Geneva Motor Show 2013: New launch round-up

Dacia Logan estate

Dacia has taken the opportunity to reveal the latest addition to its Logan-based line-up. The new estate variant, known as the Logan MCV, shares its looks with the second generation of this vehicle, but benefits from a larger, 573-litre, load bay with the rear seats up and 1,518 litres with the seats down. This stems from a 4.49-m body that is 430 mm longer than the latest generation Sandero hatchback. This also gives the vehicle the ability to carry objects up to 2.7 m long. The new body style shares its engines with the rest of the Logan and Sandero range including the 90-bhp three-cylinder gasoline (petrol) and 90 bhp 1.5-litre diesel engines. It also features such equipment and options as Electronic stability control (ESC), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Media Nav system.

Honda Civic Tourer concept

Honda is teasing an estate variant of its Civic model with the Civic Tourer concept. Honda has confirmed few details relating to this model according to Autocar, but is expected to offer best-in-class rear load space thanks to the fuel tank being located under the front seats and the use of a beam axle. The production vehicle is expected to be introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show (Germany) later this year.

Hyundai iX35

Hyundai has introduced a facelift of its popular iX35 sport utility vehicle (SUV) at the event, reports Autocar. While the exterior receives subtle revisions such as bi-xenon lights, the main changes have been made to the engineering of this vehicle. These include a new 2.0-litre direct injection gasoline (petrol) and a revised diesel engine, as well as the fitment of Hyundai's Flex Steer system which offers three presets to configure steering feedback. Other changes include improved trim and materials inside, as well as a new TFT infotainment

screen.

Lamborghini Veneno

Italian sports-car manufacturer Lamborghini has revealed its latest exclusive production car, the Veneno. According to Autocar this extreme "street-legal racing car" model will be one of its rarest models ever with only three set to be built. Based upon the Aventador, the mid-engined vehicle features a 6.5-litre V-12 engine producing 740 bhp, thanks to enlarged air intakes, a higher rev limit and an exhaust system with a lower back pressure. Power is transferred through a seven-speed automated manual gearbox to all four wheels, enabling it to sprint to 60 mph in under three seconds and reach a top-speed of 221 mph. Other changes have included alterations to the aerodynamics, such as front wings separated from the body like those seen on a race car, smooth underbody and large diffuser, as well as an adjustable rear wing. Flared wheel arches also house 20-inch wheels at the front and 21-inch

wheels at the rear. The price is expected to be around EUR3 million for each of the cars, all of which are said to have been sold.

Porsche 911 GT3

Porsche has begun the 50th anniversary year of its 911 model with the launch of the GT3 model. The model is traditionally the most driver-focused and dynamically honed version of the 911 model. However, somewhat ironically for a car that is a lightweight, high-performance special, the new GT3 is heavier than its predecessor at 1,430 kg, something that is attributed to the car being 85 mm longer and 44 mm wider than the old car. The model features a 468 bhp version of the company's 3.8 litre flat-six gasoline powertrain, 39 bhp more than the 997 model, which also boasts 324 lb/ft. The unit propels the GT3 to 62mph in a claimed 3.5 seconds and the top speed is 196 mph. Perhaps most controversial given the GT3's traditional ethos is the new tech the car features in the form of a new electronically controlled four-wheel steer system,

while the car also does away with a manual gearbox for the first time, instead using a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Rolls-Royce Wraith

The event has also played host to the introduction of a new Rolls-Royce coupé, known as the Wraith. This model has greater emphasis on performance, and as a result has a more rakish look compared to its existing model line-up, benefiting from a 183mm shorter wheelbase, 130mm shorter overall length, 40mm wider rear track and 43mm lower height. The vehicle also uses the most powerful engine in the brands history, benefiting from a modified version of the Ghost sedans turbocharged V-12 with 624 bhp and 800 Nm through ZF's eight-speed automatic transmission. This enables it to sprint from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Its credentials in this direction are further extended by the world launch of Satellite Aided Transmission, a technology that uses global positioning satellite (GPS) mapping data to ensure the correct

gear is always available for the type of road ahead, while the suspension has been tuned for more dynamic situations. However, luxury has also not been forgotten with the level of interior expected of vehicles under the brand. Features available on the model include Starlight Headliner, voice activation, head-up display and adaptive headlights. The automaker has said that the vehicle will be priced at around EUR245,000 (USD318,706) with the first deliveries set to reach customers in the third quarter of 2013.

Toyota FT-86 Open concept

Toyota has taken the opportunity to unveil a convertible concept based upon its rear-wheel drive FT-86 coupé. The vehicle, known as the FT-86 Open, shares many of the design features of the enclosed variant, but with the fixed hard-top replaced by a multi-layered fabric roof with a glass rear screen. The use of this type of roof has resulted in little impact made to both the space inside the four-seater or to luggage room, the automaker added. Further

evaluation and development is said to be required on performance, vehicle rigidity, balance, weight and aerodynamics, before a decision is reached on producing the vehicle.

Outlook and implications

The latest spate of launches has shown further extremes in the types of vehicles unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2013 with extreme high performance side by side with high levels of practicality. Dacia's and Honda's reveals underlines a significance growth in the compact estate segment in recent times. These vehicles follow the earlier introduction of the Chevrolet Cruze, while the event will also play host to the launch of the brand new Toyota Auris and Volkswagen (VW) Golf estates (see Switzerland: 4 March 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Volkswagen to display electric transporter concept vehicle; Golf estate to debut), as well as joining such stalwarts of the sector as the Ford Focus, Opel Astra and Renault Mégane to name but three. This sector seems to have a certain amount of resilience despite the introduction of other practical vehicles offering greater spaciousness, such as multi-purpose vehicles and SUVs. IHS Automotive anticipates that despite demand for C segment passenger car estates likely to reach a low ebb this year as a result of the poor situation in the market, around 600,000 units will be sold in the European Union (EU), followed by a spike to over 730,000 units the following year. We also anticipate that sales will bounce around within this range for the foreseeable future, or around the same level as that seen in the early part of the last decade.

Related articles

• Switzerland: 4 March 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Kia provo concept images leaked
• Switzerland: 1 March 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Land Rover to display electric Defender research study
• Switzerland: 1 March 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Audi to show gas-powered A3 g-tron prototype
• Switzerland: 27 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Vehicle launch round-up
• Switzerland: 22 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Global automakers preview new models prior to event
• Switzerland: 14 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Lamborghini to show off front-engine, four-wheel drive concept – report
• Switzerland: 14 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Audi to debut S3 Sportback
• Switzerland: 13 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Mercedes to launch world's most powerful "hot-hatch"
• Switzerland: 13 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: SEAT to introduce three-door Leon SC
• Switzerland: 13 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Alfa Romeo to reveal production 4C sports car
• Switzerland: 12 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: SsangYong to show SIV-1 concept
• Switzerland: 11 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: VW to debut cross up! at Geneva
• Switzerland: 11 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Chevrolet Corvette convertible to make global debut
• Switzerland: 8 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Citroën to hint at next-generation C4 Picasso with Technospace concept
• Switzerland: 7 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: BMW to debut 3-Series GT
• Switzerland: 7 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Suzuki prepares to launch production S-Cross concept
• Switzerland: 7 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Opel to show Adam Rocks concept
• Switzerland: 7 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Honda to reveal Civic estate concept
• Switzerland: 6 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Infiniti to show European version of Q50
• Switzerland: 5 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Renault Scenic gains crossover-style facelift
• Switzerland: 4 February 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Qoros to launch GQ3 model at Geneva
• Switzerland: 29 January 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Sporting Kia hatchbacks set to debut
• Switzerland: 21 January 2013: Geneva Motor Show 2013: Rolls-Royce to unveil new model