Submarine cars, wooden sports coupes with hydrogen engines and other wonders of the Geneva Motor Show.
The Geneva Motor Show is one of the biggest and oldest in the world. Traditionally the manufacturers bring to Geneva the most expensive and exclusive innovations. This year in spite of the US economic recession the majority of the main season premieres was in Detroit. Because the Swiss represent the European continent, the focus was on environmentally friendly cars.
These were, however, worth seeing. The main motor show in Europe had its share of luxury too.
The main luxury debut of the Geneva Motor Show was of course Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé. Yet another creation of Ian Cameron featuring classic outlines and recognizable trademark style made a real sensation. The coupe hiding under its bonnet the 6.75-litre 453-hp V12 engine with a 720 Nm torque traditionally installed at all the Phantoms speeds up to 100 kmph in 5.6 secs. According to the designers it’s one of the most efficient in its class. Potential buyers have appreciated the luxury of handmade automobile works – all 200 cars that are going to be manufactured this year and cost over $600,000 already have a buyer.
If Phantom Coupé will be made in quantities of 200 per year, the amazing spiders by Alfa Romeo are only 500. As many of you might have guessed we’re talking about the convertible version of Alfa Romeo 8С Competizione, one of the most beautiful cars of the 20th century – 8C Spider. The Spider inherited from the coupe not only body outlines but also the power plant – 4.6-litre 450-hp V8 engine.
Incidentally, the same engine is installed at the new and fastest Maserati coupe, GranTurismo S. The specifications are a bit different, though, and because of that it’s by 10 hp weaker than that of the Alfa Romeo; it is, however, by 35 hp more powerful than the usual GranTurismo engine. Speeding up from 0 to 100 kmph is said to happen in 4.9 seconds; the maximum speed will be 295 kmph.
Lamborghini Gallardo LP-540-4, another supercar introduced in Geneva, has also increased its engine volume and power. The 10-cylinder atmosphere engine has been increased from 5.0 to 5.2 litres; it has 560 hp (+40 compare to the basic model). Speeding up from 0 to 100 kmph takes 3.7 seconds; from 0 to 200 kmph 11.8 seconds. There are no visible differences that show that. The designers, however, put a special emphasis on this engine’s low fuel consumption – only 14 litres per 100 km.
Audi (Lamborghini is their subsidiary) also presented a new engine to everyone’s delight: the legendary diesel V12 that had won at Le Mans not once finally went into serial production. The specifications of a 6,0-litre power plant are by all means impressive: 500 hp and 1000 Nm torque. Audi Q7 V12 TDI equipped with this engine can speed up to 100 kmph in 5.5 seconds. As for the supercoupe R8 TDI Le Mans, it speeds up from 0 to 100 kmph in mere 4.2 seconds and has a maximum speed of 300 kmph.
The Brits from the legendary Morgan garage brought 2 new cars at once. One of them is the serial version of Aeromax coupe only 100 of which will be issued. The second is an amazing concept LifeCar (or LIFECar – Lightweight Fuel Efficient Car), combining the trademark retro design, wooden body and… a cutting-edge engine working on hydrogen fuel. Which means zero harmful emissions and more that impressive dynamic characteristics. One should justify their reputation.
As for the Bugatti with a whimsical name Veyron Fbg Hermes introduced in Geneva, it hasn’t become more powerful or faster – the same 1001 hp and maximum 400 kmph. However, the looks and design of the salon have changed slightly, refurbished by Hermes designers. The car has become even more expensive though – exclusive things are never free.
Finally, one cannot but mention the 2 wonders of the Geneva Motor Show offering 2 options of how to conquer the traffic jams.
The first one traditionally was showcased by the French. It goes under the name of Lumeneo Smera. It’s a mixture of a scooter and a car with 2 seats: behind the pilot sits the passenger or luggage. At only 2400 mm long and 800 mm wide the technical wonder has a real cabin protected from all weather influences and other calamities, and is much safer than a motorcycle.
With the speed of 130 kmph safety should really be the primary concern. Smera will go into production next year. If we remember how fast the number of cars is increasing the innovation is really up-to-date.
The second and radical way of fighting traffic has been introduced by the unearthy "water-gliding and ground-swimming" vehicle by the Swiss Rinspeed. Designed on the base of Lotus Elise, the sQuba concept would really appeal to James Bond who crossed the spaces on the water and ground in Lotus Esprit with similar functional specifications in "The Spy Who Loved Me".
Unlike its movie prototype sQuba can dive up to 10 m without any special movie effects and move underwater at 3 kmph. The speed on the water surface is more (6 kmph); on the ground, much more (120 kmph). The car moves on the ground with the help of an electric engine; underwater 2 jet engines switch on and revolve a couple of propellers. If you see a traffic jam, go underwater and make a detour (or de-swim, if you like). People of Sochi, take note.
Ilya Kalinov
Photoreport
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