Coronavirus Claims the Geneva Motorshow

Geneva Motorshow 2020, one of the largest annual international motor show, is cancelled. As the impact of the novel coronavirus becomes increasingly palpable throughout the globe, I’d like to take a moment and recall some of the awe-striking cars that we’d otherwise have seen unveiled live at the Motorshow.

1. Koenigsegg Gemera

Undoubtedly, the Koenigsegg Gemera would’ve most likely been the star of the show. It is, as the man Christian von Koenigsegg himself puts it, ‘the world’s first mega-GT’. Think of it as the complement or subtle nod to the Koenigsegg One:1, which is the world’s first ‘megacar’. There’s a massive difference between the Gemera and every other Koenigseggs to date though - it can genuinely fit four adults inside.

Despite that startling fact, make no mistake, this is a Koenigsegg product in every sense. It fits the alleged bill of a Megacar in every term. Immediately perceivable are its striking styling cues, boasting sleek and decidedly modish aesthetics. It’s quite polarising. Along with that, the Koenigsegg Automated Twisted Synchrohelix Actuation Doors stuck with the 4-seater concept as well, but now much enlarged to properly present all 4 seats at once. It’s also completely pillarless, easing accessibility for everyone onboard. Koenigsegg could’ve opted the easy way out with conventional swing doors, but that wouldn’t be the Koenigsegg ethos.

What’s truly astounding though is the engineering feats Koenigsegg has managed to achieve in the drivetrain. Powering the Gemera isn’t their in-house V8, but rather a newly developed 2.0-litre inline-3. Raise an eyebrow yet? Dubbed the ‘Tiny Friendly Giant’ (TFG), this ‘modest’ inline-3 is a culmination of Koenigsegg’s forward-thinking philosophy. Using their uniquely developed ‘Freevalve’ valvetrain, it allows for continuous, asynchronous operation of the intake and exhaust valves. Essentially it modulates how the engine breathes seamlessly, which Koenigsegg says allow for up to 20% reduction in consumption compared to a conventional 2.0-litre inline-4.

This engine is also bi-turbo, working with an astonishing two-stage charging system that only the Freevalve system facilitates. This means that the TFG can muster 600 bhp and 600 Nm of torque down low. Integrated into the Gemera is Koenigsegg are three e-motors, one at the TFG’s crankshaft and two at the rear wheel for direct drive. Thanks to this, the combined output of the Gemera is 1700 bhp and 3500 Nm of torque. It’s all-wheel-drive and driven only with one gear, with an 800V 15kWh high-voltage battery supplying power to the motors. This translates to a supposedly 1000 km combined range. Mind-boggling to comprehend what engineering feats Koenigsegg has managed here. Shows just how far an idea like the BMW i8 could go as of now. Piqued? Prices allegedly start from 1.7 million USD, with 300 planned production units, making the Gemera the most affordable Koenigsegg right now.

2. Czinger 21C

You might’ve not heard of this manufacturer before, but it’s a bonafide American upstart. Czinger meddles with modern manufacturing technology to bring unique automotive ideas into fruition. The sobriquet originates from ‘21st century’ which tells you that it’s contemporary in every sense. It’s also designed after one of mankind’s greatest invention - the SR-71 Blackbird.

Upon scrutinization, their bold claims aren’t without foundation. The Czinger 21C is a 2-seater hypercar. In lieu of abreast though, the passenger sits directly behind the driver to maintain a narrow jet-like profile. Efficiency is the name of the game here, you’ll find a 2.9-litre Ferrari derived V8 right behind the seats that is paired with e-motors to deliver a combined 1,250 hp and 850 Nm torque to all four wheels. While it seems diminutive compared to the pack of insane hypercars we’ve got lined up, it’s important to note that the 21C is so space and mass efficient that it only weighs roughly 1.2-tonnes. Thus, Czinger claims a genuine 1:1 weight to power ratio for the 21C. That translates to a sub-2 second 0-62 mph time.

However, beneath all of this is just how revolutionary the 21C is developed, built and manufactured. The man behind all this, Kevin Czinger, envisions the 21C in such a spectacular way that it’s not a chassis that we’ve quite seen prior. Mimicking the notion of a superbike as a bike lover himself, the 21C looks like an enlarged RC car underneath. This deft management of space should theoretically contribute to incredible chassis strength. Czinger is tight-lipped, but truly advanced manufacturing techniques are utilised for the 21C which includes laser-machined carbon and 3D printing.

Intriguingly, it also has the longest butterfly doors so both seats can be accessed simultaneously. 80 Czinger 21Cs will be built, with 2 configurations available. A ‘tamed’ road variant with comfort in mind; and a pantomime track variant that has only one seat and a giant rear wing, in addition to the body-sculpted spoiler. Either way, prepare to fork out around $1.7 million for one.

3. Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport

A familiar name in the hypercar business. Bugatti is no stranger to making cars for the wealthiest clients, and the Chiron Pur Sport is the latest page in the chapter. It’s built partly to appease the demands of Bugatti’s elusive customer base and harkens back to the French company’s illustrious Grand Prix success.

As Bugatti itself puts it in brevity, the Chiron Pur Sport is built with the spirit of ‘form follows function’. One thing is immediately noticeable though, the Pur Sport dons a bold decal at the signature horseshoe grille, ‘16’, indicating the W16 powerplant that propels the modern Bugatti. It remains identical even in the ‘Pur Sport’ guise though, making 1,500 horsepower that results in a lower 217 mph top speed. It may also be a subliminal nod to the 1912 Bugatti Type 16 though, a racecar with a similarly revolutionary engine back then.

Other than that, Bugatti has imbued the Pur Sport with plenty of track-focused enhancements. It comes in the form of plenty of aerodynamics changes and weight savings, most notably at the back. Omitted are the Chirons’ traditional hydraulic wing, instead, the Chiron Pur Sport displays a gigantic fixed rear wing that increases available downforce and reduces weight significantly. You’ll also notice the uniquely designed magnesium alloys exclusive to the Pur Sport. These save 16 kg in total, but can also be fitted with optional ‘aero blades’ that channels air to aid in downforce.

To give you an idea, the weight saving goes as far as the backing plate of the individual brake pads used for the Chiron. These are carved from titanium, which when applied to all 8 brake pads actually sheds 2 kg in weight. Even the exhaust tips are 3D-printed titanium which contributes to a total of 50 kg in weight savings over the standard Chiron. Furthermore, the car is stiffened up fore and aft, paired with a close-ratio transmission to deliver a wholly unique driving experience to that offered by a ‘normal’ Chiron. It’s also a bit more expensive than the Chiron at $3.3 million.

4. McLaren 765LT

Eyes watering from the price tags mentioned so far? Fret not, more conventional supercars are also potential prospects here. McLaren is amongst those that had something to say in the Geneva Motor Show. As per tradition, it has revealed the 765LT, which serves as a further evolution of the venerated 720S. It needs little introduction, but the ‘LT’ in the badge stands for Longtail. It refers to McLaren’s legendary F1 GTR Longtail that was designed for Le Mans racing. Therefore, that badge definitely carries some weight. The 765LT is thus further ingrained with track-genes, sporting redesigned ‘Longtail’ active rear spoiler, rear bumper and overt diffuser. You’ll find additional carbon-fibre panels that are affixed to the body, along with a conspicuous front splitter and specialised front bumper that channels air accordingly.

The changes aren’t exclusive to exterior though, McLaren has tweaked with the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 using know-how from the McLaren Senna, new titanium exhaust, fuel system and refined engine management. It now puts out 765 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque. Gear ratios are revised and final drive further modified to coax a livelier drivetrain. McLaren says it delivers 15 percent quicker per gear acceleration, and that means a 2.7 seconds 0-62 mph time, onto a 205 mph top speed.

McLaren Longtails are traditional in their methods but stupendous in the results. In fact, the 765LT has managed to cut 80 kg from the already featherweight 720S, so it now weighs just 1,229 kg dry. Some drastic measures have been taken to realise this much weight saving though, namely the absence of most creature comforts. That means no air-conditioning, no carpets and no audio system. Though for the latter you have the sonorous, silky smooth exhaust note emanated by the V8 to make up for. Expect to shell out around $400,000 for one.

5. BAC Mono S

This did catch me by surprise, as I didn’t expect BAC to come up with a sequel to its debut album. Based in Chesire, England, it’s one of the noteworthy English-based track-focused cars that’s supposed to unveil during the Geneva Motorshow. BAC refers it as just the Mono though, which can be somewhat perplexing to differentiate plainly. It has been impacted by emissions, but make no mistake, no compromises have been made. In fact, from the flesh, it’s very much a BAC product, as it looks identical in shape to the outgoing Mono. Take a closer look, and you’ll notice a sharper front nose, nose-mounted headlights borrowed from the Mono R. It’s also 20mm lower and 25mm longer, promoting a well-honed, keener styling.

To help meet increasingly-strict Euro standards, the Mono S has opted for the application of forced induction, BAC’s first. Developed in conjunction with renowned engine builder Mountune, the 2.3-litre turbocharged inline-4 now outputs 332 hp and a staggering 400 Nm torque. Integration of a dry-sump oil feed has enabled lower engine position to help with the centre of gravity. It still meets all legalities, so it’s legal across the continent.

BAC has somehow managed to still remove 10 kg out of the Mono, even with all these complications. Courtesy to 3D printing, lightened wheels, carbon floor, optional carbon-ceramic discs and a multitude of other leaning techniques. Saving weight is BAC’s expertise, and the Mono S is the essence of BAC, as it tips the scale at 570 kg curb. Incredibly, it accelerates to 62 mph in just shy of 3 seconds. Supercar figures, sports car output.

With all that said, the Mono S is really stretching the definition of a street-able ‘car’. It’s a single-seater with nigh nil practical application, but it does have four wheels. Prices start at about $212,000, and if you want a totally visceral ‘track car for the road’ experience, none will quite rival the Mono S.

6. Aston Martin V12 Speedster

Aston Martin has been struggling recently financially, but that hasn’t stopped it from releasing halo cars. The latest amongst the lineup of ludicrous Aston Martin imagination is the V12 Speedster, and as the name suggests, it’s a V12-powered ‘speedster’ category of cars.

It lacks a windshield and roof, much like the recent Ferrari Icona Monzas and McLaren Elva, but it’s inspired by the F/A 18 Hornet jet fighter. In fact, it’s a collaboration effort between Aston Martin’s ‘Q’ department and Boeing, and it’s certainly surreal looking. It has all the right lines of an Aston Martin, but it excludes the roof in favour of two open seats partitioned to give the impression of two isolated cockpits.

Powered by Aston Martin’s twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 that puts out 700 horsepower and 753 Nm of torque driving an 8-speed transmission, the V12 Speedster is capable of 0-62 mph in 3.5 seconds. The top speed is limited to 186 mph, but speeds like that are advisable only with a crash helmet.

Regardless, the V12 Speedster combines elements from the beloved Vantage and Superleggera to whet the handling characteristics. It’s meant to be more of a B-road crusher rather than a cruiser. The body is crafted almost entirely from carbon fibre, including the spine that runs down the cabin. If you remember the Aston Martin CC100 concept introduced back in 2013 as a centenary celebration for the fabled DBR1 and DB3S, this V12 Speedster is Aston Martin bringing that to the road. Just 88 units will be made, and prices start at approximately $1 million.

7. Bentley Mulliner Bacalar

Bentley has been consistently excellent with the products they’re putting out recently, and it finally presents the world with the return of coachbuilt luxury cars. Mulliner is Bentley’s coachbuilder, and in true coachbuilt fashion, the Bacalar will be limited to a very exclusive 12 production units.

While it’s roofless, it’s unlike any other contemporary roofless car announced lately, since it preserves a windshield. Think of it as a permanently topless convertible Bentley, and the aesthetics they’ve managed to procure as a result of ridding the roof is quite stunning. It’s only possible with the Barchetta (little boat) design they’ve gone with here.

Expect traditional Bentley underneath, that means the tried and true Bentley drivetrain will be used. All of the emphasis has been placed on the attention to detail and bespoke build. Customers will play a huge part in customising their Bacalar, as they directly communicate with the Bentley Mulliner design division. Things like the wood trim on the dashboard are actually handcrafted from trees that fell 5000-years ago that are naturally preserved.

Every individual Bacalar will be hand-built and painstakingly put together on order. Therefore, the Bacalar is not available to buy for the public. If you’re a passionate Bentley customer and have a spare $2 million lying around though, you might have a shot at your own Bacalar.

Verdict

It’s disappointing but understandable that the Geneva Motorshow had to be cancelled. However, it’s somewhat touching that the majority of the participating manufacturers have decided that the show must proceed regardless.