76th International Geneva Motor Show: 2006

By Feann Torr - 2/Mar/2006

The sheer amounts of cash that get spent on Motor Shows truly boggles the mind. Beyond the cost that goes into developing concepts, prototypes and other assorted vehicular product runs into the billions of dollars, and then you have the extravagant exhibits and displays, the podium girls, the fireworks and holographic displays.

And out of the hundreds of motor shows that are organised every year, the Geneva Motor Show is one of the biggest and often one of the most dazzling.

Held in Switzerland, car makers from right across the world - Europe, Asia and the Americas - congregate to show off their wares, and often feature vehicles that are years away from production.

It's also the motoring event of choice for exotic car makers, such as Lamborghini, Porsche and Zonda, which always adds to the glamour of the show. Anyway, enough of the introduction - let's get to the meat of the Geneva Motor Show, which kicked off recently. Production ready vehicles such as the Ford Focus Coupé-Cabriolet and Audi allroad quattro provide us with an early look at the vehicles, which are set to hit European showrooms later in the year. 

As the show rolls on, we'll be updating this page with the latest vehicles unveiled at the huge automotive event in Europe, and thus far we've seen quite a few interesting ideas at the show thus far, including the world's most expensive roadster - the Pagani Zonda Roadster F. Where else could you launch such a vehicle but at the prestigious Geneva Motor Show? 

Concept cars were also in abundance at the Geneva Motor Show, including Saab's long and low Aero X concept. Featuring an aeronautic design with a sliding/folding canopy that gives it a quasi-futuristic appeal, it's these such cars that epitomise the modern motor show, giving pundits a glimpse of the many possible directions the automobile could take.

Other concept cars at this year's event include the Rinspeed zaZen, which uses Porsche 911 base augmented by advanced materials, the intriguing Renault Altica and Volkswagen's Concept A also makes the grade, despite its inability to conform to any one genre. "Extreme crossover" is what they're calling it.

Another concept car that's slated to reach production within 12 months is the snappy-looking Honda Civic Type R, the achetypcal four-pot mad hatch from the Nihon that'll ignite the passions of boy racers world-wide. And I must confess, it certainly grabbed my attention in its bright yellow livery, stubby body shape and 'look-at-me' bodykit. One to look out for, that. 

Stay tuned for regular updates to the the list all this week.