Auto Zürich was held for the 37th time in Zurich North, and with 70 car manufacturers represented, it is now the largest motor show in Switzerland. The level of interest was correspondingly high, which was further boosted by two additional exhibition elements: Small-series sports cars and classic cars.
64,619 paying visitors were recorded over the four days (November 7 to 10, 2024), the largest crowd since the event began 38 years ago. And there was plenty to see: over 300 cars, around two dozen premieres and, of course, the classics in Hall 6.
The classics of yesterday
As already well established, the classic car dealers presented their cars in a joint hall. The Touring Garage, Lutziger Classic Cars, Porsche Classic Partner Zurich/Schlieren, Sailer Classics, Emil Frey Classics, Niki Hasler, Eberhart Classics, Swiss Classic Car and Dönni Classic Cars, along with other specialists, offered an insight into their range with their stands. In hundreds of conversations, they were able to meet newcomers as well as experienced collectors.
There was certainly no shortage of beautiful cars. Niki Hasler, for example, showed a very rare Ferrari 365 GTC as well as a famous Ferrari 312 P.
Two early Monteverdi 375 S/L were on display at Lutziger Classic Cars.
Touring Garage presented a light blue VW Beetle and a Maserati 3500 GT Touring on the stand.
At Porsche Classic Partner Zurich/Schlieren, visitors inspected a blood-orange Porsche 914/6.
The Emil Frey Classics stand included a very rare Aston Martin DB4 Convertible and an MGA Twin Cam.
And finally, Dönni Classic Cars presented a very early Jaguar E-Type S1 3.8 OTS as well as a Jaguar XJ6, which is currently undergoing an extensive restoration.
The other exhibitors also had some beautiful cars on display. And even in the new car halls you could find old cars, such as an early Civic at Honda or an eighties Mini at Minelli and Emil Frey Classic Auctions.
Manufactured cars
A much more important focus was on 2024 cars that are produced or converted today, but only in very small numbers.
Carage celebrated the 30th anniversary of Koenigsegg in Hall 6 and showed a whole selection of these hyper sports cars.
On the same stand, there were also Porsche cars tuned by Singer.
And just around the corner were the Pininfarina Battista and the Bertone GB110.
From there it was only a short walk to Erbacher with more optimized Porsche 911s and to AC with a new edition of the Cobra.
Eberhart Classics exhibited not only vintage and classic BMW vehicles but also a modern BMW 3.0 CSL based on the M4, which has only been built around 50 times.
Although the Pagani Utopia Roadster was not in Hall 6, it also attracted people like bacon attracts mice and was presented by Kessel Automobile alongside a classic Ferrari 275 GTB and modern Ferrari sports cars.
But above all new cars
Naturally, new cars were in the majority at Auto Zürich. Current cars from 70 manufacturers could be test-driven and felt on three floors. Many a visitor may have stumbled across new brands, often from China. And, of course, the proportion of vehicles powered by electric motors was high. For the first time, visitors were also able to take a closer look at various cheaper electric vehicles.
The vehicles on display included many innovations that had previously only been seen in the press or on social media.
Although the electric Renault R5 was already on display as a prototype at the (probably last) Geneva Motor Show, it was now on show as a production model and together with the sharper Alpine variant A290. The parallels to the Renault 5 of the seventies are still clearly visible.
MG was present at Auto Zürich for the first time and with several vehicles. Of course, the "normal" cars dominated at the now Chinese car manufacturer, but the MG Cybester, an open-top electric sports car with electrically opening scissor doors, also attracted a lot of interest. Will the traditional MG fans be able to do anything with it?
At the official opening of Auto Zürich, around 200 media representatives were able to experience some of the new products first-hand, as a "Media Stage" had been set up for this purpose.
In addition to various large series innovations, a Jaguar F-Type ZP Edition, the Bertone GB110 and the Rimac Nevera R were also on display.
However, the two one-offs based on the Ferrari 296 GTB/GTS initiated by Niki Hasler caused a particularly emotional response on the Media Stage, as they were dedicated to two legendary racing drivers, namely Peter Schetty and Arturo Merzario.
They were both on site and gave Auto Zürich a very special traditional glow.
-an-den-Classic-Days-2014.jpg)
