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Auto Shows: Geneva

March 04, 2010

Ruf creates V8-powered Porsche 911

The Ruf RGT-8 is the wildest Porsche 911-based car in a long time
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?

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March 01, 2010

Ford conforms new Focus Wagon for Geneva Motor Show

Ford's new Focus Wagon will debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show
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...

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February 24, 2010

Questionable taste: Mansory unveils modified RR Ghost

The Mansory-modified Rolls-Royce Ghost
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.

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February 22, 2010

Mercedes-Benz previews next CLS with F800 Style concept

MBF800-6
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.

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March 05, 2009

EDAG plays with light with Open Source concept car

By Justin Couture, MSN Autos

The Light Open Source. (AP Photo/Keystone, Martial Trezzini) 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.

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March 04, 2009

First look: 2009 Giugiaro Frazer Nash Namir Concept

By Justin Couture, Sympatico/MSN Autos

The Namir Concept marks the revival of the Frazer Nash name. (Photo: Richard Dredge, 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.

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February 25, 2009

Rinspeed E2 delivers power - and fuel efficiency - on demand

By Justin Couture, Sympatico/MSN Autos

Rinspeed-E2---01 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".

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Aston's new 2010 DBS Volante making Swiss debut

By Justin Couture, Sympatico/MSN Autos

Dbs-volante-01 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.

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February 24, 2009

Audi TT-RS: one serious sports car

By Justin Couture, Sympatico/MSN Autos

Tt-rs-01 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.

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February 23, 2009

Porsche's supercharged Cayenne Hybrid ready to rock

By Justin Couture, Sympatico/MSN Autos

Porsche-Cayenne-Hybrid-1 This year is a big year for Porsche. It’s launching the four-door Panamera, its first diesel-powered production vehicle the Cayenne Diesel (a vehicle the brand’s chairman famously pledged it would never build), and its first production hybrid vehicle, the Cayenne S Hybrid. 

Like most luxury hybrids, the goal of the Cayenne is to deliver the performance of a bigger engine while providing the fuel economy and emissions of a four-cylinder engine - exactly the sort of thing that will revive interest in the large, performance SUV.

Despite the Cayenne S badge and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 6.8 seconds, the Cayenne S Hybrid is not powered by the brand’s 4.8-litre V8. Instead, it’s powered by - and I quote Porsche - a supercharged Audi 3.0-litre V6 with DFI direct injection. This engine, which is the same as what’s fitted to the new S4, is paired to Porsche’s first hybrid drivetrain that consists of an electric motor that spins out 52 horsepower and 221 lb.-ft. of torque. The battery pack is a 38-kW NiMH unit that weighs 68 kilos (152 pounds) and sits in the well where the spare tire would otherwise be.

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About the Authors

Justin Couture 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.