Automakers

2004 GENEVA AUTO SHOW: Cooked under pressure

February 23, 2004 05:00 AM
Geneva world premieres

Production cars

Alfa Romeo 156 Crosswagon

Audi A6 (sedan)

BMW 5 series Touring (station wagon)

Chrysler Crossfire SRT6

Daewoo Nubira (station wagon)

Kia Cerato (5-door)

Lamborghini Murcielago barchetta

Lancia Musa

Lotus Exige

Maserati MCC/MCS

Mercedes-Benz C class (restyling)

Mercedes CLS and SLK

MG ZT 260 V8

Mini (convertible)

Mitsubishi Colt (5-door)

Opel/Vauxhall Tigra twin top

Peugeot 307 (sedan version for China)

Peugeot 407 (sedan)

Seat Altea

Skoda Octavia

Concept cars

Aston Martin Vanquish by Bertone

Aston Martin Vanquish roadster by Zagato

Citroen C4 WRC

Fiat 3+1

Fiat Idea 4x4

Hyundai E3

Mazda MX-Flexa

Mitsubishi Colt (3-door)

Nissan Qashqai

Opel/Vauxhall Trixx

Renault Wind (roadster)

Renault Z77 (small minivan)

Toyota race car

Volvo YCC

VW convertible

Issues that will dominate the auto industry over the coming months will be highlighted at Geneva -- Europe's first big auto show of 2004. Europe's car czars are under great pressure. Volkswagen boss Bernd Pischetsrieder has yet to prove that the new Golf will be a success. VW's 2003 net profit dropped by 57.6 percent to E1.1 billion. Fiat Auto's new chief, Herbert Demel, will outline how he plans to turn around the troubled Italian carmaker. How will changes at the top at DaimlerChrysler, General Motors Europe and Ford of Europe affect their strategies? Geneva is the "friendly" auto show where the industry meets on neutral Swiss ground. But behind the joviality there will be serious debate about overcapacity, model proliferation, slowing sales and European automakers' actions to defend their home turf against Japanese and Korean rivals.

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