. Using parts of Royale chassis – only seven were built originally – a replica body from No 41111 in 1932 was built.
Dacia (Renault) Duster was revealed, with new 0.8 kWh MHEV and 1.2 kWh HEV powertrains. As we shall see, many manufacturers have reversed the BEV only route to 2030 due to market resistance and price cutting. BEV remains a consumer choice, not a government mandate.
A Renault 5 e-Tech electric world premier – the first car to use the new small Ampere platform – with 40 or 52 kWh batteries and front wheel drive, the platform will be used for the new Renault 4. There, on the stand was a sectioned battery showing distinctive battery cells made by BYD…
Over on the BYD stand there was the new pure electric Platform 3.0, was well as the hybrid drive platform. Also in attendance was the BYD brand YangWang, with the U8. It has four electric motors powered by a 49-kWh battery fed by a generator powered by a two-litre petrol engine. The system produces 1100 PS, can steer on motor torque alone, weighs 3.6 tonnes empty, can wade in one metre of water or 1.4m of water with a snorkel. It’s 5.3m long and 1.93m tall.
Not to be out done, Lucid pre-viewed the Gravity which is going on sale in 2025. It is a three-row SUV, 5 m long, 1.65 m tall, 1.99 m wide (without door mirrors) 800 PS BEV with 440-mile range. The length and width are truly shocking.
On the MG Motor stand was the new hybrid drive MG3, a vehicle poised to build on the impact of the first MG3 in the EU market. Alongside that there was the MG Motor brand ‘IM’, with two battery electric cars – the L6 and L7 – on show. These were joined by new-to-Europe MG7 and MG9.
Finally, a company that built hybrid drive systems for F1 has evolved to make the Beeway – an electric truck already configured for the time hydrogen becomes more viable. The big question – with so many manufacturers celebrating successful models originally launched at Geneva including Fiat and Ferrari, where were they? Maybe next time, perhaps?
Story by Andrew Marsh
