The Geneva Motor Show kicks off on Thursday, March 6, and soon we'll be flooded with too many cars to keep track.
We've gone through all the leaks, early releases and sneak peaks to bring you the five favorite cars we'll be seeing at Geneva. More may still being kept under wraps, but these are our picks from those we know about:
Golf GTI
This new GTI is being released in Europe in May, so it's unclear when we'll get it in the United States. But we'll be waiting with bated breath for this one.
The Golf GTI boasts impressive specs. The hatchback makes 220 hp (the optional performance package GTI makes 230) at 4500 rpm, and its direct injection 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine is turbocharged. The GTI comes with either a direct-shift gearbox dual-clutch transmission or six-speed manual and can do zero to 62 mph in 6.4 seconds. The new GTI does all this while still making 18 percent better fuel economy than its predecessor.
Lamborghini Veneno
A leaked magazine scan revealed the jaw-dropping new Lamborghini hypercar Sunday, and it looks good. Hyper good. The Veneno, whose name means "venom" in Spanish certainly looks sinister enough to be named for poison. The new Lamborghini reportedly has a 740 horsepower, 6.5 liter V12 that will launch the car from zero to 60 in under three seconds, and will top out at 220 mph. Already want one? You'll need $4.6 million.
Audi A3 g-tron/e-tron
While the exterior is nothing special (we've seen this generation of the Audi hatch since Geneva 2012), the two new eco-friendly A3s are exciting for different reasons. First, both variants are super efficient. The g-tron A3, which runs on both gasoline and compressed natural gas, has a total range of 807 miles, including 248 miles on natural gas alone, and 559 miles on gasoline. And the e-tron, a plug-in hybrid, achieves 156 mpg and can run on electric power alone at 80 mph for up to 31 miles.
Unfortunately, Audi has not announced whether it will add either model to its current lineup, but we'll see technology from both trickling into future Audi models. But it's nice to see that carmakers are putting these alternative fuel sources into cars that aren't purpose-built, flashy, self righteous eco-pods (just ignore those billboards on their sides).
Stingray Corvette Convertible
We're excited for the seventh generation Corvette in all forms, including its gorgeous convertible shape. Chevrolet claims the new Corvette will do zero to 60 in under four seconds with a 6.2 liter V8 that makes 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque.
The seventh generation Corvette convertible, just like all the Corvettes before it, will have a cloth roof, though this one can be remotely activated and can be opened and closed at up to 30 mph.
Volkswagen e-Co-Motion Concept Van
We know. Why should a boxy panel van top this list of excitement-inducing cars? But hear us out. The van is small (179 inches long, 75 inches wide and 77 inches tall), but has a massive capacity. The e-Co-Motion has 162 cubic feet of space to haul stuff, and can hold a payload of more than 1700 pounds. For reference, a Ford Transit has a maximum 129.6 cubic feet of space and can haul 1600 pounds. The e-Co-Motion holds all of this in a frame only 14 inches longer than a Golf.
While the boxy little van certainly doesn't compare to the new Corvette or Lamborghini, it's very stylish for a cargo van. And think about it, you're not going to be seeing many 2014 Corvettes on your way to work or the supermarket, and you'll probably never see a Lamborghini Veneno (sorry). But picture every beat up, past-its-prime Ford Econoline with a dragging muffler being replaced by a slick little Volkswagen. Not a bad vision for the future.
What are you most looking forward to at the Geneva Motor Show this week?
(Edited by Lois Heyman)
