The 78th annual motor show opens to the media in Geneva today, presenting 94 new models and Nissan launches its luxury brand Infiniti in western Europe

 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (MARCH 4, 2008)(REUTERS) - The 78th annual car show in opening its doors to the media on Tuesday (Feb. 4), introducing a bumper crop of new models aimed to convince the public to buy new cars, while economic perspectives look grim for 2008.

Auto makers are introducing 94 world premieres in Geneva, 17 of which run on alternative technology.

Mercedes head Dieter Zetsche introduced five new products in model series, after arriving on the set in the oldest Benz automobile with Carl Benz's great grand daughter Jutta Benz.

One of the innovative World premieres was the new generation SL, at the top of its form in technical terms and ever more committed to reducing fuel consumption.

With four new engine variants, the six cylinders motor is certainly the most dynamic. The lower level SLK 280 develops 170 kw/231 hp, while the SLK 350 sports engine develops an output of 224 kw/305 hp, both having their fuel consumption by 0.4 litres to 1.1 litres.

Among Mercedes new products, the new CLC impresses with up its fuel consumption reduced by up to 0.7 litres, available with a choice of four four-cylinders and two six-cylinder engines, with outputs ranging from 90 kw/122 hp to 200 kw/272 hp.

Nissan is launching its luxury brand on the western European market this week in Geneva, after announcing they sold over 150,000 Infiniti vehicles during the 2007-2008 financial year, more than 6,000 of them in Russia.

The brand's European sales should begin in October 2008, with the midsize G sport sedan and coupe, each with V6 engine producing over 310PS.

Rolls-Royce unveiled its new Phantom coupe. Like the the Phantom convertible, the coupe's doors are hinged at the rear. The hyper-exclusive car is to go on sale later this year and features a 453-horsepower V-12 engine.

Morgan presented their concept "Lifecar", a zero-emission sports car able to speed up to almost 160 km/h. The hydrogen-powered produces only water vapour from its exhaust and has a range of 400 km for every tank of hydrogen.

The GBP 4 million project took three years for the concept car to be developed by a consortium of UK companies and universities.