THE annual extravaganza that is the Geneva Motor Show is coming to a close, and that’s always a wistful feeling for any gearhead. Mind-blowing and exciting revelations pepper the better part of the fortnight.
We’ve gone through the reveals and settled on the most awe-inspiring rides that could one day zip down the CBD roads – here are our top 5 picks.
01: Pininfarina Battista
What can’t the Italians gussy up? Even the name of this supercar rolling off your tongue sounds expensive. Design studio turned carmaker Pininfarina’s pulling no punches with its debut vehicle, and it hauls. The 1874 bhp beast tops off at 415kmh, and supposedly will the holy grail of century sprint: the sub-2 second mark. Will it deliver? Only 150 owners willing to splash ~S$3.5m on it will be able to tell.
02: Ginetta Akula
Hell yeah – a shark-inspired car with a badass name. Named after the predator (in Russian, for some reason), the UK-built monster will dart around at up to 321kmh courtesy of a 600bhp, 6.0-litre engine while looking absolutely menacing. There’s a decidedly organic look about this one – protruding headlights and a rear-heavy design really set it apart from the alienlike appearance that most marques seem to be homogenising toward.
03: Bugatti La Voiture Noire
“I can afford everything” is the proclamation the proud owner of the one-off Voiture Noire wanted to make. At £9.5m (over 17 million quid), it now holds the title of most expensive brand new car ever sold (excluding the vintage cars with a history). Since it’s obviously off the shelf, sighting it on local roads is going to be the next best thing to experiencing this black beauty.
04: McLaren Speedtail
We already saw the amazing Longtail hit local roads – now brace yourself for the fastest vehicle the brand’s ever manufactured yet in its futuristic Speedtail. All wedge and front-to-back curves, and with an exterior reminiscent of the Hot Wheels paint of our childhood. It’s kicked up by a 1050PS hybrid powertrain, which allows it to hit 300kmh in 12.8 seconds, and houses the trademark three-seat configuration.
05: Aston Martin Vanquish Vision
Not to take away from the stunning AM-RB 003 prototype reveal, but the svelte silhouette and modest haunches of the Vanquish Vision had us at first sight. The step away from the cookie-cutter carbon fibre construction – in favour of bonded aluminium – affords it a cleanliness that seems to have fallen out of favour in recent years. Stay tuned for specs as the brand ties the details together.
IMAGES: Respective brands.