Canadian auto dealer’s contributing editor Huw Evans was at this year’s show and reports on the buzz from the show floor.
Along with Frankfurt and Paris, Geneva ranks as one of the most prestigious auto shows on the annual world calendar and is often the setting for many new global vehicle introductions.
Although traditionally, European market trends and tastes differed considerably from those in North America, an increasing global focus in the auto industry has seen a closer alignment between the two continents when it comes to consumer tastes and new product.
At this year’s Geneva show, there were a number of significant introductions, ranging from the truly practical to the utterly frivolous. Although Europe has taken a battering economically and continues to struggle with the on-going debt crisis, judging by the attendance and buzz, including released sales figures and financial data from many automakers the mood in our sector remains buoyant.
Since 1964, Geneva has also been the setting for the annual European Car of the Year Awards and this year, the award went jointly to two vehicles, the Chevrolet Volt and its European counterpart, the Opel Ampera, recognized for their significant technological impact on the modern automotive landscape.
Other notable introductions in Geneva this year included the Audi RS4 Avant, BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe, Chevy Cruze Wagon, Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, Fiat 500L, Ford B-MAX MPV, Jaguar XF SportBrake (wagon), Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Porsche Boxster and VW GTI Cabriolet.
