New Volkswagen Beetle stars at the Geneva Motor Show
New Volkswagen Beetle stars at the Geneva Motor Show
By Alastair Doak
Two of the world's most eagerly anticipated cars, the Volkswagen Beetle and the Jaguar XK8, were unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland early this month.
Volkswagen, who are reentering the Indonesian market with the Caravelle next year, used the Geneva show to take the covers off the production version of its new-generation Beetle, which goes on sale next year.
Although there are no plans yet to bring the Beetle to Indonesia, Volkswagen's local partner, Indomobil, is looking at the small Golf for local production.
The new Beetle is based on the platform of the next generation Golf, due for European release in 1997, so the Beetle cannot not be ruled out.
The production version of the Beetle (that will be its official name, unlike the previous model, which was know within Volkswagen as a number) follows the original show car displayed at the Detroit motor show a few years ago and near-production model unveiled at the Tokyo show last year.
The car, to be built in Mexico, will meet all safety and design rules in place around the world but remain faithful to the original Beetle design concept.
It shares its chassis and mechanicals with the next-generation Golf, which means it will be available with front or four-wheel drive and a range of engines from four-cylinder diesel to a 2.8- liter V6.
In the U.S., the base model will come with four-wheel drive, antilocking brakes, dual air bags and air bags in the doors.
Power will also come from two all-new 20-valve four-cylinder petrol engines, which will develop 78kW, or 112kW. Details of these engines have yet to be revealed.
The Jaguar XK8, the smooth and sexy XJS coupe replacement, is the British sports carmaker's first V8-powered model.
The covers came off the 4.0-liter and 3.2-liter V8 XK8 at the Geneva motor show last month, revealing a car that borrows its styling themes heavily from the D- and E-type Jaguars.
The 60,000 pound sterling coupe, which will goes on sale around the world in October, is the British carmaker's first new sports car for 21 years and it is also the first all-new model to appear under the watchful eye of its parent, Ford.
The new car will be made as a coupe and convertible and is based on a shortened, updated version of the XJS chassis.
Although technical details will not be released for some months the 4.0-liter all-aluminum engine develops about 215kW and will be mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox.
Traction control, which prevents wheel spin in slippery conditions, antilocking brakes and driver and passenger air bags, will also be offered.
The British carmaker is said to have shown the car at Geneva to build up customer interest, but it will also allow the company to finish its on-road testing program using undisguised preproduction models.
Other new models to emerge at the Geneva motor show include the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon along with the four-cylinder powered C-Class wagon.
The E-Class wagon is offered with both the same 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine and 3.2-liter straight-six found in the sedan versions.
The new E-Class sedan goes on sale locally in May possibly followed by the wagon version at a later date.
Hyundai used the Geneva show to launch the Hyundai Coupe, which is based on the next generation Elantra, already on sale in other parts of the world.
It will be powered by an all-new 2.0-liter that develops 103kW at 6,000rpm and 184Nm of torque at 4,800rpm.
A driver and passenger air bag, as well as antilocking brakes, will be available. The car's independent suspension was tuned by Porsche.
The car comes in a base and more upmarket FX grades, with Hyundai claiming the manual transmission models will accelerate from 0 to 100kmh in 8.6 seconds. A convertible version is also being developed.
Renault used the show to present the third model in its small four-cylinder Megane line-up. The Megane Scenic builds on the company's experience in MPV design, being a "family-flexible" five-seater that promises to be the first of many models to attempt merging the small wagon, people mover and hatchback body styles into one practical body shape.
Most of the world's carmakers are planning similar models with the next year's new Golf likely to be the next model to include a mini-one box.
The Scenic uses the same engines, chassis layout, platform and dashboard that is common to the whole Megane program, but has its own distinct, high-roofed, one-box shape.
For shape, though, the Renault which attracted attention at Geneva was the "Fiftie" concept car. If Volkswagen can produce a 1990s version of the Beetle in Concept 1, then Renault can do the same for the 4CV.
The Fiftie is based on the Sport Spider's aluminum chassis but in looks it comes across as a mix of the 4CV itself, Concept 1 and the larger Audi TT. The 4CV influence is most apparent in the bonnet and grille bars.
Carbon-fiber bodywork is one feature of the car, another is the rear-mounted use of the new 45kW 1.2-liter engine and the clutch pedalless five-speed "Easy" gearbox. While the Volkswagen Group puts its retro-look concept cars into production, Renault has no such plans for the expensive-to-produce Fiftie.
Lotus, on the verge of being sold to Daewoo, finally revealed a V8-powered Esprit. The 3.5-liter turbocharged V8 develops 260kW at 6,500rpm and 400Nm of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 100kmh in 4.8 seconds and has a top speed of 282kmh.
The Esprit V8 also gets a few subtle style changes, large, new look alloys, a new antilocking brake system and air-conditioning unit.
Peugeot signaled its intentions to build a coupe and convertible version of the new 406.
In a less-than-subtle hint of what was to come, the company basically chopped the top off a standard 406, and instantly won the most unusual looking car prize at the Geneva motor show.