Geneva motor show 2016: Our star cars

For sheer nostalgia it’s hard to top the new Abarth 124 Rally, an off-the-shelf rally car homologated for the FIA R-GT category and deeply redolent of the Abarth 124 that last officially competed in 1976. A 300bhp turbo 1800, six-speed sequential box, limited slip diff, a lowered centre-of-gravity and rear-drive promise plenty of opposite lock antics for the 2017 season.

Andrew Frankel - Aston Martin DB11

The DB11 didn’t so much steal the show as fling it in a bag marked ‘swag’ and run over the hills and far away with it. The DB11 is a perfect lesson to any car designer pondering how to stay faithful to a car’s heritage without being tied to it.

Jesse Crosse - Vauxhall/Opel GT concept

A back to basics sports car is badly needed today and the 1.0-litre turbo Vauxhall Opel GT concept delivers. A high-tech human machine interface and advanced voice control creates a clean interior, which doesn't distract and looks cool. Let's hope Opel is brave enough to make it.

Nic Cackett - Apollo Arrow

There were a lot of outlandish hi-end niche products at Geneva not worth the space on your driveway, but the Apollo Arrow prototype has a flicker of potential. Not only is it based on well-proven Gumpert tech, it also has a new Audi engine and a sensible(ish) vision. Place your bets.

Hilton Holloway - Fiat Tipo

Fiat’s capacious new Tipo was engineered and is built in Turkey in order to markedly undercut existing Focus-market models. It bravely offers unpretentious utility in a new car market where many mainstream makers are increasingly trying to extract premium price.

Steve Cropley - SsangYong SIV2

This concept is an accurate reflection of what the next Korando will be like, according to Ssangyong bosses who were present in Geneva. The new model's styling, which was chosen from a total of four proposals, was designed in-house at Ssangyong in Korea and pioneers a new C-segment platform likely also to be used by Ssangyong's parent, Mahindra.

Darren Moss - Pagani Huayra BC

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Pagani Huayra. Along with the original Veyron, it’s one of those bedroom poster cars. Property magnate Benny Caiola must feel pretty special to have this 740bhp special, billed as the most advanced Huayra yet, named after him.

Julian Rendell - Bugatti Chiron

The stand-out car at Geneva? The car we will remember? Bugatti’s outrageous, extraordinary, faintly absurd 1479bhp Chiron. I’ll never own one and probably will never drive one, but I love the fact that it exists.

Sam Sheehan - Renault Scenic

Kudos to Renault for doing something different. Rather than sticking with a safe, conventional design, it’s turned the Scenic – which, let’s face it, has long been fairly bland - into something much more sexy. It’s a practical car you can be proud of, and bodes very well for the car maker’s upcoming models.

Doug Revolta - DS E-Tense

DS needs a halo car, and it’s a shame it won’t be the E-Tense. An aggressive looking carbonfibre 400bhp electric supercar with a 200-mile range, it’d be a worthy range-topper and would go some way to establishing the brand away from Citroen. Here’s hoping the eventual halo model will be even better.

Mike Duff - Morgan EV3

No 1000bhp supercars for me – rather the electric Morgan, chosen as it made me smile more than anything else at the show. Losing the V-Twin engine should make the 3-Wheeler look ridiculous, but the EV3 is almost impossibly cute.

Greg Kable - Porsche 911 R

With the unveiling of the stripped out 911 R, Porsche has spectacularly answered criticism that it was losing touch with its most loyal customers.  With the 911 GT3 RS’s 493bhp naturally aspirated flat six, a six-speed manual gearbox, uniquely tuned chassis, a kerb weight of 1370kg, it recalls some of Porsche’s most famed motorsport derived 911 models. I can’t wait to drive it.

Matt Prior - McLaren 570GT

Every move McLaren makes is a positive one at the minute. And although the 570S is a brilliant road and track car already, a marginally softer, more habitable variant appeals. They’re small margins, and it has dynamism to spare.