Category: Motor Shows

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Alfa Romeo Motor Shows

2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Alfa Romeo statue - Goodwood FoS

The annual Goodwood FoS kicks off tomorrow. Each year there is a centrepiece statue unveiled in front of the main building. This year, in honour of its 100 year anniversary, Alfa Romeo got the gig.

Somewhat amazingly the sculpture features an Alfa Romeo P2; there are only two of these cars in existence and their value is estimated at around AU$30 million. The car featured in the work was used to win the world’s first championship for grand prix cars back in 1925. It’s a pretty special car to have hanging off an oversized coathanger; don’t you think! Alongside the P2 is an otherwise common as muck 8C Competizione.

Alfa will be sending over 50 cars from its museum for the show, including the first UK showing of the new Giulietta.

To keep up to date with what’s happening in Lord March’s backyard keep an eye on the official FoS website. Twitterists are also catered for and Autocar also has some good info.

[Source: Autocar]

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Motor Shows Skoda

Wörthersee: Skoda Fabia & Octavia vRS+ Concepts

Skoda @ Worthersee 2010

Volkswagen offspring Skoda didn’t want to be left out of the Wörthersee action, so they rocked up with a few S2000 rally cars and a couple of new vRS+ concept vehicles. The one you see above is the Fabia vRS+ Concept. The other, the Octavia vRS+ Concept, can be seen below.

Sadly, these two models have been only enhanced cosmetically. Indeed, Jozef Kabaň, Head of Design at Å koda Auto, explains the thinking behind the Fabia vRS+, “The two-colour combination highlights the car’s unique architecture – the green colour is a reference to our involvement in the IRC rally programme and the unique connection with the Fabia Super 2000. The grey represents the vehicle’s sporty expression and simplicity combined with design details.”

This was Skoda’s first appearance at the annual Wörthersee show. The twin vRS+ models are a promising start, but let’s hope they make some performance mods next year.

More after the jump.

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Motor Shows Volkswagen

Wörthersee: Volkswagen Golf GTI Excessive

Golf GTI Excessive

In addition to the adidas limited edition, Volkswagen has also presented this Golf GTI “Excessive” to the fans at the Wörthersee show in Austria. It looks like Volkswagen has dusted off last year’s Wörthersee 09 Concept and bolted on a few shiny plastic bits.

There’s an increased track, set off nicely by BBS alloy wheels and a big brake kit. The aggressive front splitter and rear diffuser look the part, but those wheel arches and side skirts are pushing a few unwelcome boundaries.

Volkswagen are leaving the door open to these parts being made available over the counter of your local dealership. They say if the fans show enough support at Wörthersee then they could put the kit into production.

More after the break.

UPDATE: Volkswagen UK press release added below. This tells us the Excessive has modest increases in power and torque, among other things.

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Motor Shows Volkswagen

Wörthersee: Volkswagen Golf GTI adidas

Volkswagen Golf GTI adidas

The Wörthersee show is underway and as previously reported Volkswagen have revealed a special edition Golf GTI adidas model.

Essentially VW have taken a regular Mk6 GTI and given it some unique 18″ Serron alloy wheels, a tiny adidas badge on the door-frame and some adidas trim on the seats. The seats might sound a bit garish, but they’re not too bad. The GTI adidas also boasts bi-xenon headlights and LED rear tails as standard equipment.

Available as a three door model only the adidas will go on sale in Europe in June. It is understood there will be 4410 adidas models. According to The Motor Report a few may even make it to Australia. Nothing official on that front from Volkswagen Australia just yet, though. You’ll read about here if it does get confirmed.

More from Volkswagen after the break.

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Motor Shows Volkswagen

Golf GTI adidas coming to Wörthersee

Golf GTI adidas

Volkswagen will be showing two new special Golf GTI models at the annual Wörthersee Tour in Austria. The first will be known as the Golf GTI adidas and will feature a number of cosmetic tweaks, including unique alloy wheels and adidas styled interior trim.

Also included in its list of standard equipment will be bi-xenon headlights and LED rear tail lights. It’s unlikely that any right hand drive models will be made and a limited run of 4410 will go on sale in Europe later this year. At this stage that’s pretty much all we can tell you. There’s only the one image you see above. Expect more from Wörthersee soon, then.

The next model, the Golf GTI Excessive, has even less info available. There’s no pictures at all. And apart from telling you the car is likely to have a number of modifications, including an extreme body kit I can’t really say much else, except keep an eye out for details. Also expected on the Excessive is uprated suspension, brakes and exhaust.

[via World Car Fans]

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BMW Motor Shows

Auto China: BMW Gran Coupé

BMW Gran Coupe

At the Auto China show in Beijing BMW had what they called a Design Night. An insight into the company’s design culture they said. To celebrate the event BMW were kind enough to go to the trouble of bringing along a new design concept. They have called it the Gran Coupé.

Four-door “coupés” are the new black it seems and this latest effort from BMW does look quite nice, it must be said. From some angles there is a lot of 3 Series coupé inspiration, as well. Mostly due to BMW’s well loved Hofmeister kink.

Not much detail is given in the press release below, but you can get some extra information thanks to the video published to YouTube by Autocar. All yours after the jump.

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Motor Shows Volkswagen

Auto China: 2010 Volkswagen Phaeton

Volkswagen Phaeton

Volkswagen have just released images of their newly revised Phaeton luxury saloon ahead of its official debut at Auto China in Beijing. With its restyled exterior, most notably the front end, this updated Phaeton couldn’t possibly offend buyers. But, does it have the excitement to lure customers away from the more established brands?

Well, whatever the answer to that question is it cannot take away from some of the trick technology inside the car. For example, an optional front facing camera can be used to read road signs which can then be repeated to the driver through an in-dash screen between the rev counter and speedometer. Internet-based Google functionality is available with the Phaeton’s in-car navigation system, offering users easy access to route planning and points of interest.

More conventional electronic aids include Dynamic Light Assist, ACC (automatic distance regulation), Front Assist and Side Assist (lane change assistance). The standard bi-xenon headlights also feature adaptive cornering capability.

The solid VW badge on the front grille not only has a new 3D like look, it also houses the sensors for the automatic distance regulation. LED technology features in the main headlight cluster, as well as M shaped rear taillights.

The revised Phaeton goes on sale in European markets in the latter half of this year and will feature four engine choices. Entry level spec is a petrol powered V6 offering 206kW. A V6 TDI can also be had, with 176kW. While those looking for more power can opt between a 246kW V8 or a 331kW W12.

Seating can be optioned in either four or five seat configurations and a long wheel base offering an extra 120mm of legroom will also be available.

More pics and detail can be viewed after the jump.

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Green Machines Motor Shows

It’s not easy being green

Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid

If you could sum up the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in one word it would be “hybrid”. No longer the realm of cardigan-wearing Toyotas, the cool kids all got electricity sets for Christmas and have been waiting for the first opportunity to show what they can do. Porsche, Ferrari and Audi are just some of the kids to have flicked the switch at Geneva. Volkswagen, too, not wanting to be left out, revealed their goal to be the world’s premier supplier of hybrid vehicles in just eight years from now.

So what do we make of all this greenwashing by from the flash end of town? I mean, the Porsche 918 Spyder is a car which is said to have the outright raw pace to lap one of the world’s greatest racetracks in a time that would have been deemed unimaginable a few years ago. Especially from a “hybrid”. The 918 has a combined power from its petrol guzzler and ‘leccy motor of some 730hp. Are they having a laugh saying their hybrid sportscar is green? Or is there more to it than that? Remember, in full electric mode, y’know, zero emissions and all that, the 918 can travel a measly 25km.

For an interesting critique on the emerging hybrid sportscar obsession, have a squiz at this opinion piece from Jalopnik. Here’s a quick teaser for you, “These cars won’t save the planet, but they might just get a few rich dudes laid.”

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Audi Motor Shows

Geneva: Audi R8 Spyder V10

Audi R8 Spyder V10

As part of their Geneva Motor Show program Audi have released some new press images of their stunning R8 Spyder V10 5.2 FSI. It’s a pretty nice looking car, so let’s take a look at what they’ve got to show.

You can check them out after the jump, remember all images are available in wallpaper-friendly 2000px super image sizing by simply clicking on the pic you like. For more detail on this 386kW velvet sledgehammer, take a look back at the info posted when the R8 Spyder was launched at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

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Motor Shows Volkswagen

Geneva: Volkswagen wants to dominate hybrid market

Volkswagen Golf Hybrid due in 2013

Volkswagen have announced at the Geneva Motor Show that they want in on the hybrid vehicle market. And they want in in a big way. In 2013 Volkswagen will launch hybrid models of the volume-selling Golf and Jetta models. A move VW expects will lead them to “dominate the hybrid and electric vehicle market”.

Indeed, Volkswagen’s Chairman, Professor Martin Winterkorn, has stated, “The goal is to become the market leader in E-mobility by the year 2018.

“We will take the hybrid out of its niche status with our high-volume models. In the future, the heart of the brand will also beat with electricity.”

The move to mass market penetration will begin next year when Volkswagen releases an evaulation fleet of 500 Golf hybrids. Volkswagen also expects electric drive technology to filter across all of its group brands.

Of course, Volkswagen have already dipped their tow into the hybrid market with the new Touareg. Audi, too, has it’s e-tron lineup. And the Porsche 918 Spyder is the undisputed star of the Geneva Motor Show so far.

More after the break.

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Audi Motor Shows

Geneva: Audi Quattro celebrates 30th birthday

Audi Ur Quattro

It was 30 years ago today that Audi launched the Quattro. Dr Ferdinand Piëch, Development Director of the original Quattro, presented the car at the Geneva Motor Show on 3 March 1980. In his speech he stated, “This is the dawning of all-wheel drive in roadgoing passenger cars.”

Power for the Quattro came from a super sweet inline five cylinder engine that had a character all of its own. By today’s standards the 200bhp headline figure is quite modest. But, three decades ago, having a coupé derived from a family sedan that could accelerate to 100km/h in 7.1 seconds was big news.

So, too, was the addition of all-wheel drive to the world rallying scene where the Quattro left an everlasting legacy by winning the World Rally Championship in 1983 and 1984.

Memories of the Quattro have been revived with the recent launch of the TT RS, featuring a 2.5-litre inline five cylinder that sounds sublime.

For more on the original Quattro check out the AUSmotive past master feature. As well, you can read Audi’s extensive press release below which covers the both the history and future of its quattro technology.

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Ferrari Green Machines Motor Shows

Geneva: Ferrari ‘Vettura Laboratorio’ HY-KERS

Ferrari HY-KERS

It would appear that hybrid technology is the new black at the Geneva Motor Show this year, with even Ferrari getting in on the act with their HY-KERS model. Based on the 599 GTB Fiorano the ‘vettura laboratorio’ (experimental vehicle) has an electric engine coupled the a 7-speed F1 style transmission providing over 100hp to complement the car’s familiar V12.

As the name suggests the HY-KERS also employs brake regeneration technologies developed from Ferrari’s Formula One program. This helps to charge the batteries for the electric motor. Emissions for the HY-KERS have been cut by 35% over the regular 599’s urban cycle.

Ferrari are also pushing the greening of their Maranello production facilities and there’s very impressive photos of huge meccano sets included with the press guff.

Pics and video available after the jump.

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