Geneva 2012: Let battle commence
Jack Rix reports on the head-to-head battles we can look forward to in 2012
With so much new metal at the Geneva Motor Show a handful of match ups were inevitable. But this year there are fights brewing out there that could put David Haye’s recent scrap to shame.
On paper the Mercedes A-Class and Audi A3 is the most tantalising proposition. Both are built on brand new front-wheel-drive platforms and stuffed full of cutting edge technology. Both will start from around £20,000 and both get sub-100g/km models, with high performance versions coming later.
It’s clear that the VW Group have thrown the kitchen sink at launching the A3 at Geneva – to the point where the surrounding VW Group stands seemed strangely subdued. Even so, for me, the A-Class’ just edges the A3 for ‘want-one’ factor - though, which one will be better to drive is still anyone’s guess.
Scrapping it out for hot-hatch honours were the Ford Fiesta ST and Peugeot 208 GTi. The 197bhp Peugeot out punches the 178bhp Fiesta, but small hot-hatches have never been about horsepower alone. What’s interesting here is that the standard Fiesta has already proved itself to be a wonderful driver’s car – and the best-selling car in the UK to boot.
On the other hand, we’re yet to deliver our verdict on the smaller, lighter 208. And the 208 GTi has already been labelled the successor to the 205 GTi, which is a weighty expectation to bear. If Peugeot can pull it off, this is one flyweight battle you don’t want to miss.
At the other end of the performance scale are Ferrari and Lamborghini – sworn enemies, but both adept at giving a motor show its sparkle. OK, so the one-off Lamborghini Aventador J and 730bhp Ferrari F12 Berlinetta aren’t exactly rivals, but in terms of giving me heart palpitations they were in direct competition. For pure drama this one goes to the Lambo, but something tells me the 599 replacement will be untouchable on the road - and a Ferrari engineer told me there’s more powerful versions to come, too.
Even the MPV buyer has some touch choices to make. The Fiat 500L tugs at the heart strings, but it’s the Ford B-MAX, with its pillarless body and sliding doors that will tick more boxes.
If there’s one thing that the 2012 Geneva Motor Show has shown us, it’s that competition is fierce in all areas of the market. New niches are becoming harder to come by, so it’s boiling down to beating the competition with a better car – let battle commence.
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