Top 10 Cars of the 2015 Geneva Motor Show

In stark contrast to its host city, the 2015 Geneva Motor Show spent absolutely no time in neutral territory.

No, things got in gear before the show floor officially opened and the high profile debuts didn’t stop until the final press conference. There are far greater than 10 noteworthy debuts, but these were arguably the most exciting this year at the Palexpo. In fact, combined horsepower for all the vehicles that made the list is well beyond 6,000 horsepower. A more explicit number would be nice, but you’ll have to take it up with Bentley and Aston Martin before that figure can will be available.

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This is what happens when Mercedes-Benz decides to build a jacked up truck. The G500 4×4 Squared has a 422-hp 4.0-liter turbo V8 and 17.7 inches of ground courtesy of portal axles, a serious off-road suspension and huge tires. Mercedes maintains that this is a concept car for now, but there’s a good chance that could change if feedback on the auto show circuit is positive enough. Think of it this way, who doesn’t need a German truck with a turbocharged V8 that can conquer the world?

Speaking of world-beating ideas from Germany, the VW Group’s Bentley ultra luxury brand brought a bona fide surprise to Geneva this year. We don’t know much about its mechanical parts, but good golly is it ever gorgeous.

Should Bentley decide to send something like this to series production, it could borrow the same turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 currently at work in the Continental GT that makes 500 hp and 487 lb-ft of torque. That’s pure speculation, but one thing is certain about the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept: every inch of it is positively stunning.

In an about-face, there’s one car on this list that you and I might actually be able to afford. The new Civic Type R is finally here in production form with a turbocharged 305 horsepower four-cylinder, a six-speed manual and an unquenchable thirst for racetracks. It comes with adaptive dampers with a dual axis strut front suspension.

The lucky devils in Europe who buy one will spend their time in traffic trading gears through a six-speed manual transmission while toggling the new “+R” button that stiffens the suspension, pares back power steering assistance and increases how responsive the engine is.

Honda’s hopped up hatchback will probably outsell the next car on this list 10 to one, but who cares? The Lamborghini Aventador Superveloce is a more powerful version of Lamborghini’s flagship that will sell side-by-side with the current model. It makes more power, has better aerodynamics and sits lighter on its feet than the normal Aventador.

In this state of tune, the 6.5-liter V12 makes 750 hp that is still directed to a seven-speed single-clutch automated manual. It uses a Haldex all-wheel drive system and is capable of adjusting wheel damping on the fly individually.

When Ferrari talks, people listen. Especially when it’s about a new supercar with a mid-mounted turbocharged V8. The 488 GTB replaces the 458 with more power, more downforce and more Italian design. If you love the 458, this is your new car crush.

It comes with the latest version of Ferrari’s SSC system that is designed to let drivers carry the car even closer to its limit without going overboard. With 660 HP, a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox and a curb weight of about 3,000 lbs, its harder than ever to argue with Maranello.

Finally, how can the Koenigsegg Regera fit anywhere on this list but number one? The latest from Sweden’s notorious boutique exotic car builder makes an other-worldy 1,489 hp, 1,475 lb-ft of torque and can hit 250 MPH in under 20 seconds. Swede heavens that sounds dangerous.

Sadly, that’s all we have space for, folks. Actually that’s a filthy lie. This is the Internet where print space has less meaning than democracy in Russia. But wait! It’s only a fraction of what happened in here in Switzerland this week so head on over to AutoGuide to scroll through our comprehensive show coverage.