2017 Geneva Motor Show: our top ten picks

The Geneva Motor Show is widely regarded to be one of the best motor shows on the global automotive calendar, and it’s easy to see why. For show attendees, the show provides a glimpse at many global automotive premieres – over 100 individual model updates will feature this year. Below you will find Chasing Car’s top ten premiere predictions for Geneva 2017 based on what has already been spotted and confirmed by manufacturers but hopes are high that some automakers play their cars close to their chests and we still see surprises at this year’s show.

The 87th Geneva Motor Show will open to the public on March 9th, 2017 and you can expect Chasing Cars to cover every premiere.

2018 Volvo XC60

Volvo will unveil generation two of its wildly successful XC60 mid-size premium SUV. Utilising the same platform and engines as its big brother XC90, the new XC60 will usher in the latest version of Volvo’s newest styling language, and based on the most recent round of new Volvo products, an extremely comfortable and luxurious cabin. The new XC60 is also due to feature the same engine lineup as other Volvos, with the use of turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder units, as well as possibly the plug-in hybrid T8 system from the XC90.

Read more about the 2018 Volvo XC60 here.

2018 Range Rover Velar

Land Rover are aiming to fill a massive gap in the Range Rover product portfolio with a new mid-size premium SUV named the Velar. Aimed squarely at the Porsche Macan, but also cars like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, the Velar will most likely end up being a slightly smaller Range Rover Sport, but with more emphasis on sportiness. Expect the Velar to sit atop the same platform as the Jaguar F-Pace, using a range of four and six-cylinder engines, with the possibility of an even sportier V8-powered SVR variant as well as a hybrid also likely further down the track.

Read more about the 2018 Range Rover Velar here.

2018 Volkswagen Arteon

The new Volkswagen Arteon will be a replacement for the nine-year old CC, and will globally be the most expensive and luxurious non-SUV from the Volkswagen model range. Essentially a Passat coupe like the CC it replaces, the Arteon will ride on the same MQB platform as the Passat and will feature a range of turbocharged four-cylinder engines, with the possibility of a V6 and plug-in hybrid GTE variants as well. The Arteon is due on sale in Australia before the end of 2017.

Read more about the Volkswagen Arteon here.

2018 Subaru XV

The second-generation of Subaru’s popular XV will be shown at Geneva 2017, and just like the old generation model, it appears to be literally a high-riding Impreza with some exterior plastic cladding. Due to share the new Impreza’s higher quality interior and revised mechanicals with maybe the addition of a manual transmission (currently unavailable in the Impreza in Australia), expect the same 115kW 2.0-liter Boxer four with Subaru Australia not expected to take the 2.0-litre Boxer diesel this time around either.

Read more about the all-new Subaru XV here.

2018 DS7 Crossback

Premium-ish French brand DS will unveil the latest piece of their lineup puzzle in their first SUV, the DS7 Crossback. Due to be based on the same platform as the Peugeot 3008 and 5008, the DS7 Crossback will go up against cars such as the Audi Q5. It will be the first time the brand will go directly up against its premium rivals and spearheads the brand’s mission to become more mainstream with new product and new markets to launch into. It will be followed by a number of other DS products before 2020, including new models such as a small SUV and large sedan, as well as replacements for well-known current models like the DS3 and DS5. It is unknown whether DS will continue to be marketed in Australia as part of the Citroen brand, or will finally be launched as its own identity, as is the case internationally.

Read more about the DS7 Crossback here.

2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi has chosen to revive the Eclipse name for its new small SUV, due to be released in Australia later in 2017. Due to be sold alongside the ASX, the Eclipse Cross will usher in a new generation of powerplants for Mitsubishi, with a 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine rumoured to be the star of the lineup, as well as a 2.2-litre turbo diesel with an eight-speed automatic. The official images of the car show styling clearly influenced from the eX concept car from last year’s Geneva show, with a sharp front and angular headlamps complimented by the wedge shape of the exterior. The Eclipse Cross will supposedly be supplemented by two other SUVs in the pipeline; a smaller rival for the Nissan Juke, as well as a new ASX.

Read more about the 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross here.

2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Coupe

Alfa Romeo is rumoured to be working on a coupe version of the mid-size Giulia sedan that will premiere at Geneva 2017. The latest in an Alfa Romeo product renaissance, the Giulia coupe will compete against cars like the BMW 4-Series, Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe. The engine line up will be similar to the Giulia sedan, including a 2.0-litre turbo petrol four in 147kW and 206kW tunes, a 132kW 2.2-litre turbo diesel and the star of the Giulia lineup, the twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6 Quadrifoglio.

2018 Alpine A110

French sports car brand Alpine will finally be revived by Renault in 2017, and their first new product will be called the A110. Positioned against the Porsche Cayman and Alfa Romeo 4C, the A110 is a lightweight sports car with an aluminium frame and supposedly a new turbocharged 1.8-litre four in different states of tune. The entry level model will have around 190kW, with the sportiest model featuring around 220-230kW of power. All A120’s will be matched to a dual-clutch automatic, most likely an EDC unit from the current Renault range. The first official pictures of the car show styling almost 100% faithful to the previous A120 concept car, the only differences appear to be the headlight details, wheels and colour. Renault Australia has confirmed that the A110 will launch Down Under in early 2018, with pricing around the $75,000 range.

Read more about the Alpine A110 here.

2018 Opel Insignia/Holden Commodore/Buick Regal

Perhaps for Australians, the biggest reveal of Geneva 2017 is the new Opel Insignia, which will be sold in Australia as the NG Holden Commodore. The new Insignia will be the first fully-imported Commodore in over three decades after the shut down of local production in October 2017. It goes on sale in Europe in the European Summer of 2017, and will feature a range of three and four-cylinder engines, all turbocharged. Australia receives 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol and diesels from the Opel range, as well as a new 3.6-litre V6 with a 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive – an engine the Europeans won’t be offered. The Insignia will also be sold in North America and China as the Buick Regal, but instead of the five-door liftback shown here, it will be a more traditional four-door sedan in those markets.

2018 SEAT Ibiza

The Spanish Volkswagen Group offshoot will reveal the fifth-generation of their small car, the Ibiza. The new Ibiza is the first VW Group small car to use the MWB A0 platform, even unusually beating the closely related Volkswagen Polo. The car ushers in the latest generation of VW Group technology, including the new 1.5-litre TSI Evo engine, as well as equipment like wireless phone charging and even a 300W Beats sound system. Unfortunately, the Ibiza and SEAT brand in general are not currently destined for Australia, although there are persistent rumours that SEAT headquarters are looking at Australia as a target market. This means that we could one day see the new Ibiza sold Down Under.