Geneva Motor Show 2024: full show round-up and all the cars
Less extensive than it once was, the Geneva Motor Show 2024 still brought some interesting new models
The Geneva Motor Show returned in 2024, but it wasn’t quite as we remember it. The previous show was in 2019, as the 2020 show was cancelled just days in advance. Plenty of rather unhappy car makers, then, and who very clearly didn’t show up to the 2024 show.
The 2024 show’s biggest names include Dacia, Renault, MG and BYD, as well as US luxury electric car maker Lucid and a new company called Silence that’s fronted by ex-Jaguar Land Rover executive John Edwards.
Previous Geneva shows were jam-packed with huge names like Mercedes, Ferrari, Jaguar, Land Rover, Skoda and any other major brand you’d care to mention. That wasn’t the case for the comparatively tiny 2024 show, but the makers that did arrive at least gave us some interesting new models to explore.
Key reveals included the new Renault 5 and the new BYD Seal U, both all-new electric cars with an affordable ethos. There were also new models from MG sister brand IM, plus even some new tiny cars from Silence and the Microlino.
Read on below to find out all the news from the 2024 Geneva Motor Show.
Geneva Motor Show 2024: gallery
Click on the image below to view all our pictures from the 2024 Geneva Motor Show...
Geneva Motor Show 2024: major news stories
- Dacia heads for VW Golf and Ford Focus with C-Neo that 'not an SUV'.
- IM Motors: MG's premium EV sister brand coming to the UK in 2025.
- Pininfarina Enigma GT concept is a 2+2 with a hydrogen-powered V6.
- New Renault 4 will go 4x4 to get ahead in the baby EV SUV class.
- Renault 5 could have 15-year lifecycle with upgrades every year.
Geneva Motor Show 2024: car brands A to Z
Below are details of the major brands that attended Geneva this year and what they did…
BYD
Already selling more cars than Volkswagen in its home market of China, BYD arrived in the UK and Europe last year and has already launched three distinct models.
Now the brand is looking to bolster its presence with the launch of its first non-EV to come to Europe – the plug-in hybrid BYD Seal U. We’ve already driven the Skoda Kodiaq-rivalling SUV, and came away impressed by the newcomer’s breadth of talents. If the price is right, it could really throw the cat amongst the pigeons in the electrified family-car segment.
In addition to the Seal U, BYD used the 2024 Geneva Motor Show to bring its Yangwang luxury sub-brand to Europe, showing off the Land Rover Defender-inspired U8 electric SUV. The Yangwang U8’s party piece is a tank turn function that allows the huge off-roader to rotate on its axis by spinning the wheels in opposite directions.
Dacia
Dacia has made waves in Europe in recent years with its refreshing, value-focused approach to building cars. But until now it resisted selling its bargain Spring electric car in the UK. However, the maker pulled the covers off an all-new version, with the city car making its public debut at Geneva.
With it comes confirmation that it’ll be sold in the UK for the first time later this year. It’s heavily upgraded from the original, which should suit British tastes; apparently, the only carry-over panel is the roof. It also gets upgraded technology inside, a respectable 130-mile range and optional 30kW rapid charging. The big stat is the price tag, though, as the Spring is likely to cost around £16,000 – finally an electric car for the masses.
Joining the Spring on Dacia's stands was the all-new Duster, which also made its public debut.
IM
MG's premium electric sister brand, IM Motors, confirmed it is coming to the UK at Geneva this year. The first car to hit our shores will be the IM L6 saloon, a Tesla Model 3 rival that the brand claims will be able to cover up to almost 500 miles on a single charge of its 100kWh battery.
The L6 will also be available with a smaller 77kWh pack, which should still be good for an impressive 372 miles. When it comes to performance, this saloon is set to sprint from 0-62mph in around 3 seconds. Expect a starting price of £40k when it arrives in the UK in the first half of 2025.
Lucid
Lucid doesn’t currently sell cars in the UK, though you can buy a car in mainland Europe. However, the American EV maker is set to double its available range by giving its second model – the Gravity SUV – its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show.
The Lucid Gravity is a huge seven-seat electric SUV with a 120kWh battery that its maker says is capable of over 400 miles on a charge. We’ll need to hold out a little longer to learn of any UK relevance, but the Swiss show was the first opportunity to see the car on European soil.
MG
Much like Dacia, MG has played the value card in recent years – and with great success. But while the manufacturer’s range of EVs is challenging the electric-car status quo, it also shook things up with the hybrid-powered MG3 supermini at the Geneva show.
Following a series of teaser images and even a couple of leaked pictures showing the car in full, the Renault Clio and Toyota Yaris rival was revealed to the public. With this, we were given details on the new car’s powertrain, which is a full hybrid set-up capable of up to 64mpg. It’ll be no slouch either; the MG3 has 192bhp, allegedly giving it warm-hatch levels of performance.
Micro
The Geneva show also hosted Micro, the firm behind the Microlino - a modern, electric version of the classic BMW Isetta (originally the Iso Isetta, as the BMW version was made under licence). At the show a new Microlino Lite was revealed with throttled power to appeal to younger buyers in certain markets.
The brand also confirmed that the Microlino will likely come to the UK in some guise, as a rival to the quirky Citroen Ami.
Renault
It feels like we had been waiting forever to see the reborn Renault 5. But fear not, the covers finally came off the French brand’s retro-inspired small car at the 2024 Geneva Motor Show.
It’s designed to look a lot like the original Renault 5, and will take the fight to class stalwarts like the electric Fiat 500 and MINI Cooper. The 5 will be based on the next-generation Nissan Micra and Leaf, and share its platform with the forthcoming Renault 4.
But in contrast to its retro looks, it’ll get a cutting edge powertrain and a choice of batteries – the biggest of which Renault claims will do 249 miles on a charge. Weighing in at less than 1,500kg, it should be pretty efficient and perfectly suited to the cut and thrust of city living.
It’s definitely up there on the list of cars we’re most looking forward to driving in 2024.
Silence
More of a Citroen Ami-rivalling quadricycle than a proper car, Silence took the S04 to Geneva – attempting to make a splash in the “nano car” segment. There’s plenty of Brit brainpower behind the venture, with ex-JLR man John Edwards a founding partner of the EV brand, and there were even rumours Silence tech could underpin SEAT’s new baby EV due in the next few years.
The S04 is actually already available to buy (from £15,995) in the UK, but the Geneva show gave punters a chance to get hands-on with the Dacia Spring alternative, which was on show just around the corner.
Which car stole the show at Geneva this year? Let us know in the comments...
