Toyota iQ EV Concept

Toyota brought to this year's Geneva show the iQ EV concept that although it is not ready to go into production, the automaker plans on introducing the tiny electric car to the market very soon after all the tests are completed. The car packs a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor that produces 63 hp (64 PS / 47 kW) and a 11 kWh lithium-ion battery that lies flat in the bed of the vehicle.

Toyota iQ EV Concept

This new battery layout developed by Toyota will not occupy the valuable cabin space, which is extremely crucial for a car of this size. The car can "sprint" from 0 to 60 mph in 14 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 78 mph (125.5 km/h).

Toyota iQ EV Concept

With the battery full, the Toyota iQ EV can be driven for up to 65 miles (105 km) and it features dual 100/200V AC and DC charging sockets. A DC quick charge station delivers 80% charge in only 15 minutes.

The Japanese automaker will start testing the car in Europe, United States and Japan later this year.

Source: Toyota via WCF

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Geneva 2011 – Toyota iQ EV Concept

Maserati GranCabrio Sport

This week at the 81^st edition of the Geneva Motor Show, the Italian automaker Maserati unveiled the GranCabrio Sport. It packs a powerful V8 4.7-liter engine that outputs 444 hp (450 PS / 331 kW) and 376 lb.-ft (510 Nm) of torque, mated to a 6-speed ZF transmission with the MC Auto Shift software borrowed from the Quattroporte Sport GT model.

Maserati GranCabrio Sport

In order to provide a sportier ride, the Italian engineers fitted the car with a tuned Skyhook active-suspension system and bigger brakes with grooved and drilled dual-cast discs.

Maserati GranCabrio Sport

The new model can hit a top speed of 177 mph (285 km/h) and is available with a new color – "Rosso Trionfale" (triumphant red). Design-wise, it comes with a new black grille, front corner splitters, new side skirts as well as black bordered headlights.

Maserati GranCabrio Sport

Sales of the Maserati GranCabrio Sport will commence later on this summer.

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Geneva 2011 – Maserati GranCabrio Sport

Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid

Ever since Volvo decided to ditch the boxy-shape of their cars and approached a more attractive look, I've started to become a fan of the Swedish automaker. This week at Geneva they've brought the V60 Plug-in Hybrid, a car that was designed to be one of the most efficient vehicles ever made. It packs a conventional 5-cylinder 2.4-liter diesel engine and an Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) motor that is powered by a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery.

Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid

The regular engine produces 212 hp (215 PS / 158 kW) and 324 lb.-ft (440 Nm) of torque, while the electric motor delivers an additional 69 hp (70 PS / 51 kW) and 149 lb.-ft (200 Nm) of torque. Rounding up the power figures, the V60 Plug-in Hybrid cranks out 281 hp (285 PS / 210 kW) and 472 lb.-ft (640 Nm) of torque, allowing the car to do the 0-60 mph sprint in only 6.9 seconds.

Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid

The car can be driven in electric mode for up to 31 miles (50 km), but the vehicle's primary drive mode is a hybrid setup where the 2.4-liter engine and the electric motor work together to enable the V60 to have a fuel consumption of about 1.9 liters / 100 km (123.8 mpg) and have CO2 emissions of only 49 g/km.

Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid

A full charge of the battery takes seven and a half hours when using a standard household outlet (230V/6A) and about three hours with a rapid charger (230V/16A).

Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid

Design-wise, the hybrid version looks just about the same as the standard model, the only differences would have to be the exclusive paint finish, the lightweight rims wrapped around in low-rolling resistance tires and the necessary front-fender charging port. Inside, the V60 Hybrid sports Elmo leather upholstery, an updated instrument cluster as well as a new infotainment system that has a bundle of hybrid-related functions.

Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid

Set to go on sale in 2012, Volvo has not announced yet the price for the V60 Plug-in Hybrid.

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Geneva 2011 – Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid

Saab 9-3 Facelift

The Swedish car manufacturer Saab has unveiled this week in Geneva the facelift version of the sexy 9-3 model. The car got a new front bumper, an updated grille, "ice block" headlights and a brand new look for the rims. Out in the back, it also got a trunk-mounted spoiler and the SportCombi variant will not have the chrome strip on the tailgate anymore. The cabin was updated by the titanium metallic trim along with the new leatherette seats with fancy storage pockets on the sides.

Saab 9-3 Facelift

Under the bonnet, the engines remained pretty much the same, only minor tweaks were done in order to improve efficiency and reduce the dreadful CO2 emissions. The petrol engine available is going to be a 2.0-liter turbocharged plant that produces either 161 hp (163 PS / 120 kW) / 236 lb.-ft (320 Nm) or 217 hp (220 PS / 162 kW) / 258 lb.-ft (350 Nm).

Saab 9-3 Facelift

If you prefer diesels, the 1.9-liter TTiD will be available in three output configurations: 128 hp (130 PS / 96 kW), 158 hp (160 PS / 118 kW) and the range-topping 178 hp (180 PS / 132 kW).

Saab 9-3 Facelift

The 9-3 facelift will go on sale pretty soon and it will be known as the Griffin.

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Geneva 2011 – Saab 9-3 Facelift

Lancia Thema

Lancia's new flagship model was unveiled this week at the Geneva Motor Show. Dubbed Thema, the model is nothing more than a rebadged Chrysler 300 – not a very good way to start the company's rebirth in my opinion. The only real differences between the two models are the LED-infused headlights along with the prominent grille and a chrome-plated dual exhaust system.

As far as the cabin is concerned, chrome accents were used, Sapphire Blue ambient lightning and an Uconnect Touch infotainment system that has a huge 8.4-inch display. Optional features include a wood trim, a premium audio system, heated Nappa leather seats, GPS navigation system and a Poltrona Frau leather-wrapped dashboard.

The Lancia Thema is offered with a wide array of safety gadgets, like the Blind Spot Detection system, Adaptive Cruise Control, Cross Path Detection and a rear view camera,

Lancia Thema

Under the bonnet, two power units will be available. The first one is a V6 3.0-liter diesel unit that can output either 190 hp (193 PS / 142 kW) or 224 hp (227 PS / 167 kW) and 406 lb.-ft (550 Nm) of torque. The other engine is a more powerful petrol plant borrowed from Chrysler, a Pentastar V6 3.6-liter that cranks out 292 hp (296 PS / 218 kW) and 260 lb.-ft (353 Nm) of torque. This engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox that allows the Thema to do the 0-60 mph sprint in 7.2 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h).

The car will be hitting the dealerships in October, but my guess is that it will be a huge flop.

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Geneva 2011 – Lancia Thema

Lotus Evora Mansory Bespoke Concept

Who knew that Mansory and Lotus go well together? This Evora Bespoke Concept looks really great, a word that I haven't used many times when talking about some of the tuning programs launched by Mansory. This concept previews the future possibilities of customizations of Lotus models. With this car, they want to find out the reaction of the customers upon which they will base their individualization program for the beautiful Evora model.

Lotus Evora Mansory Bespoke Concept

The automaker specifically chose Mansory for the task of making a customized program for its flagship sports car. If I were working at Lotus, I would have chosen another company, but I'm glad Mansory didn't screw the Evora, like they did with a whole bunch of other cars.

Lotus Evora Mansory Bespoke Concept

As a reminder, the Evora is a mid-rear engined sports car that has a V6 3.5-liter power unit borrowed from Toyota, an engine that cranks out 176 hp (280 PS / 206 kW) and 285 lb.-ft (350 Nm) of torque. With a curb weight of only 1350 kg, the car can sprint to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 162 mph (260 km/h).

Lotus Evora Mansory Bespoke Concept

Most likely, when Mansory will introduce the tuning program, the Evora will be more powerful and faster.

Source: Mansory via WCF

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Geneva 2011 – Lotus Evora Mansory Bespoke Concept

Bertone Jaguar B99

One of the many new concepts introduced this week in Geneva is the Bertone Jaguar B99. Design-wise, it borrowed some styling features of the Ford Interceptor concept and the previous generation XJ model.  The B99 has an aluminum body and measures 4.5 m long, 1.95 m wide and is 1.35 m tall.

Bertone Jaguar B99

In front, you'll notice the very aggressive fascia, the bold grille as well as the iconic "leaper" hood ornament. Although I'm not a big fan of the car's design, I do love those "suicide" rear doors, something that I would like to see more often on production model cars. Out in the back, it echoes the front-end with a gloss-black "grille" and taillights that imitate the headlights.

Bertone Jaguar B99

The cabin is minimalist, yet very elegant at the same time. It has premium leather upholstery, a wood trim and various aluminum accents. It sports a full-length center console, a high-tech instrument cluster and rear tray tables.

Bertone Jaguar B99

The Bertone Jaguar B99 is a range-extended EV and packs a lithium-ion battery that sends power to two electric motors that provide a combined power output of 570 hp (578 PS / 425 kW). After the car's battery is almost drained, a thermal engine acts as a generator in order to recharge it. The B99 can be driven for up to 62 miles (100 km) in electric mode and the range is extended to 435 miles (700 km) when the thermal engine is activated.

Bertone Jaguar B99 GT

Bertone also brought to Geneva the B99 GT, a GT2 racing version that comes with a wider body, a reduced ride height and sits on 19-inch lightweight rims wrapped around in Pirelli PZero race tires. Out in the back it sports a huge spoiler and it has a race-spec interior along with a revised powertrain that uses four electric motors, generating 972 hp (986 PS / 725 kW)!

Source: Bertone via WCF

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Geneva 2011 – Bertone Jaguar B99

Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package

Announced back in June 2010, the Nurburgring package for the Lexus LFA has been unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Designed in order to make the supercar more track-oriented, those who have the money to buy it will also get "Ring" driving lessons and a one year pass on the course. Lexus said that they are only making 50 packages for the LFA which is 10% of all the cars that are going to be produced.

Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package

The V10 4.8-liter engine has been upgraded and it offers 10 hp (10 PS / 7.46 kW) more in comparison to the standard version, rounding up the power figure to 562 hp (570 PS / 419 kW). They've tweaked the 6-speed sequential gearbox of the LFA and it can shift gears in only 0.15 seconds, 0.05 seconds faster than before.

Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package

With this Nurburgring package, the LFA benefits from carbon fiber body pieces for the fixed rear spoiler with fins, the big front spoiler as well as the side spoilers. In comparison to the standard edition, this limited series sits on a new set of lightweight alloy rims combined with racing tires.

Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package

With these updates, the car can sprint to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, onto a top speed of 202 mph (325 km/h). In addition, this LFA is 10mm lower and has a retuned suspension.

Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package

The basic price for the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package is $70,000 (50,939 Euros) and customers will have to choose from one of the four exterior paint colors: orange, white, black and matte black. The European-spec LFAs will also benefit from carbon fiber seats wrapper around in Alcantara plus a carbon fiber center console and door inserts.

Source: Lexus

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Geneva 2011 – Lexus LFA Nurburgring

Fiat Freemont

The Italian automaker Fiat unveiled this week in Geneva the new Freemont MPV, developed in partnership with Chrysler. In fact, this model is essentially a rebadged Dodge Journey, but it comes with a more aggressive front fascia, LED taillights and prominent wheel arches. The engineers had to retune the car's suspension and steering system in order to make it more suitable for European drivers who are used to have cars that actually steer

Fiat Freemont

Fiat said that the cabin of their new Freemont model offers "outstanding interior roominess" thanks mostly to the 2890 mm wheelbase, the biggest in its class. The cargo capacity is also quite impressive, standing at 51.6 cubic feet (1461 liters). Even the entry-level model packs 7-passenger seating, touchscreen infotainment system and tri-zone automatic climate control. The high-end "Metropolitan" trim comes with tinted windows, Bluetooth connectivity and an improved infotainment system that has an 8.4-inch touchscreen display.

Fiat Freemont

Initially, the car will be offered only in a front-wheel drive configuration and with a 2.0-liter MultiJet diesel power unit that will produce 140 hp (142 PS / 104 kW) and 170 hp (172 PS / 127 kW). After a while, the company will roll out an all-wheel drive model that will be available with the aforementioned 170 hp engine or a more powerful V6 3.6-liter engine borrowed from Chrysler that cranks out 276 hp (280 PS / 206 kW).

Fiat Freemont

The Fiat Freemont will hit the dealerships later on this summer.

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Geneva 2011 – Fiat Freemont

Mercedes C-Class Coupe

One of the most beautiful cars from Mercedes I've seen lately is the new C-Class Coupe, which they brought to Geneva this week. Design-wise, the 2012 model has a steeply raked windscreen, an upward sweeping beltline and a kinked rear window. Due to the reason that they had to maximize the car's rigidity, the German engineers installed a traditional B-pillar.

Mercedes C-Class Coupe

Like any other Mercedes out there, the interior cabin is dominated by high-quality materials and the C-Class Coupe comes with an aluminum trim, a flat-bottom steering wheel and a generous 5.8-inch COMAND display. Some of the optional features available include GPS navigation system, a powerful Harman/Kardon audio system, wood trim and heated front seats.

Mercedes C-Class Coupe

Under that beautifully-shaped bonnet, there is a choice of five power units. The entry-level C 220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY has a 4-cylinder 2.1-liter unit that develops 168 hp (170 PS / 125 kW) and 295 lb.-ft (400 Nm) of torque, enabling the C-Class Coupe to do the 0-60 mph sprint in 8.1 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 144 mph (231 km/h).

Mercedes C-Class Coupe

The C 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY has a more powerful 2.1-liter unit that produces 201 hp (204 PS / 150 kW) and 369 lb.-ft (500 Nm) of torque. It needs 7 seconds to reach 60 mph and is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 149 mph (240 km/h).

Mercedes C-Class Coupe

The first petrol engine is the 4-cylinder 1.8-liter engine available on the C 220 BlueEFFICIENCY and cranks out 154 hp (156 PS / 115 kW) and 184 lb.-ft (250 Nm) of torque. 0-60 mph is done in 8.9 seconds and top speed is rated at 140 mph (225 km/h).

Mercedes C-Class Coupe

The C 250 BlueEFFICIENCY has the same 1.8-liter unit, but in this configuration it delivers 201 hp (204 PS / 150 kW) and 229 lb.-ft (310 Nm), enough for a 0-60 mph sprint in 7.2 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph (240 km/h).

Mercedes C-Class Coupe

The most powerful engine available for the C-Class Coupe is the V6 3.5-liter for the C 350 BlueEFFICIENCY model. It offers 302 hp (306 PS / 225 kW) and 273 lb.-ft (370 Nm) of torque. With this engine, the car accelerates to 60 mph from start in 6 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).

Mercedes C-Class Coupe

The 2012 Mercedes C-Class Coupe will go on sale this June.

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Geneva 2011 – Mercedes C-Class Coupe