The Wildest, Weirdest Stuff from the 2018 Geneva Auto Show

Beyond the glitz and glam exhibited by the mainstream automakers that dominate the auto-show floor in Geneva every year, the Swiss show also plays host to many lesser-known brands, many of which use the annual event to introduce themselves to the world. The vehicles they bring tend to be wild, strange, or both—whether it be a ghastly modified European thoroughbred sports car, a bizarre futuristic concept, or some other wow-inducing head scratcher. The 2018 Geneva International Motor Show lived up to its freaky heritage and then some, so let’s tour several examples the show had to offer:

Range Rover SV Coupe

With the new Range Rover SV Coupe, Land Rover gives the impression it’s trying to return a little more exclusivity to its top-tier SUVs.

The SV Coupe gets the most powerful Range Rover engine, a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 with 577 horsepower and the ability to go from 0–60 mph in 5 seconds and up to 165 mph, according to Land Rover — should you want to go that quickly in something weighing more than two tons. But because it’s a Land Rover, the Range Rover SV Coupe is also equipped with the company’s Terrain Response 2 system that has presets for surfaces such as sand, mud, rocks, and snow. It also has an adjustable air suspension that can be lowered for easy entry and exit, or raised for improved ground clearance and off-road ability.

Kahn Flying Huntsman 6X6 Civilian Carrier

The Chelsea Truck Company has revealed a near 5.5-metre-long six-wheel-drive SUV called the 6X6 Civilian Carrier.

The exterior, created by Kahn Design, has also been modified, with new LED headlights added to a more angular front end. The car rolls on 18in Huntsman wheels that are wrapped in chunky Cooper LTZ tyres.

Kahn Design said that the model can tackle extreme off-road terrain, retaining a hi-lo ratio drive system and locking differentials, while gaining an upgraded braking system.

The car comes with the Defender's original 2.2-litre diesel engine, but a Kahn spokesman told Autocar that customers "can also have anything from a 6.3-litre GM LS3 V8 engine producing around 430bhp to a 5.5-litre V8 engine".

Mansory Bentley Bentayga «Bleurion Edition»

How can you make Crewe’s SUV even more opulent? Simple, hand it over to Mansory and allow them to go all out. The very blue Bentayga has huge 24-inch alloys and an uprated W12, now with 750 hp (552 kW) and a mountain-moving 1,080 Nm (797 lb-ft).

The blue color is predominant in the exterior and interior of the vehicle alike. On the outside, its new stylish and sporty-looking carbon body kit is the only thing not lacquered blue. The hood cover and the radiator grille are also made of carbon. Giant 24” wheels reinforce the overall impression of agility and sportiness.

The series-produced Bentley Bentayga ships with a mighty 6.0L dual-turbo W12 engine capable of up to 608 hp and 900 Nm of torque. Upgraded by Mansory, it now outputs up to 750 hp and 1,080 Nm of torque, and can accelerate the car to a maximum of 311 km/h (193 mph).

Brabus 550 Adventure 4×4² 

When Mercedes-Benz launched the G500 4×4² based off the G63 6×6, Mercedes finally brought the purpose-built military vehicle back to its roots. Yet, German tuner Brabus thought Affalterbach didn’t go far enough, which is how we have the Brabus 550 Adventure 4×42.

Developed as a “cross country” vehicle, the Brabus 550 Adventure 4×4² has been tweaked and prodded to provide the driver with not only more oomph, but also the ability to tackle any and all terrain put in their path. With a revised 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, the Brabus 550 Adventure 4×4² generates 542 horsepower and a titanic 590 lb-ft of torque.

Additions include a full set of LED driving lights on the front fascia, underneath the headlights, a massive light bar at the top of the truck, and two more LED lights facing the rear that can be controlled with a joystick located in the cockpit. There’s also a special, super-secret, possibly stealth fighter “blackout” button that turns all of the interior lighting off. Brabus also added a diamond pattern piece of sheet metal that sits atop the truck’s roof rack, a motorized step to get in and out, and a massive winch.

All the pieces you see before you can be had à la carte or as a turn-key model. For those that already have a G500 4×4², Brabus will be more than happy to turn your off-roader into the zombie apocalypse traverser of your dreams, for the right price.

Sbarro 4x4+2 

This year’s model is called the “4x4+2,” and it involves an old Porsche Cayenne, six wheels, and a crap-ton of bumpers.

Yes, somehow underneath this madness is a Cayenne, at least based on interior photos floatng around the internet, which show a dashboard that looks just like that of Porsche’s first mass-market SUV. Geneva Motor Show’s website says the Sbarro makes 550 horsepower from a V8 engine, and then sends the grunt through a six-speed auto to all four wheels.

Information about the Sbarro “4x4+2" is scarce, perhaps because the design is meant to speak for itself. But does it? Considering the fact that I’m left with so many questions, I’m leaning towards “no.” Or maybe these concepts are meant to leave you confused?

So it’s probably safe to say this is a first-gen Porsche Cayenne Turbo S underneath the crazy exterior.

Between the “rolling pin” out front and the extra wheels in the middle, it seems Sbarro designed this 4x4+2 specifically to climb steep grades and to crest sharp peaks.