At the 76th International Motor Show in Geneva, carmakers from around the world are vying for attention with speed and style–and even practicality.
The Koenigsegg CCX certainly has speed on its side. With 806 horsepower from its V-8 engine, it’ll go from zero to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and hit speeds up to 245 mph.
One of the most radical new designs at the Geneva show is based on Formula 1 racers. The Tramonata’s cockpit is modeled after a jet fighter’s. The car may not ever take to the air, but it will hit a top speed of 186 mph.
Rinspeed‘s Zazen concept car, created by Swiss designer Frank M. Rinderknecht, made its debut at the Geneva show. Plastics manufacturer Bayer MaterialScience contributed to the car design with a roof dome made of transparent Makrolon. This enables the third brake light to shine a holographic image out of the hardtop.
The Fiat Grande Punto is one of the first cars to come equipped with Microsoft’s “Blue and Me” voice command technology based on Windows Mobile for Automotive software. A push-to-talk button on the steering wheel (right) enables drivers to control Bluetooth mobile phones by voice commands. It also includes an audio GPS location device that will give directions turn by turn.
Ford is showing off S-Max for the European market. The car has new technology that helps going up steep hills by allowing the driver to release the brake pedal and step on the accelerator without slipping back. CNET’s Wayne Cunningham, reporting from Geneva, is impressed by the vehicle’s new interface.
The eye-catching Nissan Pivo, also seen earlier at the Tokyo Motor Show is a concept electric car that has a body which revolves 360 degrees so you never have to put the car in reverse.
Design firm EDAG looked to the classics for its Biwak model. This concept car is based on Volkswagen’s Beetle but is stretched to add more room.
Remember the Karmann Ghia? One of the companies has a concept Karmann SUC, or “sport utility cabrio,” is getting raves from reviewers. Rumor has it that it will be put into production soon.
Lotus introduces the Exige S with a 218 horsepower, supercharged four-cylinder motor which will race from zero to 100 mph in 9.9 seconds.
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Previously, Bill was an IT manager in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.
