Proton and Giugiaro jointly revealed the concept version for a new city car that will become the Malaysian national car-maker's first hybrid model at the Geneva motor show this week. Three models were displayed, two hard-milled models and a single 5D prototype with full interior, although promotional material also showed a shorter Toyota iQ-like Emas 3 model was being developed too.

Points to note on the exterior include the neat DLO graphic with a ‘tooth' on the C-Pillar, tail lamps sitting within the smoked glass tailgate, as on the VW Up! concept and a monographic front grille and headlamps incorporating 12 LEDs. The orange SUV/crossover version dubbed ‘Country' seems more successful, not least for the bolder graphics on the car, including radial ribs on the dark wheelarches and a skeletal roof rail with aerofoil-type crossbars finished in dark grey. There's a different front bumper treatment too, with a separated slim grille below the smoked glass headlamps and circular fog lamp housings to add to the more rugged look.

The series hybrid drive system was developed by Proton's British subsidiary, Lotus Engineering, and includes a 1.2 liter Lotus Range Extender three-cylinder engine that can run on petrol, ethanol or methanol. The engine serves exclusively to recharge the lithium-ion batteries and provide electrical power for the drive motors in a similar arrangement to GM's Volt.

It's interesting to note how we're witnessing a new format of monovolume A-Segment car emerging, such as the Mitsubishi i, Tata Nano and Pininfarina B0 Bluecar that, coincidently, was displayed opposite, also in a white body color. Seen next to the Bluecar, the Emas appears very dated, suffering from flat surfaces and planes, with little finesse to the design and, as a showcar, it wasn't clear what this concept means for the future design direction of Proton. Ultimately, it seems a wasted opportunity that the excellent designers at Proton's own in-house subsidiary - Lotus - weren't asked to contribute to it.

Laguna Coupe aside, the new Renault Wind is arguably the French brand's best-designed production car for many years.

The perky two-seater coupe/roadster based on the Clio platform is only 3.83 meters long and features a clever retractable roof system that pivots at its B-pillar by almost 180 degrees to fold into the boot when the metal rear hatch is raised in readiness. The whole process only takes 12 seconds and remarkably top up or top down, the boot space remains constant at 270 liters.

The front end is Clio-esque but the side profile is unique, partly due to how the unusual roof mechanism affects its stepped roofline silhouette and partly because of the very pronounced triangular B-pillar that leads all the way back to the rear lights. Elsewhere its soft rising feature line, concave rocker line and recessed door handle keep the side clean and simple while its double-bubble metal rear hatch section adds drama and recalls endless sophisticated racing cars and more specifically and recently, the Porsche Spyder. The large B-pillar and wheels pushed out towards the edge of the vehicle all create a chunky feel for such a small car.

The wide and bold B-pillar also helps make the interior feel more cocoon-like. This coziness is supported by a trio of driver dials clustered around the driver with a black lacquer cowling that contrasts nicely with the grey IP. More sporty design cues come from the way the side air vents project outward as if on cylindrical stalks and the contrast stitching is exposed on the seating.

The aim for the Wind is to take on the likes of the Vauxhall/Opel Tigra and also the Fiat 500C and Mini Cabriolet from late summer 2010 and target more women.

Both the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg made their public debuts at Geneva, the two vehicles once again part of joint cooperation between what are now one and the same company.

However, it was the car from Stuttgart that garnered the most interest. Porsche's aims for this project where to increase the social and environmental awareness of this model, as well as improving on-road performance, and the styling reflects that crusade. The new car is longer and wider yet lower, and the much more steeply raked frontage and generally more curvaceous body strike a definite contrast to the previous bluff-faced model that did nothing to hide its bulky off-road pretensions; this is an SUV that isn't going to look quite so intimidating in the rear-view mirror of a supermini. Nevertheless, the new Cayenne is another Porsche that follows the established book of 911-sourced design cues, and intentionally - headlamps, grille and detailing are all familiar.

It's inside though that Porsche has made perhaps the biggest gain. Borrowing heavily from the Panamera, the Cayenne features the same high-set centre console and myriad of switchgear, but with a wide range of materials and trim choices all finished to a very high quality standard. Rear legroom has been improved, with the rear seats moving backward or forward depending on the priority of luggage space or accommodation. All together, it's a tremendous step forward from the old model that was really beginning to feel its age inside.

The Touareg is a logical continuation of the previous car, albeit with the new Cayenne/Touareg technology under the skin. The exterior is strongly reminiscent of the old model, but with the much more angular grille and headlamp treatment that can be found on the current Golf and Polo models. Inside, it's a typically high quality interior from Volkswagen, but it lacks the individuality and verve of the Porsche treatment.