Toronto New Car

With its focus on design, the Geneva Auto Show is where European automakers come to strut their stuff! There are over 30 new cars to be unveiled and at least a dozen design concepts, the Geneva Auto Show is among the most prestigious and important in the industry.

Here’s just a taste of this years Top 5 New Car Releases:

Maserati: blew away last year’s Geneva auto show with the introduction of the traffic-stopping Gran Turismo. This year, the Italian automaker is going one better. The Gran Turismo S gets a more powerful V-8 engine than the base GT, giving it a top speed of 183 mph and the bragging rights as the fastest ever production car from Maserati. The Gran Turismo S also gets a race-inspired dual-clutch transmission which lets the car change gears in 100 miliseconds.

BMW: Following in the tire tracks of the M3 coupe and sedan, the hard-top convertible of BMW’s road rocket will take a bow in Geneva. The car’s steel retractable roof and related mechanism will add 450 pounds to the weight of the fixed-roof model, but that shouldn’t slow it down too much. Like its siblings, the M3 cabriolet is motivated by a 4-liter V-8, good for 420 horsepower, and it has a dual-clutch transmission for superslick shifting.

Fiat: After its comeback last year, the baby of Fiat’s lineup is also due for a crop job in Geneva. The 500 Convertible will likely come with the same 1.2 and 1.4-liter engine choices as the Nuova coupe (pictured), as well as the Microsoft-designed Blue and Me system, which includes digital audio and Bluetooth cell phone integration.

Audi: Following the debut of the updated A4 sedan at last year’s Frankfurt show, Geneva will see the wraps come off the wagon version of Ingolstadt’s popular model. The new A4 Avant will be available with either a turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a V-6 when it arrives in the United States later this year.

Volvo: With its turbocharged six-cylinder engine, Volvo baby ‘ute packs a real punch. In typical Volvo style, the XC60 offers a whole host of safety technology, including a system called City Safety, which automatically applies the brakes if it senses an imminent impact at low speeds.