Honda to Unveil Concept H at Geneva




Honda will be presenting the world debut of an exciting new concept car at the forthcoming 2007 Geneva motor show, as well as showing the fully driveable FCX Concept fuel cell car in Europe for the first time. A press conference will be held on the Honda stand in Hall 4 on Press Day, 6 March, between 12:00 noon and 12:15 pm.

Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept

Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept represents Honda's proposal for a future hybrid model. The Concept demonstrates a unique fusion of advanced hybrid technology and fun-to-drive sports car characteristics. The Small Hybrid Sports Concept, which has been designed by Honda R&D Europe based in Offenbach, Germany explores the idea that a car can have a low environmental impact yet still deliver all the driving enjoyment expected of a compact sports car.

Fully driveable Honda FCX Concept demonstrates Honda's advanced fuel cell technology

The fully functional Honda FCX Concept will be on display for the first time in Europe. The concept model features a newly developed compact, high-efficient Honda FC Stack as well as a long-floor, low-riding, short-nose body. It offers a comfortably large cabin and futuristic styling along with significant improvements in power output and environmental performance. The FCX Concept offers practical driving performance with a range of 570 km (Honda calculations when driven in LA4 mode) and a top speed limited to 160 km/h. Limited marketing of a totally new fuel cell vehicle based on the FCX Concept model is to begin in Japan and the US in 2008.

Next-generation clean diesel engine

Further technical innovation will be represented in Geneva by the company's next-generation diesel engine that uses world-first technology to reduce emissions to the same level of a petrol engine. A revolutionary catalytic converter reduces NOx (oxides of nitrogen) emissions to a level that enables the engine to meet the stringent US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier II/Bin 5 requirements.

The catalytic converter features an innovative system that uses the reductive reaction of ammonia to 'detoxify' oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by converting them into harmless nitrogen (N2). However, unlike Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems which use urea injection, Honda's innovative technology uses ammonia generated within the catalytic converter.
Honda plans to introduce its next-generation diesel engine within three years.

Honda's Motorsports challengers for 2007

On public display for the first time will be the Honda Racing F1 Team's brand new race car, the RA107.
Honda's commitment to motorsport will also be represented at the show by the Civic Type R race car based on the just-launched road car. Developed in close cooperation with Italy's JAS Motorsport, the Civic Type R is aiming for even greater success than its forebear, which has proved popular in European motor sport circles since its introduction in 2002.
The car is being developed to Group N and Group A, as well as the new Group R specifications to be introduced in 2008.

Honda's production models and accessories

The stand will also feature examples of the brand-new CR-V and Civic Type R models, as well as the rest of the Honda range. The company's extensive range of accessories will be showcased on the upper level of the stand, including a CR-V Aero Performance Pack.

 

Mitsubishi to Unveil Outlander V6 Concept & Prototype X




Previewing next generation Lancer Evolution

A few weeks after the successful world premiere of the Lancer sports sedan at the Detroit Motor Show, the 2007 Geneva will be another occasion for celebration at Mitsubishi Motors.

From March 6th to March 18th in Geneva, the automotive arm of the Mitsubishi group of companies will demonstrate how vision took it to car production exactly 90 years ago with Model-A in 1917, how its talent for engineering continues today bringing to the market innovative solutions like those proposed by the all-new Outlander and ultimately, how such a commitment will continue to fuel the passion with red-hot Prototype-X.
Yesterday with Model-A

The Mitsubishi Motors stand at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show will be graced by a very red machine – an exact replica of the 1917 Model-A - but of a very different nature than the expected Lancer Evolution… Different, but sharing the same culture over the last 90 years.

The history of Mitsubishi Motors as an automobile manufacturer began long before the Motor Vehicle Division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. was incorporated as “Mitsubishi Motors Corporation” in 1970 and even longer before its return to the Mitsubishi family in 2004.

Mitsubishi’s first vehicle was Model-A, Japan’s first attempt at series production of passenger cars which rolled off the line in August 1917. After a 4-year run, production of Model-A’s was stopped in 1921 when aircraft manufacturing took precedence over cars at Mitsubishi. No matter what, this vehicle was then a pioneer and Mitsubishi has been an innovator ever since.

In these early years, the cars were manufactured by the ship and aircraft building arm of Mitsubishi. Therein lies the origin of Mitsubishi Motors’ dedication to creative engineering and resultant reputation for precision, reliability, quality and all-round performance of its vehicles, on-road, off-road, touring or racing.

Today with Outlander

Backed by these 90 years of in-house engineering expertise but also 70 years of 4x4 technology and 45 years of motor sports success, the new Outlander is a very legitimate SUV, challenging an increasingly crowded and predictable segment with design, technology and features to suit.
Leaving the role of authentic off-roader to the next generation Pajero, Outlander is a no-compromise solution for a different type of recreational vehicle. Using the in-built adaptability of MMC’s all-new global platform (see below), it brings passenger car-like levels of active safety and driving pleasure, thanks to its All Wheel Control drive-train, 4-wheel independent suspension, high performance brakes and low center of gravity. The latter is helped by an aluminium roof panel, using a technology tested with the Lancer Evolution IX.

Clearly inspired by the Pajero Evo 2+2 concept presented, Outlander’s front design blends into the muscular fenders with flared wheel arches and sharp lines, leaving no doubt about its character and dynamic abilities.
More so, in its Outlander V6-Concept livery (matt metallic grey with white roof and white accents) similar to that of Pajero Evo 2+2, Mitsubishi Motors’ “desert GT” presented exactly 5 years ago at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show.

Appropriately dressed, this show car version of a potential more potent Outlander will showcase Mitsubishi Motors’ all-new 3.0 l V6 MIVEC engine. Market conditions and customers’ feedback permitting, it could be launched at a later stage in Europe (4).

This variant could then top a full range of Outlanders including:

• 2.0 Diesel pump-jet - 140 ps and 310 Nm - launched during the first quarter of 2007 (1).
• 2.2 Diesel common rail* – 156 ps and 380 Nm - to be launched end of 2007 (2).
• 2.4 l Petrol* - 170 ps and 226 Nm - to be launched during the fourth quarter of 2007 (3).
• 3.0 l Petrol* - 220 ps and 276 Nm, under study (4).

1. VAG-sourced
2. PSA Peugeot Citroën-sourced
3. Mitsubishi Motors’ own
4. Mitsubishi Motors’ own. Already available in the US, as well as in Euro-3 form in Russia and in the Ukraine.

* All data subject to final homologation.

Tomorrow with Prototype-X

With cars like Outlander, the next generation Pajero or the 2007 Dakar-winning Pajero Evo, the flame is very much alive at MMC’s Okazaki R&D facilities in Japan as well as around the world for all Mitsubishi designers and engineers.

Ninety years after Model-A, it powers the Company through all its endeavors, such as “Project Global”, MMC’s new global platform and its most ambitious automotive project ever.

Previewed in October 2005 when the new Outlander was launched in Japan, this 3-million car global platform will be fully deployed from 2007 onwards through the launch of a new family of C-segment sedans (Lancer sports sedan and its derivatives) which share their stunning design language with the much-acclaimed 2005 Concept-X and Concept-Sportback concept cars.

With this platform, Mitsubishi Motors confirms its strategic decision to focus its product development over a limited number of intelligent platforms (from 14 to 6), i.e.: with the built-in flexibility needed to accommodate regional needs and regulations as well as market trends and new customer demands.

“Project Global” will also be the next best tool to fuel the passion and in Geneva like in Detroit, Mitsubishi Motors will hint at the next generation of its iconic “super-car”, the much anticipated and all-new Lancer Evolution through the Prototype-X show car.

Prototype-X will also demonstrate to the European public the depth and breadth of the forthcoming Lancer sports sedan family, ranging from entry model (1.5 l in Europe) right up to the all-new Lancer Evolution, the range topping “super-car”.

As Prototype-X indicates, Lancer Evolution will soon make perhaps the largest leap in overall capability seen between two generations of this model. The next Lancer Evolution will offer major gains in handling dynamics and technology while maintaining the kind of thrilling turbo engine performance that has made the model a legend around the world. This will start with a turbocharged version of the all-new aluminum 4B11 2.0-liter DOHC MIVEC powerplant used in the 2008 Lancer sports sedan, yielding the highest power rating ever in a Lancer Evolution model. Stay tuned…

 

Opel Corsa OPC Revealed

• 192 hp and top speed of 225 km/h
• Pure Corsa driving fun
• Corsa OPC world premiere in Geneva

Opel has shifted into top gear with the new Corsa. Following the successful market launch of the bestseller’s fourth generation, Opel now sends the sporty top version on to the road. The OPC model is the quintessential expression of the Corsa’s dynamic character, with top-level agility and vehicle control promising pure driving fun. Its 1.6-liter turbo engine with 141 kW/192 hp accelerates the compact three-door from zero to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds and enables a top speed of 225 km/h. The maximum torque of 230 Nm, which can be temporarily increased to over 260 Nm via an 'overboost' function, is delivered to the front wheels by the standard six-speed transmission. This level of performance provides the newest member of the sporty OPC family with superb propulsion power in all driving situations. For instance, accelerating from 80 to 120 km/h takes just 6.7 seconds in fifth gear. The Corsa OPC requires 7.9 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, a moderate figure in this performance class. It makes its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in early March, shortly before its market launch.

The top-of-the-line Corsa’s look also reflects pure sportiness. The roof spoiler, as well as the powerful front and rear aprons with distinctive gill-like air intakes and outlets make the OPC a real eye-catcher. Elements such as the darkly contrasting diffuser with integrated, centrally located triangular tailpipe and specially designed exterior mirrors are just a few examples of how much attention to detail was put into further developing the Corsa’s bold, sporty character.

The Corsa OPC’s chassis has a unique, even sportier character thanks to extensive modifications. Through intensive tuning drives on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, engineers were able to achieve a sophisticated balance of agile handling and pronounced vehicle control. Key modifications include a stronger rear axle profile and adjusted torsion beam rear axle weld-in angle, new spring/dampener tuning, lowering of the chassis by 10 mm and a larger stabilizer. The standard ESP system, which can be deactivated, has also been tuned to the car’s sporty character. The new Corsa OPC comes with 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/45 R17 tires ex works, while 18-inch rims and size 225 tires are available as an option. The large 16-inch brake system with blue painted brake calipers ensures powerful deceleration: the Corsa OPC boasts internally ventilated, 308 mm front disk brakes and 264 mm disk brakes at the rear.

Sportiness also dominates the Corsa OPC’s cockpit. In addition to the typical OPC door sills, chrome-ringed instruments with red pointers and blue-ringed air vents (also available in silver), the flat-bottomed leather sports steering wheel is especially eye-catching. Also reminiscent of motor sport vehicles, the steering wheel features a blue (or optionally silver) ring at its crown, while the center console in piano lacquer finish and aluminum pedals underline the sporty, high quality ambience. Particularly striking are the newly developed Recaro sports seats with integrated head restraints. The race-car-like seats protect both the driver and front passenger with integrated side airbags − a world premiere for this type of seat.

The introduction of the Corsa expands Opel’s OPC program to five model lines. The top-of-the-line Vectra OPC with 206 kW/280 hp is available as a sedan or station wagon. The Zafira OPC − the fastest production van in the world with a top speed of 231 km/h − and the Astra OPC both have a 177 kW/240 hp, two-liter turbo engine. The Meriva OPC is powered by an engine similar to that of the Corsa OPC: with 132 kW/180 hp and a top speed of over 220 km/h, the versatile five-seater is unique in the minivan segment.

“The OPC models embody pure sportiness, infusing the brand with emotion and passion. That is why the OPC version fits brilliantly to the new Corsa, which is positioned as a young car offering plenty of fun,” says Alain Visser, Executive Director, European Opel Marketing.

as an option. The large 16-inch brake system with blue painted brake calipers ensures powerful deceleration: the Corsa OPC boasts internally ventilated, 308 mm front disk brakes and 264 mm disk brakes at the rear.

Sportiness also dominates the Corsa OPC’s cockpit. In addition to the typical OPC door sills, chrome-ringed instruments with red pointers and blue-ringed air vents (also available in silver), the flat-bottomed leather sports steering wheel is especially eye-catching. Also reminiscent of motor sport vehicles, the steering wheel features a blue (or optionally silver) ring at its crown, while the center console in piano lacquer finish and aluminum pedals underline the sporty, high quality ambience. Particularly striking are the newly developed Recaro sports seats with integrated head restraints. The race-car-like seats protect both the driver and front passenger with integrated side airbags − a world premiere for this type of seat.

The introduction of the Corsa expands Opel’s OPC program to five model lines. The top-of-the-line Vectra OPC with 206 kW/280 hp is available as a sedan or station wagon. The Zafira OPC − the fastest production van in the world with a top speed of 231 km/h − and the Astra OPC both have a 177 kW/240 hp, two-liter turbo engine. The Meriva OPC is powered by an engine similar to that of the Corsa OPC: with 132 kW/180 hp and a top speed of over 220 km/h, the versatile five-seater is unique in the minivan segment.

“The OPC models embody pure sportiness, infusing the brand with emotion and passion. That is why the OPC version fits brilliantly to the new Corsa, which is positioned as a young car offering plenty of fun,” says Alain Visser, Executive Director, European Opel Marketing.

 

Subaru R1e Electric Switch Debut in Geneva




Short-distance commuter car
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI) will exhibit the “Boxer Turbo Diesel” engine and the Subaru R1e electric vehicle at the 77th Geneva International Motor Show. At present, ten units of the Subaru R1e electric vehicle are used for daily business operations by TheTokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated (TEPCO), Subaru’s joint development partner, for road-testing with an eye to a market debut down the road. FHI intends to commercialize the Subaru R1e as a short-distance commuter car based on the Subaru R1 mini-vehicle currently available in the Japanese market. A TEPCO-developed high-speed charger that will charge 80% in no more than 15 minutes will be also showcased.
Other vehicles to be exhibited (models marked with * will be available only on public open days)

• Subaru Impreza WRC 2007 prototype (reference vehicle)
• B9 Tribeca (5+2 passengers, 5 passengers)
• Outback (3.0R, 2.5i*)
• Legacy (Sedan 3.0R, Wagon 3.0R, Wagon 3.0R*, Wagon 2.0R*)
• Forester (2.5 XT and 2.0 X*)
• Impreza (Sedan WRX STI, Wagon 2.0R*, Wagon 1.5R*)
• G3X Justy (1.3*)

 

Subaru Boxer Turbo Diesel World Premiere in Geneva




The world's first
The world’s first horizontally-opposed turbo diesel engine – offering exceptional refinement and smoothness – makes it debut at the 77<SUP>th</SUP> Geneva International Motor Show next month on the Subaru stand.
The Japanese all-wheel drive specialist – renowned for producing cars with outstanding chassis dynamics and active safety – will be displaying an entire drivetrain at the ’show.
Subaru believes passionately in its ‘boxer’ engines which are more compact than in-line units and provide a much lower centre-of-gravity.
This reduces body roll for safer cornering and also enhances handling precision such as during a sudden lane-change maneuver on a motorway.
Due for its first vehicle application early next year, the Subaru ‘boxer’ turbo diesel is a highly rigid unit with low levels of noise and vibration.
Not only does this eliminate the need for a balancer shaft which counters uneven combustion pressures and general roughness, but Subaru’s first diesel is as compact as its petrol sisters and combines unusually strong pulling power at low engine speeds with high-rev throttle-response.
Both the engine and symmetrical all-wheel drive drivetrain will be unveiled as part of Subaru’s press conference at the ’show on March 6 at 10.15 am.

 

Peugeot 207 RC Revealed












207 RC – Performance par excellence

The 207 RC will be launched at the beginning of the spring and will write the next chapter in Peugeot’s history of small performance cars, such as the 205 GTi of the 1980s and, more recently, the 206 RC. Both of these cars especially delighted enthusiasts with their pure driving enjoyment and provoked much jealousy from drivers of less sporty versions.
The 207 RC is the modern evolution of a compact vehicle with a strong sporting temperament. The sophisticated technology fitted to the car is a result of Peugeot’s expertise in building this type of vehicle. It is a very multitalented car which is easy to live with on a day-to-day basis, whilst still able to provide a driving experience to satisfy the “enthusiast in everyone”.

The 207 RC combines

• The elegant and strong styling characteristics of the 207 3-door “Sport” model… enhanced by an improved specification with a hint of luxury. This combination creates a sporting look that enthusiasts will relish;
• The strong and assertive personality of the 207… and a turbocharged petrol engine with direct petrol injection and a maximum power output of 128 kW ( 175 bhp) and a torque of 240 Nm - developed in co-operation with the BMW Group. With its high torque output, this engine offers a very high level of performance underlined by a very sporty exhaust note;
• The universally praised handling qualities of the 207 range… are combined with the latest safety equipment which has been selected and developed by Peugeot using all its knowledge in this field. The result is excellent road holding and a level of active safety never before achieved in this market segment, enabling any driver to enjoy driving the 207 RC to the full;
• A passenger compartment which is welcoming, ergonomically designed and fully equipped for motoring enthusiasts. Its sporty character can be enjoyed on a daily basis, but for a taste of competitive driving, just fit a safety harness etc… and head for the nearest racing circuit ….

While the raison d’ętre of the 207 RC is to appeal to individuals who are passionate about driving, the car’s standard specification will be left to the discretion of the different markets. Therefore, the 207 RC can appeal to “performance purists” with a version focused mainly on the technology package and its necessary equipment.



207 RC
Genuine performance car looks

The 207 RC has the same length of 4.037 m as the 207 Sport hatchback, the same dynamic 3-door body shape with its expressive look at the front, combined with a wider front and rear track and wheel arches inspired by the 206 WRC and the world of motor sport.
Its styling is based on strong but subtly recognisable traits – performance-enhancing features and exclusive finishing touches – all symbols of its personality.
Ready to put to the test, the Bridgestone Potenza 205/45R17W tyres mounted on new 17" nine-spoke “Pitlane” wheels, a rear spoiler to optimise aerodynamic efficiency at high speed and a trapezoid twin chrome exhaust, all confirm the 207 RC’s sporty character.

Its efficient design and look confirm its purpose, thanks to the dark “black chrome” masking of the feline shaped headlamps.
The choice of exterior colours for the 207 RC captures the performance car feel perfectly with existing colours including: Bianca White, Flamenco Red, Obsidien Black, Metallic Grey, Aegean Blue and a new pearlescent anthracite colour - Shark Grey - which particularly reflects the car’s temperament.
This new colour is reserved for the RC only, as is the dark tinted rear windscreen and rear windows, the bright finish of the door B-post trims and the hi-tech satin chrome door mirror covers.

The heart of an “athlete” … power on demand

The 1.6 litre THP (Turbo High Pressure) engine produces a maximum power of 128 kW (175 bhp) and a torque of 240 Nm from only 1600 rpm. The torque output of the engine remains unchanged all the way up to 4500 rpm but can be increased to 260 Nm temporarily, thanks to the “over-boost” function. It is fitted with a 5-speed manual gearbox with specific gear ratios.
This engine is characterised by its high power output and maximum torque produced at very low engine speeds, offering exceptional acceleration while maintaining constant speed fuel consumption at a reasonable level.

With the driver only in the car, performance figures are as follows:

• Maximum speed: 220 km/h
• 1000 m standing start: 27.8 s
• 0 – 100 km/h: 7.1 s
• In gear acceleration (5th): 7.0 s 80 – 120 km/h

While combined fuel consumption is 7.2 litres/100 km (171 g of CO2/km)

To achieve both excellent performance and low fuel consumption the engine includes a number of innovative features, such as:

• Direct, high-pressure petrol injection, allowing a high power output and also low fuel consumption and low emissions. The system consists of a high-pressure injection pump supplying individual fuel injectors that inject fuel directly into the combustion chamber at a maximum pressure of 120 bar.
• An “over-boost” system, enabling the torque output to be increased temporarily from 240 Nm to 260 Nm in the top three gears.
• A Twin-Scroll turbocharger, which first appeared on the THP 150 bhp engine, which combines the exhaust gases flowing from two individual cylinders in the exhaust manifold before they enter the turbocharger compressor. The combined flow of the exhaust gasses is directed through “Scrolls” in the turbocharger turbine housing increasing the force applied to “rotate” the turbine. The direct result is a reduction in the turbocharger response time (turbo lag). The turbocharger compressor of this new and extremely efficient engine is made of steel due to the high operating temperatures.
• Continuously variable timing of the inlet camshaft (Variable Valve Timing (VVT)) and the use of roller cam followers, help to reduce internal friction and increase power and torque while also reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
• The controlled output oil pump supplies only the exact volume of oil required by the engine and eliminates unnecessary engine power consumption and the detrimental effect on fuel consumption.

Trained muscles

The excellent road holding of the 207 RC is a result of the strong structural design of the 207 and its proven suspension setup, developed to enhance both safety and driving pleasure.
Strengthened McPherson type front struts and front ball joints, a stiffer rear torsion beam, changes to the stiffness of the front and rear springs and damper settings, electric power steering calibrated according to the new performance levels, and larger ventilated front disc brakes (302 x 26 mm), distinguish the 207 RC from the rest of the range. A car with performance in its genes, the 207 RC is equipped as standard with the latest-generation ESP system which can be switched off fully, thereby disconnecting the traction control, yaw control and emergency braking assistance functions. This will, therefore, allow more demanding and experienced drivers to appreciate the exceptional handling of the 207 RC, particularly on a racing circuit.

A new innovation: the SSP function (Steering Stability Program)

This function manages the dialogue between the ESP system functions and the vehicle’s electric power steering when braking on surfaces that have different grip levels for the right-hand and left-hand wheels.
The system applies more braking power to the wheels with good grip and, anticipating any vehicle instability, applies torque to the steering to help the driver achieve optimal directional control. Unlike an ABS system which limits braking of the wheels with good grip to give priority to vehicle control, this system reduces braking distances by around 4 % while still guaranteeing vehicle stability in a straight line.

A passenger compartment for enthusiasts passionate about motor sport… and others

A sporty interior…
Firmly anchored in the world of motor sport, the passenger compartment of the 207 RC accommodates each of its four potential occupants in “bucket” style seats that provide excellent support. The sculpted and ergonomically designed front seats have been based on those used in motor sport and trimmed in dark “alcantara” with a matching 3D mesh. Their visual appeal is enhanced by visible light-coloured stitching which matches that of the passenger compartment “alcantara” trimmed door panels, carpets, and the gear lever gaiter.
The very stylish “furnishings” of the 207 RC interior are combined with:
An instrument panel which is similar to that usually found on a motor bike, with its circular chrome-trimmed dials, checked graphics, rounded typography and red needles.
The smooth, perforated, leather steering wheel has moulded thumb grips and is further enhanced by a ring with an “Indy” decoration – an exclusive, soft-to-the-touch material is used on the air vent controls and centre console of the 207 RC. Aluminium pedals with non-slip pads finish of the driver’s footwell area.
… To be enjoyed in complete safety…
The 207 RC benefits from the 207’s strong and protective structure that incorporates a number of innovative solutions to protect the occupants in the event of a front impact, such as the double impact absorption bars and the door retention pins for side impact. Combined with six air bags and two Isofix child safety seat mountings at the rear, the 207 was awarded five stars in the EuroNCAP test for adult occupants, four stars for child occupant protection and three stars in the test to assess the protection offered to pedestrians involved in a collision with the vehicle.
… not forgetting equipment for
comfort and convenience…
Occupants of the 207 RC will appreciate the automatic dual-zone air conditioning and comfort equipment (standard or optional according to destination) such as the MP3 compatible CD / radio, the JBL Hi-fi system, or the Peugeot RT3 telematics system with RDS radio, GPS satellite navigation and GSM telephone with 7’’ 16/9 colour display. In addition, drivers of the 207 RC will also benefit from a number of driving aids and safety systems, including as standard.
A rear parking aid, elliptical headlamps incorporating static directional lighting, a speed limiter coupled with a cruise control, headlamps which automatically switch on or automatic windscreen wipers with a rain sensor, tyre under-inflation sensors, folding electric door mirrors and an electro-chrome interior rear-view mirror …

 

Unique Zagato Diatto Ottovu Project



The Geneva motor show goes on - the by now classic tradition of passionate clients of exclusive car manufacturers, which has always stimulated the creativity of the Italian vehicle body makers and enhanced international motor shows.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Diatto brand, two keen collectors turned to Zagato with the aspiration of resurrecting past collaboration. Way back in 1921, Ugo Zagato designed a lightweight and aerodynamic body for the Diatto 25 4DS chassis.
In 2007, the Milanese Atelier with its typically rationalist approach to a project, revamps, with a sporty note, the artistry of one of the most historical brands of the Italian automotive industry: Diatto.
Created in 1835 with a Perfected Wheel patent, Diatto made their first car in 1905 and often crossed paths with Zagato in their close collaboration with Ettore Bugatti, the Maserati brothers and Tazio Nuvolari.

 

Bertone Concept



Open top two-seater Fiat

Aggressive and refined. Futuristic and minimalist. In extreme synthesis, that is the new Bertone-designed concept car with which the Company is celebrating its 95<SUP>th</SUP> anniversary at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show (8-18 March 2007).
Characterised by dynamic proportions and a dynamic style, the new concept car is a true open two-seater sports model on Fiat Panda 100 HP mechanicals that harks back explicitly to the Fiat 500 barchetta designed by a young Nuccio Bertone in 1947 as a one-off for his own personal use in races.
Bertone’s choice of the Fiat brand to celebrate its 95<SUP>th</SUP> anniversary was both natural and emotional. Natural because Fiat is the Italian brand par excellence. Emotional because the birth of Bertone as a coachbuilder of “special” vehicles is closely linked to the history of the Fiat brand. The historic relationship between the two companies has lasted for more than eighty years and has generated more than fifty highly successful models counting concept cars, one-offs and production cars, from the 850 Spider to the X1/9, from the Ritmo Cabrio to the Punto Cabrio


Rinspeed Exasis Concept









Rinspeed Exasis Concept


Glass-free transparency to debut at Geneva

"There's never been anything like it" were the words used in the online edition of an acclaimed international news magazine to describe its editor's reaction when the first sketches of the new Rinspeed concept car, "eXasis", appeared on the Internet, "and it looks like no other vehicle before it". In fact, the illustrations could only hint at what Swiss automotive visionary Frank M. Rinderknecht had thought up in collaboration with the experts from Bayer MaterialScience AG – one of the largest plastics producers in the world – to mark his company's 30th anniversary: a drivable "glass" car with a completely transparent body and floor made of Makrolon®. Once again, this Rinspeed creation has been built by the Swiss engineering specialists Esoro, and will be shown to the public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show (March 8-18, 2007), 40 years after Bayer presented the first "all-plastic car" at the K67 Plastics Fair in Germany in 1967.

"Everyone who sees the eXasis for the first time raves about the glass car, but they actually mean our transparent high-tech plastic," says Ian Paterson, the member of the Bayer MaterialScience Board of Management responsible for Innovation, describing the typical reaction to the prototype. "Many people only talk about innovation. We do it, in conjunction with our partners." In fact, nearly all the Bayer MaterialScience business units were involved in the development of the concept car, providing products such as surface coatings and polyurethanes (for molding tools). but it was the plastics experts from BMS with their Makrolon® polycarbonate who were responsible for the transparency of the eXasis. Frank M. Rinderknecht: "In this ethereal transparency, the true spirit of the eXasis becomes visible. An abstract idea becomes material, visions become a tangible car. Yet the eXasis still doesn't seem to have quite arrived in our material world."

So is it just a clever 3D projection, a fata morgana or perhaps a four-wheel ‘objet d'art’? In any case, the third vehicle to emerge from the cooperation between the two companies differs fundamentally from the other two: the futuristic-looking "Senso" and the pureblooded "zaZen" sports car. The eXasis is a completely new development, in other words it is not based on a production-line vehicle. The insect-like, shiny yellow body with the exposed wheels looks like a mix of the legendary Auto-Union racing cars from the first half of the last century and an off-road vehicle, offering room for two people, one behind the other. The reinterpretation of the frequently cited cigar form is crowned in the "sexy" rear section with an attractively integrated ventilator and a superb matching, highly polished Remus exhaust muffler. And the transparency also provides an unrestricted view of the compact 2-cylinder 750 ccm Weber engine, which, very unusually, sits above the transmission.

The eXasis is a real eye-catcher with nothing to hide. The outer Makrolon® shell, molded by the Swiss firm Mecaplex and coated with a tinge of yellow by the German hard coatings specialist, KRD, reveals the vehicle's load-bearing aluminum chassis. The chassis looks as if it has been cut from a solid piece of material, and in fact the bulkheads are. Despite this, the entire construction exudes a sense of lightness like bamboo, underlined by a Lesonal chrome effect finish based on Bayer MaterialScience's Desmodur® and Desmophen®. To finish the surfaces of the ***** and levers, the Bayer experts came up with a special soft-feel coating based on waterborne binders – their sole aim being to pamper the eyes and hands of the driver.
The two occupants sit in special seats designed in cooperation with Recaro. Each seat consists of twelve transparent Makrolon® ribs – the same number as a human being has. The head restraint and armrests are made of transparent Technogel®. The Hightex/Sellner Group, which is specialized in interior design, was responsible not only for the futuristic seat coverings and the design of the fabric-covered steering wheel, it has also added a number of other stylish highlights. One example is the innovative application of aluminized glass fiber material with a diamond-shape design on the wheel rims, trim, wishbones, fuel tank and headlamps.

The two transparent indicator and function displays are an absolute delight, both technically and optically. They seem to hover on both sides in the driver's field of vision. By touching them, various functions can be displayed and controlled. Each of the touchpanels is made of a transparent CD/DVD Makrolon® blank that has been coated with electrically conductive Baytron® from H.C. Starck to trigger the switch functions. The displays were developed by the Swiss safety and closure system specialists, Kaba. The personalized access system to the car is also be integrated in the touch panels.

The "eXasis" is powered by an extremely lightweight, 150 bhp Weber engine driven by CO2-emission-reducing bioethanol. In view of the fact that the car weighs only 750 kg because of its lightweight plastic construction, one horsepower has to shift only 5 kg – and that is about the same as a very nippy Porsche.

Rinspeed was also able to persuade some state-owned companies and government departments to become involved in the eXasis project. The fuel is provided by Alcosuisse, the profit center of the Swiss Alcohol Board, while the Swiss Federal Office of Energy has chosen the eXasis to take part in a study on the subject of lightweight construction and ecology. More information on bioethanol and Germany's first fuel station brand for environmentally friendly fuels can be found on the Internet at biofuel24.de.

To transfer all this power to the road, the KW chassis specialists have accommodated the tailor-made spring and shock absorber units vertically in the front in the partition wall and horizontally at the rear. The tires are Pirelli's 22-inch High-Performance P Zero, mounted on forged five-spoke wheels manufactured by the German wheel maker, AEZ. Here too, attention to detail is evident: the wheels are decorated with transparent "inlays" of Makrolon® that look like small windows.

Despite the attractive sweeping contours that blend smoothly into the car's transparency, the eXasis is ‘edgy’ and definitely has a character of its own. But everybody who has the pleasure of driving it is agreed on one thing: glancing down through the transparent floor while the car is moving gives a very special kind of thrill…

Swiss made: Esoro

Frank M. Rinderknecht used highly advanced technology and a Swiss-based network of top automotive specialists for his project. Although there is no automobile production in Switzerland, there is a very active automotive supply industry there. Many highly innovative prototypes have been developed and manufactured in Switzerland. engineered by Esoro - What you dream is what you get.
For the eighth time the Swiss engineering company Esoro was hired to serve as general contractor for the entire vehicle project. Esoro was responsible for project management, implementation of new technologies, engineering, design and manufacturing of the Rinspeed “eXasis”.
Esoro realized the concept with the help of its highly competent suppliers Schwaller AG (chassis), Weber Motor / Swissauto (engine) and Protoscar (styling). Starting with initial concepts, it took the highly skilled development team just six months to realize the entire project.
Esoro has been a contract developer in the areas of automotive production, lightweight design and plastics technology for 16 years. During this time it has gained a well-deserved reputation for excellent efficiency and innovative solutions not just in these but also in other fields, including fuel-cell vehicles and prototype design. Esoro has impressively demonstrated its expertise with numerous extraordinary prototypes.
Another recent development from Esoro is the new E-LFT production technology developed for Weber Fibertech. E-LFT makes large scale production of high-strength and lightweight composite parts affordable. E-LFT composite parts weigh 30-50 percent less than comparable steel parts. The tailgate of the new smart fortwo is actually produced with our E-LFT technology. Furthermore another production process for niche markets, like high performance cars, trucks and caravans is now introduced by ESORO to several OEM’s. The new and patented process called Melt Embossing does offer the possibility to produce high end thermoplastic composite parts with low initial invest for structural and semi-structural applications. Esoro is able to offer the entire service starting from topological optimization and explicit FE calculations trough to the delivery of the serial parts.

 

Audi A5 Coupe

 

nice , thanks for the info altspace, keep them comming

 

"Hide & Seek" is over for the KTM X-BOW as the Austrian bike manufacture released the full press pack of its street-homologated sports car. The X-BOW is KTM’s first attempt of this sort so it was only logical that it would seek the help of “specialists” like Dallara who not only designed the carbon fibre monocoque but it will also produce the sports car at its factory in Italy. KTM’s other big partner is Audi who provided the drivetrain: the220Hp 2.0 TFSI 4-cylindre engine which is complemented by a manual 6-gear transmission. An optional DSG transmission will also be offered. According to KTM the lightweight X-BOW (700 kg or 1.543 pounds) accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in an "Enzo I got u" time of 3.9 seconds.

The car shown at the Geneva Show will base a pilot series of 100 units, which will be produced in Dallara’s factory at the end of 2007. If all goes well in Geneva, KTM is considering to extend the pilot series of the X-Bow into a small-series production between 500 and 1000 units a year that would take place in Austria in 2008. If this happens, KTM is projecting a base price of 40,000 EUROS (about 52.500 USD). Not bad at all.
















Specs:

Engine
Inline-4-cylinder-engine with direct fuel injection system (FSI), turbo-charger and intercooler

Displacement
cm3: 1984

Max. Power
kW (HP) 162 (220)
@ U/min 5900

Max. Torque
Nm (ft-lbs) 300 (221)
@ U/min 2200-4000

Valves
4 pro Zylinder, DOHC

Bore & stroke
mm 82,5 x 92,8

Emission standard
Euro 4

Transmission
Rear-wheel-drive with mechanical slip differential
Gearbox
6-speed-manual

Kerb weight
kg (lbs) 700 (1,543)

Weight distribution front/rear
37/63

Overall length/width/height
mm 3670 x 1870 x 1160
Wheelbase
mm 2430
Center of gravity
mm 400
Track front/rear
mm 1644/1624
Turning circle
m 10,8
Fuel tank capacity
l (gal) 35 (9.2)

Brake system
Front.: 4-piston-caliper
Rear.: 2-piston-caliper

Brake-disk diameter
Front/rear
mm 305/262

Wheels/tyres
Front: 205/40 R17
Rear: 235/40 R18

Acceleration
0-100 kph (62 mph): 3.91 seconds
Top speed kph (mph): 217 (135)

Braking distance 100-0 kph (warm)
m (f) 33,1 (109)

Aerodynamic downforce
kg at 100 kph 48
at 200 kph 193

 

Smart fortwo Brabus and Brabus Xclusive











Impressive performance and low emissions

At the Geneva Motor Show (06 – 18 March 2007) smart will be presenting the two BRABUS variants of the new smart fortwo to the public for the first time.
Rated at 72 kW / 98 bhp, the smart fortwo BRABUS and smart fortwo BRABUS Xclusive have more than 30 percent more engine power than the BRABUS variant of the predecessor model. At the same time the low consumption and low CO2 emissions demonstrate that this does not have to come at a cost to the environment and customers' wallets.

In addition, the two BRABUS variants boast an extremely low weight to power ratio: at just 7.8 kg/bhp this is 24 percent lower than that of the previous BRABUS variant.
smart fortwo BRABUS: Greater power and sports suspension

The smart fortwo BRABUS places the primary focus on sportiness. Its three-cylinder petrol engine with capacity of one litre delivers 72 kW (98 bhp) and together with maximum torque of 140 Newton metres this lends the 770 kilo two-seater remarkably lively agility. The sprint from zero to 100 km/h takes less than ten seconds and the maximum speed (electronically limited) is 155 km/h.

The exterior of the smart fortwo BRABUS is first and foremost characterised by "Monoblock VI" alloy wheels, wider rear wheel arches, a sports exhaust system and fog lights. Furthermore, it has a firmer suspension setup and is lowered by 15 millimetres.

The interior of the smart fortwo BRABUS is distinguished from that of standard smart fortwo models by a number of BRABUS styling elements, for example for the gear ****, hand-brake handle and pedals. The speedometer, rev counter and clock also bear the BRABUS signature.

The same range of exterior colours is available for the smart fortwo BRABUS as for other smart fortwo models.
smart fortwo BRABUS Xclusive: Luxurious equipment

Sportiness combined with a level of luxury that is unusual in this vehicle class – that's the smart fortwo BRABUS Xclusive. It does not differ from the BRABUS model in terms of drive and performance but it comes with additional equipment that leaves almost nothing to be desired.

Although it also sports wide "Monoblock VI" alloy wheels, wider rear wheel arches, a sports exhaust system and rear apron, it is nevertheless immediately recognisable as a BRABUS Xclusive. This is first and foremost due to the BRABUS front spoiler, BRABUS side skirts and the tinted clear glass headlights.

The interior of the smart fortwo BRABUS Xclusive additionally features heated leather seats embossed with the BRABUS logo. A modified three-spoke leather sports steering wheel with steering wheel gearshift and BRABUS velour floor mats are also included in the standard spec. The instrument panel and door trim have a leather effect. Head/thorax side airbags, otherwise available as an option, are a standard feature in this model. These special side airbags protect the head and chest areas.
The paintwork of the smart fortwo BRABUS Xclusive further underlines the exclusiveness of this model. It is exclusively available in the combinations (tridion safety cell/bodypanels) silver/silver or black/black.

The two BRABUS variants will be launched on the market in the autumn of 2007. The prices will be announced around the middle of the year.

 

Kia ex_cee'd convertible concept







PRESS RELEASE:

GENEVA WORLD PREMIERE FOR SCHREYER'S KIA ex_cee'd CABRIO CONCEPT

Kia's exciting all-new ex_cee'd cabrio concept car will be premiered at the 77th Salon de l'Automobiles in Geneva, Switzerland on 6 March.

The styling of the eagerly anticipated ex_cee'd cabrio is the work of Peter Schreyer, Kia's new Chief Design Officer, and hints at the future direction Kia vehicles could be taking under his guidance.

Based on the new three-door cee'd hatchback, due to go into production at the Zilina factory in Slovakia from December, the ex_cee'd shares the same platform, but features all-new exterior panels and a powered folding fabric roof.

By adopting a fabric roof, the ex_cee'd deliberately goes its own retro way rather than following the trend towards cabrios with folding metal roofs. Peter Schreyer paid special attention to designing a classic cabrio with a traditional soft-top roof: "I'm convinced that the fabric roof will have a renaissance. We've all lived with the romantic idea of open-air driving for a long time and for me, the fabric roof is the quintessential element of a truly rewarding cabrio."

With its slight wedge shape profile, muscular wings over 19-inch alloy wheels, and aggressive nose with dynamic front styling, the ex_cee'd has instantly found a form that stands out from the cabrio crowd. The cabrio concept is finished in 'meringue white' exterior paint with a 'bitter chocolate' fabric roof – colours that are echoed by the interior's two-tone leather.

"With this new cabrio concept car, Kia has once again demonstrated that it is a young, style-conscious company that knows how to combine elegance with dynamics," enthused Mr Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice President and COO Kia Motors.

"The Kia ex_cee'd is a fresh aesthetic high-point in our history, an encouraging sign of the growing internationalisation of our brand and a step in the process of evolving into a European company with Korean roots," he added.

 

Hyundai SUV Concept



A teaser sketch of a new crossover SUV from Hyundai has been released ahead of the car's world debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Few details are known, but the vehicle has been developed using advanced materials and is said to be environmentally friendly. It's also expected to set a new standard for pedestrian impact testing.


Audi S5

















Look out, BMW 3-series coupe, Infiniti G35 coupe, and Mercedes-Benz CLK, the 2008 Audi A5 and Audi S5 are poised to make their debuts later this year. The images shown here were leaked, not released, weeks ahead of the A5’s official debut at the Geneva auto show in March. Audi probably could have tolerated the A5’s premature release, but company officials are furious because the S5 wasn’t supposed to be revealed until summer. The marketing agency putting together the Audi A5/S5 brochure for which these photos were intended may be in hot water—but we digress.

Derived from the next-generation A4 platform, dubbed B8, the A5 and S5 coupes have just two doors—go figure—bucking the silly four-door-coupe trend that marketers at other manufacturers have dreamed up recently. By year’s end, the A4 cabriolet is expected to defer to a convertible version of the A5, and there’s even talk of a five-door A5 “spaceback” model sometime thereafter.

The four-seat A5 will ****** the A6’s 255-hp, 3.1-liter FSI V-6, but it will be pushed farther behind the front wheels for a more favorable weight distribution. (Rejoice! The next A4 is sure to boost its skidpad numbers.) Although the leaked A5 photos reveal a rear trunk badge reading 3.0 TDI, we expect this will be a Europe-only option—that diesel will only make it stateside in the Q7 SUV for the time being. We speculate that the Audi A5 will be the first vehicle from the brand to mate a dual-clutch sequential-manual transmission to a longitudinally mounted engine. It is unknown if a conventional manual will be offered on our shores.

The S5 will get the same 340-hp, 4.2-liter V-8 found under the hood of the S4 and S4 Avant, possibly updated to 350 horsepower with direct injection, as found in the current A8.
Although the A5's styling isn't terribly original, we can find little fault with it—the latest Audi is pretty stunning. As with every other Audi, the A5 wears the corporate single-frame grille. The detailing in the headlamps, particularly the LEDs that underscore the actual lamps, recall the Audi R8 supercar. The upper-body coke-bottle sculpting also reminds us of the R8, although the lower-body rise is a TT-ism. Somewhat surprising, however, are the formal, notched roofline and the thick C-pillars. The rear end reminds some of us of the 3-series coupe, only executed with considerably more elegance. The S5 packs a bit more visual punch in the form of an egg-crate grille insert, a lower stance, and wide-set quad pipes in place of lesser A5’s duals.

The interior, as expected, is swank. The photos clearly show lots of aluminum trim, Audi-typical gauges, and what appear to be comfortable and supportive sport front seats (but we’ll have to wait until we climb in back to see if we can say the same about the rears). An electronic parking brake and a push-button ignition system will also be standard. And, of course, the capable but complex MMI is there to serve and confuse.

We also wouldn’t be surprised if an RS 5 appeared sometime during the 2009 model year with the RS 4’s direct-injected 4.2-liter V-8 with 420 horsepower.

The A5 will be priced between the A4 and A6, so you will be able to scoop one up for between $35,000 and $40,000. Pricing of the forthcoming S5 is less clear, but we expect it to be in the low-$50,000 range to slightly undercut the 400-hp 2008 BMW M3. One thing is certain: Audi’s new coupe will give empty nesters another alluring option

 

2007 Maserati GranTurismo

















Behold the Maserati GranTurismo coupe, penned by Ferrari’s favorite designer, Pininfarina, and released ahead of its official debut at the upcoming Geneva auto show. Recall that the previous Maserati coupe was a Giugiaro design. Built on a short-wheelbase version of the Quattroporte platform, the coupe carries on with a Ferrari-derived 4.2-liter DOHC V-8 upgraded to produce 405 horsepower. That’s nine more horses than the previous GranSport coupe could boast and 11 more than the Quattroporte. The only transmission, at least initially, will be the six-speed automatic recently introduced on the Quattroporte, and there are no plans for a convertible in the near future. We estimate the new coupe will wear a $100,000-to-$120,000 price tag when it goes on sale this summer.

 

Fiat Grande Punto Abarth

























The legendary Abarth Scorpion returns
A great project will be launched at the 77th Geneva International Motor Show: the rebirth of one of the most prestigious brands in world motorsports. Its symbol is a scorpion, and its name is Abarth.

Abarth has always been synonymous with assertive cars, competitiveness, passion and excitement, and it now returns with a new range that will appeal to all lovers of motorsports. Abarth’s first interpretation of the Grande Punto will be on the “catwalk” at the Geneva Show, the first step in an initiative which will later involve other models.
This new adventure starts in the familiar, uniquely emotional context and exclusive setting of the Geneva Motor Show. A striking stand has been prepared, in line with the philosophy of Abarth’s rebirth, an innovative space with a fresh, contemporary, technological language and great attention to every detail. The new elements that will publicise the Abarth brand are displayed with all their strong, original personality: the revamped version of the famous Abarth racing stripe has been rendered with LED tiles, while the new logo, the scorpion and the wording are all large, three-dimensional elements in polished, satin-effect aluminium.

The Abarth values and tradition on the other hand are underlined discreetly and technologically: refined materials and precious finishing details in aluminium, carbon fibre, enamel and lacquer decorate the exhibition area, and draw attention to the true stars of the stand: the Grande Punto Abarth S2000, a car that has been type-approved for racing and is proving to be highly successful, and the Grande Punto Abarth Preview, a concept car making its world debut.

These are the two souls of the Abarth world: racing and standard production.

Visitors to the Geneva Show will also have an opportunity to discover a third field in which the brand operates; a multimedia configurator will illustrate the whole concept of the ‘Abarth Kit’, and the flexibility and wide range of combinations that the brand will offer customers in its conversion kits. Some of these solid wooden boxes, inlaid with satin-finished aluminium trims, are on display inside glass cubes, with the historic mechanical and stylistic components from the conversion kits.

And finally, by means of exclusive LED technology and plasma screens, the walls of the stand propose historical photographs and films, alternating them with a reproduction of the new Abarth racing stripe, underlining the fine link between the past and the future, as well as the energy and personality that are inherent in the Abarth brand.

The Grande Punto Abarth Preview

The absolute star of the stand is the Grande Punto Abarth Preview, a true jewel of assertiveness and elegance. The car will be marketed in September, to enhance the sporty, youthful positioning of the Grande Punto.

The car on show in Geneva is equipped with a 1.4 Turbo petrol engine that delivers 150 bhp at 5500 rpm, boosted to 155 bhp by the adoption of 98 RON petrol. What is more, thanks to a booster kit, a version with twice as much power as the basic version (180 bhp) will soon be available. This is a revival of a tradition from the past: for example, the Fiat 500 of 1958 delivered 13 bhp at 4000 rpm with a top speed of 85 km/h, while the Fiat 500 Abarth of the same year delivered 26 bhp at 5000 rpm and a top speed of 118 km/h.

The Grande Punto Abarth aims to revive the feats of these entertaining performance cars, offering young drivers in particular an opportunity to enter the racing world in complete safety and at an accessible price.

The Grande Punto Abarth S2000

The public in Geneva will also be able to admire the extraordinary Grande Punto Abarth S2000. This is a racing car designed for racing stables, which the Fiat Racing Department will be entering in the 2007 Italian Rally Championship with Giandomenico Basso and his navigator Mitia Dotta. Davide Gatti, winner of the 2006 Fiat Abarth International Trophy, will compete at the wheel of an official Fiat Grande Punto R3D with a diesel engine. On the international scene, the Grande Punto Abarth S2000 will compete in the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) with drivers Andrea Navarra, his navigator Guido D’Amore, and young Umberto Scandola and Anton Alen.

The Abarth & C. Spa racing team will be managed by Claudio Berro.

Powered by a 2000 cc aspirated engine that delivers 270 bhp, with 4-wheel drive, the new Grande Punto Abarth S2000 is heir to the version that took the 2006 Italian Rally Championship title with Paolo Andreucci and Anna Andreussi, winning 7 of the 11 races on the programme. Nor must we forget the excellent season of their team-mates Andrea Navarra and Guido D’Amore who took third place. Giandomenico Basso and Mitia Dotta won the European title and the International Rally Challenge.

Since its debut last season, the racing version has proved unbeatable, whatever the type of route or terrain. And we must underline that the 15 cars built so far have been ordered by several racing stables in Europe and elsewhere, to compete in domestic and international rallies. And now, thanks to this technological and competitive superiority, the new Grande Punto Abarth S2000 is ready to compete in these two championships with the same determination and assertiveness.

And finally, as well as a successful car and an outstanding team of drivers, the new Abarth & C. company can also boast a staff with a great deal of experience in motorsports: a total of 113 experts, 26 in the engineering field, 43 on the manufacturing side and 9 dedicated to racing.

 

Gumpert Apollo Sport







Rebel amongst super sport cars

It is one of only a handful of super sport cars and after its debut at Geneva’s international Motor Show in 2006 it was clear: the apollo is a synthesis of dynamic and design with pure driving pleasure and unique performance. On the road it speeds like a god and on the race track it cries out to be challenged by an opponent that can match its breathtaking acceleration and incomparable handling. Now, it is due to get a worthy competitor out of its own stable. At the 77th Geneva Motor Show, the Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur will present the apollo sport to the wide public.

The apollo sport is the rebel amongst the super sport cars. Its bodywork combines sexy curves with potent edges and angles and aims for uncompromising aerodynamics. A clear demonstration of the principle “form follows function”. Its challenging sporting design derives from the requirement to built a street legal racing car, whose number one priority is to provide extraordinary performance on the circuit, but at the same time embodying a vehicle suitable for daily use.

The highest importance was attached to safety: the tubular space frame in chrome-molybdenum steel with integrated safety monocoque fabricated in carbon-fiber passes all crash-tests regulations, while a cashbox offers additional protection. The gaping air intake stub over the roof and on the rear signals power, dynamics and superiority. The eight cylinder, bi-turbo mid-engine with up to 800 horsepower is capable of catapulting this 1200 kg missile from 0-100 km/h in only 3 seconds.

The apollo sport is equipped with an extended aerodynamic package and, in contrast to the three part spoiler of the apollo, possesses a racing wing which gives even more down force and pushes the spollos’s maximum speed up to 360 km/h.
As you can guess, it is not for nothing that this cars is named after the fierce Greek God.

The two-seater also convinces from the inside, with its sporty and elegant alcantara interior, and offers air-condition, CD-player, navigation system and reverse view camera as standard equipment. A two-layer metallic finish available in any conceivable color, gives this bolide a particular luster. As a special accessory the apollo is equipped with an airjack, a pneumatic jacking pad.

The standard version of the apollo sport costs 299.500,- € plus VAT.

 

Alfa Romeo at Geneva





























World debut for Spider 2.4 JDTM and Brera Selespeed

Alfa Romeo returns to the Geneva International Motor Show with an exciting stand where standard models alternate with special versions to underline, yet again, the brand’s unique position in the world automotive market.
Simple geometrical shapes define the display area where closed volumes on one side contrast with the aluminium and glass sun-screen at the front, representing elements that define the concept of the Alfa Romeo ‘villa’ by the canons of Italian rationalist architecture. Translated into shapes, colours and materials, the severely essential architectural design provides an ideal setting for the sinuous, aggressive styling of the cars, making them the absolute centre of attention: the whole stand is dominated by red and black, which have always expressed the duality of Alfa Romeo, a blend of passion and technology.
At the Geneva Motor Show, world premieres and today’s product range coexist perfectly, and represent the connotation of ‘sportiness and elegance’ as Alfa Romeo sees it, fruit of the most sophisticated technology and a heritage of cars and designers, races and engines that have written whole chapters in the history of technological progress and racing in the 20<SUP>th</SUP> century.
World premiere of the Alfa Brera 2.2 JTS Selespeed and 200 bhp Alfa Spider 2.4 JTDM

The spotlights of the Swiss Show are also on two cars from the new Alfa Romeo generation: the Alfa Brera, an appealing car that transforms the traditional spirit of the coupé into the more exciting spirit of ‘absolute sportiness’; and the brand new Alfa Spider, which recalls Alfa Romeo’s glorious tradition in this field: from the Giulietta Spider of the 1950s to the Duetto and the Spider launched in the 1990s.
The public in Geneva can admire two cars making their world premiere: one is the 200 bhp Alfa Spider 2.4 JTDM, the first open sports car equipped with a Diesel engine and a sporty 6-speed gearbox which guarantees excellent power and torque deliveries but low consumption.

The second car making its world debut is the Alfa Brera with the new Selespeed robotised gearbox, the technological evolution of the Selespeed unit already equipping other Alfa Romeo models, which adopts an extremely user-friendly robotised electrohydraulic system for manual sequential and automatic gear changes. The new transmission is available on both the Alfa Brera and the Alfa Spider combined with the 185 bhp 2.2 JTS engine.

On the stand there is also an Alfa Spider with the powerful 3.2 V6 JTS 24 valve engine and the new 6-speed automatic transmission, a jewel of automotive engineering that delivers an amazing 191 kW (260 bhp) at 6,300 rpm, and peak torque of 322 Nm (32.8 kgm) at 4,500 rpm. Both Alfa Spiders present the top-of-the-range outfit, which includes 7 airbags, VDC, ASR, dual-zone automatic climate control, wind-stops, natural leather upholstery and 18” alloys.
The Alfa Romeo Customisation Programme

At the Geneva Motor Show, Alfa Romeo presents the new Customisation Programme that allows customers to make their cars even more refined and exclusive. It is a completely new programme from the brand that suggests even more ways to customise cars throughout the range.

Today the Alfa Romeo Customisation programme extends this range of possibilities into three different areas: the first, known as ‘Vintage’, offers exclusive colours for the bodywork and chromatic treatments for the interior that recall the brand’s great history on the roads and racing circuits of the world. The second is known as ‘Collezione’, and explores the world of fashion and elegance, both on the exteriors with multi-layer lacquered paint and alloys with a sparkling finish, and in the interiors where the materials have all been chosen to create a sensation of well-being and beauty. The third area of the Alfa Romeo Customisation programme is ‘TI’ (Turismo Internazionale), which was clearly designed for customers who are particularly demanding where performance, dynamic behaviour and sporty personality are concerned. The programme will be on the market in the coming months, gradually offering new features and extending to the entire range.

Visitors to Geneva will be able to admire a few special versions outfitted with the Alfa Romeo Customisation Programme. First of all an Alfa 147 Collezione with a Shell white body, and an Alfa GT Q2 ‘dressed’ with beautiful three-layer 8C Red paintwork, the same colour that reappears on an Alfa 159 TI and an Alfa 159 Sportwagon TI. The display concludes with an Alfa Brera 2.2 Selespeed and an Alfa Spider 2.4 JTDM. The former sports 19” alloys with a special chromatic treatment, 8C Red three-layer paintwork and upholstery in Frau hide-coloured ‘pieno fiore’ leather, including the facia and door panels. And the Spider has three-layer White paintwork, 18” spoked alloys treated in a special way, a roll-bar and chromed head-restraint trims, Frau hide-coloured ‘pieno fiore’ leather upholstery (with the same luxurious finish on the facia and panels), and interior trims with exclusive colour combinations and hand-brushed aluminium inserts on the facia, panels and steering wheel.
Alfa 8C Competizione

The undisputed star of the ‘super cars’, the Alfa 8C Competizione is displayed in Geneva with brand-new Black bodywork. This exclusive tourer, produced in a limited series, epitomises the values that have always been a hallmark of Alfa: technology and emotion. The key to Alfa’s revived fortunes, at the Geneva Show, the Alfa 8C Competizione displays the latest refinements to the project that will soon launch the car on markets all over the world, in the hands of 500 carefully selected owners. The reservation and ordering process for this limited series has now concluded, and all the cars have been assigned.
The novelties for the Alfa 159 and Alfa 159 Sportwagon

The 159 saloon and Sportwagon return to Geneva, with a number of novelties in terms of outfits, equipment and engines. To start with, the new TI (Turismo Internazionale) sports versions make their debut. This was the name that Alfa Romeo used in the Seventies to distinguish cars with particularly lavish outfits. Today these two simple but glorious letters reappear on the Alfa 159, and offer equipment that includes a low set-up, exclusive 19” alloys, sideskirts, and sporty instrumentation and interiors. Both cars have three-layer 8C Red paintwork and black leather interiors; the first is a saloon equipped with the 260 bhp 3.2 V6 Q4 engine, while the Sportwagon is powered by the 200 bhp 2.4 JTDM.

The Geneva ‘catwalk’ will also host a 210 bhp Alfa 159 Sportwagon 2.4 JTDM with the Q4 system and a 260 bhp Alfa 159 3.2 V6 Q4 with the 6-speed ‘Q-Tronic’ gearbox, on which the sophisticated Blue&Me<SUP>TM</SUP> Nav system makes its debut, with new telematic services that are accessed by dedicated key: from emergency calls to requests for information of personal interest, but also the offer of insurance policies at advantageous conditions.

The four cars on display obviously present the lavish equipment of the different specifications: from luxurious Poltrona Frau<SUP>®</SUP> ‘pieno fiore’ leather upholstery to a tri-zone climate system, electric seats and Cruise Control, 7 airbags, the VDC system with a Hill holder, parking sensors, a radio navigator with maps and a voice control telephone.
The Alfa GT ‘Black Line’ and Distinctive with the Q2 system

Two Alfa GTs will also be on the stand in Geneva: one equipped with the Q2 system, and the other in the special ‘Black Line’ version that really brings out the model’s unique personality. Created in collaboration with Bertone, the Alfa GT features original styling, lavish accoutrements and exciting performance, embodying a new conception of sportiness which also embraces comfort and elegance. The Alfa GT ‘Black Line’ has ‘Carbon Black’ bodywork and an interior upholstered with two-tone (black and red) leather, and it is equipped with the powerful 165 bhp 2.0 JTS engine and the Selespeed gearbox. The second Alfa GT has ‘Red Alfa’ bodywork and is fitted with the Q2 system and powered by the 1.9 JTDM engine that delivers 150 bhp (110 kW) and peak torque of 305 Nm (31 Kgm), taking the car to a top speed of 209 km/h and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds.

Both cars target a sporty clientele, and they are both distinguished by a number of exclusive elements and features in addition to the standard outfit: 18” alloy wheels (perforated design for the Black Line and spokes for the Q2), front headlights with a black frame, satin-effect painted front grille and chrome-plated wing mirror housings. And inside, black and red leather seats for the Black Line, and black leather with red stitching and a red logo for the Q2. The carpets, mats and gearbox and parking brake gaiters are also black with red stitching. And finally, the two original Alfa GTs on show are very comprehensively equipped, with Xenon headlights, a CD Changer, an audio CD and MP3 file player, and a map radio navigator with a built-in voice control telephone complete with a subscription to info-telematic services.
The Collezione and Q2 versions of the Alfa 147

The Alfa Romeo 147 also fits into this context of styling and technology, and two versions are on show in Geneva. The Q2 version, presented with 8C Red bodywork, has a Torsen<SUP>®</SUP> self-locking front differential (known as the Q2) which offers all the strong points of a front-wheel-drive, increasing the entertainment and sense of control, while guaranteeing certain advantages that are typical of a four-wheel drive. The system is combined exclusively with the 150 bhp JTDM engine, a choice that takes into consideration the current technological scenario where turbodiesels are concerned, and the fact that since 1997, the year that the Alfa 156 JTD made its debut (the first car in the world to feature Common Rail technology), the amount of torque transmitted to the wheels has increased significantly even on compact cars.
To guarantee maximum control and traction in all driving conditions, Alfa Romeo has now developed the sophisticated Q2 system. Externally, the Alfa 147 Q2 stands out for satin-effect whiskers, grille and mirror housings, a rear spoiler, chrome-plated exhaust terminal, low set-up, special 17” wheels and the Q2 logo. The interior is sporty, with red-scale instrumentation and white lighting, seats in sporty black fabric with red stitching, a leather steering wheel with red stitching (like the gear lever and hand brake gaiters), anthracite grey steering wheel trims and central console, and Q2 heel-high strips. Equipment on the Alfa 147 Q2 includes radio controls on the steering wheel, Cruise Control, a trip computer, dual-zone automatic climate control, VDC and 6 airbags. The car on show also has sporty leather seats with red stitching, a Bose<SUP>®</SUP> audio system with subwoofer, a satellite navigator, headlight washers and xenon headlights.

The second Alfa 147 is a 5-door ‘Collezione’ version, with Shell white bodywork combined with an elegant two-tone (black/cream) leather interior and two-tone facia in the same colours. The compact Alfa is powered by a 2-litre petrol engine, and standard equipment includes the most sophisticated safety devices, from VDC to ASR, ABS with EBD and six airbags. The outfit is completed by dual-zone automatic climate control, radio controls on the steering wheel, new 17” spoked alloys, a radio-CD player, Cruise Control, a leather steering wheel and *****, and electric rear windows. The car on display is also equipped with a map navigator with a built-in hands-free telephone, radio and telephone controls on the steering wheel, an electric sunroof, rear parking sensors, CD changer, Bose<SUP>® </SUP>Hi-Fi system with subwoofer, particulate filter and Xenon headlights with washers.