Rolling show stoppers
GENEVA — Automakers are putting a slew of new SUVs and high-performance sports cars on display at the Geneva International Motor Show as they try to keep up momentum in an industry facing uncertainties like Brexit and possible changes in U.S. trade policy.
Jaguar Land Rover today showed off its Range Rover Velar, a sport-utility that promises crisp handling and acceleration. General Motor’s Opel division unveiled the Crossland X, based on a platform shared with PSA Group.
The vehicle is a sign of more to come, since PSA Group has agreed to buy Opel from GM. The Crossland taps into a trend of building ever-smaller SUVs; this one is a little shorter than the Astra compact hatchback that serves as the brand’s mainstay.
PSA Group itself had a new SUV, from its high-priced brand DS. The DS7 Crossback has headlights that adjust to driving conditions and distinctive scale-pattern rear brake lights.
A specialty of the show in wealthy Geneva is breathtaking hypercars — sports cars with ever-bigger engines and quicker acceleration.
Ferrari’s 812 Superfast has flaps that shift position to improve aerodynamics, and a giant 6.5-liter, 12-cylinder engine. The Huayra Roadster from Italy’s Pagani shows striking design, with sweeping curves and side mirrors on curving pylons.
Executives were often asked about the impact of Britain’s pending departure from the European Union. The terms of the departure from the free-trade bloc have not been negotiated, leaving executives expressing hope for an amicable divorce that does not impose heavy import taxes, or tariffs.
Automakers also face uncertainty from proposals by U.S. President Donald Trump to impose a border tax on imported autos. If enacted, such a tax could disrupt current production arrangements, especially for automakers who import into the U.S. from plants in Mexico.
