All the Spectacular Cars That Would Have Premiered at the Geneva Motor Show

Among all the coronavirus-adjacent worries out there, the cancelation of a car show in Switzerland probably doesn’t make your top 10. 

Nonetheless, the last-minute nixing of the Geneva International Motor Show (arguably the most consequential trade event for the automotive industry) due to the Covid-19 outbreak is a big deal. The announcement came just three days before media members were scheduled to arrive, and it marks the show’s first cancellation since World War II.

But the dozens of brands that were set to premiere new vehicles, from Porsche to Bentley to Koenigsegg, aren’t giving up that easily. After all, they’ve spent months preparing for the 11-day event, and were ready to shell out up to $20 million for the privilege.

Whether they live-streamed their announcements from the empty Palexpo convention center or took their show on the road, the automakers found a way to get the word out about their new EVs, hypercars and grand tourers. Below, we’ve outlined the ones you should put on your automotive wish list.

Bentley Mulliner Bacalar

• What you need to know: The introduction of the Bacalar grand tourer is Bentley’s way of shifting focus to the ultra-luxury market, not just your run-of-the-mill luxury market. Only 12 will be built, and the owners will “work closely with a team of specialist designers” to customize their vehicles. The Mulliner label traces its coachbuilding roots back to 1559 (back when coaches meant literal carriages), and Bentley says the division will focus on that high-end custom experience as part of a new three-pronged vision defined as “Coachbuilt, Classic and Collections.”
• Price: £1.5 million (about $1.96 million), but you don’t have to worry about that because all 12 of them are “already allocated.” Bentley says you can ask about getting on the waitlist, though.

Morgan Plus Four

• What you need to know: Morgan Motor Company has been offering this roadster in some form since 1950. The radically overhauled 2020 version keeps the ’30s styling but exchanges 97 percent of the parts (including the steel ladder frame for a new bonded aluminum platform) for a more modern vehicle and driving experience. 
• How it premiered: The car was already in Geneva, so the Morgan team took an impromptu road trip, ending in a launch event at their factory.
• Price: It starts at £62,995 in the U.K. (a little over $82K), but it’s not currently available in the U.S. As we wrote recently, that should change within a year.

Koenigsegg Gemera

• What you need to know: The Swedish automaker for the 0.1 percent knows that being a hypercar owner can be lonely, with only room for your accountant, lawyer or supermodel partner in their multi-million-dollar two-seaters. Thanks to the Gemera, you can bring them all along! It’s Koenigsegg’s first four-seater, but also breaks the mold with its hybrid powertrain that puts out an expectedly ridiculous 1,700 horsepower.
• Price: Only 300 will be made and, according to Top Gear, they’ll cost around €1.7 million (or about $1.9 million) each. That’s actually a steal for a Koenigsegg — this is their cheapest model currently available.

Hyundai Prophecy Concept EV

• What you need to know: While electric vehicles have opened up the possibility of an automotive design renaissance, most brands have done one of two things: copy Tesla or drive off the same crossover cliff that gas vehicles have gone. Hyundai isn’t not copying Tesla with the Prophecy concept, but we see it as more of providing some friendly competition, similar to the muscle cars of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Hyundai is calling the design language “Optimistic Futurism,” and you can expect to see similar styles on future EVs — hopefully in the near future.
• Price: Not for sale.

Porsche 911 Turbo S

• What you need to know: The new 911 Turbo model, available as a coupe or cabriolet (convertible), gets a new 3.8-liter six-cylinder to accompany the two VTG turbochargers. In short, that means increased acceleration, horsepower and torque. If you’re looking for Geneva’s ultimate daily driver, this is it. 
• Price: Starts at $203,500.

McLaren 765LT

• What you need to know: Because it’s a McLaren, we first need to point out that yes, you can drive this thing on city streets. But the British marque seems to be testing the limits of road legality with the 765LT, going so far as to eschew air conditioning and an audio system to reduce weight (though those amenities are available at no cost if you really want them). As the name suggests, it’s the latest in the Longtail series, and as the design suggests, it’s based on their 720S. While the specs are noteworthy as always — 755 horsepower, 590 lb.-ft. torque, 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds — it’s the details that’ll draw you in, like the proprietary carbon fiber components.
• Price: It’s yet to be announced, though Car and Driver estimates it at $375K. Only 765 models will be made and McLaren is already accepting “expressions of interest.”

Czinger 21C

• What you need to know: While there was plenty of disappointment to go around from Geneva’s cancelation, Czinger may have been hit hardest — the California automaker was set to make its global debut as a company at the event. The 21C (which stands for 21st century) is their first offering, a limited-edition, hybrid, inline one-seater hypercar that puts out a bonkers 1,250 horsepower and is built from an even more bonkers 3D-printing-like process. If you’re wondering whether or not to trust a new company like this, the founder Kevin Czinger is also behind EV company Coda Automotive, and the vehicles are “designed, built and manufactured in Los Angeles.” If you’re interested in buying, we’d bet they’ll let you come have a look around.
• Price: Only 80 of these will be made, in road and track-oriented configurations, and according to Forbes they’ll start around $1.7 million.

Nota bene: We will continue to update this space as more future releases are announced.

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