2011 Geneva Leftovers: Worst in Show

Story and photos by John LeBlanc GENEVA – If you’ve had a chance to take a look at the highlights from this year’s Geneva auto show, you more than likely already have an idea that this was one of the more diverse and interesting shows since the recent economic crisis rocked the automotive industry a few years back. But amongst the 60-plus world debuts of new concepts, show cars and production vehicles, not all were gems. Here are just some of the biggest design duds from this year’s Swiss show:

Bertone B99 Concept

The goal of the B 99 (B is for Bertone, and 99 for the years since the founding of the firm) is to eradicate the disaster that was Jag’s last attack on the executive compact sedan class, the ill-fated X-Type, essentially a tarted-up Ford Mondeo. But one has to wonder how Jaguar design head Ian Callum really feels about this very retro concept. To Callum’s credit, with the recent midsize XF and fullsize XJ sedans, he’s been trying to move the brand’s design ethos ahead by, oh, about four decades from the 1960s rut it’s been in. And now along comes this retro-Italian job that pays homage to Jag’s from the 1970s, specifically the XJ6 Coupe. Instead of one-step forward, the B 99 looks like two steps back.

2012 Ferrari FF

Despite its boutique sales numbers, as a styling trendsetter, Ferraris have always packed a big punch. The Italian automaker, though, seems to be lacking a wee bit of imagination with its new FF 2+2 GT. Firstly, for its first-ever car with all-wheel-drive, the Italian automaker has copied the “FF” name from the 1966 to 1971 Jensen FF 2+2 grand tourer, the first non-off-road production car to offer power to all four wheels. Secondly, the FF’s shooting brake profile looks like it was inspired by the first generation BMW M Coupe—considered to be one of the ugliest cars in its day. But what do I know. Ferrari announced at the show that there’s a three-year FF waiting list…

Fiat 500 Zagato Coupe Concept

Let’s be clear: If not for the success of BMW’s rebirth of the modern Mini in 2002, there would be no rebirth of the modern Fiat 500. Heck, Fiat even hired away the modern Mini’s designer, American Frank Stephenson, to come up with the retro-styled small Fiat. So we really shouldn’t be surprised that this new Fiat coupe, by famed Italian coachbuilders Zagato, shares similar similarities with the Mini Coupe that’s coming out next year. Zagato even copied the Mini Coupe’s “floating helmet” rear roof design. Can we expect a Fiat 500 Clubman next year here in Geneva?

Chryslers pretending to be Lancias

Some days, I wonder if Fiat head Sergio Marchionne is trying to kill off the famed Italian brand. I mean, if I asked you how to best revive the struggling Lancia brand in Europe, would you simply rebadge a Chrysler 300 (now Lancia Thema) or the 200 (nee Sebring, now Flavia) and Town & Country (Lancia Grand Caravan) minivan and foist them upon European customers? Even the redo of the Fiat-based subcompact Ypsilon  (that apparently is heading to North America with a Chrysler badge on it) has a decidedly American look to it with a two-tone paint job and bulbous front end that pays homage to the dearly departed Chrysler PT Cruiser—mama mia!

Mitsubishi Global Small Car Concept

Although officials at Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors are denying it, a production version of this Global Small Car Concept will replace the subcompact Colt when it arrives around the world, including North America, in spring 2012. But if you can’t wait that long, why not just go down to your local Fiord dealer, as the Mitsu GSCC looks almost identical to the existing Fiesta. In a move that would make any Chinese automaker proud, the Mitsu is a blatant rip-off of the funky Ford subcompact, from the arcing side cut line to its pulled-back headlights to its grille and vertical cutouts ahead of its front wheels.

2012 Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4

When it goes on sale this October, the 3008 HYbrid4 will be the world's first diesel hybrid. But unlike a Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf or Toyota Prius, the Peugeot’s frumpy looks and cheesy details give it anything but a high-tech or forwarding looking image. If only the 3008 Hybrid4 was a Citroen. Like Hyundai is to Kia, Peugeot is a sister brand to France's Citroen. But based on what I’ve been seeing at various auto shows over the past few years, the Citroen designers seem to be scoring more wins than their Peugeot creative counterparts.

Saab PhoeniX Concept

Named after the PhoeniX (rising from the ashes of General Motors’ bankruptcy, get it?) platform underpinning many of the company's future products, including next year's new 9-3, the concept is a 2+2 hatchback. It's the first car designed by Jason Castriota, Saab’s new design head who made his name penning supercars at Pinanfarina and Bertone. Presenting the PhoeniX, Castriota's called the new language “Aeromotional”, in reference to some of Saab’s original cars that had aerodynamic designs. But in truth, the car has so much surface detail and distracting elements, it’s hard to see how they would translate into a production car, while the PhoeniX says little of what the Saab brand will stand for going forward. Surely a missed opportunity for a company that only has so many lives left.

Skoda Vision D Concept

Unlike any North American auto show, here in Geneva the massive Volkswagen Group gets to show off all of its brands, including the ones we Canadians don’t get, like Seat and Skoda. So while some may pine for such forbidden fruit, the Skoda Vision D concept won’t create much demand for the brand if it was ever to return to Canada. The Vision D four-door hatchback previews a new hatch to slot between Fabia and Octavia, and it looks terribly generic, with a decidedly 1980s chiseled feel. You’d have to be a fan of the Czech automaker’s products to recognize a newly shaped grille and headlamps, a new corporate logo and what its press department is calling an “even more striking arrangement of the C-shaped rear lamps.”

2012 Toyota Yaris HSD

The Yaris HSD (in honour of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive which will be made available for the first time in the compact), is essentially the car that will go on sale around the world later this year. And  at a time when Toyota needs a homerun in this segment to fight off a plethora of rivals that didn’t exist only a few years ago, the tepidly penned new Yaris is a wobbly bunt single. About the only bit of visual interest in the car are the flat top headlight bezels, a design element introduced on the Toyota iQ city car that will be sold in Canada as a Scion later this year. Other than that, the new Yaris doesn’t look much different than the old Yaris. Will that be good enough?

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