GIMS top 10: not in Geneva, but in your fleet later this year
The motor show has been cancelled, but most OEMs decided to present their new models through a live video stream today. As is customary, Fleet Europe selected for you the top 10 innovative models that you should consider adding to your vehicle list.
1. Audi A3 Sportback. Aesthetically, the fourth-generation A3 won’t shock anybody, but it’s packed with advanced driver assistance and connectivity technologies enabling it to communicate with infrastructure and increase the level of autonomous driving. Power comes from a choice of petrol and diesel engines, with CNG and plug-in hybrid powertrains following later.
2. BMW 330e touring. Finally, the Bavarian premium car maker fits the 330e’s plug-in hybrid powertrain in the estate car model. It has also developed PHEV-specific connected services, enabling you to check charging station availability on board and get a forecast of the occupancy status. In the future, you can even briefly reserve a station.
3. Seat Leon. The new Seat Leon is available as a petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid, mild hybrid or CNG car. Seat calls it the brand’s first fully connected car and it features a digital instrument cluster, an advanced voice recognition system with natural commands and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity.
4. Mercedes E-Class. The looks of this facelifted icon are now more in line with the rest of the Mercedes range. Drivetrains have been overhauled: it now offers 7 plug-in hybrids (with either petrol or diesel), a mild hybrid variant and various diesel and petrol engines. The E-Class has the latest MBUX infotainment system and new assisted driving features.
5. Renault Mégane E-Tech. What makes this fleet steady-seller interesting is not so much its facelift, but the fact that it now comes with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It features two electric motors and an innovative multimode gearbox, which operates through a clutchless transmission. The 9.8kWh battery gives a range of 50km under mixed WLTP conditions.
6. Hyundai i20. It’s difficult for a brand like Hyundai to compete with home-players Peugeot 208, VW Polo and Renault Clio, but this new i20 brings a lot to the table to convince the most discerning customers: the best safety package in its segment, advanced connectivity and even 48V mild hybrid powertrains.
7. DS9. This all-new large saloon designed for the global market but particularly for China, where it is produced, gets the plug-in hybrid powertrain from the DS7 Crossback with two more to follow soon. If you think there is a link with the Peugeot 508: there is. The DS9 uses the same platform, but it is much more comfort oriented.
8. Skoda Octavia RS iV. Sporty performance, TCO and eco credentials can go hand in hand, with this peppy plug-in hybrid from the Czech Republic. Skoda mates a 110kW turbo-charged 1.4 petrol engine to a 85kW electric motor that is fed by a 13kWh battery, which should be enough for 60 electric WLTP kilometres.
9. Cupra Formentor. Seat’s performance sister brand introduces its very own C-segment crossover. It comes with the same electrified turbo-charged 1.4 petrol as its Czech cousin, which enables it to drive 50km on e-power – a bit less than the Octavia due to added aerodynamic drag. Deliveries start by the end of the year.
10. Kia Sorento. A large seven-seater cross-over is hard to find, especially outside the premium realm. With the all-new Sorento, Kia brings a worthy competitor to this niche. Apart from the hybrid 1.6 petrol and the advanced 2.2 diesel, the new model will be available as a plug-in hybrid at a later stage.