But despite its surroundings, there's nothing restrained about the Geneva Motor Show. The annual gathering is the venue of choice for supercar manufacturers, and so Europe's bastion of neutrality becomes a battleground where horsepower, luxury features, and dramatic styling win out.

Among this year's first-timers is Polestar, the brand Volvo created last year to focus on electric performance. To make its mark, the company—formerly dedicated to gasoline-powered track cars—entered the fray with the Polestar 1 GT, announcing it will start taking $3,000 deposits for the coupe next week. The funny thing about this car? It's a hybrid.

Now, "hybrid" needs redefining in an era where electric cars are setting acceleration records. You may associate the h-word with Toyota's Prius, with great mileage but lackluster performance. Remember, however, that hybrid just means a blend of drivetrain technologies—and some blended drinks are stronger than others.