Gallery: Off-Road Lambo, Poorly Named Kia Take Center Stage at Geneva Motor Show
0101-geneva-2013
With the exception of the [crazy genius of Rinspeed](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/2013/03/rinspeed/), there isn't a single automaker based in the land of chocolate and watches, which makes the Geneva Motor Show one of the most intriguing auto shows on the planet. Switzerland is neutral territory, so, unlike the shows in Detroit, Frankfurt and Paris, no one marque dominates. That means everyone is out to make a massive splash, one-upping each other in a mad bid to get the most attention. Geneva might be the only place where an utterly insane [950-horsepower flagship from Ferrari](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/2013/03/laferrari/) is overshadowed by a [super-limited edition Lamborghini that costs $3.9 million](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/2013/03/lamborghini-veneno/). Geneva was huge this year, with more than 70 concept cars and production models unveiled in just two days. It's hard to cut through the noise, and only a handful of cars managed to suck in the limelight like a black hole dropped in the middle of the Geneva Palexpo. But these are the cars that matter. *Photo: Newspress*
0202-geneva-2013
__Italdesign Giugiaro Parcour__ Directions for awesome: Take one Lamborghini Gallardo. Jack it up a foot. Rip off the exterior, add a wild carbon fiber body and keep the mid-mounted V10. Repeat, but omit the roof. That's the recipe styling house Italdesign did with its Parcour concepts, two brutally beautiful off-roaders with butterfly doors, a trio of touchscreens and a 550-horsepower V10 engine that launches these lifted Lambos from zero to 60 in 3.6 seconds. They top out at 199 mph, because an even 200 would just be too crass. But it's not the speed or the styling that has us chomping at the bit to get behind the wheel of these beasties. Nestled behind those massive 22-inch wheels are two sets of coil-over suspension setups at each corner. They're hydraulically actuated and can lift the pair of Parcours anywhere between 8.2 and 13 inches, supposedly balancing off-road prowess with tarmac-tackling bite. For those counting at home, that's double the amount of pushrods in the all-conquering Ford Raptor, which makes this one of the only Italian exotics that would look at home blasting through the Baja or parked in front of the Monaco casino. *Photo: Newspress*
0303-geneva-2013
__Rolls-Royce Wraith__ There's a line that separates ultra-luxury from ultra-gaudy, and the all-new Wraith effortlessly errs on the garish side. Designed as a competitor to the comparatively bargain-priced Bentley Continental GT, the Rolls-Royce Wraith comes with more firepower, more features, more presence and a price tag that, at $330,000, is an entire Porsche 911 more than the Bentley. For that kind of scratch, you get a 624-horsepower V12, wood trim from endangered trees and leather appointments from cows treated better than Kobe. But the Wraith's killer feature (aside from a headliner with fiber optic lighting to mimic a starry sky) is the "Satellite Aided" transmission, which pulls in GPS data to select the proper gear based on corner angle, elevation and speed – something that Rolls' parent, BMW, [has promised we'll see in future models](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/2012/09/bmw-smart-transmission/). Future models that don't cost as much as a night out with Kanye. *Photo: Newspress*
Photo courtesy GDC0404-geneva-2013
__Porsche 911 GT3__ How is it possible to make the [latest Porsche 911](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/01/porsche-911/) even more awesome? Add two letters and a number: G, T and 3. The GT3 always has been the track fiend's dream, and the latest version has all the go-fast bits we've come to expect. Except one: a manual transmission. That glaring omission has Porsche purists up in arms, but the house that Ferdinand built is all about progress and perfection, and leaving the shifting to the driver comes at the expense of speed. On that front, the 911 GT3 delivers in spades, with a 475-hp 3.8-liter boxer six mated to a dual-clutch (PDK in Porsche speak) seven-speed transmission that allows this track-focused 911 to run to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and lap the Nürburgring in less than seven and a half minutes. And as for the supposed lack of "control" that a traditional manual offers, fuggedaboutit. Hold both steering wheel paddles back at the same time and it dumps the clutch, revs the engine and allows all your rally-inspired drifting dreams to come true. Purists be damned, this is the future. Get on board or get the hell out of the way. *Photo: Newspress*
0505-geneva-2013
__Mitsubishi Concept CA-MiEV__ The electric Mitsubishi iMiEV is an atrocious thing to drive. It's slow, barely covers 60 miles before running out of juice and has less substance than a Vassar gal on spring break. Mitsubishi intends to rectify that with the CA-MiEV concept, although don't let the "CA" fool you – this thing will probably never make it to California, let alone the U.S. The headlining feature of the CA-MiEV (CA stands for "compact" and "advanced", if you care) is the 186-mile range. That's almost triple what we get in the current car thanks to a 28 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and an 80 kilowatt (107 horsepower) motor. But that mileage figure is incredibly ambitious, if not downright delusional, considering the Nissan Leaf packs a 24 kilowatt-hour pack and gets around 80 miles. So unless this thing is made up of AeroGel, we're going to assume that someone forgot to carry the one... Regardless, Mitsubishi claims the CA-MiEV has enough electrons to allow a full week of driving for the "average European" and there's a chance that a range-extending motor could be fitted underneath its boomerang-inspired exterior. Mitsu says this is strictly a concept, although we wouldn't be surprised if some of the underlying tech came to the next-generation i-MiEV, along with its [siblings from Peugeot and Citroën](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/2009/09/peugeot-ev/). *Photo: Newspress*
0606-geneva-2013
__Pininfarina Sergio Concept__ Whenever you see a car that includes matching helmets for the driver and passenger, it's a safe bet it isn't headed for production. And that's an unfortunate fact for the Sergio concept. Named after the dearly departed Sergio Pininfarina (he died last year), this rolling tribute to the man that reinvented the Italian aesthetic is nothing short of impractically delicious. Underneath those sweeping lines and weather-compromised cockpit is a Ferrari 458 Italia, with a 570-hp V8 mounted amidships capable of propelling this topless coupe to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and onto a face-distorting V-max of 199 mph. Even with the integrated roll hoop, those helmets should come in handy. *Photo: Newspress*
0708-geneva-2013
__Subaru Viziv__ Subaru is in desperate need of a visual makeover and hopefully the Viziv concept will lead the way. No, those butterfly doors won't be making it to a dealer near you, but if Subaru's all-wheel drive ethos is to soldier on into the 21st century, its next-gen drivetrain might. The front wheels are powered by a 2.0-liter boxer engine swilling range-extending diesel, while a pair of electric motors drive the rear axles, and provide on-demand power when things get slippery. Torque vectoring at the back allows the Viziv's computers to dole out the exact amount of power to snake through a bend, and by nixing the driveshaft and differential between the rear wheels, that means less weight and more room for backseat passengers. But we're still at least a few years away from any of that tech reaching showrooms. *Photo: Newspress*
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__Aston Martin Rapide Bertone Jet 2+2__ Oh, the rich. They're just not like the rest of us. When we order a new car we're pleased as punch to choose our interior color and wheel design. But the one-percenters out there must have their rides customized to their needs and tastes, and design house Bertone is all too happy to oblige. Bertone started with the Aston Martin Rapide, a car so beautiful it makes us weak in the knees, then blew out the roof, added a hatchback and created the world's hottest wagon for one very well-to-do customer. Redesigned LED headlamps join the new hatch and added utility, but the 6.0-liter V12 remains unchanged, as does rear passenger room, which – from personal experience – is about as commodious as a Southwest Airlines lavatory. *Photo: HeadlineAuto*
0909-geneva-2013
__Kia Provo__ We've gotta say, we're kinda smitten by the Kia Provo Concept. It's a compact, sinister little hatchback with a trick hybrid drivetrain that allows all-wheel drive hoonery with fuel-sipping economy. It's just too bad Kia unwittingly named its hatchback [after a brutal branch of the IRA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_Irish_Republican_Army). International incident aside, the Provo comes complete with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four cylinder engine good for 201 horsepower powering the front wheels, while a 44-horsepower electric motor powers the rear wheels, which also can drive the Provo at low speeds for zero-emissions motoring. With that name, though, it could join the Nova, LaPuta and LaCrosse in the annals of marketing department naming blunders. *Photo: Newspress*
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__Alfa Romeo 4C__ Alfa Romeo has been promising (threatening?) for the better part of a decade to return to the United States. The stunning 4C is set to lead the charge. It's an achingly gorgeous coupe that takes all the right cues from its big brother, the Alfa 8C supercar, including its bulbous fenders, low-slung stance and elongated hood. But Alfa remains mum on powertrain and weight details. We know it has a 1.75-liter four-cylinder engine mounted in the middle and a claimed power-to-weight ratio of one horsepower to 8.8 pounds. Figure the engine, which is similar to the mill used in other Alfas, is good for around 250 hp, and you've got a curb weight of 2,400 pounds or so. If it's meant to compete with the Porsche Boxster, including a rumored price of about $60,000, it better bring more to the game than sultry Italian looks. And some better headlights to boot. *Photo: HeadlineAuto*
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__Volkswagen E-Co-Motion__ How do you sex up a rolling refrigerator? You don't. But that's not the point of the Volkswagen E-Co-Motion. This is style superseded by substance. It's an electric vehicle designed to cater to ... well ... caterers. And florists. And anyone else with big loads to deliver small distances. The E-Co-Motion, like the supremely practical [Ford Transit Connect Electric](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/2010/03/fords-first-ev-isnt-sexy-but-its-smart/), is all about electrified utility. Even the most ardent EV opponent has to concede that electrifying delivery trucks and fleet vehicles makes total sense. They typically work within small areas, so range isn’t an issue. They return to a centralized location, making recharging a snap. Yes, the up-front cost is higher, but the operating costs are lower. But we digress. The E-Co Motion's rear-mounted electric motor dolls out 84 kilowatts (113 horsepower) and 199 pound-feet of torque. A 20 kilowatt battery is good for 62 miles of range, with an optional 30 kWh pack extending that to 92 miles and a 40 kWh battery maxing out at 124 miles – more than enough for a European plumber on the go. *Photo: HeadlineAuto*
1212-geneva-2013
__BONUS: Audi RS6 Avant__ Yes, we loved [LaFerrari](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/2013/03/laferrari/). And we'd sell an extraneous organ for an hour in the [Lamborghini Veneno](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/2013/03/lamborghini-veneno/). But the car we wanted to drive off the show floor and never return is the Audi RS6 Avant. The RS6 Avant continues the fine German tradition of building [weaponized wagons we want](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/autopia/2010/07/12-wagons-we-want/?pid=20&viewall=true). In this case, Audi stuffed a twin-turbocharged V8 good for 560 horsepower into a wagon. Yes, that's down on power compared to the insane V10 found in the last RS6, but what really matters here is torque, which is what gives you that grin-inducing kick in the pants when you get up on it. The RS6 Avant is good for an utterly insane 516 pound-feet of twist, up from an already impressive 479 in the last car. All that grunt is sent to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and Quattro all-wheel drive, which Audi claims will deliver a 0-60 mph run of 3.9 seconds – and that's probably conservative. Hauling both groceries and ass has never looked so good. But as is so often the case with all the coolest cars, this one's a Euro-only affair. Dammit. *Photo: Newspress*
