7 of the most unusual new car innovations at the 2024 Geneva Motor Show
From a floating car to a baguette holder, here's what this year's show brought
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Car technology is advancing by the day. It wasn’t too long ago that Apple CarPlay was the be-all and end-all, but now car designers are taking it to the next level.
From a trusty baguette holder to a floating SUV, here are some of the most unusual creations we saw at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.
The car with... a rotating infotainment screen
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The BYD Seal U is the latest model from the Chinese electric car brand, except this one is powered by a plug-in hybrid setup.
Coming in to rival the Skoda Kodiaq and Nissan Qashqai, this sleek family SUV offers a luxurious interior and fast charging capabilities, and one distinct feature that sets it apart.
Sitting at the centre of the dashboard is a large 15.6-inch rotating infotainment screen that offers a different look depending on whether you’re viewing maps or music.
Very few other cars have this option, with another being BYD’s Atto 3 small SUV.
The car with... gold bodywork
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Classic 1980s rally cars will probably never go out of fashion, and that’s why brands such as Kimera are building models like the EVO38.
While it has more than 600hp and costs north of £500,000, the standout feature of this model is its dashing gold paint – it’s an option you’d probably expect from a car limited to just 38 units.
The car with... outdoor seating
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California-based EV company Lucid doesn’t currently sell any cars in the UK, but its latest Gravity SUV made its European debut at this year’s Geneva bash.
The Gravity has a front boot (also known as a frunk or froot) for extra storage, but it also doubles up as a seat – you won’t find that feature in many large SUVs.
Beach or camping trips will never be the same again.
The car with... a unique bubble design
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Swiss car company Microlino has launched something unique – an electric bubble car to try and revolutionise the way we live and travel around busy cities.
Much like Citroen and its Ami quadricycle, Microlino says ‘this is not a car’, and is instead a cross between an electric bicycle and a very small EV, such as the Renault Twizy.
With a claimed range of 142 miles and a top speed of 55mph, this two-seater orb on wheels is sure to steal the hearts of UK drivers – its sub-£16k price tag won’t hurt either.
The car with... an optional baguette holder
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The star of this year’s Geneva Motor Show was undoubtedly the new Renault 5, launching 28 years after the original ceased production.
This version, however, is fully electric and has the styling to match. From its LED battery indicator on the bonnet to the genuine (yes, genuine) baguette holder option for the interior, this isn’t one to miss out on.
It’s light, it gets 149 miles of range and should be great fun to drive, much like the original that ran from 1972 to 1996.
The car with... removable batteries
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Your average electric vehicle (EV) doesn’t allow you to remove its batteries for safety reasons – they’re also usually incredibly heavy and welded into the floor.
What makes the Microlino Lite different is that its party trick means you can remove its batteries and charge them indoors. You could also simply swap them out and benefit from 92 miles of range without having to endure long charging times.
The car with... the ability to float on water
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One of the largest cars unveiled at this year’s show was the Yangwang U8.
Yangwang is the result of Chinese car brand BYD taking a step into the posh car market, making cars under this new brand, which translates as ‘Looking Up’.
The U8 has arrived as a 1,186hp plug-in hybrid luxury SUV that takes on the new Land Rover Defender 130.
Unlike its British rival, the U8 is one big floatation device. This makes it safer in the event of an accident such as coming off the road into a river, and will keep all passengers upright and dry.
As soon as it senses you’ve driven into water, Emergency Floating Mode activates, shutting down the engine, raising the suspension, closing the windows, opening the sunroof and displaying water depth and vehicle position on the central control screen.