If on the McLaren MP4-12C was a fiery sunrise, then this is the other side of dawn: the Gemballa GT. Gemballa is campaigning a McLaren in this year’s GT3 series, and the company’s motorsport experience has been “distilled into a state-of-the art super sports car.”
That means new front and rear clips, side skirts and rear wing, plus Gemballa wheels that go an inch bigger than standard – 20 inches up front and 21 in back. Inside, there’s white leather trimming and a reworked steering wheel. No engine upgrades have been applied to the GT, but Gemballa says its’ working on a power program. Check out all of its angles in the gallery of high-res photos.
The task of trying to update the is like trying to update Mt. Everest – you can swap out a few boulders, add some clouds and a new glacier, but such moves are dwarfed by the simple grandiosity of the highest mountain on the planet. That’s why you’ll need to pay close attention to note the changes made on the Phantom Series II.
The “striking new front end” gets a revised bumper, full/adaptive LED headllights and a rectangular LED array where there once was a round supplemental light. Moving on to the inside, the satellite navigation and infotainment system gets upgraded – it was the previous car’s only real weakness – and includes a larger, 8.8-inch screen, a new controller and a feature called “guided tours.” Sounds glitzy.
Under the skin, the old transmission gets traded for a new eight-speed automatic. Fuel economy gets a boost because of it, but you’re not really worried about that, are you? The changes also apply to the Coupe and Drophead models, too.
We gave the Phantom a once-over here in , so scroll through the above gallery for plenty of live images. There’s more info and several galleries of high-res stock photos for your perusal below.
In the stratospheric zone of the automotive atmosphere, being unique is every bit as important as going blindingly fast or bathing oneself in luxury. To address the need, has introduced Q, a service that goes far beyond standard paint palettes, leather finishes and wood trims. In the automaker’s own words, Q is defined as “a team that brings Aston Martin’s designers together with the company’s engineers and highly experienced craftspeople, allowing customers to enhance and personalize their Aston Martin with meticulous attention to detail.”
The automaker recently sent Q a for the full treatment (a blank check was apparently stuffed in the glove box). What emerged is emphatically unique, but it is also fascinating and rather odd at the same time. Nevertheless, we found it on display at the .
The show car is a Virage Volante sporting a Mariana Blue satin paint finish. The interior is configured with blue carbon-fiber, saddle leather floor mats, and yellow detailing. Other components include lightweight forged diamond-turned wheels, a track-day HD video camera mounted on the header (looking much sleeker than any GoPro) and a completely silly rear luggage rack.
Check out our from the floor, read through the and then take a look at some of the including a Cherry Tree Cygnet, a bespoke city car.
has unveiled what it calls the most environmentally friendly, conventional-engined vehicle sold on the planet – the all-new i20.
We called the first i20 and this new model gets a family-familiar hexagonal grille and swept-back, cat-eye headlights and fog lamps. Much of the car’s profile and rear are carried over from last year’s model with the exception of the tweaked taillights and some shiny new shoes.
The biggest news, however, is the fact that four engines will be on tap. On the greenest end of the scale is a 1.1-liter three-cylinder diesel. With about 74 hp, the little oil-burner generates only 84 g/km of CO2. That’s pretty impressive considering the crazy-efficient 2012 Toyota Prius C breathes out about 110 g/km.
The downside? The i20 isn’t available in the U.S. (Surprise, surprise.) for the full details in Hyundai’s press blast.
With all the exciting news coming out of , you’ll have to excuse us for snickering just a little bit when we saw this press release. Yes, the is as deserving of a mid-cycle refresh as any other vehicle, though it appears from this teaser that whatever tinkering has done will prove itself superficial at best.
As is typical these days, this crossover-ized is getting some revised front and rear lighting, and what we would guess will be minor modifications to the front fascia. We can see from the picture that the grille looks to be a bit smaller and those are surely LED’s in the new headlights.
New 19-inch wheels and three new colors are probably going to matter less to buyers than the fact that “value has been enhanced” by making more features standard. This might help address our biggest complaint when – that’s it’s just too darn expensive for what you get.
Click to read the full press release, and stay tuned for our .
, we’re sorry to say, promised a lot but delivered very little this year in . But that doesn’t mean its show stand was without its eye candy. Feast your eyes on .
Developed by Lola, powered by and set to be fielded by the Kodewa team in the upcoming inaugural season of the FIA World Endurance Championship, this class-two Le Mans prototype may be a Lotus in name only, but it sure looks the part nestled in between the Lotus F1 Team’s latest single-seater and the GT sports racer.
That principally comes down to the black-and-gold livery applied to this beast much as it has to all of the company’s other racing machinery. But that’s no bad thing. See what we mean in the gallery of high-resolution images from the show floor.
The good news for folks who both love and hate the FAB Design McLaren MP4-12C Terso is that there will only be five made. But to our eyes, the Swiss tuners known for some felonious assaults on innocent cars (the , anyone?) have been admirably restrained with this one, although we’ll admit that .
New front and rear clips for the Mac seems to be the thing, and the Terso fulfills that brief with a polygonal theme for its widebody stance. The side skirts are also new, and they’re topped by a side intake with a new cutout to match the stance up front. The wheels haven’t grown in size but, are FAB’s traditionally deep 20-inchers.
The rear wing is a removable bolt-on, and if you look closely at the front of the car you’ll notice a wing just below the front windshield. We’re not sure if that one comes off as well, but remember, there will only be five of these. Check it out while you can in the gallery of high-res photos.
The new produces an impressive 560 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque, but for companies like AC Schnitzer, the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 presents only a starting point. The German tuning company unveiled the new ACS5 Sport here at the this week, managing to squeeze and additional 60 hp and 81 lb-ft from the forced-induction motor.
The ASC5 Sport isn’t all about horsepower, though. AC Schnitzer has also fitted the Bimmer with a new sport suspension system, 21-inch Type IV forged wheels and a slick aerodynamic kit including a carbon fiber front spoiler, chrome front grille, rear spoiler and a carbon fiber diffuser. The exterior is finished off with an attractive matte blue paint. Inside, the car features trim and stitching to match the exterior. You can see the AC Schnitzer ACS5 Sport in detail in the high-res gallery above.
Many of the tuners here at the have little to no restraint when it comes to styling, which is why we appreciate subtlety when we see it. Lumma Design, hailing from Winterlingen, Germany, offers an example of such restraint with its CLR 9 S based on the new 991 . The styling package includes a tasteful strip package, a new front clip with an integrated splitter and a three-piece spoiler at the rear. A new set of quad exhaust tips also peek out from the rear fascia.
Inside, the CLR 9 S features a slathering of new leather and Alcantara on the seats, dashboard and door panels. Carbon leather trim can also be found on the steering wheel, center console and shifter.
You can read Lumma Design’s official press release regarding the CLR 9 S , and check out live photos of the car from the Geneva show floor in the gallery above.
If given the choice, we’d grab the keys to an all-electric way before its gasoline-powered sibling, if for no other reason than it would mean we wouldn’t have to put up with that horrid automated manual transmission. But such faint praise isn’t really fair to the . After all, it’s got 80 horsepower on tap, which is plenty for the little urban runabout, and its 100 pound-feet of torque ought to be available from zero rpm.
Brabus has also seen fit to lower the Smart ED 10 millimeters closer to the pavement, which, along with the 16-inch front and 17-inch rear monoblock wheels, should improve the way it handles. Less convincing an upgrade is the onboard sound generator… though perhaps one strategically pulled fuse might make short work of that oversight.
Feel free to peruse the press release , but not before checking out our high-res image gallery of live photos from the .
We’re pretty fond of the Ram Tradesman. The truck offers impressive power and capability per dollar spent, and now it looks as if aims to give buyers a little extra functionality, as well. For 2012, the Tradesman can be had in either Crew Cab or Quad Cab configurations to provide comfortable-enough transportation for six adults.
Long live the bench seat.
The vehicles will come boasting the same 4.7-liter V8 found in the standard-cab Tradesman, complete with 310 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. With an EPA rating of 20 mpg highway and a standard tow package that allows the truck to pull up to 7,700 pounds, the pickup is still a smart combination of economy and power. That is, at least by full-size truck standards. A six-speed automatic transmission, spray in bed liner and a no-cost Ram Box storage system are all part of the mix, as well.
Ram also announced that it intends to offer a compressed natural gas version of the Ram 2500 Heavy Duty. Powered by a 5.7-liter V8, the truck is technically a bi-fuel offering. While there are tanks on board, Chrysler also threw in an eight-gallon gasoline tank in the event buyers can’t make it between CNG fueling stations. Canadian customers can opt for a 35-gallon gasoline tank, as well. In order for the truck to be able to swill down both fuels, new cylinder heads had to be designed with reworked valves and valve seats. The V8 also wears two sets of fuel rails and injectors: one for gasoline and the other for CNG.
The system is fully automatic, and will switch between the two fuels without any user input. Very cool. No prices have been announced for the 2500 CNG, though we do know the truck can haul up to 1,580 pounds and tow 7,650 pounds. for the full press releases.
German automaker teamed up with fashion house Sieger to give its roadster a fitting send-off after 18 long years on the market. The duo came up with – one for each year the car was on sale – and one of those cars is currently on display at the .
Besides being the perfect ride for a University of Michigan alum, this machine, like all MF3 models, is powered by an inline six-cylinder engine. In this guise, that mill sends a total of 343 horsepower to the rear wheels.
We’re not certain how many of the 18 special edition machines are still available, but we imagine that if yellow and blue just aren’t your cup of tea, you’ve got other options. Like maybe one that’s scarlet and gray?
has unveiled the at the Geneva Motor Show – the first B-segment hybrid in Europe. While the vehicle makes use of a 74-horsepower 1.5-liter gasoline engine, engineers mated the internal combustion mill with a more compact 80-hp electric motor along with a smaller inverter and battery pack. Combined, the two can crank out up to 100 combined horsepower. Toyota says the Atkinson-cycle engine and it’s associated techno wizardry is 20 percent lighter than the standard 1.8-liter hybrid drivetrain found in most of the company’s hybrid offerings.
Speaking of batteries, the Yaris Hybrid stores its power via a nickel-metal hydride pack. With fewer cells than those found in the , the batteries are around 20 percent lighter. The drivetrain will net buyers a fuel consumption rating of just 3.5 liters per 100 kilometers, or around 67 mpg on the European scale. for the full press release.
If what tells us about the FT-Bh is true, it’s not some futuristic fantasy, but a design study that points to what a next generation hybrid might look like. With an unbelievably low, sub-1,800-pound curb weight and a 0.235 coefficient of drag, the FT-Bh uses minimalist design rather than sci-fi technology to achieve 112 miles per gallon.
The FT-Bh packs a two-cylinder, one-liter gas engine that runs on the Atkinson cycle, and uses lithium-ion batteries for it’s hybrid drive system. Toyota says a compressed natural gas hybrid and a plug-in hybrid version would also be possible.
But what’s really impressive about the FT-Bh is its massive weight reduction. Toyota says it managed to reduce the mass of the car by 25 percent when compared to the current Yaris. Much of that came in the interior parts and trim, which weigh half that of the production car. Toyota says that this drastic diet also makes possible a low center of gravity – just over 21 inches – that helps improve the FT-Bh’s handling.
While the FT-Bh may look a little weird – we’re reminded of how odd the looked before we’d gotten used to the shape – this may well be what the next generation of hybrids will look like. While Toyota has thrown out some branding buzzwords to describe the FT-Bh’s “Ecomotion” theme (or is that “Under Priority” design language? or “Keen Look” styling?) the bottom line is that it’s all about aerodynamics. This is why the FT-Bh uses cameras rather than side-view mirrors and doesn’t have door handles. It’s also why the front end has those “air curtain” intakes and there’s an underfloor spoiler in the rear.
While we certainly wouldn’t expect to see something so radical roll off a production line next year, as the company shows more concepts like this and the , it seems that Toyota wants its next hybrid designs to be as revolutionary as its first.
Check out our galleries of live and official photos, and for the full press release.
We’ve come to rely on Hamann to supply the world with a range of over-the-top modified vehicles. While the company’s tastes rarely dovetail with our own, we’re absolutely smitten with the memoR on display at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The company apparently set forth with the intention of giving the McLaren MP4-12C a more aggressive exterior. Mission accomplished.
With a serious widebody treatment, massive wheels and a striking red-on-black exterior, this machine will clearly stand out from its stock brethren. Hamann says that massive front splitter does more than simply attract parking barriers. The piece actually serves to supply additional aerodynamic downforce.
Near as we can tell, the memoR is bereft of mechanical upgrades. Likewise, Hamann hasn’t said how much the company will charge for the pleasure of turning your MP4-12C into the creation above. Something tells us the surgery won’t be cheap. for the full press release.
While recalls are , they’re still news. And today’s announcement certainly qualifies for the modifier “big,” with nearly half a million pickups being recalled under one campaign, and 116,000 crossovers and 70,500 Camrys under another.
The 2009 is the only model year covered by the recall, while 2009-2011 Venzas are affected. These vehicles may need a replacement stop lamp switch, which may have been installed incorrectly. Symptoms include warning lamps illuminating, a non-starting condition, and the inability to shift out of Park.
The Tacoma recall covers some 2005-2009 models that may need their steering wheel spiral cable assembly replaced. Symptoms include an air bag warning lamp that does not go off after the vehicle is started, which could result in the driver’s air bag being deactivated.
In both cases, Toyota says it is “obtaining the necessary replacement parts” and owners will be notified by mail. Owners may also visit or call the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
A replacement for the aging is still a few years out, so in an effort to keep the model line fresh, has released this all new Sport trim here at the . Essentially replacing the GranTurismo S, the Sport falls directly in between the base car and the hardcore MC.
The most significant change is a boost in power from the 4.7-liter naturally aspirated V8. This free-breathing engine now produces 460 horsepower – up from 434 – which now puts it at the top of the GranTurismo power range. Of course, that means we can expect a more powerful MC to debut in the near future.
Exterior changes include a more aggressive front fascia with large air intakes flanking the pronounced grille. Additionally, the headlamps and taillamps have been smoked and LED running lights have been incorporated into the GT’s eyes. Inside, there are new sport seats and a revised steering wheel.
It may ride on old bones, but the new GranTurismo Sport’s enhancements are enough to keep the giant coupe exciting for the near term.
The successor to the 207 line, the 208, made an appearance under the lights of the Geneva Motor Show this week. Buyers in the EU may choose from either the three-door body style you see above or a more functional five-door configuration. Both vehicles feature smaller exterior dimensions than the old 207 but with greater interior volume than their predecessors. Peugeot also shrank the available gasoline engine options in the 208. A 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine serves up a heady 75 horsepower, though consumers looking for a little more grunt may step up to a 1.2-liter three pot good for 100 hp.
All told, the 208 is available in five different configurations, including a range of diesel-powered options that include Peugeot’s next-generation stop/start system, which helps return nearly 83.1 mpg on the EU scale. Not too shabby.
Want something a little hotter? How about the Peugeot 208 GTi Concept (above left)? In addition to more aggressive body work, larger brakes and flashier 18-inch alloy wheels, the vehicle packs the same 1.6-liter engine as found in the company’s RCZ. That means buyers can expect to find somewhere between 156 and 200 turbocharged horsepower kicking through a six-speed manual transmission. How’s that for a win?
Meanwhile, the 208 XY Concept (above right)wears more flash than actual go. With a color-shifting purple paint, unique interior treatments and a 1.6-liter turbo diesel engine, this hatch is meant more for prowling city centers than corner carving.
isn’t typically one to embrace change. The company is still proudly building a and sawing components from trees, but the Morgan Plus E on display at the Geneva Motor Show is a clear step into the blinding light of the future.
The vehicle features the automaker’s next-generation aluminum chassis as well as a 94-horsepower electric motor. If you’re frowning at the lack of gusto on hand, allow us to point out two figures. First, the Zytek electric motor cranks out 221 pound-feet of torque from the instant you breathe on the accelerator. Second, the Plus E tips the scales at a relatively light 2,755 pounds.
Batteries, controllers and the like are housed under the traditional bi-hinged hood, and a five-speed manual transmission puts power from the electric motor to the rear wheels. Morgan claims the vehicle can clip off a 62 mph run in a quick-enough six seconds, and top speed sits at around 115 mph. While there’s a 120-mile range with the Plus E, there’s no word on how long it will take to charge the machine. Likewise, Morgan isn’t saying whether or not the vehicle will make it to production.
already offers quite a bit of fun in the small hatchback segment with the 177-horsepower, 40-mpg , but for those wanting even better fuel economy without sacrificing any fun, VW has announced the Polo Blue GT.
Fitted with the new 1.4-liter TSI inline-four, the Blue GT is capable of achieving up to 50 mpg thanks to direct injection, cylinder deactivation and stop/start technology. With 138 horsepower, the hatchback is capable of reaching 62 mph in 7.9 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 130 mph.
Distinguishing itself from the rest of the Polo lineup, the Blue GT features a mix of components from the VW parts bin including front and rear bumpers and a rear spoiler from the Polo GTI, as well as side sills from the BlueMotion model. The car also features unique 17-inch wheels, special badging and a lowered ride height of 15mm. Inside the Blue GT gets redesigned sports seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and instrumentation from the GTI model.
Read up on the Volkswagen Polo Blue GT in VW’s official press release or browse through our live photos of the car in the gallery above.
