Wrapping Up the 2015 Geneva Motor Show

The 2015 Geneva Motor Show officially closes its doors this weekend on March 15, and most of the Internet had moved on by mid-last week. However, there are a few really cool concepts we have yet to highlight, so today we’re going to do a quick wrap-up to make sure you get to see everything.

Infiniti QX30 Concept

We had really high hopes for the Infiniti QX30 Concept after the B-roll teaser we saw just a couple days before the event. Sure enough, the premium compact crossover that Infiniti showed off in Geneva was arguably one of the best-looking cars of the show.

What we really love about the Infiniti QX30, though, is that it’s a truly European model. For many years, both Nissan and Infiniti struggled to identify exactly what European drivers wanted out of their vehicles. Over the past five years, the Japanese automaker has really found their footing.

With those heavily sculpted lower bumpers, 21-inch wheels, and a functional roof rack framing the floating roof, this new premium crossover looks well-primed to take on the best of the best from European automakers. We expect the QX30 to launch shortly after the upcoming Infiniti Q30 hatchback, and our bet is that this premium compact crossover will quickly jump to the top of Infiniti’s European sales.

Goodyear Bh-O3 & Triple Tube Tire Concepts

Bh-03 tire concept (right) and Triple Tube tire concept (left)

Tire concepts… Kind of weird, right?

That’s what we thought too, but after looking at them we’re honestly shocked these didn’t get more coverage. These innovative Goodyear concept tires are actually really cool! While they definitely won’t make it to production anytime soon, it’s good to see that car manufacturers aren’t the only ones innovating in the automotive industry.

The first tire concept is called the Triple Tube tire. It gets its name from the fact that there are three individual tubes that run around the inside of the tire, which allow the tire to literally change shape depending on the needs of the driver and road conditions.

• Eco / Safety Mode – All three outer tubes are inflated normally. This is more or less ‘normal’ driving mode.
• Wet Traction Mode – Here, the center tube is extra-inflated. This causes the car’s weight to be pinpointed to the middle part of the tire, which uses a raised tread to significantly reduce the chance of hydroplaning.
• Sporty Mode – In this mode, the inboard shoulder tube is deflated (the one closest to the middle of the car), which gives drivers crisp track handling with an optimized contact patch.

The BH-03 concept tire has much more straightforward purpose. It harnesses heat created by normal driving to produce electricity, which can then be routed to the motor of a hybrid or electric car. It’s a simple goal that’s accomplished with nothing short of mechanical genius:

2016 Honda Civic Type-R

Honda’s new “racecar for the road” was one of the few production models to make its debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. To be fair, we saw more than our share of Honda Civic Type-R concepts and prototypes, so this was certainly a long time coming.

The hot hatch Honda showed in Geneva is the same model that recently broke a Nürburgring record by lapping the track in under eight minutes – 7 minutes, 50.63 seconds to be exact. That’s thanks to an explosive 2.0L turbocharged VTEC engine that outputs 306 bhp and a full 400 Nm (295 ft-lb) of torque.

From a styling standpoint, the new Honda Civic Type-R is about exactly what we hoped for after seeing the previous prototypes. Honda has kept the car’s extremely aggressive stance intact, complete with a truly epic rear spoiler. And that interior is to die for!