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Archive for March, 2009

Mini John Cooper Works Convertible and friends

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

By Marc Lachapelle

Mini rolled out its quickest and sportiest convertible yet in Geneva. In addition to the structural, safety and functional upgrades of its second-generation siblings, the new John Cooper Works Convertible gets a version of the engine that was developed for the Mini Challenge racing series.

With a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct fuel injection, the 1.6-litre four delivers 211-horsepower and a 192 lb-ft torque peak spread from 1,850 to 5,600 rpm, with bursts to 206 lb-ft thanks to an overboost mode. The 39 horsepower gain over the Cooper S is enough for a 0-100 km/h sprint in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 235 km/h.

Mini John Cooper Works Convertible

The JCW also gets a tweaked suspension, special brakes with red aluminum callipers and lighter 17-inch alloy wheels with 205/45 run-flat tires. For other forms of entertainment and communication, the JCW is loaded with auxiliary and USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity and an interface for integrated operation of audio and telephone functions specifically designed for an iPhone.

Sharing the spotlight on the Mini in Geneva were the new Mini One Clubman and Mini One 55 kW, both entry-level models reserved for the European market. Let’s hope Mini soon equips its Canadian models with the fuel-saving and eco-friendly brake energy regeneration and start-stop systems seen on the Mini One 55 kW. It would also be great to get the 1.6-liter diesel from the European Cooper D model which boasts a Prius-like combined fuel economy rating of 4.4 L/100 km.

Tags: Geneva 2009, Marc Lachapelle, Mini John Cooper Works Convertible
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Maybach Zeppelin – powerful fragrances

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

By Marc Lachapelle

Bucking the economic doldrums, Daimler AG’s ultra-luxury brand Maybach unveiled even more opulent models in Geneva. The Zeppelin versions are the most regal yet, featuring special two-tone exterior and interior trim and plenty of optional extras, including a sophisticated perfume atomiser, a world first in a production car.

Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl founded their auto company in 1909 as a subsidiary of the company that built engines for the famous Zeppelin ‘airships’ of the day. Since their first cars had engines inspired by those the father had designed for the lighter-than-air giants, they called them Zeppelin and they became the first production cars built in Germany with V12 power.

Maybach Zeppelin

The new Maybach Zeppelin are based on the modern Maybach 57 S and the long-wheelbase 62 S. They will sell for 406,000 and 473,200 Euros respectively in Germany ($665,231 and $775,054) and only 100 will be built, which is fitting for a centenary celebration.

Among the highlights are an interior that also blends two colour tones, vast expanses of leather and trim elements with a piano lacquer finish. The front console, partition screen (optional on the Zeppelin 62) and standard silver champagne flutes have “Maybach Zeppelin” engraved while the door sills and key ring show the name “Zeppelin”.

The most spectacular, extravagant and somewhat decadent option is the exclusive perfume atomiser. Its main component is an internally-lit Plexiglas sphere into which Zeppelin owners can carefully pour their favourite fragrance. This option alone is worth 3950 Euros ($6473).

The four-wheel Zeppelins are also the most powerful in the Maybach garage. Their twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 develops 640 horsepower, 28 more than their sister models, and the torque peak is electronically capped at 738 lb-ft (1000 Nm). The sportier 57 Zeppelin can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and reach a governed top speed of 275 km/h. In the 62 Zeppelin, you let the chauffeur rip to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds and whisk you along at 250 km/h.

Tags: Geneva 2009, Marc Lachapelle, Maybach Zeppelin
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Mazda3 MPS – a.k.a. New Mazdaspeed3

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

By Marc Lachapelle

After unveiling the second-generation Mazda3 at the LA auto show last November, Mazda chose Geneva to introduce the new version of its performance variant. The stage name says Mazda3 MPS but make no mistake; this is the new Mazdaspeed3 that should soon reach Canadian shores and stores with little or no change, as for the previous model.

Externally, the Mazda3 MPS sports the same wide-grin front grille and more accentuated creases of the new Mazda3. The most striking differences are more sculpted lower front fascia and side sills, a high-mounted rear spoiler slightly larger than the first Mazdaspeed3’s and a large, functional air intake on the hood that is all-new.

Mazda3 MPS

Under the hood is a refreshed version of the 2.3-litre, turbocharged, direct injection MZR engine that develops a similar 260 PS (256 hp) but should burn half a litre less premium fuel per 100 km. The new Mazda3 MPS has a reportedly stiffer body shell, improved suspension and wider new tires mounted on new 18-inch alloy wheels with the same 10-spoke design as first seen on the RX-8 R3.

Mazda also says that its engineers have stiffened the left and right half-shafts to minimize torque steer, always a concern on a front-wheel drive performance with this much horsepower and torque. They have also modified the electro-hydraulic power steering to tailor the effort in relation with vehicle speed and steering angle for better feel. The MPS also gets electronic brake assist to replace the mechanical system on the previous model, along with standard ABS and stability control.

Tags: Geneva 2009, Marc Lachapelle, Mazda3 MPS
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Chevrolet Spark

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

By Michael Goetz

The smallest car in GM’s repertoire was completely redesigned, and bowed in its new duds in Geneva as the Chevrolet Spark.

It will hit the European market in 2010, replacing the Chevrolet Matiz. Presumably, we North American folk will get Spark about a year later, as a 2011 model. The European model will be powered by a 1.2-litre engine, capable of going 100 km on less than 5 litres of gas.

Chevrolet Spark

We’ll probably get a larger engine. But styling is the big story, as Spark is an evolution of the Beat concept, which won many admirers when it debuted last year in New York. Its claim to fame is that unlike other cars in this size class, it eschews cuteness for toughness.

It was created at GM’s Korean studio, and designers there are proud of its very confident front end, and noted that it is a small car that is not afraid of big SUVs.

Its other notable design statement is lots of side sculpting, to give the impression of a 3D coupe. Inside there are large areas in body colour, and motorcycle-style instruments mounted on the steering column.

Tags: Chevrolet Spark, Geneva 2009, Michael Goetz
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Opel Ampera (aka Chevy Volt)

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

By Michael Goetz

GM is not too sure about its long-term commitment to Opel, but it was all lovey dovey for the couple when the Opel version of the Chevrolet Volt took centre stage at Geneva.

When it hits European streets in 2011, the Opel Ampera will be the continent’s first extended-range electric vehicle. (In the U.K. the Ampera will sell as a right-drive model under the Vauxhall brand.)

Opel Ampera

As with the Volt, the Ampera’s wheels are turned electrically at all time and all speeds. For journeys up to 60 km it runs on electricity stored in the 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery pack. The T-shaped pack will feature more than 220 lithium-ion cells.

When battery energy is depleted, a small engine kicks in to drive a generator, which gets more juice going to the battery; to theoretically extend range to 500 km. Ampera can be plugged into any household outlet for charging.

The main differences between Ampera and Volt are styling, and even then, mostly to front and rear fascia. Ampera definitely has the more aggressive looks, furthered by the black interior (Volt’s interior is white).

Ampera may find more initial success than Volt, because, in Germany for example, about 80 percent of drivers travel less than 50 km each day.

Tags: Geneva 2009, Michael Goetz, Opel Ampera
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VW Polo

Monday, March 9th, 2009

By Nauman Farooq

At the 79^th Geneva Motor Show, VW rolled out the fifth generation version of their Polo model.

This will be the first Polo model that will be on sale in North America, and will be priced as a cheaper alternative to the Golf.

Pink inside a VW Polo

The overall exterior and interior styling of the Polo is very much like a slightly shrunken Golf, which is no bad thing.

For the European market, the Polo will be offered with seven engine choices, which include four-gasoline and three diesel options. Not yet known how many engines will be offered in North America.

VW Polo BlueMotion Concept

The front-wheel drive Polo is available with three gearbox choices too, base models will get a five-speed manual, while higher trim models will get a six-speed manual. A seven-speed DSG (dual-clutch) semi-automatic will also be offered.

The new Polo will go into production by the end of March, and should be on sale globally by July.

: Pink inside a VW Polo

Tags: Geneva 2009, Nauman Farooq, VW Polo
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Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV

Monday, March 9th, 2009

By Nauman Farooq

For those of you who might think that a standard Lamborghini Murcielago wasn’t fast enough, well your prayers have been answered.

Lamborghini just pulled off the covers of their latest road missile at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. It’s called the Murcielago LP670-4 SV.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV

The name is more than just a bunch of letters and numbers put together, as ‘LP’ stands for ‘longitudinal-posterior’ for the position of the engine in its bay, ‘670’ denotes its horsepower figure, ‘4’ is for four-wheel drive, and ‘SV’ stands for ‘Super Veloce’ or super fast in English.

Thanks to its diet (the SV is 100kg lighter than a regular Murcielago), it can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 3.2 seconds and has a top speed of 341km/h. This is also the first time in Lamborghini’s history that an SV model will come with a six-speed, F1-inspired paddle-shift gearbox.

For all you supercar spotters, you can differentiate the SV from lesser Murcielago’s from its new nose, its wider exhaust, its transparent engine cover, and oh yes, that very large rear wing.

How much you ask? Well if you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it.

Tags: Geneva, Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV, Nauman Farooq
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Bentley Continental Supersports – Mean and Green

Monday, March 9th, 2009

By Marc Lachapelle

Long gone are the days of ponderous Bentleys. The new Continental Supersports is the most powerful, fastest and cleanest car in Bentley’s 90-year history. What started as a two-year exploration into reducing weight and increasing power and torque of the carmaker’s sales hit, the Continental GT, became a production model named after the first Bentley to reach 100 mph, back in 1925.

Bentley Continental Supersports

The Supersports is powered by a 621-horsepower version of Bentley’s W12 engine that produces 590 lb-ft of torque from as low as 1700 rpm, delivered through a revised 6-speed ZF automatic that shifts quicker and blips the engine on downshifts. It can vault from zero to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and reach 329 km/h, whether running on gasoline, bioethanol or any combination of the two, for a possible reduction of up to 70 per cent in CO2 emissions. Bentleys plans to make all its models ‘FlexFuel’ by 2012.

1925 Bentley Supersports (photo: Bentley)

The Supersports has carbon fibre sport seats – the rear replaced by a carbon fibre luggage deck – exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels and standard carbon-ceramic brakes that make it 110 kg lighter than a Continental GT Speed but still a hefty 2240 kg (4,939 lb). Handling has also been enhanced with a rear-biased 40/60 torque split for the all-wheel drive system and a 50 mm-wider rear track covered by subtly-reshaped fenders. Place your order now for delivery in the last quarter of 2009 in Europe and some time in 2010 for North America.

Tags: 2009, Bentley Continental Supersports, Geneva, Marc Lachapelle
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Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire

Monday, March 9th, 2009

By Nauman Farooq

One of the most highly anticipated premieres for this year’s Geneva Motor Show was for the latest version of the Bugatti Veyron.

It is called the Bleu Centenaire, and marks the brands 100^th birthday.

However, many were expecting this version to be a lighter, faster version of this already super fast supercar, but unfortunately that is not the case.

Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire

This new edition is nothing more than a new paint job with some even more exclusive interior trimming options.

So while it might not be any faster than a normal Veyron, it is hard not to be impressed by a car that produces 1001 hp from its quad-turbo, 16-cylinder engine, and can top 407 km/h.

Bugatti, which is owned by the VW Group, produces the Veyron at a specially built factory in Molsheim, France. Each Veyron takes over 500 hours to complete and prices start at $1,624,000 (Euros 1-million).

Unfortunately, if you live in Canada, you cannot have a Veyron, as they are not street-legal here.

: Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire

Tags: 2009, Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire, Geneva, Nauman Farooq
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BMW 5 Series Gran Turisomo

Monday, March 9th, 2009

By Michael Goetz

Technically this is still a concept, but it can’t be far off what BMW will soon offer, as an additional model in the 5 Series range.

The roofline is very “coupe-like” — the prime indicator that this vehicle is taking aim at a very important, developing demographic: mature folks who don’t need an SUV or crossover anymore, but are unwilling to bend over to get into low-slung sedans.

BMW 5 Series Gran Turisomo

They also want to announce to the world, that they’re still “sporty and youthful,” so don’t want shapes that reek of “space efficiency,” like minivans.

So we’re looking at a performance-orientated sedan, with some crossover features, like a bit more height, and a tailgate. The latter is a novel two-stage affair; the bottom section opens separately, and it won’t expose occupants to outside air. But the whole tailgate still goes up to accommodate bulky items.

There are only two rear seats, but they slide fore and aft by more than 100 mm. At the rear-most position the legroom is the same as in the BMW 7 Series. At the front-most position, luggage capacity increases to 570 litres (from 430), and the legroom is the same as found in the current 5 Series Sedan.