While the Ferrari 599 will still beat on in the hearts of many, the Italian sports car’s run will be coming to an end after over six years of production. But fear not, Ferrari lovers, a new replacement - codenamed "F152" - is hitting the asphalt and is expected to race into the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March for its official debut. Sales should begin shortly thereafter.
The 599 replacement will be built on an all-new chassis and will borrow design elements from both the 2012 Ferrari FF and the Ferrari California. The model will get modified bumpers and new headlamps, a modified bonnet, and a new exhaust system with tips that sit higher than on the current 599.
The Ferrari "F152" will be powered by a direct injected 6.3-liter V-12 - the same as in the the FF - with a total output of 700 HP. The engine will be combined with a rear-wheel drive system and the Ferrari’s latest seven-speed dual clutch gearbox.
It wasn’t that long ago when, in the middle of their brand reinvention, Jaguar released the refreshed XKR sports car at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. A year after the new XKR made its debut to the public, Jaguar is headed back to Geneva with another XKR model. Only this time, it’s the hot-as-a-scorching-summer’s-day XKR-S.
The new XKR-S features exclusive new paint colors that reflect Jaguar’s racing heritage. As with competition Jaguar cars of the past, the exterior of the XKR-S adheres to the principle of form following function.
Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar’s new Global Brand Director, describes the car as a "bold and exciting new model for Jaguar". He adds: "The styling of this car isn’t about image, it’s about true performance. Like other iconic Jaguar cars before it, the styling has been driven by geometry and aerodynamics for genuine design purity."
UPDATE 08/01/2011: What’s better than one Jaguar XKR-S driving around Nurburgring? Why, 12 XKR-S models, of course! Hit the jump to check out what it looks and sounds like when 12 Jaguar XKR-S models whip around the Nurburgring in a variety of colors and revving their AJ-V8 all-aluminum engines.
UPDATE 10/04/2011 : Check out the gallery for new images of the Jaguar XKR-S!
Details on the Jaguar XKR-S after the jump.
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Sitting in the shadows of its more-esteemed sister - or in this case, brother - brand has long been one of Maserati’s shortcomings. It’s not a fair tag to put on the Italian brand, but the fact is, Ferrari’s larger-than-life status in the industry has made it frustratingly difficult for Maserati to step out of the enormous shadow of the Prancing Horse.
But to say that Maserati isn’t trying is likewise a slap in the face of the Italian automaker. And to be completely on the up-and-up, if there’s a car that can definitely make the world stand up and take notice, the brand’s new 2012 GranCabrio Convertible Sport is that car. Scheduled to be unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the newest Maserati GranCabrio Convertible is nothing short of jaw-dropping.
The design of the car is stunning, the body color is resplendent, and the powertrain is by no means a slouch. All three things that are important to any supercar, Maserati hits right out of the park with the GranCabrio Convertible Sport.
Now we understand that a man’s taste is totally subjective, but in the case of the GranCabrio Convertible Sport, it makes the discussion completely moot.
UPDATE 08/02/11: After finding out just how much it will cost us to buy one of the babies, Maserati has now revealed an online configurator for the new model to tempt us even more with the growing number of options. Get your kicks by customizing the car’s exterior color, wheels, calipers, and the color of the soft top! In conjunction to the configurator, the company has also revealed the first presentation video for the new GranCabrio Sport. Enjoy!
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Audi unveiled today at the Geneva Motor Show an electric version of their newly launched A1. The e-tron concept is equipped with an electric drive system similar to the one on Chevrolet Volt. The e-tron has an autonomy of 50 kilometers when used only in electric mode.
The internal combustion engine that charges the batteries can deliver a total of 102 hp in short bursts when the sprint from 0 to 60 mph is made in just 10 seconds. Top speed is more than 80 mph. Continuous output is rated at 61 hp and 150 Nm of torque. The electric motor sends its power to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission that can be switched between "Drive," "Reverse," and "Neutral".
The A1 e-tron concept car has a Wankel engine as a range extender. It has a chamber volume of 254 cc and runs at a constant 5,000 rpm and can be switch on and off as necessary with the push of a button. It produces produces 15 kW of electric power and weighs only around 154.32 lb. It can extend the concept’s range to 130 miles.
UPDATE 07/21/11: The Audi A1 e-Tron was a surprise participant at the Silvretta E-Auto Rally. Together with the other Audi electric car in attendance, the Q5 HFC, which managed to place sixth in the entire proceedings, the A1 E-Tron made a good showing of itself a year after another one of its big brothers, the R8 E-Tron, went and wowed the entire event. Check out the video Audi posted to see how the A1 E-Tron performed.
Press release after the jump.
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Auto Express has reported that Infiniti is readying a new entry level sports car for Geneva next year. The compact two-seater sports car is expected to slot in just below the Infiniti G-line and will come with sporty engines, a rear-wheel drive set-up, and a Lotus-tuned suspension system.
For now, information regarding this car is still thin, but you can definitely expect more news regarding what appears to be Infiniti’s answer to the Mazda MX-5 Miata in the coming months leading up to next March’s Geneva Motor Show.
Nissan’s upper-echelon brand has released some interesting concepts over the past few years and we wouldn’t be surprised if this new sports coupe takes some of the design language of say, the Essence or the new G37 Coupe, and translates it into a production version.
Whatever the case may be, we’re getting excited thinking about what Infiniti has in store for us with this car, even if it isn’t scheduled to be unveiled for another 10 months.
