Geneva fever

THE car industry might be in the middle of its worst recession ever, but you would never have guessed it as Geneva was bursting with new motors.

More than 85 new models made their debut and they were the best reasons for governments around the world to back the motor industry.



The threat of redundancies and the feeling car firms were tightening their belts was always lying just under the surface of every new model’s launch.

But for at least a day I would prefer to celebrate some cracking new cars of all prices and styles.

Starting with the world’s cheapest four-seat car, the dinky Tata Nano is about to go on sale in India for 100,000 rupees (less than £2,000). It will go on sale in the UK and Europe in 2010.

Tata boss Ratan Tata, who also owns Jaguar/Land Rover, had good news for his British luxury car firm when he revealed that Jaguar would be adding a two-seat sports car to their range. But the most important new family car was the Ford Iosis Max concept.



It gives a very strong indication, particularly from the front, of how the next generation Focus — the UK’s best-selling car — will look but without the sliding doors.

Elements of the Iosis Max design will also be found in the next version of the Focus C-Max people carrier when both new models arrive in late 2010.


Volkswagen unveiled arguably their most crucial model with the stylish new Polo, It goes on sale here this autumn.

It has definite shades of the new Golf and the Scirocco coupé from the front. It is a guaranteed sales hit with prices expected to start around £8,000.



Renault unveiled four new models, including the new Scenic, Megane estate and a face-lifted Clio.

But the car that really caught the eye was the racy RS high-performance version of the Megane coupé. The RS badge clearly throws down the gauntlet to the latest Focus RS.

Although the Renault is slightly less powerful at 250bhp, it will still be more than fast enough to lose you your licence and will undercut the Ford’s £25,000 price tag by a couple of grand.



French rivals Citroen and Peugeot also had plenty to shout about.

We’ve already reviewed the Citroen DS Inside, but this French rival to the Mini gets better every time I see it. It goes on sale next year. The Peugeot 3008 is more practical than pretty, a very versatile five-seat family car.

It’s another example of just how much the French makers are raising their game when it comes to interior quality. On sale later this year.

I still can’t quite believe that Skoda are bringing out a car called the Yeti.



But ignore the name and you find another sound motor from the Czech firm that is like a rugged people carrier. On sale this summer, expect prices to start from £12,000.

Fiat are looking to maximise the boom that the 500 supermini has given to the brand with a cabriolet version just in time for summer.

It gets a sliding fabric hood and is set to be the newest fashion statement for the ladies.

The big message from Geneva was that the motor industry may be like a boxer up against the ropes taking a lot of punishment.

But it showed it is in great condition and more than capable of going the distance of the recession.