The 500L will be the star of the Fiat stand and four examples are set to be shown, spanning its engine range which will initially comprise two petrol engines (TwinAir and 1.4-litre FIRE) and one turbodiesel engine (1.3 MultiJet II).

The five-seater 500L – the L stands for ‘Large’ – leverages the 500 ‘brand’ further, following the addition of the 500C and Abarth models, although it is built on different architecture to that of the ‘regular’ 500. It is the first car to be based on Fiat’s new ‘Small US Wide’ platform, a widened version of the existing Punto’s underpinnings. It is 414cm long and 178cm wide – values which represent an increase of 21cm and 8cm respectively on those of the Idea mini-MPV, which it replaces.  Height, however, remains the same as the Idea’s, at 166cm. A lengthened version with seven seats is expected to follow later. However, with Fiat reconfirming that the 500L is only set to arrive on the market in the final quarter of this year, its preview time is quite lengthy.

The new third-generation Panda (which made its motor show debut last autumn in Frankfurt and went on sale in Italy last month) will also be a key exhibit on the Fiat stand – a critical model, as Fiat needs it to stem their falling sales in a segment which the carmaker has virtually made its own in recent years. Conspicuously, however, the new-generation Panda 4x4 is not being presented at the show, and does not appear in Fiat’s recently-confirmed model plans for 2012. Alongside the Panda, Fiat will also present a variety of 500s – the ‘500 America’, a numbered edition version, and the ‘500 Colour Therapy’, which will offer new pastel shades.

Another important model is the 2012 Punto, which drops the Evo tag for its second facelift. This hurried restyling exercise tries to recapture the acclaimed lines of the Grande Punto and reconnect Fiat’s most important model with European consumers. Following its debut in Bologna, the 85 CV ‘TwinAir’ two-cylinder engine is making its debut to a wider audience as part of the updated range. In Geneva, the Punto will be shown with the new TwinAir engine, and in the process show off one of the Punto’s new colour options –  ‘Energetico Green’, combined with the glossy ‘piano black’ roof. Alongside will be an example in ‘Exotica Red’, equipped with the 135 HP 1.4 MultiAir Turbo engine and Start&Stop. The Punto 2012 is already available throughout the Fiat sales network in Italy and other major European countries.

Fiat will also try to revive sales of the Bravo, which has faded even in Italy where even incentives are failing to prevent it sliding down the sales charts. The Bravo ‘Street’ appears to merely add some components from the options catalogue as standard equipment, and will become available starting from the third quarter with the 120 CV 1.4 T-Jet petrol and 120 HP 1.6 MultiJet diesel engines.

The 120 CV 1.4 T-Jet petrol also makes an appearance in the Doblò, promoted as the “only turbocharged petrol engine of the class”. A seven-seater version will be on display, prior to it hitting showrooms in April.

Alfa Romeo heads to Geneva with nothing new to show at all; seven cars will be displayed, four Giuliettas and three MiTos. It doesn’t point to a very promising year for the 'sports' brand which is in the traditional process of seeing gains achieved from a brief growth spurt eroded by a lack of new models. The MiTo is again being previewed in ‘TwinAir’ form, which the press release says will be made available “in the coming months.” There is no room however for the 4C Concept, the sporty showcar that debuted to much interest in Geneva last year and was subsequently given a lick of paint for a second appearance at the Frankfurt IAA in the autumn.

Lancia also has nothing new to show in Geneva. Chrysler's 200 Cabrio will be its highlight exhibit as it is now ready to go on sale on mainland Europe carrying the hallowed ‘Flavia’ badge. It will be offered with a cloth roof in two colours (black and beige), while motivating the near-1800kg car will be Chrysler's 2.4-litre ‘World Gasoline Engine’, developing 175 horsepower and 225 Nm. It will transmit this power through Chrysler’s 62TE 6-speed automatic transmission.

It is fair to say that Lancia will have its work cut out finding buyers for the Flavia, and the same applies for the 300 sedan’s AWD option, which debuts here under the auspices of the Thema. With the rebadged full-size Chrysler failing to set sales charts alight since its release in October, it is not immediately apparent where Fiat has identified a subset of buyers for a four-wheel drive version, beyond the simple rationale that the car has already been developed and is sold in other markets. The AWD package will be offered on the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 model in Italy and selected other European markets. Also on the stand will be a Thema equipped with the European-specific 3.0-litre VM Motori turbodiesel, mated to the Daimler 5-speed automatic transmission. Finally, Lancia's Voyager minivan, also sourced from Chrysler, receives two new trim levels, ‘Silver’ and ‘Platinum’.

Finally Abarth shows a new trim version, dubbed the 695 ‘Tributo Maserati’. This is essentially an Abarth 500C with the running gear borrowed from previous limited-edition ‘695’ variants, including the Tributo Ferrari and Competizione. It features these models’ 180 CV 1.4-litre 16V T-Jet engine, paddle-shift ‘MTA’ transmission, and 305mm Brembo brake discs and 4-pot calipers. It also receives Tributo badging, Maserati-look 17-inch ‘trident’ wheels, tan colouring for the standard 500 Abarth’s leather seats, and a new three-layer exterior colour, ‘Pontevecchio Bordeaux’.