Geneva Motor Show 2020: The best new cars that missed the big show

There are no supercars or outlandish concepts on this list - just cars that you can put on your shopping list in the next 12 months.

The Geneva Motor Show is generally one of the biggest automotive presentation events on our calendar. But due to concerns about the coronavirus, the Swiss government opposed the gathering.

To that end, we've compiled a list of the best cars destined to be featured at the show - the ones that are sure to make their way to Australia and that we think are the most relevant to new car buyers wanting to see what they should be like. looking forward to next year or so. Unfortunately, there are no supercars or outlandish concepts on this list.

Audi A3

So far, the A3 has only been shown as a Sportback.

Audi is in the process of overhauling its lineup with an all-new design language, as well as high-tech driver amenities and engines. We already have the A1 and Q3 with impressive standard inclusions, so count us raving about the A3.

Presented only as a Sportback for now (followed by a sedan), the A3 will initially be available in its home European market with either a 1.5kW 110-litre engine or an 85kW diesel (which will almost certainly not make it to Australia).

Audi is promising hybrid and quattro variants in the near future, so stay tuned as we know more. The A3 probably won't arrive in Australia until 2021.

VW ID.4

ID.4 will go into battle against the Hyundai Kona Electric.

SUVs currently make up the majority of the world when it comes to new car sales, which is why Volkswagen has an important model when it comes to its first all-electric SUV.

The new small SUV, dubbed the ID.4, will be built on the same MEB platform as the already unveiled ID.3 hatch. This means it will have an ID.3 rear-wheel drive layout and an underfloor battery. The brand says the ID.4 will have a range of "up to 500km" depending on the configuration chosen.

While the featured vehicle is "ready for production", don't expect to see it on the streets of Australia anytime soon as VW prioritizes markets with stricter emissions regulations.

Fiat 500

The new Fiat 500 will be bigger and mostly electric.

It may not be a completely new car, but it is a new generation Fiat 500.

The current Fiat 500 light hatchback has been on sale for a whopping 13 years, and while this highly anticipated new car looks like it's nothing more than a heavy facelift, it's set to revolutionize the badge.

This is because the new 500 will be led by its electric version, which will be equipped with a 42 kWh battery that will last for 320 km.

It will also have active safety measures upgraded to the point where it will be able to deliver Level 2 driving autonomy.

In terms of dimensions, the new 500 will outshine its predecessor, which is now 60mm wider and longer and has a 20mm longer wheelbase.

As with the ID.4, we expect Fiat to prioritize emissions-conscious jurisdictions with the new 500, but a new petrol version that will likely hit our shores should be detailed soon.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The E-Class has updated styling and improved technology offerings.

Mercedes-Benz has digitally dropped the covers from its massively updated E-Class, which now shares the brand's current design language with its smaller sedan brethren.

Aside from the styling overhaul, the E-Class also brings the brand's latest tech to the cabin in the form of a dual-screen MBUX screen layout and debuts a never-before-seen six-tooth steering wheel.

The E-Class safety package has also been extensively upgraded to provide greater driving autonomy thanks to a more sophisticated cruise control system, and will also be available across the range with 48-volt hybrid technology.

Volkswagen Golf GTI

The new GTI is due to arrive in Australia in early 2021.

Volkswagen has unveiled its eighth-generation hot hatch to complement the already-presented standard lineup with one of its most popular models.

The new GTI will feature a powertrain similar to the current model, with a 2.0kW/180Nm 370-liter turbo engine and a matching limited-slip front differential.

Styling has been redesigned both inside and out, with the new GTI equipped with the brand's latest connectivity technologies and a digital instrument cluster.

Surprisingly, the manual GTI will live on, but we'd say it's far from guaranteed for our market. Diesel gas turbine engines and hybrid gas turbine engines identified simultaneously are excluded.

Expect the new GTI to land shortly after the rest of the lineup in early 2021.