by The annual Geneva Motor Show opened on 9 March 2017, and has since become open to the public until 19 March 2017. This reputable event takes place every year and brings together the biggest brands and names in global motoring. Top brands like Porsche, Bentley, and McLaren flexed their innovation muscles in competitive shows of market dominance. For the first time, however, new model releases were not the only dominating news stories of the week.
Peugeot announced that it would be purchasing Opel a day before the event. So, as the dawn broke over the Motor Show, there was a lot of murmuring around both manufacturers that, in fact, died down surprisingly quickly. Brexit was also a dominating topic during the first day, with car bosses discussing import fees. Luckily, however, the show’s focus soon turned back to the main attractions.
Tata: Tamo Racemo
Indian manufacturer, Tata, released their all-new mighty machine at the show. This rear-wheel drive is an absolute powerhouse from the manufacturer. It is a two-door, two-seater coupe produced by the sub-brand of Tata, Tamo. Under the bonnet is a turbocharged 1.2 liter, 3-cylinder engine that powers the car to 100 kms / hr in six seconds flat. It boasts 187 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque, with a 6-speed automated manual transmission, paddle shift. Only 250 of the Racemos will be made, with very little mentioned on the pricing.
2017 RUF CTR
RUF has been very closely tied to Porsche since its inception. This model, however, is a significant break-away from the manufacturer. It sports a 3.6 liter engine, which is a Porsche-derived flat-six, twin-turbocharged. Making 700 horsepower and 649 pound-feet of torque. This rear-drive uses a six-speed manual transmission. It reaches 100kms / hr in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 225 mph. Only 30 of these are being made and are expected to be priced at around half a million dollars. It is not expected to reach the shores of the US, let alone South Africa.
Emerson Fittipaldi’s EF7
70 year old racing driver, Emerson Fittipaldi, has brought his dream car to life and launched the concept at the show. In the development of this idea, he had assembled a dream team to assist him with the creation of the GT. The design was done by Italian legend, Pininfarina; the build by German racecar gods, HWA. The distribution will be handled by Polyphony Digital, a division of Sony. They are best known for the racing game, Gran Turismo. The idea of the car is to be released as a part of the game, before becoming a real-life, drivable car!
Drawing on inspiration from Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Aston Martin, and Bugatti, the design of the car is something dreams are made of. Should it become a reality, it will be a mid-mounted, 4.8 liter, V8. It will have 600 horsepower, paddle-shifted six-speed transmission, and is expected to hit 100kms / hr in three seconds. Yes, we are hoping this happens too!
Ferrari 812 Superfast
The Italian manufacturer has taken a step back into history to reaffirm its strength in speed. Throughout the years, it has prided itself on its dominance in the speed and style categories. And, this year is no different. This monster sports a 6.5 liter V12 engine. It achieves 789 horsepower and 530 pound-feet of torque. Ferrari claims to reach 100kms / hr in a shattering 2.9 seconds. It is Beauty and the Beast combined into one smoking machine.
McLaren 720S
One of the most exciting launches to come out of the show is the brand new McLaren. Not only is the design absolute perfection, but the car offers an unforgettable experience. It has a 710-hp twin-turbo, 4.0 liter V-8 engine. Boasting a rear-wheel drive with seven speed automatic transmission, it offers drift mode, comfort, sport, and track! It competes with the Ferrari, reaching 100km / hr in 2.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 314kms / hr. You can get your hands on this beauty in later 2017, with an open-top being launched in 2018.
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