Over 150 new cars were revealed yesterday at the Geneva Motor Show and Parkers was there to see the covers come off all the new metal on its way to the UK.
As well as some revolutionary concepts and striking supercars, there were many new models revealed that look ideal for company car drivers.
Here we pick our five favourites from the event and the key figures you need to know.
Kia Optima Sportswagon
We’ve been waiting a long time for an estate version of the Optima saloon here in the UK, and its introduction is set to grow the model’s appeal six-fold when it’s introduced later this year.
Inspired by the 2015 Sportspace Concept, this new Sportswagon offers 556 litres of boot space – not quite as large as rivals like the Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb estates, but it should prove practical enough for everyday life.
Crucial for company car drivers will be the 1.7-litre diesel in the line-up which offers 139bhp and 340Nm of torque, available with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearbox. Official figures are yet to be announced but we’re expecting CO2 emissions to be very competitive within the sector.
More details will be announced in a few months’ time, but we’re expecting P11D prices to start around the £20,200 mark; around £700 more than the saloon.
Click here to read more about the Kia Optima Sportswagon on our sister site CAR.
Ford Kuga
A revised version of the popular Kuga was big news at the Ford stand this year, which is set to go on sale later in the year.
Featuring new SYNC 3 infotainment tech, the latest safety systems and an advanced parking aid which includes perpendicular parking, the Kuga also showcases a hands-free tailgate seen elsewhere in Ford’s line-up.
The big news for company car drivers will be the introduction of a new 118bhp 1.5-litre diesel engine to the range, built at Ford’s engine plant in Dagenham, Essex, which is expected to deliver a five percent improvement in fuel economy and CO2 emissions over the old 1.6 diesel. Provisional figures are fuel economy of 64.2mpg combined and 115g/km CO2 emissions, slotting this engine in a 23 percent BIK tax band for the 2016/17 tax year.
Click here to read more about the revised Ford Kuga on our sister site CAR.
Audi Q2
Some 200mm smaller than the Q3, the new Audi Q2 is a compact SUV and plans to rival the MINI Countryman. Although not the last word on space, we were pleased with the amount of space in the back and the boot offers 405 litres of luggage room, expanding to 1,050 litres with the rear seats folded.
Audi’s new SUV offers plenty of new connectivity tech too and will be available to buy in three trims familiar to current Audi drivers: SE, S Line and Sport.
Set to go on sale in July 2016, with first deliveries expected in November, the 114bhp 1.6-litre diesel is likely to be the company car choice which for now is available only with a six-speed manual gearbox.
Click here to read more about the Audi Q2 on our sister site CAR.
Hyundai Ioniq
We’ve talked a lot about the Hyundai Ioniq so it was great to be able to see it with our own eyes at the show this year.
What makes the Korean manufacturer’s latest model so special is that it’s available with a choice of three alternative-fuel powertrains: pure electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid.
The hybrid model features the new 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol in combination with a 32kW electric motor which combined offers 139bhp and up to 265Nm of torque. Although there are no official figures yet, CO2 emissions are expected to be as low as 79g/km which means a 15 percent BIK tax band for the 2016/17 tax year.
Choose the plug-in Ioniq and you can expect around 31 miles of pure electric range thanks to the larger 45kW electric motor. Its CO2 emissions also drop to 32g/km, slotting the car into a seven percent BIK tax band from April 2016.
Pure electric motoring is available through a 28kWh battery for an estimated range of over 155 miles.
Set to go on sale in October 2016, the plug-in hybrid will join the range later in 2017. Pricing and spec details are yet to be announced.
Click here to read more about the Hyundai Ioniq.
Volvo V90
Sharing many of its underpinnings with the hugely popular XC90 SUV, the new V90 is the estate version of the S90.
We were lucky enough to travel to Sweden last month to view the new estate from the Swedish firm. Here at Geneva Motor Show it gets it official public unveiling, though.
Sporting sleek looks and a luxurious interior, many of the popular features from the XC90 and S90 saloon are carried over in the V90, including those eye-catching ‘Thor’s hammer’ headlights and the excellent touchpad infotainment system.
Unsurprisingly the V90 follows the same engine line-up as its saloon sibling. Likely to be popular with company car drivers will be the front-wheel drive D4 fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox.The entry-level D4 emits just 119g/km, slotting into a 23 percent BIK tax band for the 2016/17 tax year.
Prices are yet to be announced but we’re expecting P11D prices to start around the £33,000 mark.
Click here to read more about the Volvo V90 on our sister site CAR.
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