Automotive News

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show

Click on the image above to view our 50-image high-resolution gallery

Auto shows give carmakers the opportunity to present the public with their finest models, flaunting their sumptuous lines and pretty faces. (Sometimes they also display a few cars, too.) In this regard some shows are better than others, but this year in Geneva - sounding as it does like an anagram of a female body part (Mulva?) - we feasted our eyes on some of the most jaw-droppingly, show-stoppingly gorgeous models of any show in recent memory. Tough as the task was, we were dutifully at the scene - lenses a-zoomin’ and flashbulbs a-flashin’ - to capture the best for you, our loyal readers.

The Italians impressed as they always do, and we fell in love with Maserati’s sassy covergirl at least as easily as we did with their new GranTurismo. But the biggest surprise came courtesy of Korean carmakers Kia and Hyundai. Check out the high-resolution image gallery below to see the pretty faces of Abath, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Fiat, Italdesign, Kia, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati, Opel, Rinspeed, Spyker, Stola and Tramontana, without whom these poor webloggers couldn’t get a smile or a gaze out of girls like these.

 

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Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Etc., Toyota

We’ve already shown you the preferred finish on a few of the cars at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, but Toyota decided to take a different tact when displaying their Auris sub-compact. The chromed out two-door sat atop a pedestal for all to gaze on, providing the vain among us to check our hair and grimace at the dark bags that formed underneath our eyes. Jetlag is a terrible, terrible thing. Thankfully, someone was on hand to keep us caffeinated.

 

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Podcasts, Geneva Motor Show, Nissan

Click the image above for more pics of the DigitalChip R34 Skyline GT-R.

During our time in the grand metropolis of Geneva, we had every intention of spending some quality time at the tuner expo adjacent to the main halls. But with all that was going on, time was limited, and aside from the R8-ified TT and those kick ass chairs that our friend Paukert found, there wasn’t too much of interest. Then we came across this.

The European firm DigitalChip didn’t think that the stock RB in their shop’s Skyline R34 GT-R had enough juice, so they yanked the stock mill and replaced it with a 7L V12. And then - just for kicks - bolted on four turbos. The result: 1000+ HP, 1000 NM of torque, a 0-60 time of 2.9 seconds and a quarter mile trap speed at the low end of nine seconds. Complete with carbon-ceramic brakes (381mm front, 355mm rear), 13x18-inch wheels and weighing a paltry 2,200 pounds, the GTR “Unlimited” can reach a maximum speed of 220 MPH and seems to be the highlight of several shows and tuner magazines abroad.

Unfortunately, we were on our way out the door when we snapped these few pics, so no one was on hand to answer questions or pop the hood. We would’ve given our last franc just to sit in the driver’s seat, but alas, time wasn’t on our side. Frankfurt’s coming up at the end of the year, so maybe we’ll have a second chance to see the “Unlimited” up close again.

 

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Filed under: Podcasts

Autoblog Podcast #59 [Enhanced] is hot off the encoder and ready for consumption. We’ve figured out how to include the enhanced version of the podcast with video in our RSS feed, so if you’re a subscriber to the audio-version of the Autoblog Podcast, the enhanced version should automatically arrive at your door, as well.

Check it out, if you have any suggestions for how to improve the enhanced version of the Podcast, let us know in the comments.

SUBSCRIBE to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
DOWNLOAD the show to your desktop
ADD the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

 

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Filed under: Etc., Chrysler, DaimlerChrysler

The ups and downs of the rumored Chrysler sale are a better soap opera than NASCAR.

Now, Magna International, one of the reported suitors, has confirmed that the supplier is interested in exploring the purchase of the Chrysler group and has recently met with officials at the automaker. The main reason for the small fish eating the big fish would be mutual preservation. By propping up Chrysler, Magna keeps one of their large customers humming, and the continuation of contracts will keep Magna employees busy.

Other companies are exploring the option of acquiring Chrysler, as well. Private capital firms the Blackstone Group and Cerberus Capital Management have paid visits to Auburn Hills recently, and General Motors has reportedly been examining the possibility of a lash-up, as well. We hope that GM has decided not to move forward, as there are seemingly more overlaps than synergies between the two automakers, and we worry for the future of jobs, platforms, plants and workers should the very strange marriage between two of the Big Three goes forward.

[Source: Detroit News]

 

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Filed under: Coupes, Geneva Motor Show, Audi

Click the image above for 36 live shots from the Geneva Auto Show floor.

Admittedly, we’re a little behind on providing you with live pics of Audi’s newest odd numbered hotness, Better late than never, right?

Seeing the A5 and its V8-powered sibling, the S5, up close and personal didn’t do much to change our opinion of the newest entrants to the sport coupe segment. Both are handsome machines with angles and curves in all the right places, and this application of Audi’s goatee grille is likely the best outside the A8. But invariably, they may seem to lack the emotion some may need when shopping for an upscale two door. That said, we have little doubt that this will be one of the quad-ring’s more popular models and we’re totally okay with seeing them overpopulate the parking lots of upscale joints across the globe.

Our live gallery is accessible below and be sure to check out our original post with all the details and press pics of the new A5 and S5.

 

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Filed under: Motorsports, BMW

The calendar is already showing March and the weather is hinting at spring, so the racing season must be about to explode. NASCAR is already underway, F1 will kick off this weekend in Australia, and ALMS at Sebring the week after. Series like Speed GT and Touring Car, however, will really have the TiVo working overtime. The FIA’s World Touring Car Championship is one such series, which begins its 22-race season in Brazil this Sunday. Along with Formula One and the World Rally Championship, WTCC is the only worldwide competition sanctioned by the FIA. That says something about the growing popularity of this type of racing.

Previously a European series, the racing has spread across the globe and is truly a World event for ‘07. Besides the first two rounds in Curitiba, Brazil, the 2007 WTCC season will see racing at new circuits like Zandvoort, Netherlands; Anderstorp, Sweden; and the street circuits of Pau, France, and Porto, Portugal. Valencia, Brno, Oschersleben, Monza, and Brands Hatch continue on as does Maucau, which will host the finale in November.

Britain’s Andy Priaulx, back-to-back WTCC champion, hopes to three-peat this season and thereby make history. After winning the European Championship in ‘04, the 32-year-old racer went on to win the World Touring Car Championship in 2005 and 2006. He’d be the first British driver to win three FIA world titles in a row. We can’t wait to see how the season plays out.

[Source: BMW via AutoMotoPortal]

 

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Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Cadillac

After being floored by how good the Cadillac CTS looked and felt in Detroit, we can’t wait to see how the upcoming ‘08 STS will turn out, as well. With similar styling upgrades promised (foreshadowed by the new SLS), the STS could finally come closer to the performance and sophistication of its identified European competitors like the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Thanks to BusinessWeek, we already know the interior will be a huge improvement. Lifted from the Chinese market long-wheelbase SLS, it looks polished and well-laid-out. And now we have a better look at how the exterior is shaping up, as well. KGP caught one in the wild and a nearly naked one at that. You can see the whole handsomely slab-sided flank from chrome fender vent to unadorned tail in the photo. It also sports different wheels and a shrouded, but noticeably different nose, as well. Look closely and you’ll see a sharply detailed grille very similar to the on the new CTS.

[Source: LLN]

 

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Etc., Ford, Rolls Royce

Click the image for our full gallery of matte vehicles.

This year’s Geneva Motor Show brought even more matte finish to the party and after discussing the trend with a few of our colleagues, we determined that the bubble is reaching critical mass and will soon burst in a pseudo-rat rod colored explosion.

Several examples were available to prove our point, but the three that caught the attention of our shutter finger include the display of the above Phantom in all its anti-blingerific glory, before it left the Rinspeed crew for a customer somewhere in the Middle East.

The Sbarro Turbo S 20 was another example using the dull hues to good effect and coupled with the blown powertrain from a Porsche 928, it had the oomph to match its understated exterior.

Also on hand was a tuned Mustang GT in the aftermarket showcase area, which we caught on our way out the door on Wednesday. There was no one on hand to answer any questions, but the faux rivets, flanking the hood, roof and trunk were enough to garner a few chuckles as we departed.

Check the gallery for more images of all things matte and we’d encourage you to sound off in comments about the anti-buff trend.

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

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