Tag: Geneva

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Honda Motor Shows

Geneva 2015: Honda Civic Type R

Honda Civic Type R

This is it! You’re looking at the production-ready Civic Type R. At last!

Its numbers, then, what are its key stats? Power from the 2.0 litre VTEC mofo engine is rated at 310PS (228kW) at 6500rpm, while peak torque is 400Nm at 2500rpm. A lot for a front-wheel drive hot hatch, yes, but it’s what we’ve come to expect these days.

The 0–100km/h sprint is all over in 5.7 seconds and the new Type R has a v-max of 270km/h. Thankfully that’s all done via a proper 6-speed manual transmission as well.

The marketers have triumphed with the naming of the magic +R button. When that button is pressed the lab coats have ensured the car becomes more responsive with a more more aggressive torque-map, reduced power assistance for the steering and stiffening up the Adaptive Damper System by 30 per cent.

Marketing very much triumphs over engineering with the GT pack, which is nothing more than a collection of frilly options. There’s no extra power or suspension beefiness to be found here.

And speaking once again about marketing, Honda has published a video of the Civic Type R lapping the Nürburgring in 7 minutes 50.63 seconds. Take that Renault!

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Motor Shows Video

Chris and Mark have a chat in Geneva

Chris Harris and Mark Webber

This week’s video update from Chris Harris was filmed at the Geneva Motor Show. You know the drill, he walks around points a few things he likes and a few things he doesn’t. Along the way he caught up with a couple of Porsche Nine Ninenteen drivers, including our very own Mark Webber.

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Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz MINI Motor Shows Nissan Peugeot Porsche Renault Rolls-Royce Seat Skoda Subaru Vauxhall Volkswagen Volvo

2014 Geneva Motor Show in pictures – part 2

2014 Geneva Motor Show

Here’s your second batch of photos from the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, that makes it 155 photos in all. We start part 2 with the very cool Maserati Alfieri concept and end with the very cool Volvo Concept Estate. Cool!

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Alfa Romeo Audi BMW Bugatti Chevrolet Citroen Dodge Ferrari Fiat Gumpert Honda Hyundai Jaguar Kia Lamborghini Lexus Motor Shows

2014 Geneva Motor Show in pictures – part 1

2014 Geneva Motor Show

Like us you probably haven’t had a chance to duck over to Europe to check out the Geneva Motor Show. So here’s the first of a two part series bringing you a selection of the cars on show. Here we start with Alfa Romeo and go through to Lexus.

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Audi Motor Shows

Geneva 2014: Audi TT quattro sport concept

Audi TT quattro sport concept

Audi clearly wasn’t content with unveiling the new production-spec TT in Geneva, so they brought along this 420hp (309kW) TT quattro sport concept as well.

You might think that this is a preview of what to expect in the next TT RS. Maybe it is. Audi isn’t really giving any concrete rationale for the model other than these words from Technical Development boss Dr Ulrich Hackenberg: “With our Audi TT quattro sport concept show car, we wanted to demonstrate what the new TT’s technology can do if you take it a step further. This car is designed for racing—an extreme driving machine for the motorsports enthusiasts among our customers.”

To that end, and with any luck, expectations this is a forerunner to a production TT RS are lost when it’s revealed the concept car is powered by a heavily worked engine based on the familiar EA888 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder and not an inline five cylinder. Yeah, we know the days of the unique five-pot may be over, but we can live in hope.

It’s clear this can’t really be considered an EA888 engine when you consider the quattro sport concept motor has a lightweight crank, revised pistons, a new cylinder head and a specially created cast alloy block.

All told there’s 309kW/450Nm on offer and it can propel the 1344kg concept to 100km/h in only 3.7 seconds, thanks also to its S tronic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive system. Audi proudly boasts the engine produces 155kW/litre, which it describes as “a new benchmark” for a 2.0 litre.

We’re a bit unsure about the aggressive and angular body styling, what about you?

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Motor Shows Seat Video

Geneva 2014: Seat Leon Cupra 280

Seat Leon Cupra 280

Seat has launched its Leon Cupra 280 at the Geneva Motor Show and in doing so has officially confirmed its claim on the unofficial front-wheel drive lap record at the Nürburgring.

Of the record setting lap Seat says the Leon Cupra 280 was fitted with an optional Performance Pack, which includes uprated Brembo brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. Former Seat WTCC driver Jordi Gene handled the driving duties around the Nordschleife on a dry day with ambient temp of 10°C.

Interestingly the Seat UK press release also states the car used was fitted with a DSG transmission, but on the video published by Top Gear you can clearly see Gene changing gears with what appears to be a manual transmission.

The Leon Cupra 280 is powered by a 2.0 litre TSI four cylinder engine producing, as its name suggests, 280PS (206kW). It’s also available in a detuned state with 195kW on offer. Both tunes offer 350Nm of torque.

If this is all sounding a little familiar that’s fair enough, the engine is also found in Volkswagen and Audi models. Unlike its stablemates the Leon is not available with an optional all-wheel drive system.

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McLaren Motor Shows

Geneva 2014: McLaren 650S & 650S Spider

McLaren 650S Spider and 650S Coupe

We already knew McLaren would unveil its new 650S Coupé at the Geneva Motor Show, and we knew there would be a 650S at some stage too. We didn’t know both would be taking centre stage under the bright lights in Geneva.

The 650S, then, is a cross between a 12C and a P1, in that it’s built on a 12C platform but has styling tweaks clearly inspired by the P1. Following the Porsche style performance is somewhere in between the two.

There’s a stack of written text from McLaren after the break and before you begin to get stuck in here’s a quick look at the key numbers for the 650S Coupé, which is powered by a specially tuned version of the familiar 3.8 litre twin turbo McLaren M838T engine.

  • Drivetrain Layout: Longitudinal Mid-Engine, RWD
  • Engine Configuration: V8 Twin Turbo / 3799cc
  • Engine (PS / rpm): 650 / 7250
  • Torque (Nm / rpm): 678 / 6000
  • Transmission: 7 Speed SSG
  • Dry Weight (kg / lbs): 1330 / 2932
  • Power to weight (with lightweight options): 500 PS (493 bhp) /tonne
  • Power to weight (with lightweight options): 500 PS (493 bhp) /tonne
  • 0-100 kph (62 mph): 3.0 s
  • 0-200 kph (124 mph): 8.4 s
  • 0-300 kph (186 mph): 25.4 s
  • 0-400 m / ¼ mile: 10.5 @ 224 km/h (139 mph)

The Spider version weighs in at 40kg more than the Coupé and there’s a slight performance drop in some of those numbers above as you might expect. But it’s so close as to be barely noticeable. Read more below.

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Alfa Romeo Motor Shows

Geneva 2014: Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

When I was a young lad my mum had a white Alfa Spider. One of the first car memories I have is sitting on her lap holding the steering wheel as we drove along, turning on the indicators and just having a fun time.

So for more reasons than this new 4C Spider “design preview” looks fantastic, I really like this car. I think my mum would too.

For the less sentimental among you, you’ll be pleased to learn the 4C Spider will go into production early next year and will feature a lightweight soft-top closing roof.

Of course, a low kerb weight is the party trick of the regular 4C and Alfa has obviously not wanted to undo all that good work with the Spider. Just when you got used to the CFRP acronym we’re introduced to a new one here, low-density SMC or Sheet Moulding Compound. More fancy plastic, in other words.

The SMC is used around the rear window area and is topped off by carbon fibre rollover hoop. Carbon fibre has been used to strengthen to the top of the windscreen as well. All up Alfa says the Spider is “approximately 60kg” heavier than the hardtop.

This design study features a dual stage titanium exhaust from Akropovic with carbon fibre tips for added bling. You get the same 1750 turbo four cylinder from the coupé and with the 6-speed dual clutch ‘box the Spider Alfa says it can reach 100km/h in 4.5 seconds, just like the coupé.

The other major change with the Spider is the introduction of a new and more conventional headlight design. It’s a much cleaner result, too.

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Motor Shows Porsche WEC

Geneva 2014: Porsche 919 Hybrid & 911 RSR

Porsche 919 Hybrid

Porsche has now released preliminary details for the 919 Hybrid, following the earlier leak. Not much else to add except to invite you to check out the images and information after the break.

Pics are also included for the 2014-spec 911 RSR which will fight for Porsche in the GTE Pro class during the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The full press kit from Porsche at the Geneva Motor Show is available below as well.

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Motor Shows Volkswagen

Geneva 2014: Volkswagen T-ROC concept

Volkswagen T-ROC Concept

Volkswagen has revealed this T-ROC SUV concept at its pre-launch event ahead of the Geneva Motor Show. We’re told it’s a design study for a new model to sit beneath the Tiguan, while also providing a glimpse of what to expect from all future SUVs adorned with a Volkswagen badge.

Not that it matters too much, but the concept is powered by a 135kW/380Nm 2.0 TDI mated to a 7-speed DSG. Designed around Volkswagen’s MQB architecture includes three different driving modes: Street, Off-road and Snow.

The targa-style removable roof panels are pretty cool, too. Shame they won’t make it to production.

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Audi Motor Shows

Geneva 2014: Audi TT

Audi TT

This is the new Audi TT. The third-generation of Audi’s landmark coupé is ready to take centre stage at the Geneva Motor Show. Shown above in TTS trim with Tango Red paint you see many familiar cues from the original TT launched in 1998.

Overall the look is pure TT. Although, perhaps the grille may raise a few eyebrows at first, especially on the TTS. In general, though, the new TT has been chiseled and refined to form a very pleasing result.

The innovative electronic dash display, replacing the traditional dials behind the steering wheel, is the TT’s biggest party trick. It clears space in the interior allowing design to take centre stage without hurting function.

Powered by a familiar range of engines the TTS sits at the top of the tree, for now. Its 2.0 litre TFSI engine produces 228kW or 310hp in the old money—that’s 7kW more than found in the S3. Torque remains at 380Nm and reaches that figure at a low 1800rpm. Coupled to a quattro all-wheel drive system the TTS can reach 100km/h in 4.7 seconds with an S tronic transmission.

Also included at launch are 135kW/380Nm 2.0 TDI and 169kW/370Nm 2.0 TFSI models. With front-wheel drive and a 6-speed manual transmission the 2.0 TFSI will reach 100km/h in 6.0 seconds. The addition of a 6-speed S tronic and quattro brings that sprint down to 5.3 seconds.

The TTS sits 10mm lower than its siblings and gets the S line body kit and Audi magnetic ride suspension as standard equipment.

More detail on the new TT range can be found after the break.

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BMW Motor Shows

What to expect from BMW in 2014

BMW M3 and M4 on display in Detroit

As well as the launch of the highly anticipated M3 and M4 in Detroit this week, BMW has much more in store during 2014. Make sure you follow the source link from BimmerFile for more detail:

2014 North American International Auto Show (January)

  • M3 (F80) and M4 (F82)
  • M235i (F22)
  • 228i (F22)

2014 Geneva Motor Show (March)

  • 4 Series Gran Coupe (F36)
  • FWD Active Tourer (F45)
  • MINI Four-door concept (F55)

2014 New York Auto Show (April)

  • X4 (F26)
  • X3 LCI

2014 Moscow Motor Show (August)

  • X6 (F16)

2014 Paris Motor Show (September)

  • X5 M (F85) and X6 M (F86)
  • 2 Series Convertible (F23)
  • MINI Four-door (F55)

[Source: BimmerFile | Pic: Bimmerpost]