By Mark Atkinson, MSN Autos Canada
Amongst the mild, wild and downright ridiculous debuts and concepts at the Geneva Motor Show, there’s one that somehow escaped much attention. It’s a new V8-powered Porsche, but not a Panamera. Nor a Cayenne.
No, it’s the iconic 911 shape with a V8 shoved in the back. Say what?
By Mark Atkinson, MSN Autos
When Ford redesigned its Focus in 2008 in an effort to better tackle the dominant Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, the only carry-over style was the four-door sedan. The company ditched the three- and five-door hatchbacks and station wagon, but added a two-door coupe to the mix instead. That sort of thinking might make sense in the United States, where hatchbacks and wagons are treated like the plague, but Canada was left out in the cold as sedans and coupes don’t sell in the same numbers as hatchbacks and wagons... Ex-Ford of Canada president Bill Osborne publicly criticized his bosses in Detroit for a lack of foresight – and was promptly transferred to Australia...
By Mark Atkinson, MSN Autos
Money obviously doesn’t buy taste. Too often we’re reminded of that with gigantic mega mansions, the destroyer-sized yachts moored in Monte Carlo and the increasingly gaudy and ostentatious modifications offered on otherwise beautiful new vehicles. Perhaps the worst in recent years is the Russian-built Dartz Promrbron mega-SUV that claims to offer an optional whale penis-lined interior.
Still, besides headline-grabbing one-offs, there are a few companies that consistently put out gloriously horrendously customized luxury vehicles. One such modifier is Swiss-based Mansory, which isn’t above creating a pink-on-pink Bentley Continental GT with a contrasting carbon-fibre hood. Still, Mansory’s latest offering is aimed squarely at oil-rich sheiks and Russian magnates.
By Mark Atkinson, MSN Autos
Mercedes-Benz has grabbed the world’s attention with its latest design language, which has nearly touched every model on sale now. Now that Benz’ E-Class has been successfully redesigned and introduced, it’s now time for the attention to turn to the last major holdout: the swoopy CLS, which helped redefine the term coupe when it debuted four years ago. In preparation for the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the company has previewed its newest concept, the F800 Style, which should preview many of the next-generation CLS’ major features.
By Justin Couture, MSN Autos
German engineering firm EDAG has just unveiled its latest concept car at the Geneva Motor Show, the Light Car Open Source.
Like many new vehicles and concepts being shown at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, the Light Car Open Source is electric, and in true, green fashion its body and frame are made of lightweight, 100-per cent recyclable materials. Though these are credible points, they’re really only a minor aside, an added bonus to the car’s showcase technology - lighting.
Embedded into the car’s body are OLEDs (Organic Light-Emitting Diodes), which aside from consuming less energy than the conventional LEDs, can be used to add styling touches to the car. For instance, the driver can change the look of the headlamps’ outlines. The exterior door handles are also illuminated as well. Inside, similar technology allows the driver to create a custom layout for the instruments, which are illuminated in OLEDs.
By Justin Couture, Sympatico/MSN Autos
Though the buzz word at this year's Geneva motor show is "green," the presence of high-performance metal cannot be escaped. Lamborghini is showing off the ultimate representation of its Murciélago, Ferrari has brought along two new versions of its 599s, Aston Martin showed off (in full) its One-77 supercar, Koenigsegg has its new Quant four-seater ... and really, that's just the start.
The Giugiaro-designed Frazer Nash Namir Concept, which debuted yesterday in Geneva, fits perfectly into both categories: it's incredibly quick and stylish, but it's also surprisingly green.
Frazer Nash, the previously defunct classic British sports car manufacturer, hasn't made a car in quite some time, but, the Namir looks to be the start of something new. Backed by KamKorp, a Swiss firm specializing in in the development of electric powertrains, the Namir Concept could become a reality as soon as early 2010. So far, the mechanical components that back the Namir have undergone over 300,000 kilometres of testing.
By Justin Couture, Sympatico/MSN Autos
Power or fuel economy? It's a question that you might've debated when making a vehicle purchase. Power enables safe passing, the ability to tow and haul more, and of course, it can make driving a lot more fun. But then again, it is hard not to ignore concerns over the use and cost of fuel.
Swiss tuner Rinspeed might have a potential solution, which it is showcasing in its E2 Concept Car, set to debut next week in Geneva.
Based off the cute 'n cuddly Fiat 500 esseesse - the fastest version of the 500 - it boasts a 160-horsepower turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine. Rinspeed added its newly developed engine management system (which controls the fuel injection system, the turbo's boost and more) that allows the driver to select between two different modes - "Commuting" and "Highway".
By Justin Couture, Sympatico/MSN Autos
Over the past few months, most of the new vehicle and concept launches on the auto show circuit were geared towards a greener, cleaner future. However, the debuts at year's Geneva Motor Show will be bucking that trend. Aston Martin’s stunning new DBS Volante is a perfect example of this.
Expanding Aston Martin's range to six different models (seven, if you count the Rapide, eight if you count the One-77 supercar, and nine if you count the new V12 Vantage as a separate model) the DBS Volante is the drop top variant on the brand's (current) halo product. As with all other Volantes, the DBS features a cloth roof, though this one boasts a Thinsulate lining and the ability to retract and raise in 14 seconds at speeds of up to 48 km/h.
By Justin Couture, Sympatico/MSN Autos
The second-generation TT marked a turning point for Audi’s sports coupe and roadster. Though it doesn’t have the same groundbreaking visuals as it did when it was launched, it has evolved into a credible sports car. While elements are still shared with the A3 and the VW Golf, the TT features a unique hybrid steel-aluminum chassis for improved weight distribution (and better handling), plus unique optional extras like magnetic dampers that allow for a comfortable ride without sacrificing body control.
Further evidence of Audi’s seriousness over sportiness came with the launch of the turbocharged 265-hp TTS, the most driver-oriented TT to date. While this has made it a more formidable rival to entry and mid-level sports cars and roadsters, it still lacks the firepower to chase down rivals in the 300 horsepower neighborhood. That is, until now.
Justin Couture
Reportedly, the first word to come out of his mouth was "car," and since then it's evolved into a life-long passion. Justin is a fan of passionately engineered vehicles, but in general, loves the industry as much as the cars it produces.
