GENEVA -- Automakers are putting a slew of new SUVs and high-performance sports cars on display at the Geneva International Motor Show as they try to keep up momentum in an industry facing economic uncertainties in England and possible changes in U.S. trade policy.
Jaguar Land Rover on Tuesday showed off its Range Rover Velar, a sport utility vehicle. General Motor's Opel division unveiled the Crossland X, based on a platform shared with PSA Group.
The vehicle is a sign of more to come, since PSA Group has agreed to buy Opel from GM. The Crossland taps into a trend of building ever-smaller SUVs; this one is a little shorter than the Astra compact hatchback that serves as the brand's mainstay.
PSA Group had a new SUV from its high-priced brand DS. The DS7 Crossback has headlights that adjust to driving conditions and distinctive scale-pattern rear brake lights.
Analysts say consumers like the higher riding position SUVs offer in traffic and the perceived added space to carry things.
A specialty of the show in Geneva appears to be sports cars with ever-bigger engines and quicker acceleration.
McLaren's 720PS sports car caused a pedestrian traffic jam at its unveiling as journalists and industry workers crowded the display stand to take pictures and cellphone video of the sleek, bright-orange speedster. Weighing only 2,828 pounds unfueled, the car's 720 horsepower engine pushes it to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds, with a top speed of 212 mph. Delivery to customers starts in May; prices in the U.K. start at $252,400.
Ferrari's 812 Superfast has flaps that shift position to improve aerodynamics, and a giant 6.5-liter, 12-cylinder engine. The Huayra Roadster from Italy's Pagani has sweeping curves and side mirrors on curving pylons.
Executives were often asked about the effect of Britain's pending departure from the European Union after a referendum last year. The terms of the departure from the free-trade bloc have not been negotiated, leaving executives expressing hope for an amicable divorce that does not impose heavy import taxes or tariffs.
Jim Farley, Ford Motor Co. executive vice president and president of Ford of Europe, noted the company has about 15,000 employees in the U.K., and about half of them make engines that are shipped to Europe, installed in vehicles and sometimes re-imported to the U.K.
"So any kind of tariff for us in the whole industry would be a huge headwind and also for customers, you know, the prices would be much higher," he said. "We're very optimistic that the U.K. and the EU will work out a nontariff agreement for our sector."
Automakers also face uncertainty from proposals by U.S. President Donald Trump to impose a border tax on imported autos. If enacted, such a tax could disrupt current production arrangements, especially for automakers who import to the U.S. from plants in Mexico.
The Geneva show opens to the public Thursday and runs through March 19 at the Palexpo exhibition center next to Geneva's airport.
Information for this article was contributed by Theodora Tongas of The Associated Press.
Business on 03/08/2017