Geneva: Top 10 Cars You Can't Buy

Volkswagen Polo

Two years ago, the thought of a car as small as the Polo being viable in the U.S. would have been laughable. But tastes change, and now the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit are scooping up sales from those keen on affordable cars that don’t cost an arm and a leg to run, an area where the Polo excels. But VW might just be a bit too late to the party. Bulletin boards and focus groups show the Polo will work here, so feasibility studies are under way to see if it should be a hatch or a sedan. Don’t hold your breath, though. It won’t cross the pond before 2012, at the earliest.

Skoda Yeti

Skoda is a European brand that is continually developing. Sometimes its models verge on the bizarre –¬ the recent Roomster’s quirky design hasn’t found the buyers it might have, despite its inherent sense. The new Yeti, however, is possibly exactly the right car at the right time. It’s a micro-SUV crossover that offers Skoda DNA in a cheap-to-own package. Two- or four-wheel drive, with a choice of a whole raft of economy engines, the Yeti offers a flexible interior with gobs of luggage space for a car this compact. Key is the fact that the Yeti, unlike the Roomster, looks right, too.

KTM X-Bow

KTM would dearly love to sells its radical X-Bow in the U.S., but it seems Audi won’t allow it. The car is powered by the Audi 2.0 TFSI engine with direct fuel injection and 240 horsepower, and KTM’s engine supplier is concerned about product-liability issues. That’s a real shame. The X-Bow offers such a radical approach to car design. The two-seater, carbon-composite monocoque weighs only 198.4 pounds yet is twice as stiff as most modern convertibles. Geneva sees the launch of a limited-edition X-Bow ROC, produced in homage to KTM’s participation in the most prestigious European motorsports event of the year, the Race of Champions held at Wembley Stadium in London.

Tata Nano

Geneva wasn’t the first glimpse of Tata’s Nano, but as production is about to start for the Indian home market, the company announced it will bring the smallest, cheapest car in the world to Europe and beyond. But despite the longer wheelbase, upgraded interior and bigger 3-cylinder engine for Europe, the Nano won’t be U.S.-bound. That would possibly be the biggest marketing faux pas since the Yugo, for the Nano is simply too basic and so uncrashworthy that even the French, who still buy some bizarre small cars on their home market, might balk at it.

Pagani Zonda Cinque

Come 2010, when Italian supercar builder finishes its new factory, U.S. buyers should get the chance to buy the forthcoming Pagani C9. Until then it’s a matter of gazing in awe at the sheer magnificence of the Zonda in all its various forms. The Cinque has been built specially for Hong Kong buyers, with more streetworthy suspension and a rather special interior. The key to any Zonda, however, is the level of craftsmanship that goes into the construction, both from an engineering and aesthetic sense. Mercedes power is in the 650 to 750 horsepower bracket, and with just 20 cars built a year, a Zonda is even more rarefied than a Ferrari F599XX.

RenaultSport Megane

Renault’s previous Megane has developed a loyal following among those looking for a highly focused sports hatch with agile, track-oriented performance. For Geneva, Renault launches the all-new Megane RenaultSport with the logo “250 horsepower of pure pleasure.” It’s one of those typically neat European solutions to an age when fast road driving is increasingly penalized. The twin-scroll turbo is claimed to be exceptionally responsive at lows revs, with 80 percent of maximum torque available from 1,900 rpm. But a key ingredient is also the design of this new contender. Could it look any sexier in brilliant yellow?

Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA

Alfa’s evocative GTA badge contains history by the bucket load, and true to its name the MiTo GTA boasts extensive use of carbon-fiber  bodywork and aluminium suspension components to slash weight and improve handling. With a 0.8-inch ride-height drop and an under-floor aero kit, it certainly looks the part. We love the design of the MiTo but are frustrated that isn’t as great to drive as it looks. Nearly all the blame is aimed at the ridiculous lifeless steering. But the GTA promises a new dimension, with revised suspension geometry up front and reactive dampers that firm up to counteract weight transfers.

Citroen C3 Picasso

As a design statement the C3 Picasso shows that French automaker Citroen continues to rediscover its ability to design clever, charismatic cars. Forget the original, piglike Picasso, which is sadly still sold in the United Kingdom alongside the pretty C4 versions, the C3 sets new standards for the class. First, it’s a truly funky design, uninfluenced by the boxy shapes coming out of the Far East, with curves and some real substance. Then there’s the versatility of the cabin, which makes it equally great for young families and guys with bikes or boards. The downside is that the driving experience isn’t that great. But hey, style counts, doesn’t it?

Weismann

We absolutely love the Wiesmann. First, it has echoes of classic British roadsters, most notably the big Healeys. But this German sports car is much more than a mere reproduction of a classic. Under the beautiful composite bodywork sits an aluminum monocoque and host of BMW components. New for Geneva is the MF4 roadster, powered by BMW’s latest 4-liter V8, which offers awe-inspiring levels of performance despite its classic appearance. But that’s only half the story, for the Wiesmann also delights for its sheer craftsmanship and detailing. It doesn’t come cheap though; $140,000 is simply the base cost of admission.

Artega

Geneva isn’t a first European showing for the Artega coupe, but this is the first time that a fully production-ready model is available, with deliveries starting in the next couple of months. Designed to build and promote the abilities of parent company SG, the Artega mounts an Audi V6 powertrain in the center of this Lotus Evora-sized sports car. The well-rounded package is similar in concept to the Lotus in many respects, with the show car impressive in its quality and execution. There are some medium-term plans to bring the Artega to the U.S., but much depends on achieving sales volumes of 500 units a year in Europe. That seems optimistic for a new $113,000 car at the best of times