Oddball Cars of the 2016 Geneva Motor Show
Published on March 5, 2016 in Geneva by Michel Deslauriers
Bee Bee XS - According to this French automaker, the four-door, four-passenger Bee Bee XS is the ideal vehicle for the Carribean Islands, and that car is “agile, safe, economical and sexy.” Its 27-hp electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack provide the XS with a range of up to 110 km.
EDAG « Soulmate » - Bosch and EDAG worked together to create the “Soulmate,” a concept car that demonstrates how a networked car can change everyday life. Its fabric-covered body can glow to alert other drivers of a possible road hazard ahead, and can illuminate one side of its interior when an obstacle is in the car’s blind spot.
Kahn Flying Huntsman 110 6x6 Defender Double Cab Pickup - A coach-built truck based on the Land Rover Defender, this six-wheeled beast gets a longer and wider compared to the stock SUV, and a power upgrade for its diesel engine, too.
Kyburz eRod - This performance-oriented, 100% electric roadster from Swiss company Kyburz features a 54-hp motor and a range of between 100 and 130 km.
Lazareth Wazuma GT - This tire-shredding roadster is equipped with a supercharged, 4.0L Jaguar V8 and weighs only 995 kg (or 2200 lbs.). The Wazuma GT drives its rear wheels, which are separated only by the car’s exhaust outlet.
Microlino - This concept is obviously inspired by the Iso Isetta minicar that appeared in the ’50s, which was licensed to several automobile manufacturers, the most successful variant being the BMW Isetta. The Microlino is powered by an electric motor and the company is currently taking pre-orders for the eventual production version.
Morgan EV3 - English roadster manufacturer Morgan is going electric with the three-wheeled EV3. Its 62-hp motor provides 0-100 km/h sprints of less than nine seconds, while its 20-kWh battery pack gives it a range of about 240 km. Production of the EV3 will start at the end of 2016.
Opel GT Concept - According to Opel, this is what sports cars will look like in the future. The car itself is pretty attractive, although the integrated side windows and red front tires do make it stand out. It’s powered by a 145-hp, turbo 1.0L three-cylinder engine.
Quant FE - The Quant FE is a concept that draws attention with its wide, gullwing doors that allow access to both front and rear seats. Powered by four electric motors for a total of 1090 hp and fuelled by ionic liquid, the FE is said to blast from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 300 km/h.
Renault Twizy - It’s been on the market since 2012, but the electric two-seat Twizy is still an unusual-looking vehicle. It’s available with several motor output and battery capacity options, and can even be imported to Canada by a licensed distributor called the Azra Network.
Secma R16 Turbo - French automaker Secma says the R16 Turbo offers the aggressiveness of an Ariel Atom and the thrills of a Lotus Caterham, but at a fraction of the cost. It’s equipped with a Peugeot-sourced turbocharged, 1.6L four-cylinder engine that produces 205 hp. The 0-100 km/h sprint is said to be pegged at 4.8 seconds.
smart fortwo Brabus - We all know what a smart looks like, obviously. However, this Brabus edition fortwo is definitely polarising in its cloak of matte sky blue paint.
Toyota KIKAI Concept - The KIKAI boasts a minimalistic body shell, a three-passenger cockpit and mechanicals that are in plain sight. According to Toyota, the car was designed to emphasize the beauty of machinery.
Volkswagen T-Cross Breeze Concept - Apart from its corny name, this subcompact convertible SUV is a foretaste of what VW’s future small SUV will look like. However, imagine it with five doors and a roof.
Yebbujana R2 - This 100% electric, two-seater roadster features a 38-hp motor and according to its manufacturer, Powerplaza, it can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 199 km/h. It also has a range of up to 765 km.