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.

Audi RS5

Audi RS5 official images

RS version of the A5 unveiled ahead of its Geneva Motor Show debut featuring 444bhp V8

Audi's mystery Geneva model has stepped into the spotlight! Earlier today leaked images of the RS5 appeared on the internet, but now Audi has released official pictures and all the details on the latest model to wear the hallowed RS badge.

Power will come from Audi's venerable 4.2-litre V8 - the same engine used by the RS4 - but turned up to tyre-smoking 444bhp. Hooked up to a seven-speed S Tronic twin-clutch gearbox as standard and using Audi's legendary Quattro all-wheel drive, it should provide scintillating performance. The 0-60mph sprint takes 4.6 seconds and the top speed is limited to 155mph, although Audi can increase that to 174mph on request.

A new compact and lightweight centre differential means up to 85 per cent of the power can be sent to the rear tyres for a sporty driving experience. A rear differential can also be added to improve the on-limit handling. Suspension lowered by 20 millimetres and Audi's drive select system, which allows you to choose between three driving modes - comfort, auto and dynamic - should sharpen up the experience even further.

The RS5 has received a unique body treatment to the lesser-powered S5. A new front bumper with larger air intakes, blistered wheel arches and a new honeycomb grille without a horizontal bar through it are the most obvious changes.

At the back a re-profiled rear bumper sits above a blacked-out diffuser with the trademark RS oval tailpipes either side. Unique 19 or 10-inch alloys, revised LED taillights and a rear spoiler, that deploys automatically at 74mph, finish off the exterior tweaks.

On the inside electric sport seats take pride of place, while RS badging on the steering wheel and door sills, and an in-buiilt lap timer hint at the car's potential.

Citroen SURVOLT

Citroen SURVOLT at Geneva 2010

French firm wows Geneva with small electric coupe concept car

Take a look at Citroen's electric Puma! This is the stunning SURVOLT – an all-electric concept car that points the way to how a future small coupe could look.

Making its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the SURVOLT is said to fuse the design themes of the Revolte and GT by Citroen concept cars. To this it adds a sports racing look, complete with a big wing and compact dimensions at just 3.85m long, 1.87m wide and 1.2m high.

It's certainly a head-turning design, featuring LED clusters all-round. An evolution of the Revolte's distinctive colour palette, SURVOLT’s two-tone paintwork features shades of fuchsia and charcoal grey. Under the skin, a 200kW electric motor drives the rear wheels and there are a host of batteries located in the front, middle and rear of the car.

Citroen is staying tight lipped about any production future for the SURVOLT, but bosses have said that they would like to build a limited number of cars to compete in a one-make racing series.

McLaren P1

This is the McLaren P1. Officially, McLaren is calling the P1 a design study, with the final production version being shown next year.

In reality, the car that’s coming next year will ­probably look very much like this.

The P1 looks imposing in the ­photographs, but it’s actually little bigger than the current MP4-12C and is shorter than a Porsche 911.

The orange sections of the bodywork are the creation of McLaren’s design boss Frank Stephenson (who also did the Mini) and the matt black parts were shaped in McLaren’s wind tunnel.

McLaren says its car will only do around 239mph! Not fast enough to catch a Veyron, but it’s still pretty quick and will be devastatingly fast around a track.

Volkswagen may have made the Bugatti Veyron very speedy, but the German company doesn’t have the experience of McLaren when it comes to lapping a track quickly.

Like the MP4-12C, the P1 has a monocell carbon-fibre chassis using the same doorframe assembly as that car.

The outer panels are made from carbon fibre and the model will weigh under 1,300kg, which is amazingly light.

It’s likely that the P1 will feature an array of active aerodynamic details that will be automatically adjusted as speeds increase.

There’s a huge diffuser at the rear of the car and the pronounced flat bottoms of the sideskirts suggest that the P1 will sit down on its suspension at high speed so that more down-force will be ­generated.

Formula One is governed by technical rules, but that doesn’t apply to a road- going supercar, of course. So McLaren’s engineers can try out loads of ideas on the P1 that are banned in F1.

Take active suspension systems for example. The P1 could feature this and an active anti-roll system that virtually eradicates body roll as the car goes into a corner.

This, and the active ­aerodynamics, will mean the P1 will be untouchable on a racing circuit.

The P1 will use a tuned version of the MP4-12C’s twin-turbo 3.8 litre V8 that should produce something like 800bhp.

That will be boosted by an F1-like KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) that uses a pair of flywheels delivering up to 160bhp in short bursts, giving a total power output of 960bhp.

The KERS system will really help with acceleration away from the lights and we can expect the P1 to blast its way to 60mph in less than three seconds.

Word is that the car has already ­demolished the lap record at Silverstone for a road-going car.

The P1’s technology isn’t just limited to speeding around a track.

Apparently the windows are made of a type of acrylic, which repels water when it hits it, which means the P1 can do without windscreen wipers.

McLaren says it’s going to launch a new car every year between now and 2020. Only 500 P1s will be built.

Laferrari First Hybrid Ferrari

Ferrari has taken wraps off their highly anticipated supercar naming it as 'Laferrari'. With just 499 production vehicles to be built, the limited-series automobile combines formula one performance and ustainability with its first ever hybrid powertrain - a HY-KERS system that delivers 963 horsepower from its V12 engine and its two electric motors.

Equipped with a 7-speed dual-clutch gear box EF1-trac F1 electronic traction control system, 'Laferrari' is capable of reaching speeds over 350 km/h - launching 0-100 km/h in less than 3 seconds and 0-200 km/h in under 7 seconds, making it the fastest road car in the company’s long history.

To boost efficiency, sports active aerodynamic devices front (diffusers and guide vane on the underbody) and rear (diffusers and rear spoiler) generate down force when needed without compromising the car’s overall drag coefficient - deploying automatically on the basis of a number of different performance parameters which are monitored in real time by the car’s dynamic vehicle controls.

Developed by Flavio Manzoni's design team, 'Laferrari’s' styling works in close collaboration with the engineers to emphasize and retain close links to the marque’s tradition - and to that of the Ferrari Enzo predecessor.

Its side profile sees a sharp, downward-sloping nose and a low hood highlighting its muscular wheel arches, a clear reflection to the forms found in the late-1960s Ferrari sports prototypes.

Lamborghini Veneno

Lamborghini to reveal £2.6 million supercar at the 2013 Geneva motor show – and only three will be sold.

Lamborghini is showing what it calls a street-legal supercar, the Veneno – of which only three will be sold, each costing £2.6 million plus tax – at the 2013 Geneva motor show.

According to Lamborghini, its design is focused on maximum aerodynamic efficiency. The Veneno is based on the Aventador supercar, and shares its 6.5-litre V12 engine although in the Veneno it develops 50bhp more, at 750bhp. That, combined with a wind-cheating shape, should mean a top speed of 221mph.

The car's front has been laid out for optimum airflow and downforce. It's recognisably Lamborghini, although the overall look is reminiscent of sports-prototype racing cars. It shares the Aventador's scissor doors.

At the rear, too, sophisticated aerodynamics ensure perfect airflow to the large openings for cooling the V12 as well as supplying intake air.

The smooth underbody terminates in a diffuser framing the four exhaust outlets, while most of the rear of the car – featuring a fin and an adjustable wing – is open.

The complete chassis as well as the outer skin are formed from carbon-fibre-reinforced composite materials, while the interior is a further demonstration of Lamborghini's skill with carbon composites, featuring a couple of patented lightweight materials for the seats and all interior surfaces. The monocoque is based on that of the Aventador, as are the alloy subframes front and rear.

Like the Aventador, the Veneno has a fast-shifting ISR transmission with seven forward ratios and five modes, with drive to all four wheels. It also shares the Aventador's racing-style pushrod suspension with horizontally mounted spring/damper units.

Continuing the Lamborghini tradition, the Veneno name is derived from a particularly aggressive fighting bull.

The Veneno shown at Geneva is Lamborghini's development car, featuring red, white and green accents on the flanks to symbolise the Italian flag. The three customer cars will only have highlights in one of these colours.