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Geneva 2024: Electric cars make the mini-show shine - ironically, MG drives a hybrid

(dpa/Thomas Geiger) What a downfall: Once, the Salon was the most important car show on the continent. This time, many have turned their backs on it. But these five premieres deserve attention.

Star of the show: The heir of the Renault 5 and successor of the Zoe, which is still small by today's standards with a length of four meters, makes a big appearance in Geneva. | Photo: dpa/Thomas Geiger
Star of the show: The heir of the Renault 5 and successor of the Zoe, which is still small by today's standards with a length of four meters, makes a big appearance in Geneva. | Photo: dpa/Thomas Geiger
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Johannes Reichel

There could have been a grand birthday gala. But precisely for its 100th anniversary, the Geneva Motor Show (public days February 28 to March 3) is threatened with sinking into insignificance. Even more so than the IAA in Munich or the Motor Show in Paris, the once most important industry summit on the continent has struggled with cancellations. Empty spaces therefore had to be filled with classic cars and seating areas.

However, the few remaining exhibitors are making a virtue out of necessity, putting on a great show and basking in attention they don’t have to share with industry giants like Mercedes, VW, Stellantis, or the Japanese manufacturers. And it’s not entirely without premieres at the Palexpo exhibition center. On the contrary: these five Geneva novelties are definitely worth a close look.

Renault R5: Grand Comeback for the ‘Little Friend’

It might be the most important Renault novelty of the decade and has the potential to broaden electric mobility: As the successor to the Zoe, Renault is bringing the R5 back and turning the ‘Little Friend’ from the 1970s and 1980s into an electric beacon of hope. It is expected to launch in late summer with prices starting around 25,000 euros, redefining entry-level mobility. Two battery options with 40 or 52 kWh provide up to 400 kilometers of range.

The motorization with up to 110 kW/150 hp is sufficient for a top speed of 150 km/h. And the body, with its much charm and references from the past, helps console the fact that at just under four meters in length and with scarcely more than a 2.50-meter wheelbase, the R5 is too small to be a family car in most cases.
 

MG3: Greetings from the Old Combustion Engine World

Most of the new cars in Geneva are electric, and many of them come from China. But ironically, MG, the most successful Chinese brand in Germany, is bucking the trend and introducing another new combustion engine: the second generation of the MG3. With a length of 4.11 meters, it aims to compete with the VW Polo and Opel Corsa. Before the summer holidays, it is expected to arrive with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine (75 kW/102 HP).

However, it cannot completely ignore the trend towards electrification. In addition to the combustion engine, the four-door model will also come with a 100 kW/136 HP electric motor and a 1.83 kWh battery, turning it into a hybrid model and reducing the standard fuel consumption to 4.4 liters (CO2 emissions: 100 g/km). MG has not disclosed prices yet, but the exhibition floor speculates significantly under 25,000 euros.

Lucid Gravity: Streamlined SUV

With a 900-volt architecture and the lowest drag coefficient in the segment, Lucid made a splash with its luxury sedan Air. A good six months after its European premiere, the American startup is now following up with the Gravity. Positioned as a sleek SUV, it aims to compete against models like the Mercedes EQS, Tesla Model X, and BMW iX by the end of the year. Lucid is promoting it with up to 588 kW/800 HP, an expected range of 700 kilometers, and such high charging power that it can deliver enough electricity for 300 kilometers within 15 minutes. Prices have not been announced yet, but given that the cheapest Air already costs 85,000 euros, the price tag for the Gravity is likely to have six figures.
 

Yangwang U8: The "G-Fender" from China

So far, BYD has remained in the middle of the market with models such as the Tang, the Dolphin, or the Seal. But now, the Chinese are aiming higher and provide a first glimpse of their flagship Yangwang U8 in Geneva. Visually: a mix between a Land Rover Defender and a Mercedes G-Class. Technically: With a range extender, it is supposed to be equipped for more than 1000 electric kilometers. And with its advertised 360-degree turn on the spot, known as Tank-Turn, as well as a watertight body capable of floating, it has become a star in social networks.

The 882 kW/1200 hp off-road vehicle is already being sold in China for prices equivalent to 140,000 euros and is now intended to entice Europeans with luxury from the Far East. However, whether it will actually come to our market is still undecided. And one problem is its weight. With over 3.5 tons, the behemoth in Europe requires more than just a regular B driving license.

IM LS7: Next, please

In Geneva, there aren't just a handful of new models, but also a new brand. And of course, it comes from China. For all those who find MG too reminiscent of old England, the SAIC group offers a more advanced alternative with IM for Intelligent Mobility, featuring a lot of new technology up to largely autonomous driving. The sensors for this are already installed in the humps above the windshield of the individual models. IM is expected to launch here next year and aims a class higher in terms of price and ambition than models like the MG4.

At the start, the Chinese are showcasing the all-wheel-drive sedan L7 with 425 kW/578 PS, which is reminiscent of the VW ID.7 in format and is supposed to cover around 500 kilometers with a 90 kWh battery. In addition, there is the SUV LS7 in the size of a Porsche Cayenne and the LS6, which is modeled after a Cayenne Coupé. The batteries there have 100 kWh and allow drive ranges of up to 560 kilometers with power reaching up to 579 kW/787 PS.

Translated automatically from German.
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