Automotive

Geneva Automobile Salon 2013 - Part 1

The Geneva Automobile Salon 2013 had more surprises in store than I was expecting.
As usual my comments will be from my vantage point seeing the cars mostly as objects of art.

Let's start with the Lamborghini Veneno.  I saw all the pictures in the press release and on the net.  Most didn't look real, looked like they came right out of some comic book.  I was ready to say, oe-my it's horrible, but...
The form language is complicated, overladen with details.  It is over the top, but it is almost like a fractal where the details become an undercurrent supporting the whole without you really noticing them.  For me at least it works.  Even the tailfin looks reasonable.  Take a look.








The forms are more organic than I thought, the design inspiration from a sting ray is obvious.



















































Is it a car for me? No.  Is it over the top? YES! But the designers have done a good job.  I'm sure the 3 owners will be happy.












Pagani is so interested in showing all the internal details of their cars that one could ask ones self what the car really looks like.

Note also the voluminous storage compartments on both sides.  Who said that 2 seater sports cars aren't practical.











































Compared to Pagani Bugati gives a very refined and calm impression.  Reserved understatement.























Somewhat less understatement here, but speed and the first example of scissor door we see today.  Who is the manufacturer?




















This message has been edited by DonCorson on 2013-03-16 15:05:46 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2013-03-16 17:19:16 This message has been edited by ThomasM on 2013-03-21 06:27:10

Geneva Automobile Salon 2013 - Part 2

From massive combustion to near silent whirrrring, we next see the Tesla S.  From what I heard of the sales talk they are mostly trying to sell the monster LCD display to distract the driver.
















The gull-wing version I found somewhat over the top, but from the way this guy was looking at it maybe it is a good idea.



The KTM X-Bow GT remains a street-worthy track car, just for fun.











While the others where just thinking of themselves and their girls Sbarro was thinking small family.  An open wheel 3 seater.











I like the form of this nicely formed roadster shown by Italodesign, but I'm not sure it is really necessary for such a car to have road clearance like that.  Somehow I see a negative influence on the cornering speed.







There were many electric cars and hybrids to be seen.  One that seemed to be causing alot of buzz was the Renault Twizzy.  More scissor doors.







Nach Lamborghini the stop at Ferrari was of course obligatory.  Especially as the pictures to be seen of the new LaFerrari gave me hope that I would like this newest Ferrari.  Unfortunately the LaFerrari has all the fat in the wrong places like all of their recent designs.  I know that Ferarri loves baroque forms, but their cherubs are ungainly to my eyes.  I seem to be in the minority 'though as the crowds love it, but good looking is something else IMHO.  The strangely pointed nose doesn't help any either.















































































With the California, however, Ferrari does show that they can make a good looking car.  Sorry for these despirate pictures.  They shouldn't be allowed to show black cars under such lights.  I am sure, by the way, that this is the car that Jaguar was hoping it would be getting from their designers for the new F-type.  There was a little slip-up, however.







The public in Geneva is not very fair and gives some brands all their attention and leaves others out in the cold.  Here we see the crowds at Ferrari and then those at Jeep.  The Jeep hostesses were doing their best to attract people, but the guests at the Auto Salon were there to see the cars. (and were showing their preferences with their feet)







Fisker's electric car seems to be unchanged from last year.  It has an imposing design.  I wish them luck.












This message has been edited by DonCorson on 2013-03-16 15:10:37

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Geneva Automobile Salon 2013 - Part 3

Now we come to my favorite car of the salon, the Alpha Romero C4.  You can see many design influences such as Pagani and Lotus, but the car is still very Alpha.  The planning is for this car to be make in small quantities in the Maserati factory.

Note the flowing hips and shoulder of this design.  It is one of the few cars, such as the Evora, that has a node where all the lines of the car come together.  This is high behind the door, I guess this would be called high on the C pillar, and makes for total visual satisfaction.


























Maserati, what can one say.











Austin Martin, very nice details, but somewhat boring.











The new Jaquar the F-Type.  IMHO a hearty attempt to make a Jaguar (Ferrari) California, unfortunately not quite successful.  What bothers, the chrome vents behind the front wheels that seem to be the rage with designers this year.  We will see others.  But the rear of the car shows overweight hips, anything but sweldt.  Unfortunately.



























Morgan was apparently planning an outing, who wouldn't just love to joint them?















Mansory is one of Germany's top car pimpers.  Isn't that Aventador in dark gray carbon just gorgous?  Why doesn't Lambo do that directly?











This BMW is showing us its close relationship with Jaguar.



BMW is showing, as far as I can see, the same electric concept cars they showed last year.







Even AMG is getting in on the electric game (even though we don't believe them).



Smart we believe somewhat more, but their specs claim 145km with just 17kWh of battery. That makes about 117Wh/km, a figure that is impossible to reach in my experience.  200 Wh/km is still a very good figure for a small car.  That would give 85km from that battery.  No wonder that no-one gets the range claimed.







If you can tell me what this is I will be very happy.  It looks like the designers just love '60s styling.







I didn't realise that there was anything interesting at the RR stand, but apparently there is, in the back of this vehicle.




























This message has been edited by DonCorson on 2013-03-16 15:17:14

Geneva Automobile Salon 2013 - Part 4

The Transportation Museum showed some amphibious cars from their collection.  A VW, the famous Amphicar, a Croco from Switzerland around 1980 and the Rinspeed Splash which recently did the Dover crossing from England to France.

The winner of the ugliest car in the show.

A neat concept electric 3 wheeler from Toyota.

Some pretty French flanks for Bim.  Not really a design highlight, but from the reviews I have seen a serious sports car.

Similar colored Italien

After the disappointment by Ferrari it is good to see McLaren.  I have heard criticism that McLarens curves don't come from a designer, but from the wind tunnel.  For my eyes at least the wind tunnel is a damn good designer.

Wiessmann is a small German brand handmaking small quantities of very distinctive sports cars.

Like Wiessmann, Spyker makes their cars by hand. But Spyker  comes from in Holland.

Last, but not least we come to the new Corvette.  The design is actually more pleasant than I though it would be as as long as one doesn't look from the front and see Grandma grinning.  The design is, however, very simple in comparison to most of the others we have seen at the show.  There is nothing in particular in the design to draw your eye or otherwise create interest. And it does suffer from the loover behind the front wheel syndrom as do others we have seen.
For those still wondering where the brake light design comes from look no further than the last picture.

I hope you have enjoyed wandering around the salon with me. 
Don

This message has been edited by DonCorson on 2013-03-16 15:23:09

I have to say, I thought almost every car shown was ugly as He**.

Those supercars are really going over the top lately ... now i wouldn't mind driving one if i could afford it ... my preference would go to McLarens P1 but also Koenigsegg (with their Hundra) deserves my respect, what Christian Von Koenigsegg has accomplished these last years most of us can only dream of .... .

....disappointed with the 4C. So stumpy and lacking in coherence.

But not as disappointing as the welds in the 4th photo of the Lamborghini V-thingy.

 

... and that is no weld my friend, it's just glued .... nothing to worry about ... all is under control ... .

Kid's glue? or weld? This message has been edited by BDLJ on 2013-03-18 04:52:26

.... but i find it really awkward ... but then the car was probably built together with a serious deadline ....

Thanks for the report Don!   This message has been edited by patrick_y on 2013-03-17 00:29:17

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Love the Maclaren P1, radical flowing style, and yellow happens to be my color.
Many other killer cars there!
Now back to work
Cheers,
Tim

Wow... you don't know Koenigsegg!?

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4C for me thank you

Thanks a lot for sharing the photos, Don. Cheers.