A mixture of all-new models, concept cars and updates caught the eye at this year’s Geneva motor show. Paul Barker, Jack Carfrae and Rachel Burgess take a look at the crucial corporate cars revealed in Switzerland.
Top 10 all-new models
1 Lexus IS
What is it? The new premium upper medium saloon from Lexus.
Why is it interesting to business? At 99g/km in SE trim, the new IS300h is the first compact xecutive model to break through the 100g/km barrier and combines a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor.
When is it on sale? July 2013.
Any other business? Beware the trim levels, as the IS300h emits 103g/km in Luxury trim and 109g/km in F-sport and Premium specification. There is also a 2.5-litre V6 IS250 model at 199g/km.
2 BMW 3-series GT
What is it? Following in the footsteps of the mostly unloved 5-series GT, the 3-series version is the new, longer, taller hatchback variant in the range, joining the saloon and touring iterations.
Why is it interesting to business? BMW is after the Audi A5 Sportback and the forthcoming Mercedes CLA. The idea is to have more functionality – for example, it has the same rear space as a 5-series saloon – while offering something different to a conventional four-door or estate.
When is it on sale? May 2013.
Any other business? It’s about £1500 more than the Touring but has extras such as wheel upgrades.
3 Nissan Note
What is it? Nissan’s new crack at the heart of the supermini sector.
Why is it interesting to business? Rather than a supermini-MPV, Nissan claims the new Note is now a core rival for the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa.
When is it on sale? October 2013.
Any other business? The Safety Shield package of blind-spot detection, lane departure warning and moving object detection will be standard on top-spec models, and optional on mid-trim. It works using cameras rather than sensors, and incorporates a wash and dry system to keep the lens clear.
4 Infiniti Q50
What is it? Infiniti’s first credible attack on the core fleet sector.
Why is it interesting to business? A 114g/km diesel engine sourced from Mercedes gives the Q50 a genuine chance of appealing to buyers of the BMW 3-series and Audi A4 in particular. The firm is also focusing on the technological offering of the Q50, with a range of features designed to appeal to tech-savvy company car drivers.
When is it on sale? September 2013.
Any other business? Infiniti is adding another four new dealers this year, and five more in 2014.
5 Ford Ecosport
What is it?Compact SUV that’s big in the South American market but hasn’t made it to Europe until now.
Why is it interesting to business? The Ecosport will sit beneath the new Kuga small 4×4 and offer superior running costs and a lower price point in exchange for a bit less room. It will be powered by Ford’s 125hp 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol engine and a new 90hp 1.5-litre diesel unit. The latter engine is tipped to offer “class-leading” fuel economy.
When is it on sale? Late 2013.
Any other business? Ford will also introduce the Edge – a large SUV that will sit above the Kuga.
6 Renault Captur
What is it? Renault’s launch into the rapidly growing crossover segment
Why is it interesting to business? A sub-100g/km 90hp diesel engine, attractive styling and good levels of practicality could see it become Renault’s most popular corporate model.
When is it on sale? July 2013.
Any other business? Along with the new Clio and soon-to-be-launched Zoe EV, the Captur is one of three new products Renault is pinning its future on. It features what Renault claims is the first glove box that can be used from the driver’s seat, but the Easy Lifedrawer won’t be available on right-hand drive cars.
7 Peugeot 2008
What is it? An all-new crossover from the French firm.
Why is it interesting to business? The Peugeot’s trump card is its exceptionally clean petrol and diesel engines – the 82hp 1.2 e-VTi petrol emits 99g/km, while the cleanest diesel unit – the 92hp 1.6 e-HDi – manages 98g/km. Expect a range high of 61.8mpg too.
When is it on sale? July 2013.
Any other business? It’s cleaner and more economical than both Nissan’s Qashqai and Juke, the two rival models it sits somewhere between.
8 Dacia Logan
What is it? The fourth car in new budget brand Dacia’s line-up, based on the Sandero supermini.
Why is it interesting to business? Claimed to be the UK’s most affordable estate, although pricing is yet to be revealed. The Logan also offers 573 litres of boot space – just two litres shy of a Volvo V70.
When is it on sale? July 2013.
Any other business? The engine line-up will include a 99g/km 90hp diesel as well as two petrol alternatives. The Logan will join the recently launched Sandero supermini and Duster small off-roader, as well as the forthcoming Sandero Stepway crossover in the cheap-and-cheerful line-up.
9 Ford Courier Tourneo
What is it? A small passenger van based on the Fiesta platform with seating for five.
Why is it interesting to business? The Tourneo Courier is the smallest of the Transit/Tourneo family and it’s likely to be among the most frugal van-derived passenger cars around when it goes on sale. Ford hasn’t confirmed the figures yet, but it will be powered by three small and clean engines. There will be two TDCi diesels: a 75hp 1.5 and 95hp 1.6, along with a 100hp 1.0-litre Ecoboost unit.
When is it on sale? Mid 2014.
Any other business? User-choosers with families seeking space on a budget are prime candidates.
10 Suzuki SX4
What is it? New lower medium crossover benchmarked against Nissan’s popular Qashqai. With CO2 set to start from 110g/km, along with high mpg and ample space, Suzuki believes it will be a viable contender.
Why is it interesting to business? Suzuki thinks the SX4 can elevate its status in the business market. It will even have a fleet-focused trim including alloys and satnav.
When is it on sale? September/October 2013.
Any other business? The carmaker is plotting a small SUV crossover in 2015, identifying it as a big area of future growth, rivalling the likes of the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008.
Top 5 concepts
1 Citroen Technospace
What is it? A near production-ready concept version of the C4 Picasso people carrier.
Why is it interesting to business? For all intents and purposes it’s the next C4 Picasso, the production-ready version of which will be revealed in a couple of months. It has a new lightweight platform, which shaves 140kg off the outgoing car’s figure and cuts CO2 to 98g/km – astonishingly low for such a big car. The boot is also bigger, at 537 litres, with a lower loading area, so practicality should be top notch.
When could it be on sale? Second half of 2013.
Any other business? Features a high-def 12-inch screen, a web portal and loads of personalisation options.
2 Honda Civic Tourer Concept
What is it? A ‘not too far from production’ concept version of the Honda Civic Estate.
Why is it interesting to business? The existing lower medium Civic hatchback makes a solid case for businesses with its 94g/km and 120hp 1.6-litre diesel engine, and it’s a given that will also appear in the estate. Fleet sales of the production version are expected to be high at 60% and space is tipped to be “class-leading”.
When could it be on sale? Early 2014.
Any other business? It’s designed and developed in Europe, which explains the swish, non-Japanese looks.
3 Mitsubishi Concept GR-HEV
What is it? A heavily stylised nod to the next L200.
Why is it interesting to business? It’s a diesel hybrid, comprising the firm’s 2.5-litre diesel engine and an electric motor working in tandem. It has the next generation of Mitsubishi’s four-wheel drive system and emits “less than 149g/km”, which Mitsubishi says is 50g/km lower than the segment average.
When could it be on sale? No word yet, but this tech and some of the styling will appear on the next L200.
Any other business? Emissions aren’t as crucial to commercial operators as they are to car fleets, but they soon will be. The GR-HEV is designed to appeal to forward-thinking businesses running pick-ups and LCVs.
4 Vauxhall Adam Rocks concept
What is it? A potential direction for the development of Vauxhall’s new city car, with 15mm higher ride height, wider track and beefed-up off-road-style cladding.
Why is it interesting to business? A characterful little car from the UK’s number two fleet brand could interest those whose vehicles need to make an impression.
When could it be on sale? Maybe 2015.
Any other business? The Adam Rocks concept also features a retractable cloth roof that automatically closes when the car is parked and it senses rain.
5 Nissan Resonance
What is it? A preview of the look of the next-generation Murano large SUV.
Why is it interesting to business? Nissan is aiming to make headlines in the SUV arena with a trio of new products across the Qashqai, X-trail and Murano in the next couple of years.
When could it be on sale? 2015.
Any other business? The Murano will be the third of the three new SUVs, with the second-generation Qashqai coming next year and the X-trail, which will be more crossover than pure 4×4 this time, not long behind.
Top 5 variants
1 VW Golf Estate
What is it? The load-lugging version of the new Golf – recently crowned European car of the year.
Why is it interesting to business? A boot of 605 litres is exactly 100 litres more than the previous Golf Estate, yet the car is styled for more visual appeal than its utilitarian predecessor.
When is it on sale? October 2013.
Any other business? There will be a Bluemotion estate for the first time, offering 87g/km and an official 85.6mpg figure. It joined the new GTI, GTD and low-CO2 Bluemotion versions of the five-door hatchback at the show in a comprehensive expansion of the new Golf’s range.
2 Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron
What is it? A plug-in hybrid version of the existing A3 Sportback with a 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine and an electric motor – similar in its use of technology to the Vauxhall Ampera and Toyota Prius plug-in.
Why is it interesting to business? The five-door A3 Sportback is one of the firm’s core fleet models, but more to the point, this version is looking at official figures of 188mpg and just 35g/km of CO2.
When is it on sale? During 2014.
Any other business? It may be clean and frugal but it isn’t slow. The 204hp E-Tron is good for 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds and 138mph. It can also travel for up to 31 miles on electricity alone.
3 Toyota Auris Sports Tourer
What is it? An estate version of the lower medium Auris.
Why is it interesting to business? For the first time, Toyota is combining hybrid and estate models, and that leads to emissions as low as 85g/km for an estate.
When is it on sale? Summer 2013.
Any other business? Toyota claims boot space of 530 litres for the Sports Tourer, 30 litres more than a Vauxhall Astra Sport Tourer, as well as “superb” versatility for the load area, which includes a two-way tonneau cover.
4 Seat Leon SC
What is it? The new three-door version of the Seat Leon, as the model expands from a single five-door to a three-model line-up with this sporty three-door and an estate coming by the end of 2013.
Why is it interesting to business? Seat has big plans for the Leon, and although the three-door will be the smallest in terms of volume of the three models, it has the same boot and rear headroom as the five-door.
When is it on sale? July 2013.
Any other business? The price is likely to be around the same point as the five-door, but the SC will get bigger wheels and possibly upgraded seats.
5 Nissan Leaf
What is it? A revised version of Nissan’s pioneering electric car.
Why is it interesting to business? Lower cost, increased range, shorter charging time and now built in the UK, the Leaf’s revisions should make it appeal further to UK businesses. Though Nissan admits sales haven’t been where they were hoping as yet, 700 have so far been registered since the car was launched.
When is it on sale? Late spring 2013
Any other business? All 200 Nissan dealers will be selling the Leaf from the end of this month, up from the 30 that were tasked with selling the EV from launch.
