The best cars of the Geneva International Motor Show 2018

‘Pista’ translates into English as ‘track’. So like the 911 GT3 RS, this is a track-focused car that is ready for the road. The 3.9-litre 710bhp V8 twin-turbo engine is the most powerful V8 in Ferrari’s history. Zero-60mph takes just 2.8 seconds. Blimey. Top speed is 211mph and the price is just shy of £250,000. Loads of downforce technology has been borrowed from the F1 cars, so handling will be superb. The interior is basic, though: Ferrari says it has ‘a distinctive racing feel with all superfluous elements eliminated.’ If you were hoping for cup holders, forget it. 

BMW is calling this a concept car. But don’t be fooled; this will be the new BMW 8 Series. OK, it’s shown here in all bells and whistles M guise and as a Gran Coupé, but you can get a very good idea of the shape and size. In effect, it replaces the BMW 6 Series which, at a stroke, suddenly looks rather dowdy. There will be the usual choice of petrol and diesel engines kicking off at 3.0 litres for company drivers. There will almost certainly be a V12 and a flying machine M8 with a V8 engine. When will it arrive? You can probably expect it to break cover later in the summer. Mercedes S Class Coupé sales could take a hit. 

BMW is calling this a concept car. But don’t be fooled; this will be the new BMW 8 Series. OK, it’s shown here in all bells and whistles M guise and as a Gran Coupé, but you can get a very good idea of the shape and size. In effect, it replaces the BMW 6 Series which, at a stroke, suddenly looks rather dowdy. There will be the usual choice of petrol and diesel engines kicking off at 3.0 litres for company drivers. There will almost certainly be a V12 and a flying machine M8 with a V8 engine. When will it arrive? You can probably expect it to break cover later in the summer. Mercedes S Class Coupé sales could take a hit. 

This was a surprise from Land Rover: the world’s first full-size luxury SUV coupé. It’ll set you back £240,000 but you’ll be in an exclusive club because only 999 will be built. There’s 557bhp from a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol powertrain making the SV Coupé the fastest-ever full-size Range Rover made. Zero-60mph will happen in just five seconds and it will go on to 165mph. Each car will be hand-assembled to the client’s personal specification. For example, you can choose from more than 100 different paint schemes and there’s the option to engrave door handles and tread plates. Oh, and it’ll tow a horsebox across a muddy field. 

This was a surprise from Land Rover: the world’s first full-size luxury SUV coupé. It’ll set you back £240,000 but you’ll be in an exclusive club because only 999 will be built. There’s 557bhp from a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol powertrain making the SV Coupé the fastest-ever full-size Range Rover made. Zero-60mph will happen in just five seconds and it will go on to 165mph. Each car will be hand-assembled to the client’s personal specification. For example, you can choose from more than 100 different paint schemes and there’s the option to engrave door handles and tread plates. Oh, and it’ll tow a horsebox across a muddy field. 

According to Bentley, this is the world’s first luxury hybrid SUV. (The Porsche Panamera Hybrid is hardly shabby, but we’ll let it lie.) It’s the first step by Bentley to produce an all-electric car. Power comes from a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine mated to an electric motor. You can drive for 31 miles on electric only. A full household charge takes 7.5 hours. All-wheel drive comes as standard. Wafting along in silence does fit in rather nicely with the Bentley luxury. Zero-60mph is likely to be around five seconds. Handling should be as per other Bentaygas because the added weight of the battery will barely be noticed.

According to Bentley, this is the world’s first luxury hybrid SUV. (The Porsche Panamera Hybrid is hardly shabby, but we’ll let it lie.) It’s the first step by Bentley to produce an all-electric car. Power comes from a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine mated to an electric motor. You can drive for 31 miles on electric only. A full household charge takes 7.5 hours. All-wheel drive comes as standard. Wafting along in silence does fit in rather nicely with the Bentley luxury. Zero-60mph is likely to be around five seconds. Handling should be as per other Bentaygas because the added weight of the battery will barely be noticed.

It’s now 50 years since the iconic Bullitt film hit our screens. Steve McQueen may be the coolest actor of all time, but even he was overshadowed by his car in this film. The original 1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback  featured has become one of the most iconic cars of all time. Ford’s new special-edition Mustang Bullitt pays homage to the original with its unique Dark Highland shade of green. Power is uprated from the standard to a 458bhp 5.0-litre V8 and, if you somehow get bored of the wonderful exhaust note, you can blow your socks off with the 1,000-watt B&O sound system. There’s a new ten-speed auto ’box too. You can dial-in different drive modes, one of which is ‘Drag Strip’. Now yer talkin’.

It’s now 50 years since the iconic Bullitt film hit our screens. Steve McQueen may be the coolest actor of all time, but even he was overshadowed by his car in this film. The original 1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback  featured has become one of the most iconic cars of all time. Ford’s new special-edition Mustang Bullitt pays homage to the original with its unique Dark Highland shade of green. Power is uprated from the standard to a 458bhp 5.0-litre V8 and, if you somehow get bored of the wonderful exhaust note, you can blow your socks off with the 1,000-watt B&O sound system. There’s a new ten-speed auto ’box too. You can dial-in different drive modes, one of which is ‘Drag Strip’. Now yer talkin’.

Vying for the prettiest car at Geneva is the new Alpine A110. The company shut its doors in 1995, but last year saw Renault revive the marque. The A110 Pure and A110 Légende are the production series versions that broaden Alpine’s appeal. The Pure is aimed at keen drivers and has more of a stripped-out cabin with lightweight materials. The Légende is a long-legged GT cruiser with leather upholstery and comfy seats. Both use a turbocharged 1.8-litre, 248bhp four-cylinder engine. Zero-60mph takes 4.5 seconds and the top speed is 155mph. Prices are likely to start at £45,000. It’ll certainly give Porsche Cayman customers something to think about.

Vying for the prettiest car at Geneva is the new Alpine A110. The company shut its doors in 1995, but last year saw Renault revive the marque. The A110 Pure and A110 Légende are the production series versions that broaden Alpine’s appeal. The Pure is aimed at keen drivers and has more of a stripped-out cabin with lightweight materials. The Légende is a long-legged GT cruiser with leather upholstery and comfy seats. Both use a turbocharged 1.8-litre, 248bhp four-cylinder engine. Zero-60mph takes 4.5 seconds and the top speed is 155mph. Prices are likely to start at £45,000. It’ll certainly give Porsche Cayman customers something to think about.

Order it today and you’ll be able to collect the kids in September. Mercedes’ new AMG G63 is as big and brutal as ever. Power comes from a 4.0-litre twin-turbo 577bhp V8 engine, which has outstanding performance, bearing in mind it’s shifting a car the size of a small country. Zero-60mph takes a mind-blowing 4.5 seconds, and top speed is 137mph. The noise is outstanding thanks to the twin exhausts exiting just in front of the rear wheels, below the rear doors on either side. You’ll wake the neighbours. It ain’t subtle, but the build quality is top notch and it’s surprisingly good to drive. Price? Think £150,000 and keep counting.  

Order it today and you’ll be able to collect the kids in September. Mercedes’ new AMG G63 is as big and brutal as ever. Power comes from a 4.0-litre twin-turbo 577bhp V8 engine, which has outstanding performance, bearing in mind it’s shifting a car the size of a small country. Zero-60mph takes a mind-blowing 4.5 seconds, and top speed is 137mph. The noise is outstanding thanks to the twin exhausts exiting just in front of the rear wheels, below the rear doors on either side. You’ll wake the neighbours. It ain’t subtle, but the build quality is top notch and it’s surprisingly good to drive. Price? Think £150,000 and keep counting.  

Another motor show, another Porsche 911 variant. This one, however, is rather special. The GT3 RS is really a track racer, but Porsche has added a few things like air con, sat nav, and some additional sound insulation to make it more usable on the road. An auto ’box comes as standard (no manual). So does shattering performance with 0-60mph taking 3.2 seconds. Top speed is a shade under 200mph, and power comes from a 4.0-litre flat six. This 513bhp, normally aspirated (no nasty turbo lag) engine, will hit 9,000rpm. Price is £141,346, and for no extra cost, they’ll even fit a roll cage. Hopefully you won’t need to test it.

Another motor show, another Porsche 911 variant. This one, however, is rather special. The GT3 RS is really a track racer, but Porsche has added a few things like air con, sat nav, and some additional sound insulation to make it more usable on the road. An auto ’box comes as standard (no manual). So does shattering performance with 0-60mph taking 3.2 seconds. Top speed is a shade under 200mph, and power comes from a 4.0-litre flat six. This 513bhp, normally aspirated (no nasty turbo lag) engine, will hit 9,000rpm. Price is £141,346, and for no extra cost, they’ll even fit a roll cage. Hopefully you won’t need to test it.

It’s not the fastest, it’s not the most flashy and it’s not the biggest, but arguably the most important car to appear at Geneva is the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace. The fact that it’s a genuine rival to the more expensive Tesla tells you how impressive it is. Here’s what else you need to know: 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds; a top speed of 124mph, and a range of almost 300 miles on an overnight charge. It can manage 80% charge in just 85 minutes. Priced from £63,495, the first deliveries will arrive in July. Best of all, it drives like a Jaguar – albeitan all-wheel drive one – and looks great. 

It’s not the fastest, it’s not the most flashy and it’s not the biggest, but arguably the most important car to appear at Geneva is the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace. The fact that it’s a genuine rival to the more expensive Tesla tells you how impressive it is. Here’s what else you need to know: 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds; a top speed of 124mph, and a range of almost 300 miles on an overnight charge. It can manage 80% charge in just 85 minutes. Priced from £63,495, the first deliveries will arrive in July. Best of all, it drives like a Jaguar – albeitan all-wheel drive one – and looks great. 

And finally, let’s say cheerio to Geneva 2018 with two contrasting cars. Bye-bye, Morgan Plus 8. It’s 50 years since it arrived, but the end is nigh for the thumping V8 engines in Morgan cars. The V8 Anniversary Edition will be the last of the breed. Shame. They’re a handful but they sound absolutely wonderful. It might not be everyone’s cup of char, but the Toyota Auris is an important car on its way out. It is built in the UK at the Toyota plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire, and contributes to the employment of thousands of people. It looks slightly less dull than the outgoing model but it’ll be OK to drive and will never go wrong.

And finally, let’s say cheerio to Geneva 2018 with two contrasting cars. Bye-bye, Morgan Plus 8. It’s 50 years since it arrived, but the end is nigh for the thumping V8 engines in Morgan cars. The V8 Anniversary Edition will be the last of the breed. Shame. They’re a handful but they sound absolutely wonderful. It might not be everyone’s cup of char, but the Toyota Auris is an important car on its way out. It is built in the UK at the Toyota plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire, and contributes to the employment of thousands of people. It looks slightly less dull than the outgoing model but it’ll be OK to drive and will never go wrong.