If you were disappointed by the Bleu Centenaire edition of the Veyron that Bugatti unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this month to celebrate its 100th anniversary, you’re not alone. Hopes were high that the long-anticipated higher-output version of the Veyron would be unveiled at the Swiss show. But fret not, at least if these latest reports are to be believed, as Bugatti is said to be preparing an altogether new car that will be unveiled in September.
Kia World has scored the first official photos of the 2010 Kia Sorento, and from the looks of things, it’s in keeping with the other marked improvements the automaker has been making to its lineup. In fairness, the current Sorento is no ugly duckling, with a shape that’s evocative of the Jeep WJ Grand Cherokee and last-gen Lexus RX. Kia retains a traditional SUV profile with the latest version, but you can see that a thick D-pillar now resides aft of the side glass. In its report, OmniAuto notes that new, larger Sorento will have seven-passenger capability.
The new Sorento doesn’t appear to mess with success, retaining the same basic shape while incorporating Kia’s new, handsome corporate face and a clamshell hood. Its public debut is slated for the Seoul Motor Show next month, and Kia World reports that the the new SUV will be available with a Euro 5-compliant 2.0-liter clean diesel making 200 horsepower and 295-lb-ft of torque. Stateside, expect a 170-horsepower 2.4-liter four and and a 3.8-liter, 260-horse Lambda V6. Koreans also get a 2.7-liter LPG-powered engine. After its Seoul debut, we’d expect to see the Sorento pop up in Manhattan for the New York Auto Show.
08
Mar
Paris Hilton Car Bling Bling Dashboard costs $280,000
Posted by: admin / Category: Deluxe Cars
Wow! Paris Hilton spent off $280 grand for a diamond-encrusted dashboard for her pink Bentley. According to the reports, Paris got someone to phone Bentley in Crewe where the car was made and as if it would be possible to give it a little more sparkle.
05
Mar
Geneva 2009: Aston Martin revives Lagonda to questionable effect
Posted by: admin / Category: Deluxe Cars
Comebacks are a tough racket, so when Aston Martin announced plans to revive the Lagonda nameplate, we tempered our high hopes with a fair amount of skepticism. Perhaps that’s a good thing. These first images of the Lagonda caused a collective sigh from the Autoblog crew here in Geneva, perhaps largely because it takes the form of a crossover – something we weren’t really expecting (and something we don’t typically associate with either Lagonda or Aston).
The Lagonda’s return marks the 100th anniversary of the brand, best known for stately sedans and luxurious grand-tourers. Aston wanted an outlet to expand beyond sports cars and GTs (pay no attention to the Rapide in the corner), and the Lagonda’s designers took that mandate and ran with it – some might say into a bluff-faced wall.
At its core, the Lagonda Concept is an avant-garde approach to the crossover we’ve come to know in seemingly thousands of variations. The front grille and swage lines are an obvious nod to modern Astons, but its near vertical nose, stretched headlamps and bulbous backside attempts to convey a mix of luxury and masculinity. The rear end strikes us as very Bentley, but considering the Lagonda’s intended audience, that might not be a bad thing. All four 22-inch wheels are powered by a V12 powerplant of undisclosed displacement and output, and Aston envisions the Lagonda as a long-distance cruiser that offers its occupants a lavish, functional and tech-rich environment.
Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulirch Bez wants to see the Lagona sold in more than 100 countries (versus the 32 A-M is currently offered in), with a focus on emerging markets in the Middle East, South America, China, India and Russia. While we have no problem envisioning the Lagonda rolling down the streets of Moscow, we’re not sure that its reception will be as warm in Europe and North America. But then again, there’s not much playing in this space, and that’s the nature of comebacks.
04
Mar
Geneva 2009: Clever EDAG “Light Car Open-Source” is like safety television for tailgaters
Posted by: admin / Category: Deluxe Cars
EDAG has presented its new “Light Car – Open Source” concept here at the Geneva Motor Show, and while it outwardly appears to look like any other nondescript electric bubble car, there’s a lot of innovative content on the inside screaming for attention.
It’s hard to know where to start: The use of (O)LED technology as both driver-configurable exterior lighting units and as a television screen-like safety feature that alerts those behind of road conditions; its 100% recyclable basalt fiber chassis (said to be at once lighter and cheaper than carbon-fiber or aluminum); or the fact that this is an open-source effort, with EDAG taking the lead but freely opening up the car’s technologies to outside developers for improvement and modification.
There are pie-in-the-sky concept cars and then there are coming-to-a-showroom-near-you concept cars. The Alfa MiTo GTA is the latter, and from what we’ve seen that’s a good thing, especially as Fiat’s new partnership with Chrysler may herald Alfa Romeo’s return to North America at long last. Although Alfa is billing the MiTo GTA unveiled here at the Geneva Motor Show as a concept, company spokesmen say it should hit production later this year. And when it does, the 230-hp turbo four – displayed separately on Alfa’s show stand – should stay, but we’d expect the racing buckets with rear-anchored harnesses to give way to four seats. The jury’s still out on the carbon-fiber body panels and tarmac-chomping front air dam and rear diffuser, but so far we like what we see. The folks at Renaultsport and John Cooper Works have cause to feel otherwise, but we’ll let you make up your own mind after viewing the photos in the gallery below.
This is the 1.5-million Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport which comes with two removable roofs. One of them is the a transparent polycarbonate hard-top section that can be removed and stowed for open-air driving, while the other one is more like an umbrella, a soft top which can be deployed in emergency.
However the fabric roof can’t withstand the 252 mph top speed which the polycarbonate solid roof can, it is limited to only 80mph.
Good stuff here, Autoblog En Espanol has a video of it in action. Check out after the break.
This is a concept from designer Idries Noah the Europa i6 which looks a bit like the Elise/ Exige. It is a mid engined car with 2.0L inline 6. Supercharger and intercooler, weight- 2030 lbs and achieving a top speed of 165 mph and 0 to 100 in 7 seconds. More pictures after the break.
Amir Glinik, an Israel industrial designer who come out with the amazing Ferrari motorcycle concept which using a modified engine from Ferrari Enzo.
This V4 motorcycle is equipped with drive-by-wire technology, features hand controls adapted from an F-16 fighter jet and buttons based on those found on the steering wheel of the Ferrari’s F1 car. Controls for sound system and trip computer are located on an all weather touchscreen.
“Vintage and modern Ferrari projects influence my design,” said Glinik. “It’s a mix of what I find to be the best Ferrari lines with the latest technology I could think of in terms of engine, gear and driving management.” There’s a yellow version too.
Check out more pictures after the break.
This is the Mazda Kiyora shown at the Paris Motor Show, a concept vehicle which looks similar to the Mazda Furai. It features the components that are being developed by Mazda for future use such as the next-generation 1.3-litre DISI* engine, a new automatic transmission, and a rigid and lightweight bodyshell for very high fuel efficiency and low emissions. More pictures after the break.
