Where were all the affordable cars at the Geneva motor show? I say that having scoured the show floor for new models that Autocar readers might think about as their next purchase.
In fact, I can’t remember a major auto show with so few all-new city cars, superminis, family hatches, estates or even SUVs.
By my reckoning there were about seven affordable new models on display, plus a handful of pricier cars that are still within the man in the street's budget.
I’d count the Kia Ceed and its Sportswagon estate version in the affordable bracket, along with the Citroen Berlingo Multispace, Honda CRV, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kona EV (alongside the Nexo hydrogen fuel cell production car), Lexus UX, Mercedes A-Class, Peugeot 508, and Toyota Auris – so good work by those manufacturers.
At a higher price level, the Audi A6, BMW X4, Jaguar I-Pace and Volvo V60 also count as ‘affordable’.
That’s eleven all-new models out of around 65 cars that were shown for the first time, including facelifts, variants of existing models and concepts.
That’s not to say Geneva was short of drama, excitement or glamour. In fact, Geneva 2018 might have produced a record number of high octane performance models from AMG, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes, Porsche and Range Rover.
But ultimately, it felt like too many show stands were padded out with concepts – most of them not particularly influential — or already seen elsewhere.
One surprise was to see the show space vacated by JLR allocated to a café with chairs and tables. Usually real estate at Geneva is massively over subscribed.
Geneva 2018: Autocar's star cars
And while it was wonderful to see so many historic concept cars, at a major international motor show, they just shone light on the missing new metal and lack of creativity in the mainstream concepts.
There was also a couple of names absent, namely Opel/Vauxhall who usually bring at least one or two affordable new models, and a concept for a future production model.
I don’t know what this means for motor shows of the future when important names such as Fiat, Ford, Nissan, Renault and Volkswagen don’t have major all-new production models to launch at one of Europe’s two significant shows in 2018.
Maybe there’s a simple explanation – that natural product cycles just didn’t work for Geneva 2018? Although there is a trend to launch new models in special events away from major shows.
Anyway, it will be interesting to see if the major new metal of 2018 is being held back for autumn launches at Paris.
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Future
In future all cars will be leased with commercial aspect to it. No one really pays for renting a Fiesta. Bizz and society does it. Like a taxi car.
I think the broader trend
I think the broader trend would be to look at Top Gear. When was the last time they tested a regular car?
Or for that matter when was the last time Autocar put a regular car on the cover? What percentage of Autocar is dedicated to sports cars, classics or technology?
The fact is that:
1: Virtually all new cars are good, reliable, safe with long warrenties.
2: If you want info on these purchases you can get it online.
Most consumers have a lifestyle based spec sheet which combined with habit and cost will determine car choice.
Cars and car shows are simply moving to cater to people for whome cars are a hobby or an interest.
Even car purchases have segmented that way with car makes for people who care about style, status and performance which have expanded from executive and sports cars (BMW MB Audi) to producing relatively expensive cars of all sizes.
Whereas regular car manufacturers have started turning out lifestyle products and the ocassional enthusiast product (generally GTI's).
Good question