Now, after Swiss authorities imposed a blanket ban on all major public events to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, manufacturers need to look elsewhere for ways to unveil their new top models.
The Swiss government has banned events involving more than 1,000 people until March 15.
Officials from the Palexpo venue forced to cancel the major 10-day car show starting next week said the move could cost the local economy up to 250 million Swiss francs (RM1.1bil) in lost business.
From an unaffordable hypercar to handy electric runabouts, here are a few of the launches we are disappointed to miss at the Geneva show.
1: Czinger 21C
One of the flashiest cars set to appear in Geneva was the Czinger 21C hypercar.
Since the 21C weighs only 1,250 kg, the Czinger boasts a genuine 1:1 power to weight ratio. Performance is suitably sizzling. The 21C can storm from zero to 100 km/h in 1.9 seconds, with top speed claimed as 431kph.
The weight-saving comes from the extensive use of 3D-printed carbon-fibre components.
The US$1.7-million (RM7.2mil) 21C offers a lot to get excited about, but only an illustrious few will ever get to drive one of these cars.
At heart of the hypercar is a truly remarkable powertrain. An electrically-assisted twin-turbo 2.8-litre V8 engine sends plenty of power to the rear wheels.
It adds up to an astounding 1,233hp, with the redline at 11,000 rpm ensuring a hysterical engine note when driven hard.
2: BMW's answer to Tesla Model 3
BMW had been all set to unveil its very first pure-electric Gran Coupe in Geneva with the i4. Until now, we've seen little more of this car than its curved silhouette in BMW teases.
The company had been talking this model up for its zero-emission approach to driving. While it won't leave Tesla fearful over Model 3 sales, it does plenty to further drive BMW's electric momentum. The company is now reportedly planning to live-stream the car's unveiling.
3 + 4: Fiat 500 and Renault Twingo electrics
Customers have been clamouring for an electric edition of Renault's popular Twingo for years and a battery version had been due to be welcomed in Geneva.
With a greater range and a lower price than its main rival, the Smart Forfour EQ, the latest from Renault's all-electric ZE line is aimed at young and older buyers in urban areas where parking space is at a premium and daily distances tend to be short.
There is enough juice on tap to send the electric Twingo sprinting from zero to 50kph in just four seconds with enough range for up to 250km. Top speed is clearly not so important for a city minicar and the EZ runs out of urge just short of 135kph.
Meanwhile, Fiat Chrysler was reportedly planning to show off the electric version of its long-lived 500. The company is now looking for an alternative way to present its new battery-powered runabout.
5: AMG version of Mercedes GLA
The new GLA hasn't even hit the tarmac yet, and the Mercedes tuning shop already has a souped-up sports version of the small off-roader — which we now also won't get to see in Geneva.
Set to go on sale in Europe in mid-2020 for an unspecified price, the 387-horsepower top version from AMG is unlikely to cost less than €60,000 (RM279,000).
At the centre of this powerhouse — which would have displayed a visually more striking face with a new grille, thick sills and a spoiler at the rear — is a 2.0-litre turbo.
AMG says this is no less than the most powerful four-cylinder engine in large-scale production. Like BMW, Mercedes is meanwhile reportedly considering live-streaming the unveiling of its new E-Class.
6 + 7: Facelifts for Kia's Sorento and Hyundai's i30
Kia has given its Sorento SUV a fresh design and had been preparing to launch the fourth generation of the plus-size off-roader in mid-2020 in Geneva.
The Korean manufacturer has already shown a couple of teasers of the new incarnation of its biggest SUV. On the outside, the biggest changes are to be noticed up front, with the new model sporting a somewhat angular look with a sharper front and a broad radiator grille that incorporates the headlights.
Hyundai has also given its i30 a facelift and must now look elsewhere to present the latest generation of its compact hatchback.
Had it appeared in Geneva, we would have liked to have gotten a glimpse of the rear of the car. Until now little more than the front has been revealed, with a sharper design along the front bumpers, as well as new signature V-shaped LED headlights.
