Get Excited For Geneva 2018: A Preview Guide For The Big Reveals

Time to bring out the big guns in neutral Switzerland.

We’re less than a month away from the 2018 Geneva Motor Show and we now have a clear preview for some of the big reveals. New information came to light in the past two weeks that allowed us to put together this Geneva pre-show preview guide. One of the best things about Geneva are the sheer number of ultra-exclusive reveals from the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche. Having both Pagani and Koenigsegg on hand ain’t too shabby either. But there’ll also be plenty of more mainstream reveals as well as interesting concepts. Let’s dig in.

McLaren has already announced it’ll show its fastest-lapping production car to date, the Senna. The 660 hp street-legal track car will be shown to the public for the first time, and we also would not be in the least bit surprised to see the spider variant of the 720S, which was revealed last year at this time. McLaren already promised us a “surprise,” so the open top could very well be it. Perhaps something more?

Audi is expected to unveil its fifth-generation A6 sedan and Avant wagon. More than likely, and this isn’t really anything new, the Avant will be an overseas model only with no plans to bring it stateside. We’ll hopefully be able to confirm this on the spot. Expect the new A6 to bear the brand’s latest exterior styling language, courtesy of current design chief Marc Lichte. His previous work includes the also new A8 and several concepts. The A6’s interior will also resemble that of its larger sibling. Sources claim the high-powered S6 and RS6 variants will arrive at a later date.

Bentley may have just revealed its all-new Continental GT at Frankfurt last September, but it know it can’t show up to Geneva empty handed. That’s why the Bentayga plug-in hybrid is scheduled for an unveiling. Exterior and interior styling is not expected to change much, if at all, save for possibly some unique badging. The Bentley SUV will share its hybrid hardware with its VW Group corporate cousin, the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid.

BMW’s big Geneva reveals are no-brainers at this point. The M8 concept and all-new X4 crossover will be seen for the first time in the flesh. While the X4 was just revealed in full on line, the M8 has only been seen in BMW-released spy shots. Like the 8 Series concept, the M8 concept won’t differ all that much from the upcoming production version. We do expect, however, this new concept’s design to be closer to the real deal given the project is entering its final development stages. It’s also possible, though still unconfirmed, the production-spec Z4 will also make its first appearance.

Ferrari always brings something big to Geneva and this year will be no different. The hardcore, track-focused Ferrari 488, which may or may not be badged as a new GTO, will be this year’s offering and we’re in for a treat. As just previewed with Ferrari’s teaser video, the 488 GTO (or maybe Speciale?) will be a 700-hp mid-engined monster that could very well dethrone the LaFerrari as the fastest street-legal Ferrari of all time. It’s amazing what can be done with a twin-turbo V8 these days. Along with the power increase and plenty of racing tech, expect a new set of Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires, 20-inch carbon fiber wheels, and an overall 20 percent increase in aero efficiency over the “standard” 488 GTB.

Geneva is big for Jaguar for this reason: the all-new I-Pace. This is not just any crossover, but the UK automaker’s first-ever all-electric vehicle. Although we’ve already seen it in concept form, the production-spec I-Pace isn’t expected to look all that different, and that’s a good thing because we liked what we saw. Along with a reported 395 hp on tap, the I-Pace will very much carry on Jaguar’s legacy of exhilarating performance. We can hardly wait.

Although Hyundai just revealed its new Nissan Juke rival, the Kona, at Los Angeles late last year, the automaker is bringing an all-electric version to Geneva. According to the automaker, it’ll offer nearly twice the driving range of the Nissan Leaf. And no, this is not a concept but an actual production model. The all-new 2019 Santa Fe crossover will also be making its debut appearance.

Italdesign, part of the Volkswagen Group, will bring the roadster variant of last year’s Audi R8 V10 Plus-based Zerouno coupe. Powered by the familiar 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10, last year’s Zerouno was an absolute stunner and we expect the roofless version to be equally thrilling. The new roadster is also expected to be built in very limited numbers, given just five coupes were built at a price of $1.6 million a pop.

Lexus continues its lineup expansion featuring that love it or hate it styling language with its first subcompact SUV, the UX. Revealed in concept form at Paris almost two years ago, the UX will directly face off against the new Jaguar E-Pace and other luxury small crossovers. It’s amazing how fast this particular segment has exploded and Lexus has no intention of missing out.

Last year at Geneva, Mercedes showed its Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid fighter, the AMG-GT four-door concept. It was absolutely stunning, though we personally could have done without all of that chrome covering its massive wheels. Exactly a year later, the production version will be unveiled and Mercedes-AMG has already begun teasing it with spy shots. The super sedan, or four-door coupe if you prefer, is expected to have an output of around 800 hp thanks to its hybridized powertrain. Porsche should be concerned. Mercedes will also be bringing its all-new A-Class hatchback, C-Class refresh, Maybach S-Class, and AMG G63 SUV, all of which have been revealed online.

Porsche will take full advantage of Geneva with the reveals of two extreme models, the new 718 Cayman GT4 and refreshed 911 GT3 RS. Both are powered by a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six, though with different outputs. We've heard the GT4 will produce around 450 hp while the GT3 RS will increase output from the current 500 hp to 520 hp. We've already seen a leaked image of it while the 718 Cayman GT4 was just caught camo-free in some recent spy shots, indicating both debuts are imminent online.

Will Rimac have Richard Hammond on hand to introduce its new all-electric hypercar?. Probably not, but in any case, the Croatian automaker will pull the sheets of what we expect to be called the Concept Two, the successor to the limited-run Concept One. Rimac has been mum on details so far other than it'll be an EV and fully autonomous, but if the Concept One produced 1,073 hp, the Concept Two will offer even more power in an effort to outscore the likes of the Bugatti Chiron. That’s a drag race we can’t wait to see happen.

Only a few days ago Toyota kicked off its promo campaign for its reborn Supra with a single teaser image showing the car’s rear glass and a massive spoiler. Is this the production-spec Supra we’ve been longing after for nearly five years, or a more advanced stage concept? A Gazoo Racing track version? All we can confirm is this: like the last Supra, the new one will have a turbocharged straight-six engine and rear-wheel-drive.

Porsche Reveals Limited Edition Watch For New 911

The Timeless Machine edition is limited to just 911 examples.

Maybe the connection between cars and watches seems natural to you. Maybe it doesn't. But push come to shove, many of those buying high-end sports cars expect to have the timepiece to go with their new wheels. And Porsche is only too happy to oblige.

In fact the automaker's product-design branch has already come out with a new watch to go with the eighth-generation 911 that just debuted at the 2018 LA Auto Show. It's called the Porsche Design 911 Chronograph Timeless Machine Limited Edition, and it looks almost as slick as the sports car it's made to accompany.

Drawing on nearly half a decade of expertise in crafting wristwatches, the Timeless Machine borrows its structural case from Porsche Design's 1919 timepiece, crafted from hypoallergenic titanium. In between the sapphire crystal face and case-back sits an ETA Valjoux 7750 mechanical chronograph movement with Porsche Design rotor. It features a low-profile bezel with a black face (adorned by the silhouette of the new sports car), white hands, red sweeping second hand, and lap-timing sub-dials. And it's all affixed to the wrist with a strap made of the same leather used inside the new 911.

The firm founded by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, designer of the original 911, will only make a highly symbolic 911 examples of the Timeless Machine edition. It'll be available (while those quantities last from Porsche automobile dealers and Porsche Design boutiques) for an equally symbolic retail price of €4,911 (or about $5,600 at current exchange rates). If that strikes you as a little too rich for your blood, chances are you won't be shelling out $113,300 for a new Carrera S (let alone $120,600 for the Carrera 4S), but Porsche Design offers a less expensive 1919 Datetimer for €2,950 (~$3,350).

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Aston Martin Reveals New Vantage GT3 & GT4 At Le Mans

New racing versions of Aston's latest hit the track at La Sarthe.

We've seen the new Aston Martin Vantage in road-going trim. We've even seen it in GTE racing spec. So what's next? Why, more racers, of course! And that's just what the British automaker has revealed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – where two of the Vantage GTEs are also racing this weekend, not incidentally. Revealed here are the new GT3 and GT4 racing versions of the all-new Vantage, based even more closely on the street-legal version and taking Aston's latest into a broader range of racing classes.

Like the road and GTE models, the Vantage GT3 and GT4 pack a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine sourced from Mercedes-AMG. Specifications for the GT4 version are apparently still being finalized, but the GT3 model boasts 525 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, making it slightly more powerful than the road-going sports car on which it's based (with its 503 hp and 505 lb-ft). At 1,245 kg (2,745 lbs), it's also lighter than the production Vantage (by some 628 lbs), and ditches the eight-speed automatic transmission in favor of a six-speed sequential gearbox from Xtrac. It also features a full roll cage, multi-plate clutch and brakes from Alcon, four-way adjustable dampers from ?hlins, and track-spec ABS from Bosch.

Driveability and a wide operating window remain key targets for us as we develop the new Vantage GT3 and GT4 racing cars," said AMR director John Gaw. "The current GT3 is very popular with customers... and from the expressions of interest that we have seen so far I believe we are on track to do that." The new Vantage GT3 is still being developed with an eye towards homologation (alongside the more accessible GT4 version) on March 1 of next year. But it's already competing in the Michelin Aston Martin Racing Le Mans Festival this weekend. The Vantage GT4 will also be on display in the paddock for potential customer racers to check out in situ before development is completed.

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Audi Q8 Reveals Its Shapely Rear End

Audi’s flagship SUV will also star in an original five-part video series starting later this month.

Audi is teasing the all-new Q8 crossover again, only this time it’s a lot more revealing than the line drawing released last month. This latest design sketch gives us a much better look at Audi’s new flagship crossover, focusing on its shapely rear end. As expected, it looks sleek and stylish, sporting a sloping roofline, an upward sweeping beltline, and a dual exhaust system with trapezoidal tailpipes integrated in the rear bumper. Like the Q7, the Q8 has a full-length taillight, while muscular rear fenders give it a sporty appearance.

In a Facebook post, Audi teased that the Q8 is “most definitely not a wolf in sheep’s clothing”, but an SUV with a “coupe design”. The Audi Q8 will also feature in an original five-part video series called Q8 Unleashed. From the teaser trailer, the mini-series focuses on a kidnapping. The main characters then use the Q8 to track down leads and presumably save the day.

“Sandra and Quentin, an extravagant power couple from the Golden State, had it all” the synopsis says. “Successful careers, a design loft, an influential circle of friends and the perfect car to match it all. But in a split second everything is about to change. Unleash five gripping episodes and be rewarded with a first glance at the most thrilling Audi SUV of all times.” The teaser trailer doesn’t reveal much, but there seems to be a blend of romance, drama, and of course some driving action scenes promoting the Q8’s prowess. It reminds us of the action-packed BMW Films starring Clive Owen. The first episode will be released on May 21. It ends on June 5, just before the Q8’s world debut.

We already know the Audi Q8 shares the same platform as the Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Bentayga, and Volkswagen Touareg. Engine options are expected to be carried over from the Q7, so expect a base model packing a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 252 hp and a more powerful turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 model with 355 hp. Audi is also expected to offer a plug-in hybrid variant with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, an electric motor and lithium-ion battery producing a combined 438 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Later down the line, a range-topping RS will complete the lineup – hopefully it will pack the Lamborghini Urus' twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 producing 650 hp.

Audi RS Q3 Reveals More Aggressive Styling

The camouflage is starting to come off the new range-topping Audi Q3.

Audi recently lifted the covers off the all-new Q3 featuring more aggressive styling and larger proportions, but it won’t be long before more hardcore variants of the luxury crossover arrive. Spy shots have shown that Audi Sport is giving the Q3 the RS treatment, and now another prototype has been spotted in Southern Europe hiding under less camouflage than before.

Once again, the most obvious clue that we’re looking at the new range-topping Q3 are the oval exhaust tips, which are usually reserved for the hot RS models. The rear bumper is also more sculpted and has a small diffuser between the exhaust pipes.

At the front, the RS Q3 prototype now sports a production bumper with aggressive air intakes, while the grille has a new pattern that appears to be standard for new RS models as the grille on an RS Q8 prototype had a similar pattern. It also looks similar to the grille on the recently facelifted R8. Earlier prototypes of the Audi RS Q3 were also seen sporting bigger brakes with ceramic discs and what looked like six-piston calipers.

As for the powertrain, the RS Q3 is expected to be powered by the same 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine found in the RS3 and TT RS tuned to deliver around 400 hp. Unlike the last model, it should also be available in the US. Don’t expect the hardcore Q3 to arrive any time soon though since even the base Q3 doesn’t go on sale in the US until next year.

After that, the SQ3 is due to arrive sometime in 2019, which will most likely adopt the S3’s 2.0-liter TFSI that produces 292 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, so we aren't expecting to see the RS Q3 go on sale until late 2019 or early 2020.

Audi Reveals 450-HP RS5 Coupe: BMW M4 Fans Should Be Worried

Audi has made this as enticing as possible, almost as enticing as the upcoming RS5 Sportback.

Thanks to a previous leak made by a misbehaving attendee at an Audi dealership presentation, we already knew a thing or two about the RS5 Coupe that’s just had its wraps peeled off at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. Our eyes can already tell that it’ll be better looking, but the Audi specs sheet confirms that it will indeed make 450 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, a figure available in full from 1,900 RPM and up to 5,000 RPM thanks to a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 that sends its power to all four wheels.

We previously postulated that this would be a slightly revised version of the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 from the Porsche Panamera 4S, but Audi has made it clear that it built this unit from the ground up, helping it achieve the impressive power output numbers we see here while preserving a 27 mpg average to appease EPA regulators. This is no doubt helped by the fact that, despite being 2.9 inches longer than its predecessor, this RS5 Coupe weighs 132 pounds less than the previous version. The RS5’s weight loss intentions can be signaled by an optional bare carbon fiber roof, which should go nicely with optional 20-inch wheels (up from the standard 19-inch set) and optional gloss black, carbon, or matte aluminum appearance packages.

These help highlight the pronounced wheel arches, which have been widened by 0.6-inches to make for a more aggressive stance. We’re happy to announce that this pretty sedan will hit some impressive performance targets, including a 0-62 mph time of 3.9 seconds while the optional dynamic package unlocks a 174 mph top speed. These numbers are enabled by the eight-speed tiptronic transmission that can be optioned with a rear sport differential. If a carbon fiber roof wasn’t enough to lower the center of gravity, consider that Audi has already lowered the RS5 “significantly” compared to its predecessor while outfitting it with Dynamic Ride Control, ceramic brakes, and dynamic steering with RS-specific tuning.

Inside, Audi has inlayed the Nappa leather seats with its signature diamond pattern stitching. Also on tap inside is a flat-bottomed steering wheel and a bevy of RS logos on the seats, steering wheel, door sill trims, and gear selector. A special RS display, which gives vital performance information like G-force, torque output, optimal shift times, and tire pressure, reminds the driver that this is still a sports car. Audi’s MMI, notable for being one of the least annoying infotainment systems, has gotten slightly better with the inclusion of a Wi-Fi hotspot to go along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For now, we know that Audi will release the RS5 Coupe to European dealerships in June with a starting price of €80,900 ($85,500).

If our leaked dealership presentation holds any water, which we’d wager it does given how accurate it turned out to be, we’d hold out for the Coupe’s more attractive sibling, the upcoming RS5 Sportback based on the jaw-dropping S5 Sportback we recently saw in LA.

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