French automaker, Citroen, is probably most famous in the auto and racing circles for its dominance in the world of rally racing and in particular, it’s tie-up with 8-time WRC champ, Sebastien Loeb. So it only made sense that Citroen is bringing a special edition model of their DS3 Racing model to the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The DS3 Sebastien Loeb SE model will be made available after Geneva at a still undisclosed price and will be limited to only 200 units.
On the aesthetic front, Citroen gave the car a special matte black paint finish - always a positive thing - with matching red graphics on the roof that pay homage to Loeb and all his career accomplishments in WRC. Likewise, the mirror caps, the grill rush, the fascia panel, and the base of the gear lever have all been decked in a red Arden finish.
Finally, the interior of the car gets a special numbered plaque signed by both Loeb and Daniel Elena celebrating their 8 championships in WRC with a corresponding numerical assignment on what model number the car is in relation to all 200 units.
You can expect to see the DS3 Racing Sebastien Loeb Special Edition at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show where it will be on hand together with the rest of Citroen’s contingent.
A year after Citroen pulled the covers off of the C3 Red Block Concept at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the French automaker is returning to the same event with the production version of the model, appropriately called the "C3 Red Block Special Edition."
The car will be part of a strong delegation for the Frenchies with the C3 Red Block Special Edition carrying some of the distinctive characteristics that were done on the concept version. The model will be made available in five different paint finishes - Shark Blue with a matching bumper strip, Banquise White, Aluminum Grey, Manitoba Grey, and Obsidian Black with a gloss black bumper strip. On top of the plethora of hues buyers can choose from, the C3 Red Block Special Edition will also sport a modified steering wheel system, a set of new 17" diamond-effect rims wrapped in 205/40 tires, a modified chassis, and a lowered suspension set-up that drops the car’s ride height by 25mm.
Inside, the C3 Red Block Special Edition gets treated to some fancy make-overs, particularly the gloss black dashboard fascia, which adds a certain panache to the car. There are also aluminum-finished pedals and front door surrounds, a smaller sports steering wheel, and as an option to prospective buyers, red leather upholstery.
Engine options are also part of the offering for the special edition C3. For this bad boy, customers can opt to choose from an e-HDi 90 diesel, an e-HDi 100 diesel, and a VTi 120 petrol engine, with the respective outputs ranging from 90-120 horsepower.
With just a few days before the car’s official debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Volvo has finally decided to reveal the official details on the new generation V40. The new V40 will be replacing two existing models - the S40 and the V50 - and will compete with models like the Audi A3 and the BMW 1-Series.
"The all-new V40 is the first new model that is fully developed according to our human-centric, Designed Around You strategy. Charged with an outstanding set of high-tech features it definitely will give our toughest competitors a headache," says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.
The new five-door hatchback’s engine line-up starts with the brand’s very first diesel engine that boasts CO2 emissions of 94g/km. The lineup then extends to the turbocharged T5 petrol engine with 254 HP and an acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds.
UPDATE 02/28/2012: This review has been updated with the official details and images for the Volvo V40.
Hit the jump to read more about the new Volvo V40.
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BMW has unveiled a new video of their recently announced i line-up. The stars of the video are of course the BMW i3 and BMW i8 concepts. Of course this is just another prove on how cool the two concept look like.
Both concept will be followed by a production version pretty soon: the i3 is expected to arrive in 2013, shortly after the i8 supercar. They will be the first BMW models to feature extensive use of lightweight materials like carbon fiber.
"BMW i stands for visionary vehicles and mobility services, inspiring design and a new understanding of premium that is strongly defined by sustainability. With BMW i the BMW Group is adopting an all-embracing approach, redefining the understanding of personal mobility with purpose-built vehicle concepts, a focus on sustainability throughout the value chain and a range of complementary mobility services."
Rumors have been flying around that say Citroen is preparing a competitor for models like the Volkswagen Golf R and the Renaultsport Mégane RS, and here it is. The French company has offered the first official confirmation of the upcoming DS4 Racing Concept. This first concept model will be unveiled next month at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.
The new DS4 Racing Concept will be finished in a textured-effect matte grey paint combined with a two-tone roof and 19" two-tone wheels with a special DS4 Racing design. The car has been lowered by 35 mm, but offsetting that is a widened track, 55mm at the front and 75mm at the rear. These adjustments make the DS4 look aggressive, as well as more aerodynamic.
The Citroen DS4 Racing Concept is powered by a 1.6-liter turbo petrol engine that delivers a total of 256 HP. It also features a ton of carbon fiber components, including the air diffuser, front splitter, and wheel arch extensions.
Full details on the Citroen DS4 Racing Concept will be unveiled next month during its official debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, so stay tuned!
If there was ever a point when milking a car for all its worth becomes a tad too much, Fiat may have just crossed that line with the 500 hatchback. Now, it’s completely understandable to produce special variations of certain cars; everyone is doing it and will continue to do it in the future.
Unfortunately, we have a car like the Geneva-bound Fiat 500 America, which is a cutesy 500 with some unique details, including a metallic shade America Blue exterior paint finish, a dedicated beltline, mirror covers with the "Stars & Stripes" graphic, a red cap edge, badges on the door pillar, and a new set of 16" alloy wheels.
All these details sound cool, except that we’ve actually seen something like it in the Fiat 500 Nation Limited Edition, right down to the "Stars & Stripes" graphic. Seems like this Fiat is a renamed model of a pretty similar special edition model. Confused already?
In any case, the Italian automaker will be building 500 three-door versions of this model to go with 500 cabriolet versions.
BMW recently announced their new M Performance Parts, with the M550d, the X5 M50d, and the X6 M50d getting the first additions from the program. The same treatment will also be applied to the 1-Series, but unlike the other three models, BMW has opted to unveil the model as a concept version first. The new M135i Concept will make its world debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show on March 6th.
The BMW M135i Concept will feature the same design treatment as seen in the previous BMW M Performance models, including a distinctive front apron with large air intakes and a new rear apron finished in Dark Shadow metallic. The air intakes accommodate the exhaust system’s double tailpipe.
The concept is powered by a straight six-cylinder engine featuring M Performance Twin Power Turbo technology with a power output of more than 300 HP. It is also equipped with an M sports braking system and a special set of 18" M light alloy wheels.
UPDATE 02/22/2012: This review has been updated with the official details and images for the BMW M135i.
Hit the jump to read more about the new M135i Concept.
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If you want a break from all the news about the upcoming Geneva Motor Show then we have something for you: fresh spy shots of the seventh generation Volkswagen Golf set to be released this Fall at the 2012 Paris Auto Show. The model was caught testing in its three-door version, but as you can see, it wears the same camouflage as the previous mule spied.
The future Golf VII will be built on Volkswagen’s new "Modularer Querbaukasten" MQB platform - that will be seen for the first time next month in the new generation Audi A3 when it debuts in Geneva. This new platform will make the model longer and wider, as well as about 100 lbs lighter than the current generation. Volkswagen will try to keep the Golf formula intact, but there will be changes made to the car’s design, on both the exterior and interior.
It has been rumored that the new Golf VII will be offered with a new range of engines, more powerful and more fuel efficient. Volkswagen will also be offering a plug-in hybrid with 246 HP capable of more than 50 mpg.
The Audi A3 began production back in 1996 and, after being previewed by the A3 Concept, the car is now entering its third generation. After months of speculation the car has finally made its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The new A3 will go on sale in the spring, and first deliveries to customers will be this summer. Prices in Germany will start from 21,600 euros ($28,500 at the current exchange rates).
Audi has use the latest lightweight technology that helped them to reduce the car’s weight by about 176.37 lbs. In the same time the chassis is tuned for a sporty and agile driving style. At its launch, the new A3 will be offered with one TDI and two TFSI engines, with power ranging from 122 to 180 HP.
The A3 is now 13.91 feet long with its front being dominated by a single-frame radiator grille and LED daytime running lights. The interior has also been completely redesigned and has received new materials, workmanship and ergonomics.
UPDATE 03/05/2012: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs. Hit the jump to read more about the third generation Audi A3.
UPDATE 05/07/12: If you’re interested to know how the current Audi A3 came to be in terms of its design history, Audi has presented a new video chronicling the model’s design evolution. Check it out by clicking on the photo above!
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A few years after Abarth brought the 695 Tributo Ferrari to the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, the Italian automaker is set to head to the 2012 Geneva Motor Show with another commemorative, limited edition model that pays homage to another Italian contemporary - the 695 Tributo Maserati.
According to Abarth, the 695 Tributo Maserati is the confluence of the things we love about Abarth and Maserati, particularly the combination of "the highest level of elegance combined with the comforts of a car, but with the handling that’s suitable for everyday driving. "
In terms of its design, the Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati comes with a "Pontevecchio Bordeaux" paint finish and matched with upholstery dressed in Poltrona Frau leather beige sand. True to its name as an elegant iteration of the popular Italian hatch, the 695 Tributo Maserati also comes with carbon inserts, as well as a matte finish and trim on the dashboard, a black tricolor leather steering wheel, door panels and rear panels that have been given a gray track treatment by UV-LUX, and a new set of 17" alloy wheels.
As far as powertrain is concerned, the Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati will be powered by a 1.4-liter Turbo T-Jet engine that produces 180 horsepower and mated to an electro-mechanical Abarth Competition transmission with steering wheel controls.
UPDATE 05/20/2012: Fiat has heard your pleas, people. When the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari was first introduced at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, it was pegged as a prototype model. The Italian automaker didn’t say anything about the car’s production future, but now, they’ve finally come out and said that a production future - a limited one at that - for the Abarth 695 Maserati has been officially announced.
