Highlights from the Geneva Motorshow 2019

An SUV from Aston Martin? Heresy to some, but this won’t actually be an Aston. The Lagonda name is set to become a standalone marque, combining uber-luxury ambience with emission-free electric motoring.By branding the new Lagonda as the All-Terrain Concept, the company is hinting at it being more capable than simply bouncing over the kerbs at Waitrose. The pure-electric drivetrain will use near-future technologies to offer range and performance, as well as all-wheel drive for rougher roads, with Aston Martin promising it’ll make the journey as exciting as the destination.“Wherever you are in a Lagonda, whatever the journey and whichever seat you occupy, it will re-introduce you to the wonder of travel,” explained CEO Andy Palmer.While the ATC will undoubtedly change from the dramatic vehicle on show at Geneva, the Lagonda will go into production in 2022, being built at the firm’s new factory in Wales.

While last year’s e-Tron set the tone for Audi’s electric future, the Q4 e-Tron concept shown in Geneva could be the mainstream vehicle that gets users switching en masse.Powered by two electric motors, driving all four wheels, performance is going to be brisk. However, an 82kWh battery pack will ensure that concern over range is a thing of the past - Audi is predicting an official range of almost 280 miles between charges, and it’ll take as little as 30 minutes for an 80% charge.Sensibly sized at 4.6 metres long, the Q4 somewhat predictably sits between the Q3 and Q5 in size but offers more interior space thanks to the flexibility in packaging offered by the electric drivetrain.Alongside the niche e-Tron and e-Tron Sportback, and the high-performance e-Tron GT in development, the Q4 e-Tron will be the fourth electric model in Audi’s European range and should arrive in UK showrooms before the end of next year.

If bigger is better, then BMW should do well with the X7. The flagship of the X range, the X7 promises exclusive luxury in a package that brings performance, agility and off-road capability together.

At almost 5.2 metres long, the big BMW will seats seven comfortably. Uniquely, the rear most pair of seats are full size with space between them, ensuring everybody remains comfortable. Of course, if seven seats is just slightly too many, it’s possible to replace the centre bench with two individual chairs, turning the X7 into a boardroom-esque six-seater.

Everybody will be able to enjoy the glass Sky Lounge, a panoramic glass roof that features LED lighting spread evenly across the glass surfaces to illuminate more than 15,000 graphic patterns and generate a display reminiscent of a starlit sky. Quite.

The huge interior is matched by a huge exterior, including wheels up to 22-inches and an aggressive grille that’s possibly bigger than some small cars. Behind it lies a choice of six-cylinder petrol or diesel engines offering up to 400hp and an enormous 760Nm of torque.

The BMW X7 will go on sale from April 2019, with prices starting from £72,155.

A year after introducing the Cupra brand with a high-performance SEAT Ateca-based SUV, the Spanish manufacturer is back with the Formentor concept. Blending the benefits of an SUV with the focus of a performance car, the Formentor is described by Cupra as “a window into the future of the high-performance brand.”

Sitting lower than a traditional SUV, the Formentor’s proportions suggest movement, with a visual emphasis on the rear of the vehicle as well as accentuating the length of the bonnet. Finished in a two-tone colour scheme to separate the robust all-terrain design elements from the performance-oriented features.

The interior looks like a development of the existing Ateca style, suggesting the Formentor is ready to go into production. A high-performance plug-in hybrid engine is promised, offering 245hp, with a pure-electric range of around 30 miles, which will see action throughout the Volkswagen Group brands.

Kia is already leading the way with electrification, with the mild hybrid, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric models throughout the range Now the Korean firm has revealed its vision of the future in the form of ‘Imagine by Kia’.

Focusing on the emotional appeal of motoring, the Imagine is a four-door Focus-sized model that moves away from the rational and suggests how a future, human-centric Kia could look.

“Our all-electric concept is designed to not only get your pulse racing, but to also signpost our holistic and emotional approach to electrification,” explained Gregory Guillaume, vice president of design for Kia Motors Europe.

That really means moving away from the data-driven electric car messages around range and recharging, kilowatts and current. Instead, it’s about making the journey as much a part of driving as it used to be before the ongoing trend of motoring as a necessity removes the desire to drive for fun.

Some design features will probably make their way into future Kia models, such as the backlit Kia logo, the windscreen that flows through to a panoramic roof, and the video-camera wing mirrors. The car itself won’t reach the showrooms, but get ready to something similar on the road by 2025.

There’s no escaping the growth in SUV sales so, alongside the recently launched Mazda 3, there’s now the CX-30 compact crossover that combines the bold proportions of an SUV with the distinctive Kodo design language common across the Mazda range.

Carefully avoiding creating a full-size SUV, the sleeker crossover CX-30 still offers a raised seating position allowing improved visibility and easier ingress and egress. However, it remains compact, and therefore easy to drive in both the city and the countryside.

The new high-efficiency Skyactiv-X engine will be slotted under the bonnet, offering diesel-like economy with petrol-based refinement and performance.

While all-new is a bit of a stretch, the revised Mercedes GLC has had a significant number of updates, including a new range of engines.

However, the most obvious change is the introduction of MBUX, the Mercedes user interface that uses intelligent voice control and augmented reality to provide the user with an engaging and immersive experience. Simply speaking “Hey Mercedes” brings the system to life, with the touchscreen infotainment screen displaying any visual responses. The navigation system adds floating graphics over a live video feed to make understanding directions child’s play.

Power is provided by the next generation of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with increased output and significantly lower fuel consumption. The petrol engines use a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to boost torque while lowering fuel use.

External changes promise ‘sensual purity’ but even if that’s pushing things a bit far, you’ll still spot the sportier overall appearance, with chrome elements now running from the front to the rear, as well as standard-fit LED headlamps with torch-design daytime running lights. A heavily contoured radiator grille and aerodynamically optimised wheels finish off the changes.

Another year, another facelift. It feels like the ASX has been around for years, but this latest refresh transforms the car into something that shouts robustness while also creating significant road presence.

The grille is enlarged, with lots more chrome, while a new bumper and skid plate add some visual strength. Distinctive LED lights finish the Mitsubishi brand look that’s found across the rest of the range.

The interior has been updated too, with improved technology, especially when it comes to smartphone connectivity.

The compact dimensions remain, making the ASX suitable for urban use without compromising off-road ability. Power is provided by a 2.0-litre petrol engine, with city-friendly front-wheel drive and adventurous four-wheel drive options available.

Nissan has had something of a head start on electric cars, with the Leaf selling more than 400,000 unit since it’s 2010 introduction. However, Nissan hasn't capitalised on that lead - until now.

The IMQ concept showcases Nissan’s advanced technology and design and signals the direction of the next generation of its cars. A pioneer of crossovers, starting with the Qashqai, Nissan’s IMQ has a “striking look that pushes the boundaries of what a European crossover can be.”

As with virtually every concept in Geneva, power is provided by electricity, this time with two motors providing all-wheel drive. Unusually, these will be backed up by a 1.5-litre petrol engine acting as a generator, providing charge should the batteries run down.

IMQ also encompasses some of Nissan’s near-future autonomous technology, including the company’s Invisible-to-Visible technology, a 3-D interface where the “real world” converges with the virtual world. Effectively, the system ‘reads’ the outside world using reflections and refractions, and can map a 3D model including areas invisible to the user - perhaps a bus approaching from around a corner.

An array of advanced sensors, radars and cameras located throughout the car can interpret road, traffic and information signals for a smooth and confident ride, with IMQ able to drive itself through most circumstances.

The sharp-suited design also hints at the style of the next Qashqai. While the more extreme elements will be toned down, the basic proportions of the car and the new interpretation of the V-grille could easily make it to production.

One of the most popular cars at the show proved to be Peugeot’s latest small hatchback. Retaining the 208 nomenclature, the regular model will also be joined by the e-208. That, as you probably had already guessed, will be powered by an electric motor.

With a 50kWh battery pack, range is expected to be around 211 miles. To maximise the car’s capabilities, Peugeot will be including a trip planner from Free2Move that proposes the best routes taking into account the location of charging stations on the route. This will all be presented in 3D on the standard infotainment screen. Those needing to cover longer distances in one go can opt for traditional petrol and diesel engine options.

All models come with a range of safety and driving aids, from lane keeping assist to automatic emergency braking, making the 208 the safest small car Peugeot has made.

It’s also, arguably, one of the most distinctive. The expressive front face of the 208 features a large chrome grille, LED ‘claw’ headlights and rear lights, and a bold interpretation of the lion motif. The e-208 adds exclusive touches from a monogram ‘e’ on the rear quarter panel to a colour-changing lion emblem.

The interior takes on the latest i-Cockpit developments, with a small steering wheel sitting below a floating instrument binnacle. The dashboard is padded, with the central section features a carbon finish.

The new model is expected to arrive in dealerships late in the summer.

It’s 37 years since the first fully open-roof 911 rolled off the production line, and it’s been a constant presence in the performance car range ever since. Just weeks after the launch of the latest 911 model, the cabriolet follows bringing new levels of sophistication and performance.

The fully-automatic soft top has an integrated glass rear screen and magnesium ‘bows’, all combining to prevent the roof ballooning at high speeds. At lower speeds, specifically below 30mph, the hydraulically operated roof opens in just 12 seconds, allowing drivers to enjoy the 911 experience in the open air.

Those on the outside will appreciate the wider, more self-assured and muscular design, with wide wheel arches covering 20-inch wheels at the front and larger 21-inch wheels at the rear. Both rear- and four-wheel drive models finally get the same bodywork, making each look equally purposeful.

The 911 Cabriolet is available as the rear-drive Carrera S or all-wheel drive Carrera 4S, both using the same flat-six 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged ‘boxer’ engine producing 450hp. Performance is, therefore, intense. Each will hit 62mph in less than four seconds, and hit speeds of up to 190mph. Despite that, economy of more than 30mpg is promised using Porsche’s official figures.

Order books are open now, with prices starting from £102,755.

After Kodiaq and Karoq, Skoda is adding a third SUV to its range in the form of the new Kamiq - an Inuit word meaning ‘something with its own character that fits perfectly in every situation.’

It’s the smallest of Skoda’s SUV range, described by the Czech marque as a city SUV. There’s higher ground clearance leading to a more commanding view of the road ahead, with the rugged visual appeal of a traditional off-roader.

Powered by the usual array of petrol and diesel engines that are common across the Skoda range, the Kamiq will be available only with front wheel drive, ensuring improved economy over off-road capable models, but also limiting it to an urban crossover role.

The Kamiq will arrive in the UK in Autumn.

If the Cupra Ateca has kicked off a performance SUV trend, the T-Roc R from Volkswagen takes it mainstream. Taking the well-liked T-Roc as a base, Volkswagen has then shoehorned in a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that produces an impressive 300hp.

There’s four-wheel drive to transfer all that power to the road, while lowered suspension ensures sharper handling and a more responsive drive. Heading off-road might be a challenge, but the 0-62mph time of just 4.9 seconds will probably provide enough fun. Brakes measuring 17-inches, previously only found on the Golf R, will also make sure it comes to a swift halt.

Specific T-Roc R design touches, such as new bumpers, new air intakes, mirror caps in a matt chrome look, a roof spoiler, black embossed and slightly widened wheel arches, and a revised grille with the bold ‘R’ logo, mark the car out as being the performance highlight of the range.

With development of the vehicle supported by racing drivers Petter Solberg and Benjamin Leuchter, the team at the Volkswagen R subsidiary have set out to create the ultimate performance SUV.