geneva motor show

Audi A3 Sedan To Join Mercedes B Class and BMW Front-Drive Cars

German luxury car brands are continuing to reach lower in price and smaller in size to attract more Generation Y premium shoppers, as well as some Gen X and Baby Boomers who have seen their wealth, if not their taste in brands, shrink in the last couple of years.

The latest is Audi's apparent plans to bring the A3 sedan to the U.S. for the 2013 model year. Audi currently sells just the Audi A3 five-door hatch in the U.S. The German company sold 6,558 of those last year, and there is speculation that the company could sell some 10,000-15,000 sedans a year if it brought it to the U.S.

Tags: audi a3, Audi A3 sedan, BMW front-drive, geneva motor show, mercedes b class

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2011 Geneva Motor Show: The Supercars

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

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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Video: Girls of the Geneva Motor Show

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events, Video

While we're enjoying the latest luxury and supercar news from our correspondent at the Geneva Motor Show, here's a video clip of some of the beautiful models who attracted the most stares. We're not talking about the machines themselves but rather the bevy of beauties hired to show them off to advantage. The Geneva show sees the debut of some of the world's hottest cars so the competition is fierce. While many spectators take the girls for granted, a sort of added attraction or sideshow to the main event, as The Classicist noted in this 2009 column car show girls are in fact carefully chosen "tools to present the [car brands'] corporate image in a very distinctive way." Our advice: don't read too much into it, just enjoy the show.

Tags: auto show, auto show girls, car brands, car show girls, events, Geneva, Geneva Auto Show, Geneva Motor Show, geneva+motor+show+2011+girls, genevamotorshow2011girls, luxury cars, models, motor show, supercar

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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VW Closing Purchase of Porsche. Still Eyeing Alfa-Romeo

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

German automaker Volkswagen this week is expected to complete its long-planned $4.5 billion acquisition of luxury sports car maker Porsche. When the ink is dry, it will formally add Porsche to a brand stable that includes Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti, as well as mass-market brands Volkswagen, Skoda and Seat.

And VW AG supervisory board chairman, billionaire Ferdinand Piech (grandson of Porsche founder Ferdinand Porsche) isn't through trying to add premium and luxury brands. At the Geneva Motor Show this week Piech reiterated his interest in acquiring Italian brand Alfa Romeo, owned by Fiat, despite public statements by Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne that the marque is not for sale.

Tags: alfa romeo, Aventador, bentley, Bugatti, Ferdinand Piech, Fiat, Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini, Porsche, Sergio Marchionne, Volkswagen AG

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Lamborghini Aventador: New Italian Super Car Laid Bare

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Loosen up your checkbooks. Italian super-car builder Lamborghini is expected to unveil its new Aventador next week at the Geneva Motor Show. The Aventador is the successor to the Murcielago, which went out of production last November, having finished off a decade long run of 4,099 cars produced.

Though the "Aventador" name is still technically unconfirmed by Lamborghini, it is known that the company trademarked the name. Industry sources say the new flagship super-car will produce around 700 horsepower from a new 12-cylinder engine, reach 62 mph in just 2.7 seconds, and reach a top end of 217 mph.

Tags: Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini, lamborghini aventador, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, lamborghini murcielago

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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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Tags: 2011 geneva motor show, concept, geneva, geneva 2011, geneva motor show, mini, Mini Rocketman Concept, rocketman

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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Tags: 2011 geneva motor show, geneva, geneva 2011, geneva motor show, volkswagen, volkswagen cabrio, volkswagen golf, volkswagen golf cabrio, volkswagen golf cabriolet, vw

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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Tags: 2011 geneva motor show, aston martin, aston martin db9, aston martin virage, geneva, geneva 2011, geneva motor show

Jaguar to Launch Fastest Production Model Ever in Geneva

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events

Jaguar to Launch Fastest Production Model Ever in Geneva

On March 1, Jaguar will launch the new Jaguar XKR-S in conjunction with the legendary E-Type's 50th anniversary at the Geneva Motor Show. With a higher output supercharged V8 engine, revised suspension, and a new aerodynamically-driven design, the Jaguar XKR-S is designed to be a true luxury GT with eye-popping performance – the fastest production Jag ever built. "The XKR-S is a bold and exciting new model for Jaguar," says Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar's new Global Brand Director. "We expect to attract both loyal and new Jaguar driving enthusiasts who still want the comfort, opulence and class only a Jaguar can offer, combined with inspirational performance."

The Jaguar XKR-S produces 550 hp with 502 lb/ft of torque, offers a top speed of 186 mph (300km/h), and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds. In addition to the debut, Jaguar will be marking the 50th anniversary of the E-Type with the first in a series of celebrations. The famed British marque will host an E-Type fête at the Restaurant Hotel du Parc des Eaux-Vives in Geneva, where the original car was introduced by Jaguar's founder Sir William Lyons half a century ago. "It is impossible to overstate the impact the E-Type had," notes Ian Callum, Jaguar Design Director.

Tags: car design, Geneva, Geneva Motor Show, Geneva Motor Show 2011, Jaguar, Jaguar E-Type, luxury cars

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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Tags: 2011 geneva motor show, a3, a3 concept, adui a3, audi, audi a3 concept, geneva, geneva 2011, geneva motor show

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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Tags: 2011 geneva motor show, Elise, geneva, geneva 2011, geneva motor show, Lotus, Lotus Elise, Lotus Elise Club Racer