This year's Geneva Motor Show could be the greatest in some time. Though open to the public from March 6, we, the media, are lucky enough to gain access two days earlier, and indeed a huge amount will be revealed the day before that again. As this feature is published it's March 1 and though we expect a few more surprises, it's already going to be a bit special. Read on for the full A to Z (technically A to V - Ed).
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo has just announced the updated Quadrifoglio Verde (or Cloverleaf as you and I know it) versions of both the MiTo and Giulietta hatchbacks. A good thing too as without them the Italian stand was looking decidedly bare. As part of the QV updates the recently refreshed MiTo will get a 170hp version of Alfa's 1.4-litre MultiAir engine while the Giulietta will receive the 240hp 1750 turbocharged petrol engine and reworked TCT transmission from the 4C.
Speaking of the 4C there are rumours of a Spider version of the mid-engined sports car debuting in Geneva. We can but hope...
Aston Martin
A pair of special edition models from the team in the UK debut in Geneva, in the pretty forms of the DB9 Carbon Black and White and the Nürburgring themed V8 Vantage N340. While the former is but a styling pack for the big GT the latter is a little more extensive with the V8 engine under the bonnet coming from the Vantage S.
Audi
Geneva looks set to be a busy show for Audi with the unveiling of the third generation TT likely to attract the most attention. Somewhat previewed by the allroad shooting brake concept in Detroit, the TT could be one of the stars of the show.
That is if it can hold its head above a pair of 'S' car debuts! The first of these is the S3 Cabriolet, which joins the three-door hatchback, Sportback and Saloon in the 300hp, quattro-equipped club.
A special edition of the RS 4 Avant, named the RS 4 Nogaro, will also be unveiled to mark the 20th anniversary of the seminal RS 2 Avant.
Bentley
Having shown it can do the whole 'downsizing' thing with the V8-powered Continental models Bentley has decided to apply the same thinking to the Flying Spur saloon. The luxury four-door will get the same cylinder-on-demand technology as the coupé to ensure a range of 840 kilometres from a single tank of fuel. Did we mention that the engine produces 507hp and can propel the big car from 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds?
While the Spur gets efficient the Continental GT Speed goes in the other direction with its twin-turbocharged W12 engine being fettled to produce 635hp for a top speed of 331km/h. This has led to the car being crowned the fastest production Bentley ever.
BMW
Two debuts from the Bavarians for Geneva; both divisive but both still likely to chalk up sales.
The 2 Series Active Tourer is the most controversial BMW in a lifetime as it is the first car from the brand to use front-wheel drive. First seen as the Concept Active Tourer it is a direct rival to the Mercedes-Benz B-Class and recently announced Volkswagen Golf SV.
Next up is the five-door version of the coupé based on the four-door saloon - the 4 Series Gran Coupé. It is a recipe we have seen before in the 6 Series Gran Coupé and is likely to be equally well received by buyers.
Citroen
Citroen has a tendency to produce cars that look more concept than production, but thus far this has been reserved for the DS line. That will change in Geneva as the C4 Cactus debuts. Looking remarkably similar to the concept revealed in Frankfurt the Cactus even retains the protective Airbump 'pockets' for the exterior.
Citroen will also show its new C1 in Geneva. Sister car to the Peugeot 108 and Toyota Aygo, the C1 looks the most distinctive of the three so far with Nissan Juke style round headlights paired with DS3 vertical DRLs.
Ferrari
Not since the legendary F40 has Ferrari offered a turbocharged car, but that will all change with the facelifted California. Officially called the California T, the 560hp 3.9-litre V8 brings the baby Ferrari closer in performance to the rest of the Ferrari stable.
Ford
For 2014 the Focus will gain the new corporate Ford look, receiving the styling of the latest Fiesta, but the big news is an upgraded interior that brings the Focus closer to rivals like the Golf and Mazda3. Two new 1.5-litre EcoBoost engines will also be introduced in both 150- and 180hp guises. The 100hp three-cylinder 1.0 EcoBoost unit will also dip below the 100g/km mark, making it (according to Ford) the first non-hybrid petrol model in the segment to do so.
Ford is also expected to bring the Edge SUV and Mustang to Geneva to give European buyers a look at cars that will appear on our roads next year.
Honda
With Honda publically stating it wants Renault's Nürburgring lap record it will take as long as it needs to develop the new Civic Type R, but in Geneva we will get an idea of how the car will look. Images seen so far suggest an angry, purposeful appearance that should serve the hot Civic well in the Eifel valley.
Hyundai
Hyundai's move upmarket continues as the Korean brand brings the Genesis saloon to Europe. The BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class rival will be offered with either 3.8-litre V6 or a 5.0-litre V8 petrol engines. Volume sales are not expected and it probably won't even be offered to Irish buyers.
Nor will the fuel-cell powered Intrado concept, but the stylish crossover does give us a look into Hyundai's styling direction under Peter Schreyer, the firm's design boss. Though Schreyer may have to watch his back if the PassoCorto Concept is anything to go by. Styled by students at Italy's Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) the mid-engined sports car is an imagining of what kind of Hyundai may appeal to 'Generation Y'. While the car will not make production as is (in fact it will be displayed only in 1:10 scale), we can imagine similar styling on the Kia Stinger platform...
Jaguar
Watch out Audi RS 6 Avant and Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG Estate; the XFR-S Sportbrake may have your number. The third member of the R-S family packs the same 550hp supercharged V8 as the hot saloon, transmission from the F-Type and a revised rear suspension. With a 0-100km/h time of 4.8 seconds it is set to be one rapid way to bring Fido to the park for his daily walk.
Kia
The Soul EV has already been shown in Detroit but so pleased is Kia with its first electric vehicle that it will ship the car to the banks of Lake Geneva. With a claimed range of up to 160 kilometres, the Soul EV packs a third-gen brake-regeneration system that is said to harvest as much as 12 per cent of the car's kinetic energy. Expect to see a production version on Irish roads late next year.
Lamborghini
Hurrah, the replacement for the long-serving Gallardo is here. Powered by a 605hp 5.2-litre V10 engine the new Lamborghini Huracán officially arrives in Geneva having only being shown last month - none of that long, drawn out preview for Sant'Agata. A convertible version is expected, though not yet, and the Huracán's hybrid carbon/aluminium chassis will also serve as the base for the next Audi R8.
Land Rover
With sister brand Jaguar debuting the XFR-S Sportbrake, and after having a busy 2013 itself, Land Rover appears to be taking it easy for Geneva. Alongside the Black and Silver styling packs for the evergreen Defender (does a Defender need styling packs?) will be the Evoque Dynamic Autobiography. Designed to take on the likes of the Porsche Macan, Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG and Audi RS Q3, the hot Evoque packs a 285hp turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, nine-speed ZF transmission and Torque Vectoring by Braking (TVB) technology.
Mazda
Mazda calls its Geneva star the Hazumi but we will know it as the Mazda2. Little is known about the car thus far but it cannot be a coincidence that Mazda will also bring a new 1.5-litre SkyActiv diesel engine to Geneva.
McLaren
Miss out on the limited allocation of the P1, but the 12C is just too common for you? Allow us to introduce you to the McLaren 650S, a 12C with a P1 nose. Ok it is more than that - aimed squarely at the Ferrari 458 Speciale, the 650S, as the name would suggest, packs 650hp from its twin-turbo V8, resulting in a 0-100km/h time of 3.0 seconds. To put that into perspective, the legendary McLaren F1 takes 3.2 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz
Goodbye Mercedes-Benz CL and hello new S-Class Coupé! We have already seen the concept version of this car - and indeed pictures of the production car - but Geneva will be our first chance to get up close and personal with the new uber-coupé. The show car will be powered by a 455hp V8 engine from the S 500 saloon, but more engines are expected. Oh, did we mention it has Swarovski crystals in the headlights?
Beside the S-Class Coupé the estate version of the new C-Class does not seem that exciting, but we can guarantee the practical C-Class with a boot capacity of over 500 litres will sell more.
MINI
Two concepts for the MINI stand, both of which stretch the meaning of the word 'concept'. The first is the John Cooper Works version of the hatchback, which we saw in Detroit earlier this year, while the second is the new six-door Clubman model. Both will go to production with minimal changes from the show cars so that means an end to the controversial 'Clubdoor' in favour of a more conventional door layout. It's basically a MINI estate now.
Nissan
The current Juke has been a runaway success for Nissan but it does have a face only a mother can love so this facelift should right that wrong. We can also expect the 2014 car to gain some of the interior upgrades from the recently released Qashqai too.
Nissan will also bring the DeltaWing inspired BladeGlider concept to the show where it will vie for attention with the GT-R Nismo, also receiving its European debut.
Opel
Amazingly, Opel managed to find a niche that neither Audi nor BMW knew existed; that of the off-road convertible city car. The Adam Rocks features a 15mm suspension lift, protective cladding and a DS3 Cabrio style folding canvas top.
The Adam Rocks seems tame compared to the Astra Extreme however. Looking like a street legal racer the Extreme takes the Astra OPC as its base, strips 100kg from the kerb weight, boosts the power, beefs up the brakes and stripping out the interior. We want one!
Peugeot
Peugeot will have a busy stand in Geneva with no less than 28 production and concept cars on display. It is the 308 SW that is Peugeot's big news though. Aimed squarely at the Volkswagen Golf Estate it boasts a 610-litre boot capacity and just 85g/km from its most efficient model.
The Peugeot 108 will also debut in Geneva. The second member of the 108/C1/Aygo family, it will all be about personalisation with a multitude of colours to choose from, different interior trim and a folding canvas roofed Top! model.
Renault
Has anyone seen the original Volkswagen up! concept car recently? You know, the rear-engined, rear-wheel drive one. We suspect it may have ended up in France, as the new Twingo follows the exact layout as the one Volkswagen baulked on. In truth the Twingo is actually twinned with a new Smart, but all we want to know is, where is the Renaultsport version?
Skoda
Much debate in the CompleteCar.ie office about the Skoda VisionC. Do the Czechs need a five-door coupé in the line-up? Will it push Skoda more upmarket or could this be our first glimpse at the next generation Superb? Whatever the answer there is no doubting the VisionC is a striking looking car, even if we would tone down the eye-searing paint colour.
Speaking of the Superb, Skoda will show a pair of 'lifestyle' variants in Geneva. Named the Superb Outdoor and Outdoor Plus models they look like cut-price Audi A6 allroad quattros to us.
The Octavia will also receive a luxurious L&K trim level, while the Citigo, Yeti and Rapid Sportback join the Fabia family in the sporty Monte Carlo trim.
Toyota
Having wowed us in Detroit with the stunning FT-1 the Toyota stand in Geneva may be a little bit of a let-down. All we know for sure is that the new generation Aygo will be there, but, while we have seen both the related Peugeot 108 and Citroen C1 models we are yet to see the Aygo. Please bring the FT-1 Toyota.
Volkswagen
Has anyone told Volkswagen that this is not Frankfurt? The Germans may not have the most cars on display (we think that honour will go to Peugeot) but it will probably take the gong for most new cars. To begin with there is an entire Polo family - from the facelifted hatchback to the Cross Polo and new petrol powered BlueMotion model. Volkswagen will also unveil the Golf GTE, a 201hp plug-in hybrid with all the looks of a GTI but with quoted fuel economy of 130mpg (2.1 litres/100km).
Then we have the facelifted Scirocco coupé - you may actually miss that one such is the subtlety of the cosmetic changes, but it is the interior that has received the most work, bringing a more upmarket feel to the two-door. And we are still not finished, as it looks like Wolfsburg has eyes on the Range Rover Evoque with the T-ROC concept. Based on the MQB platform it appears to be related to the Audi Crosslane Coupé and will be distinct from the Tiguan if, and when it makes production.
Volvo
Of all the previews and leaks the Volvo Estate Concept is the one that has most enamoured the CompleteCar.ie team. A gorgeous shooting brake concept that harks back to the P1800 ES, it is the third concept that previews the forthcoming XC90 SUV. It may also preview the next V70 estate; we just wish it could be sold as is rather than with a pair of extra doors grafted on. But then, motoring journalists do have an inexplicable love of shooting brakes.