2019 Geneva International Motor Show: What you can expect

The Geneva International Motor Show kicks off from March 7 all the way to March 17, 2019. The Swiss hosted auto show is one of the most anticipated events in the Automotive industry. Brands from around the world gather in the land of the alps to showcase their finest innovations to the automotive industry. European brands like Volkswagen, Aston Martin and Ferrari will be only some of the brands showcasing their newest models at the show. Japanese brands such as Honda, Mazda, and Mitsubishi have traversed Europe to unveil their latest concepts and models as well.

Starting off with the some red hot passion, Ferrari will be officially launching its F8 Tributo. Based on the 488, it carries over some styling cues from the model that preceded it. If the 488 was a 458 on steroids, then prepare to feast your eyes on yet another beefed up supercar from the prancing horse. Featuring a 3.9L twin turbo V8 whirring away behind the driver, it is speculated to produce 710hp and will tops out beyond 321 km/h. 

Next up is Aston Martin with its Lagonda all-terrain concept. An all-electric SUV that will rival the likes of the luxurious Rolls Royce Cullinan and the plush Bentley Bentayga. Aside from Luxury SUVs, Aston is also going to showcase its Project 003 concept. The first mid-engined supercar to come out of the British stable. Rumoured to have a ‘turbocharged petrol-electric hybrid engine’, the concept will likely be compared alongside the likes of the Porsche 918 Spyder. 

Speaking of the German manufacturer, ever since the debut of its 992, fans have speculated that a GT3 and GT2 will be releasing soon. It is likely that Porsche will take advantage of the publicity that the Swiss auto show will bring, but we won’t hold our breaths for now. 

On a more subdued note, Volkswagen is revealing its buggy prototype. Inspired from the dune buggies patterned off of Beetles, the prototype will showcase an electric motor. It will be unveiled alongside VW’s I.D. hatchback which is also an electric vehicle. 

Moving on to Japanese brands, and continuing with another electric vehicle, Honda is bringing its Urban EV concept to Geneva. Featuring changes to the initial concept unveiled last year at the Frankfurt motor show, Honda kept most of the design intact, only adding a pair of doors for rear passengers. The friendliness of the concept brought much attention to it prior and would make a fine addition to the EV market. 

Mazda is also teasing the public with a low exposure shot of what will be its new crossover. Featuring the tail lamps that shout Kodo Design, the release won’t be another facelift, rather it is suspected to be Mazda’s CX-4. Slotting between the CX-3 and the CX-5, the new crossover will follow the newly-released Mazda 3 in the brand’s next generation lineup. 

The Engelberg Tourer from Mitsubishi is also coming to Geneva this March. The SUV concept will be an all electric affair from the Japanese manufacturer. Alongside it will be the newly refreshed ASX. Both models will be featuring Mitsubishi’s corporate design language, the Dynamic Shield. 

Toyota will also release its Corolla GR Sport and Trek variants for its Corolla platform. The GR variant will sport Gazoo Racing additions such as sport seats, an option of a 1.8L or 2.0L self-charging hybrid powertrains, and exterior body kits. The sportier of the two Corollas is set to release in January 2020. The Trek variant will feature a 20mm rise in ground clearance over its sedan counterpart, and will be marketed towards those who have active lifestyles.

With all these brands congregating in one place, it will be hard to list all of the notable and relevant models that could make their way on to Philippine roads. More exciting news for the auto industry to come this year, that’s for sure.