There is an old saying that goes, "The difference between Boys and Men are their toys!". My sentiments exactly.
Every year, millions of car enthusiast (all for the same one reason) regardless of age, sex, race or religion
would flock to Geneva Palexpo - an event that spans over 10 days and covers a massive 76'000 square metres
of floor space - to view the latest plethora of hot new four wheel machines, accessories, In-Car entertainment
(ICE) and motoring technology money can and sometimes cannot buy. Everything from fantasy to thinly disguised
production show car was on display. Autogasm indeed!
My reason for being here was very different. Mine was to hunt down either a certain Toyota Hiace or Scion Xb,
that was customized to give a whole new meaning to term "mobile disco". Sadly my search for both vehicle
was in vain.
But I did, however, find some really interesting cars.
Maserati Birdcage 75
Described as a tribute to the Maserati of the future, Pininfarina built this show car with the famous Tipo 59
of the late-'50s in mind. It features an exposed front triangulated frame structure and large inner windscreen
under its canopy top, which lifts up and forward with the hood for ingress/egress. It has an Acura NSX-like
nose, large V-shaped rear diffusers, 22-inch wheels, lots of carbon-fiber, and a host of Motorola
interconnectivity technology.
Honda Civic
Exclusively developed for the European market, the five door hatchback Civic concept car on display shows the
intention of moving the new Civic into a more sporty, emotional and fun to drive direction, while retaining
the user friendliness and practical features which have made the existing model so successful. Destined to
compete in the popular C-segment, the new model features the award-winning 138-horsepower 2.2 i-CTDi diesel
engine, as well as a state-of-the-art petrol engine.
Cadillac Villa
Designed by Bertone. The first thing that I noticed about machine is the massive gull-wing doors
- two on each sides which slowly open out then slide upwards, giving stand-up access to the spacey interior
compartment. Not destined for production, this 20 foot long concept vehicle uses a 23-inch front projection
video display as a dashboard and a Bose surround-sound system to excite your aural experience. This indeed
"explores new interpretations of luxury," says Guilliano Biasio.
Hummer H3
The new Hummer H3 has all the Hummer hallmarks - wide stance, high shoulders, low roofline, wheels at the
corners and that swing gate with a full-size spare tire. But unline its predecessors the H3 is actually
smaller and lighter. Built by General Motors (GM), the H3 will have the basic mechanical structure
of Chevrolet and GMC mid-size trucks and designed to get you through most off-road terrains safely. Even
in water, the H3 is able to ford 24-inches at 5mph and 16-inches at 20mph.
Nissan Zaroot
Fot its first public appearance, almost every show visitor awed at the new Nissan Zaroot concept car. It is
simply beautiful. The design, while retaining the traditional elements of a SUV but with something a little
different for normal SUV - a pair of gull-wing doors, which swing high, opening a large aperture. The front end,
arced windshield, angled C-pillar (there is no B-pillar) and boxy cargo section clearly draw inspiration from
the Armada and Pathfinder. Yet, the Zaroot goes in its own futuristic, sporty styling direction.
Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe
A Cabrio often looks sexier than a close-top but in this case. Enter Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe. It looks more
striking and more purposeful than its siblings. Unlike a beast, a car isn't just about stunning cosmetics.
SRT-10 is powered by an 8.3-liter V-10 engine that generates 500 horsepower and 525 lb/ft of torque.
This mean machine takes less than 4 seconds to reach 60mph from a standstill and 100mph in 12 seconds.
Previously the Dodge Viper SRT-10 Covertible had no equal. Not until now.
Author: Armand
