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2005 Geneva Motor Show
PREVIEW

Welcome to our coverage of what promises to be one of the most important motor shows this year in Europe. The Geneva Show is celebrating its 75th anniversary, but that celebration is likely to pale in comparison to the list of delectable machinery on display. Here's a brief list of the cars we know about before the show.

  • Alfa Romeo Brera - world debut of the Alfa GTV replacement
  • Alfa Romeo 159 - world debut of the Alfa 156 replacement
  • Aston Martin V8 Vantage - world debut of the production ready new baby Aston
  • Bentley Flying Spur - world debut of the first new Bentley saloon under VW
  • Bizzarrini concept - resurrection of the famous Italian brand
  • BMW Z4 2.0i - new entry-level roadster
  • BMW 130i - the most powerful 1-series yet announced
  • BMW 7-series - facelift
  • BMW 3-series - world show debut for BMW's most important model
  • Cadillac BLS - preview of Cadillac's first car designed specifically for Europe
  • Chevrolet Matiz - a significantly facelifted Daewoo Matiz
  • Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - European debut of Chevy's latest attack on Porsche
  • Citroen C1 - world debut of new city car
  • Citroen C6 - world debut of range-topping new luxury car
  • Dodge Caliber - a preview of what we can expect in Europe from Dodge
  • Ferrari F430 Spider - world debut of one of the sexiest cars on the planet
  • Fiat X 1/99 - a styling model inspired by the Fiat X-1/9
  • Fiat Croma - world debut of Fiat's largest car
  • Ford Focus 4-door - launch of an elegant saloon version of the new Focus
  • Ford Focus ST - world debut of one of the most promising hot hatches to date
  • Ford Ka - minor facelift
  • Ford Galaxy - minor facelift
  • Honda Civic - 'concept' previews next year's new Civic
  • Honda Legend - all-new range-topping saloon
  • Honda FRV diesel - Honda's six-seat MPV gets the diesel powerplant it needs
  • Hyundai HED1 - concept mini-MPV
  • Italdesign Mitsubishi SUV - styling exercise exploring a world-friendly SUV
  • Kia Rio - all-new 5-door model for Europe
  • Lamborghini Concept S - gorgeous open-topped concept based on the Gallardo
  • Fioravanti Lancia Musa Kandahar - styling exercise on the Musa MPV
  • Lexus IS - world debut of the BMW 3-series rival
  • Mazda 6 - facelift
  • Mazda MX-5 - world debut of an all-new roadster
  • Mercedes B-class - launch of the production version of this Compact Sports Tourer
  • Mitsubishi Colt Cabriolet - tagged a 'concept', but not really one
  • Mitsubishi Grandis diesel - Mitsubishi's large MPV finally gets a diesel option
  • Nissan Karoot - funky SUV concept car
  • Peugeot 407 Coupe Prologue - another concept car that isn't
  • Peugeot 107 - world debut of new city car
  • Pininfarina Maserati concept - sports car styling exercise
  • Renault City car concept - previews Renault's cool answer to the Pug 107 and Citroen C1
  • Renault Laguna - significant facelift, including new sporty GT models
  • Saab 9-3 SportWagon - new lifestyle estate
  • Subaru B9 Tribeca - potential BMW X5 rival from Subaru
  • Subaru R1 - new city car
  • Vauxhall Zafira - world debut of an all-new MPV
  • Vauxhall Astra VXR - a true rival for the new Ford Focus ST
  • Vauxhall Zafira VXR - surely not?!
  • VW Passat - European debut of VW's slick new saloon

    Details will be added as we receive them. In the meantime feel free to browse the stories and image galleries below.

  •   2005 Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch. Image by Vauxhall.2005 Alfa Romeo Brera. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.  
     
      makes
      Alfa Romeo
    Aston Martin
    Audi
    Bentley
    Bertone
    Bizzarrini
    BMW
    Bugatti
    Cadillac
    Chevrolet
    Chrysler
    Citroen
    Dodge
    Ferrari
    Fiat
    Ford
    Lamborghini
    Lotus
    Mazda
    Nissan
    Peugeot
    Renault
    Saab
    Subaru
    Vauxhall
    Volkswagen
     
    Alfa Romeo
      Alfa's stunning new BMW rival shows its face. Image by Alfa Romeo.   2005 Alfa Romeo 159
    Alfa Romeo showed the gorgeous new 159 saloon in Geneva. If the quality and dynamics are as good as its looks, BMW may have a serious contender for the 3-series.

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      Another day, another new Alfa coupe. Image by Alfa Romeo.   2005 Alfa Romeo Brera
    Alfa's new Brera coupe promises to be a real driver's car. Just don't expect rear-wheel drive...

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      Autodelta plan new models for 2005. Image by Autodelta.   2005 Alfa Romeo 159 Autodelta (preview)
    Alfa Romeo tuner/coachbuilder Autodelta has released two teaser images of its plans for 2005. The car pictured is the Autodelta interpretation of Alfa Romeo's imminent 156 replacement (the 159 presumably), and draws its outrageous styling influences from '80s Alfa 75 racecars. The Autodelta 147 will place emphasis on sophistication rather than aggression, but will still pack a large V6 punch. Full details will be available at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show.

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      Alfa's replacement for the 156 promises to be just as stylish. Image by ItaliaSpeed.   2005 Alfa Romeo 159 (advanced preview)
    Alfa's replacement for the 156 promises to be just as stylish, and will be badged 159.

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    Aston Martin
      Aston Martin makes a 911 rival. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2005 Aston Martin V8 Vantage (photo gallery)
    The new Aston Martin V8 Vantage, launched in production trim at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show is billed as being the one car that has a chance to tackle the evergreen Porsche 911 head on, though Aston Martin has played down this fact. There is no denying the Aston's beauty. Enjoy the photo gallery.

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    Audi
      Finally a hardcore Audi TT. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2005 Audi TT Quattro Sport
    The new TT Quattro Sport is a car Audi should have launched a long time ago. It debuted in Geneva this year.

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      Super Audi shows its price tag. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2005 Audi RS4 (price announcement)
    We have it on good authority that the M-version of the new BMW 3-series is quite a way off. Not that there is much wrong with the current M3, but Audi's shiny new RS4 super saloon, shown in Geneva out punches it on paper. This week Audi has announced that deliveries start in October at an on-the-road price of 20 quid under £50,000. That may well be £8k more than the current M3, but is likely to be on a par with the replacement.

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      Audi A6 Avant launched at Geneva Show 2005. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2005 Audi A6 Avant (photo gallery)
    Audi's new A6 Avant debuted at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. Here's our photo gallery.

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      Audi's RS4 sets the benchmark for super saloons. Image by Audi.   2005 Audi RS4
    BMW's next M3 had better be good if it is to impress next to Audi's stonking new RS4.

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    Bentley
      Bentley shows its Flying Spur. Image by Bentley.   2005 Bentley Flying Spur
    Bentley has released the first details of its all-new saloon, the Flying Spur. It will debut in Geneva.

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    Bertone
      Bizarre Bertone Villa concept car shown at Geneva Show 2005. Image by Bertone.   2005 Bertone Villa (photo gallery)
    Italian design house, Bertone, showed the bizarre building architecture inspired Villa concept car. Take a look at the photo gallery and decide for yourself what you think. Spanish villa or Hunstanton caravan?

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    Bizzarrini
      Bizzarrini due for a resurrection. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2005 Bizzarrini GT (photo gallery)
    The Bizzarrini name may flounder on if its Alpina V8-powered GT car gets off the ground. It is certainly distinctive, but performance claims a little on the optimistic side... Take a look at our image gallery.

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    BMW
      Lower spec. BMW Z4 available now. Image by BMW.   2005 BMW Z4 2.0i
    The 2.0i will be fourth model in the Z4 range when BMW launches it at this year's Geneva Show.

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      The new One to watch out for. Image by BMW.   2005 BMW 130i
    The most exciting 1-series yet makes its debut in Geneva, powered by BMW's fabulous new lightweight straight-six.

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    Bugatti
      Bugatti Veyron finally here. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2005 Bugatti Veyron (photo gallery)
    After what seems like a drawn out development period, Bugatti is finally ready to sell the Veyron to prospective buyers. We took a close look at Geneva. What you essentially have here is a 1000bhp Audi TT...

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    Cadillac
      Cadillac gets serious about Europe. Image by Cadillac.   2005 Cadillac BLS show car
    The BLS show car previews a new car from Cadillac designed for the European market. Front-wheel drive and diesel? In a Cadillac?!

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    Chevrolet
      Matiz given the Chevrolet treatment. Image by Chevrolet.   2005 Chevrolet Matiz
    To coincide with the changeover to the Chevrolet badge, the Matiz receives a major facelift this summer.

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    Chrysler
      Chrysler gives Crossfire more ammunition. Image by Chrysler.   2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6
    Chrysler's Crossfire gets some fire in its belly when it arrives in Europe as the SRT-6.

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    Citroen
      C1 city car, seen them all? Image by Citroen.   2005 Citroen C1
    Citroen's new C1 city car shares a lot with its Peugeot and Toyota cousins.

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    Dodge
      Has the new Dodge the right Caliber? Image by Dodge.   2005 Dodge Caliber concept
    Dodge hopes to break into the lucrative C-segment in Europe with its new Caliber crossover vehicle, shown for the first time in Geneva.

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    Ferrari
      Jaws drop quicker than the roof on the new F430 Spider. Image by Ferrari.   2005 Ferrari F430 Spider
    Ferrari has released the first photographs of the mouth watering F430 Spider to be shown in Geneva.

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      Ferrari drops the lid on the F430. Image by www.rennteam.com.   2005 Ferrari F430 Spider (sneak preview)
    Ferrari will unveil the F430 Spider at the Geneva Show. We managed to get some first shots of the car thanks to a mobile phone camera.

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    Fiat
      Fiat re-invents the Croma in Geneva. Image by Fiat.   2005 Fiat Croma
    Fiat has released early details of its new Croma ahead of a Geneva launch in March.

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    Ford
      SAV previews Ford's next MPV direction. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.   2005 Ford SAV concept
    The SAV is supposed to be a revolutionary new type of MPV from Ford. We don't see it.

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      Ford finally gives us a hot hatch worthy of the name. Image by Ford.   2005 Ford Focus ST
    Fast Ford fans will be celebrating the debut of the Focus ST after this year's Geneva Show. It looks very promising indeed.

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    Lamborghini
      Lamborghini Concept S-exes up the Gallardo. Image by Lamborghini.   2005 Lamborghini Concept S
    Lamborghini gives us the Concept S in Geneva - an extreme open-top Gallardo, not due for production sadly.

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    Lotus
      Lotus giveth, and Lotus taketh away. Image by Lotus.   2005 Lotus Exige 240R
    This is the new 240bhp Lotus Exige, but you probably can't have one as Lotus is only going to make 50. The car was displayed in Geneva. We were there.

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    Mazda
      All-new Mazda MX-5 nearly here. Image by Mazda.   2005 Mazda MX-5 (preview)
    Mazda has announced that they intend to give the third generation MX-5 its world premiere at the Geneva show. The styling of the popular roadster has been beefed up in the hope of shedding its slightly girly image once and for all. It has always been a cracking drive, so here's hoping that the latest version continues the lineage! Mazda will also show an updated Mazda6 at the show.

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    Nissan
      Nissan the SUV maker. Image by Nissan.   2005 Nissan Zaroot concept
    Nissan's Zaroot concept car enhances the Japanese company's image as an SUV maker, with six 4x4 vehicles in its UK range alone.

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    Peugeot
      Prologue to new 407 Coupe revealed. Image by Peugeot.   2005 Peugeot 407 Prologue
    The 407 Prologue concept car previews Peugeot's 407 Coupe, due on sale in 2006.

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    Renault
      Nicole to make way for Zoe? Image by Renault.   2005 Renault Zoe concept
    Renault previewed its next new car at Geneva - an innovative city car to replace the much-loved Twingo.

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    Saab
      Saab wants in on the lifestyle estate market. Image by Saab.   2005 Saab 9-3 SportWagon
    Saab has wisely decided to produce a lifestyle estate based on its capable 9-3 saloon.

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    Subaru
      Subau will show potential new models in Geneva. Image by Subaru.   2005 Subaru B9 Tribeca (preview)
    Subaru is set to unveil two new models at the Geneva show this year: the R1 and the Tribeca. The R1 mini-car has just begun sales in Japan in the K-class (sub 660cc) and features an intelligent CVT and even 4wd. The Tribeca is a large 7-seater SUV powered by a 3-litre, 6-cylinder boxer unit. Currently the plan is for sales in the USA, Canada and Chile only. More details will be released at the show, which we will be attending.

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    Vauxhall
      New Very eXciting Red Astra. Image by Vauxhall.   2005 Vauxhall Astra VXR
    The new Vauxhall Astra VXR debuted alongside the Sport Hatch in Geneva. It goes on sale this year.

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      New Zafira debuts in Geneva. Image by Vauxhall.   2005 Vauxhall Zafira
    Vauxhall has replaced the Zafira with an all-new, larger car. The range will include a turbocharged VXR version.

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    Volkswagen
      New Passat steps even closer to Audi. Image by VW.   2005 Volkswagen Passat
    The new VW Passat may as well be an Audi, with high quality interior and good specification. VW's new design language is seen for the first time.

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