March 21, 1988 $1.25 USA $1.

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A neutral site gives Geneva's Salon a flavorful international mix. Some cars are wild, others sedate. This year, some of the wild mellowed
By Dutch Mandel
Photos by Colin Curwood
n the rarified world of international auto shows, the Geneva Salon de L'Auto is set in neutral territory. That's not always true: In Tokyo, Japanese cars-and their technodoodadsdominate the scene. At Frankfurt, German carmakers are highlighted. In Geneva, everyone's on equal footing. Because of this "neutrality," the Geneva feel is freer, more open. Perhaps it's this freedom that prompts specialty "boutique" car designers to come and display their latest, wackiest designs. Designer firms like Gemballa, Sbarro, Zagato, Rinspeed and Bitter use Geneva to get the most attention. In past years, it was attention to--and emphasis on-the bizarre that captured limelight for the boutiquers. For some, that attention was great enough to launch a career. (Swiss Franco Sbarro and his Lamborghini LMOO2-based "Monsteur," comes to mind.) This year was different. This year the boutique designers matured. Sure, there were wacky and outre vehicles that showed up (Sbarro, again), but others-chief among them Bitter and Irmscher -found the recipe for designing tasteful cars. This year the boutique designer came of age. Still, Geneva is for manufacturers. As the season's-and Europe's-premier international show, it provides the first chance to show off. In 1988, three manufacturers sought to capture the Alpenglow: Volkswagen, Toyota and BMW. Volkswagen unveiled its aerodynamic, highline Passat (Quantum in U. S .) replacement. Problem: It will take VW nearly two years to bring it to the U.S. Toyota released its Carina 11, a car that will go head-to-head with Passat in Europe. And BMW premiered its midsize, Mercedes-challenging Five Series models (Autoweek cover story, Feb. 22). Other notables were Jaguar's XJS convertible and an aftermarket Acura Legend coupe convertible.

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AUTOWEEK MARCH 2 1 , 1988

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VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
In hotly contested European market, new good-looking Passat gives VW what it badly needs-modern replacement for its aging top-of-the-line Passat. When Passat comes to U. S. in 18 months as new Quantum (delayed by automatic

V6 will join 16-va1ve,four-banger Look at Passat from rear door to bumper. Large kicked-up trunk area may be apparent. Fact is, poweqlants Passat will initially be there's more than 17.5 cubic feet of trunk space available--that's more than any Benz offered with.

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TECOPLAN TARGET

FORD I GHW SAGUARO

That is Saguaro. As in cactus. That's because this seven-passenger concept vehicle is designed with off-road use in mind. Really. Penned by Ghia in Turin, it has four-wheel drive, flush-fitted front and rear windows, and flush door handles. What it really looks like: a marriage of Honda's Civic Wagon and Ford's RS200 rally car. How does it fit seven? With a 2 3 2 layout. Note large air intakes located inboard of lower running lights for increased engine cooling. Can't see it in off-road use? Look at each corner-19.4-inch wheels are shod with enormous 24. %inch diameter Pirelli treads. A stunner! But can you see a horde of these scurrying around in the Baja 1000?

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The idea of Munich-based company, Tecoplan, the three-person Target uses a 720 cc Fiat mill. Dimensions are tiny: Target is less than 100 inches long and weighs 1450 pounds. (For the curious, the third passenger sits in the back, sideways.) Tecoplan is looking among Socialist countries for Target's manufacturer; labor costs in Hungary ($1.50 per hour) or China ($1) would keep price down. This is not for the performance-minded: 0-60 in 22 seconds.

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TOYOTA CARlNA I1
Toyota chose Geneva to show off'new Carina 11. The car is key to Toyota's European strategy-because the Carina I made up 70 percent of its i total ~ u rmodel mix. It will come powered only with dohc multivalve engines of 2.0 liter and 1.6 liter &splacements and fitted with either five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. The Carina 1 model range has 1 independent MacPherson strut suspensibn all around, vented front discs and optional antilock brakes.

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Generally, Japanese automakers debut cars in Japan. Carina II is important enough to. Toyota's European marketing that it chose Geneva to debut the new model range

AUTOWEEK MARCH 2 1 , 1988

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LILGOMDA RAPIDE ZAGATO

Said by designer Gianni Zagato to capture flavor of the 1930s, this Lagonda Rapide Zagato better grasps angular Japanese design of '60s. Based on a shortened Lagonda, program is co-sponsored by Zagato and Aston. Keep fingers crossed and it just might not get built. rn

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Do not worry: This is just a model mock-up of a possible production car based on Lagonda

IRMSCHER GT
Nearly our Best in Show winner, Irmscher GT is Ope1 Omega-based and has performance numbers as attractive as its looks: a 200 hp, 3.6 liter six pushes it to 60 in 7.6 seconds with a 153 mph top end. Irmscher will build GT coupe for European market only with Irmscher GT shows how boutique designers have begun styling attractive, cabrio to follow. 'mainstream exotic' cars. Plans call for 1000 GTs to be built-all for Europe

ROBUR
Franco Sbarro (far right) has redefined odd. Again. At Geneva he showed the Robur. In his own words, it is "three meters of style, aggression and gadgets. " Yup. Audi 5000 turbo motor, mounted sideways, powers it. Robur was built for a Mr. Cyril de Rouvre who needed a car he could in Paris's crowded streets. Note wheels which let car "crab" sideways.

Robur is one Franco Sbarro auto oddity; he also built off-road Lambo dubbed 'Monsteur'

BereERTYPE 3 CILBRIO
Remember Bitter? Expensive, angular sports cars based on Euro Opels sold-infrequently-to U. S . buyers. That plan didn't work well, but his efforts prompted Isuzu to talk partnership; he'd build cars, they'd sell 'em. But the deal fell through. Pity. These look great. Joe Isuzu would be lying if he said losing these cars didn't mean much to the company. Bitter plans to bring the car here on his own-for around $40,000 a throw.

Erich Bitter will build this cabrio, as well as twoand four-door sedans on his own

exotic' (despite electric lemon paint scheme) with a high lust quotient
AUTOWEEK MARCH 21, 1988

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DESIGN & TECHNIK ACURA LEGEND CABRIOLET
The moment this Legend Cabrio was unveiled, folks from Honda-set up not too far away--descended upon it like feeding piranha. Conceived by Miami-based Styling Garage Specialists (converted by Design & Technik in Hamburg), it has a hydraulic-electric top. It won't be cheap in U.S.: Target is 1000 units to go for $12,OO&plus car.
SGS cabrio should begin production in a year. German firm took two months to build prototype

JAGUAR XJS CONVERTIBLE

This is the first full drop-top Jaguar built by the firm since the last E-Type roadster appeared in '74. Before letters come in, a Hess & Eisenhardt conversion built for Jag was offered. Look for XJS cabrio to hit these shores sometime this summer.

Good-looking Jaguar XJS cabrio will surely become favorite

This is easily our choice for Best Toy in Show. Understandable. It's cute. It's adorable. It's flexible. It's a SEAT-a Spanish-built sporty utility vehicle we'd love to see imported by parent company, Volkswagen. Use it as a pickup truck. Use it as basic five-passenger transportation. Keep hard-top on and use it as a van; take soft-top off and it's a sun bed. All we want is a chance to use it. Period.

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KAMEI SEAT TERRA MULTICAR

Both hard- and soft-tops are lightweight and easy to remove. Our nomination for VW Thing replacement

FERRARI F 4 0 AND GEMBALU TESTAROSSA

Geneva was not without the outrageous. Though Ferrari's F40 debuted at Frankfurt, it was centerpiece at Ferrari stand. And Pininfarina's, too. Always a crowdpleaser. Gemballa's screaming yellow treatment of Fe~~ari Testarossa prompts us to ask one question: Why?

Would words overstate obvious with either car, Ferrari's F40 (right), and Gemballa Testarossa (above)?

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AUTOWEEK MARCH 2 1, 1988