Geneva Motor Show Car reviews

The 2020 Ferrari F8 Tributo is an entry-level supercar that the Maranello-based company launched in 2019. The F8 Tributo replaced the 488 GTB, introduced in 2015, but it’s essentially a mid-cycle upgrade and not a brand-new car. The supercar replaces the 488 GTB in the same way that the 812 Superfast and GTC4Lusso replaced the F12berlinetta and FF, respectively, with the facelift accompanied by a nameplate change.

The upgrade is rather significant as far as design goes. Not only sporting new features front and rear, but the F8 Tributo also boasts more aggressive aerodynamics, which are based on the track-ready 488 Pista. The F8 also shares underpinnings with the Pista and generates the same 710 horsepower. The F8 Tributo arrives just in time for the facelifted Lamborghini Huracan Evo and the relatively new McLaren 720S. Let’s find out how they compare.

Updated 03/08/2018: We update this review with a series of new images taken during the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.

The third-generation Lotus Exige is six years old as of 2018 and a bit long in the tooth. A brand-new model is underway, but the Brits are keeping things interesting for the current model by building all sorts of special editions. At the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed, Lotus paid tribute to two of its most iconic race cars with the Exige Type 49 and Exige Type 79.

Both cars celebrate the company’s past glory in Formula One. The Exige Type 49 marks 50 years since Graham Hill won both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships in the Type 49, while the Exige Type 49 marks 40 years since Mario Andretti did the same with the Type 79. The former race from 1967 through 1970 and won two championships, while also scoring podiums in each season. The Type 79’s career was a bit shorter, from 1978 through 1979.

Both Exige models were crafted by Lotus Exclusive, the brand’s recently established bespoke division. Let’s find out more about them below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Lotus Exige Type 49 and Type 49.

Pininfarina, the company best well known for its association with Ferrari, wants to break free from under the shade of the Prancing Horse and make a name for itself as the builder of the fastest car to come out of Italy. The name of this car? Battista, like the name of the company’s founder. The numbers that should firmly plant this car on the map? 1,900 horsepower and 1,696 pound-feet, a 0 to 62 mph sprint in less than two seconds, and a top speed of about 250 mph. All done by an EV powertrain that’s capable of running over 300 miles between charges.

Reading those numbers it’s easy to dismiss the Pininfarina Battista as just another ludicrous car that will never actually become reality. Something like the Devel Sixteen, the Arabian hypercar that packs a V-16 engine that’s capable of 5,000 horsepower. That one was supposedly slated to start final testing this month. Or the equally insane Vector WX-8, Jerry Wiegert’s project that should’ve brought his once proud company back from the dead. He said 12 years ago that a 10-liter, twin-turbocharged, V-8 will power the car and that it will crank out 1,850 horsepower. More recently, Wiegert sold his two WX-3 prototypes to fund the project.

But the Battista is a more serious offering than both those elusive creations. First off, Pininfarina was bought by Mahindra four years ago for $190.6 million and, as we know, Mahindra has the financial power to throw cash at a project like this if so desires. With Pininfarina aiming to build just 150 of these, 50 dedicated to each of its three markets: Europe, America, and the Middle-East, we can expect people to actually come forth with pre-orders once it gets revealed at Geneva in a couple of weeks.

The automaker once known as Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH has received a new lease on life thanks to wealthy investors at a holding company named Ideal Team Ventures Limited. What’s that matter? Well, Ideal Team has poured resources into the automaker, effectively allowing it to rebirth itself with a new product. That product debuted at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show as the Apollo Arrow – a 1,000-horsepower hypercar ready to compete in the exclusive league of built-to-order collectibles.

The automaker, now called Apollo Automobil GmbH, appears ready to redefine itself as a legitimate threat to other hypercar builders. "I have always been a big fan of the Gumpert Apollo. It was, in my opinion, a thoroughbred hypercar that stood out among its competitors," said Norman Choi, owner of Ideal Team Ventures Limited. "I’m excited to have the opportunity to revive, reinvent and rebuild this legendary, record-breaking vehicle.”

Though the company went through a restructuring, Roland Gumpert continues to act as Apollo’s CEO and chief engineer. "The Arrow is truly magnificent – it is the perfect combination of German engineering and automotive art," Gumpert says about the car. "Although it’s still a prototype, we are confident that the Arrow will achieve the unimaginable."

This marks a new chapter for Apollo, thanks to its new investor, fresh engineering practices, and as we’ll see with the Arrow, a new design style that mimics the natural world.

Continue reading to learn more about the Apollo Arrow.

British race- and sports-car builder Ginetta attended the 2019 Geneva Motor Show with its latest creation, the Akula. Named after the Russian word that translates to “shark,” the Akula looks every bit like an asphalt predator. The Akula combines an attention-grabbing design with a low-weight carbon-intensive construction and Le Mans-derived performance equipment. That’s an excellent formula for a niche model that’s looking to strike down the titans of its segment. Can the Ginetta Akula do it? We’re going to find out.

The 2021 Koenigsegg Gemera is a two-door, four-seat hypercar developed by the Swedish company that gave us the Agera, Regera, and Jesko. But unlike its siblings, and despite having only two doors, the 2021 Gemera offers seating for four. And it does so via four equally comfortable seats, so it’s not just a regular grand tourer. The 2021 Gemera boasts a hybrid drivetrain under the skin, comprising three electric motor and a three-cylinder engine. As shocking as it may sound, the three-cylinder generates 600 horsepower, making it the most powerful of its kind in production, and works on a variety of fuels, including CO2-neutral methanol. Overall, the hybrid drivetrain pumps out an amazing 1,700 horsepower and 2,581 pound-feet of torque. Let’s find out more about the world’s first practical megacar - aka Mega GT - in the review below.

The Koenigsegg Jesko is the company’s latest supercar, third megacar, and spiritual successor to the iconic Agera. Unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the Jesko boasts a power-to-weight ratio greater than 1:1, which means its engine generates more horsepower than the car’s total curb weight in kilograms. Koenigsegg offered similar versions of the One:1 and Agera, but the Jesko takes things one step further with an impressive downforce rating of 2,205 pounds.

Named after Jesko von Koenigsegg, the father of company founder and CEO, Christian von Koenigsegg, the Jesko marks the debut of the firm’s latest carbon-fiber chassis and nine-speed multi-clutch transmission. It’s also supposed to hit at least 300 mph according to Koenigsegg, so it could improve the Agera RS’ 277-mph world record really soon. Let’s find out more about that in the review below.

The 2020 Morgan Plus Four is a neo-retro roadster produced by British coachbuilder Morgan. The 2020 Plus Four replaces the old Plus 4, a roadster that Morgan produced without any updates from 2005 to 2020. While the nameplate carries over unchanged, the word "Four" replaces the numeral "4" for better differentiation between the two cars. The 2020 Plus Four is underpinned by the CX-Generation, bonded aluminum platform that Morgan debuted in the 2019 Plus Six. Although it looks virtually the same on the outside, the 2020 Plus Four features a more modern interior, while the old naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine was replaced with a turbo-four from BMW.

The 2020 Skoda Octavia vRS is the high-performance version of the fourth-generation liftback sedan. Available in both sedan and wagon body styles, the 2020 Octavia vRS boasts the sportier, more angular design of the latest Octavia, but the really big news is that it features a hybrid drivetrain. This isn’t surprising given that it shares underpinnings with the latest Volkswagen Golf,, but it’s the first vRS model to sport a form of electrification. The 2020 Octavia vRS iV is the first performance Skoda model with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. It also joins other electrified Octavia models like two mild hybrids and a less powerful plug-in. Let’s find out more about this performance four-door in the review below.

The 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S is the range-topping version of the latest, 992-generation Porsche 911. Unveiled during the virtual edition of the 2020 Geneva Motor Show, the 2021 911 Turbo S arrive before its least powerful twin, the Turbo. Fitted with a twin-turbo, 3.8-liter flat-six engine rated at 640 horsepower, the 2021 911 Turbo S is the most powerful 911 Turbo model ever. It’s also the quickest, as the beefed-up coupe needs only 2.6 seconds to hit 60 mph from a standing start. How does it compare with the old Turbo S and similar sports cars on the market? Let’s find out in the review below.

Already nine years old as of 2018, the Zenvo ST1 has already made a name for itself as a potent supercar with extreme design and performance. Designed and built in Denmark, the ST1 remained in production until 2016, when it was replaced by the TS1, which gained certain changes in terms of aerodynamics and drivetrain. The TS1 was followed by the race-spec TSR in 2017. With the latter still new, Zenvo launched a new iteration of its only vehicle to date. It’s called the TSR-S, and it’s the company’s most radical car for street use.

Positioned between the TS1 GT road car and the race-only TSR, the TSR-S shares the looks of the original ST1. However, it borrows the revised aerodynamics of the TSR, as well as a number of unique features that improve performance on both the road and the track. As usual, the Danish automaker will keep production very limited, with only five examples to be built a year. Yes, this thing is just as exclusive as a Koenigsegg, but does it have the power and speed to go against it? Let’s find out in the review below.

Update: 3/12/2020 Zenvo has showcased its latest iteration of the TSR-S road-going hypercar and it comes with a handful of new improvements. Learn all about it below!

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG E53 is a facelifted version of the performance sedan that sits between the regular E-Class and the AMG E63. The sedan that replaced the old AMG E43 arrived less than a couple of years ago, but Mercedes-Benz decided to upgrade it alongside the standard E-Class. The facelift adds restyled front and rear sections and some new tech, but the drivetrain remains unchanged.

Mansory is a premium aftermarket company that has designed some pretty good vehicles in the past. The cars that it has unveiled lately, however, seem to tell a different story. Check out the audacious Lamborghini Urus Venatus or the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Coastline to know what I mean. But, now, the company is back to working on its favorite vehicle, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

In 2019, Mansory worked on the Mercedes-AMG G63 to create a Star Trooper edition of the legendary SUV. The company has now created a pickup version of the same Star Trooper SUV with a few more touches. Did Brabus inspire them to do this? The Star Trooper has been designed by Mansory in collaboration with Phillip Plein.

The 2021 Aston Martin V12 Speedster is a limited-edition roadster developed by Aston Martin and its bespoke Q division. A tribute to the Le Mans-winning DBR1 of 1959, the 2021 V12 Speedster sports a traditional speedster body with no windscreen and roof and with a spine separating the driver and the passenger. Built on a custom architecture that combines elements from both the Vantage and the DBS Superleggera, the 2021 V12 Speedster is also a spiritual successor to the CC100 Speedster, a concept that Aston Martin launched in 2013 and built in just two examples. Built in only 88 units, the 2021 V12 Speedster costs almost $1 million. Find out what makes it special in the review below.

The 2020 Aiways U6ion is an electric crossover concept that the Chinese brand unveiled online during the virtual 2020 Geneva Motor Show. The 2020 U6ion broke cover alongside the 2021 U5, which will be the company’s first vehicle to hit the European market.

The 2020 U6ion previews a coupe-style SUV that will likely share underpinnings with the 2021 U5. Much like its sibling, the 2020 U6ion boasts a bold exterior design and a premium interior. It also looks ready to go into production as none of its design cues and technologies seem far-fetched.

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is the most luxurious SUV you can buy today. Even in the standard form, it basically has everything one needs (and doesn’t need) in an SUV. But that didn’t stop aftermarket companies from trying to do different things to it and give it a twist.

Klassen stretched and armored a Cullinan and put a $2 million price tag on it. Rolls-Royce upped the ante when it launched the Cullinan Black Badge edition. And, now, Mansory has laid its hands on it and unveiled the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Coastline.

The Cullinan Coastline features a lot of changes in and out, and feels like a fresh take on the world’s costliest SUV. The exterior features a body kit, the interior receives a new theme, and the drivetrain receives a power bump. Will it lure in any buyers?

GFG Style’s Vision 2030 Desert Raid was supposed to take the stage in Geneva, but a debut deep in the dunes of the Sahara desert would have been a more appropriate way to introduce this begging-to-be-hooned off-road hypercar.

Sure, it looks like the sort of car the likes of Dan Bilzerian would drive on Mars, but come to think of it, why not? We wouldn’t miss a chance to shoot up some sand in this bad boy, and we’re guessing most rich people out there think the same.

The 2020 GFG Style Vision 2030 is one of three concept cars that the company owned by Fabrizio and Giorgetto Giugiaro unveiled during the live streaming press conference that should have been a real thing at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show.

The 2020 Vision 2030 isn’t exactly new, as the design company unveiled it for the first time in November 2019 in Saudi Arabia. The reason for that, says GFG Style, is that the Vision 2030 was conceived for the Saudi Arabian roads. While it looks like a supercar, it rides higher than usual so it can cope with gravel and even sandy terrain. The big news is that it’s fully electric.

Mansory has always been a constant presence at the Geneva Motor Show, but this year the tuner had to shake its tail feather online, just like every other carmaker out there. And shake it did, by unveiling a new widebody kit for the Lamborghini Urus.

It’s called Venatus, which is Latin for hunting or to hunt. On that note, let’s take a closer look at the Bavarian tuner’s latest work on the Urus.

Hispano Suiza is back again at the Geneva Motor Show (well, not exactly, but you get the gist) with a motorsport-inspired iteration of its existing Carmen, called Carmen Boulogne.

This electric hypercar is a pumped-up version of the Carmen that was unveiled at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. The Carmen Boulogne is lighter than the standard Carmen and produces 1,100 horses. Hispano Suiza said that it will build only five examples and as expected, the price will run in the millions.

There have been rumors about a new version of the Chiron slated to debut in Geneva and Bugatti kept its word and showed it to the world, albeit using its online media channels. Ladies and gents, meet the Chiron Pur Sport, a corner-carving hypercar that feels at home on winding roads or on the race track.

As you’d expect, the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport is a tad different than your usual Chiron, since Bugatti had to fine tune its chef d’oeuvre for the new purpose it serves. Here’s everything you need to know about the Chiron Pur Sport.

Alfa Romeo isn’t the first brand you think of when it comes to lightweight performance sedans. But the Italian automaker is looking to flip that narrative with the arrival of the Giulia Quadrifoglio GTA.

Lighter, faster, and more powerful than any version of the Giulia Quadrifoglio, the Giulia GTA — it stands for Gran Turismo Alleggerita or “Grand Touring Lightened” — represents a complete makeover of the Giulia sedan.

Significant changes can be seen in the exterior, interior, and drivetrain departments, so much so that you’d be excused for thinking that Alfa Romeo has lost its marbles and has decided to dive in the deep end of the performance sedan pool. Not that we’re complaining; the Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA has the vibe of a king slayer. It certainly looks like one.