The vast majority of the niche automakers have only one model in their lineup. One of the exceptions to this rule is Wiesmann. They have the GT, with its various BMW-sourced propulsion configurations and its Roadster sibling, the one pictured above. Similar to the exotic automaker Gumper, Wiesmann will bring to this year's Geneva Motor Show a new model: the Weismann Spyder.

Although we can't tell you that much about the car, we do know that it will be stripped down, lacking even a windscreen or doors. Most likely, it will be based on the aforementioned Roadster, but the company stresses it has not yet approved the Spyder model for production and they will be bringing it to Geneva to see what feedback the car receives.

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Geneva Preview – Wiesmann Spyder

Muscle cars are not just an American passion. Europeans have caught on the bug as well and they know how to make tires smoke. Just look at these Polish Mustang owners, who have made one of the best fan video I’ve ever seen.
Since there’s really no point in adding words to match the images and the amazing, hair raising, shiver generating sound, I’ll leave you to enjoy it.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source: Autoblog.

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Hugely entertaining: Polish Mustang owners make a movie

We start the week with some very peculiar news: Rolls-Royce is joining the green, zero emissions, all electric band wagon. If you feel dizzy and feel like you have to sit down, grab a chair. We understand.

BMW is pushing the limits with its green initiatives, so Rolls couldn’t be left too far behind. On March 1st, at the Geneva Motor Show, we’ll gaze upon the Rolls-Royce 102EX Phantom Experimental Electric, an all electric concept vehicle that might join the Rolls family. The car maker’s complete disregard for the well being of exotic fruit berry trees and the habitat of dung beetles makes this all the more strange, although justifiable.

No details regarding the technical specs were released, but they will be made public on the launch date. CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös defined the Rolls-Royce 102EX as a pioneer in the ultra-luxury electric car segment.

“We have engineered the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment.”, he said.

The Experiemental Electric will be taken on tour after Geneva, all over the world, through Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. The EE will be available for test drives, so that Rolls can get feedback about their alternative drive-train technology and about the overall driving experience.

In order to promote this new electric direction, Rolls has created ElectricLuxury.com, a website dedicated to hosting a discussion about the future of electric motoring in the luxury segment, open to the media, the larger public and all those concerned. This is also the place where you’ll find a record of the worldwide tour of the new Rolls-Royce 102EX.

So, what do we think about this?

Source: Autoblog.

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Geneva debut: Rolls-Royce 102EX Phantom Experimental Electric

Last week we've mentioned that SAAB is planning on celebrating its own independence day and for this occasion they will be bringing to Geneva a limited edition 9-3, dubbed "Independence Edition".

This special edition will feature a new color called "Sunset Red" and will ride on 18-inch rims. Inside the cabin, the car will benefit from parchment leather seats that have an orange strip down the middle. The turbo gauge will have an orange needle (exciting, right?) and the standard steering wheel will be replaced by a Super Sport unit, along with other interior components borrowed from the company's specialist Hirsch.

The most significant aspect of this edition will definitely be the engine under the hood which is going to be a 2.0-liter turbo that will develop 220 hp.

If you want one you'll need to act fast as the Swedish automaker is planning on making only 366 individually-numbered units of the 9-3 Independence Edition.

Source: SaabsUnited via AutoBlog

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Geneva Preview – SAAB 9-3 Independence Edition

Click here to view the embedded video.

Back in June 1972, Hans Tanner along with other members of the Southern California Ferrari Owners Club set out to the road that nowadays is called Nevada Highway 34. Tanner wanted to emulate the exceptional hill climb events in which he participated in Europe and for this reason; the Virginia Hill Climb was the best opportunity to recapture that glory. The event was held until 2002 when the organizers decided to discontinue the event.

Last year, the new organizers decided to reboot the Virginia City Hill Climb, and they created the first annual Spectre 341 Challenge. The second edition will be held between June 17 and 20 and for this year's edition, the open is challenge to everyone, unlike last year when it was an invitation-only event.

The 5.2-miles consist of multiple blind corners, almost instant elevation changes and some areas which are still waiting on attention from Nevada's Department of Transportation, due to no guardrails.

If this sounds interesting, get $341 from your piggy bank and head down to Nevada.

Source: AutoBlog

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Spectre 341 Challenge Is Back In Business

We all know that Dallara is an Italian chassis manufacturer that over the years has built lots of racing cars for teams in countless racing series, along with the Alfa Romeo 4C GTA has is under development and the KTM X-BOW which is already on the road, Dallara has done likewise for car manufacturers.

Rumors say that Dallara is planning to move beyond helping other companies develop cars and make one that will be sold under its own name. Most likely it will be a two-seat sports car that will be built on architecture similar to what the company developed for the aforementioned 4C GTA and the X-BOW. Featuring a carbon-fiber construction and a low curb weight, Dallara's would rival the Lotus Elise and other similar cars.

We'll let you know once more info surfaces.

Source: Autoblog

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Dallara, Working On Carbon Fiber Sports Car

In order to  keep pace with its planned model lineup expansion and sales targets, the German automaker Porsche is planning on hiring more than 1,000 employees in the next four years, according Automotive News Europe.

We've talked about the baby SUV Porsche, codenamed Cajun before, and for this model Porsche wants to add 500 jobs for making it, a car that will go on sale sometime in 2013 in Europe at first. Six months later, the Porsche Cajun will be introduced in North America.

The supervisory board over at Porsche hasn't made a decision where the new SUV will be produced, but they will decide it this March. Most likely it will be built in the company's factory located in Leipzig, Germany, where they also make the Cayenne – at least these are the rumors going on at the moment.

At the Leipzig factory, Porsche is planning on spending between $673.8 million to $1.01 billion in new body and paint shops. At its development center located in Weissach, near Stuttgart, they will be hiring another 500 employees; most of them will be engineers. According to internal plans, between 2015 and 2018, they will add another 500 jobs.

Automotive News Europe has learned from management board circles that the automaker will spend at least $673.8 million on developing future cars between this year and 2015.

The main reason behind Porsche's decision to hire more people is because it plans to expand its lineup of cars to seven. Porsche is merging with Volkswagen and they will have new development responsibilities within the VW Group.

They also plan to double the annual sales units to 200,000 from the current 97,000 in the mid-term.

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Porsche Plans On Hiring 1,000 Employees

GM's Holden division has two Captiva models in its lineup: the Captiva 5 which is a re-badged Opel Antara and the Captiva 7 – the Euro-spec Chevrolet Captiva. Taking into consideration the fact that Opel has confirmed its descent to the land of the Down Under next year, there are strong chances that Holden will stop making the Captiva 5 in the future.

Until this moment will come, Holden will continue to roll out the Captiva 5 and they've recently launched the refreshed model, that features just about the same changes that we saw on the 2011MY Opel Antara. Dubbed Series II, the new Captiva features an updated front grille with mesh detailing, a brand new set of alloy rims and a single-touch electronic park brake on the inside.

As far as the engines are concerned, the model can be fitted with a new 4-cylinder 2.2-liter diesel power unit that produces 181 hp (135 kW) and 400 Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, providing a fuel consumption of 8.5 liters / 100 km.

The 4-cylinder 2.4-liter engine has been updated and now offers 165 hp (123 kW) and 230 Nm of torque, 19% more in comparison to its predecessor. With this engine, the Holden Captiva 5 Series II has an average fuel economy of 9.1 liters / 100 km.

The model fitted with the new TDI engine is equipped with an electronically controlled active AWD while the 2.4-liter gas-powered version offers customers the possibility to buy the car in a 2WD configuration and a manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

According to Holden, the new Captiva 5 Series II benefits from a quieter and smoother ride as well as improved handling capabilities.

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Holden Captiva 5 Series II Revealed