By Paul McVeigh of AutoWeekThe Geneva Motor Show is filled with signs that the industry turnaround under way in North America has reached Europe.
Automakers are bouncing back from the downturn of the past two years with a number of production vehicles and concepts in Geneva.
Volkswagen Group, helped by its new subsidiary Italdesign Giugiaro, will unveil an array of concept cars to show the industry it has the design depth, as well as the production capability and the financial strength, to topple Toyota as the world's No. 1 automaker.
BMW will debut the Vision ConnectedDrive, a futuristic roadster concept that shows how driver-assistance systems and infotainment features can be networked via the Internet in ways unimaginable a few years ago.
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And Toyota and Honda will bring hybrid technology to the subcompact segment.
Here's a sampling of some of the production and concept vehicles making world debuts during press days March 1 and 2 in Geneva.
Alfa Romeo
Alfa plans to unveil a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive coupe. The lightweight two-seater is to go on sale as the 4C GTA in Europe in late 2012, delighting Alfa enthusiasts who have dreamed of an affordable rwd Alfa since the Duetto Spider was discontinued in 1994. Alfa sources said the 4C GTA could be sold in the United States, but no decision has been made.
Read: Alfa Romeo Plans 'Affordable' Halo Car
Audi
Audi will show the five-door RS3 Sportback, which will compete against the BMW 1-Series M coupe. It offers a five-cylinder, 340-hp, 2.5-liter gasoline direct-injection engine linked to a seven-speed S tronic transmission and has all-wheel drive.
BMW
BMW's Vision ConnectedDrive roadster concept combines a futuristic design with technological innovations. The concept highlights how cars can be part of a networked world. Among the innovations are antennas that replace side-view mirrors. The antennas transmit information to the outside world, capture navigation data and assist in monitoring traffic and the environment around the car. The concept also has a 3-D head-up display that fuses the view of the road ahead with virtual content.
Read: BMW 'i' Aims for 2013 Launch
BMW also will debut the ActiveE, a prototype electric car based on the 1-Series coupe. The four-seat EV is powered by a 125 kilowatt/170-hp electric motor and has a range of about 100 miles.
Chevrolet
The Cruze hatchback, which will go on sale midyear in Europe, makes its world premiere. Chevrolet hopes the hatchback will help it better compete in the European compact segment, where 65 percent of sales are hatchbacks. The five-door takes its styling from a concept unveiled in October at the Paris Motor Show.
Ford
With the B-Max, which debuts as a concept, Ford will have a stronger challenger in Europe's small minivan segment, which is led by the Opel/Vauxhall Meriva. The five-seat B-Max will have rear sliding doors.
A production version of the concept will be the smallest offering in Ford's European range of minivans that includes the C-Max, Grand C-Max, S-Max and Galaxy.
Honda
Honda will debut the EV Concept, which the company says hints strongly at the styling direction for Honda's upcoming production battery electric vehicle, the Fit EV. The Fit EV will be introduced in 2012 to the United States and Japan. The automaker also will show a new plug-in hybrid platform integrated into a mid-sized sedan platform that showcases Honda's next-generation, two-motor hybrid technology set to debut in 2012.
Infiniti
Infiniti's Etherea concept will preview a potential entry-level car aimed at young buyers. Infiniti says the concept has a profile different from anything in the premium compact class, so it is not just a smaller version of a typically conservative luxury car.
Bing Images: Jaguar Concept Cars
Jaguar
Jaguar will mark the 50th anniversary of its iconic E-Type that caused a sensation when it was unveiled at the 1961 Geneva show. And Jaguar will look to the future with the B 99 concept, a mid-sized sporty sedan. The B 99 was created for Jaguar by the Italian design house Bertone.
Lamborghini
Lamborghini will unveil a Murcielago replacement, which press reports have said will be called the Aventador. The new model is lighter and more fuel efficient than the car it replaces, thanks to an improved powertrain and a new carbon-fiber body and chassis.
Lancia
Fiat will highlight its plan to integrate Lancia and Chrysler with the debuts of Chrysler-based models that will be sold in Europe as Lancias. These will be the Thema, a rebadged version of the new Chrysler 300C large sedan and the Flavia concept, a rebadged Chrysler 200 mid-sized car that will be sold in Europe as a sedan and cabriolet.