The 2020 Geneva Motor Show was due to open its doors to the world’s press on Tuesday 3rd of March, but has now been cancelled by show organisers due to the developing outbreak of coronavirus in Europe.
Geneva is one of the most important events in the motoring calendar, acting as a stage for some of the world’s biggest new car launches but the 2020 installment is off after the Swiss Government banned any events of more than 1,000 people to help contain the spread of the infection.
Naturally, the event is very important for Europe’s car manufacturers, with heavy-hitting brands such as Audi, Fiat and Porsche planning to unveil new vehicles. Now, their glitzy stands will be empty of people come next week, with organisers laying out a strict deadline of 7 March for the show floor to be dismantled entirely.
Volkswagen had the new Golf GTI lined up as its show star while SEAT had the closely related new Leon. Asian manufacturers such as Honda and Toyota also planned to make appearances with significant new cars, with the former unveiling its facelifted Civic Type R and the latter its all-new Yaris.
• Best cars of the 2019 Geneva Motor Show
Over the coming days, we should still be able to bring you details of many of the new models listed below as images and specifications are released, so stay tuned. With the Geneva Motor Show itself not going ahead, however, it’s a case of, come and have a look at what you would have seen…
Scroll down for all our great Geneva Motor Show content…
AIRWAYS
• AIWAYS U5 SUV• Gumpert Nathalie
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.
Apex AP-0
British sports car manufacturer Apex would have been revealing its AP-0 hypercar at this year’s show. The AP-0 is an all-electric rival for the forthcoming Lotus Evija and has a claimed kerb-weight of just 1,200kg.
Aston Martin
• Aston Martin Vantage Roadster• Aston Martin DBX Q
Aston has 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, we would have seen 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.
Audi
Hot on the heels of the Mk8 Volkswagen Golf comes the new, fourth-generation Audi A3. It will undergo 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 Mono
BAC was going to present its new second-generation Mono at this year’s Geneva Motor Show with production staring in summer 2021.
Bentley
• Bentley Mulliner Bacalar• Bentley Continental GT Mulliner Convertible
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 it is expected that the Bacalar will be powered by one of Bentley’s 12-cylinder engines rather than electric power like the concept.
The Bacalar wasn’t the only model that Bentley’s bespoke arm was aiming to showcase. The Continental GT Mulliner Convertible is an the 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 seat.
BMW
• BMW i4
BMW wanted to showcase the next car in the electric-only ‘i’ brand. The i4 will be a Tesla Model 3 rivalling saloon capable of a 370-mile range with over 500bhp available. BMW has already confirmed the i4 will be in showrooms in 2021 so Geneva was going to bring us a production-ready version of the car rather than a traditional concept version.
Cupra
Having shown a concept version at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, Cupra had planned to unveil a production-ready version of the Formentor performance SUV at this year’s show. The concept already resembled a production car, albeit with a few extrovert touches here and there, so we don’t expect the finished model to look drastically different.
Alongside the Cupra Formentor, the Cupra Leon was due to make its public debut as well. With 306bhp and a plug-in hybrid powertrain, the Leon will be competing with the Ford Focus ST and the new Volkswagen Golf GTI, also set for a Geneva debut.
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.
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. The Italian brand is yet to confirm details on the new model’s powertrain, although our recent batch of spy shots suggest its styling won’t change drastically over today’s model. It’s expected to go on sale in the second half of this year, when it will act as a rival to the new Honda e and forthcoming 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.
Hyundai
• Hyundai i20• Hyundai i30 facelift• Hyundai Prophecy
Hyundai was going to use Geneva to reveal the next-generation i20 supermini with design sketches 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 evoloution in the shape of an all-electric concept named Prophecy. Only a teaser has been revealed so far but it 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.
Mercedes
• Mercedes GLA• Mercedes GLA 45• Mercedes E-Class facelift
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 be there 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 will also get 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 expected to debut at Geneva. We’ve already been for a passenger ride in a development car where engineers promised in excess of 600bhp for the Turbo and 650bhp for the Turbo S from an all-new 3.8-litre flat-six.
Renault
• Renault Morphoz concept• Renault Twingo Z.E.
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. A teaser has been released, giving little away about the design but we can expect it to be as striking as several other previous concepts from the French brand.
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
• Skoda Octavia vRS• Skoda electric MEB crossover
The new Skoda Octavia will get its widest range of high-performance variants yet, with the usual petrol and diesel options to be joined by a new 1.4-litre petrol PHEV, which should offer an all-electric range of around 30 miles.
Skoda was also expected to bring a production-ready version of its all-electric Vision iV crossover concept to Geneva, which is due to go on sale in 2021. The crossover is yet to receive a name, but it will share the same MEB underpinnings as the recently launched Volkswagen ID.3.
Toyota
• Toyota Yaris• Toyota Yaris SUV
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
• Volkswagen Golf GTI• Volkswagen Touareg R
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.
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…