paris motor show

Ferrari SA Aperta

After much trepidation and anticipation, Ferrari has finally released details and photos of its latest model. Called the SA Aperta, it's based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, only it's missing the roof.

In its place, Ferrari has increased the car's rigidity and installed a makeshift folding cloth roof. The name pays homage to Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina (the heads of the eponymous design house, hence the SA) while indicating its open-air body-style (Aperta). Only 80 examples will be made, making the SA Aperta one of the most exclusive Ferraris ever produced.

The SA Aperta follows a long line of limited-production V12 convertibles from Ferrari that has included such recent examples as the 550 Barchetta Pininfarina and the 575 SuperAmerica. Ferrari is also expected to unveil an environmentally-oriented concept based on the California at the upcoming Paris Auto Salon.

Tags: 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris motor show, ferrari, ferrari 599, ferrari 599 gtb fiorano, ferrari 599 sa aperta, ferrari sa aperta, paris, paris 2010, paris auto salon, paris motor show, pininfarina, sa aperta

Porsche Exclusive Celebrates with Limited Edition 911 Speedster

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Another day, another new variant of the Porsche 911. Joining the recently announced 911 Carrera GTS on the company's Paris show stand – to say nothing of the dozen or so other models in the line-up – is the new 911 Speedster.

A favorite among Porschephiles, the 911 Speedster features two seats (instead of four), a double-bubble rear deck and a chopped down windscreen for a svelter look that recalls the 356 Speedster of 1950s vintage. In fact Porsche will only be making 356 examples, specially crafted by the Porsche Exclusive division that celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster

Tags: 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris motor show, 911, 911 speedster, paris, paris 2010, paris auto salon, paris motor show, porsche, porsche 911, porsche 911 speedster, porsche exclusive, speedster

Land Rover Introduces the Range Rover Evoque

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

This is the 2012 Range Rover Evoque – lighter, meaner, even greener... than the usual Range Rover product, at least. The production version of the LRX-inspired luxury SUV wears all of the cues that made us ask them to build it in the first place, and an interior that raises the game for smaller sport-ute offerings.

On the subject of exteriors, there will be three design themes from which to choose: Pure, a minimalistic take with 19-inch wheels outside and natural colors complemented by brushed metal trim inside; Prestige, a "bespoke exterior" treatment with exclusive 19-inch wheels paired "an indulgent interior;" or Dynamic, with 19- or 20-inch wheels a reworked bodykit, and a "premium sports interior" cabin with items like perforated leather seats.

Inside is an interior influenced not only by the Range Rover Sport, but by Jaguar as well. Seriously bolstered seat straddle a center tunnel wherein lies a rotary gear change dial that rises to hand. The four-setting Terrain Response System dial has been replaced with buttons attending an illuminated menu. Controls are mainly managed through an 8-inch touchscreen. Aural enjoyment is provided by the 825-watt, 17-speaker Meridian sound system with additional inputs for other peripherals.

Underneath the Evoque's hood is a 240-horsepower, 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder provided by Ford engine which should provide plenty of grunt with smaller gas bills. Electric power steering turns the wheels, and an regenerative electrical system captures energy when those wheels are slowed down. Roadgoing is meant to be kept smooth by the MagneRide adaptive dynamics suspension. It goes on sale in the fall of 2011, but we'll see it in person at the Paris Motor Show at the end of the month.

Gallery: 2012 Land Rover Evoque

Tags: evoque, land rover, land rover evoque, paris auto show, paris motor show, range rover, range rover evoque, suv

Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

If you've had your eye on a new Maserati but wanted something a little more hard-core in its performance delivery, look no further than the new GranTurismo MC Stradale.

Bridging the gap between the existing GranTurismo S and the race-spec GT4 model, the MC Stradale increases the performance quotient considerably. The chassis has been tuned to near-competition standards, the engine has been squeezed up to 450 horsepower and the aerodynamics have been optimized to increase downforce without increasing drag at the same time. In short, a racing car for the road.

Gallery: Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

Tags: 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris motor show, gran turismo, maserati, maserati gran turismo, maserati gran turismo mc stradale, mc stradale, paris, paris 2010, paris auto salon, paris motor show

Lotus Unveils Paris-Bound Elite

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Lotus is about to embark on a new direction,and this is the model which will spearhead it. Aptly called the Elite, this is a new kind of Lotus, and will debut at the upcoming Paris Auto Salon next week.

Unlike the brilliant, but cramped, mid-engined vehicles currently in the Lotus stable, the Elite is a commodious 2+2, its engine mounted up front, yet close to the vehicle's center, with a retractable hard-top. The 5-liter V8 comes from the Lexus IS F, providing enough power (611 horses, to be precise) to propel the Elite to 62 mph from a standstill in 3.6 seconds and on to a top speed approaching 200 mph.

Although this model – set to debut next week in Paris – is technically a concept, a production version is expected to arrive on market by 2014 with a £115,000 ($180k) price tag.

Gallery: Lotus Elite

Tags: 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris motor show, elite, lotus, lotus elite, paris, paris 2010, paris auto salon, paris motor show

Citroen Lacoste Concept to debut at Paris Show

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Two of the biggest French names in their respective fields have teamed up for a new take on the motor vehicle in advance of the upcoming Paris Auto Salon, and the product is what you see before you.

A collaboration between French automaker Citroën and French sportswear label Lacoste, the show car eschews such frivolities as doors and a roof in favor of a more open-air approach in keeping with Lacoste's design ethos. In designing the concept, Citroën says they adopted "a simplified, no-nonsense approach to motoring - without forgetting refinement - and transports passengers to a lighter, fresher world."

The compact vehicle is (in concept at least) powered by a small 3-cylinder engine, which they reckon would be plenty to propel the vehicle at a brisk pace without unnecessarily polluting the air it so embraces.

Gallery: Citroen Lacoste concept

Tags: 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris motor show, citroen, citroen lacoste, Citroen Lacoste Concept, lacoste, paris, paris 2010, paris auto salon, paris motor show

BMW 6 Series Coupe Concept Heading to Paris

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

With the current BMW 6 Series growing long in the tooth and due for replacement, Bimmerphiles have been waiting anxiously for the next-generation model, and we've just gotten our first glimpse.

Although technically this is a concept car, the production version – expected to hit the market sometime next year – is anticipated to look very close to what you see here. The styling eschews the awkward lines pioneered by former BMW styling chief Chris Bangle in favor of a more flowing shape, taking its lead from the new 5 Series sedan but in a more svelte coupe package. The concept will debut in just a couple of weeks at the Paris Auto Salon.

Check out our review of the BMW 650i Convertible.

Gallery: BMW 6 Series Concept

Source

Tags: 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris motor show, bmw, bmw 6 series, bmw 6 series coupe concept, bmw 6-series, paris, paris 200, paris auto salon, paris motor show

Porsche Introduces New 911 GTS

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

If you're in the market for a Porsche 911 – one of the most iconic sportscars of all time – then you've got no lack of choices. Between the basic Carrera, the all-wheel-drive Carrrera 4, the forced-induction Turbo and the track focused GT3 and GT2 (never mind unique models like the Targa and Sport Classic), plus S or RS variants of each and many of them available in either coupe or convertible body-styles, there are well over a dozen variants to choose from. And now there's one more.

Called the Carrera GTS, the latest 911 is slated to be unveiled at the upcoming Paris Auto Salon. The model adopts the wider body from the Carrera 4, but retains the rear-drive set-up, with a 408-horsepower 3.8-liter Flat-Six engine that bridges the gap between the standard and GT3 models. It's available in either coupe or convertible, with either manual or semi-automatic dual-clutch transmissions. Prices start at $103,100.

Source

Tags: 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris motor show, 911, 911 gts, gts, paris, paris 2010, paris auto salon, paris motor show, porsche, porsche 911, porsche 911 gts

Abarth 500C & Punto Evo EsseEsse heading to Paris Salon

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

In a perfect world, maybe everyone who wanted a fast little Italian car could get his hands on one. For better or worse, though, not all of us can afford a Ferrari or Maserati. That's where their little brother comes in. Abarth starts out with humble enough little Fiats, then tinkers with 'em until their on the verge of breathing fire. And they've just announced their latest.

Based on the Abarth 500C and Punto Evo unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, the EsseEsse versions pack even more muscle: 160 and 180 horsepower, respectively. Which may not seem like much, but it's plenty to move these nimble little creatures along at an impressive pace. Both will be unveiled at the Port de Versailles later this month during the Paris Auto Salon.

Gallery: Abarth 500C & Punto Evo EsseEsse

Tags: 2010 paris auto salon, 2010 paris motor show, abarth, abarth 500c esseesse, abarth punto evo esseesse, paris, paris 2010, paris auto salon, paris motor show

Lamborghini Teases Murcielago Replacement for Paris Motor Show

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Lamborghini teaser – Click above to enlarge

Lamborghini has just pushed out the first teaser image for the new car that it will debut at the Paris Motor Show in a few weeks. The new sports car which is expected to badged as the Jota will replace the Murcielago that debuted in 2001. Not much detail is known about the Jota, but the rumors floating around the net indicate that it will be powered by an all-new V12 engine with direct injection and over 700 horsepower. The V12 in the Murcielago is an evolution of the unit that first appeared in the 3500 GT in the mid-1960s and subsequently powered the Countach, Diablo and Reventon as well.

[Source: Lamborghini]

Tags: Lamborghini, lamborghini jota, Lamborghini Jota Murciélago replacement, lamborghini murcielago, paris motor show, paris motor show 2010

Citroen DS4 Released Ahead of Paris Salon

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The semi-annual Paris auto salon is coming up in just a few weeks, with several automakers releasing glimpses at their latest wares in advance. The latest comes from French automaker Citroën, which has announced the newest addition to its DS line of premium offerings.

Called the DS4, the quasi-crossover hatchback was previewed in Geneva earlier this year as the DS High Rider. In production form, the DS4 adds a pair of rear doors neatly integrated into the svelte, coupe-like shape. Premium fit and finish is accented by the tasteful application of chrome trim, with a tall stance bridging the gap between a hatchback and a sport-utility vehicle. A range of gasoline and diesel engines co-developed with BMW will be on offer, but sadly for Francophiles exiled to American shores, Citroën doesn't market on this side of the Atlantic. So for now we'll just have to admire from afar.

Source

Tags: citroen, citroen ds, citroen ds4, ds4, paris, paris auto salon, paris motor show

Rumormill: Lotus Esprit Successor Could Debut at Paris with Lexus LFA engine

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

\

On September 30 at 4:45 pm CET, Lotus will hold its biggest auto show press conference in many years at the Paris Motor Show. In addition to the new Evora S and automatic transmission versions, Lotus is expected to finally unveil the oft-delayed successor to the Esprit. For several years in the mid-2000s, there were rumors that Lotus would use a V8 from either Audi or BMW to power the new Esprit.

However, in recent years, Lotus has used Toyota engines exclusively in the Elise, Exige and now the Evora. It just so happens that Toyota has a new engine in its arsenal that would be ideally suited to a new supercar, the 552 horsepower 4.8-liter V10 from the recently launched Lexus LFA.

According to Inside Line, the V10 would power the premium version of the Esprit while base versions would use a variant of the 416 hp 5.0-liter V8 from the Lexus IS-F. Regardless of the engine choice the new Esprit and the Lotus brand as a whole are expected to move upmarket to compete with the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini.

[Source: Inside Line]

Tags: lotus, lotus esprit, lotus esprit lexus engine, lotus esprit lexus lfa v10, lotus esprit lfa v10, paris, paris motor show, Paris2010, ParisMotorShow

Video: BMW Teases the New 1 Series M Coupe

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

BMW 1 Series M coupe – Click above for teaser video

For months now we've been seeing spy photos of a beefed up version of BMW's 1 Series coupe and until recently there was much speculation as to whether it would get the vaunted M badge of simply be something like a 135is. We now know that it will in fact be the 1 Series M (since M1 will likely forever be reserved for the mid-engine progenitor of the M line from the late-1970s).

We still don't know any technical details although the 1 Series M will almost certainly be powered by a high-output version of the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six found in the 135i. The wheel arches have been inflated to enclose the larger wheels that wrap around the massive cross-drilled brakes. In typical M fashion the front air dam extends much closer to the ground and features large air intakes to feed the engine and brake cooling ducts. With BMW now officially teasing the 1 Series M, it will likely be revealed in full next month at the Paris Motor Show. Check out the new teaser video and the first track test video after the jump.

[Source: BMW]

Tags: bmw, BMW 1 Series, bmw 1 series m, bmw 1-series, paris, paris motor show, paris motor show 2010, paris motorshow, video

Continue reading “Video: BMW Teases the New 1 Series M Coupe”

High-Output Lotus Evora S and Automatic to Debut at Paris Motor Show

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Lotus Evora S – Click above for high-res image gallery

Next month's Paris Motor Show will be one of the busiest events for Lotus in many years as it unveils two new variants of the Evora and at least one other car expected to be the all-new Esprit. Lotus has revealed details of the new S and IPS versions of the Evora ahead of the show. The Evora S is a higher-performance version of the recently introduced mid-engine sports car that bumps the 3.5-liter Toyota-built V6 from 276 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque up to 345 hp and 295 lb-ft.

In addition to the extra power, the S also gets an upgraded suspension for more precise handling and larger cross-drilled brake rotors to scrub off the speed when needed. A sport pack includes a driver controlled button to manage a bypass valve in the exhaust system and speed up the throttle response.

Anyone that's been paying attention to Lotus is undoubtedly aware that it mostly builds hard-car sports cars. Automatic transmissions have not been part of the Lotus lineup since the Elite was discontinued in 1982. The Intelligent Precision Shift (IPS) option adds a Toyota six-speed automatic modified with a Lotus-developed control system to the base Evora. Steering wheel mounted paddles provide the driver with full-manual control of the gearbox.

Gallery: Lotus Evora S and IPS

[Source: Lotus]

Tags: Lotus, Lotus Evora, lotus evora ips, lotus evora s, paris, paris motor show, Paris2010

Continue reading “High-Output Lotus Evora S and Automatic to Debut at Paris Motor Show”

Officially, Official: 2nd-Generation Mercedes-Benz CLS 4-door Coupe

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

style="text-align: center;"> 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS – Click above for high-res image gallery

In 2004, Mercedes-Benz kick-started a whole new automotive genre with the debut of the CLS. Now that the CLS has inspired a whole slew of competitors including the Audi A7 and the upcoming BMW Gran Coupe. Next month at the Paris Motor Show, Mercedes will launch the second generation of the four-door coupe that retains the basic roof profile while changing everything else.

The look of the new CLS was previewed last April at the Beijing Motor Show in the form of the sporty-wagon Shooting Break concept. Up front, the CLS has a adopted the more upright grille design that we first saw last year on the gull-wing SLS AMG. Like most other recent premium cars, the CLS has strings of LEDs for running lamps and turn signals. However, even the headlamps are now comprised of the low-power, long-life lighting. The flanks of the CLS now have a much more sculpted and muscular look than before with arched rear fenders that are similar to the new E-Class.

Inside, the CLS features a further evolution of other recent Mercedes designs and like the E-Class features an LCD display in the center of the speedometer to provide a variety of information to the driver. So far Mercedes hasn't announced any powertrain information but we can expect to see the latest direct injected V6 and V8 engines in the U.S. with European models also getting a variety of diesels.

Gallery: 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS