Wiesmann Spyder concept spied on the floor in Geneva

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Specialty, MISC

Wiesmann Spyder Concept

Wiesmann Spyder Concept

We mentioned last weekend that German niche sports car manufacturer Wiesmann was bringing a new concept to Geneva to gauge interest in a possible production version, and here it is. Color us very interested. Full details on the Wiesmann Spyder are yet to be released, but judging by the photos, it should impress.

Our team in Geneva will have more details and plenty of live photos of the Spyder concept once the exposition officially gets underway. Until then, head over to Autogespot check out one more angle of Wiesmann’s sports car.

[Source: Autogespot.com]

Wiesmann Spyder concept spied on the floor in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Feb 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Wiesmann Spyder concept spied on the floor in Geneva”

Koenigsegg Agera R heads to Geneva packing up to 1,115 hp… and a ski box

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Koenigsegg

Koenigsegg Agera R
Koenigsegg Agera R – Click above for high-res image gallery

When the Geneva Motor Show kicks off this week, the Lamborghini Aventador won’t be the only exotic sucking in journos like a tractor beam. The Koenigsegg Agera R is also making its global debut, wearing in a Speed Racer-inspired paint scheme (per the owner’s request) and packing so much power that you’d think an R2 unit would be a better co-pilot than, say, Chim-Chim.

Now, about that power – the Agera R’s 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 makes a ridiculous 1,115 horsepower and 885 lb-ft of torque on E85. Fill the tank with 95-octane gasoline instead of the biofuel, and figure on “only” around 940 horses and 811 lb-ft. The V8’s connected to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The driver harnesses that power from a lavishly appointed cockpit that meets all the hypercar techno-fantasy criteria.

The Agera R’s body panels are draped over a carbon fiber monocoque whose rigidity is such that a roof is not required. Hence, it’s a removable panel that can be stowed inside the car. The owner of the example being displayed in Geneva is a skier, so the car is outfitted with a custom carbon fiber roof box developed in conjunction with Thule. It’s a single-piece system that replaces the Agera R’s standard roof entirely; when you get to the mountain, you simply swap the ski-box roof for the standard roof (which is tucked away in the cargo compartment).

Other highlights of the Koenigsegg Agera R include Vortex Generating Rim (VGR) wheels whose spokes act as turbine vanes that help maximize downforce. They’re wrapped in Michelin rubber developed specifically for the Agera. Said tires are rated up to 260 mph, making them the highest-speed-rated tires in the world, according to Koenigsegg. As always, we’ll have a full team in Geneva next week to bring you full details and a live look at the Agera R. In the meantime, check out the high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: Koenigsegg Agera R

[Source: Koenigsegg]

Koenigsegg Agera R heads to Geneva packing up to 1,115 hp… and a ski box originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Koenigsegg Agera R heads to Geneva packing up to 1,115 hp… and a ski box”

De Tomaso SLC SLS images come online ahead of Geneva

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Hatchback, Luxury, MISC

De Tomaso SLS Concept

De Tomaso SLS Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Here we are, just days before the doors open at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, and De Tomaso has unleashed a series of images along with a few more salient details of its new SLC concept car. Well, actually, De Tomaso is now referring to the machine as the SLS (and no, it has nothing to do with the Mercedes-Benz of the same name), which stands for Sport Luxury Sedan, as opposed to SLC, or Sport Luxury Crossover.

Fret not, Benz fans (and trademark lawyers). De Tomaso says it will give its future production model a new name that will be announced in Geneva.

Irrational naming conventions aside, what we have here is a somewhat high-riding humpback machine not unlike the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo. According to the company, two engines are planned at launch, a 300-horsepower V6 and a 550-horsepower V8. Power is sent to all four wheels, and a diesel engine option is planned for a later time.

De Tomaso plans to build two more vehicles on the same architecture with the goal of selling a total of 8,000 units per year. We’re hoping to hear more about the marque’s future plans after we hit the ground in Geneva. In the meantime, feel free to peruse our high-res image gallery below and read the awkwardly translated press release after the break.

Gallery: De Tomaso SLS Concept

De Tomaso SLS ConceptDe Tomaso SLS ConceptDe Tomaso SLS ConceptDe Tomaso SLS ConceptDe Tomaso SLS Concept

[Source: De Tomaso via All Car Index]

Continue reading De Tomaso SLC SLS images come online ahead of Geneva

De Tomaso SLC SLS images come online ahead of Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “De Tomaso SLC SLS images come online ahead of Geneva”

Report: Bentley Continental Supersports “Ice Speed Record” Convertible coming to Geneva

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Bentley, Luxury

Bentley Ice Speed Record Continental Supersports

Bentley “Ice Speed Record” Continental Supersports Convertible – Click above for high-res image gallery

It looks like Bentley isn’t wasting any time when it comes to capitalizing on the company’s latest feat of speed. According to Cars UK, the automaker is planning to roll out 100 special-edition models to commemorate Juha Kankkunen’s recent record-breaking ice-speed run. Officially called the Bentley Continental Supersports Ice-Speed Record Convertible, the special-edition cars will be available with one of three unique paint colors; Beluga, Quartzite and Arctic White. Red detail accents will be found all over the vehicle, and a special dark gray soft top caps off the whole shebang.

Under the hood, buyers won’t be disappointed to find a 6.0-liter W12 engine with a galactic 631 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque on tap. Those numbers are identical to the standard edition, though given that Kankkunen’s record-breaking vehicle was powered by the same lump, we can’t exactly fault Bently for not turning up the heat.

Bentley isn’t saying exactly how much the new special-edition vehicle will set you back, but we do know that the drophead is supposed to show its face at this year’s Geneva Motor Show next month. Expect to hear more then.

Gallery: Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible sets world speed record on ice

[Source: Cars UK]

Report: Bentley Continental Supersports “Ice Speed Record” Convertible coming to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Bentley Continental Supersports “Ice Speed Record” Convertible coming to Geneva”

TechArt Porsche Cayenne Turbo rears its ugly head prior to Geneva debut

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Porsche

techart magnum porsche cayenne turbo

TechArt Magnum Porsche Cayenne Turbo – Click above for high-res image gallery

TechArt continues to assault the senses, producing cars capable of violent bursts of speed and sound. But at the same time, its creations either cause your eyes to sparkle with lust or bleed from hate, and this, the TechArt Porsche Cayenne Turbo is… stomachable at best.

The only thing helping us keep our breakfast down are the power numbers. Thanks to TechArt’s TA 058/T1 Power Kit, output on the Cayenne has been raised from 500 horsepower up to 560 hp and torque climbs up from 516 pound-feet to 575 lb-ft. That might be enough oomph to outrun a BMW X5 M, but even so, you can’t outrun ugly.

The TechArt Magnum will debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Follow the jump for the company’s official press blast.

Gallery: TechArt Magnum Porsche Cayenne Turbo

[Source: TechArt]

Continue reading TechArt Porsche Cayenne Turbo rears its ugly head prior to Geneva debut

TechArt Porsche Cayenne Turbo rears its ugly head prior to Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “TechArt Porsche Cayenne Turbo rears its ugly head prior to Geneva debut”

Alpina B5 BiTurbo Touring coming to Geneva Motor Show

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, BMW

Alpina B5 BiTurbo Touring

Alpina B5 BiTurbo Touring – Click above for high-res image gallery

Set to debut at next week’s Geneva Motor Show, the fine folks at Alpina have given the B5 BiTurbo treatment to the new 5 Series Touring.

Powered by the same twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 as the sedan, the B5 Touring produces 507 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, running to the rear wheels via an eight-speed sport automatic transmission provided by ZF. 0-60 is handled in just under five seconds, and flat out the Touring will do 187 miles per hour.

Of course, all of this power comes wrapped in the usual Alpina trimmings, including a steroid-enhanced exterior aero kit and the company’s signature 20-spoke wheels. It’s quite a looker, and we’d love to see how it stacks up to Cadillac’s own CTS-V Sport Wagon. Get your fix in our high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Alpina B5 BiTurbo Touring

Alpina B5 BiTurbo TouringAlpina B5 BiTurbo TouringAlpina B5 BiTurbo TouringAlpina B5 BiTurbo Touring

[Source: Alpina]

Alpina B5 BiTurbo Touring coming to Geneva Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Alpina B5 BiTurbo Touring coming to Geneva Motor Show”

Geneva Preview: 2012 Brabus CLS adds dose of sport, economy

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2012 Brabus CLS

2012 Brabus CLS – Click above for high-res image gallery

Brabus has released its tuning package for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS range ahead of its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show. As with all things Brabus, the package for the CLS leaves no stone unturned, from an aero and appearance package to the suspension and, finally, the engine.

Outside, the car gets a revised front bumper with bigger air intakes, new LED daytime running lights and a front splitter. There’s also a set of gilled fenders sporting the Brabus logo and side skirts that give the car the appearance of an even lower stance and helpful entry lights so you don’t bash a shin at night.

Keeping things stuck to the ground is a Bilstein suspension supporting your choice of six styles of Brabus rollers, ranging from 8.5x17s to monster 10.5×20-inch trash-can lids. In a bid for the eco vote, Brabus has focused its tuning efforts on the Mercedes-Benz BlueEfficiency diesel engines. The CLS 250 CDI BlueEfficiency gets a 31-horsepower bump and an astonishing 413 pound feet of torque.

On the higher-spec CLS 350 CDI, the engine mods are dual-mode. In eco mode, the car gets pushed to 509 lb-ft from 457, while horsepower stays the same. Hit the sport mode button, and you’re looking at climbing to 309 hp from 261. That translates into a 5.9-second 0-60 sprint and the inevitable 155 mile per hour top speed. Want more? See the complete press release after the break and be sure to peruse our high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 Brabus CLS

2012 Brabus CLS front three quarter2012 Brabus CLS rear three quarter2012 Brabus CLS profile2012 Brabus CLS front close2012 Brabus CLS fender

[Source: Brabus]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: 2012 Brabus CLS adds dose of sport, economy

Geneva Preview: 2012 Brabus CLS adds dose of sport, economy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Geneva Preview: 2012 Brabus CLS adds dose of sport, economy”

Video: Porsche resurrects 1900 Semper Vivus full-hybrid for Geneva display

Filed under: Classics, Hybrid, Geneva Motor Show, Porsche, Specialty, Electric

1900 Porsche Semper Vivus hybrid

Porsche Semper Vivus hybrid – Click above to watch the video after the break

Think the Toyota Prius was the first hybrid automobile ever made? Think again. Honda Insight? Keep guessing. In reality, the world’s first hybrid was designed and built by none other than Ferdinand Porsche, founding father of the present-day Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart. That’s right, the same brain that brought us such ingenious machinery as the Volkswagen Beetle and the glorious Auto Union racers built the world’s first fully functional hybrid automobile.

Now that the modern-day Porsche brain-trust is once again showing interest in hybrid technology, the German company has decided to bring back the 1900 Semper Vivus, which literally means always alive. Although the technology behind hybrids has come a long way – Porsche’s first hybrid used about 4,000 pounds of lead acid batteries and could barely climb any kind of grade – the basic principles are actually much the same.

To wit, just like that original Semper Vivus, Porsche’s latest hybrid, the 2012 Panamera S Hybrid, features an engine (in this case a supercharged V6 putting out 333 horsepower), an electric motor (which adds another 47 horses) and a battery pack. All the major bits and pieces are the same, except with massive improvements in power and efficiency.

In celebration of 111 years of hybrid automobiles, Porsche spent the past four years recreating the Semper Vivus, and it will show off the fruits of its labor at the rapidly approaching 2011 Geneva Motor Show. In an effort to whet our appetites, the automaker has released a teaser video that you can see for yourself after the break, along with the requisite press release.

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Video: Porsche resurrects 1900 Semper Vivus full-hybrid for Geneva display

Video: Porsche resurrects 1900 Semper Vivus full-hybrid for Geneva display originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Porsche resurrects 1900 Semper Vivus full-hybrid for Geneva display”

EDAG Light Car Sharing Concept previewed ahead of Geneva Motor Show

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Electric

EDAG Light Car Sharing Concept

EDAG Light Car Sharing Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

EDAG is headed back to the Geneva Motor Show with a new take on car sharing. The company plans to unveil the new Light Car Sharing Concept, a machine that blends lightweight composites, modular pieces and an electric drivetrain to solve many of the woes facing communal autos at the moment. Along with body panels and interior components that can be easily swapped out for new pieces as wear and tear take hold, the concept comes with sophisticated GPS tracking software to allow car sharing companies to know exactly where their vehicles are at all times.

EDAG says that this new technology will help make car sharing more efficient in the future. At the heart of the vehicle is an axle-mounted electric drive system powered by lithium-ion batteries. All told, the gear is good for a range of 62 miles and a top-speed of 62 miles per hour. There are no output or acceleration figures to be had as of this writing, though that might change as we get closer to next week’s show.

Gallery: EDAG Light Car Sharing Concept

[Sources: EDAG, World Car Fans]

EDAG Light Car Sharing Concept previewed ahead of Geneva Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “EDAG Light Car Sharing Concept previewed ahead of Geneva Motor Show”

Saab 9-3 Convertible Independence Edition officially revealed prior to Geneva debut

Filed under: Convertible, Saab

Saab 9-3 Convertible Independence Edition

Saab 9-3 Convertible Independence Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

A couple of days after reports of a special edition Saab 9-3 surfaced in celebration of the company’s independence from General Motors, the automaker has confirmed its particulars and corrected a few details along the way.

The 9-3 Independence Edition celebrates not only Saab’s liberation out from under the GM umbrella, but also the 25th anniversary of the company’s first convertible. It’s based on the Aero trim model, but while earlier reports suggested it could get the 220-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo from the 9-5, the special edition is actually driven by a 1.9-liter diesel four with 180 horses and a six-speed automatic.

Amber Orange metallic is the dominant color, coating the exterior and highlighting the cabin with trim on the parchment leather sport seats and stitching on the steering wheel. There’s also grey piping on the floor mats and carbon-look leather on the instrument panel, levers and handles. And while those special 18-inch wheels may look like they’ve got five spokes, but actually have twenty.

Only 366 examples of the Independence Edition will be made in all – one for each day of this year and another to kick off the next. Follow the jump for the press release and check out the pair of images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Saab 9-3 Convertible Independence Edition

[Source: Saab]

Continue reading Saab 9-3 Convertible Independence Edition officially revealed prior to Geneva debut

Saab 9-3 Convertible Independence Edition officially revealed prior to Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Saab 9-3 Convertible Independence Edition officially revealed prior to Geneva debut”