[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/geneva-favourites-2018\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/geneva-favourites-2018\/","headline":"Our favourites from Geneva 2018","name":"Our favourites from Geneva 2018","description":"The Geneva Motor Show – arguably the biggest event in the automotive calendar – is now open, proudly parading the most significant cars in the world right now. One notable change from previous years is the sharp drop in so-called \u2018booth babes\u2019 – models hired to look pretty next to the cars. Five or ten years ago, the exhibition centre was littered with them. However, fresh from the #MeToo movement, virtually every organisation at the show has reviewed their approach. […]","datePublished":"2018-03-08","dateModified":"2018-03-09","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/GIMS-2018-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/GIMS-2018-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/geneva-favourites-2018\/","about":["BLOG","EVENT COVERAGE","SHOWS"],"wordCount":550,"keywords":["BMW M8 Gran Coupe","BMW X4","Cupra Ateca","Geneva","Geneva Motor show 2018","Honda Urban EV concept","Jaguar I-Pace","McLaren Senna","mercedes a-class","Polestar 1"],"articleBody":"The Geneva Motor Show – arguably the biggest event in the automotive calendar – is now open, proudly parading the most significant cars in the world right now.One notable change from previous years is the sharp drop in so-called \u2018booth babes\u2019 – models hired to look pretty next to the cars.Five or ten years ago, the exhibition centre was littered with them. However, fresh from the #MeToo movement, virtually every organisation at the show has reviewed their approach.Some dressed their models in less revealing clothes, while others took the route of planting well-informed experts on their stands. Ferrari did away with models all together and the few who repeated their approach from previous years were showing off stuff like tyres.Anyway, what about the cars? Yes, there were plenty of those and these were our favourites\u2026BMW X4This second-gen SUV coup\u00e9 will improve on the original with enhanced driving dynamics, a striking exterior and even more refinement.Two new M Performance variants will also join the range, snipping the X4\u2019s 0-62mph sprint to under five seconds while inflating its top speed to 155mph.More on the new X4 hereBMW M8 Gran Coupe ConceptTechnical details on this long-overdue M6 replacement are scant, but it is expected to borrow plenty from the recently launched M5, namely its 592bhp twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine.It\u2019ll arrive in BMW showrooms by the end of 2019.More on the BMW M8 hereCupra AtecaSEAT\u2019s Cupra performance division is going it alone and this is its first standalone model: the Cupra Ateca.Basically, it\u2019s a hot version of the standard SEAT Ateca, with a 5.4-second 0-62mph sprint, facilitated by a turbocharged two-litre 296bhp petrol engine. Expect to see it in select SEAT showrooms before the end of the year.Jaguar I-PaceAn electric Jaguar SUV seemed crazy five years ago, but that is exactly what\u2019s coming our way and it looks pretty brill.Powered by an all-electric powertrain producing the equivalent of 395bhp, it can race to 62mph in 4.5 seconds. You can have one for a measly \u00a358,495.Read more on the I-Pace hereMercedes-Benz A-ClassIf you\u2019ve read our rundown of the new A-Class, you\u2019ll already know that the fourth-gen high-end hatch has adopted a slightly SUV-lite feel, growing in every direction, and that prices will start from around \u00a324,000.Orders are open now with the first models being delivered from June.McLaren SennaIt\u2019s the most extreme McLaren road car ever with 789bhp at its disposal, which makes a 0-62mph sprint possible within 2.8 seconds.There are many more mindblowing figures in our write-up herePolestar 1In addition to Cupra divorcing itself from SEAT, Polestar is doing the same with Volvo. We\u2019ve seen the brand\u2019s first standalone model already, but this was the first time it had been shown to the general public.Find out more on the Polestar 1 here.Honda Urban EVKooky concepts can be found all over almost any motor show, but very few of them are created with any intention of coming to production. However, not this one. Honda will begin accepting orders for its 200-mile electric hatchback from early next year.Which cars took your fancy at Geneva this year? Let us know down in the comments. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Our favourites from Geneva 2018","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/geneva-favourites-2018\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]