geneva 2011

2011 Geneva Motor Show: The Supercars

Geographically located in between the supercar capitals of Europe, Switzerland is where the world's automakers come to showcase the latest array of mouth-watering, bank-balance-tempting exotic sports cars. And this year's Geneva Motor Show didn't disappoint in the least.

In between all those luxury sedans, upscale sport-utes and premium hatchbacks were a blinding assortment of six-figure supercars seemingly capable of bending the very laws of physics. Standing out from the crowd were brand-new offerings from Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani, new takes on old favorites from Maserati, Aston Martin and Jaguar, concept cars from Alfa Romeo, BMW and Wiesmann and more.

We went to Geneva to check them out with our own eyes (and lens) – follow the jump to see what we found, and click the images to view the full galleries from our sister-site Autoblog.

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2011 Geneva Motor Show: The Luxury Sedans & SUVs

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Every year the Geneva Motor Show features a staggering array of new luxury sedans, estate wagons, crossovers and sport-utility vehicles on display. And this year's show, still ongoing at the Geneva Palexpo, has proven no exception.

Among the production and concept debuts in these diverse categories were new vehicles from Audi, BMW Alpina, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Saab and Volvo, as well as the return of De Tomaso. Follow the jump to see what these European automakers had in store for us this year.

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2011 Geneva Motor Show: The Premium Hatchbacks

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

While they may just be catching on here in America, across the ocean premium hatchbacks like the Audi A3 and Mini Cooper represent the way things are done. They offer the luxury of a larger sedan or SUV, but in a smaller, more economical and more urban-friendly form. And at this year's Geneva Motor Show, there was no shortage of automakers unveiling their new visions for the segment.

Mini came back with an even smaller concept, Infiniti and Saab threw their proverbial hats in the ring, Fiat showcase two new variants of its popular 500 model and its sister company Lancia joined with a new entry of its own. Follow the jump to see what they had to offer.

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Mini Goes Back to its Roots with the Rocketman Concept

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

When BMW resurrected the Mini from the annals of history, it made it bigger in more ways than one. Firstly, the new Mini went upscale to become a premium vehicle. Secondly, it got bigger in size. A lot bigger, especially when you compare the original with the latest Countryman model. But for the newest Mini concept car, the company has gone back to its roots.

The new Mini Rocketman concept car is smaller than the existing range, but a bit larger than the original. (After all, with all the modern safety standards, nothing could be as small as the original Mini.) It's also got a number of innovative design features to help make the most of the small shape, like outwards-pivoting doors and a three+one seating configuration, and the small shape also means exceptional fuel economy, projected at 78 miles per gallon by US standards. Purely for show at the moment, the Mini Rocketman will debut next week in Geneva.

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Volkswagen Brings Back the Golf Cabriolet

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Volkswagen Brings Back the Golf Cabriolet

The Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet may not be a luxury car per se, but back in the 80s the daughters of every rich family in California were driving one of these. The last all-new Cabrio was launched in 1993, and was discontinued in 2003. But now it's back.

Joining the Volkswagen line-up alongside the hard-top Eos convertible, the Golf Cabriolet features a fabric roof that takes both less time to operate and less space to store. A wide range of turbocharged, direct-injection engines will be available when orders begin after its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week.

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Aston Martin Introduces the Virage

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Aston Martin's VH platform has spawned more vehicles than you can shake a stick at. Not only does it underpin the V8 and V12 Vantage models (and all their derivatives), but as the platform on which the DB9 is based, it's also the basis for the DBS and Rapide models as well. But now Aston Martin has launched a new model called the Virage.

Reinstating a model name from the company's history, the new Virage – available in both coupe and Volante convertible body-styles – slots in between the DB9 and DBS models. Its curvaceous aluminum, magnesium and composite body hides the 490-hprsepower 6-liter V12 engine with six-speed automatic Touchtronic 2 transmission, while all-around double-wishbone suspension with adaptive damping is mounted to 20-inch wheels with carbon-ceramic disc brakes and Pirelli P Zero tires.

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Audi to Unveil New A3 Concept in Geneva

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Audi's A3 line used to be its smallest, but with the A1 hatchback slotting in beneath it, Audi looks eager to differentiate the A3 from its smaller sibling. And to that end, it is planning to unveil a new concept car at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.

Bearing a four-door coupe shape similar to the larger Mercedes-Benz CLS but in a smaller form with a "nothback" rear profile, the A3 concept is slightly longer than the current five-door A3 Sportback but shorter than the A4 sedan. The 408-horsepower turbocharged five-cylinder engine from the mighty TT RS has been shoehorned in under the hood driving to all four wheels courtesy of Audi's trademark Quattro all-wheel-drive system.

So far Audi's only released sketches of the concept car, but we'll bring you more from the floor of the Geneva show next week.

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Volvo V60: The World's First Diesel Plug-In Hybrid

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

Volvo V60: The World's First Diesel Plug-In Hybrid

Volvo is known the world over as a leader in safety features, but at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, the Swedish automaker will show it can be a leader in environmental friendliness, too.

In what the company is terming "the world's first diesel plug-in hybrid", the V60 prototype combines a 215-horsepower, 2.4-liter five-cylinder turbo-diesel with a 70hp electric motor. The vehicle is capable of operating under electric power only (Pure mode) for 32 miles, or can run in Hybrid mode at the touch of a button for a 746-mile range. Or for an extra boost, the driver can select Power mode for a total 472 lb-ft of torque.

While the car is just for show at the moment, it could make it to production in the near future.

Tags: 2011 geneva motor show, geneva, geneva 2011, geneva motor show, v60, v60 plug-in hybrid, volvo, volvo v60, volvo v60 plug-in hybrid

Maserati GranCabrio Sport

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Feast your eyes on the most powerful Maserati convertible yet. The new GranCabrio Sport is due to be presented in just a couple of weeks' time at the Geneva Motor Show.

While the standard GranCabrio (also known as the GranTurismo Convertible) packs the same 434-horsepower, 4.7-liter V8 as the GranTurismo S coupe, the GranCabrio Sport offers 450. The six-speed automatic transmission has been recalibrated, the brakes upgraded and the styling tweaked for an even meaner look.

Gallery: Maserati GranCabrio Sport

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Lotus Elise Club Racer

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

In addition to the Mansory Evora which Lotus will unveil at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, the British sportscar-maker will also lift the curtain on a new version of the Elise roadster called the Club Racer.

The stripped-out Elise sheds 52 pounds off its already spritely curb weight, and gets a new sport setting for the Dynamic Performance Management system, giving the driver-focused roadster an even bigger performance advantage. Pricing comes in at £27,500.

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Wiesmann Spyder to Debut at Geneva Motor Show

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Beyond the usual suspects sit a handful of niche automakers based in Europe. Companies like Gumpert, Spyker and Wiesmann. And like the former, the latter will be coming to Geneva with a new model to expand its range.

The Wiesmann Spyder is expected to be based on the existing Roadster model (pictured above for illustrative purposes), but does without the doors and the windscreen for a pure driver's experience. Strictly a show car for the time being, Wiesmann says they're bringing the concept to the exposition to gauge public opinion before considering production potential. We'll have to wait as the show approaches to find out more, but like the elite cadre of wealthy motorists Wiesmann calls its clientele, our interests are suitably piqued.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Wiesmann MF5 Roadster

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De Tomaso to Relaunch in Geneva with new SLC

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The 1960s exotic sportscar scene was dominated not only by names we still see today like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche, but also by a few that have since passed quietly into the night. Among them was De Tomaso, a company which, like Pagani, was founded by an Argentinean and was headquartered in the Italian city of Modena. But De Tomaso is making a comeback, and this is their first new vehicle.

While a sportscar and four-door coupe/sedan are reportedly also in the pipeline, the first of the new family is the SLC you see here. A sort of sedan crossover similar in form to the BMW 5 Series GT, the De Tomaso SLC is set to bow at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. When it finally reaches production at around 3,000 units per year, the SLC will have a range of engines available, including a 524-horsepower V8 or six-cylinder engines burning either gasoline at 296 horsepower or diesel at 247. Pricing is anticipated to start around the €85,000 mark. Follow the jump for video footage.

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Saab 9-3 Convertible Independence Edition

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Saab 9-3 Convertible Independence Edition

Saab is preparing to unveil a special edition of their 9-3 Convertible at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, and this is our first glimpse.

Called the Independence Edition, it commemorates the first anniversary of Saab's departure from General Motors and into the (relatively) independent ownership of Spyker Cars. The special edition is decked out in a reddish-orange, with a parchment leather interior characterized by an orange stripe down the seats and an orange needle on the turbo gauge, nestled into a leather-trimmed dashboard outfitted by Saab specialist Hirsch. It also gets special 18-inch wheels, but the highlight is the 220-horsepower 2-liter turbocharged four borrowed from the larger 9-5 sedan. Only 366 examples will be made available worldwide, with deliveries beginning in the spring.

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All-New Lancia Ypsilon to debut in Geneva

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

All-New Lancia Ypsilon to debut in Geneva

Italy's premium automaker Lancia is coming to Geneva with a slew of new debuts. Principal among them is the luxurious, yet compact new Ypsilon hatchback.

Joining the Fiat 500 and Alfa Romeo MiTo in Italy's assault on the Mini, the Ypsilon offers a five-door package with a three-door shape and a luxuriously-appointed cabin for a more upscale feel. LED dashboard lighting, large sunroof and noise-absorbing headliner do their part, as do the latest electronics, from the "magic parking" system to the Blue&Me TomTom Live dashboard system.

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Lancia Brings Chryslers to Geneva

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

If Chryslers have never quite been able to reach the level of Lincolns and Cadillacs in the North American market, they've had even more trouble crossing the Atlantic to take on stiff competition from Europe's finest. Meanwhile Fiat's Lancia division has been struggling with a weak model range. The solution, however, could come in their cooperation.

Through the marriage of Chrysler and Fiat (Lancia's parent company), the two brands have been unified under common leadership and are now beginning to integrate their line-ups on both sides of the ocean. At the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, Lancia will unveil rebadged versions of several Chrysler models: the Lancia Thema (aka Chrysler 300), Lancia Flavia and Flavia Cabrio (Chrysler 200 sedan and convertible) and Lancia Grand Voyager (carrying the same name as the Chrysler minivan).

Lancia will also be unveiling a subtly facelifted version of the Delta, as well as the all-new Ypsilon hatchback, making this one very busy show for the Italian automaker.

Gallery: Lancia at 2011 Geneva Motor Show