The Hooniversal Opinion: A Conventional Geneva 2015

Geneva
Geneva is an interesting auto show. There is always something really important launching there, and this year is no different. For some reason, it always seems like the major European sports car manufacturers choose Geneva to display their ‘exciting’ offerings. Unfortunately, none of the elegant scribes from our hallowed halls will be in attendance of the Geneva show, so we’ll be reporting from the sidelines. I’ll set up the pins, and the rest of our faultless crew will knock them down with unstoppable bowling ball of opinionated journalism.
We have new car launches in the form of Mercedes’ AMG GT3 racer, Audi’s R8, Porsche’s Cayman GT4 and 911 GT3 RS, Lamborghini’s Aventador Superveloce, Morgan’s Aero 8, Jeep’s Renegade ‘Hard Steel’, Range Rover’s Evoque Cabriolet, McLaren’s 675LT and P1 GTR, Brabus’ Rocket 900, Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus’ SCG 003, Koenigsegg’s Agera RS and Regera, and Aston Martin’s Vulcan and V12 Vantage GT3. There are also some pretty tempting concept pieces, with Infiniti dropping the small QX30 Concept, Bentley’s EXP 10 Speed 6, Volkswagen’s Sport Coupe GTE, Lexus’ LF-SA, and Magna Steyr’s MILA.
Photographs are either manufacturer supplied, or politely swiped from the hands of our friends at Autoblog and Autoweek.

Mercedes AMG GT3

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I don’t really dig the AMG GT, but I’m probably alone in feeling that way. This GT3 version of the car, however, really gets my pulse going. Mostly because of the amazingness that is the current international GT3 racing field. If this car picks up where the SLS AMG left off, we should continue to see some close and fun-to-follow racing. Here’s hoping AMG forms a factory team around this car and shows up in the SCCA’s Pirelli World Challenge series.
I was a bit surprised that the new GT3 car uses the old SLS’ 6.3 naturally aspirated V8, rather than the 4.0 Turbo in the new GT street car. A bit of “if it ain’t broke…”, I guess.
– Bradley C. Brownell
I remarked to Jeff and Greg at the Chicago Auto Show that this had to be Merc’s next GT3 car in a year or two and, it turns out, I was right. Mercedes have cleverly shortened the name from the GT it’s based on so nobody has to say Gee-Tee-Gee-Tee-Three. That would be very undignified for a Mercedes, no? Anyway, like Audi, Mercedes aren’t going to be left behind with new GT3 cars coming soon from Audi, Lamborghini, BMW, Cadillac, Callaway (who are trying to homologate the C7.R for 2016), almost certainly Ferrari, and quite possibly Ford (with their own Gee-Tee-Gee-Tee-Three). While Audi revealed their own new GT3 at Geneva, the not-a-Gee-Tee-Gee-Tee-Three looks much sleeker. Will it compete? I’m sure it will reuse enough improved components from the long-in-the-tooth SLS GT3 to have minimal time coming up to speed.
– Eric Rood
Covered this last week in The News; I loved it then and I love it now. The AMG GT3 is smaller than the SLS GT3 it replaces yet it still has the same 6.3-liter V8. All is well in the world.
– Greg Kachadurian
This thing looks f$%^ing mean. Imagine in Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne returned from his whole “learn to be a real man” adventure in Asia looking like Bane instead of a vinyl/animal play fetishist. Such is the transformation the GT has undergone.
– Tim Odell

Audi R8

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By picking up Porsche, the Volkswagen Audi group have learned a thing or two about evolutionary design. I like it. Why completely shake up a good thing? The old R8 looked good, and this one just builds on that proven concept.
– Bradley C. Brownell
I drove a 2014 R8. It was a base V8 model with a proper gate shifted 6-speed transmission. It was perfect. It wasn’t stupid fast but it was faster than it seemed, its chassis still being faster. Those who have read my reviews know that I am a big fan of dual-clutch transmissions, especially on Porsches and BMWs. But not in this case. This was perfect – it was the perfect gearbox matched to perfectly sufficient engine, in a beautiful chassis. Audi’s sequel to the R8 has to hit the right mark, but that mark is located over a bar that has been set very high in all categories.
– Kamil Kaluski
The new R8 is a clean evolution of the previous R8 design despite being all new underneath. Would you like to see a more significant visual change to the R8? Sure, we all likely would, but then it wouldn’t be an R8. Sadly, one big change seen this year is the loss of the gated manual shifter in the name of ultimate performance. As with the original R8, this will probably be a car that isn’t very exciting in photographs, but will convey its ‘specialness’ when seen in person.
– Bryce Womeldurf
Another new supercar that I’m not sure about. I don’t hate it but I don’t exactly love it either. No complaints about the specs or the performance, but… there’s just something about the front that keeps me from loving it.
– Greg Kachadurian
Alas, first-gen R8s haven’t begun depreciating enough yet.
– Tim Odell
Who’s been feeding the R8 carbs?
-Jeff Glucker

Audi R8 LMS GT3

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The next generation of GT3 cars are being unveiled and Audi won’t be left behind with a car that is lighter and somehow more reliable, even though reliability has seldom been an R8 GT3 problem. Add in GT3-first safety features like a carbon-fiber crash structure and a driver evacuation door in the roof and, as usual, Audi are ahead of the curve. Expect this to be competitive right out of the crate and expect it to sell in ridiculously high numbers like the previous generation, of which more than 100 have been built.
– Eric Rood
Ah… so this one gave up the carbs. Very nice
-Jeff Glucker

Porsche 911 (991) GT3 RS

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The GT3 is the 911 that a true enthusiast buys, a true track junkie who is willing to compromise street comfort for a third of a second in a lap. The GT3 RS turns that up a notch. Is it necessary? No. Do we want it? Yes. If I had the money would I buy it over the GT3? No. Do I ask questions and then answer them? Yes. Do I think it’s annoying? Yup. Would I buy an equivalent Audi R8 over a Porsche 911? Yes!
– Kamil Kaluski
This looks phenomenal and I love it dearly, but a Porsche 911 GT3 RS with an automatic = the ultimate track weapon for the person who isn’t really into track days.
– Greg Kachadurian
I’m waiting on the Aston Martin Vantage GT3, which will most likely be slower than this Porsche… but better looking and possessing of more soul. Still, this thing is a technical achievement, and it’s going to kick all sorts of asses on all sorts of tracks.
-Jeff Glucker

Porsche Cayman GT4

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This is the car I’m most excited about. The Cayman GT4 is everything I want in a car right now, and if I had the spare 85 grand (or like 650 a month), I’d be putting in an order for one right now. Porsche is doing the thing everyone has internet-screamed at them about for almost a decade, which is to say they are putting big tires and a big engine in their mid-engine platform. 385 horsepower, some sticky Michelins, and a truly sublime chassis make for a great car. I want one in the worst way.
– Bradley C. Brownell
Truth is, I wouldn’t bother with the GT3 or the GT3 RS. I would buy this Cayman GT4. It’s not as fast and it’s not as sexy, and I don’t care. It will probably be a better car for an idiot who races a Buick. Actually, I’d probably just get a Cayman GTS. Or a 911 GTS. Or, crap, I don’t know!!!! How the hell does one decide which Porsche to get!?
Screw it. I want a 911 Targa Turbo with all the 50th Anniversary bits. Make that a Targa Turbo S.
– Kamil Kaluski
Hey Kamil, that car doesn’t exist.
– Bradley C. Brownell
It does too, exist! Hater! It’s right next my WRC-winning Polonez!
-Kamil Kaluski
TAKE MY MONEY. TAKE IT.
– Greg Kachadurian
I’d argue this (or really any Cayman) is the Porsche for someone who buys a Porsche for the right reasons, rather than prestige and name recognition. I’ve yet to meet a woman who didn’t think the Cayman looked dumb. At $85k…well…hopefully they’re robust enough to make a decent classic some day (i.e., when I can afford one).
– Tim Odell
This is just damn near perfect.
-Jeff Glucker

Ford Focus RS

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Dude! Bro! This thing looks totally awesome! 320hp, six-speed manual. If priced right this is the better hatchback Subaru STI everyone has been asking for. It looks more cartoon-ish than the STI, which is quite an accomplishment. In fact, I think it’s a bit overdone. I can see it scream “I’m a hooligan!” as it drifts off sideways, leaving me in a cloud of dust, snickering in my Golf R. And I would be okay with that. Bro.
– Kamil Kaluski
The RS has long been forbidden fruit here in the states and it’s finally going to be offered here. Not only that, but it will be all wheel drive and offer a drift mode. The Lancer Evolution may be on its way out the door, FRS and BRZ sales are down, and the RX-8 is no more, but sport compacts, thankfully, still march on. Let’s hope it’s still offered in that bright lime green that the second generation had, but even the blue that it’s been shown in is quite nice.
– Bryce Womeldurf
This thing allegedly has a “Drift” button. What else needs to be said?
– Greg Kachadurian
Dear enthusiasts of 2005-Now: your bluff has been called. Will you buy this over a Mustang, WRX or Golf-R? Will you buy it at all? You’ve had five years to get up to manager of the local medium-box retail establishment. Spend those McDollars!
– Tim Odell
My Camero has a drift button: THE GAS PEDLE!!! HUR HUR HUR
– Some Redneck on YouTube
Dear Ford… START GIVING US PRESS CARS, YOU BASTARDS. I want, nay, NEEEEEED to drive this thing.
-Jeff Glucker

Ferrari 488 GTB

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This might just be the first pretty Ferrari since the 288 GTO. 458 was decent looking, but the 488 has taken the concept to what it should have looked like all along. I can’t wait for the GT3 racing version of this car. Alongside the R8 LMS and the Merc AMG GT3, the grids should be packed with gorgeous race cars soon.
– Bradley C. Brownell
The side scoop is back! Something about the 458’s appearance was always just too smooth. The new front end has a cleaner look without the 458’s aero whiskers. The 488 GTB is much more of a looker, in my opinion. But the big news here is the addition of twin turbochargers. Despite having less displacement, both power and torque are increased. With some companies you’d worry that the V8 might lose it’s signature wail, but this is Ferrari. If anyone can make the force-fed V8 sound good and react similarly to a naturally aspirated one, it’s Ferrari.
– Bryce Womeldurf
I’m still not sure about the styling on this one. I love the rear but that’s all I’m certain about. The front wouldn’t be bad if the headlights didn’t look so… I don’t know. Just doesn’t look right to me.
– Greg Kachadurian

Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce

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Can’t really go wrong with this one, can you? The Aventador is already one of the best looking Lamborghinis ever built, and they just made it more aggressive and scarier with the Superveloce. The car has received 60 more horsepower and lost 110 pounds over the “standard” Does anyone actually drive an Aventador quickly enough to be able to tell the difference, though? Maybe Clarkson or Harris? The center lock wheels look hella-cool, though.
– Bradley C. Brownell
The Aventador has slimmed down and bulked up with use of carbon fiber and additional power, in the form of the new Super Veloce. Weight reduction and magnetorheological shocks will definitely mean a faster, even more giggle-inducing Lamborghini, but possibly a more precise handler as well.
– Bryce Womeldurf
I’ve been crazy about every SV-badged Lamborghini released to date; but this one, not so much. If you look back at the Diablo SV and Murcielago SV, those cars look menacing but not over the top. This thing looks over the top. It looks silly rather than menacing, as if the car was designed to be in a future free-to-play Need for Speed mobile game.
– Greg Kachadurian

Morgan Aero 8

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I’ve never seen one in person, but it looks fantastic. With this one they seemed to have fixed everything that I found objectionable in the previous cars – headlights and interior. Hopefully it doesn’t drive like a pile of wooden junk.
– Kamil Kaluski
It’s still a somewhat strange looking car, but it has all of the modern performance combined with vintage looks that we’ve all come to admire from Morgan. A BMW supplied driveline includes a V8 engine, 6 speed auto or manual transmissions, and a new limited slip rear axle. The aluminum chassis is stiffer, which helps the suspension do the work it should do. This iteration should be an improvement in pretty much every way over the old one.
– Bradley C. Brownell
What might be the most British brand ever continues to be as British as they can be. Never change, Morgan… never change.
– Greg Kachadurian
The four-wheeled Morgans of the last decade or so demonstrate how antique forms and modern aerodynamic demands rarely play well together. To me, they look like a Craigslist find where someone slapped a body kit and late-model BMW wheels on a baroque 70s kit car.
– Tim Odell

Jeep Renegade ‘Hard Steel’

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The “Hard Steel” sounds like either a terrible second tier action film featuring Keanu Reeves, Jason Statham, and Hugh Jackman as an underground cyborg streetfighting crew, or your typical pornographic film release.
As I’ve said about the Renegade before, no stick in the Trailhawk? No care. That being said, I do like the look of this ‘Hard Steel’ version, especially with all of those optional ‘Mopar’ performance bits. Neat little trucklet.
– Bradley C. Brownell
“I shall call him… Mini Me”.
– Greg Kachadurian
I was going to say something about diluting the Jeep brand, but then I saw the next item on the list.
– Tim Odell
You bastard… how dare you Tim.
-Jeff Glucker

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Cabriolet

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Why?
– Bradley C. Brownell
I liked the Nissan CrossCabriolet. Everyone was bitching that a two-door convertible CUV made no sense. Everyone seems to have forgotten that the origins of SUVS were two-door convertibles – Broncos, Blazers, Land Rovers, Jeeps. All had two door and a removable roofs, and apparently all made no sense.
The problem with the Nissan CrossCabrio was that it was a Nissan Murano, a basic CUV that wanted to be fancy but wasn’t. Had Nissan chopped the roof off the Infiniti FX35, it would be a much more popular vehicle. Land Rover does not have that problem, blonde trophy wives who wear big sunglasses will buy the Evoque ‘vert.
– Kamil Kaluski
A friend of mine mentioned on Facebook that this morning he watched a woman in a Range Rover blow a red light 200 feet from a school to drive 200 feet to drop off her kid(s) at the school. Now, well-to-do yuppie scum can pull such maneuvers in style while also hearing the crushing of proletarian bones under the otherwise-super-quiet ride.
– Eric Rood
No. No, no, no, NO. Just NO. I’ll bet Kamil is going to go on about how the original SUVs were rag tops and were awesome, but just NO. This isn’t like the originals at all! Stop it!
– Greg Kachadurian
[Somewhat contented that Jeep isn’t the most diluted 4×4 brand yet]
– Tim Odell
Because Jeep tops don’t come off? *weeps into stuffed Defender 110 plush*
-Jeff Glucker

McLaren P1 GTR

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I love rule books. I love the sound they make as they go flying out the window.
– Greg Kachadurian
The GTR version of the P1 is apparently a non-road, non-race, track toy for those who have the means. This seems like it will be a great opportunity to start a one make customer racing series like the Ferrari Challenge. Customers will also get to go through McLaren’s driver program. And the rest of us might have a new supporting series to watch when a race comes to town.
– Bryce Womeldurf
I’m just so happy to be here!
– McLaren P1 GTR

McLaren 675LT

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The 675LT looks the way that the MP4-12C should have from the beginning. Not that the MP4-12C or the 650S were bad to look at, but the former wasn’t aggressive enough and the latter didn’t quite mesh the designs of the MP4-12C with the P1 well enough. The 675LT and P1 look related. There’s a family resemblance without the 675LT appearing derivative. Third time’s the charm.
– Bryce Womeldurf
For a car with Longtail in its name, an extra inch-and-a-half added to the back hardly qualifies as a true longtail. Maybe call it the 675SLT for “sorta-longtail”.
– Greg Kachadurian
There are situations where an extra inch-and-a-half is impressive. This is not one of those.
– Tim Odell

Brabus Rocket 900

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For when a standard S600 twin turbo V12 doesn’t provide enough thrust for you. Oh Jeeves, pull the car around, and be quick about it. The stockholders meeting starts in 20 minutes.
– Bradley C. Brownell
An S65 AMG tuned to 900 horsepower: the official car of “I need to look down on people in my S-Class, just super quickly”.
– Greg Kachadurian
Coming soon to a freeway center divider near you!
– Tim Odell
Brabus is just the best… Dignified Ridiculousness!
-Jeff Glucker

Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus SCG 003

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Mostly I just see this as a wealthy man’s plaything, but it is an interesting concept. When was the last time that a car could be driven to the track, raced fairly competitively, and then driven back home again? Wealthy man Cam Glickenhaus aims to do just that with his new automobile. The SCG 003 will be raced at the 24 hours of Nurburgring this year, and he’s aiming for a “Garage 56” entry at Le Mans as well. The interesting thing here is that the car will rock up to the circuit using a street tuned VAG W12 twin turbo and likely an automatic gearbox, where it will undergo a rear subframe swap to incorporate an HPD twin turbo V6 and sequential gearbox for the race portion. Sounds interesting. Let’s see where he goes with this.
– Bradley C. Brownell
I love everything about this. This car looks crazy and it seems like a really impressive build for someone determined to build their own supercar. If I had the kind of cash to throw around on a car like this, I absolutely would. It’s a flashy car but it’s one that’s built to race, and that’s alright in my book.
– Greg Kachadurian
Drive to the track, swap the engine and race? This sounds like a Speedycop-grade fiasco-slash-triumph in the making.
– Tim Odell

Aston Martin Vulcan

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The track toy play thing for the uber rich. It’s unnecessary in the best way possible. As part of the purchase price, Aston hosts a driver’s school for new owners. I think for that kind of money, I’d want at least a few laps in a DBR-9 GT1 car, and the Lola Aston Martin LMP. Just as long as they don’t make me drive an AMR-One.
– Bradley C. Brownell
My favorite thing about this car is that Aston Martin was able to squeeze 800 horsepower out of a 7.0-liter V12. No turbochargers or any other trickery; just old-fashioned displacement. Usually when automakers build crazy super-limited race cars like this it’s because they have some new tech/features/hardware they want to test out before they appear in production cars. It’s probably not likely, but I’m hoping that this engine sees the street at some point.
– Greg Kachadurian
(Obligatory Nimoy joke in poor taste.)
– Tim Odell
Just know that I’m praying to every god in your books to try and drive this thing… for science. (and boners).
-Jeff Glucker

Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3

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Trying to beat Porsche at their own game? Take some stuff out of the car and charge more for it? Yeah, that game. Could be interesting.
– Bradley C. Brownell
What’s not perfect: Europe only.
What is perfect: everything else.
– Greg Kachadurian
I miss the ones with the weird rave lipstick/paint huffing mouth look.
– Tim Odell
Did you ever know that you’re my heeeeerooooo
-Jeff Glucker

Koenigsegg Agera RS

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Only another Koenigsegg could make this car look slow.
– Greg Kachadurian

Koenigsegg Regera

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It doesn’t have a transmission, and apparently uses Prius tech in order to accomplish that. So this is a Prius that can sprint 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, and has carbon fiber everything. Yep. The hyper-hybrid for the guy who doesn’t want a LaFerrari to match his next door neighbor.
– Bradley C. Brownell
This car is a mindf**k. 1,000-horsepower twin-turbo V8 with 700 horsepower-worth of electric motors and no gearbox? 0-248 mph in under 20 seconds? At a time when the Porsche 918, McLaren P1, and Ferrari Ferrari reign king, Koenigsegg was due to prove they were the maddest. But that’s Koenigsegg’s secret… they’re always mad.
– Greg Kachadurian
Is it physically possible to exit this car without an extra 2 ft to open the door? I suppose it must be nice to design a car around the (entirely reasonable) assumption that it will never be parked in a parking lot.
– Tim Odell

Honda Civic Type R

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Yep, another CTR that we aren’t going to get here in the US. At least this one I can understand, because only a Yurpean could find beauty in that face. Goodness what an ugly car. Yeah, it’s fast at the Nurburgring, which is cool, but could you really love something with such strange proportions?
– Bradley C. Brownell
This looks silly but in all the right ways. WHY CAN’T WE HAVE NICE THINGS, HONDA?
– Greg Kachadurian
The Type R returns, but will it finally arrive here? Honda seems to have been holding back on its North American enthusiasts since the ending of the S2000. Without whining too much, let’s hope they offer it here, because it’s apparently quite capable. According to a CarThrottle article that came out Wednesday, it’s made a faster lap around the Nürburgring than such notable sport and supercars as the Ford GT, Porsche 997 Turbo, and an early Lamborghini Gallardo.
– Bryce Womeldurf
Keep dreaming, Bryce. We ain’t getting it.
– Bradley C. Brownell
Seriously, we’re definitely not getting it. I was chatting up Honda folks at a recent press launch for a different vehicle, and I kept bringing the conversation back to this one. While ‘Ring times are mostly a pissing contest, what this car accomplished is nothing short of amazing.
-Jeff Glucker

Infiniti QX30 Concept

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If you ask any automaker to sum up their design language, they’d reply with a press release that crams words like “muscular, dynamic, bold, dynamic dynamism, contemporary,dynamically dynamistic dynamism, and aggressive“. Infiniti calls this compact luxury crossover concept “aggressive” as well, only they mean it. I dislike luxury compact crossovers, so because this one looks like it would beat up all the others on the playground, I like it.
– Greg Kachadurian
Infiniti, I told you I liked whatever it is you’re calling this design language. I still do, but you’re like, one crease away from completely overdoing it and ruining the whole thing.
– Tim Odell
“Yeah, who ordered the Mercedes-Benz GLA with extra swoops? Your order is ready.” Seriously… it’s a GLA underneath. There’s nothing wrong with that, I just find it interesting.
-Jeff Glucker

Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 Concept

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This is one of the most gorgeous concept cars I’ve seen in recent memory. I love everything about this car. It’ll undoubtedly be too heavy if it ever reaches production, but it’s just so pretty I don’t think I could fault it. No word yet on engine or transmission, but it certainly looks like it’ll carry a sportier driving experience than the Continental GT. This could be Bentley’s way of saying they want to start competing with Aston Martin, making big luxurious insanely fast GT cars.
– Bradley C. Brownell
I drove the Bentley Continental and have been driven in it several times, and I never liked it. I like how it looks, but once in it, once driving it, I was just disappointed. This small concept seems to push all the right buttons for me. It looks fantastic on the outside, a perfect blend of classic and new, and the interior looks amazing. It’s looks better than any Aston Martin, and the best part is that it isn’t an Aston Martin, which three of my Palm Beach neighbors have. If I had Palm Beach neighbors.
– Kamil Kaluski
This was one of the few surprises of the Geneva Motor Show and it’s my favorite. This is just gorgeous and I really hope they produce it and make it relatively affordable (lol). I’d get mine in this exact color once I’ve sold my internals to science.
– Greg Kachadurian
I’m sure there’s some Historically Significant back story to that name, but it’s as though the spectrum’s wrapping around on itself: the ultra-high end cars and Guangzhou knockoffs have similar alphanumeric nonsense names.
– Tim Odell
It’s so god damn good looking.
-Jeff Glucker

Volkswagen Sport Coupe GTE Concept

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If this trend continues, the future of the sedan is a “four-door coupe” with no rear-seat headroom.
– Greg Kachadurian
A first glance at the front end of the GTE could have you wondering whether it is smiling at you or plotting to kill you. But that’s an improvement. The lines of the more recent Volkswagen sedans have been on the boring side. Good details, but dull. This new GTE could make a good replacement for the CC or Passat, but it’s a size class above those two, so definitely just a design concept. Let’s hope that the design language doesn’t get too watered down for production on whichever model it appears first. With the new Golf having been recently released to great reviews, the Beetle being new again, and the Passat not being that old, perhaps it will show up on the Jetta. The most interesting part is that this car pairs with a smart watch that claims to detect the driver’s mood and route you home based on that. Send me home via the twisty route everyday, please.
– Bryce Womeldurf

Lexus LF-SA Concept

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I’m going to pretend this doesn’t exist so I can keep loving Lexus for the LFA. The LFA was enough to make me love Lexus and this is enough to make me dismiss them again. It’s like the NX had a growth or something and this is the result of the amputation.
– Greg Kachadurian
This takes the “predator face” front end to a whole new level, where it now resembles a dust mite. It’s 25lbs of styling in a 5lb bag, but despite that and with how small it is, it’s rather cute. Lexus calls it a hatchback, but with how tall the body appears to be and how animalistic the styling is, it would be interesting to see something like this flying over the sands of a future Dakar rally.
– Bryce Womeldurf

Magna Steyr MILA Plus Hybrid Concept

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Carrying a 3 cylinder gasoline engine and a pair of electric motors, this sounds a lot like a BMW i8 with less carbon tub. The stats look good, featuring 270 combined horsepower, and a 300+ mile hybrid range (43 electric only miles). It’d be pretty easy, and perhaps quite fun, to commute to work every day in a sports car like this while burning no fuel.
– Bradley C. Brownell
This car looks promising, but the fact that these guys bring a new concept every year makes me wonder if we’ll ever see this on the road. If it was priced right and had more range I think it could do well.
– Greg Kachadurian
Magna is an engineering-for-hire company, building entire powertrains or other major automotive assemblies. Why they feel the need to drape their kickass engineering accomplishments in a mishmash of design cues rendered in polymer is beyond me. Show us a real-life cutaway running on a dyno or something. Way cooler.
– Tim Odell (who might just be an engineer and not a designer)

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  1. The Rusty Hub Avatar
    The Rusty Hub

    I’ve added some opinions because I have opinions about things.
    Hard Steel Jeep: Robot porn name. Definitely a Rule 34 thing.
    Glickenhaus Car: Rich guy wants to go old-school racing with budget that trumps several African countries’ GDPs. Is it wrong to like that? I don’t car if it’s wrong.
    Koenigeseggeggeggeggegg Electric Prius F*** You-Mobile: Proving yet again how pointless it is for Formula E cars to have gearboxes. Seriously.
    Infiniti QX30 needs to switch to decaf.
    The Lexus LF-SA is a few strategically placed dabs of teal and pink away from inventing the Trapper Keeper Grille™.

    1. theskitter Avatar

      Koenigseggeggegg: Proving again how anything with 1700hp doesn’t need a transmission.
      Ever notice that the 918 Spyder is essentially a 4-speed? Do the math, 212 in 4th. As far as performance, 5th, 6th, and 7th are irrelevant. Even a puny 900hp will do that for you. It’s an extreme case among many cars that hit top speed before top gear. There are a lot of different philosophies for choosing gearing. It might be the shortest gears that can actually put the power down, or set up for easy driving in stop-and-go traffic, or equal gear drops up to top speed on the longest straight.
      But if they can put the power down, both might be faster with more gears.* Electric motor/generators have sweet spots for speed and load. Power takes torque AND rpm. A single speed gearbox might be adequate for appliances or dragsters. But as long as there is even 5% efficiency to be gained, for the ultimate in performance or range, I respectfully disagree that the transmission’s time is past.
      *Not to mention more fun.

  2. Citric Avatar
    Citric

    Lexus LF-SA – someone was mad that Aston stopped selling Cygnets.

  3. Muthalovin Avatar
    Muthalovin

    Focus RS: GIVE. NOW.

  4. Greg Kachadurian Avatar
    Greg Kachadurian

    If anyone was wondering why I dropped the Mini Me reference on the Jeep, it’s because this was the first image I saw when I looked it up.
    http://global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/img/Leisure/2009/renegade-trailer-876.jpg
    Also I just noticed that the trailer has a gas cap… lol wut

    1. Bradley Brownell Avatar
      Bradley Brownell

      I just figured you were speaking from the perspective of a Wrangler or something. I don’t pretend to understand your brain.
      FYI, that trailer will NEVER make production.

      1. Greg Kachadurian Avatar
        Greg Kachadurian

        I don’t even understand my brain, tbh.

    2. mdharrell Avatar

      http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7347/9936422556_4ab1518bf8.jpg
      I see nothing wrong with a trailer having a gas cap.

    3. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Expedition equipment with spare gas included makes sense…Chrysler trusting its products to go on a proper expedition, on the other hand, doesn’t.

    4. Vairship Avatar
      Vairship

      That’s not a gas cap, it’s hiding the beer tap. 😉

  5. Vavon Avatar
    Vavon

    I really like the Jeep Renegade. I’m seriously thinking of taking one for a test drive.

    1. Citric Avatar
      Citric

      I want to get a closer look but I don’t think I want to replace what I have now with one.

    2. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Me too. They got the looks exactly right on this one. Considering it’s a Fiat 500L underneath (wasn’t it?), I’m instantly much more positive to the Jeep-branding flavour. And yellow rocks – or, as we say in Norwegian: “Gult er kult” (Yellow is cool).

      1. Vairship Avatar
        Vairship

        “Gold is cold” doesn’t have quite the same ring 😉

  6. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Supercar overload. I’m not sure about Ferrari and Lambo – it feels a bit as if they are out of ideas, delivering very safe designs. Or maybe it’s just me who’d prefer the odd Noble or tiny, handthinned weirdomobil if the money were flowing relentlessly into my secret Swiss bank accounts.
    LandRover following Nissan gets a big thumbs up for me. Not least because the Evoque has been the #1 hatemobile to the visibility crowd. Removing the roof does fix that. And, be honest, this is a car people buy to be seen. Just another logical reason to get rid of that roof.

  7. mad_science Avatar

    Saying this as a blog commenter, not EIC, mind you…
    Attempting to comment on this year’s Geneva crop reinforced to me how little I care about supercars. I find myself empathizing with non-car people in that I recognize the specs of these vehicles, but can’t internalize how they affect me in any way.

    1. Bryce Womeldurf Avatar

      I usually love them but there were enough that even I was starting to get supercar fatigue.

      1. dr zero Avatar
        dr zero

        I think it’s just a sign that we aren’t 14 any more.

        1. mdharrell Avatar

          If “psychological distance from supercars” is the standard, I don’t want to acknowledge what those two cars of mine I posted above must say about my age.

        2. Bryce Womeldurf Avatar

          Adulthood? I hope not. I still laugh at stupid jokes. Heck, I still make stupid jokes. In my case, I think I just ran low on adjectives. You probably know this, but usually when these super/hyper/megacars come out, they’re pushing the envelope further than it’s been pushed. But then when there are two Koenigseggs, that kind of throws a wrench into things. It’s like their productivity threw me off my game a little. The SCG sounds great and I’ve loved Glickenhaus’s creations so far. I just couldn’t really think of anything else to say about it. Same with the new Porsches.

    2. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Exactly that.

  8. rovingardener Avatar
    rovingardener

    The Lexus LF-SA Concept looks to be and angry hedgehog or something like it. It is a derivative of the iQ and is just what Lexus might think could sell even though the Aston based on the same platform most certainly didn’t.

  9. Eric Rucker Avatar

    You know, I wonder if that Sport Coupe GTE is a Phaeton concept. Or, there’s some speculation that it’s a CC concept, but that’d push the CC into Phaeton territory itself.