Geneva motor show 2010: A-Z review and news

 Why is Tata not on the exhibitors list?  They introduced the Nano EV at the show.

I walked the show today.  It is the year the EV and the plug-in hybrid  went mainstream.  Stands without some new drivetrain tech were just empty.  And so many cars with their CO2 emissions in large letters down the side: suddenly, the engineers have found ways to get below 100 g/CO2.

Cars with the most crowds round: Audi A1 and Mini Countryman.  Oh, and the Porsche 918, which is fabulous, but hidden behind a gaggle of  Cayennes.   By contrast, the green Ferrari (with KERS) was being ignored - because it looked like a Ferrari, only an unpleasant  shade of green. 

I walked straight past the new 5-series, so ordinary it looked.  No buzz round that at all.  The Jag XJ was getting a lot of attention, and rightly so,  as was the Aston Martin Rapide , though of course that was roped off for mere mortals.

The Bertone concept for a new Alfa Spyder by far the best looking car there.  Achingly cool.

There's a facelift for the Nissan Quashqai on the way, too. Saw one today but was inept in my attempts to get a snap of it. Anyhow, new narrower front lamps give it a sharper, less gormless face.