Top-10 Geneva Motor Show Cars You Can Buy

The Geneva Motor Show is a highpoint for the car industry as it signals the start of the new model launch season. The 2013 edition was packed with concept cars and visions for future personal mobility but there were also loads of cars making their production debuts. We therefore present the Top-10 Geneva show stars you can now place an order for.

Alfa Romeo 4C

The famous Italian brand is making a comeback and to mark newfound performance image, Alfa Romeo has launched the 4C. Harking back to its historic sportscars, the 4C is a mid-engine lightweight junior supercar that competes against the Porsche Cayman, Lotus Exige and BMW Z4 35iS. Powered by a 4-cylinder 1750cc turbo charged engine, it gets 240hp & 350Nm sent to the rear wheels via Alfa's TCT twin-dry clutch transmission. With a dry kerb weight of 895kg, the Alfa Romeo 4C does the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 250km/h. The car pictured is the 4C 'Launch Edition', which carries special carbon fibre trim and gets 'Carrara White' paint. Only 1000 numbered units will be made so if you want one you better order now.

Audi RS Q3

Audi has a long history of building high performance cars for its RS line but the all-new RS Q3 marks the first time the badge has been put on its SUV range. Powered by the 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine used in the Audi RS3 and TT RS, the RS Q3 gets 310hp and 420Nm along with Quattro all-wheel-drive and a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. Externally, all the usual RS design cues are present (aggressive bumpers, big wheels, flared wheel arches and alloy wing mirrors) though they seem to look better than ever on a Q-series vehicle. 0-100km/h is done in 5.5 seconds while top speed is limited to 260km/h. If you want a fast compact SUV, then this is worth taking a closer look at.

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible

Chevrolet's all new C7 Corvette has taken a leaf out of the Corvette stylebook and carries design touches from the iconic Stingray. Powered by the same LT1 6.2-litre V8 engine as the coupe, the topless Corvette has 450hp and 610Nm to call upon so performance will be suitably impressive. There is also a 5-position drive mode selector, a 7-speed manual gearbox and Active Rev Matching for perfect downshifts. Racetrack fans can opt for the Z51 Performance Package that brings such goodies like an electronic limited slip differential, dry-sump lubrication and an aero-pack but most will be taken in by the looks anyway. Unlikely to be available in Malaysia, but then you never know as the 'Bumblebee' Chevrolet Camaro is sold by grey importers here.

Suzuki SX4

The Suzuki SX4 Crossover may not be as exciting as the other cars featured here but it's an important new model for the brand and its fans. Building on the popularity of the previous generation model, the SX4 Crossover has grown and now occupies the C-segment in terms of size. It therefore has a spacious new interior as well as more aggressive styling. Mechanically, a 1.6-litre petrol engine powers the SX4 with an all-important 1.6-litre turbo diesel for European markets. Malaysian cars will come with a CVT gearbox and do without AWD but if Suzuki is able to price it competitive then the SX4 will gain a lot new fans.

Infiniti Q50

Nissan's Infiniti brand is making a major push worldwide, especially in Europe and the Q50 (the replacement for the G-Series) will be vital to their plans. Billed as a rival to the BMW 3 Series and all-new Lexus IS, the Q50 will be powered by a 3.7-litre V6 petrol engine carried over from the G37. The styling is unique and very organic though it's odd how both Infiniti and Lexus seem to have settled on a 'spindle-grille'. European markets will get a high-tech 2.2-litre turbo-diesel with 170hp, 400Nm and just 115g/km of CO2 but Malaysian cars are likely to be petrol and petrol-hybrid only. Still, if you're in the market for a 3 Series, C-Class, A4 or the new Lexus IS, you may want to take a closer look at the Q50 before deciding.

Jaguar XFR-S

Refined performance has always been a Jaguar forte but the brand now seems intent on beating the German brands at their own power and performance game. Hence, we now have the Jaguar XFR-S, or what we like to call 'what happens when a Jaguar gets hit by a go-faster catalogue'. Ridiculously styled with a huge number of air-scoops, spoilers and retina searing blue paint, it has the performance to back up the looks. 550hp & 680Nm provide enough grunt to cover 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds and with a 300km/h top speed. Local Jaguar fans should be able to order it now but please choose a subtler colour if you do.

Rolls-Royce Wraith

The Rolls-Royce Phantom may be the most luxurious car in the world but even the incredible Phantom Coupe couldn't offer the kind of earth shattering performance you get in a Bentley Continental GT Speed. The new Wraith is touted as the most powerful Rolls Royce ever with 630hp and 800Nm. It also has a coupe/fastback body-style and trademark suicide doors, though that may seem a bit disingenuous for an ultra-luxury car. There is a super-trick 8-speed auto with GPS tracking so that it knows what gear to use for the road ahead and it takes only 4.6 seconds to get to 100km/h from a standstill. Prices in Europe start at 245,000 Euros before taxes so you'll need loads of zeroes in the bank to afford one.

Porsche 911 GT3

The 911 is 50-years old this year and Porsche is celebrating it with the release of their latest variant of the 911 GT3. Based on the new 991 variant, the GT3 has a new engine, transmission, body and chassis over the old 997 model, which should translate to a massive upgrade. Power for the 3.8-litre flat-six motor has been bumped up to 475hp with peak revs set at a mind-bending 9000rpm. Torque is rated at 440Nm at 6250rpm but the biggest change is the use of a 7-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox over the traditional 6-speed manual. Thus equipped the GT3 will cover 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds and have a top speed of 315km/h. PCCB ceramic brakes are an option as is a Club Sport package that adds a half roll-cage, multi-point harness and fire extinguisher. Deliveries start in November.

McLaren P1

McLaren's 21st century update to the iconic F1 has undergone the most extensive pre-launch publicity campaign ever so the stats are well known to everyone. Using an updated version of the 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 from the MP4-12C and electric motors powered by a lithium-ion battery, the P1 is a hybrid that allows its owners to drive like fast without the guilt trip. It has 916hp and 900Nm of torque, active aerodynamics including DRS, a KERS button, a computer controlled chassis and 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It will also do 0-100km/h in less than 3 seconds, 0-200km/h in less than 7 seconds and 0-300km/h in less than 17 seconds. And if you're tired of all the speed, it will also travel for up to 10km on battery power alone. The price? You can't afford it and only 375 will be made anyway.

LaFerrari

LaFerrari means "The Ferrari" so you know this is a special car. Built to compete against the Porsche 918 and McLaren P1, LaFerrari is also a hybrid. It uses a huge 6262cc V12 that produces about 800hp on its own and 963hp when boosted by the electric motor. Torque is said to be in excess of 900Nm and unsurprisingly, Ferrari quotes a very similar set of performance figures to McLaren. It also has active aerodynamics and a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox so it's a toss-up over which car is faster around a racetrack. Ferrari however claim their new car is able to set sub 1'20" times at the Fiorano track so it's already their fastest road car ever. As for the price, only 499 cars will be built and Ferrari already has over 700 expressions of interests from qualified buyers so you're unlikely to have a chance of getting one.

Source : http://my.news.yahoo.com