Driven News: The cars of Geneva Motor Show that will land in NZ

This week in Driven News we filter out the nonsense from the Geneva Motor Show and examine four cars you'll soon be able to buy right here in New Zealand.

Volkswagen I.D Vizzion concept

The world's biggest automaker Volkswagen is pushing relentlessly into a EV future, investing $38 billion in building and re-tooling production facilities worldwide to make the company's first line of full-electric vehicles - the ID range.

Coming into Geneva there were three concepts we knew Volkswagen would, in some guise, eventually put into full scale production - the compact ID hatchback, ID Crozz SUV and Kombi-inspired ID Buzz van.

The new Volkswagen Vizzion concept revealed at Geneva can now be added to that list. With a similar design lauguage to the ID Crozz, the Vizzion will be positioned as a premium sedan that, by the year 2030, will be capable of level 5 autonomous driving.

As such the Vizzion concept features no steering wheel or pedals. A Production version of Vizzon (steering wheel and pedals attached) is expected to show face by 2020, but this concept is a glimpse of what is just around the corner for autonomous technology.

The Polestar 1 is no concept, it is a 2+2 hybrid GT coupe that interested customers in 18 countries can be pre-order right now. New Zealand wasn't included in the list as the first offering where all left-hand drive markets. But Driven can reveal that Polestar models become available here once production of right-had drive versions gets underway.

Polestar 1 features a petrol motor powering the front wheels, and a pair of electric motors turning the rears. Combined the powerunit will produce 447kW and 1000Nm of torque, and will be capable of travelling 150km in full electric mode. 

The Polestar 1 will be followed by 2 new models in next 2 years. The Polestar 2 (a smaller sedan that will be built in higher numbers) and Polestar 3, a large SUV.  

The I-Pace is Jaguar's first full electric production car. Featuring classic Jaguar styling with futuristic flair, the model is now available to order in Europe, with the first models expected to arrive in Oceania in 2019.

Built on an all-new platform, the I-Pace SUV will be powered by two electric motors, one on each axle. Combined they produce 400hp and 696Nm of torque and will propell the SUV from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds.

A 90kW batter back housed in the floor will provide up to 500km of range, and Jaguar say 0-80 per cent charge will be possible in 40 minutes when connected to a 100kw public fast charge station.

The Mazda Vision concept has won 'Most Beautiful Concept Car' of the Year at the Festival Automobile International in France. of the year at Geneva Motor Show by a panel of design directors for various global automaker.

Built to display the second generation of Mazda's Kodo design that first debuted in 2010. While still a concept at this stage, the four-door GT is our first sneak peak at what future Mazda models will look like, including the Mazda 3 and 6 sedans.

Last year Mazda also built the Kai hatch to display the second generation Kodo design on a smaller vehicle, a concept that also hints at the next design for smaller Mazda 2 and 3 models.