By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos 

All of its rivals have a head start. Some are already in their second-generation models. But from the What the Heck Took So Long department, it looks like Toyota’s premium Lexus brand has finally decided to jump into the exploding small SUV/crossover market.

A report from Automotive News says Lexus will unveil a concept of a new compact crossover at this fall’s Tokyo auto show, followed by the unveiling of the production version at the 2014 Geneva show, next March. The new-for-Lexus luxury cute-ute should then go on-sale in late-2014 as a 2015 model.

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada

Geneva, Switzerland — With no major, international Italian auto show on the calendar, Switzerland’s Geneva event is the closest geographically for Italy's design houses to show their wares. And this year’s Swiss show was no different, with all the big studios — Bertone, IED ItalDesign Giugiaro and Pinanfarina — showing up with new concepts and show cars.

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada

While most automakers simply can’t help themselves and have already spilled the bans on their debuts for next week’s Geneva Motor Show, a few have shown some measure of restraint. Here’s a short list of automaker’s that have teased us with their unveilings. Which one are you most excited to eventually see?

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

The list of true competitors for the Mazda Miata has been pretty small since its introduction back in 1989. Most similarly sized rear-drive roadsters have either been too expensive (Audi TT, BMW Z3/Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK, Porsche Boxster), too compromised (Toyota's last US-only MR2) or have been driven by the wrong wheels (third-gen Mercury Capri).

Well, the long-running rumour that Toyota (and by default, Subaru) would take another crack at it, this time using its fantastic GT 86 has finally been confirmed. (The GT86 is sold as the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ here in Canada.)

From appearance, it looks like the concept retains the coupe's 2+2 seating, and we'd guess the top is powered canvas rather than a heavy folding-metal hardtop. The larger wheels and low-profile tires are tucked way up into the arches, but that's pretty standard autoshow-preview stuff... Production versions would probably ride on the same modest 17-inchers found on regular models, although perhaps a different style to differentiate the two.

The biggest improvements appear in the cabin, which gets a leather-covered padded dash, some additional gauges and new radio, and some screaming yellow/gold interior accents and carpets.

We'd guess the addition of the convertible top probably adds about 100 kg to the GT 86, but it would retain most of the fun and rewarding behaviour we've grown to love so much.

Don't hold your breath on these ever coming to Canada... Maybe the US, but there are too few potential buyers up north.

The GT 86 Open Concept will be shown at the Geneva Motor Show later in March.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

If you've been living under a rock for the last few months, you'd be forgiven for not knowing that British race- and road-car builder McLaren is building a successor to its legendary F1 supercar. It revealed the shape and a few details about P1 at the Paris Motor Show last fall, and now is following up before Geneva to fill in plenty of the blanks.

First, the P1 uses full carbonfibre construction to keep its weight down, along with active suspension and aerodynamics introduced on the 14C supercar. It just plain looks stunning with vents, curves and LED lights everywhere... the brake lights are perhaps the coolest ever, ringing the, ahem, cooling ducts for the mid-mounted engine. Like modern Formula 1 cars, the P1 also uses a drag-reduction system (DRS) that lets the car cut through the air up to 20-ish per cent better, meaning rediculously fast acceleration.

That engine is a serious evolution of the 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 found in the 14C, only here in the P1 it makes around 700 horsepower. However, the gas engine is supplemented by a powerful electric motor that's fed by a Formula 1-style kinetic-energy-recovery-system (KERS) that uses a big battery to store energy recaptured during braking. Total system power is 903 horsepower and 600-ish lb-ft of torque, and the driver can also call upon an instantaneous boost of 175 horsepower for short periods of time. As a bonus, the P1 can function as an electric car for up to about 20 km in city driving.

The transmission is a beefed-up seven-speed dual-clutch unit, while the brakes promise to deliver race-car levels of stopping force. McLaren tapped their Formula 1 team supplier Akebono to produce a system that's lighter than ever thanks to a new space-race-era ceramic compound. 

Acceleration numbers are quoted as being head-bashingly fast: 0-300 km/h takes less than 17 seconds, which McLaren says is 23 per cent faster than the McLaren F1. Zero-100 is under three seconds while 0-200 km/h a measly seven seconds... Top speed is limited to 350 km/h as the company claims it has no interest in taking on the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport for those honours. We've also heard rumours that the P1 is currently smashing track records everywhere it goes so we'll be very interested once those details get clearer.

What is perfectly clear is that McLaren is banking on exclusivity again with the P1: only 375 will be built at a cost of over $1.5 million Canadian.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

It's no great secret that I love off-the-wall wagons as much as the next guy, and let me tell you, when some rich dude wants a custom-built performance luxury five-door, all I can do is cheer. So one loaded Aston Martin customer went to Italian design house Bertone and asked for a station-wagon version of the Rapide sedan. Since this is both Aston's 100th birthday and 60 years of working with Bertone, obviously the people in England quickly said, "Sure, why not?"

The result is the Bertone Jet 2+2, based on the current Rapide mechanicals with everything aft of the B-pillars being all-new and melded perfectly with Aston's design. It uses a 470-horsepower 6.0-litre V12 from the 'old' Rapide rather than the upgraded 550-horsepower version from the new Rapide S. Still, who'll complain?

New seats, woods and aluminum have been used inside to give it a more custom feel, while the rear two seats do fold flat to increase cargo room. 

This isn't the first Bertone/Aston Martin 'shooting break'. The Bertone Jet 2 is essentially a wagonized version of the old Vanquish, a dozen DB5's were similarly modified by company owner David Brown, some DB6's, and of course, the Sultan of Brunei's fleet of modified Virages.

It's pretty much a tie in my books between this and the Maserati Quattroporte Bellagio Touring from a few years back. What's your vote? What other high-end sedan or coupe would you like to see turned into a station wagon or shooting break? Let us know!

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

We praised Mercedes-Benz' second effort at a front-drive five-door hatch after testing the all-new B250 last fall, and the swoopy four-door CLA-Class 'coupe' based on the same mechanicals wowed us at the North American International Auto Show. And although not familiar to most Canadians, the smaller A-Class hatch - the third sibling -has been a similar success in Europe.

Given that AMG, the company's in-house go-faster division, has been tasked with transforming every single product Mercedes-Benz offers (except the Sprinter), we knew a high-powered compact based on these kissing cousins wouldn't be far along. Guess we were right: this is the A 45 AMG.

The car has been officially revealed ahead of its debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and we'll give you a run-down on the juiciest details. Somehow, AMG managed to tweak and boost the 2.0-litre four-cylinder found in the B 250 from 210 horsepower to over 360 in the A45. Torque takes a similar jump: up from 260 lb-ft to 330. The seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual has been beefed up to handle the extra power, but the A 45 AMG does get help with traction thanks to 4MATIC all-wheel drive.

The combination means the A45 does the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 4.6 seconds and tops out at a limited 250 km/h. Amazingly, Mercedes-Benz also claims fuel consumption average of only 6.9-7.1 L/100 km on the European cycle. The Canadian B 250 does 7.9 L/100 km in the city and 5.5 on the highway, so that's some impressive work.

As you'd expect, the front and rear suspension components are heavily revised, including an AMG-spec four-link axle in the back. High-performance 235/40R18 rubber on twin-spoke AMG wheels is standard, while larger drilled and slotted brakes work to bring the A 45 AMG down from speed quickly and without drama.

The visual changes are equally dramatic with different and more aggressive fascias, vents and twin square tailpipes. The interior boasts more supportive front seats, an AMG-specific steering wheel and more.

We're guessing the A 45 AMG won't come to North America, but we'd bet our lunch that the upcoming CLA-Class will certainly benefit from the same attention in a year or two. Maybe even the B-Class, but that's less likely...

What's your take on AMG's effort? Worth the money? Trying too hard? Do you like it or not?

Dale Jewett, AutoWeek

Toyota is exploring a convertible version of the Scion FR-S coupe and will show a concept of the open-top car at the Geneva motor show in early March.

The concept wears the FT-86 Open nameplate. Toyota uses the GT86 name in Europe for the car sold here as the Scion FR-S. In Japan, the car is badged as the 86. Subaru sells a mechanically similar car as the BRZ and builds the cars for itself and Toyota.

Toyota often gives its concepts an FT name, which stands for Future Toyota.

By Dale Jewett, AutoWeek

Kia is priming the pump for its reveal at the Geneva motor show in March with a few shots of its concept car.

Naturally, it's not giving out many details at the moment. It's obvious that it's a small car -- Kia calls it an urban concept car. The automaker notes in its press release that the "signature tiger nose morphs into a mischievous yet friendly grille and headlight arrangement, coupled with strong styling lines that exude speed and energy from every angle."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada

 

Ever since Italy’s Fiat took over managing America's bankrupt and government bailed-out Chrysler, the idea of sexy new Alfa Romeos becoming available for the first time since the mid-1990s has always been the carrot, tantalizingly dangled in front of panting Alfa fans. But, as the Alfista are already painfully aware, that promise is now over three years old, and yet to be fulfilled.  And—surpise, surprise—Fiat seems to not be in a big hurry to bring Alfas back to Canada any time soon.