Geneva has always been a showcase for the desirable and exotic, and the show excelled itself this year with models such as the McLaren P1, Ferrari LaFerrari and Rolls Royce Wraith. As the old Rolls Royce saying goes: 'If you need to ask the price, you can’t afford it.' 

Luckily there was no shortage of the affordable too, with much to interest fleet managers. And there was a mood of confidence despite the economic turmoil not far away across Switzerland’s borders. 

Alfa Romeo 4C

Last seen at the NEC two years ago as a concept, the production reality was unveiled at Geneva this year and little has changed for this two-seat, mid-engined, rear-wheel drive coupe. The body is made from GRP and the structural parts from carbon fibre. Tipping the scales at 895kg, 240hp from its 1,750cc petrol engine should ensure strong performance. The 4C will launch Alfa’s return to the United States. 1,000 Launch Editions will be first to market – 400 for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, 500 in North America and 100 for the rest of the world at €60,000 each.

Audi A3 e-tron

Audi unveiled no less than six cars at Geneva, with three of them based on the A3 Sportback in the shape of the A3 Sportback e-tron, g-tron and S3 Sportback. The S3 might be the model to excite drivers, but the e-tron grabbed our attention, adding the A3 to the growing number of plug-in hybrids coming to market. It’s powered by a modified 1.4TFSI 150hp petrol engine and a 75kW (100hp) electric motor. Audi claims a combined output of 204hp. The motor is integrated into a newly designed S tronic six-speed transmission. Audi claims 1.25l/100km and 35g/km of CO2. Electric range is 50km at up to 130km/h.

BMW 3 Series

BMW seems to have learned from the less than flattering rear of the 5 Series GT and the 3 Series Gran Turismo is a far better proportioned design from back and front. Equipment includes an active spoiler, which gives added down force on the drive axle at speed. Gaining 200mm in length and 81mm in height compared to the saloon, the wheelbase is extended 110mm and the seating position 59mm higher.

Citroën Technospace

The Citroën stand was packed with innovative ideas, not least the HybridAir, which stores energy by pressurising gas in a cylinder under the car to significantly reduce hybrid costs. Technospace gave a hint of how the next-generation C4 Picasso might look when it’s launched later this year and brought some interesting interior features such as the large LCD screens in the dashboard to display information and the reclining front passenger seat with leg rest. Citroën says it wants to bring fresh ideas to the MPV sector. It boasts a 530-litre boot. Production versions will get three rear seats instead of two.

Ford Tourneo Courier

Ford’s accent was on the Tourneo family of passenger models, derived from Ford’s new light CV model line. Geneva was the first outing for the Tourneo Courier, based on Ford’s B-car platform and sharing the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine as well as Ford’s new 1.5-litre diesel and the 1.6-litre diesel. It is due on sale in mid-2014 and will also be the basis for the Transit Courier van. Ford’s B-car platform is also used for the EcoSport compact SUV, which was launched in European form at the show.

Honda Civic Wagon concept

Honda has not had a Civic-based wagon since the late 1990s Civic Aero deck. Ahead of the launch of the Civic Tourer at the Frankfurt Show this September, the company showed a concept version at Geneva, based on the current Civic, which launched late in 2011. The production model is due to go on sale in early 2014 and will be built at the company’s Swindon plant in the UK, alongside the Civic hatchback.

Hyundai Grand Santa Fe

Hyundai unveiled the Grand Santa Fe for Europe, as well as a revised iX35. The Grand Santa Fe is 225mm longer than the Santa Fe, 5mm wider and 10mm taller, while the wheelbase is 100mm longer at 2,800mm. The second-row seats slide and recline and there’s a 50/50 split rear seat. Hyundai claims best-in-class boot space with 634 litres, when the rear seats are folded. Hyundai says the second row gets 10mm more headroom and 50mm more legroom. Third-row seats get 33mm more headroom and 35mm more legroom.

Kia pro_cee’d GT

Kia showed its performance credentials with the global debut of both the cee’d (five-door) and pro_cee’d GT models at Geneva. Power comes from a 204hp variant of the company’s turbocharged 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol engine. The models have been designed in Europe under the company’s chief design officer, Peter Schreyer. To distinguish them from other cee’d and pro_cee’d models they get new front grilles and lamp clusters, deeper bumpers, LED daytime running lights, new fog lights, dual exhaust pipes, larger alloys and a range of paint finishes. Inside there are Recaro sports seats, alloy pedals, and a seven-inch race-inspired TFT instrument cluster. Sales will begin mid-year.

Mercedes A45 AMG

The new E-Class made its European debut at Geneva but it was a performance first for Mercedes that was the star of its display. The company has not produced an AMG performance-branded compact model before and Geneva was the scene for the launch of the A45 AMG. Mercedes claims the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine is the most powerful series production four-cylinder turbocharged engine in the world, with 360hp available. The car is equipped with the AMG 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system. Despite the power output, the car returns around 5.8l/100km on the NEDC combined cycle and emits 161-165g/km of CO2.

Nissan Note

Making its European debut on the Nissan stand is the new Note, due to replace the current model. Nissan highlights the safety technology that the new car will have. The Nissan Safety Shield pack includes Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Moving Object Detection, all using imagery from the rear wide-angle view Around View Monitor camera. The car is expected on sale later in the year.

Opel Cascada

Opel’s new 1.6-litre diesel engine made its debut in the Zafira Sport Tourer, offering fuel consumption of 4.1l/100km and CO2 emissions of 109g/km. The Cascada was the eye-catcher on the stand, making its production debut. With production of 15,000-20,000 a year, not many will make it on to fleet lists. It’s powered by a direct-injection 170hp turbo petrol engine, with 1.4-litre options to follow with 120 or 140hp. GM has raided its parts bins for Insignia HiPerStrut front suspension and other Astra-based components.

Peugeot 2008

Shown as a full size mock-up at the Paris Show last September, Peugeot’s entry into the compact SUV sector made its debut at Geneva. The 2008 will be on sale soon and offers the expected raised seating position, while PSA’s Grip Control system allows drivers to dial in different terrain modes and uses the ESP control electronics to improve traction with an electronic differential lock for the front-wheel-drive only car. There’s a wide choice of engines from the 98g/km CO2 3.8l/100km 1.6 e-HDi diesel, with an entry-level 1.4-litre diesel option too. Peugeot will also introduce its range of 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engines, with CO2 emissions starting from 99g/km.

Qoros 3 Sedan

A new name – China-based Qoros is a joint venture between Chery Automobile and Israel Corporation, with quality as the company’s priority. Geneva saw the debut of the company and its first product, the Qoros GQ3 Sedan, and two concepts – for a hybrid and estate car. Production will take place in China, where the GQ3 is set to launch in the second half of 2013. Models for left-hand drive European markets are expected later in the year. Production will take place in China. Controls centre on the 8-inch touchscreen replacing some of the conventional switchgear.

Renault Captur

Captur was unveiled as a concept at the Geneva Show two years ago, as a Mini-SUV based on the Nissan Juke platform. Roll forward two years and the small crossover made its production debut at Geneva this year. Captur will be well equipped. Features include a sliding rear bench seat, 11-litre ‘Easy Life’ glovebox, removable, washable seat covers, hill start assist, ESC and more. There’s a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines, with CO2 emissions between 95g/km and 125g/km.

Rolls-Royce Wraith

Wraith is based on the Ghost, but equipped with an elegant two-door fastback body in place of the Ghost’s four-door bodywork. It’s the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever, using the BMW-derived 6.6-litre V12 from the Ghost, but with power raised from 563hp to 624hp. The ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox is satellite-aided, using GPS data to pick the best gear for the road ahead. 1,340 fibre optic lamps are woven into the headlining so occupants can travel with their own starry sky at night.

Skoda Octavia Combi

Given the popularity of the previous Octavia Combi/Estate it is no surprise that a new model will join the Octavia range this summer, hot on the heels of the new saloon. It’s 90mm longer and 45mm wider than its predecessor. A low-emission Greenline version will join the range later in 2013 with CO2 emissions of 87g/km. Boot space is 610 litres expanding to 1,740 litres with the rear seats folded. There’s more space for occupants front and rear than in the outgoing model.

SsangYong Rodius

The current Rodius was not pretty and SsangYong has clearly taken the criticism on board, launching a new model with more European styling appeal than its predecessor. It’s powered by SsangYong’s 2.0-litre 155hp diesel. According to SsangYong: 'The seven-seater All-Purpose Vehicle offers the flexibility of a recreational vehicle, the styling of an SUV and the ride comfort of a saloon.'

Suzuki SX4

It’s based on the S-Cross shown at the Paris Show last September and will take the SX4 name, replacing the current model with a more dynamic looking car. It will have the choice of two and four-wheel drive with a revised 4WD system. Suzuki claims it will have the world’s first double sliding glass panoramic sunroof. Power will come from 1.6-litre diesel and petrol engines, with the option of a CVT automatic with the petrol engine, offered with both 2WD and 4WD models. Target emissions are from 110g/km for the diesel and from 125g/km for petrol models.

Toyota i-Road

Twizy has a rival! Toyota’s i-Road concept is described as a Personal Mobility Vehicle (PMV) offering a range of up to 50km from its battery electric drive with a 2kW electric motor in each front wheel. Like the Twizy it offers two seats in tandem. It’s steered by the rear wheel, giving it a tight turning circle, helped by the "Active Lean" system, which moves the front wheels up and down to lean around corners. A model derived from it will be on trial in Grenoble, Switzerland next year.

Volkswagen E-Co-Motion concept

Was this a hint of what the next-generation Volkswagen Transporter will look like? Volkswagen’s van concept showed what an electrically powered city delivery vehicle could look like. The rear-mounted electric motor would allow a turning circle of 8.95m. Volkswagen quotes a maximum power output of 115hp, with a continuous output of 68hp with maximum torque of 270Nm. Top speed is limited to 120km/h. Volkswagen proposes battery packs of different capacities from 20kW/h to 40kW/h to give a range between 100km and 200km.