Geneva Motor Show 2011 - is the automotive industry losing tradition?
03/02/2011
Less homage was paid to automotive tradition at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show than in other years.
A pity, really, because the shapes of the past are extremely attractive and probably quite a few of the visitors to the 2011 show would describe the 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato on this year's Aston stand as the most beautiful car at this year's show, or perhaps the 1961 Jaguar E-Type alongside the modern XKs? A few manufacturers are actively marketing their tradition and engineering history, at least in part.
Mercedes-Benz, for example, is showing a Simplex and drawing attention to its automotive tradition with large posters on the ceiling. At the Fiat stand there is an old world record car, the Mefistofele-Fiat, at Porsche a Lehner-Porsche Hybrid has been set up to refer to over 100 years of hybrid experience, and at Cobra builder Gullwing there is an AC Bristol.
Renault took a somewhat half-hearted approach and accordingly displayed half a Renault R4L from 1961, hanging somewhat sadly over the banister. Some suppliers at least still show traces of the past on screens and computer monitors, such as Bentley or Lotus.
Last year was much more productive and showed flashes of the past at many stands; this year is disproportionately dominated by the current trends of hybrid and electric drives. We are excited to see how things will continue next year.
We have summarized the most beautiful historical exhibits and displays in a detailed picture gallery .
