Among all the chatter about the upcoming Koenigsegg/Saab tie up was a report in a Swedish newspaper confirming the eventual production of the Quant electric concept first shown at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show.
Like most concepts at the Geneva show, the Quant concept was light on hard numbers but big on promises. Koenigsegg said the Quant had over 500-hp, a range of 310 miles and a recharge time of just 20 minutes. Sounds great, but we're guessing the production model will be somewhat less powerful, have less range and require more than a short nap to fully recharge.
The 2009 Audi AS5-R by Abt Sportsline bolts up a twin-screw supercharger that helps to deliver a much healthier 503-horsepower. There's also 457 pound-feet of torque available, so the stock S5's softness off the line should is cured. At least that's what contributor Matt Davis says after a drive in the German countryside. We hope Audi has something similar in mind for the RS5.
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans will cost substantially less than their 2009 counterparts according to a report in Automotive News. In order to bring the new sedans closer to its traditional transaction prices, Mercedes-Benz reduced the base price of the E350 sedan by $4,600 to $49,475. The base E550 sedan gets a $5,400 price cut to $57,175.
The new 2010 E-Class Coupes, which replace the current CLK Coupes, get only minor reductions in price. The base E350 coupe will start at $48,925 while the E550 coupe will start at $55,525.
A diesel-powered E350 sedan is slated to arrive next March followed by a wagon in June and a convertible around the same time.
After far too many "teasers" of its upcoming supercar, Aston Martin will finally unveil a complete One-77 Concept at the Concorso d'Eleganza on the shores of Lake Como, Italy.
The all-aluminum sports car most recently appeared at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, but only its stripped-down chassis and an exterior styling buck were on display. Aston Martin promises a complete interior and running drivetrain this time around.
Power will come from a 7.3-liter V12 with at least 700 horsepower, says Aston Martin. A paddle-shifted sequential transmission will handle the shifting. Aston expects a 0-60-mph time of around 3.5 seconds and a top speed over 200 mph.
The two-door vehicle looks a bit like the old Izusu Vehicross, although there are also some similarities to the HED-6 (above) shown at the Geneva Auto Show. The gullwing doors are clearly for show, but we hear Hyundai does plan to produce a production version of the New York concept vehicle sometime next year.
Teased at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show in the Essence concept, Infiniti's hybrid drivetrain will make its production debut in the M sedan next year. The system will combine a V6 and an electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries.
After showing the 200EX concept in Geneva, Rolls-Royce is now trickling out details on the production version of its upcoming sedan.
Power will come from an all-new turbocharged 6.6-liter V12 with over 500-horsepower. The engine is unique to Rolls-Royce and will use an eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF.
According to Rolls-Royce CEO Tom Purves, "RR4 will deliver an authentic Rolls-Royce experience to owners, so expect peerless comfort and build quality. However, we have consciously engineered this car to be more involving and dynamic for those owners around the world that will wish to drive it themselves."
Now a report from the 2009 Geneva Auto Show sounds a little more definite. Speaking with Automotive News, Global Sales and Marketing Chief Peter Schwarzenbauer said that Audi is working on brand awareness right now, so small cars are not a priority.
He went on to say that American consumers aren't ready for small cars with big price tags. As for Mini and Smart, Schwarzenbauer said their volumes are still relatively small. "I'm not so sure yet we really see a trend to small cars in the United States," he said.
We've heard rumors of this before and now it sounds official, at least according to Automotive News. The industry trade paper reported today that Stefan Jacoby, Volkswagen Group of America's CEO, said to expect two Polo models in 2011, a sedan and a four-door hatchback.
Although Volkswagen showed an all-new Polo at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, it's not the same model we'll get here. Jacoby said the U.S. version will be taller and ride on a longer wheelbase, increased which would make Polo about the same size as a Honda Fit. The goal is to price the Polo between $13,000 and $15,000 according to Jacoby.
Does this car look familiar? Grainy photos of it appeared prior to the Geneva Auto Show, but these are the first official pics of the Lamborghini Mucielago LP 650-4 Roadster.
Like virtually every Lamborghini these days, this is a limited edition (50) model. Only 50 will be built, and given its questionable grey and orange paintjob, 50 suddenly seems excessive.
Its 6.5-liter V12 produces 650-horsepower and 486 pound-feet of torque, enough to propel it from 0-to-62mph in 3.4 seconds according to Lamborghini.
Looks like Earnhardt Sr. finally got the Ferrari he always wanted.
Actually, the Ferrari 599XX is a real racecar, but instead of pro like Dale at the wheel, Ferrari will offer it to owners as a factory-built track car.
It features a 700-horsepower version of the standard 599 engine along with a revised suspension, slick tires and new bodywork that adds up to 617 pounds of downforce at 124mph. No pricing was mentioned, naturally. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
The next-generation 2010 Volkswagen Polo is yet another compact hatchback that could be headed to the U.S. in 2011.
A long-time member of Volkswagen's lineup, the Polo has always been considered too small for American tastes. This particular version is larger than previous models, but still smaller than a Rabbit. At 155.6-inches long and 57-inches high, it's half a foot shorter than a Honda Fit and three-inches lower.
In Geneva, Volkswagen displayed various examples, one of which was the Bluemotion diesel concept. According to Volkswagen, the Bluemotion Polo is capable of returning up to 70mpg thanks to a three-cylinder, 1.2-liter diesel engine, stop-start technology, low-rolling resistance tires and improved underbody aerodynamics.
Although labeled a concept, Volkswagen officials said they expect to have a production ready Bluemotion Polo ready for Europe by early next year. For the U.S., sales of the standard Polo could start about a year later in early 2011.
So what do you think? Is the U.S. ready for a Volkswagen this small? - Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
Apparently, the budget crisis in California isn't nearly as dire as we'd feared. Or, maybe it's a lot worse than anyone realizes and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has fled to Switzerland.
Either way, we can't begrudge his taste: The 2010 Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolet are beautiful cars, and today at Geneva's Palexpo, Gov. Schwarzenegger sat in an S5 Cab. You can, too, come late 2009.
You probably know the Koenigsegg CCX from Top Gear, and you've read about the 1,004-hp E85 CCXR version. So the idea of Koenigsegg, the Swedish Ferrari, a company that trades in oversteer and tire smoke, building a solar-electric car is a bit weird.
And, actually, the Koenigsegg Quant, is a project commissioned by NLV Solar AG, which specializes in photovoltaic technology. But like all other Koenigseggs, the Quant promises to do everything more quickly than just about every other car out there. Like recharging. It only takes 20 minutes. Supposedly.
Of course, with twin electric motors (one for each rear wheel), there's also regenerative braking going on while you're actually driving the car, helping extend range to 310 miles. A photovoltaic coating on the Quant's body could increase range beyond that, says Koenigsegg.
This is the Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA concept. It has a 240-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that sends its power to the front wheels, and it's likely to see production in Europe next year.
And if that whole Chrysler/Fiat thing goes just right maybe we'll have a shot at it, too. Sure beats settling for a John Cooper Works Mini. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
Actually, this is officially the 2010 Mazda 3 MPS in Europe, but it's pretty close to what we'll get in the U.S. as the Mazdaspeed 3 later this year.
Like the standard 2010 Mazda 3, the Mazdaspeed version is only lightly updated compared to the previous model. It uses the same turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder engine as before and rides on a relatively unchanged front-wheel-drive platform. Horsepower and torque numbers haven't been finalized for the U.S., but don't expect them to change much either.
You may have noticed that this version of the Mazda 3 wears the same overly excited expression as the rest of the lineup. Its front and rear bumpers are unique to the MPS model along with new 18-inch wheels and a revised rear spoiler. It's hardly the toughest-looking hot hatch we've ever seen, but is a Subaru Impreza really any better-looking?
Expect to see the final U.S.-spec version of the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 on sale this fall. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
Is the Infiniti Essence concept the Nissan GT-R twin we've been hearing about for the last year or so? Hard to tell at this point.
Consider this statement from the product planner in charge of its development. "It isn't a teaser for a new model. It is solely dedicated to Infiniti brand promotion, to demonstrate and advocate the Infiniti unique values," said Francois Bancon.
Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Well, maybe, but according to the press kit this Infiniti concept also has a twin-turbocharged V6 under its hood that produces 434 horsepower. Not quite the size engine or horsepower as the GT-R, but close.
Oh, and as an added twist, the Essence is also a hybrid thanks to an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission. It's powered by a lithium-ion battery pack in the trunk and is capable of delivering an additional 158 hp -- all of it going to the rear wheels.
So the Essence may not have all-wheel drive or a 3.8-liter V6, but with a combined 592 hp and rear-wheel drive, it would be quite the halo car for the Infiniti brand, not to mention one of the fastest cars ever to leave a Japanese assembly line.
So what do you think? Just a promotion for the Infiniti brand, or an early look at an Infiniti flagship? -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
We never really understood why Porsche would build a convertible version of the 911 Turbo. The convertible is the soft car and the Turbo is the intense car. Why would you cross those two things?
Well, that was before Porsche went ahead and did it, and now the convertible Turbo outsells the coupe Turbo more than 2-to-1. So, here we have the new Aston Martin DBS Volante (that's Aston-speak for convertible).
The brand's top model gets its head chopped off. Same performance. Same V12. But now you can have it with a bit of sun. The fabric top goes down in 14 seconds, says the company. And the thing looks good, even if it takes a minute to recognize it as something different from the V8 Vantage drop top. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
We were skeptical -- very, very skeptical -- about the look of the new E-Class coupe when we saw it only in pictures. Well, we've crawled around it now and while we're still not going to call the thing even remotely beautiful, it is at least, less discordant than we expected.
Somehow it looks lower in person than in the photo. And the body-side surface excitement is less pronounced than it at first appeared. But the headlights? Well, we're still working on that.
The first line of Nissan's press release on this, the 412 small, funky sport-utish concept the company has produced in the last several years, reads: Cars have been dull for too long.
OK. We guess that's true, sort of. But from appearances, you might think Nissan thought cars have been too large for too long. The ridiculously spelled Qazana looks like it started as a larger vehicle that's been shrink-wrapped around its 20-inch wheels. Somehow the foglights managed not to avoid the shrink treatment, too, and so they look enormous on this little dumpling. In between those huge peepers is a Nissan Murano front grille (of all the things to grab from the Murano...) that is covered with a big piece of acrylic so that it serves no functional purpose. Cooling air would theoretically enter through the lower fascia opening. Not that it much matters since the thing apparently has no powertrain of any sort.
It is a styling study, as they say. The interior is said to be inspired by motorcycles and, indeed, the center console is shaped like the tank and seat of a bike. Why, we're not exactly sure.
It looks a little like a Citrroen C-Cactus concept from the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show with a lift kit. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
As promised, Ferrari displayed a 599 GTB with its newly available Handling Gran Turismo Evoluzione (HGTE) package. That would be in addition to the roughly $300,000 base price of Ferrari's already capable GT.
Spending the extra cash will get you a stiffer rear antiroll bar, a lower ride height and revised calibrations when the magnetorheological dampers are set to their firmest settings. Stickier tires are also part of the package, along with a less restrictive exhaust.
There are a few electronic changes as well. Ferrari claims quicker shifts from the transmission and improved throttle response.
To make sure everybody around you knows that you didn't cheap out on a base model, the HGTE package also includes new 20-inch split-rim wheels, a matte-black rear diffuser and chrome exhaust tips. Interior upgrades are limited to carbon-fiber trim and Alcantara seat inserts. And like, say, a Corvette Z06, the seats are emblazoned with "Handling GTE" stitching. Nice. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
We have seen the Rolls Royce 200EX concept in the big, blocky metallic flesh and, trust us on this one, it ain't no "baby Roller." This BMW 7 Series-based V12-powered sedan is big, real big.
In fact, we'll bet it'll look big next to anything except maybe the Rolls-Royce Phantom -- a car that the 200EX resembles quite a lot. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
Yes, the 2010 Chevrolet Spark is a European-only vehicle at this point. Between its 1.0- and 1.2-liter engines and tiny footprint, it slots into the growing minicar segment in Europe perfectly.
Along with the Chevrolet Cruze, which launches in Europe this spring, and the larger Orlando MPV that goes on sale next year, Chevrolet expects to substantially increase its European market share.
And the U.S.? Well, GM has said it expects to sell the Spark in the U.S. in 2011, which leaves plenty of time to figure out an engine strategy and a profitable place to build the subcompact four-door.
Of course, GM is banking on the fact that there will be demand for such a small car. There was back in late 2008, but now it's hardly a sure thing. And if there's any company that needs a sure thing right now, it's GM. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
The Apollo supercar might come from a company (Gumpert) that sounds like the name of an irascible troll from Middle Earth, but we actually think it's kind of cool in a really expensive brick sort of way. At Geneva, the Gumpert boys unveiled the Apollo Speed, apparently out of fear that the standard Apollo was not speedy enough.
With "up to 800 hp" we're thinking it's time for this upstart to take on the undisputed heavyweight champ of the world, Mr. Apollo Creed.
Join us after the jump for a blow-by-blow and also some more pictures.
We were hoping that the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo concept would be better-looking in person. It is not. Instead of growing on us, it kind of creeped us out the closer we looked. Not since the 7 Series from 2002 have we stared so long and appreciated so little.
Those proportions don't get any better when you're standing there in person and the interior is an odd mix of fabrics and colors that defy explanation. It doesn't even appear all that roomy in back either.
The unique dual hatch in back could be useful if the ceiling in your garage is less than 6 feet high. Otherwise, we don't see why you would use the smaller opening over the larger one.
It looks like there's a good chunk of space available, although according to BMW it's only 20.1 cubic feet with the rear seats slid forward. So yeah, it's barely bigger than the trunk of a large sedan, How innovative. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
The super, double throw-down Aston Martin, the 700-plus-horsepower, $2 million One-77, looks good enough with its hand-rolled aluminum body in place. It's better all naked-like though.
Have a look at chassis No. 1 -- the first of the 77 examples that will be built. On full display is the car's carbon-fiber monocoque, racecar-style inboard suspension system and the carbon-slathered, Cosworth-tuned 7.3-liter V12. Have a look, too, at that large milled bridge truss to which the rear suspension is bolted.
Though the chassis looks like strictly a display piece, all gleaming aluminum and glossy black carbon, an Aston representative promises that tomorrow that very chassis will be sent back to the company's headquarters in Gaydon where it will become the first One-77. Sorry, we've already got dibs. -- Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit
In addition to his duties running the one-model Bugatti lineup, Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen also heads up Bentley. This meant a repeat performance at tonight's Volkswagen Group event for the introduction of the Bentley Continental Supersports.
We've already told you just about all there is to know about this car in earlier posts, so consider this another chance to admire those shiny black wheels against all that glossy white paint. Did we mention this thing runs on corn? -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
The Geneva auto show is always filled with cool cars we can't get in the U.S., and now you can add the Audi A4 Allroad to that list.
Audi officials told us that until we get over our love of big, high-riding SUVs, they'll keep sending us Q7s and Q5s. Hard to argue with that school of thought. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
Stephan Winkelmann may have thought he was being brief and to the point, but Bugatti boss Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen made Winkelmann look chatty in comparison.
Paefgen drove out in the Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire and gave a speech that took all of one or two minutes tops. He noted the car's unique mix of gloss and matte finishes, bespoke wheels and aluminum mirrors. Then he coolly announced that it's a one-off car built to celebrate Bugatti's 100th anniversary and will be priced at 1.35 million euros, or nearly $1.7M.
And contrary to the rumors, there are no engine modifications apart from a layer of Bugatti Bleu paint.
There wasn't much to say after that, so Paefgen got in, chirped the tires on the glass stage and pulled it around back. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
Ford of Europe released a bunch of images of the Ford Iosis Max concept, which is on display at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show. The company says it's an early look at the styling direction for its next C-segment car (read: third-generation Ford Focus). Given the tall body and sliding rear doors on the Iosis Max, though, we'd say it's more specifically a look at the next Focus C-Max, a five-passenger MPV relation of the U.S.-market Mazda 5.
At tonight's Volkswagen Group event, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann took all of about 3 minutes to introduce the new Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce. Maybe he's getting tired of telling the same story about every new model.
Yes, this is a limited edition (350). And yes, it has more power than the LP 640: 670 horsepower to be exact. It also weighs 220 fewer pounds and can go from zero to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Top speed is 212 mph.
Where will Lamborghini go from here? Who knows, but after seeing a couple Seat and Skoda intros, this was a welcome change of pace. -- Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor, Inside Line
Ferrari will use the 2009 Geneva Auto Show to unveil two new variations of its 599 GTB. The first is called the 599 Handling GT Evoluzione (HGTE), an upgrade package that's expected to add larger wheels and tires, retuned suspension components and a revised exhaust.
Also on display for the first time will be the 599XX, a developmental version of the 599 that blends the company's latest technology with customer input. The program is similar to the FXX program that used modified Ferrari Enzos.
Most concepts from Rinspeed are nothing more than that -- concepts. No real production value of any kind, just a designer throwing stuff out there to see what sticks in people's minds. The Rinspeed E2 is about as practical a car as you're ever going to see from the Swiss design house.
Like every other automaker on the planet, Rinspeed wanted to pretend like it cares about being environmentally friendly. The solution? A two-mode Fiat 500 more or less.
Yup, in "Highway" mode it produces 160 hp which "transforms the Italian flea into a venerable hornet," Rinspeed says. In that mode, fuel consumption is 7 liters per 100 kilometers.
Then there's "Commuter" mode which drops the horsepower down to 60 hp while fuel consumption drops to just 4 liters per 100 kilometers.
Sounds great. Now how often do you think drivers would choose Commuter mode? Uh yeah.
Not hard to see this one coming. With the debut of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe set for the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, the appearance of a cabriolet version shouldn't be a surprise to anybody. Sources have told Inside Line that the soft-top version of the two-door E-Class is scheduled for a fall debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show.
Lotus is using the 2009 Geneva Auto Show to showcase a new variable-compression engine it calls the "Omnivore." Designed to run on alcohol-based fuels as well as gasoline, the single-cylinder concept engine uses direct injection and a two-stroke operating cycle to maximize its efficiency.
An adjustable puck at the top of the combustion chamber is used to vary the compression and according to Geraint Castleton-White, Head of Powertrain at Lotus Engineering, the Omnivore has potential as a four-stoke, production engine.
"The absence of poppet valves in two-stroke engines makes the incorporation of a variable compression ratio system relatively straightforward. Our research into these systems on four-stroke engines has led us to the conclusion that while thermodynamically it is a desirable technology to incorporate, practically it isvery difficult, particularly taking into consideration production feasibility. This two-stroke engine could solve these practical difficulties and simultaneously permits a much larger range of compression ratio adjustment, with the potential to perform at a much higher efficiency when running on renewable fuels," according to Castle-White.
How do you make a 5,000-pound coupe "green"? You can't really, but the 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports is a fine attempt. It's not only lighter than your typical Continental GT, its 621-horsepower W12 engine is also capable of running on ethanol.
Well, it will be once the EPA approves it for U.S. sales. Bentley doesn't expect that to happen until mid-2010, so until then you'll have to either get by with the 600-hp, gasoline-burning Continental GT Speed or move to Europe.
Other notable changes include a 2-inch-wider track for the rear wheels, standard carbon-ceramic brakes, a quicker-shifting six-speed automatic and retuned dampers.
Geneva just got a tenth-of-a-degree more interesting with the announcement of the Aston Martin DBS Volante. For those who don't speak Aston, Volante means convertible.
In the case of the DBS, the convertible top is of the soft variety and it's capable of retracting in just 14 seconds at speeds up to 30mph.
The DBS Volante is powered by Aston's 6.0-liter V12 mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. A six-speed automatic with manual shift capability is optional. Aston Martin expects to begin shipping the DBS Volante in the third quarter and will announce prices next week in Geneva.
Remember the F-Type Roadster concept? Maybe not, after all it debuted way back in 2000 when Jaguar was still an upstanding member of the Ford Motor Company. Even then it seemed like a long shot and indeed it was. Although it was announced for production in early 2001, the F-Type was never to be seen again as Jaguar instead focused its resources on the ill-fated X-Type sedan.
Rumors of a new Jaguar sportscar have swirled ever since and now recent comments by current Managing Director Mike O'Driscoll suggest there's a distinct possibility we'll see a new car soon. At a recent event in Spain, O'Driscoll told Inside Line that the company would love to build a sports car.
"If we were to do something, it would be a proper sports car priced like a 911. Wouldn't it be great to launch a sports car at Geneva on the 50th anniversary of the E-type?"
Well, yes Mike it would, and with that anniversary coming up in 2011, there's plenty of time to put something together. A report in AutoCar suggests there's already plenty of work being done on what could be called the Jaguar XE. Lotus appears to be involved and it looks as though the XE will use a cropped version of the aluminum chassis currently used for the XK. Expect to see a concept version around this time next year if all goes as planned.
Kia originally called this MPV concept the "Million Possibilities Vehicle", but it has now settled on something slightly less grandiose. Now known as the Kia No. 3, this compact people mover concept is essentially a tamer, more car-like version of the Soul.
At 159 inches long, the No. 3 is about two inches shorter than the Soul and its roofline is clearly lower and more streamlined. The front fascia treatment is described as the "new face of Kia" so expect to see similar designs on U.S. bound vehicles in the future. As for the No. 3, it appears as though it's suited for European consumption only.
Audi may be doing better than most manufacturers right now, but that doesn't mean it's immune from the worldwide slump in auto sales. The new 2010 Audi A5 cabriolet, and its supercharged S5 convertible sibling, were destined to hit U.S. shores in September.
That timing has now been pushed back a bit. Turns out Audi wants to make sure it has adequate time to clear out its current stock of A4 and S4 cabriolets. The delay only amounts to about two or three months, however, as Audi officials said to expect the cars in late 2009.
Update: Audi has clarified its statements regarding the A5/S5 launch. Turns out there is no delay as of yet. Current A4 Cabriolet inventories are normal, so plans for a fall launch of the A5/S5 remain.
First it was a leak of the teaser shots, now more has spilled out on the Audi TT-RS that's headed for Geneva. Looks like there will be coupe and convertible versions, both powered by a 340-hp turbocharged five-cylinder connected to a six-speed manual transmission. Audi says to expect a 0-to-60mph time under 5 seconds. Not bad for a TT.
Teaser shots of the upcoming Audi TT-RS have hit the web and all we can say is, "were jealous". That's because this high-powered TT coupe isn't headed for the U.S.
Nope, only those highfalutin Europeans will get this direct-injected, turbocharged five-cylinder. Audi says it will produce "well over 300-horsepower" and take "nowhere near five seconds" to hit 60mph. We're assuming that means it'll hit 60mph in around 4.5- and not 6.7-seconds.
Audi also notes that passing in the TT-RS will amount to "child's play" while the top-speed is limited to 155mph only on paper. Who knew Germans could get so giddy?
We've never been big fans of the G-Class. It may be a beast off-road, but it's junk everywhere else. Poor ergonomics, awful ride, dainty doors. It's hard to believe people actually pay over $100,000 for one.
So what are we to make of the Brabus G V12 S Biturbo? It develops 690-horsepower, 973 pound-feet of torque and is covered in black paint from top to bottom. Brabus says it will go from 0-to-62mph in 4.3-seconds. Oh, and it costs roughly $480,000.
Cooler? Stupider? Judge for yourself, but we don't remember thinking that the regular model would be any better with an extra 308-horsepower.
We've been calling it the RR4, but now it's official, sort of. The Rolls Royce 200EX will make its world debut at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show. A concept version of the production sedan due this fall, the 200EX will serve as an entry-level offering against the likes of the Bentley Continental Flying Spur and Mercedes-Benz S-Class
"There will be some very minor difference, but what you see in Geneva is for all intents and purposes what we'll be bringing to Frankfurt later in the year," says Rolls-Royce's newly installed CEO, Tom Purves, referring to plans to show its new model at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show in September.
This is a teaser shot for the Infiniti Essence concept that will debut at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show. It was designed to commemorate Infiniti's 20-year anniversary. Care to guess what kind of vehicle it will be? Big coupe? Sportscar? Yet another hideous crossover sedan?
Looks like Lamborghini has been taking notes at the Ford School of Model Proliferation as every auto show seems to usher in a "new" Gallarado or Murcielago. Trouble is, every time we go to see it, there's nothing but the same old Gallardo or Murcielago sitting there with a new paint job and a handful of extra horsepower.
If the rumors on Dutch site Autoblog.nl are true, we're in for another massaged Murcielago at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show. It will be called the Lamborghini Murcielago LP650-4 and it will use the same V12 engine as the ultra-exclusive, never-to-be-seen again Reventon version of the Murcielago. Only 20 examples of that car were built, but Lamborghini will reportedly crank out 50 examples of the LP650-4. In exchange for the reduction in exclusivity, the LP650-4 will cost just $375,000. Hopefully that doesn't include this horrid paintjob. We'll see in a couple weeks.
From an established automaker, an electric sports car with a roof that can be set in two different positions depending on the number of people aboard might seem kind of radical, even as a concept car.
From habitual freak-out artist, Frank Rinderknecht's Rinspeed outfit the concept, called the iChange, barely registers on the scale of weirdness. It's a scale Rinderknecht has set for himself with past Geneva show concepts such as a submersible Lotus Elise called the sQuba, a convertible with a variable-length wheelbase named the Presto and a vehicle that senses its driver's biometric data called, naturally, the Senso.
The idea behind the iChange, other than a chance to use the popular lower-case "i" prefix that people seem to love these days, is that a car should adapt to the number of people in it at any given time. What this means in reality (or at least the reality within Rinderknecht's mellon) is that the front-hinged canopy roof is set in a low position when there's only the driver in the car. When the two rear seats are filled with people (people who will apparently be wearing orange construction hard hats according to the pictures) the roof will lock in at a higher setting, thus providing head room for the rear passengers.
The thinking is that the lower roofline will be more aerodynically efficient when there's only the driver aboard. We're not even really sure that's true exactly. But there you have it. Expect attractive models to be demonstrating this thing at the Geneva show in a couple of weeks.
Oh, and the name? Well, apparently you can use your iPhone in place of a key to start up the car because, well, because why not?
The Fiat 500C, a open-top version of its 500 coupe was revealed over the weekend prior to its world premiere at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show. Instead of full convertible roof, it uses a retractable softtop that simply slides rearward on the main roof rails. The design maintains the car's rigidity, not to mention what little cargo room there is in back.
Although the whole Chrysler bankruptcy issue still looms large over Fiat's return to the U.S., a report in Automotive News quoted a person familiar with Fiat's plans who said the company could start shipping 500 coupes to the U.S. by early next year. The Polish-built cars would be sold at select Chrysler dealers in small numbers.
Mercedes-Benz hasn't been good with names for quite some time now. The current CLK has little in common with the CL flagship and shares even less with the SLK roadster. In an attempt to restore some order, the CLK will be replaced this summer with the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe.
As you might have guessed from the new less-confusing nomenclature, this is a two-door version of the E-Class sedan introduced at the Detroit Auto Show. Slippery new bodywork not only gives it a unique look, it also gives the new coupe a drag coefficient of .24, the lowest of any production car in the world.
When it goes on sale this June, the E-Class Coupe will get the same engine lineup as the sedan. Base models get the 3.5-liter, 268-hp V6 while the E550 Coupe will have 382-hp thanks to a 5.4-liter V8.
After teasing us at the Detroit Auto Show with a mere picture, GM has finally released, uh, more pictures of the upcoming Chevrolet Spark minicar.
Set for a world debut at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, the Spark is expected to make its way to the U.S. after its European debut early next year. It's a tiny car by American standards, some 18-inches shorter than a Honda Fit.
The Euro versions will use 1.0- and 1.2-liter engines, but GM's new 1.4-liter four-cylinder is a good bet for U.S. models. Expect to see both manual and automatic transmissions driving the front wheels.
More detailed information will be released when the Chevrolet Spark makes its world debut in Geneva early next month.
Reports surfaced earlier this week that Citroen was planning a new line of near-luxury cars with the iconic DS nameplate. Late yesterday the company released a bunch of photos of the Citroen DS Inside concept, which will be in its booth at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show. The DS Inside is about the size of a Mini Cooper Clubman and it's a prologue to the Citroen DS3 production car. Larger DS4 and DS5 models will follow.
We've gathered the photos of the Citroen DS Inside here and there's no denying it looks cool, provided you like the recent crop of short, squat hatchbacks (anything from the Mini family, Fiat 500, Kia Soul) and provided you like cars that look French. We're not sure about the contrasting roof, though, as it makes Citroen's cribbing from the Mini Cooper look a bit too obvious.
Behold the next Kia MPV. What's an MPV you say? Most sane people figure it to mean "multi-purpose vehicle", but not Kia.
Nope, those crazy loons figure this nifty concept is a "Million Possibilities Vehicle". Ok, we'll just have to see about that next month at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show.
It's the European version of our Acura TSX, of course, but it has a more potent version of Honda's 2.2-liter i-DTEC diesel four-cylinder engine that is definitely not for us. For starters, it only comes with a manual gearbox. If you wanted to keep arguing, we'd refer you to the economy, high diesel prices, the economy, tough U.S. emission standards and the economy.
But it's nice to imagine how our TSX would feel with this turbodiesel four, which is rated at 177 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 280 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm. That's not much hp, but torque is what our TSX needs more of, given its modest 172 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm.
Eventually, though, Honda will get around to putting a V6 in the TSX and we'll forget all about the Euro-spec Honda Accord Type S. You're not seeing the actual Type S here, of course, as that car will have a new 18-inch wheel design and special badging, along with two exclusive paint choices -- Premium White Pearl and Basque Red. We'd be shocked if the car in the show booth wasn't Basque Red, and even more shocked if it wasn't the Tourer (wagon) body style.
Although the photos of the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 were the much bigger deal, Mazda also announced yesterday that a fuel-miser Mazda 3 i-stop model would be in its booth at next month's 2009 Geneva Auto Show. On the surface, this might not seem very relevant to us, given that idle-stop features are showing up in more and more European-market cars as manufacturers try to comply with tightening EU CO2 standards.
But shutting off the engine at traffic lights doesn't yield a huge fuel mileage benefit (2-3 percent was the number cited when we drove a thusly equipped 2009 Mini Cooper S convertible). So the more significant efficiency change on this Mazda 3 i-stop is likely its direct-injected, 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder engine (MZR 2.0 DISI).
Mazda hasn't released horsepower or torque figures, but they've got to be a little higher than the 148 hp and 135 lb-ft of torque provided by the normally fuel-injected version in our 2010 Mazda 3.
It was only a matter of time: Automotive News Europe reported this week that Citroen will resurrect its iconic DS nameplate. Eventually, it will be a whole line of near-luxury models, but the entry-level car, the Citroen DS3, will debut at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show and go on sale in the first half of 2010, according to AN.
Like the reborn Mini Cooper and Fiat 500, the new Citroen DS models will be positioned as upscale small (and, eventually, medium-size) cars, with more standard equipment than Citroen's C3, C4 and C5, allowing them to be sold at higher profit margins.
It was teased last year with the V12 Vantage RS concept, but it was pretty clear even then that a production vehicle was all but certain. Aston has now released official stats and info on its new twelve-cylinder coupe and they are indeed impressive.
How does 510 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque sound? Even better news is the fact that it will come with a six-speed manual gearbox. Aston says the V12 Vantage will have a top speed of 190 mph and will do 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.
Mini has confirmed that the next-gen Mini John Cooper Works Convertible will go on sale March 28 -- the same day as the rest of the redesigned 2009 Mini Cooper convertible lineup.
Like the Works hatchback and Clubman, the convertible should be good for 208 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. We've been told it will be available with both the six-speed manual gearbox and the six-speed automatic. With the manual, we'd guess it will make 60 mph in the mid-to-high 6s.
The 2009 John Cooper Works convertible makes its official debut at next month's 2009 Geneva Auto Show.
We wish there was more to tell you about the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3, but all we have is this crummy photo and what Mazda refers to as a teaser release. Well, it doesn't tease much really as it merely confirms the Geneva debut of the Mazdaspeed 3 that we've been anticipating for some time now.
It does mention that the turbocharged 2.3-liter MZR four-cylinder engine has been "carried forward" so don't expect any big horsepower upgrades. Then again, it already has 263 horses as it is, so more power isn't what it needed. Less "happiness" up front would have been nice, but it appears as though the styling changes are minimal too.
Today's episode of automaker teaser video is brought to you by the word, cutesy.
BMW has been working for some time on a wagon-esque, minivan-like, crossover-type vehicle that it likes to call PAS for progressive activity sedan. And now it's released on the web this adorable cartoon of a vehicle that we fear will be something less than adorable. It's a sort of tall wagon thing with adjustable rear seats and a cargo hold that can be accessed via a full-sized hatchback or through a smaller hatch within a hatch should the weather be too cold to expose passengers to a momentary blast of the outside. We're imagining the end result of all this passenger and cargo packaging rethinking (the video points out BMW has thought about this quite a lot) will end up looking a bit like a bloodless X6. But we'll see at March's Geneva auto show, where we expect to see the concept in person.
Until then, sit back and enjoy this silly interlude, because as '90's girly band Veruca Salt once observed, "Can't fight the teaser."
Half of our average day at the office is spent staring longingly at a huge, framed picture of a Kermit-green 2007 Porsche GT3 RS (shot by our crack staff photographer, Scott Jacobs).
We're afraid we might have to soon re-decorate the joint. Or we will once we get our sweaty hands on the car pictured here, the 2010 Porsche GT3. Porsche will unveil the car at the Geneva auto show in March. Join us after the jump for the details.
The 2009 Geneva Auto Show is still over a month away, but Bentley couldn't wait to tell us all about its new biofuel-powered supercar. Well, actually Bentley didn't really tell us much. Instead, it passed along this teaser photo and the promise that it represents the company's "fastest and powerful production car ever". Oh, and it runs on biofuel, so it's a very light shade of green.
Considering that the current Continental GT Speed already has 602-horsepower and a top speed of 202mph, anything faster and more powerful is probably something worth waiting for. We'll see March 3rd.
In case you hadn't heard, the former Mercedes CLK coupe will be known as the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe starting later this year. An official unveil is expected at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, but Motorpasion managed to snag this picture of a nearly undisguised prototype. Not bad, eh?
Set for a world debut at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, the Opel Ampera will use the same Voltec powertrain as the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. GM released a teaser shot of the five-passenger sedan and it's pretty obvious that Opel tried its best to differentiate the European sedan from its U.S. counterpart.
Then again, given how large a role aerodynamics plays in a car like this, the Ampera probably won't deviate from the Volt all that much. GM's claims for its fuel efficiency are quite familiar, metrically speaking of course, about 60 kilometers on pure electric and "several hundred kilometers of non-stop electric driving."
No word yet on whether or not GM sees any problem with the fact that there's an electric vehicle called the Aptera being built in the U.S. but we're pretty sure no one will confuse the two, except us maybe.
The Mitsubishi iMiEV Sport Air concept will make its world debut at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show. The latest in Mitsubishi's electric iMiEV series, the Sport Air is designed to show how an electric car can be fun to drive and environmentally friendly. It even gets a tidy tagline that sums it all up: drive@earth. Get it? Makes no sense to us either.
Automotive News is reporting that Volkswagen plans to sell the Polo subcompact in the United States in the near future.
The Polo is a step down in size from the Rabbit and is roughly equivalent to the Toyota Yaris and the soon-to-arrive Ford Fiesta. The trade journal quoted Volkswagen Group of America CEO Stefan Jacoby, "We are working right now to upgrade these cars for the American market." Given that Jacoby expects to more than triple U.S. VW sales to 800,000 annually over the next decade, he'd better hope Americans like the upgrades the company is working on.
No word yet on exactly when the Polo will hit U.S. shores. But a new, presumably less-frumpy, version of the Polo is expected for the 2010 model year, and will be unveiled at this year's Geneva auto show in March. The current model offers a number of engine options including three- and four-cylinder gasoline and diesel mills making between 64 to 180 horsepower.
For all its success in Europe, the Polo is probably best known in the U.S. as the subject of a spoof advertisement (or VW-sponsored viral marketing campaign, if you listen to conspiracy theorists) in which a suicide bomber parks a Polo in front of a streetside cafe and detonates a bomb. The Polo remains undamaged and VW's Polo ad tagline "Small but tough" appears on screen.
Autoblog is reporting today that the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 is rumored to debut at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show. We subsequently spoke with Mazda's director of corporate and product communications, Jeremy Barnes, who said, "I cannot confirm that."
However, given that the 2007 Mazdaspeed 3/MPS debuted at the 2006 Geneva show, we'd say it's very, very likely that we'll see the second-gen hot hatch in the Mazda booth come early March.
The 3 Series refresh is out and the 2009 7 Series is on its way, so the 2011 BMW 5 Series is the next logical step in the automaker's product plan. We've seen various 5-Series sedan prototypes before, but this is the best look yet at the wagon.
There's nothing unexpectedly different about the shape. It follows the same path it always has with nicely rounded D-pillars and relatively thin C-pillars which keep it from looking too bulky.
In profile, it appears as though this 5 Series will have some fairly spacious rear seats. The roof looks tall and the doors appear larger than usual. We know that BMW is also working on what it calls its Progressive Activity Sedan which takes the tall-roof idea to the extreme, so it's possible that some of the same thinking has been incorporated into the 5 Series wagon.
Don't expect to see the final product for quite some time. The 2011 BMW 5 Series is still at least a year away from an official unveil, so this wagon may not show up until late 2010.
Well this seemed almost inevitable. After watching Tesla and Chrysler suck up all the glory for electric cars that are basically Lotuses with batteries, the British sportscar builder has announced that it plans to build an electric car of its own. In a report in yesterday's Financial Times, Lotus CEO Michael Kimberley said, "Don't be surprised to see an electric Lotus shortly."
Okay, why six wheels? What's the advantage to this type of setup?
According to Ferruccio Covini, the creator, the vehicle is protected if one of the front wheels is deflated, has extra braking capacity thanks to four individual brake units up front plus two in the back, less chance of aquaplaning, increased grip and a more comfortable ride. Um... okay.
The car reportedly will be powered by a 4.2L Audi V8, putting out around 380 horsepower, with power sent to the rear wheels. Gotta wonder if they ever considered AWD?
Covini says he actually thought about this concept 30 years ago, and a prototype showed up at the Geneva Auto Show back in 2004. So it's been a long haul for Covini to get this to market.
For those who think this idea is off the wall, remember that there is some history with 6-wheeled race cars, such as the Elf Tyrell F1 racer that Jody Schecter raced (here).
Spy shots of the "baby" Roller are up on the UK Autocar site. The car will be built off the BMW 7-Series chassis, but will have a 'proper' RR engine and not a BMW engine. As to size, expect it to slot in between the big Bimmer and the Phantom. So that being the case, this is going to be one big baby indeed.
It appears that it will have Phantom-like rear suicide doors, and probably profile as well. Also of note is that Rolls-Royce market studies have indicated that there are 100,000 customers out there who would buy such a car. Folks, if true, those numbers are staggering. It would make this car a truly high-volume product in this ultra-wealthy market segment. The car is expected to debut at the Geneva auto show in March.
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...
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.
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...
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...
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
The Tata Nano made its European debut here in Geneva, and once again it drew a huge crowd. Onlookers marveled at its impossibly small wheels, straw-sized exhaust pipe and single windshield wiper. We weren’t allowed to get inside, but given that there’s no radio, air-conditioning or any other features to speak of, there isn’t much to see anyway. The rear-mounted engine displaces a whopping 623cc and generates all of 34 horsepower. It’s connected to a continuously variable transmission that helps it achieve roughly 50 mpg. Acceleration is probably leisurely at best, but what do you expect for $2,500?
At this point, the Tata only meets emissions and crash test standards in India, and in case you’re not up to speed on those, they are considerably less stringent than U.S. requirements. Think 1990s and you would be close. In other words, don’t expect to see any Nanos in the U.S. any time soon. –- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
Aston Martin will tell you that this V12-powered Vantage RS is just a concept. Yeah, and the Pussycat Dolls can sing.
To create the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS, Aston's engineers put the company's largest V12 engine in its smallest car. The result is a a 600-horsepower monster that can reach 200 mph...
Here's a variant of the second-generation, Europe-only Ford Focus that we needn't bother coveting: the restyled 2009 Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet. For starters, we already have a better version of this hardtop convertible called the Volvo C70, and even it is not particularly inspiring to drive.
Volvo is on the skids. Sales peaked in the United States back in 2005 when the Swedish brand sold 139,000 cars, wagons and SUVs. Last year that number was down under 100,000 and this year isn't looking good. Problems include the weak dollar, Volvo's lack of a U.S...
The Lotus 2-Eleven, a car so hard-core it doesn't have a top or a full windshield. A car you need a helmet to drive. A car that makes you think about only one thing: driving.
Or are we wrong?
Whatever the case, the 2-Eleven at Geneva's Palexpo showed up with friends...
We've been anticipating the day the Infiniti G35 sedan would become the G37 sedan to match the G37 coupe, and while it's not here yet, the cars' attendance at tonight's Infiniti party suggests it can't be far off. Same goes for the Infiniti EX37.
Because of the foothold BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have in Europe, Infiniti wanted to go in with its best V6 engine, the new 3.7-liter VQ, for the brand's launch here in October 2008, said Nicolas Tschann, director of product planning and product marketing for Infiniti of Europe. "We're not going to start with four-cylinder diesels," he offered.
All of these cars will have a seven-speed automatic transmission, though a six-speed manual will still be available on the G coupe and sedan.
Carlos Ghosn rose from the mist of Geneva's Halles des Sablieres (which sounds poetic but is in fact just a big warehouse) to tell us about the Infiniti brand's October 2008 launch in Europe. Right now, you can't buy Infinitis here, not even badged as Nissans. He was as quotable as ever: "If all we had to offer was the me-too type of luxury, then we could never be successful." "If something is exclusive, then someone will inevitably be excluded from it."
Then, he disappeared, and a man in a large, flowing bat costume appeared. As he flapped, seductively dressed dancers joined him, but none held a candle to his battiness.
How this relates to the 2009 Infiniti FX50 that dropped down from a coffin hung in the rafters, we're not sure. But this is a hugely powerful SUV. A 5.0-liter V8 with variable valve timing and lift delivers 390 horsepower and, says Infiniti, upward of 435 pound-feet of torque.
Finally, Maserati has a car that can go from zero to 60 mph in under 5 seconds. This would be the 2008 Maserati GranTurismo S unveiled in Geneva today. Noting the crowd's fatigue at this late afternoon press conference, Maserati CEO Roberto Ronchi took a simple tack for his speech.
"People have been asking me, 'What does the S stand for,'" he said. "First of all, it stands for 'sport' because there is the new 4.7-liter V8 engine." That engine makes 440 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 361 pound-feet of torque at 4,750 rpm -- significant gains over the 405 hp at 7,100 and 339 lb-ft at 4,750 in the regular GranTurismo.
"'S' also stands for 'speed,'" he continued, "because this is the fastest Maserati we've ever built." The GranTurismo S has a top speed of 295 km/h, he said, which is 183 mph.
This may be labeled a prototype, but it’s about 95 percent of what you’ll see in the production version. The Evolution hood won’t stay, and neither will those headlights or the 19-inch wheels and tires. And don’t expect to see Orange Metallic Flake on the color sheet either. What you can expect is the same lineup of engines currently offered on the standard Lancer sedan along with a little extra cargo room in back.
Will there be an Evolution version to take on the Subaru WRX STI hatch? Don’t count on it. –- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
This is simply tragic. Some animal cut this perfectly good Nissan GT-R in half so a bunch of Swiss can ogle its innards. Unfreakinbelievable. With all those lame Sentras and worthless Quests they've got lying around, you'd think Nissan would take a buzz saw to one of those...
What an unusual press conference for Mini today in Geneva. Instead of boring us all into submission with sales results and projections, Mini invited Rauno Aaltonen, aka the Flying Finn, to talk with Dr. Kay Segler, senior vice president of Mini brand management.
In addition to his WRC efforts in the 1970s, Aaltonen drove a Mini Cooper S to victory at Monte Carlo in 1967. He, of course, compared the new 2009 Mini John Cooper Works and John Cooper Works Clubman to the old car (also present), noting that today's JCW is the "direct heir" to the car he drove in '67.
It was a typical day at the Rolls-Royce booth in Geneva, meaning that we couldn't get anywhere near the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe until 30 minutes after the press conference. Chinese manufacturer BYD had the good fortune to have its booth right next to the Rolls stand, allowing it to pull in a healthy crowd for its own press conference immediately preceding the two-door Phantom's unveiling.
As in the past, we were immediately cowed into silence by the Roller's monstrous size -- exactly as it should be for a car of this stature. Despite its 18-foot length, this will be the sportiest of the Phantoms, as it has the stiffest chassis and the firmest suspension settings. Nevertheless, said Ian Robertson, chairman and CEO of Rolls-Royce, "that waftability that we refer to is still very much in the character of this car."
Jaguar says this is its fastest car since the XJ220 supercar of the 1980s. It's the 2008 Jaguar XKR-S, and the company is boasting it can touch 174 mph. Um, that's 19 mph faster than an XKR.
Only 200 will be made, and each and every one will wear black. Left- and right-hand-drive versions will be built, but Jaguar will only sell the super coupe in Europe...
Just when we thought we had heard every environmentally conscious term imaginable, Thomas Weber, head of research and development for Mercedes-Benz, threw out a new one. He called the new Mercedes-Benz GLK Bluetec Hybrid a “sustainable utility vehicle.” Catchy, huh?
He was referring to this GLK's diesel-electric drivetrain, which combines a 2.2-liter diesel engine with what Mercedes described vaguely as a “hybrid module.” It delivers 38.8 mpg according to Mercedes-Benz, but more importantly, the hybrid module uses lithium-ion batteries. Mercedes says a similar system will make its production debut in the S400 Blue Hybird next year. If that goes as planned, the Mercedes-Benz S400 Blue Hybrid would be the first production hybrid car to use lithium-ion battery technology. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
After the Mazda press conference, we went next door to the Ford booth at the Geneva auto show, where we saw three- and five-door hatchback versions of the 2010 Ford Fiesta (a 2009 model for Europe). It was kind of like watching the Mazda press conference again, because the Fiesta looks so similar to the Mazda 2. They are, of course, platform mates.
Ford of Europe didn't hire a band for its unveiling, so instead we saw a typical dance troupe, and the members whimsically tossed around the sheets on the cars.
The Coolest Display Award goes to Fiat. The Italian automakers booth at this year's Geneva Motor Show is dominated by this giant Fiat 500. And by giant, we mean giant. As in, "Yo Luigi, look I can't even reach the door handle."
The idea is to hype the 500's win in this year's European Car of the Year competition...
Most of the press conferences at the Geneva auto show are pretty lame. They usually involve a top executive making a few obvious remarks, pulling a sheet off a car that has been sitting there all morning and maybe some moderately loud music. Mercedes-Benz is one of the few that makes more of an effort, so this year’s show included an introduction by Dieter Zetsche who rode in on the world's oldest automobile, the Benz Patent Motor Car, with Mrs. Jutta Benz, great granddaughter of Carl and Bertha Benz.
There was also a performance by Chinese acrobats and ballet dancers along with the reveal of the GLK Bluetec Hybrid. What do acrobats have to do with a new hybrid sport-utility? Nothing, but they were more fun to watch than listening to more of Dieter. Click through for videos of all the fun. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
As sexy and exciting as we all find the Audi R8 V12 TDI Le Mans, it isn't Audi's big story at this Geneva auto show. That honor goes to the 2009 Audi A4 Avant, the wagon version of the all-new A4 sedan.
Now larger than before, the Avant's wheelbase has been stretched by 6 inches and the overall length is up to 185 inches, about 5 inches longer than the previous model. Audi says the extra size opens up a little over an inch of extra knee room in back, while also increasing head-, shoulder and legroom...
Last night Audi took the wraps off the newly red and newly named Audi R8 V12 TDI Le Mans. And we were there. We just failed to get a picture of the diesel-powered supercar. Well here it is in all its crimson glory, sorry for the delay...
No longer is it seen as environmentally responsible to toss around terms like "zoom-zoom" in the cavalier manner typical of, say, 2001. Now it's "sustainable zoom-zoom," and says James Muir, CEO of Mazda Motors Europe, that means a "focus on the minute and painstaking weight reduction of every component."
Sounds painful, but on the 2009 Mazda 2 three-door hatchback (which joins the previously released five-door), it's good for a 220-pound weight reduction over the previous model, says Muir. For a car that's 153.5 inches long (2 inches shorter than a Honda Fit) with a 98-inch wheelbase (1.5 inches longer than a Fit), this is quite significant.
Mazda broke up what could have been a rather dry, number-y press conference with a performance by the Infidels, who like the Strokes, come across as a modern-day repackaging of the Stones -- right down to their moves on stage. Mazda, conveniently, is sponsoring their 2008 European tour.
Although the official debut of the 2009 Acura TSX will happen at the 2008 New York Auto Show in a couple weeks, the European Honda Accord unveiled today in Geneva is a pretty good sneak peek. Its exterior is virtually identical as it uses the same shield grille up front and a sharply creased rear end. Inside, it’s all Accord though as the cabin looks identical to our larger U.S.-market version.
Like our TSX, the European Accord will offer a 197-hp 2.4-liter engine, but it also marks the introduction of Honda’s latest i-DTEC diesel engine...
First reports of about the Lancer Sportback indicated that this might be a Europe-only model. Now it's been confirmed that it will be coming to the United States as well. Pictured above is the Mitsubishi Prototype-S concept, which will debut at Geneva, and is very close to what we can expect to see in showrooms.
Giugiaro, after teasing us with some close-up detail images of the Quaranta concept, has finally released official pictures and info about their new concept, which celebrates 40 year of Italdesign being in business.
The car is powered by a 3.3L hybrid-V6 which is supplied by Toyota. How's that having your cake and eating it too? Stunning Italian design hooked up to Toyota hybrid running gear...
With the ever-increasing emphasis on global warming and the impact that motor vehicles have on the environment, this year's Geneva auto show, much like the recent Detroit show, is featuring many vehicles that show that vehicles and the environment can co-exist in a friendly manner.
In the latest edition of broken news embargos, there are now images up on the Net of the production VW Scirocco. The car will debut at the Geneva auto show next week.
Probably most surprising, at least to me, is the front, as it looks very little like the concept that had been making the auto show rounds. And, as is often the case, I prefer the concept, at least from the front...
As the Geneva Auto Show looms large on the horizon, we've gotten a few teaser images of Giugiaro's Quaranta, which will debut there next week. The name "Quaranta" denotes the company's 40th anniversary, so you can bet that it will be something pretty special. Rumor has it that it will feature the latest in green technology.
What you see here is the Mitsubishi Prototype S, with the "S" standing for "Sportback." If you remember, Mitsubishi showed a Sportback concept (middle picture) before.
Remember? How could you forget, as that concept was drop-dead gorgeous!
Unfortunately, as concepts move from "concept" to "production," often something gets lost in the translation, as is the case here...
Audi will debut a new A4 Avant at the Geneva Auto Show. The mechanicals and vehicle content are pretty much as per the sedan. At launch, Audi will offer two gasoline engines and three diesel engines. These engines offer superior performance by more than 14 percent as compared to previous versions.
Images of the upcoming Volvo XC60 have found their way to the Net before the news embargo deadline. So, what else is new...
As per most new Volvos—no, make that all new Volvos, it's a handsome ride, and should do well for the brand. Rumored engines for Europe include a 285-hp 3.0 V6 and a 185-hp 2.4 turbo diesel...
Finally there are images of the long awaited Fiat 500 Abarth up on the Net. The little buzz-bomb will debut at the Geneva Auto Show. No word yet on the mechanicals, but rest assured, they will full-bore spicy and very Italian. The hot rumor is to look for a 1.4L turbo, with possibly up to 150 hp...
I've stated before that I think the Rolls-Royce Phantom has the most commanding presence of any car on the road. Forget Ferraris or any other exotic, as nothing can turn heads like this Roller. Now we have some official photos of the new Phantom Coupe, and it does nothing but further the image of this imposing vehicle.
Stickering for $400K, orders are already well into 2009 if not later for deliveries, proving that their clients are recession-proof. The car will debut at the Geneva auto show.
I never thought that I would use the words "Morgan" and "Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Hybrid" in the same sentence, let alone being used as a linked thought. Wow. What's the world coming to? Morgan, a brand so steeped in history, and often thought to be stuck in the 1930s with wooden frames, is planning on a zero-emission vehicle, and one that's "still fun to drive."
The vehicle will be on display at the Geneva auto show...
Ford will be showing three new cars at Geneva: a Fiesta 3-door, a Focus Coupé-Cabriolet and an SUV called the Kuga.
The all new Fiesta3-door (top) will be a global car which combines stylish 'kinetic design' and a dynamic flair combined with traditional Ford strengths to deliver confident, contemporary, fun-to-drive package. A 115 PS Duratec 1.6-litre Ti-VCT gas engine joins Fiesta range. This is one of five fuel efficient and clean engines to power the new Fiesta...
Toyota is going to show a couple of production-ready small (as in really small) cars at Geneva.
The Urban Cruiser (top) is pretty much what it sounds like: a really small SUV, as in smaller than the RAV4, but playing it's family SUV heritage by using the "Cruiser" name. The iQ (bottom) is a cute-as-a-button baby car, just a tad longer and roomier than the Smart. Hmmm...
Acura has just released an official photo of their new 2009 TSX. As you can see, and like the just announced RL, the styling is evolutionary in nature. So no surprises here—an speaking of surprises, are there any under the skin or inside? Don't know yet, as Acura hasn't tipped their hand here yet. Expect to see it debut at the New York auto show next month.
The New York Auto Show, the last big show of the North American continent, will have Suzuki showing their latest version of the Kizashi concept, but this time with a V8 possibly stuffed under the hood.
According to Motor Authority, who is reporting this story, Suzuki has green-lighted the earlier shown Kizashi concept. Perhaps better stated the car has been slated for further development, ultimately meaning it's headed for production, in which a V8 could well be part of the package.
There have been rumors of an upcoming Lancer hatch for sometime. In fact Straightline did a blog not long ago that pictured just such a car (Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart a-comin'). Now there's more news/rumors about this vehicle up on the Net. According to Carscoop, the car will appear at the upcoming Geneva auto show...
Those heading to the Geneva Auto show this March will be able to check out the Rinspeed sQuba, which is at home under water as above.
The submersible car is powered by an electric motor with powerful torque drives the rear wheels. Propulsion on the water is handled by two propellers in the stern and two powerful jet drives in the bow propel the vehicle under water while diving as as deep as 33 feet. With zero emissions, zero pollution in the seven seas of this world. The light weight body with components made of futuristic Carbon Nano Tubes encloses in a streamlined manner the driver and passenger who are supplied with fresh breathing air by the self-contained on-board system...
Looks like the upcoming facelift for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL is almost complete. Our spy shooters caught this prototype with virtually no disguise although they do admit to removing a few pieces of black tape with some help from Photoshop. As expected, this SL will get a few minor styling changes up front like new lights, a one bar grille and a more aggressive air dam. The quarter panel vents now look like those used on the SLR supercar while the rear end gets a slightly revised lower valance...
Carscoop has some images of what they feel is the new BMW 1-Series drop top. The timing here is interesting as Straightline just posted about one of it's prime competitors, the Audi A3 convertible.
Even more interesting is that there is a rumor that this BMW may be offered in two body types: One being a traditional soft top, and the other being a folding hardtop. Power choice are likely to be the same as those found in the coupe...
We won't classify these as spy photos since the Maserati GranTurismo already made its world debut at the 2007 Genevea auto show, but we thought it was worth showing you what this beautiful coupe looks like on the road anyway.
The new Renault Twingo is positioned just below the Clio. It's a tiny car (141.1 inches long, which is 4 inches shorter than a Mini Cooper), and is sure to heat up the A-car segment wars in Europe.
The top model GT gets a 1200c turbo engine putting out 100 horsepower. A 75 horsepower 1200cc non-turbo is also available, along with a diesel called the 1.5 dCi which is good for 65 hp, and a base 1.2 liter engine with 60 hp, which Renault says is a carryover from the old Twingo...
