Compacts Dominate The Geneva Salon

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

It is actually the unusual vehicles that set the tone at the Geneva Motor Show. This time, however, two compacts from Stuttgart and Ingolstadt could be right at the front.

By Holger Holzer

At the Geneva Motor Show (March 8th to 18th), the automobile birds of paradise are traditionally the focus. This year, of all things, two everyday compact cars could steal the show from them: The new Mercedes A-Class and the new Audi A3 are among the highlights of the spring fair. But there is also something new in other segments. An overview of the series vehicles.

Mercedes A-Class with a small revolution

While Audi is developing the A3 in a more evolutionary way and giving the noble Golf offshoot a new infotainment system and more economical engines with a refined look, a small revolution is pending at competitor Mercedes. The A-Class casts off the van-like high roof concept of its predecessor and finally wants to attract younger customers with sportier lines and corresponding driving behavior.

And Geneva is also upgrading below the premium level. HyundaiWith the second generation of the i30, the Golf is even more focused on quality and ambience than before, while sister brand Kia is doing the same with its technically largely identical Ceed. Wolfsburg remains calm and is thinking about its greater variety: The Golf GTI Cabrio, the fast, top version of the fabric roof model, is celebrating its trade fair premiere.

Jostling among the little ones

VW is also stepping up in the small classes and is now also presenting the recently introduced Cityflitzer Up as a five-door model. The two additional portals provide better access to the rear and are intended to attract not only singles but also second-car buyers with families.

One class higher, the Peugeot 208 succeeds the 207; with shrunk dimensions, the small car wants to offer significantly more space than its predecessor - and also consume noticeably less. Toyota has committed itself to the same goal with the hybrid version of the Yaris, which, thanks to the support of an electric motor, should run on just under three and a half liters of gasoline.

BMW with a new sub-brand

While the middle class is poorly staffed when it comes to innovations, more is happening in the upper league. With the XF Sportback, Jaguar is once again setting up a station wagon that is also available in an all-wheel drive version.

BMW is showing the vehicles of its new sub-brand "M Performance" for the first time: The powerful 5 Series, X5 and X6 versions will receive the world's first tri-turbodiesel (280 kW / 381 PS) and should be between the standard models from Munich and the uncompromisingly sporty ones Settle M vehicles. The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé, a four-door sedan with particularly dynamic lines and family-friendly space that competes against the Mercedes CLS and Audi A7, has to do without the new engine technology.

Ford celebrates its premiere with B-Max

If you have children, you should usually still choose a van or an SUV. Cheaper than with the Dacia Lodgy, there is no room for the kids. The small van based on the low-budget Logan car is likely to cost just under 10,000 euros - as much as a narrow microcar in other brands.

The new Ford B-Max should not be quite as cheap. The Fiesta-based microvan from Cologne dispenses with the B-pillar and relies on economical three-cylinders. There is also a new addition to the family from Italy in the form of the Fiat L0, a van-like variant of the Fiat 500.

French-Japanese compact SUV

Those who like off-road optics will find an alternative to the staid van in the Opel Mokka. The Corsa-based mini SUV costs a little more, but can even offer all-wheel drive if required. The Peugeot 2008 is one class higher, the French’s first compact SUV is closely related to the Mitsubishi ASX, like its corporate brother Citroen Aircross, but relies on more luxury in terms of equipment and drive.

Honda has the new generation of the CR-V in its luggage as a near-series study, which is now a little more angular and always has all-wheel drive on board. The new Mitsubishi Outlander, which will also receive a plug-in hybrid drive in the future, is starting in a similar league.

Porsche presents the new Boxster

Sports car fans shouldn't be neglected in Geneva either. Porsche presents the new generation of the Boxster, which has grown up and of course become stronger. Despite up to 232 kW / 315 PS, the roadster is a light weight in terms of performance compared to the Lamborghini Aventador Spyder, which was shown for the first time. The open Italian probably comes to 515 kW / 700 PS. (SP-X)