2011 Geneva’s Top 10 new cars

The Geneva Motor Show 2011 has already gone down as one to remember! Given the shear number of new production cars and concepts at the show, it’s fair to say that the automotive industry has shaken off the pain of the past couple of years.

But it seems that the recession has proved to be the mother of reinvention for the car industry, with a host of truly innovative, interesting and exciting new cars making their debut at the Swiss expo.

And you’ve been hooked too, judging from our exception site traffic throughout the show. Here we rank the top 10 new cars.

1. Volkswagen Bulli

Sensational Bulli brings classic van bang up to date, featuring electric drivetrain and seating for six.

2. Alfa Romeo 4C Concept

Alfa’s 4C debuts with 250bhp Giulietta engine and chassis developed by Dallara as evolution of KTM X-Bow.

3. Ford B-MAX

Ford reveals new Fiesta-based MPV at last, featuring unique ‘pillarless’ design.

4. Skoda Vision D

Five-door Vision D concept reveals future design direction for Skoda and offers glimpse of new family car.

5. Lamborghini Aventador

Aventador blasts off to replace Murciélago with hi-tech carbon construction and a 691bhp V12.

6. Saab PhoeniX

Bold new PhoeniX shows brand’s new styling direction and points to look of next 9-3.

7. Toyota FT-86 II

Legendary Celica returns as Toyota debuts close-to-production second FT-86 concept.

8. Fiat 500 Coupe Zagato

Fiat’s 500 gets a coupe makeover from Italian design house Zagato and could preview a production model.

9. Audi A3 saloon

Saloon previews Audi’s next premium family model, joining three-door, Sportback, Avant, Coupe and Cabriolet.

10. Citroen Metropolis

Metropolis revealed in Europe for first time, and production version will top DS range as part of joint venture with Chinese maker.

2011 Suzuki Swift

The latest Suzuki Swift. See the different?

It's Swift by name, but is it Swift by nature? Suzuki is preparing to release an all-new version of its top-selling supermini and we got behind the wheel to find out.

Sporty than previous version.

Set eyes on the the newcomer for the first time and you'll find yourself scanning it for differences from the current generation model. Look closely though and you'll notice the front lights are redesigned, the grille more upright and the tail-lights have a fresh new design. The most obvious update though is a change in proportions, with the new model measuring in at 5mm wider and 90mm longer.

Set eyes on the the newcomer for the first time and you'll find yourself scanning it for differences from the current generation model. Look closely though and you'll notice the front lights are redesigned, the grille more upright and the tail-lights have a fresh new design. The most obvious update though is a change in proportions, with the new model measuring in at 5mm wider and 90mm longer.

The larger body frees up more space in the cabin too, but it's a squeeze to fit adults in the back seats. There's no official word on boot capacity, but the deep storage area looks noticeably bigger than the current generation.

Up front, higher quality materials and a new dashboard design with aluminium accents creates a stylish atmosphere in the cabin. There is still a slightly cheap feel left-over though with scratchy, hard plastics making up the majority of materials.

At launch in September the new 93bhp, 1.2-litre petrol engine fitted to our model will be the only available unit and it can be mated to either an automatic or manual gearbox. Later, in January an efficient 1.3-litre diesel will join the line-up, available only with a five-speed manual gearbox.

On the road the petrol unit can feel a little underpowered, especially with the automatic gearbox. The manual version is an improvement but the Swift has to be worked hard to keep up at motorway speeds. That shows in the official figures too, with the Swift recording 12.7 seconds to 62mph in the manual and 13.5 seconds for the automatic.

The trade-off though is low running costs, with Suzuki claiming 56.5mpg combined and CO2 emissions of 116g/km.

Current version of Suzuki Swift in Malaysia. See the different carefully!

An all-new steering system is well-weighted and responds to even the slightest turn of the wheel. Corner too quickly though and the body rolls slightly, but the soft-suspension set-up means the newcomer rides well.

2011 Suzuki Swift

Three is the magic number for Suzuki's upcoming supermini! These are the first pictures of the Japanese firm's next-generation Swift in three-door guise but the question is, can it emulate the success of the current model?

Suzuki has stuck to the tried and tested formula with the styling and through the heavy camouflage it's clear to see the car will retain its unique design, with the rounded nose, short rear overhang and purposeful stance all visible.

Our sources tell us there will be a strong range of petrol engines, delivering between 90bhp and 130bhp to the front wheels. A new 80bhp 1.3-litre diesel option will be added to the line-up, and we’ve already heard rumours that a hybrid variant will be making an appearance late in 2011.

Plus, there will be a successor to the popular Swift Sport hot hatch.

2011 BMW 3 Series

Take a look at the BMW that’s really going to put the ‘three’ into 3-Series. These exclusive images show you just how the firm’s new compact executive is going to look – and under its striking body lies a fresh range of engines, including a line-up of super-efficient three-cylinder units.

Together with improved aerodynamics, a hi-tech transmission system and integrated cabin wi-fi, it’s all part of BMW’s plan to offer the most advanced 3-Series ever.

As you can see from these images, good looks are matched to the clever kit. Mixing influences from the original Concept CS – first revealed at the 2007 Shanghai Motor Show – with those of the latest 5-Series Granturismo, the new 3-Series’ front end is sleek and sharp.

Lines from the wide kidney grilles to the windscreen really emphasise the strength of the design around the nose, while in profile, the sculpted sides and kinked C-pillar are teamed with a chunky swage line that cuts through the door handles.

While the 3-Series will keep its famous front-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout, hardly anything else will be traditional. Essentially one half of the firm’s new 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, a new 1.5-litre three-

cylinder unit will be available in petrol and diesel form.

Boosted by turbochargers, both will produce around 150bhp and thanks to their compact size, will offer real advantages in terms of packaging and weight distribution.

Fitted with all the usual EfficientDynamics gizmos – including stop-start and energy recuperation – the new units will make BMW’s current four-cylinder line-up redundant. The diesel is set to return 75mpg and emit less than 100g/km of CO2, for example.

Further up the range, a new 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo unit will offer the performance and soundtrack that BMW buyers have become accustomed too. However, to improve efficiency it will be available with an all-

new eight-speed automatic transmission and stop-start.

The aerodynamics will be improved by enclosing as much of the chassis as possible, managing the flow of air around the wheels and also the cooling air that enters the engine bay. By doing so, the drag coefficient will be reduced to around 0.28.

Inside, the cabin will follow themes from the latest 5-Series, but it will take a huge leap forward with wi-fi. This will allow the 3-Series owners to get up-to-the-minute traffic information from the Internet.

We’ve seen plenty of spy shots of the new generation model in near production-ready form, indicating that a launch isn’t very far away. The new car is set to be revealed in the coming months, with sales starting in early 2011.

Porsche 998

It might look familiar, but these are the best shots yet of the next-generation Porsche 911, codenamed the 998, that will replace the current car in 2011. As with every iteration of the iconic 911, styling changes are subtle although there are some interesting features on this test mule that will whet the appetite of 911 fans.

Don't be fooled by the 911 Turbo-style air intake in front of the rear wheel arch. On closer inspection it's nothing more than a sticker - Porsche engineer's idea of a joke in an attempt to confuse any onlookers. And judging by the light camouflage the front and rear bumpers have been remodelled very slightly.

Up front the headlights sit a fraction more upright, while below them is a set of dazzling LED daytime running lights. The side indicators are now also LEDs. Panamera-inspired wing mirrors are no longer mounted in the corner of the front windows, but on the shoulder of the bodywork, creating better visibility for the driver.

The oversize rear boot-lip spoiler looks like a tribute to the legendary 959 hypercar, but it won't be on the production car. It's job is to mask the rear end - fueling rumours that an all-new retractable rear spoiler will be making an appearance.

Expect the same direct-injection flat-six engine from the current car to be carried over, with a mild power hike of course, and coupled to a reworked version of the PDK dual-clutch gearbox. From Auto Express mail!