GENEVA MOTOR SHOW 2019
by David Jones
At the Geneva Motor Show, you really can see it all! From the
first ever fully-naked carbon fibre Koenigsegg Regera, to a
1960s Porsche 911 2.0 Coupé with retro, wooden skis perched
preposterously on the roof.
Petrol-burning super/hypercars stealing the show for me, it is difficult for
me to appreciate the electric rocket ships, suspiciously registered as cars.
This is until I hear of the absolutely, mind-blowingly, ridiculous scary 0-62
figures!
Taking the all new Pininfarina Battista for example, pumping out nearly
1,900 horsepower from a 120kWh battery pack along with four additional
electric motors with a bonkers 0-62mph figure of just under 2seconds. It is at
this point that I can start to understand that despite their washing machine-
like sounds and their deafening silences, maybe sound isn’t all that necessary
when an electric hypercar such as this one can make a brand-new Ferrari or
Lamborghini look like a Toyota Yaris off the line in a drag race. Now that
the environment is happy, we can get into the real cars that I was drawn to
during my experience. We’re talking great big 12-cylinder, petrol guzzling
engines ready to rip the tarmac off the ground (along with the tread off their
tyres). Despite not being a newcomer to this fantastic event, the Ferrari 812
Superfast never fails to impress and seriously lights up the Ferrari stand.
Especially in such a vibrant colour as Ferrari’s ‘Giallo’ (Italian for yellow).
As the event draws closer, the anticipation grows as the answer to Ferrari’s
vital question is finally answered: Where do they go from here, how do
they top this? During the Motor Show last year in 2018, Ferrari released
the all new, hardcore version of the 488 GTB; the viciously frightening, 488
Pista. Given a whiff of tarmac, this track-focused ‘road car’ will send you
round a lap of any circuit, faster than you can ever believe. Anyway, 2019
came and so did the answer to the vitally important question. Where stats
96 wirrallife.com
and figures of the Pista would blow you away, it wasn’t really the type of car
to throw around the lanes in North Wales or a car you’d feel comfortable
parking in a multi-story car park. However, the F8 Tributo brings all the
same top speed and acceleration stats, but swaps an aggressive racing
stripe for smooth, flowing curves. Coming in at under half the price the
F8 Tributo really stumps the Pista for usability in every aspect. There are
two perspectives with what Ferrari have done, have they shot themselves
in the foot by making a more usable car with the same stats or have they
simply made two incredible cars for two very different people? Personally,
I would go for the latter opinion due to the fact that one car has been made
for the Michael Schumacher wannabes whereas the other has been directed
towards slightly more normal people who don’t leave the Manettino Dial
(Ferrari mode selector) constantly in race mode.
Having been slowly dragged away from the Ferrari, we ventured through the
numerous stands of various new motors to Lamborghini. Easily mistaking
the stand for a rainbow of exuberant Italian colours, the stand consists of
the all new Lamborghini Huracan Evo along with the equally impressive
Huracan Evo Spider. The Evo cannot be considered as a car, but more as a
work of art; finessed by the finest Italian artists. Breaking apart the canvas of
colour, stands the Lamborghini Urus, the world’s first SSUV (super sports
utility vehicle). With its 4.0 litre, twin-turbocharged V8 pumping out just
under 650bhp, making it one of the fastest production SUVs ever on this
planet. Capable of speeds of up to 190mph (even with three kids and a large
dog in the back) really puts this car ahead of the rest when it comes down to
speed and usability all in one package. However, when the kids have taken
off to university, and there’s just no need for the 5 seats anymore; maybe a
faster, two-seater, street-legal race car is what you’re looking for. When it
comes to Lamborghini; look no further. ... The all new Lamborghini SVJ
Roadster, a convertible version of the latest King of The Nürburgring.