This sort of fell between the cracks in our Geneva show coverage. It's an Opel GT with a V8 of unspecified origin by performance enhancer Irmscher, and is called the Irmscher GT i40.

Now we know there's a 6.0L GM V8, and I wonder if it could fit under the hood of the Pontiac Solstice? Mr. Lutz, are you reading this? ...And thanks for the tip estreka. :)

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Surely in what must be the most complicated doors ever, Renault displayed a Megane concept with "Dragonfly Doors" at Geneva. While sorta gullwing-like, these doors open upward and appear to be a real advantage in tight quarters, where a traditional (if that term can be used) gullwing door would not work.

Full story here.

As has already been posted, Infiniti has introduced the next-generation FX (2009 Infiniti FX50 & 2009 Infiniti G37 Sedan: 2008 Geneva Auto Show (after the party)), of which there is now an FX50, which indicates a new larger 5.0-liter V8.

Now the first thing that came to my mind upon hearing this news is what other Nissans and Infinitis might also use this new engine. I can't help but think that engine is also destined to see action in their full-size trucks and SUVs. As it stands, Nissan and Infiniti only offer one engine choice, the 5.6-liter V8, in those vehicles. As great an engine as it is, the competition offers more engine choices than Nissan; and that's always been a strike against the Titan and Armada, that being lack of engine choices. Adding this new 5.0L unit as an additional choice could help stem that criticism.

We got a good look at the refreshed 2009 Mercedes SL550 a couple weeks ago, but the Geneva auto show was the official debut of the SL63 AMG. Instead of the SL550's 5.5-liter V8 with 388 horsepower, the SL63 uses a 6.2-liter V8 with 525 hp. It's also the first application of Mercedes' new seven-speed transmission. It's called MCT Sportshift and it combines the smoothness of an automatic with the direct feel of a manual. Sure, all automatics promise that, but this one does it better because it has a clutch pack in place of a torque converter according to Mercedes-Benz. There are four shift programs and a launch control feature that will deliver a 0-60-mph time of just 4.6 seconds. Again, Mercedes' numbers, not ours.

The SL63 AMG also gets a sport suspension with Active Body Control, 14.2-inch composite brake rotors up front and aluminum six-piston calipers. The wheels measure 19 inches in diameter and wear tires sized 255/35 in front and 285/30 in back. There are plenty of AMG-specific styling cues as well, some more tasteful than others. We can live with the blacked-out grille, rear diffuser and quad exhaust pipes, but those silver quarter-panel vents are tacky looking on a six-figure car. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line

The 1960s are all over the 2008 Geneva Auto Show.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Ferrari 365 GTB4, or Daytona as it is more commonly known. To celebrate the occasion, Ferrari is displaying this black example alongside the new 612 Scaglietti.

Also 40 years ago, ItalDesign opened its doors. It celebrates with the display of the Manta, penned in 1968, a midengine beauty with a center driver seat.

 

This is a 1967 Monteverdi High Speed 375 S Prototype. It was displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show that year and is powered by a 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) Mopar V8.

This 1970 midengine Monteverdi is called the Type 450 GTS. It's also powered by a big 440 Chrysler, but here it's backed by a five-speed manual transmission. -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief

If you sold a subcompact minivan called the Nemo Combi, you'd simply have to build a concept car with a tie-in to the five-year-old animated film, Finding Nemo, would you not? The Citroën Nemo Concetto (concetto just means "concept") is all done up to look a clownfish. However, due to the fact that it's a van, it looks more like a flamboyant Geek Squad vehicle than Nemo himself.

This is what happens when you force excessive amounts of cuteness into a class of car that already has that angle covered. Still, the anemones growing out of the dash tug at the heartstrings.



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Would you be willing to pay $30K for the Volkswagen Scirocco? Certain members of Volkswagen’s executive board in the U.S. don’t think so. That’s why they’ve been telling the home office not to send the Scirocco to the U.S. after it goes on sale in Europe later this year.

At least that’s what we hear. Too much overlap with the GTI, they say. They’ve got a point, as the Scirocco is pretty much just a GTI with a different body. Factor in the R32 that’s also based on the GTI and it’s hard to make a good business case for bringing in the Scirocco. Maybe a limited run like the R32? We’ll see, but don’t get your hopes up. –- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line

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You haven't lived until you've heard a low-rent German boy band sing Bon Jovi.

No, I'm not kidding. These five freaks have been annoying folks in the VW booth for two days now with their painful rendition of "Little Runaway." Our requests for "Dead or Alive" fell on deaf ears.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Get me the hell out of here. -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief

Further proof that flat is never dull. The anti-bling movement has come to Geneva. -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief

We breezed through the Infiniti stand today in Geneva and found the 2009 Infiniti FX50 on a turntable with a companion. The lighting was more favorable, so we took a photo. Here you can see the oversize rear spoiler and the unusual right angle in the hatch.

There was also a cutaway of the new 5.0-liter V8 engine.



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