2019 Geneva motor show preview: Here's what's coming this March

Geneva promises to be a busy show this year, and if there is a common theme for 2019, it's electric cars. A number of automakers will unveil EV concepts here this year, though there will be no shortage of (overpowered) gasoline-engined models either. Even so, a number of European automakers like Volvo, Land Rover and Jaguar will sit this one out, as will Ford.

Here's what's coming to Geneva in just a couple of weeks.
































Alpina

B7: The German tuning house will bring most of its lineup to Geneva, and chief among them will be its own take on the refreshed 2020 BMW 7-Series, which Alpina has tuned to 600 hp. The revised B7 boasts a top speed of 205 mph and will go on sale later this year.

Aston Martin

Lagonda SUV concept: The British marque will reveal an upcoming Lagonda-badged electric SUV in concept form in Geneva, after making the Lagonda sub-brand into its own electric lineup. This won't be another concept that goes nowhere: Aston Martin has already committed to putting the SUV into production in 2021, followed by a Lagonda sedan in 2022. In 2018 the automaker said that it wanted the Lagonda SUV to be a Rolls-Royce Cullinan rival, and we fully believe it when it comes to price, if not curb weight or design. Aston Martin promised a "rakish design language" for the Lagonda SUV, so at least it won't be another Range Rover competitor.

"The Lagonda All-Terrain Concept offers explicit clues regarding what will be the first Lagonda model to enter production and further demonstrates how Lagonda’s zero emission powertrain enables us to create spectacular cars that will radically redefine their sectors of the market," promised Andy Palmer, Aston Martin Lagonda president and group CEO.

Audi

Q4 e-tron crossover concept: Ingolstadt will present a near-production concept of the Q4 e-tron electric crossover, which will complement the larger e-tron SUV model that is going on sale right about now. Just one part of a tsunami of electric vehicles from Volkswagen Automotive Group brands that will debut shortly, the Q4 e-tron is expected to become Audi's top-selling EV model. The Q4 e-tron will share its MEB platform with a number of other small EVs from Volkswagen brands, including the ID Neo Golf-sized hatch spotted testing in recent days, and which will go into production at the end of the year. The Q4 e-tron is expected to be offered in a number of battery capacities, but all will have a range of more than 200 miles.

In addition to the Q4 e-tron, Audi will also debut a number of plug-in hybrids in Geneva.

TT RS: Audi will also show the facelifted version of the TT roadster and coupe duo.

Aurus

Senat: Russia's domestic luxury sedan, limousine and SUV lineup will have its first international debut after a 2018 reveal in Moscow, as the country tries to find buyers for its Rolls-Royce-style luxury tank. Powered by Porsche engines and full of off-the-shelf supplier components, what's inside the Aurus sedans is still a bit of a mystery, if not a riddle or an enigma. Journalists and showgoers in Geneva will get their first up-close look at what these sedans offer, and why its producer thinks that anyone aside from Russian ministers, governors and top politicians will buy one of these. The sedans, in case you're in the market, will start at around $200,000, but the SUV, which has not been seen in detail for now, is expected to be the real debut of the show and has some non-government-buyer potential.

Automobili Pininfarina

Battista: Mahindra-owned Pininfarina wants to be a carmaker, and it's swinging for the fences right from the start. At the Geneva motor show, the storied design house will present a 1,900-hp electric hypercar that promises a range of over 300 miles, 0-60 in under two seconds, 0-186 mph in under 12 seconds, a top speed of over 250 mph. The car will be named for Carrozzeria Pininfarina founder Battista 'Pinin' Farina. Don't expect this to be a high-volume model — we can only imagine how much these specs will cost — but it should help establish Automobili Pininfarina as an exclusive maker of electric supercars.

Bentley

100th Anniversary Continental GT "Blower:"  The British marque celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, and in Geneva, it is expected to unveil a special-edition version of the Continental GT that pays tribute to one of the Bentley Boys' cars, complete with a giant number 9 on the grille. The model is expected to be a nod to the "Blower" Bentley piloted by Sir Henry "Tim" Birkin. In addition to a number of stylistic touches, this special-edition Continental GT may also offer a boost in power, aimed at those who find the range-topping Continental GT to be lacking in that department.

Later on this year, Bentley is also expected to unveil a concept previewing an all-electric model that Bentley executives have been hinting for months. Such a concept could be shown this summer during the marque's centenary celebrations, but we may get a clearer picture of just what the brand is planning during the Geneva motor show.

BMW

Updated 7-Series: The Geneva motor show will serve as the official debut of the updated 7-Series, which will get its midcycle refresh for the 2020 model year. The updated flagship was revealed during the Detroit auto show without actually being in Detroit — the automaker skipped NAIAS this year. The most noticeable change, if you haven't noticed by now, is the new and greatly enlarged kidney grille. But other changes lurk throughout the lineup, including a new 745e plug-in hybrid, which pairs an electric motor with an inline-six engine, good for 389 hp. A new eight-speed transmission will be offered on all 7s in the lineup, ranging from the I6 to the V12.

3-Series Touring: BMW will also reveal the wagon version of its new 3-Series, which the U.S. will not receive because we can't have nice things anymore. A plug-in hybrid version of the 3-Series Touring is expected to join the range in 2020, after the Touring version goes on sale later this year.

X7: BMW's giant SUV with its giant kidney grilles will make its giant auto show debut in Geneva, ahead of the start of sales in March of this year. Production versions will be called X7 xDrive40i and xDrive50i. The former will offer an inline-six good for 335 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque, while the latter will hide a V8 behind those kidney grilles in the form of a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 456 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. These six- and seven-seat galleons will be built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and will compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class.

Bugatti

Chiron Sport 110 Ans Bugatti: The French marque will celebrate its 110th anniversary with a 20-car limited edition run of a specially styled Chiron Sport, celebrating its French heritage.

Bugatti is rumored to be planning a whole new supercar that may be shown in Geneva — an $18 million one-off. Start saving now.

Citroen

Citroen Centenary Concept: The French marque is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, along with Bentley, and it will have at least a couple of concepts this year. The first will be shown in Geneva and will give a glimpse of the brand's vision for urban vehicles, while another concept due later this year at the Paris motor show will share the brand's vision of luxury. The Geneva concept is expected to be a compact EV.






























Honda

Urban EV concept: Honda will use the Geneva motor show to reveal another version of the Urban EV concept, now far closer to production but rumored to be close to the concept study shown at the 2017 Frankfurt auto show. That concept bore a strong resemblance to the first-generation CVCC hatch, and was very well received. We expect to see a near-production version in Geneva, ahead of the start of sales later this year.

"A production version of this highly acclaimed concept will be introduced to Europe during late 2019, and in response to the positive feedback to this model, we expect to open order banks for the Urban EV during early 2019," Philip Ross, senior vice president of Honda Motor Europe said earlier in 2018.

Don't get too excited about this one, because Honda has said nothing about U.S. sales so far. The initial concept in 2017 was shown in Europe, and this near-production concept will be shown in Europe as well. As we said earlier: We can't have nice things anymore.

Mazda

"CX-4:" The automaker previewed an all-new compact SUV earlier this month that will slot in between — you guessed it — the CX-3 and the CX-5. This model is expected to start rolling out of the factory later this year, which makes it kind of amazing that we haven't seen more of it by now. Mazda released a murky teaser image of this planned model earlier.

"The second model in the company’s new-generation line-up features a more mature KODO design language and Mazda’s new-generation SKYACTIV-Vehicle Architecture," the automaker said earlier this year. "The powertrain lineup showcases the latest SKYACTIV engines, including the company’s the revolutionary SKYACTIV-X, which adopts a unique combustion method combining the free-revving performance of a petrol engine with the superior response of a diesel."

MX-5 30th Anniversary: This is that limited edition model in a special color that sold out four hours after it was shown. Mazda will bring it to Geneva to taunt those who weren't quick enough to reserve one online. There's a waiting list though.

McLaren

720S Spider: The roofless version of the 720S debuted late in 2018, but it will make its auto show debut in Geneva next month. The 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 will serve up 710 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque, and a top speed of 202 mph with the roof off. When it comes to cars that will rearrange your hairstyle this one will be tough to beat.

Mercedes-Benz

CLA-Class Shooting Brake: Mercedes will use the Geneva show to unveil a station wagon version of the CLA-Class, which didn't make it to the U.S. the last time around, and will not make it here this time around.

GLC-Class: Mercedes' midsize best-seller is already due for an update, which means a light facelift for the C-Class-based SUV. The current model debuted for the 2016 model year, which means the Geneva motor show will see a mid-cycle refresh inside and out.

EQV: Mercedes will unveil a battery-electric version of its MPV, which is sold as the Metris stateside. The production version will be the fifth model in the brand's EQ lineup of electric vehicles, but we wouldn't bet any Euros on it making its way to the states.

Mitsubishi

Engelberg concept: Mitsubishi will unveil a battery-electric SUV concept in Geneva. Named after a Swiss ski resort, the Engelberg is expected to preview the styling of the next-gen Outlander if nothing else, but we wouldn't bet on Mitsubishi jumping into the deep end of the EV pool with a production version right away. The brand is certainly mining the right segments, but all indications do not point to a production model — Mitsubishi's bread just isn't buttered on that side, despite the production launch of the i-MiEV.

Polestar

Polestar 2: Volvo's electric and hybrid sub-brand (that should have just been called Volvo or eVolvo) will present its second model in Geneva, aimed at the Tesla Model 3. The Polestar 2 will be battery-electric, as opposed to first model that's a hybrid, and will enter production next year with a range of around 300 miles. Performance is expected to be appropriate — around 400 hp — but this will still be a premium/luxury model so it will start at around $50,000.

Porsche

911 Carrera Cabriolet: This small German boutique sports car maker is expected to show a drop-top version of its mysterious and rarely-seen 911 model. Geneva will see the 992 generation bow with a faster opening top — 12 seconds as opposed to 13. The Carrera will keep its 443 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, same as the hardtop models.

Boxster T and 718 Cayman T: These Touring versions will receive a lowered chassis, 20-inch wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and the Sport Chrono Package. So far Porsche does not plan to offer these stateside.
 

SEAT

EV hatchback: Volkswagen's Spanish division will unveil its own version of the ID Neo Golf-sized electric hatch in Geneva. Like the ID Neo, SEAT's version is expected to have a range of 500 km (311 miles), and will use the Volkswagen Automotive Group's MEB platform set to underpin the majority of its electric cars expected to go on sale in the next couple of years. A name has not been announced for SEAT's version, but hopefully the brand will open up an online contest once again, which we came reasonably close to winning the last time around (we didn't guess Tarraco). Rumors suggest it could be named Born, for one of Barcelona's favorite neighborhoods, so we expect some version of this name.



















Skoda

Kamiq: Volkswagen's Czech division will use the Geneva show to unveil a new SUV named Kamiq — a low-cost SUV a little smaller than the Tiguan. The Kamiq will be aimed solely at the Chinese market.

Subaru

e-Boxer concept: The automaker will show two electrified models in Geneva, expected to be either hybrids or plug-in hybrids. Subaru has stayed mum on its electric plans — you'll notice that the brand has said very little about electric cars — but one of these models is expected to be a Forester with a plug-in hybrid powerplant. The marque is expected to offer a number of electrified versions of its existing models in the near future, rather than creating all-new ones from a clean sheet.

Volkswagen

Electric dune buggy concept: VW will show an update to the beloved '60s Beetle-based dune buggy, a model that could foreshadow the return of the Beetle itself as an electric car.

"A buggy is more than a car. It is vibrancy and energy on four wheels. These attributes are embodied by the new e-buggy, which demonstrates how a modern, nonretro interpretation of a classic can look and, more than anything else, the emotional bond that electric mobility can create," said Klaus Bischoff, head designer at Volkswagen.

Volkswagen may also show a version of some of its part EV concepts, such as the cargo version of the ID Buzz. Given the wave of EVs on the horizon, VW is expected to keep bringing different versions of its electric concepts to auto shows.

Passat: A midcycle refresh for the European version of the sedan, which is very different from our version of the Passat that debuted in Detroit.

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