BusinessWeek Logo
The Stars of Geneva

Getty Images

By Jack Ewing

The Stars of Geneva

The 2009 Geneva Auto Salon takes place under the shadow of abysmal auto sales, daily reports of insolvencies among parts suppliers, and crises at manufacturers such as General Motors' Saab and Opel units. But life goes on, and the carmakers are bravely rolling out their newest models.

This year features relatively few completely new or redesigned cars from the premium makes. Instead, the high-end manufacturers are launching fresh variations of existing cars, such as the BMW 5 Series GT.

At the lower end of the market, there is a fleet of new small cars with price tags and fuel consumption numbers appropriate for the lean times. Examples include the Chevrolet Spark and the redesigned Volkswagen Polo.

A few super-luxury cars are also emerging from the economic gloom, such as the Maybach Zeppelin, which Daimler will produce in a limited run of 100 vehicles. The starting price is about $600,000. Memo to bankers: Do not—repeat, do not—use federal bailout money to buy this car.

Here's a closer look at the Maybach and other highlights of this year's Geneva show.

Business Exchange related topics:
Global Auto Industry
AUDI
Kia Motors Corporation