Geneva Motor Show 2020: the cars we would have seen
The 2020 Geneva Motor Show was called off due to Coronavirus but there were still lots of cars to reveal...
The 2020 Geneva Motor Show was cancelled due to the burgeoning Coronavirus outbreak. While the show was cancelled, however, new car launches still went ahead. Here are the highlights.
The world’s leading car brands still had to get their new designs and technology out into the public domain and they chose a variety of methods to do this from live streamed ‘virtual reveals’ to the old e-mailed press release.
• Best cars of the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
Below we’ve collate all the info, pictures and video and round-up all of the key cars of the Geneva Motor Show that never was. Click the links and head off to our individual story pages to get all the details of the new models in full.
The key car reveals
Click the links to read more about the biggest car reveals...
- Audi A3 - The all-new Audi A3 premium hatch arrives.
- BMW i4 - A look at the big-grilled future of BMW's i EV range.
- SEAT Leon - The all-new SEAT sister car to the Golf and A3.
- Hyundai i20 - Hyundai's latest supermini takes on a sportier look.
- Volkswagen Golf GTI - The Mk8 version of the famous hot hatchback.
- Toyota Yaris SUV - The new Yaris supermini is out and now it's got an SUV version.
- Fiat 500 electric - The all-new Fiat 500 is electric but still cute and retro.
- Volkswagen ID. 4 - VW's ID electric range grows with this SUV.
- Porsche 911 Turbo - The Turbo S supercar is here in coupe and Cabriolet form.
- McLaren 765LT - Another 'Long Tail' McLaren, lighter and faster than ever.
- Mercedes GLA - The new A-Class based compact SUV model.
- Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA - An even hotter version of the Giulia Quadrifoglio.
Manufacturers A to Z
Scroll down to find out what all the big manufacturers have been up to at the motor show that never was...
AIWAYS
The Chinese startup manufacturer, AIWAYS, was hoping to debut three cars at Geneva, however due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, it had planned to debut the U6ion electric crossover coupe concept "via alternative means".
The U5 will act as a budget alternative to the Mercedes EQC and the Audi e-Tron. AIWAYS claims it’ll have a maximum range of 285 miles, and sport respective power and torque figures of 185bhp and 315Nm.
AIWAYS’ third car, the Gumpert Nathalie, was also due to be at the show. The Nathalie is the world’s first methanol-electric hypercar. Designed and built collaboratively with the engineer responsible for the Gumpert Apollo, the Nathalie develops 793bhp – which gives it 0–60mph time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 190mph.
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo has given its Giulia Quadrifoglio super saloon an extreme makeover, resulting in the more aggressively styled and more powerful GTA. There's a GTAm version which forgoes the rear seats for a roll cage and adds a gigantic rear spoiler. Both models come with the Quadrifoglio’s engine - a 2.9-litre bi-turbo V6, but power has increased from 503bhp to 533bhp. There's also a new exhaust system from Akrapovic to shout about the extra power. Coupled with a carbon-fibre crash diet, Alfa Romeo say the GTA will sprint from 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds.
Aston Martin
Aston chopped the roof off of its Porsche 911 rival with gorgeous results. Powered by the same Mercedes-AMG-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 as the coupé, the Roadster is only two tenths slower to 62mph and only weighs 60kg more.
Alongside the Vantage Roadster, there was a digital reveal for the Aston Martin DBX Q, a bespoke version of the luxury SUV. The heavily-customised DBX showcases Aston's "darker side" thanks to its Q division arm of personalisation. The DBX Q is designed to highlight the 'rule-breaking customisation' achievable on future Aston models.
The latest manufacturer to join the windscreen-less hypercar genre, Aston Martin revealed the V12 Speedster - featuring a 690bhp 5.2-litre V12 from the DBS Superleggera and Vantage looks. At £765,000 and 88 examples to be made, exclusivity is assured.
Audi
Hot on the heels of the Mk8 Volkswagen Golf and SEAT Leon comes the new, fourth-generation Audi A3. The car has undergone a minor cosmetic overhaul with a pair of slimmer LED headlamps and a new grille design. It will be sold as a five-door Sportback model only and will feature a range of new mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
BAC
BAC revealed its new second-generation Mono with production starting in summer 2021. The ultra-lightweight track car has a 2.3-litre four-cylinder Ford petrol engine, which develops 332bhp and 400Nm of torque.
Bentley
A new production car from Bentley's bespoke customisation arm, Mulliner, was due to debut at Geneva this year. The Bacalar will be built in very limited numbers and will become a new halo model for the brand. Inspiration has been taken from the EXP 100 GT concept from last summer, although the Bacalar is powered by a 650bhp W12 rather than electric power.
The Bacalar wasn't the only model that Bentley's bespoke arm was aiming to showcase. The Continental GT Mulliner Convertible is an exclusive drop-top offering the same levels of detail and attention shown to every other Mulliner creation, including diamond-patterned seats with 712 individual stitches in each.
BMW
BMW wanted to showcase the next car in the electric-only 'i' brand at Geneva. The i4 will be a Tesla Model 3 rivalling saloon capable of a 370-mile range with over 500bhp available. BMW has confirmed the i4 will be in showrooms in 2021 and this is our first look at a production-ready version of the car rather than a concept version.
Cupra
Having shown a concept at last year's Geneva Motor Show, Cupra has unveiled a production-ready version of the Formentor performance SUV. The concept already resembled a production car, albeit with a few extrovert touches here and there, so not much has changed visually but we now know there's a choice of plug-in hybrid or conventional petrol powertrains with up to 306bhp.
Alongside the Cupra Formentor, the Cupra Leon was due to make its public debut as well. With the same 306bhp petrol and a 242bhp plug-in hybrid power options as the Formentor, the Leon will be competing with the Ford Focus ST and the new Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Czinger
American firm Czinger had its 21C hypercar lined up for Geneva. With a 1+1 seating layout, hybrid powertrain and 3D printed body panels, it will be the latest in a long line of new era hypercars including the all-electric Lotus Evija and the Pininfarina Battista.
Dacia
Dacia revealed its first ever electric car. The Spring Electric is a budget EV model with a 124-mile range. It's basically a rebadged version of the Renault K-ZE that's currently available in China.
DS
Premium French brand DS had an all-new saloon car waiting in the wings with the DS 9 nameplate. Along with the production-ready DS 9, the DS Aero Lounge concept car was also set to make its public debut at Geneva. The electric concept boasts a 400-mile range and hints towards a new design style for future electric models.
Fiat
Fiat’s all-electric 500 was due to make its official debut at Geneva 2020, but was revealed online. The Italian brand's electric hatch comes with a 199-mile range and will be able to hit 0-62mph in 9 seconds. Pricing for the launch edition is over £32,000 (excluding government grant). It’ll go on sale in the second half of this year, when it will act as a rival to the new Honda e and MINI electric.
Honda
Honda has revised its flagship hot hatchback for 2020. While cosmetic revisions are minor, the Civic Type R’s mechanical revisions are more involved, with new dampers, tweaked front suspension geometry and a set of fade-resistant brake discs with heavy-duty brake pads. For those looking for a more modest Civic Type R, there's now a Sportline version which aims to add more comfort to the mix.
Hyundai
Hyundai was going to use Geneva to reveal the next-generation i20 supermini with the new model revealing a sportier look for the Ford Fiesta rival as well as upgrades to the chassis and powertrain. The third-generation i20 will also see a performance version badged 'i20 N', which we have already seen testing in mule form.
The i20 was now the only hatchback Hyundai had planned for Geneva as the facelifted i30 was also going to make an appearance in sporty N-Line guise.
Alongside these two production models, Hyundai was going to showcase the next stage of its design language evolution in the shape of an all-electric Prophecy concept which signals a bold and futuristic approach to styling that could work its way onto future Hyundai EV's.
Kia
The fourth-generation Kia Sorento was set to make its public debut at Geneva after being officially revealed beforehand. The new Sorento has been heavily influenced by the American-only Telluride and the interior has been given a huge upmarket overhaul with a fresh 10.25-inch infotainment system. A new PHEV powertrain will also feature, comprising a four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor.
McLaren
McLaren has launched its latest hardcore Long Tail supercar with its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 kicking out 755bhp. The 765LT offers extreme weight reduction and active aerodynamics in its quest to out-class rivals like the Ferrari 488 Pista.
Mercedes
The new GLA is bigger than ever and will go up against the BMW X2 and Audi Q2 when it hits the showrooms. It boasts a practical 421-litre boot capacity, has greater ground clearance than before. Naturally, the hot AMG 45 version will come along too, packing 415bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine as the A 45 S hatchback.
Mercedes' facelifted E-Class was also set for Geneva, sporting a handful of cosmetic tweaks, a host of additional driver assistance technology and a revamped engine range. The updated E-Class also gets a completely redesigned interior, which adds the German brand's latest MBUX infotainment system.
Polestar
Volvo's electric car sub-brand Polestar will be extending its model range over the next few years and the Precept concept marks the beginning of Polestar's expansion. The design of the Precept aims to distance itself further from parent company Volvo and head towards a new styling path.
Porsche
The Turbo is the crown of the Porsche 911 range and was due to debut at Geneva. We’ve already been for a passenger ride in a development car and now Porsche has confirmed the 992-generation Turbo S will come with 641bhp from an all-new 3.8-litre flat-six, resulting in a 0-62mph of 2.7seconds and 205mph top speed. Pricing starts from £155,970 for the coupe and £165,127 for the cabriolet.
Renault
A new concept was going to debut at the Renault stand in 2020. The Morphoz concept is set to inspire a new range of electric vehicles from Renault which is set to rival Volkswagen's ID.3 family of EVs. The most prominent feature of the Morphoz concept its its ability to stretch its bodywork depending on the need of the driver.
Renault has confirmed it will also launch an all-electric version of the Twingo, to complement its growing range of hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Specifications are yet to be officially announced but, as the Twingo shares its platform with the Smart EQ ForFour, it should use the same 80bhp electric motor and 17.6kWh battery pack. Unfortunately, it won't be coming to the UK – Renault plans to only sell the Twingo Z.E. in Europe.
SEAT
As a sibling of the Mk8 Volkswagen Golf, the new SEAT Leon will share its MQB underpinnings and engine range with the VW. However, unlike its German counterpart, the new Leon looks set to adopt a fairly major cosmetic redesign, with the outgoing model’s smooth panelling being ditched in favour of a more angular look.
Skoda
The new Skoda Octavia gets its widest range of high-performance variants yet, with the usual petrol and diesel options joined by a new 1.4-litre petrol PHEV, which should offer an all-electric range of around 30 miles.
Skoda has also unveiled the name of the production-ready version of its all-electric Vision iV crossover concept. Called the Enyaq, it's due to go on sale in 2021 and it will share the same MEB underpinnings as the recently launched Volkswagen ID.3.
Toyota
The new Yaris has a 50mm longer wheelbase than the outgoing model despite being shorter. Toyota has also given the new car a quicker steering rack, more rigid body and softer springs while the driver sits 36mm lower than in the previous example. Hybrid models will use a recalibrated CVT transmission with a power increase of 15 per cent expected to bring the Yaris up to around 115bhp.
Aside from the regular Yaris, a new B-segment SUV based on the Yaris was going to make its debut at the Toyota stand in Geneva. Aiming to cash in on the growing crossover market, the Yaris SUV will sit below the C-HR in the range and look to take on the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur.
Volkswagen
Following on from the new Mk8 Volkswagen Golf GTE, the brand has revealed next two performance Golfs, the diesel-powered GTD and to petrol-powered GTI. Both hot hatches feature a very similar design with the front following along the lines of the already revealed GTE, with new LED spotlights incorporated into the lower grille and a light bar stretching across the front of the car in the case of the GTD and the traditional red stripe going across the grille on the GTI.
Alongside the hot Golfs, Volkswagen released details and images of its ID. 4 electric SUV in a light disguise. The Touareg R was also set to make its public debut at the show. The performance SUV uses the plug-in hybrid powertrain from the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid which results in a sizeable 456bhp and 700Nm with only around 44g/km of CO2 emissions.
Let us know which car you’re most looking forward to in the comments section below...
