Car makers emerging from the doldrums at Geneva show

Battered by the slump in the car market following the September 11 attacks and the war in Iraq – manufacturers at the Geneva Auto Show next month are emphasising safer, practical and more environmentally-friendly vehicles.

Making their debut are the Opel Trixx, a clever small city car, and the Volkswagen Caddy Life, a five-to-seven seater with an extendable loading capacity.