Geneva Motor Show 2009: Coming Attractions

Motoring Channel Staff - 22/January/2009

Geneva, Switzerland – The Geneva Motor Show is one of the world's busiest motoring events and despite the predictions that 2009 is going to be a flat year for the automotive industry, there's still a lot of hot product being readied for the Swiss event.

Concept cars will be in attendance, but also a number of production models including two new hot hatches.

Mazda 3 MPS

One of the most powerful hot hatches on the market right now is the Mazda3 MPS, also known as the MazdaSpeed3.

But now that Japanese automaker's second generation Mazda3 range has gone into production, the company will present the brand-new Mazda3 MPS at the 2009 Geneva Auto, the same place it launched the first generation Mazda3 MPS in 2006.

One in three Mazda's sold today are Mazda3 models, so the launch of this halo model will be a very big deal for the carmaker.

Power for the Mazda3 MPS is expected to come from a tweaked version of the 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine found in the high grade Mazda6 models, possibly turbocharged, and power is likely to be around 300 horses, which is about 220 kilowatts.

It will replace the outgoing 2.3-litre turbo engine and is expected to be meaner and greener.

The new Mazda3 MPS is also the vehicle that the Motoring Channel believes will be simultaneously unveiled at the Melbourne Motor Show as it launches in Geneva. 

Organisers of the 2009 Melbourne Motor Show confirmed that "at least one manufacturer is planning a mid-show global model launch synchronised with the Geneva Auto Salon, which opens a week after Melbourne".

Along with a more powerful engine, the new Mazda3 will benefit from new visual cues including a more aggressive front apron to the one seen in the images on the right of the page.

Body kit addons will also be in evidence such as side skirts and a rear apron with a quasi diffuser, and the car is expected to get new-look fog lights and of course larger alloy wheels with beefy tyres. The suspension will also be reworked to give the car more zoom through bends.

Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA

Another pint-sized performance car making its debut at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show will be the Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA.

This trendy new supermini has proved very popular in Europe and is expected to be on sale in Australia mid-way through this year and now the GTA version looks as though it's going to give the Mini Cooper S a scare.

What you need to know about the Alfa MiTo GTA is that it'll be powered by a small 1.7-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine with direct injection. And it'll be more powerful than the Mini Cooper S.

Peak power is 171kW (230hp).

That is a a good 43 kilowatts more than the Mini Cooper S and still 16kW more than the John Cooper Works edition that outputs 155kW and costs almost $50k here in Australia.

Alfa's new turbo MiTo GTA could end up being the most powerful hot hatch in its class, possibly even outclassing the rock solid Renault Clio RS.

As well as a potent 4-cylinder turbo powerplant, the MiTo GTA will also feature a bold body kit with flared wheel arches, lowered ride height and tweaked suspension, plus wider alloy wheels (and tyres) for improved traction.

To mask understeer, the hyperactive Italian will also benefit from Alfa Romeo's Q2 system, which is a front-wheel torque vectoring system that is supposed to put the kibosh on torque steer.

Related Links:
- Mazda3 Hatch (2010)
- Mazda6 MPS (Road Test)
- Mazda RX-8 (2008)
- Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe (Road Test)
- Alfa Romeo Mi.To (2009)
- Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione (2007)
- Alfa Romeo 159 (2006)
- Alfa Romeo Spider (2006)