Blogs from the Geneva auto show

A brand's coming-out party in Geneva

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 7
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The Qoros 3 sedan has a long wheelbase, short overhangs and a coupe-like silhouette.
GABE NELSON:  GENEVA -- People could argue all day about the most important debut at the Geneva auto show.
Despite the glitz and glamour of models such as the Alfa Romeo 4C, Ferrari LaFerrari, Lamborghini Veneno and Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible, the most meaningful debut may have been by an entire brand: Qoros.
Continue reading "A brand's coming-out party in Geneva" » Mar 7, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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EcoSport shows flaw in Ford's global design policy

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 6
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Ford admits European buyers might not like the spare wheel attached to the rear of the EcoSport.
NICK GIBBS:  Ford is downplaying sales expectations of the EcoSport subcompact SUV in Europe because the vehicle was designed with emerging markets in mind.
The European EcoSport unveiled at the Geneva auto show keeps the same robust format as the original car designed by Ford's design team in South America, complete with a rear-mounted s ...
     Continue reading "EcoSport shows flaw in Ford's global design policy" » Mar 6, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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Honda shows its European side

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 6
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The Honda Civic Tourer concept has a low, wide stance, a cab-forward design and a "floating roof."
DOUGLAS A. BOLDUC:  Honda is showing its European side with the Civic Tourer concept for a station wagon. The car was designed by a German specifically for Europe with the aim of being sleeker than BMW's wagons without sacrificing on functionality.
"If you look at the 3-series wagon, I think we pushed the design a bit further than that. I hope t ...
     Continue reading "Honda shows its European side" » Mar 6, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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The LaFerrari is a Ferrari first

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 6
blogs Luca Ciferri is Editor of Automotive News Europe.
 
The new LaFerrari supercar is the first model entirely designed by the company's internal styling center and it looks like more in-house products will follow, but Ferrari's boss says that is not a bad sign for longtime partner Pininfarina.
Ferrari has relied on Italy's Pininfarina to design nearly all its production cars sinc ...
     Continue reading "The LaFerrari is a Ferrari first" » Mar 6, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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For Ghosn, just another impressive day in the media glare

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 6
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Carlos Ghosn meeting with journalists from around the world today. Nothing establishes a CEO's bona fides like demonstrating complete command of the details of a far-flung organization.
DAVE GUILFORD:  GENEVA -- For several years at major auto shows, Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has invited media to freewheeling Q&A sessions. Ghosn continued the tradition here today in an unscripted, open-ended session with about 75 international journalists.
No opening statement. No press release. Just plunge right in.
Continue reading "For Ghosn, just another impressive day in the media glare" » Mar 6, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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In the limelight, exotics shrug off austerity

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 6
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The mob scene at Ferrari's $1.3 million LaFerrari is typical of cars unveiled here that will transact well into the six figures.
DAVE GUILFORD:  GENEVA -- The gleaming red car you can sort of make out among the horde around it is the fastest, most expensive and most powerful Ferrari ever, called LaFerrari. The price tag reportedly will be $1 million euros (about $1.3 million). And the mob scene is typical of cars unveiled here that will transact well into the six figures.
...
     Continue reading "In the limelight, exotics shrug off austerity" » Mar 6, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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Is this really a different Note?

Posted 8:00 am U.S. ET, March 5
blogs Luca Ciferri is Automotive News Europe's Editor.
 
GENEVA -- When I saw the new Nissan Note today I asked myself: Am I at the right auto show? Is this really the all-new Note that Nissan said would be dramatically different from the first-generation car?
Nissan promised that the new Note would become a mainstream subcompact hatchback that rather than another small minivan. ...
     Continue reading "Is this really a different Note?" » Mar 5, 2013 8:00 am U.S. ET
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Euro contagion means Russia car sales likely to pass Germany this year

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 5
blogs Paul McVeigh is Managing Editor at Automotive News Europe.
 
GENEVA -- Russia is likely to become Europe's biggest market for new vehicles as early as this year as current leader Germany succumbs to the euro zone crisis, according to Toyota Europe's sales and marketing boss Karl Schlicht.
"We're looking at a total market of 3 million for Russia and 2.7 million for Germany," Schlicht sa ...
     Continue reading "Euro contagion means Russia car sales likely to pass Germany this year" » Mar 5, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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Ghosn: Too early to revise European sales predictions downward

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 5
blogs Luca Ciferri is Editor of Automotive News Europe.
 
GENEVA -- Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn believes it is too early to revise downward sales predictions for Europe this year.
Ghosn acknowledged that January and February sales in the region had been very bad with a combined decline of about 9 percent, but he added that sales cannot keep declining forever.
Continue reading "Ghosn: Too early to revise European sales predictions downward" » Mar 5, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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Why Corvette in Europe faces a tough road

Posted 2:00 am U.S. ET, March 5
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Across Europe, 'Vettes can cost one-third more than in the United States, hampering sales on the Continent. Chevy hopes to do better with the new Corvette Stingray. (GM)
MIKE COLIAS:  GENEVA -- By unveiling the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible in Europe, General Motors is signaling that it believes this generation of the 'Vette can stretch its halo beyond American shores.
Much has been made of the hints of Euro-flavored styling found on the coupe, interpreted as Chevy's bid to appeal to younger ...
     Continue reading "Why Corvette in Europe faces a tough road" » Mar 5, 2013 2:00 am U.S. ET
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Lamborghini celebrates 50th with exclusive Veneno

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 5
blogs
The limited-edition Veneno costs 3 million euros ($3.9 million) plus local taxes. All three are sold.
NICK GIBBS:  Lamborghini stole the limelight from McLaren and Ferrari rivals on Monday by celebrating its 50th anniversary with an exclusive hypercar of which just three will be built.
Called Veneno, it costs 3 million euros ($3.9 million) plus local taxes. All three are sold.
Lamborghini CEO Stephan Wi ...
     Continue reading "Lamborghini celebrates 50th with exclusive Veneno" » Mar 5, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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VW marries massages, movies & maintenance

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 5
blogs Douglas A. Bolduc is Managing Editor at Automotive News Europe.
 
For most people in the Western world, going to the dealership is like going to the dentist. The visit is considered a success as long as it is quick and painless. At Volkswagen dealerships in China the expectations are higher – and the perks are much better.
During VW Group's mega-event on the eve of today's Geneva auto ...
     Continue reading "VW marries massages, movies & maintenance" » Mar 5, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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Mercedes A class suffers decisive defeat

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 4
blogs Luca Ciferri is Editor of Automotive News Europe.
 
The Mercedes-Benz A class suffered a surprisingly decisive defeat in the 2013 European Car of the Year contest won easily by the Volkswagen Golf.
I thought the Golf would win, but I expected the A class to be a close second, definitely not a disappointing fifth place.
The voters saw it very ...
     Continue reading "Mercedes A class suffers decisive defeat" » Mar 4, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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China's newest brand is one to watch

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 1
blogs
The Qoros 3 Estate Concept previews a potential wagon bodystyle that is popular among European motorists.
PAUL MCVEIGH:  European automakers reeling from the austerity-hit region's slump in car sales will see a potentially more serious, long-term threat from an ambitious Chinese brand at this year's Geneva auto show.
Qoros -- jointly owned by Chery Automotive and investment company Israel Corp. -- will unveil a compact sedan ahead of the car's ...
     Continue reading "China's newest brand is one to watch" » Mar 1, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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Alfa 4C, Act II

Posted 5:34 am U.S. ET, March 1
blogs
Alfa will limit 4C production to 2,500 units, so the eagerly anticipated coupe will be an image booster rather than a volume booster when it goes on sale globally later this year.
DOUGLAS A. BOLDUC:  Getting a close look at the Alfa Romeo 4C when it debuts at the Geneva auto show March 5 will be a challenge if there is a repeat of what happened two years ago at the same show.
When Alfa unveiled the concept version of the small sports car at Geneva in 2011 it seemed like every person in Switzerland was crowded on and aroun ...
     Continue reading "Alfa 4C, Act II" » Mar 1, 2013 5:34 am U.S. ET
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Don't mess with Ferrari

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, March 1
blogs Luca Ciferri is Editor of Automotive News Europe.
 
Give credit to the organizers of the Geneva auto show, they know better than to mess with Ferrari. From 8:00 until 14:45 on the first press day, March 5, there will be two simultaneous auto company press conferences every 15 minutes.
The one exception in the schedule is 11:45 to 12:00. That's when Ferrari CEO Luca Cordero di ...
     Continue reading "Don't mess with Ferrari " » Mar 1, 2013 12:01 am U.S. ET
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Catch the wave at Toyota's new motor show booth

Posted 9:35 am U.S. ET, Feb. 20
blogs
The design was inspired by origami, the traditional Japanese craft of folding paper.
HANS GREIMEL:  TOKYO -- What do you get when you take a piece of Toyota corporate stationery and roll up one end like a tube of paper towels? It's the new look of Toyota's global motor show stand.
Toyota calls it "The Wave." And in all fairness, it's a clean, simple motif that exudes an air of modernity and artistry.
...
     Continue reading "Catch the wave at Toyota's new motor show booth" » Feb 20, 2013 9:35 am U.S. ET
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