"Wind of change" - this is how the Scorpions sang at the time of the collapse of the USSR, and the stands of automakers "sing" about it, the wind of change, at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016 ..
So, Geneva: the main automobile bride of Europe. The Geneva Motor Show has always set the vector for the development of the entire automotive industry in the coming years, and the 2016 show was no exception. You can read about the main premieres at, and we'll talk about where the wind of change is blowing. After the “diesel gate” scandal with Volkswagen diesel engines, it became obvious to everyone: the days of traditional internal combustion engines are numbered even in Europe. European manufacturers frankly “slept through” worldwide hybridization: they claimed to the last that for low fuel consumption and small emissions into the atmosphere, a conventional diesel engine is enough, without complicating the design with electric motors. But recent events have put an end to traditional designs: the spring of 2016 showed that the automotive world has moved into new era. And it has no place for internal combustion engines.
This is how the layout of a car from the beginning of the 21st century looks like: a traditional engine in the front, a battery in the back. This scheme will not last long: as soon as high-capacity and affordable batteries appear, the internal combustion engine under the hood will disappear. Apparently forever 
Battery and fuel tank. So far, they peacefully coexist with each other, but this is a compromise solution. In the near future, the entire floor space of the car will be occupied by the battery European concerns planned to bypass the “hybrid” versions and immediately switch to electric or hydrogen vehicles. But after the Volkswagen diesel scandal, everyone officially announced: we will say goodbye to conventional engines. And here, European manufacturers have found themselves in the role of catching up: the world leader in the “hybridization” of the model range is Toyota, whose Prius has been struggling with TDI, HDI and other European diesel engines since the late 90s. And in the electric train segment, Tesla is the leader.
Now Toyota has the widest line of serial "hybrids", there are station wagons, hatchbacks, city "kids". The concern's huge financial capabilities make it possible to produce some models at a loss: the main thing now is to test the technology and gain market share. What is happening: European taxi drivers are increasingly switching to hybrid Toyotas.
The C-HR crossover will also be a hybrid - a total of 122 hp, beware, Nissan Juke! The design of this model is definitely not dull.
As in the mid-90s, with super profits, Toyota is again one step ahead of the competition, while everyone is just starting to master hybrids, the Japanese are already selling the Mirai hydrogen car! The hydrogen future of cars is still a very big question, but the Japanese are one step ahead in this area. And confidently lead in the segment of hybrids.
Concept LF-FC is about to become a production model: the premiere of a large sedan is just around the corner 
Big Lexus sedan exploits the “shark” style that has become familiar to the brand, and the appearance of the production model will not differ much from the prototype.
Apparently, the Germans will have to make room in the segment of large sedans. But it's not just the Japanese growers who are taking the lead in hybridizing the entire planet: the Koreans are hot on their heels!
Meet the Hyundai Ioniq, the world's first car available in three versions at once: conventional hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric. The buyer can choose which option is closer to him - although the characteristics of the electric version are not impressive, the range is only about 170 km.
This is how the Hyundai Ioniq “gear lever” looks like: everything, the era of levers is gone Very short range is the scourge of all "just" electric vehicles, and until fast-charging stations are built all over the planet, plug-in hybrid versions will rule the world. To work, from work - on electricity, on a long trip - on gasoline. Traditional motors, traditional body types are less and less in demand in developed countries: crossovers, vans and hybrid power plants, that's the global trend.
A litmus test that speaks of the future is the Mitsubishi stand: now it is in austerity mode, there are not enough funds, so it was decided not to develop the passenger range and conventional internal combustion engines, but to concentrate on SUVs and electricity. SUVs will help to maintain positions in the markets of developing countries, electric vehicles are intended for developed countries. Concept eX and SUV, and electric - two in one. The promised power reserve is about 400 km.
Tank cap of tomorrow Absolutely everything has now moved into rechargeable hybrids: at each stand there was either a car ready for serial production, or a serial model already. Porsche, Range Rover, Volkswagen – everyone has plug-in hybrids.
Mercedes-Benz? Rechargeable hybrid! It is difficult to name a manufacturer that has not shown a novelty in this market segment.
Another global craze is driverless cars. Nissan claims that in a year its crossovers will "learn" to move independently, without the help of a driver. In fact, almost all premium cars now can do this. But in many countries, the legislation prohibits the operation of such machines, so the market will be limited at first. In California, “drones” are being exploited with might and main, and in a few years it is planned to fight for the taxi market: in the near future, not Uber will compete with taxi drivers, but robots.
The often-mentioned "downsizing" has not disappeared anywhere either: if the model did not have a rechargeable battery from the outlet, then it simply had a reduced engine size. They do this for a number of reasons. First, theoretically, fuel consumption and emissions are reduced. Secondly, by “playing” with the boost pressure and the engine control program, you can squeeze 3-4 versions of power out of one engine without changing anything in it globally. This is a cheap design. Thirdly, less volume - less weight, fewer materials - less production costs. Although the last statement is doubtful: "small" motors require the use of very expensive materials. But other things being equal, a block for a 1.0 engine is cheaper than a block for a 2.0 engine.
The debutant Porsche 718 Boxster is a typical representative of the era of "reduced" engines. 4 cylinders, turbocharged. Is that what you expected from Porsche?
Another trend that is clearly visible at the Geneva Motor Show: the rich don't cry now. They pay: sales of luxury brands are growing year by year. China, India, before certain events Russia: growth is mainly provided by "young" millionaires. Therefore, in the bright future of another premiere, Lamborghini Centenario, there is no doubt. Demand is. 770 hp, 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and a limited edition of 40 cars, 20 coupes, 20 convertibles. , about which we have already, will also not suffer from a lack of demand: there is a lot of money in the world now.
Updated Bentley, extended versions, "autobiographical" versions: there are more than enough novelties in the luxury segment. Humanity is rapidly emerging from poverty - it is a pity that this statement does not apply to the Customs Union.
The new Quant model is also aiming at the “luxury segment”: on the wave of demand for “premium”, a lot of small manufacturers have appeared, ready to bite off their piece of this pie.
And what is happening in the mass segment? How does automotive Europe live now?
The same as always: Europeans still love the golf class, as evidenced by the sales figures and the Car of the Year award at the Opel Astra Motor Show.
But crossovers are also at the peak of popularity: around the main novelty of Audi, the Q2 model, there was nowhere for the apple to fall. Its niche: the "premium" analogue of the Nissan Juke, and, judging by the first reception, the success of the model is guaranteed. Crossovers, crossovers - by 2016 they have established themselves as body No. 1.
Skoda is about to begin production of a large seven-seater crossover Vision S, Seat showed its version of the SUV - without an SUV, the range of any manufacturer in the world is now unthinkable.
KIA Niro is a world premiere, crossover hybrid, the manufacturer places special hopes on the European market.
Even Indians have entered the crossover segment: with their Hexa model, they are trying their hand at the European market. Although it is hard to believe in the success of the brand.
Not the most noticeable, but important news is the debut of a joint "trinity" of large Toyota/Peugeot/Citroen vans. Pictured is a Citroen Space Tourer, but all three cars turned out well and harmoniously. Given the price, these will be serious competitors to the Volkswagen T6 series.
It is impossible not to notice the gradual drift of European firms into the premium segment: Ford announced the creation of the Vignale luxury brand, Citroen has been experimenting with its DS for a long time. Who are they afraid of? All the same - Asians. Representatives of the rice culture, as always, did not hesitate to study competitors at the auto show.
This guy in the photo took pictures of every seam, every detail of the BMW X4 door - and continued to explore the interior further, taking photos and notes in his notebook. Where is he from? China? Korea? There are about five such photographers with notebooks around each premiere. Year after year they take photos, they record, and eventually the Asian producers grow.
A simple example: Korean Hyundai. Who knew anything about this brand just 20 years ago? So, another company in the backyard of the automotive world.
Individual adjustment of each seat, massage and the list goes on: if you do not pay attention to the nameplate, the BMW 7 and Audi A8 have a serious competitor But the big G90 sedan is no worse than similar models from Europe. Therefore, in the less conservative American market, it will definitely be in demand. Koreans press, they are, perhaps, the main phobia of European manufacturers. But the Chinese have calmed down: they are not at the salon, just as there are no statements to conquer the Old World soon. The Chinese attack bogged down. Yes, and the Europeans are not born with a bast.
At the presentation Renault Scenic there was no crowding: the model is a landmark for Europe, Carlos Ghosn himself came to present it.
It is interesting and beautiful - that's what you can say about the Renault Scenic.
Renault Scenic showed another trend in the market: in automotive interiors firmly established a large tablet. Farewell, center console - now instead of you a big screen. Tesla set the tone, then everyone else follows suit: it seems that soon we will be discussing not interior design, but screen design.
Of the same "screen" cars, the new Volvo V90 station wagon, inside which almost all functions are controlled through a large screen on the center console.
BMW M2 - aggression and passion in its purest form, three liters, twin turbo, 370 hp and 4.3 s to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h.
Salon Alfa Romeo is breathtaking: nothing has changed, the brand still excites the blood! The stand of Alfa Romeo also speaks about the fact that it is too early to bury Europe: their new Giulia divinely beautiful.
Therefore, everything is fine in Europe. Hybrids are coming, sales luxury cars grow, models still delight with beauty. Optimism is what Geneva 2016 is all about.
Behind the scenes conversation
At the auto show, we were able to get a short technical interview with Alain Reposo, engineer of the Renault-Nissan alliance. Fans of motors will definitely be interested.
— Renault has a lot innovative technologies, but, unfortunately, not all of them are used on models for countries former USSR. Why is Renault so careful to use "downsizing" engines on models for our countries?
— There is no other answer than economic expediency. New engines are more expensive to manufacture, and budget models are most in demand in your market. Therefore, every percentage of the cost of the car is very important - hence the range of engines, which mainly consists of classic units. As soon as the economic situation allows us to use modern expensive power plants, we will do it right away.
- How do you evaluate the resource of modern motors? Has it decreased compared to the motors of the 90s of the twentieth century?
- No. We conducted comparative tests: subject to the use of high-quality oils, the engine life is approximately the same, at least 300,000 km. I emphasize no less. Further operation is already influenced by operating conditions and other factors. For modern engines, the quality of lubricants and the quality of service are very important, I would advise you not to save on this.
- You know that in our countries people cut out diesel particulate filters, and in general they do not trust this technology. Why then did the Duster model have a particulate filter in the 1.5 dci engine?
- To be honest, I don’t understand why the particulate filter should be removed ... After all, this is ecology, an engine without it emits much more harmful particles. And there are no problems with the reliability of the particulate filter in your conditions: we tested it, everything works fine. To be honest, creating a 110-horsepower version of this engine without an anti-particulate filter is not in our plans: I repeat, the environmental friendliness of our solutions is very important. But if this is the demand of the market, we can probably come up with something. But for this, sales diesel versions should be higher than now.
— Why do manufacturers constantly claim that the efficiency of cars is improving, although at the same time, for many models, the real fuel consumption remains the same?
“The fuel consumption of engines is constantly decreasing, we are reducing it by several percent from model to model. But when the power unit is installed on the car, it suddenly turns out that the new generation has become larger, heavier. A lot of electrical consumers, additional devices appeared in the car - therefore, indeed, in some cases real numbers fuel consumption remains the same. Motor designers only manage to compensate for the losses that occur due to the above factors. But! If we take cars of comparable weight and engines of similar power, you will notice that fuel consumption has decreased significantly.
- Don't you think that modern motors are too complicated? Turbocharging, particulate filters and urea injection in diesel engines - why won't anyone say stop, it's time to stop, we leave the internal combustion engine at this stage of development, and further develop other technologies?
— I agree with you that the engines have become much more complex. But you understand, we are squeezed into the framework of environmental legislation on the one hand, and we are faced with the lack of a developed network of electric charging stations on the other. Do you understand? Electric motors seem like a solution, but buyers won't be buying cars with short ranges and no electric gas stations now. Therefore, we have what we have. And the new environmental standards are still a concern for the future of our planet. And this also needs to be taken into account when we talk about internal combustion engines.
On March 1, the Geneva Motor Show 2016 opened today in Switzerland - one of the most prestigious auto shows in the world, it is here that manufacturers annually demonstrate the largest number of new products, concept cars and tuning projects.
Overview of interesting novelties of the Geneva Motor Show 2016.
1. New old acquaintance. One of the interesting premieres of Ford at the exhibition in Geneva was the updated crossover Kuga.
2. The new Kuga has become longer - 4524 mm against the current 4443 mm. True, the cabin will not be noticeably more spacious anyway - the wheelbase has remained the same.
In Europe and the USA, the car will be equipped with a system automatic parking, the function of opening the tailgate with your foot (to do this, you will need to move your foot under the bumper. In addition, there will be multimedia system with the ability to access the Internet and the function of perceiving the voice commands of the driver. It’s too early to say what will happen in Russia, because car sales will start in late 2016 or early 2017.
3. New generation Ford Kuga will be sold in Europe with a 2.0-liter diesel engine that produces 140 or 163 hp, as well as a 1.6-liter EcoBoost gasoline unit.
Italian Porsche Caen
4. Maserati presented its first serial crossover at the Geneva Motor Show, which was named after the warm Mediterranean wind - Levante. With him, the company intends to compete for buyers with such premium crossovers as the Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5 and X6, as well as the Mercedes-Benz GLE.
5. The base 350-horsepower Levante will reach 100 km / h in six seconds, and the 430-horsepower modification will need 5.2 seconds. These versions spend 10.7 and 10.9 liters of gasoline per "hundred". Diesel will spend 7.2 seconds to accelerate to 100 km / h and spend 7.2 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km.
6. Interior:
7. It is a pity that since 2016 deliveries Opel cars to the Russian market have been discontinued, because the Opel Mokka X is a very nice and worthy car. The new Mokka is now trying to look more serious. The new “chip” of the exterior design was 2 sweeping “jackdaws” in the front and rear optics.
8. The central display with a diagonal of 7 or 8 inches looks the brightest inside. To have a chic display and advanced operating system were not in vain, Mokka was also endowed with the ability to access the Internet and connect to mobile devices.
9. Adaptive bi-xenon optics have been replaced with multi-mode LED, various radar safety and driver assistance technologies have been added, two new colors (orange and red). Such new Opel Mokka X, which we will not see. At least officially.
By the way, the demand for compact crossovers has tripled in the world over the past 10 years. Moreover, marketers assume that this segment will continue to grow.
Chinese supercar
10. Think it's an Italian supercar? No, it's Chinese! One of the most interesting exhibits of the Geneva Motor Show 2016 was a Chinese car from Techrules.
11. It adopts a number of Chinese patented technologies under common name TREV (Turbine Recharging Electric Vehicle), the main one being the use gas turbine engine with a generator to charge the battery pack, which in turn feed six electric motors with a total power of as much as 1044 hp.
12. In electric car mode, a Chinese can drive 150 km, and with a full tank and charged batteries, 1,200 km. The racing modification can run on aviation kerosene and gasoline, and the road version can run on natural gas.
Up to 100 km / h, the Chinese supercar accelerates in 2.5 seconds, and the maximum speed is limited to 350 km / h. Fantastically low fuel consumption is promised - 0.18 l / 100 km. Lukoil is outraged.
13. This is a serial SUV Toyota C-HR, which has gone from concept to serial Nissan competitor Juke with a hybrid power plant. It is designed to fill the gap in the company's model line that has finally formed as a result of the "growing up" of the RAV4 and win back a part of the compact crossover market for the Japanese manufacturer.
14. Hints of sportiness - sloping roofline, and "hidden" rear doors, and body kit. Perky and very youthful appearance. C-HR is another carrier of the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) modular platform, which debuted on the Prius. But another technical detail is much more remarkable - the Japanese endowed the SUV with the first hybrid power plant in the segment.
The machine is based on the TNGA platform, which is already hidden under a new generation Toyota Prius. From him, the C-HR received a 122-horsepower hybrid power plant with a 1.8 petrol and an electric motor.
Sports electric car DS E-Tense
15. DS - a brand recently separated from Citroen, she showed the E-Tense model at the Geneva Motor Show. This is a concept, and in this form the car will never go into production. But the fact that the French have begun to move in this direction speaks volumes.
16. The engine is electric, its power is 402 hp - quite a supercar performance. The car accelerates to 100 in just 4.5 seconds, and the top speed is 250 km/h. The creators claim that under some ideal conditions, the battery should be enough for more than 300 km!
The fastest car in the world
17. Bugatti Chiron- a new model of the company, which received the unofficial title of the fastest road car on the planet.
18. The maximum speed of this hypercar is declared at the level of 420 km / h, and the power of the eight-liter W16 engine is breathtaking 1500 hp!
19. At the same time, the company plans to produce and sell 500 of these cars - a lot by the standards of hypercars. For comparison, created specifically for the 100th anniversary of the founder brands Lamborghini the slower, more affordable Centenario will be limited to 40 copies.
20. It was built for the centenary of the birth of the founder of the company - Ferruccio Lamborghini. There will be only 40 of them, and all the cars have already been sold out at a price of 1.75 million euros before official premiere at the Geneva Motor Show 2016.
21. 770 hp, over 350 km/h. The collection Lamborghini takes a “hundred” from a place in 2.8 s, picks up 200 km / h in 8.6 s, and only in acceleration to 300 km / h - 23.5 s.
22. Well, as an additional bonus - the possibility of interior decoration on an individual order. Although carbon fiber and alcantara in the cabin prevail in any case. The base also comes with a modern multimedia system with a 10-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay support, navigation, telemetry and a bunch of other trendy features.
23. While this is a concept, and during the release of the series, the car will be called differently. Rumor has it that the first large crossover in the history of the Czech brand will be called Kodiak. There is no final clarity with the design. I would like to believe that Skoda chief designer Josef Kaban will be able to defend predatory forms and unusual optics.
24. The serial VisionS will hit Russia in 2017 and will definitely be more expensive than the less fashionable and roomy Yeti. It is possible that the initial versions will fall into the fork 2 - 2.2 million rubles. Approximately how much now are "Koreans" Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento Prime, with which, with a wheelbase of 2790 mm and a length of 4700 mm, VisionS falls into the same niche.
26. Morgan 3 Wheeler is a tricycle, which is a copy of the model produced before 1953.
27. Under the hood is a 63 hp electric motor. (at petrol version- 83 hp) and a battery pack with a capacity of 20 kWh. On one charge, the spectacular tricycle can travel 240 km. Serial production should begin before the end of the year. Estimated price - about 50,000 euros.
28. At today's exchange rate, this is about 5 million. Too much.
29. Brand new Aston Martin. Aston Martin DB11 is a further development of the famous DB9 model, which debuted 13 years ago.
30. Under the hood is a 5.2-liter V12 biturbo engine with a capacity of 608 hp. (torque - 700 Nm) - own development company, which is produced at the German plant of Ford. From standstill to 100 km / h, the DB11 accelerates in 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 322 km / h.
31. Sales of Aston Martin DB11 will begin before the end of this year. Price - from 205 thousand euros.
33. Another new old friend is the BMW 7 Series M760Li xDrive. This is the first "seven", which officially received the letter "M" in the name.
35. M760Li is equipped with a 6.6L V12. The same motor is used on Rolls-Royce. At BMW, they decided to limit its power to a level of 600 hp, observing subordination - on Rolls, it produces up to 632 hp. The BMW 7 Series accelerates from standstill to hundreds in 3.9 seconds, the “maximum speed” is traditionally limited to 250 km/h.
36. To whom it will seem slow, a special package will be offered - in this case, the limiter will work at 305 km / h.
37. Let's finish this small review Geneva motor show 2016 unusual technique. If you like Maserati, don't like 4 wheels and want to make a lasting impression, then there is a way out - to transfer to a bike with a Maserati engine from the French studio Lazareth.
38. This monster is called plainly - LM847, it has a 4.7-liter V8 with a capacity of 470 hp.
Car sales in the European market have been growing for 27 months in a row, but the Geneva Motor Show showed that an acceptable level of demand does not always guarantee a large number of serial premieres. The Swiss exhibition this year has not changed itself: here, as before, there were many concepts, expensive sports cars and luxury SUVs. The situation could be changed by the Volkswagen concern, which always brings a lot of new products to exhibitions, but now it has completely different tasks.
Interesting novelties that can get to Russian market and can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Moreover, there are hardly any cars that, in conditions of complete uncertainty on the foreign exchange market, are guaranteed to get to Russia. For example, Audi has not yet decided on the supply of the Q2 compact crossover, and the huge Volvo sedan The V90, if they are brought to us, will be exclusively in the form of an all-terrain vehicle.
Audi Q2
- predecessor: no
- Predecessor cost: -
- Competitors: Volvo V40 Cross Country Mercedes-Benz GLA
Q2 sales in Europe will begin in the second half of 2016. In the basic version, the crossover will be available with a 1.0-liter gasoline engine with 116 horsepower. In addition to it, the engine lineup will include 1.4- and 2.0-liter petrol engines and 1.6- and 2.0-liter turbodiesels. All units are paired or with a six-speed mechanical box gears, or with the "robot" S-tronic.
Maserati Levante
- predecessor: no
- Predecessor cost: -
- Competitors: Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga
At launch, the Levante will be offered with a 3.0-liter V6 petrol and diesel turbo. Petrol option accelerates to 100 km / h in 5.3 seconds and is able to reach a maximum speed of 264 km per hour. Later, a version with a V8 with a capacity of 560 horsepower will see the light. All variants of the crossover are equipped with an eight-speed “automatic” and all-wheel drive. The estimated starting price of new items in Europe is 85,000 euros.
Opel Mokka X
- Predecessor: Opel Mokka
- Competitors: Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008
The model lost rounded optics, got a sharp stamping and LED lights. The bumpers have also become different, having received rectangular cells for foglights, and the radiator grille has become more delicate. Mokka X has undergone significant changes inside. The first thing that catches your eye is the absence of a wide module with buttons on the central panel. Instead, the crossover is now wide touch screen. The monitor is already available in the basic version of Mokka X, but depending on the configuration, its diagonal may change - from 7 to 8 inches.
In technical terms, Mokka has not changed much, except for the appearance of a new turbocharged engine. In top trim levels, the crossover will be offered with a 1.4-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 152 horsepower. This unit will be equipped exclusively with all-wheel drive versions of Mokka with an automatic transmission.
Bugatti Chiron
- Predecessor: Bugatti Veyron
- Predecessor cost: $1.9 million
- Competitors: Pagani Huayra, Koenigsegg Agera R
Acceleration to “hundreds” of the hypercar takes 2.5 seconds – exactly the same as its predecessor. But he gains 200 km / h almost a second faster than the Veyron, doing this exercise in 6.5 seconds. Up to 300 km / h Chiron will accelerate faster than some foreign cars will gain a "hundred" - in 13.6 seconds. The maximum speed increased slightly - by only 10 km / h, up to 420 km per hour.
Chiron has risen in price by almost half a million euros - the company will accept an order for a novelty if the client is willing to pay 2.4 million euros. In total, Bugatti plans to produce 500 cars, and the first Chirons will be handed over to customers in September.
Mercedes C-Class Convertible
- predecessor: no
- Predecessor cost: -
- Competitors: BMW 4-Series Cabrio
Sales of the C-Class Cabriolet will begin in Europe in the summer of 2016. The price of the model in Germany starts at 47,000 euros. Whether the car will be delivered to Russia is still unknown.
Volvo V90
- Predecessor: V70
- Predecessor cost: not for sale
- Competitors: Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5-Series
The V90 will arrive in Russia only in the form of an all-terrain vehicle - the V90 Cross Country.
Porsche 718 Boxster
- Predecessor: Porsche 981 Boxster
- Predecessor cost: not for sale
- Competitors: Audi TT RS, BMW Z4
The novelty received an index of 718 in honor of the legendary Porsche racing model, which the Germans produced in the middle of the last century. That roadster won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1958, and the sports car was driven by a four-cylinder engine with 142 horsepower.
The new 718 Boxster is also equipped exclusively with four-cylinder engines. In the basic version, the roadster received a 2.0-liter supercharged unit with a return of 300 hp. and 380 Nm of torque. In the 718 Boxster S version, a 2.5-liter turbo four produces 350 hp. and 420 newton meters. Thus, the new roadster turned out to be more powerful than its predecessor 981, which was equipped with atmospheric "sixes" of 2.7 liters (265 hp) and 3.4 liters (330 horsepower).
Renault Scenic
- Predecessor: Renault Scenic
- Predecessor cost: not for sale in Russia
- Competitors: Volkswagen Touran
The car is built on CMF platform-C. The model has become noticeably larger than its predecessor. IN motor range new items included six diesel engines ranging from 94 to 158 horsepower. Also available are gasoline engines with a return of 113 and 128 horsepower. The engines work in conjunction with a six-speed manual transmission, an "automatic" with the same number of steps and a seven-speed robotic transmission with double clutch.
Later Renault plans to release a 7-seater Grand car Scenic. The car will be built on the CMF platform. The compact van is planned to be assembled at the Zhor Bess plant in Tricastin (France).
Volkswagen Phideon
- Predecessor: Volkswagen Phaeton
- Predecessor cost: not for sale
- Competitors: Hyundai Equus, Kia Quoris
Despite the fact that the novelty is focused on Chinese market, Phideon was designed and engineered in Germany. The sedan is built on the MLB platform. The car is 5.05 meters long and 1.87 meters wide. The wheelbase is over 3 meters.
The novelty is equipped with a 3.0-liter V6 petrol engine. The power of the unit is 300 hp. and 440 Nm of torque. Also, the sedan can be equipped with a 2.0-liter petrol turbo engine. Later there will be a hybrid version of Phideon.
The sedan was equipped with a 4Motion all-wheel drive system and air suspension. Phideon received adaptive cruise control (ACC), the function of keeping the car in the lane, the system all-round view, as well as an infotainment system with support for MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Nowhere except China, Phideon will not be sold.
Infiniti Q60
- Predecessor: G37
- Predecessor cost: not for sale
- Competitors: BMW 4-Series, Audi A5, Lexus RC and Mercedes C-Class
The novelty is equipped with electronic shock absorbers that constantly adjust to changing situations and optimize suspension performance depending on current conditions. Six driving modes are available to the driver: Standard, Snow, Eco, Sport, Sport + and Customize.
Seat Ateca
- predecessor: no
- Predecessor cost: -
- Competitors: Volkswagen Tiguan, Ford Kuga, Mazda CX-5
The base version of the Ateca will be sold with a 113-horsepower 1.0-liter petrol engine. The line of engines for the novelty will also include a 148-horsepower turbocharged unit with a volume of 1.4 liters, running on gasoline, a 1.6-liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 113 hp. and a 2.0-liter diesel that, depending on the firmware, puts out 148 or 187 horsepower. All power units can work with a six-speed “mechanics” or a seven-speed DSG. The simplest versions of the Ateca will be equipped with front axle drive, the top ones will be all-wheel drive. Sales of new items in Europe will begin in the second half of 2016.
Fiat Tipo
- predecessor: no
- Predecessor cost: -
- Competitors: Seat Leon, Opel Astra and Ford Focus
Both versions will be sold with the same range of engines. It will include 1.4- and 1.6-liter petrol units and 1.3- and 1.6-liter diesel engines from 95 to 110 horsepower. The moment to the wheels is transmitted using a five- or six-speed manual gearbox or with the help of an “automatic”. The start of sales in Europe is scheduled for the end of 2016.
Aston Martin DB11
- Predecessor: DB9
- The cost of the predecessor: from 13,300,000 rubles.
- Competitors: Audi R8, Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Externally, the DB11 is made in the style of the DB10, specially built for the latest part of the James Bond film. The equipment of the supercar included a touch screen monitor, sports seats, a Bang and Olufsen audio system and a surround view system.
Nikolay Zagvozkin, Roman Farbotko
Photo: RBC, Carscoops.com, Autocar.co.uk, manufacturing companies
During the Geneva Motor Show, we found out three important and curious things: how major automakers plan to deal with Russia, in which direction the emphasis is shifting for the model ranges of brands, and what principles are already being used to create cars that we will drive in eight to ten years
The debate about whether car shows are necessary in the age of the Internet continues. Reasonable arguments are available both from supporters of holding large car dealerships, and from their opponents. I count myself among the first.
First of all, I am convinced that no photo or video can replace live, direct contact with a brand new car, when you can sit in it, touch it, feel it, customize it for yourself (and this is what a future buyer goes to exhibitions for). In addition, only in such forums there is a chance to see everything at once - and existing model lines brands, and novelties, and promising concepts, and even compare them immediately with competitors. Finally, only at car dealerships do we - journalists - have the opportunity to meet with the bosses of auto concerns who have come from all over the world and ask them (sometimes face to face) about everything that interests them. All this was fully confirmed by the current Geneva Motor Show.
Strategic… luggage
It is known that if in one place it decreases, then in another it arrives. So it is in the automotive world, while the crisis in the Russian market and the demand for cars is falling, in other parts of the world, on the contrary, it is growing. So, it’s time to think about whether car manufacturers will lose interest in our country, whether they will consider Russians as second-class customers who can be offered simpler products, who can wait indefinitely for new items, or even not receive them at all? To be honest, there are already such calls: different brands refuse exhibitions in Russia, shrink their lineups, reduce quotas for Russian dealers, and sometimes leave the market altogether. So the questions about when, from whom and what other tricks to expect, alas, are not rhetorical, and we asked them to a variety of people.
I will say right away that the overall mood is still positive. Yes, the interlocutors note, now is not the best time to work in your country - exchange rates are rising, real incomes of buyers are declining, there are political risks and it is impossible to plan anything far ahead, but at the same time, Russia has always been and remains a key market, and in the future we expect it to rise. Although there is often no talk of any specifics, mostly top managers of firms try to speak in a streamlined way.
Perhaps only Philippe Saillard, who until recently headed Russian business Nissan, which has now become the brand's vice president for Eastern Europe, is ready to name the numbers. He believes that already in 2020 the volume of sales of new cars in our country should reach at least 2.5 million, and maybe even 3 million, after which Russia will again begin to claim the title of the largest market on the continent. “Therefore, - says Mr. Sayyar, - our task for today is to survive, even losing some money, but to wait for the growth of demand. We have invested a lot of money in our production facilities in St. Petersburg, Izhevsk and Tolyatti and do not intend to give up all this. The conclusion is unequivocal: the Russian market is a priority for Nissan.”
Direct speech
Arthur Martins, Vice President of Marketing, Kia Motors Europe
In 2015, Kia's sales dynamics in Europe almost coincided with the market average: if the demand for new cars on the continent as a whole grew by 8.9%, then our sales increased by 8.8% - we sold 385,000 cars. Moreover, our brand has been demonstrating growth for seven years in a row, this is a unique case for Europe. Moreover, we have the most high rate to attract customers who previously bought cars of other brands. This is achieved due to the fact that in a short period of time both the quality of the Kia product and its perception by consumers have changed dramatically. This has its own explanations. We achieved a bright, original design thanks to Peter Schreyer, who has been leading this direction for several years. And if we talk about quality, then our company has a truly unique management structure at the global level. The head responsible for quality in Hyundai-Kia reports directly to the president of the group of companies - he is on the same level with the heads of both brands and does not depend on them in any way. Therefore, it can simply block the launch of a new product if it considers that something in the quality component does not suit it.Perhaps a whole network of factories that produce almost the entire range of Japanese brand cars now sold in the country is a really serious argument, you can’t just throw off such “luggage” from a cart. But what do those companies think that seem to have nothing to lose? First of all, premium brands, whose business in other parts of the world is already doing well.
As it turned out, they have a similar position in Russia. So, Finbar McFall, director of product at Jaguar Land Rover in the world, says that last year global sales of these brands grew by 5%, and in January 2016 they jumped by a record 24%. Best of all, things are going in the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Italy ... According to the interlocutor, all this is due to a balanced range of models, which is updated and expanded annually. So, during 2015, Jaguar XE and XF were launched, and now they are preparing to launch Jaguar F-Pace and Range Rover Evoque in the back of a convertible.
I ask whether these two novelties will appear on the Russian market. “Of course,” Mr. McFall replies immediately, “and very soon, in the summer.” Then he continues with confidence: “Despite the current difficulties, we consider Russia as one of the most important markets of strategic importance. Therefore, we are constantly expanding our product line in your country, introducing new models. We understand that if you leave now, it will be extremely difficult to return. And this point of view is confirmed by our investments. In particular, last autumn we opened a unique Jaguar Land brand center near Moscow. Rover experience, through which more than 6 thousand people have already passed, such an experience is extremely important for the company. We intend to continue investing in your country.”
Well, such an approach commands respect. I think it will be appreciated as customers of two british marks, and everyone who is somehow connected with the car market.
peep the future
The Geneva Motor Show is famous for the fact that there are always a lot of concept cars within its walls. At this Swiss exhibition, manufacturers like to throw "trial balloons" - to show cars that will subsequently either go into series, or share this or that notion with other models, or maybe sink into oblivion if they do not find understanding among the public. But what is the internal “kitchen” of this process? How and why is another concept born? What do companies achieve when they decide to spend money on it? We also dealt with such issues with the help of specialists.
The first thing that every person sees is the appearance of the car. This aspect was agreed to discuss with us by the head of the concept car design division. Mazda Motor Corporation Yasushi Nakamuta. “Unfortunately,” he shares, “there are no templates with which to form trends for the future. Therefore, every designer must understand that he is the author of new trends. Here we are working in two directions. The first is history, we look at what important things happened in the past that seriously influenced fashion, technology, tastes, we analyze causes and effects. The second is the study of modern technologies, materials that can influence future development. The concept of "the concept of beauty" implies that there is something beautiful, but the achievement of this beauty happens differently every time - new technologies, new opportunities appear. For example, once there were simple incandescent lamps in the headlights, then they made xenon, now they are LEDs, and in the future something else will appear. Another important modern factor is the Internet. We live in the digital age, and this greatly affects even the style. So car design is a kind of fusion of art, technology and, of course, business.”
Direct speech
Yasushi Nakamuta, Head of Concept Car Design at Mazda Motor Corporation
In recent years, the process of creating new cars at Mazda has changed a lot. Whereas before, engineers had a set of requirements that designers had to adapt to, now designers come up with designs first, and then set tasks for designers and engineers. In our company, everyone understood how strongly design affects the level of consumer interest in the product, that it is it that largely determines the DNA of the brand. This means that engineers and technologists should not be allowed to dictate conditions unconditionally. But this does not happen everywhere - as far as I know, colleagues from other automobile brands cannot yet boast of such victories. Although we had many disputes and battles. One of the reasons for Mazda's design takeover is that the new models started to turn out great, so the engineers simply had nothing to oppose us. After all, if the car is beautiful and customers want to get it, then everyone in the company wants to quickly build it and bring it to the market - there is not even a reason to argue.As for the tasks in each specific case, Mr. Nakamuta explains this with an example own projects. He once led the creation of the Mazda Ryuga concept car, which he considers a “lesson car” for himself, and then developed the Shinari concept. Each model had its own purpose. In the first case, it's just a desire to show a bright, unbanal design, to find ways to develop it within the brand. The next time it was required to create a show car as close as possible to the finished product. By the way, an illustrative example of just such work is the Mazda CX-3 crossover - a car that began to roll off the assembly line, almost completely adopting the features of the prototype.
The fact that in the automotive business you should think about the future not even 5-10, but sometimes 20-25 years ahead, is also told by Jaguar Land Rover Product Director Finbar McFall, at a meeting with whom Avtopanorama became the first The media who learned about one of the unusual offers for the clients of this company (see sidebar). However, all participants in the global auto industry live by such rules.
About your approach to promising developments Arthur Martins, vice president of marketing for Kia Motors Europe, told us. “Today we see three main trends,” he explains. - The first is that both in terms of design and body types there will be a further interweaving of familiar segments, new models will appear, as it were, between classes. We already have such a definition in the company as CUV, this is a cross between a hatchback and a crossover, and the model Kia Niro, which we presented in Geneva, is precisely the representative of this new “intersegment”. Customers want variety, and how more choice bodies, motors, gearboxes, complete sets, the better. The second trend, which concerns all automakers in Europe, is the electrification of cars: the legislation requires already in 2020 to have an average exhaust of no more than 95 g/km CO2 for the model range. Therefore, everyone, including Kia, is actively working on the development of hybrids, electric vehicles, fuel cell models. Finally, the third vector is autopilots, driving without drivers. Our brand plans to launch such a car by 2030, but we are already testing these technologies in different regions world - in Korea, in Europe and in the United States."
Direct speech
Finbar McFall, Director of Product Jaguar Land Rover Worldwide
In the auto industry, manufacturers have to think decades ahead, and there are many aspects. First of all, when we think about new products, we analyze what kind of body we need, what size, at what price. The second is what should be inside the car: what technologies to integrate into the car, to what extent it should be in “direct communication” with a person, what can be convenient for the client. We are constantly studying what our customers need in addition now, and what they may need in the future. That's right on Jaguar models appeared four-wheel drive, and autonomous driving will be offered at a later date, which we are currently working on. As for new products, we are preparing to use the development of Tile - a small piece of plastic with an energy-efficient Bluetooth transmitter and a miniature battery. Such a “tag” can be attached to a phone, to a case for glasses, to documents, and if combined with our InControl system, the car will recognize the owner itself and, say, flash its headlights when you approach. Although there is a practical meaning. For example, the car will be able to tell the owner that he forgot his passport or laptop if they are “covered” by such gadgets. By the way, you are the first journalist in the world to whom we talk about this project in our cars.Did you order a cocktail?
The variety and interweaving of segments, which Mr. Martins from Kia is talking about, we could see with our own eyes at the Geneva stands. For example, in several models at once, engineers tried to cross two such seemingly dissimilar classes as convertibles and crossovers. It turned out interesting - here you have a Range Rover Evoque without a roof, and the Volkswagen T-Cross Breeze concept, and a hipster Citroen E-Mehari. Although there were quite a few roadsters and convertibles without them - new models were brought by Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Fiat ...
At the same time, the exhibition clearly traced the line of meeting today's demands of the European clientele, both traditional, well-established, and corresponding to fashion. The first include a considerable selection of station wagon cars, the second - an even richer assortment of various crossovers and SUVs.
Yes, station wagons, which the Russians did not like, are still in favor with residents of other countries of the Old World, and it is by no means accidental that they announced in Geneva that the Opel Astra Tourer was recognized as the “Car of the Year” in Europe. I think that next time a galaxy of current exhibition novelties in the station wagon body will be able to compete for this title - the perfectly balanced Kia Optima SW, the elegant Volvo V90, the practical Fiat Tipo.
Direct speech
Philippe Saillard, Vice President of Nissan Eastern Europe
Crossovers and SUVs are the trend of the times, they are chosen by the modern generation of motorists. At the same time, large, real SUVs are leaving, and crossovers are increasingly replacing them. Another important trend is the decline in the share of sedans, which is also understandable: my father most likely will not buy a crossover, and my sons are unlikely to ever buy a sedan. And it is no coincidence that a similar picture can be observed both in Europe and in Russia - in the Nissan range, the most popular models are Qashqai, X-Trail, Juke. And here Teana sedan we have withdrawn from the Russian market and, I think, will not return. I believe this segment will be "eaten" by premium brands that can simplify the configuration of their business sedans, reduce prices and thereby lure customers away from mass brands like ours. Therefore, it does not make sense for us to produce such a car in Russia.However, no segment is yet able to compete in popularity with crossovers. At the motor show it was not easy to find a stand where among the premieres (at least European ones) there were no representatives of this class. And here are intertwined well-known for their SUV brands, and brands that are taking only the first steps in this field. Judge for yourself, on the one hand, Peugeot 2008, Ford Kuga, Skoda Vision S, Toyota C-HR, SsangYong Tivoli XLV, Subaru XV Concept, Audi Q2, Opel Mokka X, on the other - Mazerati Levante, Tesla Model X, Seat Alteca. And this is not counting the models that have undergone refinement by designers or stylists of such brands as Land Rover, Nissan, Lexus, Suzuki, Honda ...
From such an abundance of eyes just run up. And I want Russian dealers to have all these cars. The word is right, we deserve it.
The Geneva Motor Show held in 2016 pleased true connoisseurs of beautiful cars with new products.
Coupes, crossovers, sedans, sports cars and even individual car parts are on display for the audience.
About the most interesting concepts we'll talk below.
BMW M760LixDrive
The new BMW M760Li xDrive is an updated generation of the Boomer 7 Series, which has received a sporty appearance and non-standard dynamics for this class.
The new car received powerful air intakes on the front of the bumper, alloy wheels with a diagonal of 20 inches and a modern metallic gray finish.
The peculiarity of the model lies in the exclusivity of a whole group of elements - the front surface of the "nostrils", inserts in the door handles, jumpers in the front bumper and other details.
In the interior, everything reminds of the sporty nature of the car - a speedometer with an extreme speed of 330 km / h, the original shape of the pedals and the bright design of the front console.
The technical component did not disappoint either. The BMW M760Li xDrive has a built-in innovation system roll compensation, provided intelligent system rear-wheel drive and integrated steering.
Each element and node is thought out so that the person behind the wheel feels comfortable and safe.
Ford Fiesta ST200
Ford has pleased fans with a new Fiesta hatchback ST200. The peculiarity of the model is “charged” and powerful technical stuffing.
The new version is equipped with a 1.6-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine, which has almost 20% big moment rotation and 10% more power.
If the previous version of the Fiesta could boast of a 182-horsepower engine, then the new engine already gives 200 “horses”.
Thanks to the new qualities, the car accelerates 0.2 seconds faster than its predecessor - 6.7 seconds to "hundreds".
On highest level and the rest of the "stuffing" of the car. Engineers have provided 3-mode operation exchange rate stability, reliable brakes, an improved traction control system, updated springs and shock absorbers.
Jaguar F-Type SVR
Jaguar has delighted connoisseurs with the new F-Type SVR "charged" roadster and 4 × 4 coupe.
The new model received a powerful "eight" with a volume of 5.0 liters and a power of 575 "horses".
Compared to the previous version, 25 hp has been added under the hood. This engine comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Compared to the previous model, the speed of the F-Type SVR increased by 22 km/h and reached 322 km/h. The new Jaguar accelerates to hundreds in 3.6 seconds.
Externally, the F-Type SVR is easy to recognize by the unusual shape of the rear wing, the unique rear diffuser and front bumper with built-in spoiler. hallmark steel and impressive air intakes that provide better cooling to the motor and brakes.
In addition, the new car has become lighter and dropped almost 21 kg. To achieve the goal, engineers installed a titanium exhaust system and 20-inch alloy wheels.
It is worth noting the appearance new suspension with a sporty twist. Sales of the car will begin in mid-2016. The starting price is 130 thousand euros.
Rolls-Royce Black Badge
Rolls-Royce arrived in Geneva in early 2016 not empty-handed. At the auto show, the concern presented two cars - a sedan and a Black Badge coupe. Engineers present their new products as a technique for self-confident and daring people.
The main features of the cars are the dark palette of elements (including the radiator grille).
For painting the car, Black Badge Black paint, unique in structure and quality, was applied in several layers.
Allocate a car and wheels, which are based on lightweight and reliable carbon fiber.
The same material found a place in the cabin. It was carbon fiber that the developers covered the internal panels with.
From appearance the technical part is not far behind. The sedan has a 612 hp engine. This figure is 42 "horses" more than the standard version.
In the coupe version, there was no increase in power, and here the indicator remained the same - 632 hp.
The automatic transmission has undergone changes, which has become more sporty and switches with a delay (by 500 rpm). When overtaking, when the pedal is pressed to the floor, shifting does not occur until 6,000 rpm.
Citroen E-Mehari in Courreges style
Shitoroen surprised fans with the E-Mehari model, made in the unusual style of Courreges.
The car was the result of a combination of the popular electric car and the talent of the masters of the famous fashion house Courreges.
The goal of the creators was to achieve maximum freedom in style and functionality. And already at first glance at the car it is clear that the French succeeded.
The new model was a continuation of the Citroen E-Mehari, presented at the end of last year. updated version turned out to be modern, with the spirit of creativity and freedom.
The car is equipped with an electric motor that has a solid, as for its size, traction.
As for capacity, the Citroen will be comfortable for 4 adults.
The new concept has a number of features - a white body color (the wheels are also painted in it), the presence of an orange trim in the cabin, the use of white leather for interior trim, a non-standard double-spoke steering wheel and an original color scheme.
One charge of the Citroen E-Mehari is enough to drive a distance of 200 km (in the city). Top speed- 110 km / h. The charging time depends on the current strength.
At current charger, equal to 16 A, it will take up to 8 hours to charge, and at a current of 10 A - 13.
The difference between the new concept is the silence of movement, when even at maximum speed you can hear the wind in your hair and the noise of the wheels.
Infiniti Q60
At the Geneva Motor Show company Infiniti showed a new coupe Q60, which became a follower of the already outdated version of the G37.
The car is presented in several versions. The basic version has a 2.0-liter engine and 208 "horses". The engine comes with a seven-speed automatic transmission.
The advanced version is equipped with a 3-liter engine with 304 hp. The most expensive version of the Infiniti Q60 has 405 hp. on board and 475 N * m of thrust.
Ford Kuga Vignale Concept
The Ford automaker presented two new products in Geneva - updated Ford Kuga, as well as the premium version of the Vignale Concept.
In fact, we are not even talking about updating the model, but about a full-fledged premiere.
The creators introduced the world to the new SYNC 3 system, which made driving as simple and clear as possible. Now the main functions are activated by voice commands from the driver.
The car is distinguished by a bold and sporty design, unusual in shape (trapezoidal) bi-xenon headlights with built-in LEDs.
The merit of the creators is the development of an adaptive head light, adjustable to the level of external lighting.
The new Ford Kuga managed to implement many technical innovations. Of the main ones, it is worth highlighting the following systems — automatic braking, all-wheel drive and trunk opening. All this simplifies the life of motorists and makes operation comfortable.
Experts assure that the popularity of the new concept is not worth worrying about. In 2015, more than a hundred thousand cars were sold in a luxury consultation.
Analysts predict that car sales in the next 2-3 years should grow by another 25-30%.
Toyota C-HR
Toyota has pleased with the class B compact crossover C-HR.
In fact, this concept has become a continuation of the C-HR model already known to the public a year ago.
There are no exact technical parameters yet, so you will have to wait for the world premiere.
The basis of the car is the TNGA architecture, which has already shown itself in the Prius.
The car is equipped with a powerful 122-horsepower hybrid or a classic engine (at the request of the customer).
The advantage of the hybrid version is all-wheel drive, which opens up new possibilities on the road.
The choice of buyers will be offered a gasoline and diesel engine. The first has a volume of 1.2 with a turbine that squeezes up to 116 horses out of the engine.
Lexus LC 500h
In Geneva, Lexus presented another car that deserves close attention - the LC 500h.
A feature of the new RX-Vision is unusual proportions, modern shapes, a wide wheelbase and minimal overhangs. It is planned that mass production will be launched next year.
Results
In 2016, the Geneva Motor Show managed to surprise with a lot of new products and improvements to already time-tested concepts. It remains to be hoped that the developments proposed by automakers are not the ultimate dream, but only the first step towards something greater.
