Top 10 standout cars at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show!

It's been a week since the doors for the Geneva Motor Show opened, and they still are until this Sunday.  The big theme this year is eco-friendliness, but with a twist.  The twist is fun!  With cars like the Volvo Polestar 1 and Honda EV concept cars, it seems like manufacturers have finally realized that people want cars that are eco friendly, but also fun.  There's plenty of other interesting non-EV and non-hybrid cars as well, but 10 have stood out more than others.  Hope you approve of the list.

Honda Urban EV and Sports EV concepts

Honda got a lot of attention with their Urban EV and Sports EV concept cars.  Their retro-inspired designs definitely caught the attention of many, so much so that Honda have said that a production version of the Urban EV will arrive in 2019.   Looking like a first-generation Civic, the Urban EV will probably be the only electric car with a retro-inspired design.

McLaren Senna

The McLaren Senna is now the flagship model of McLaren, although it’s not a direct replacement of the P1.  Named after Formula 1 racing legend, Ayrton Senna, the 800hp supercar comes with performance worthy of his name.  It accelerates from 0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 340km/h.  Its design is definitely a case of form following function – to many eyes it will probably look a bit too busy, but there’s no denying that it has presence.

Lamborghini Urus

​It might be based on an Audi Q7, but Lamborghini has definitely made a great effort to make the new Urus look and feel completely different.  It gets a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine with 650hp, sending power through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels.  The Urus is the first Lamborghini SUV since the LM002 stopped production 25 years ago, and if it performs as good as the spec sheet promises, Lamborghini should have no problem selling every single one made.

Volvo XC40

The new Volvo XC40 was voted the 2018 European Car of the Year.  Volvo have been on a roll ever since they introduced the new XC90 in 2015, with a design language that has proved popular, and interiors that are thoroughly modern and comfortable.  On top of that Volvo still maintain their reputation for safety and practicality, and also provide decent performance from a list of efficient 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines.  

Mercedes Benz G-Class

Unsurprisingly, the new Mercedes Benz G-Class is getting a lot of attention at the Geneva Motor Show.  It marks the replacement of a car that has been in production for nearly forty years, and in that time the car evolved from a capable military off-roader to the ultimate status symbol.  With such a proven successful formula, Mercedes Benz didn’t change the ingredients that much, but they have tried to make it more comfortable and a bit more spacious.  Only time will tell if it’s as successful as the original.

Ford Bullitt Mustang

The return of a legend!  The new Bullitt Mustang looks set to capture the hearts of many Mustang fans as well as people that love the epic Bullitt movie.  Although none of us will probably be able to look as cool as Steve McQueen in that iconic green 1968 Ford Mustang, the new Bullitt Mustang will definitely provide noise and performance to satisfy the fans.  Power comes from a 5.0-litre V8 engine with 475hp.

Peugeot 508

​Peugeot have made a great effort in making the new Peugeot 508 look good.   Gone is the understated look of the old 508, and in is a daring, futuristic look attainable by the masses.  It still comes with a collection of turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.  A new eight-speed automatic transmission is available in addition to a standard six-speed manual. 

Volvo Polestar 1

The Volvo Polestar 1 is probably the best-looking hybrid car in the world, and it comes with 600hp – making it the most powerful car Volvo has ever built.  Power comes courtesy of a turbocharged, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors.  Volvo has already started taking orders for the gorgeous coupé, and they’ll be limited to 500 cars only.

Hyundai i30 N

This is probably the hot hatch of the moment, providing incredible performance for both road and track.  Nobody in the automotive press was expecting a Hyundai to be as good as this – thanks to a 275hp powerplant and a nicely tuned chassis.  Its ability to strike a great balance of design, practicality and performance is definitely what makes it a standout car.  

BMW M8 Gran Coupé concept

The BMW M8 Gran Coupé is still a concept car, but there’s no doubt that this is what the next BMW 8-series will look like.  It is an absolute stunner, and it looks set to take the fight to the new Mercedes Benz CLS and Audi A7.  Hopefully BMW don’t alter the design too much, and that they get it to the market soon.

Written and compiled by Alex Kisiri