Car Icon Revival: Back while it lasts

At the significantly scaled-down Geneva Motor Show, the focus is on the electric revival of the popular Renault 5 small car. But Chinese brands also know how to use theater. We examined a luxury SUV that can swim and asked Renault's design chief when cars will become lighter again.

In its 119th year, the 1905 Geneva Motor Show is waging a fierce battle National Car and Bicycle Show It was held for the first time, with a serious decline in its importance. At least as a victim of the pandemic: in March 2020, the cars were already shining in the spotlight, but visitors could not see them – they were canceled at the last minute, the day before the opening. As in the following years, until the Qatar branch took over in 2023 – an unusual Swiss export to the Gulf state. It remains to be seen whether outsourced eventing has a future.

“Killing machines”

There have always been failures. From the beginning: As early as 1907, the organizers had to move to Zurich because the ultra-modern appearance of the car was not well received in the city: “the smell of gasoline emanating from murderous machines that trample good people like street dogs.” “, it was said at the time, enraged the citizens of Geneva, as did the propaganda posters of bare breasts.