Supercars shine at Geneva Motor Show

The world's richest consumers will soon have a greater wealth of choices when it comes to high-end sports cars.

Several new supercars, vehicles costing more than €100,000 (HK$1.08 million), have been vying this week to upstage one another at the Geneva International Motor Show, which ends on Sunday.

The wave of horsepower-heavy models, including Bugatti's €2.18 million Rembrandt, underscores the return of performance cars following years in which some producers held back. Lamborghini headlined the trend by debuting the 610-horsepower Huracan, which replaces the Gallardo - the Volkswagen unit's all-time bestseller.

"We believe that now is the right time for a new model," says Stephan Winkelmann, head of Lamborghini. "We are very proud of this car. I don't see any competitor."

Ferrari may beg to differ. The Fiat unit lifted a red shroud from the 560-horsepower California T, which accelerates from 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds. Reflecting the effort to improve efficiency even for elite racers, Ferrari boasted that it reduced the model's emissions by 20 per cent versus its predecessor.

"I like competition, particularly when we win the competition," says Ferrari chairman Luca Cordero Di Montezemolo. "In the last three years, we introduced three key innovations: four-wheel drive, the first hybrid and now a new turbo engine" in the California T.