Vroom!

I am not a car guy, so I am probably not the best person to report on an autoshow. However, since I roomed with two industrial designers in college, I felt obliged to attend Geneva’s huge spectacle this year (especially having been to Detroit’s while in school). Here then, some stray observations from Geneva's International Motor Show (held from March 6-16th at the city’s expo center, literally a 5 minute walk from my apartment):



• There are lots of people who have more money than I ever will

• Detroit had more impressive showfloors (though that was 5 years ago...)

• Eco-friendly is the way to be! (At least in Europe – almost all major automakers were displaying some form of alternative energy or hybrid vehicle)







• These folks know their audience: tiny cars abound while SUVs, trucks and other American monsters are few and far between.





• Props to Mini and Mercedes for providing free water (it was hot in that giant expo center)

• Haha, yeah right, Toyota:



• However good an idea supergraphics seem, if they completely take away from the beauty of your vehicles, it’s probably best not to plaster them on EVERY SINGLE ONE of your cars at the show (BMW)





• If you’ve ever dreamed of sitting in a stationary car while rotating on a showroom platform, this is the event for you

• Today’s designers must really like HotWheels. I can’t think of any practical use for any of the following features:










{this last one is the much-publicized fully aquatic car}

• Is it ironic that Ford (an American company) centers a lot of their space around soccer (included foosball for the kids)?



• Most spokesmodels wore either stylized labcoats or 60s-style retro-future fashions. Smart is obviously going for the hipster crowd (complete with lapel buttons) and Mini an even more accessible audience (just tees and scarves on their reps):





• This car is ridiculously badass:







• I’m really glad it’s over so I can take the bus again without having to cram in like a sardine.