Quirky cars in Geneva

By Mark Walton

Motor Shows

11 March 2008 10:30

Geneva is renowned for throwing up weird and wonderful concepts and prototypes from manufacturers you’ve never heard of, and will probably never see again. While the big manufacturers churn out the same old saloons, hatchbacks and SUVs, the quirky side of Geneva shows us what lateral thinking is all about. Some cars are simply brilliant, some are monstrosities, and this is our guide to both.
  K.O 7

My favourite car of the whole show. Ken Okuyama is a Japanese stylist who’s worked for Porsche, Pininfarina and Ferrari (he oversaw the Enzo). Now he’s built his own lightweight sportscar, the K.O 7, described as ‘automotive sushi’ – minimalist ingredients, maximum flavour. Inspired by the curve of a samurai sword, the design is perfectly proportioned and beautifully executed.

Powered by an anonymous ‘Japanese 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine’ (we suspect a Honda VTEC) and constructed out of aluminium and carbon fibre, it weighs just 750kg with 250bhp on tap. Okuyama plans to put it into a ‘limited production’ of 99 examples at the end of the year, and because it’s already right-hand drive, it may come to the UK. Write to your MP – we need this car.

Chance of survival to 2009: 4/5

Surely one of the ugliest cars ever shown, this city car – with its wheels in a diamond formation – is powered by an electric motor at the front, and a Honda scooter engine at the back. The bare chassis was pure Heath Robinson.

Chances of survival to 2009: 2/5

Two wheeled motorcycles are dangerous right? Four wheels are safer? So how about this four-wheeled leaning motorbike, from lunatic customizer Frank Sbarro? Looks perfectly safe to me.

Chances of survival: 1/5


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By Mark Walton