2011 Porsche Cayenne
We weren’t fans of the original Cayenne…until we drove one. Maybe it was hard to wrap our heads around the idea of a Porsche SUV, and its looks—well, we find ourselves going back and forth on whether it’s endearingly ugly or just plain ugly. This new Cayenne, however, seems to have taken some cues from its sibling, the Panamera. This is almost two inches longer and more sculpted than the previous generation. This will also be the first Cayenne to use a parallel, full hybrid system—when cruising, the gasoline engine can be taken out of the equation completely even at speeds of up to 97 mph. Yes, officer, I was going 97—but it was on electricity…
2011 MercedesSport E-Class Coupe
AMG versions of Mercedes vehicles can be wicked—the E-63 AMG is perhaps the most beastly of wolves in sheep’s clothing—but the problem is, those cars tend to cost far more than base price. So wouldn’t it be nice to offer something a little in-between for the aspirational masses? That’s where the MercedesSport designation comes in—sportier suspension, aerodynamic touches, stainless steel pedals, four spoke steering wheels, and a way of getting that AMG look without the dramatic performance upgrade or the price.
2011 Audi A1
Sure, we have already have the Mini. And this summer, we’re getting the sharp-looking Ford Fiesta and Mazda2. But it’s very unlikely we’ll get the latest iteration of the most luxe small car on the market, the Audi A1. Which is a shame. Blame it on gas prices—if we had to pay $7 a gallon like Europeans do, we'd start to understand that luxury can come in small packages.
Hyundai i-flow Concept
Europe’s initial answer to the skyrocketing fuel costs—before they succumbed to making hybrids a few years ago—was diesel. But what they should have been doing all along is what Hyundai is leading the way on: a diesel hybrid called the i-flow which they expect to get 78.4 miles per gallon.
2011 Pagani Zonda Tricolore
What sounds like a salad you'd order at an artisanal brick oven pizza joint is actually the rarest car to be unveiled in Geneva. Only one will be built and the cost will likely be 1.3 million Euros (about $1.8 million dollars). What makes it so pricey? Its body is a carbon-titanium weave with a clear lacquer applied over it, it has a 670hp V12, can go 0-62 in 3.4 seconds, and, well, there’s only one of them.
Mercedes-Benz F800 Concept
Since the Detroit Auto Show, Mercedes has been teasing car-obsessives with what the next CLS will look like. We won't bother trying to hide our love—even after all these years on the road, we still stop and stare every time a CLS goes by—and so, of course, we're dying to see what's next. The F800 gives a slightly clearer idea of what the new CLS will be once it’s revealed this Fall in Paris.
2010 Gumpert Apollo
How can a car this fast (it tops out at 224 mph) and this powerful (650 horsepower) have such a ridiculous name? We don’t know. But who cares? Anything this speedy (and with gull wing doors) can go by any name.
2010 FIAT Abarth 500C
File this under cool little cars Americans just don’t appreciate, and hence, won’t be getting. Abarth, what the M line is to BMW and AMG is to Mercedes, is an in-house tuner that makes Fiats faster and sexier. While we’ll be getting the Fiat 500 and 500C next fall (and we're grateful for that) it’s doubtful any Abarths will be arriving in the foreseeable future.
Porsche 918 Spyder Concept
This car was easily the highlight of the Geneva Motor Show. A Porsche that can outpace a Carrera GT and it’s a hybrid? It’s true. With a 3.4 liter V8 and a set of electric motors, it can put out over 700 horsepower yet get 78 mpg. Prius owners will blow a fuse in envy.
2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta
As you might know, Alfa is owned by Fiat, the folks that are currently attempting to set Chrysler on the right track again. The Giulietta is the first car made on the company’s latest compact car architecture. Dodge cars are being developed on this same platform. Will they look this awesome? Let’s hope so.
Niciun comentariu:
Trimiteți un comentariu