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Geneva show: 10 of our favourite cars

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<b>FOUR-SEAT FERRARI: </b> Ferrari showed off its all-wheel-drive Grand Tourer, the GTC4 Lusso, at the 2016 Geneva motor show. <i> Image: AFP / Fabrice Coffrini </i>
<b>FOUR-SEAT FERRARI: </b> Ferrari showed off its all-wheel-drive Grand Tourer, the GTC4 Lusso, at the 2016 Geneva motor show. <i> Image: AFP / Fabrice Coffrini </i>
/ Fabrice Coffrini

Cape Town - The 2016 Geneva auto show is underway and the event is often dominated by supercars battling for their share of the spotlight.

The 2016 show is no exception.

Ferrari showed its GTC4 Lusso to the public for the first time though arguably the star of the show is Bugatti's new Chiron - the world's new fastest production car.

We look at some of the best cars at the show:

1 Maserati Levante 

Wheels24 spotted the Cayenne-rival testing in South Africa earlier in 2016, and the Italian company showed off a stunning gun metal example at Geneva.

The Levante can be powered with a choice of two petrol engines and one diesel option.

Expect it in SA later in 2016.

A photo posted by Maserati (@maserati) on


2 Audi S4

Wheels24 drove the new A4 in February and we were duly impressed by Audi's latest sedan. The Ingolstadt-based automaker used Geneva to show off its most powerful B9 (its model codename) variant yet - the new S4.

It uses a newly-developed 3.0 turbocharged engine capable of 260kW/500Nm. The 0-100km/h sprint dash takes 4.9 seconds (avant) and 4.7 seconds (sedan).

An eight-speed auto sends power to all four wheels courtesy of Quattro and the S4 uses torque vectoring to "optimise handling and stability in fast cornering with minimal brake interventions."

Audi SA said it's considering the model for local introduction.



3 Bugatti Chiron

The new Chiron takes the Veyron's already impressive specs, to another level: 0 to 100km/h in less than 2.5 seconds, four huge turbochargers and a total power output of 1119kW/1600Nm!

Only 500 Chirons will be produced, the automaker has already received 150 orders, sold for the equivalent of R41-million (€2.4-million).

The highest speed listed on the Chiron's clock is 500km/h.

A photo posted by Bugatti Official (@bugatti) on


4 Lamborghini Centanario

Lamborghini celebrated what would have been founder Ferruccio Lamborghini's 100th birthday with an insane hypercar its founder would've been proud of.

We love the fact that it still uses a naturally aspirated V12 engine, which produces 566kW. 0-100km/h takes just 2.8 seconds and only 20 roadsters and 20 coupes will be made, they've also all been sold. Damn!

The design is one-off using a carbon-fibre monocoque to keep weight down to just over 1500kgs.

Just look at it, it's simply beautiful in an edgy way.

5 Toyota C-HR

Toyota debuted one of its most radical cars at the 2016 Geneva motor show - the C-HR.

The new crossover SUV represents chief Akio Toyoda’s determination to allow "greater stylistic freedom and promote engineering creativity in order to achieve eye-catching designs and enhanced driving pleasure".

Judging by its coupe-esque design, aggressive SUV traits and crossover elements, the C-HR looks great. It's built on Toyota's New Global Architecture (TNGA).

Toyota SA says its new SUV should arrive locally early in 2017, with local specifications to be confirmed closer to the launch.

Powering the C-HR is a 1.2-litre turbopetrol engine capable of 85kW/185Nm. The 1.2 sends power to the front wheels through either a six-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT).

6 Porsche 911 R

The Porsche 911 R fuses the best parts of the GT3 and GT3 RS to create a truly amazing vehicle. This model takes driving appeal to a new level: it's lightweight, naturally aspirated and only has a manual gearbox!

Power is at 362kW from its 4.0-litre flat six, it weighs just 1370kg and 0-100km/h takes 3.7 seconds.

It has a limited run off 991 cars. future classic? You bet.


7 Alfa Romeo Disco Valante 

You might ask, what does 'Disco Valante' mean? If you guessed 'flying saucer' you'd be right. What is it? Alfa Romeo has essential taken the roof off its 2012 Geneva show car for a pair of removable carbon-fibre panels for extra headroom.

Tech details were scarce but the beautiful cabriolet is based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competitizione.

Power? Well it's likely to use a 4.7-litre V8, with 326kW. It's a Maserati-sourced engine, so you'll know it might sound as good as it looks.



8 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth

Abarth, the performance arm of Fiat, showed off the Italian version of the MX-5 at Geneva.

Known for driving dynamics and lighteight rather than raw power, the Abarth version uses a 1.4 turbo MultiAir engine good for 125kW/250Nm.

It weighs a smidgen over a 1000kg which means a 0-100km/h time of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 230km/h.

The only purist option would be the six-speed manual, and a limited slip-differential is included! For all those slides. Expect the 124 Spider to arrive in South Africa later in 2016 while the Abarth version has yet to be confirmed for SA.



9 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso

Ferrari will expand its four-seat sports car range with the the addition of a GTC4Lusso - a sport Grand Tourer with four-wheel drive.

The GTC4Lusso is powered by a six-litre V12 engine capable of 507kW/697Nm. It uses a Ferrari-patented 4RM Evo four-wheel drive system which is integrated with rear-wheel steering for the first time.

It uses the automaker's latest Slip Side Control system, electronic differential (E-Diff) and SCM-E dampers (improves comfort on rough surfaces).

A photo posted by The Drive (@thedrive) on

10 McLaren 570GT

A comfortable McLaren supercar? The GT is McLaren's attempt to create an everyday supercar, albeit with 413kW from its twin-turbo 3.8 litre V8 engine.

So how do they plan to do that? The suspension has been soft-ended, they've added more kit and there's even more cargo space, thanks to a new luggage cover over the mid-mounted engine.

Even the exhaust has been toned down.

Access to the area is made easier by the different rear hatch. (It swings open, rather than lifting).

Could be the automakers best-selling car yet? That's if owners find it comfortable enough.

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