Swiss Mix; NEUTRALITY BE DAMNED. THE GENEVA SHOW IS ALL ABOUT THE CARS.(News)

Byline: MATT DAVIS, MIKE FLOYD, GREG KABLE, DUTCH MANDEL, NATALIE NEFF, WES RAYNAL

Talking about the neutrality of the Geneva motor show is almost too easy. Because of its location, this Swiss autopalooza is an open stage that gives no automaker a leg up. Which might be the best way to measure market success-a single baseline.

If we were to look at the car displays in all their grandeur and glory and pick a winner on that basis alone, the choice would be Lancia, hands down, because of its innate and understated elegance. Is it coincidence the company can't do squat in terms of product?

The notion running through the minds of more than one auto executive is: If you were to look around and take a census of the show floor today, you wonder what will it look like five years hence?

Many are saying we are in the throes of a Darwinistic cycle; that the relative strength of some companies is far less than what they portray, that consolidations are not far off.

If that's true, let's just hope the ones that get swallowed up aren't the individualistic and small-batch manufacturers and carrozzeria that dominate this show-the Paganis, Italdesigns, Bertones, Covini and Bizzarrinis of the world. Without them, Geneva might be just another auto show.

That would be a pity.