One of the most important events on the motoring calendar, the Geneva International Motor Show is where the European market sees most of the big new releases from car companies across the world. From supercars to superminis, Geneva has been the place where some of the most iconic cars in history were unveiled.

The 2020 edition was eagerly anticipated by the motoring industry and was due to take place from 5-15 March. But unfortunately, because of the current global pandemic, the decision was made to cancel this year’s edition. The Swiss government have banned any event of over 1,000 people, meaning that the show could not take place. And rightly so. Public safety comes first.

The good news is that, while the show was cancelled, a lot of the events and announcements took place online instead. So here’s our rundown of what happened at this year’s event.

BMW announce their new electric car

One of the most striking debuts made at this year’s show was the new all-electric BMW i4. Unlike a lot of cars that come to Geneva, the BMW i4 is pretty much ready to launch. Designed to compete with Tesla’s range of all-electric cars, the BMW i4 takes the lessons learned from the i3 and i8 and puts it in the body of a car that seems straight out of a science fiction film.

It comes with 573BHP and has a range of 372 miles. Expect to see it on the roads and at the top of your wishlist towards the end of the year.

Kia’s new update to the SUV market

Kia have been quietly producing some of the best cars on the market for the last decade or so. While not setting pulses-racing with bold styling, their practical, reliable approach to making cars has made the brand the ideal choice for families seeking a car they can depend on. This year’s show saw the debut of the newest version of the Kia Sorento.

The first thing you’ll notice (if familiar with the previous models) is how high it sits on its suspension. It’s taller height means there’s a more spacious feeling inside and a smoother ride thanks to the improved suspension. Available in a hybrid version, there is also a PHEV model due later this year.

Peugeot 208 wins European Car of the Year 2020

Geneva is not just about new cars, with existing models competing to win the coveted car of the year award. Despite no grand ceremony, this year the award went to one of the best new cars to hit the road in 2019 – the Peugeot 208.

In a clear change in attitude, all four models to be finalists for the prize were either fully-electric or had it as one of the options. Comfortably beating the Tesla Model 3 (2^nd place) and Porsche Taycan (3^rd place), the Peugeot 208 is the third model from the French carmaker to win the prize in the past decade, after the 308 in 2014 and the 3008 in 2017. Last year’s winner was the Jaguar I-Pace.

The 208 is one of the most striking cars on the market, and the thought that has gone in to its design means there’s no excuse not to go for the fully electric model. If you’ve been holding off going green, this could be the car to finally convince you to make the change.

Hyundai i20 gets a makeover

One of the best hatchbacks you can buy, the Hyundai i20 is one of the many cars to get a facelift this year. Going for a sportier, more angular look, the i20 has certainly made itself more attractive than its slightly standard, more practical look that it used to have. As well as a change to its looks, there’s a new hybrid engine to take advantage of.

Volkswagen makes its electric SUV debut

Perhaps because of the emissions scandal, Volkswagen have made some real strides in the electric market. 2020 was supposed to be where they unveiled their latest concept – the Volkswagen ID.4. This fully-electric SUV proposes an answer to all the questions about can an electric car power such a big vehicle and have an effective range. The ID.4 will have a range of 311 miles when it finally hits the road later this year. Like BMW, it too will compete against Tesla, this time the Model Y.

A classic goes electric

One of the most iconic cars in automotive history, the Fiat 500 finally takes a step into the 21^st century with the release of its fully-electric version.  With a range of 199 miles, the EV version of the Italian classic has all the quirks and charm of the original 50s model, and now has an engine that’s right for urban driving. Available as a cabriolet version too, you can now get the personality of this genuine classic while also doing your bit to help reduce emissions in the city you live in.

The Turbo S Supercar is here

One of the most famous models in history, the Porsche 911 gets a 2020 update this year, with the announcement of the Turbo S. Able to go from 0-62mph in just 2.7 seconds, or it can hit 120mph in just 8.9 seconds. With a top speed of 205mph, this supercar is built to eat up roads and racetracks. Available in hard-top and convertible versions, the Porsche 911 Turbo S is going to become the dream car for many fans of the famous German sportscar company.

McLaren’s new dream

It wouldn’t be a motor show without a stunning hyper-car on display. And it is a bit of a shame that we can only take a look at the new McLaren 765LT online. Because who wouldn’t want to see the incredible and bold McLaren design up close, or hear the roar of its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. This car comes with components that wouldn’t look out of place in the company’s F1 car, from the transmission to the materials used for the glass. And, if you ever get the chance to really stretch your legs, you can do 0-124 mph in 7.2 seconds.

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