Top Ten at the Show
The Maserati GranTurismo is a classic touring coupe with modern styling that gives the famed Italian marque a true grand touring car that is suitable for everyday use, while delivering excellent handling, a very sporty feel and a thrilling drive. Designed by Pininfarina, it is a very handsome car and while not a full four-seater, there is room in back for two kids or flexible and tolerant adults. The GranTurismo doesn’t just look stunning, it promises all the performance, too, powered by the classic Maserati 4.2-liter V8, delivering 405 horsepower and a widely spread 339 lb-ft of torque. Top speed is reported to be 178 mph with 0-62 mph expected in 5.2 seconds—but more than that it offers the long-legged refinement and reserve to go with the more than usually descriptive name.
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The all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is one of the most important and most impressive cars of the show. The new C-Class will be offered with two “faces.” The Elegance and Classic versions will continue to carry the Mercedes star on the hood while the Avantgarde features a large version in the center of the grille. The new C200 Kompressor uses 0.5 liter less fuel per 100 km even though it has more power and the C350 with new direct-injection will deliver an increase of 20 horsepower with a fuel savings of about ten percent. The diesel C220 CDI has 20 more horsepower but also uses less fuel. The Vision C220 Bluetec concept that made its world debut in Geneva features a four-cylinder Bluetec engine delivers 170 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque from just 2.2 liters while getting 42 miles per gallon. For 2008 Bluetec will be certified for all 50 states and will be offered in Europe as well.
The production version of the Ford Mondeo is virtually unchanged from the concept shown last year in Paris and Ford has high hopes for this classic family-size car in Europe. The new Mondeo follows Ford’s current “kinetic design” philosophy, its sculpted hood and large headlights, with their curved upper edges are distinctive and give it greater presence than the outgoing model. Side and rear profiles are also handsome with the unique shape of the rear light clusters also. Inside is spacious and luxuriously appointed. Premium features such as keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise control, knee airbags, and a sophisticated interface system utilizing an instrument panel-mounted LCD screen and steering-wheel controls called Convers+ are offered. We’re promised that the new Mondeo will deliver the same rewarding driving experience for which Mondeo has become known. The Mondeo is currently not sold in North America.
Named for the famous British racetrack, this stunning new hand-built coupe from Bentley evokes high-performance grand tourers of the past. The large, 20-inch wheels, short front and long rear overhangs, and long tall hood are traditional Bentley hallmarks. To be hand built at Bentley’s factory in Crewe by craftsmen using traditional coach-building techniques, the car will be limited to a production run of just 550 units over the next three years. It will certainly be fast: under that long hood is a development of Bentley’s long-lived 6.75-liter V8 engine that delivers around 800 lb-ft of torque—more than any other production V8. The 530-horsepower unit is linked to a six-speed transmission with a selectable semi-automatic mode. Inside the cabin is a sumptuous leather-trimmed interior with an array of satisfyingly classic circular, black-backed, red-dial instruments. The Brooklands is roomier than previous Bentley coupes, especially in the rear—Bentley’s claims it’s the most spacious and comfortable luxury coupe available.
The Volvo V70 and XC70 are new in both appearance and under the skin, each with distinctive styling. Still built as a safe family car, the V70 now has a powerful, sporty look with a raised hood and a roof line that slopes down at the rear. The XC70 shares the powerful stance with increased ground clearance and protective cladding. Inside the level of luxury has increased with a high-end audio system, more comfortable seats and the Volvo signature slim center stack. For the first time both cars will offer a 238-horsepower 3.2-liter inline 6-cylinder engine. The V70 T6 adds a twin-scroll turbocharger to boost power to 285 horsepower. A turbo 5-cylinder and two diesel options for Europe will be available. Cargo space increases with an innovative hook and track system to secure cargo. New safety features include integrated booster seats in the outboard rear seats; Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and Collision Warning with Brake Support.
The exterior design of the M3 Concept is thought to be very close to the next-generation M3 production car, expected to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007. Officially only a concept, the M3 Concept is based on the 3-Series Coupe but nearly every body panel of the car has been changed to maximize performance, including wide fender flares, lightweight construction and a carbon fiber roof. The front is pushed forward with large air intakes for a sporty look and increased functionality while the raised "powerdome" in the center of the hood promises a larger, more powerful engine. The M3 Concept is powered by a V8, but BMW did not disclose any powertrain details. The profile shows front fenders openings typical of other M cars, bulging fender flares, rocker-panel extensions, unique mirrors and 19-inch light alloy wheels. At the rear is a rear diffuser and two sets of dual exhaust pipes near the center.
The new A5 takes its styling cues from the Nuvolari concept of 2003 and include Audi’s trademark trapezoidal grille framed by rectangular headlights, very thick C-pillar, frameless windows, and a waistline that flows upwards around the wheel arches to give the car a dynamic, sporty character. The interior is practical for a coupe, including usable rear seat room. Offered in front-wheel drive or with quattro all-wheel drive, the engines range from a 1.8-liter four cylinder to a 3.2-liter V6, with 2.7-liter and 3.0-liter diesels offered in Europe. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard with Audi’s multitronic automatic as an option. Technology includes partial LED lighting, an electromechanical parking brake, an all-plastic key and three-zone climate control. The S5 high-performance version, also making its debut in Geneva, gets a 354-horsepower 4.2-liter V8 FSI engine, quattro, sport suspension, restyled front and rear bumpers, quad exhaust outlets and numerous detailing revisions complete the package.
The Lexus LF-A is “Lexus’s definition of a super sports car” and made its European debut here in Geneva. The LF-A supercar concept was first shown two years ago at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) to display a new styling direction for Lexus referred to as L-finesse. Inspired by motor sport technology and wrapped in L-Finesse design, the LF-A is powered by a V10 engine that develops more than 500 horsepower from less than 5.0 liters. A second LF-A concept was unveiled at NAIAS in 2007 to gauge consumer interest and is much closer to a vehicle that Lexus could bring to market. According to Lexus, the superior aerodynamics, revised styling and horsepower make a top speed of 200 mph possible. The LF-A is two inches shorter in length than the Porsche 911 Turbo, but it has a 9-inch-longer wheelbase. Identical in height to the Ferrari F430, its width slots in between the Mercedes-Benz SL55 and the Aston Martin DB9.
The Opel GTC Concept (Gran Turismo Coupe) is a four-seat coupe that offers a look at the future of Opel design. The exterior design is bold and aggressive with a trapezoidal grille, Opel’s signature bar in polished aluminum, LED headlights and taillights, large fender flares, 20-inch wheels, integrated rear spoiler and unique matte gray paint. The aggressive styling is backed up by a 300-horsepower 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 gasoline engine combined with a six-speed manual transmission and electronically controlled intelligent all-wheel-drive. The innovative "Flex4" system maximizes interior flexibility with rear seats that slide forward separately and "dock" into the seatbacks of the front seats to provide additional flat-floor cargo area without the need to fold the seatbacks first. The interior is finished with matte ebony surfaces and contrasting high-gloss piano black and aluminum trim for the center console, the shifter and a u-shaped graphic for the steering wheel.
The Demon Concept is a new type of car for Dodge, a small attainable roadster but with lots of bold attitude in the design. Finished in Bright Amber Pearl with Carbon Black interior, the Demon design is simple yet bold and includes a lot of interesting lines wrapped around the signature Dodge crosshair grille. The side profile shows a distinct line that rises up over the front fender and then drops down diagonally to meet the vent in the rear fender that directs air to the rear brakes. The 19-inch brushed aluminum wheels are an open-spoke design and the asymmetrical wheel openings are another interesting design element. The interior is clean and purposeful with brushed aluminum trim and the center console is not attached to the dash. Demon is powered by the 172-horsepower 2.4-liter World Engine with a 6-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. Dodge has not announced plans to build the Demon, but it looks ready for production.
