82nd Geneva Motor Show – Automobiles Review

Toyota FT-Bh Explained [VIDEO]

The Toyota FT-Bh concept already did it’s premiere at the 82^nd Geneva Motor Show but the talk is still on. Here’s a clip of Alain Uyttenhoven, Product Management Vice President of Toyota Europe, explaining the ideas behind this B segment thing of the future.

Apparantly, the FT-Bh started in life as a set of goals – make it compact…er, retain the Yaris-ness nevertheless, keep the CO2 emissions bellow 50g/km but somehow provide an entertaining ride and an agile performance. We’ll have to wait and see about that last bit. Oh, yes. There’s a hint that the FT-Bh is production ready.

What we find particularly interesting is that Mr. Uyttenhoven talks about five key concepts behind the FT-Bh. “Pillars” he calls them. Coincidentally (or is it?), the FT-Bh seems to have five structural Pillars that support the roof. He does get to explain only three of them – lightness (Standing at 785 kg, the concept weighs 25% less than the ongoing Yaris hybrid), slipperiness and smartness of the drivetrain works. Power will come from a 1.0-liter, 2-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine and a pack of Li-ion batteries that will charge an electric motor.

Any ideas about the two other pillars?

httpv://youtu.be/G4mD7v7Alos

Source: Toyota

Video Source: ToyotaEurope via YouTube

March 29, 2012

The 2012 Geneva Motor Show: Hots and Nots

Last week marked the end of the 82nd Geneva Motor Show – one of the biggest automotive exhibitions in the world.

More than 700,000 visitors feasted their eyes upon the creations of some 260 manufacturers while 11,500 media representatives channeled all there was to channel directly to your screens. It was a vibrant two week marathon of motoring nirvana.

There were ups and downs (mostly ups really), there was music, there was dancing…oh, and cars also.

The scale of the whole event does not allow to sum up everything in a single go and yet, we at Automobilesreview.com decided to give our humble opinion about some of the good, the bad and the ugly.

The Lamborghini Aventador Speedster J

HOT: It’s the lunacy that gets you. Gravely controversial, this topless model caused quite a stir among enthusiasts and observers.

Why wouldn’t it? It’s an Avenatador without a windscreen – first class go-kart experience, an Ariel Atom on steroids.

Despite the fact that any human being would look ridiculous inside (more so after a good trashing), nobody would dare to make a joke about it – the person inside should be, by all accounts, a man of steel.

Tata Megapixel

NOT: It’s got all the right features by the look of things: modern and round and crisp. But, even the name suggests, that it is essentially a big square.

Part of the reason why this is not getting too much attention might be because of the brand. Tata have yet to produce a car that has some aesthetic value.

We get that the idea behind the affordability and the fact that it is ideal for the streets of India but that’s just about it.

It’s too soulless and by looking at those side-sliding doors, original as they might be, we can’t help but thinking of a convenience store.

Peugeot GTI Concept

HOT: You didn’t think we would miss a chance to include a hot hatch, did you? And hot it is this one. Peugeot 208 GTI – an audacious take on an almost thirty year old legend: Peugeot 205 GTI.

How do you stand up to the car that was claimed to be the embodiment of the hot hatch concept? How do you challenge Genesis?

At Peugeot think that an RCZ 200bhp 1.6 turbo engine, a wider-than-standard track and a multitude of handling smarts should do the trick.

We would really like to see that on the streets and chances are, we are not alone in this.

Carlsson Smart forTwo

NOT: Bringing a Smart to an autoshow is like bringing a knife to a gunfight.

Carlsson have made an effort to give this little critter some character but at best, they have given it an orange interior.

Power is up by a few figures – thanks to an ECU upgrade we get 110 bhp which is a lot, considering that the ForTwo weighs less than a lady’s handbag.

But unless you stick to driving it in a straight line, all is in vain we suspect as the ForTwo just doesn’t have the wheelbase for the job. It’s too short and understeery.

Touring Disco Volante

HOT: No. This is not hot. Hot is too much of a vulgar word to describe it.

It’s a celebration of aesthetics, a cobweb of passion and style and curves a blissful incarnation of beauty itself. It’s a history lesson as well – Conceived in the 50s, the 1900 C52 Alfa Romeo “Flying Saucer” had a profile made to last and today, the Carrozzeria Touring Disco Volante is the living proof of that.

It’s a genuine car this and not just a pretty body with no engine in it. The world would be a better place with this on the streets so peace’s sake, let’s hope the motoring future looks like this.

Hyundai i20

NOT: Bland, gray and consumer oriented, this ok family car, with an ok engine and ok quality inside and outside might be the right purchase to make…if one does not care about cars in general and is only interested in going from A to B safely.

You know, Hyundai have a perfectly sensible guarantee policies and… not interested?

No… Understandably you are not, because the i20 will never make your hair on your back stand up.

That is of course, you don’t find yourself driving it on the wrong side of the road with oncoming traffic…while being on fire.

The Geneva Girls

HOT:…definitely.

Let’s face it. What would the show be without some models…next to the models?

A big gear-head convention with people mooning about, calculating power-to-weight ratios and arguing over naught to sixty times.

We are not saying, that the 2012 Geneva Motor Show wasn’t like that, but at the very least, the girls were there to balance things out.

We also like how this particular model is thematically coordinated with the car represented – the Bertone Nuccio concept. All Seems legitimate.

Mia Electric

NOT: Don’t get us wrong. It’s an interesting idea this – a tubular sort of, 3 seated van.

And anything that can offer a McLaren F1 type of driving position makes us tingle with excitement. It’s called the Mia and it looks like a Smart stretch which by itself sounds ironic.

Sadly, this is where the similarities with the F1 end. Strictly for the urban environment, this French-made “Microbus” gets its power from a 13 bhp electric, but hardly electrifying, engine that has a range of around 80 miles.

True, it weighs no more than 810 kg with the batteries on board but that’s courtesy to its plastic body. Label it “hot” and it might melt.

Pininfarina Cambiano Concept

HOT: Much like the Disco Volante, this concept deserves an admirable batch of flattering adjectives.

It’s beautifully styled with clean and simple lines, it has some daring features like that roof over there – no doubt eye candy for all present at the unveiling.

But while the Disco Volante is basically an Alfa 8C Competizione underneath, the Cambiano is an ultra complex plug in hybrid that has electric motors on each wheel and a small diesel turbine that can charge the batteries or provide power by itself.

The overall maximum power output reaches 600 kW with torque being 640 Nm and constantly available. Take it out for a spin and by the time the juice runs out, you’d be 800 km away from home. So, clever and sleek – certainly a pageant winner.

Bentley EXP 9 F Concept

NOT: We are gravely sorry, but Bentley should stick to what they do best – making Continentals.

Just because the world has gone mad-crazy about SUV‘s does not mean that there’s a place for everybody on the market table.

Besides, its not really a looker is it? It looks like a Continental with the aerodynamics taken out – anguliar, upright and awkward.

Also, with those overcomplicated headlights and ridiculous wheels, certainly the EXP 9 F is not doing too much to win our hearts. It may appeal a footballer’s heart but that’s as far as it will go.

Gumpert Apollo Enraged

HOT: This Gumpert Apollo in particuliar is not the melt-my-heart kind of hot (the sheer size of that rear wing is hardly endearing).

It’s more like heartburn type of hot – What you are looking at is a V8 lunatic on the loose, angry and out to get you.

If underestimated, this Griffin will trample over your ego with 780 horses (from a V8!!). But you can guess that by yourself, can’t you? The clues are pretty much in how they called it – the Enraged.

What’s more, you most certainly won’t be looking too hot stuck on a speed bump, but when a ride goes that low, chances are you are going to grind over half the streets in your town. On the plus side, it’s quite probable to be an absolute hit on trackdays, leaving behind Porsches and BMW‘s trailing behind.

March 26, 2012

Morgan Lineup at Geneva 2012

Morgan company is a frequent participant at the Geneva Motor Show. They see it as an important venue for debuts of production cars or flamboyant concepts. For this year, the 2012 Geneva Show is the company’s first major event. They have a wide arrangement of classic looking, boldly designed modern machines on display. Some of the newcomers include the Aero Coupe, Plus 8, the new 3.7l Roadster and the fully electric Plus E.

Two, well known, production Morgan 3 Wheelers and a 75th anniversary 4/4 edition are also present. As a whole Morgan have three main platforms on which they can work on: There’s the Classic Morgan, the 3 Wheeler and the Aero range. All of them encapsulate a radiance of pure motoring history.

Which car on the colorful stand causes most stir is debatable. Some feel overly excited about the 3 Wheelers being on display while others find the aluminum-chassied, V8 Plus 8, most awe inspiring. The dramatic Aero Coupe is also a looker while the all-electric Plus E concept seems to be getting much media attention.

The show continues until the 18th march with a team of Morgan designers, directors, engineers and salespeople present at all times to answer any questions visitors may have.

The Morgan Stand at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show

Source: Morgan

March 14, 2012

BMW 328i by AC Schnitzer

M cars are not the only prime candidates for first-class tuning. Take the BMW 328i for example. It’s pretty neat, powerful, compact and nimble. It only takes a company like AC Schnitzer to turn it into a desirable performance machine.

The engine receives an extra control unit that amps the power from 245hp to 295hp. The maximum torque is now 410Nm. Top speed is still limited to 250 km/h but zero to one hundred happens in 5.7 seconds – .2 of a second less.

The suspension has been lowered thanks to a spring kit provided by Schnitzer and the choice of wheels is mind boggling: AC Schnitzer wheels Type IV BiColor and silver, Type VI and Type VIII in 18 , 19 and 20-inch sizes. The Type VIII are also available in BiColor – lacquered silver with bright turned aluminium accents.

Additional aerodynamic features include the AC Schnitzer front spoiler, rear roof spoiler, rear spoiler and rear skirt extension. From the latter, 2 pairs of chromy twin tailpipes stick out, giving away the AC Schnitzer sports rear silencer.

The interior of the car serves as a showcase of AC Schnitzer‘s“Black Line” aluminum themes – that includes the “i-Drive” system controller and the handbrake handle. Pedal set is aluminum as well and so is the foot rest. The floor mats are in velours.

You can go and see it right now at the Geneva Motor Show but if you want to get one, that’s going to have to happen latter this year. In the summer perhaps.

Full specs bellow.

Basic car:

BMW 328i (F30)

Engine:

AC Schnitzer performance upgrade –

Performance: 217kW/295hp (standard: 180kW/245hp)

at 5800rpm (standard: 5000-6500rpm)

Maximum torque: 410Nm (standard: 350Nm)

at 2000-3000rpm (standard: 1250-4800)

Maximum speed (km/h) 250 – electronically limited

0 – 100 km/h: 5,7 seconds (standard: 5,9 seconds)

AC Schnitzer engine optics

Exhaust:

AC Schnitzer sports rear silencer with

2 chromed “Racing” tailtrims in

right / left combination

Suspension:

AC Schnitzer spring kit, lowering approx. 25 mm

Aerodynamics:

AC Schnitzer front spoiler

AC Schnitzer front grille, chromed

AC Schnitzer rear roof spoiler

AC Schnitzer rear spoiler

AC Schnitzer rear skirt

AC Schnitzer decals

Interior:

AC Schnitzer aluminium cover, “Black Line”

for BMW “i-Drive“ system controller

AC Schnitzer aluminium handbrake handle, “Black Line”

AC Schnitzer gear knob with digital shift display

AC Schnitzer leather gear knob, illuminated

AC Schnitzer aluminium gear knob “Black Line”

AC Schnitzer aluminium pedals

AC Schnitzer foot rest

AC Schnitzer floor mats, velours

Wheel/Tyre sets:

AC Schnitzer Wheel/Tyre Set with Type VIII Wheels BiColor Silver

front: 8,5 x 18″ with tyres 225/45 R 18

rear: 8,5 x 18″ with tyres 225/45 R 18

front: 8,5 x 19″ with tyres 225/40 R 19

rear: 8,5 x 19″ with tyres 255/35 R 19

front: 8,5 x 20″ with tyres 225/35 R 20

rear: 8,5 x 20″ with tyres 255/30 R 20

AC Schnitzer Wheel/Tyre Set with Type IV Wheels BiColor

front: 8,5 x 18″ with tyres 225/45 R 18

rear: 8,5 x 18″ with tyres 225/45 R 18

front: 8,5 x 19″ with tyres 225/40 R 19

rear: 8,5 x 19″ with tyres 255/35 R 19

AC Schnitzer Wheel/Tyre Set with Type IV Wheels Silver

front: 8,5 x 18″ with tyres 225/45 R 18

rear: 8,5 x 18″ with tyres 225/45 R 18

front: 8,5 x 19″ with tyres 225/40 R 19

rear: 8,5 x 19″ with tyres 255/35 R 19

AC Schnitzer Wheel/Tyre Set with Type VIII Wheels BiColor

front: 8,5 x 19″ with tyres 225/40 R 19

rear: 8,5 x 19″ with tyres 255/35 R 19

AC Schnitzer Wheel/Tyre Set with Type VI Wheels BiColor

front: 8,5 x 18″ with tyres 225/45 R 18

rear: 8,5 x 18″ with tyres 225/45 R 18

Source: AC Schnitzer

March 12, 2012

Hamann memoR McLaren MP4-12C at Geneva

Apparently, upon the release of the McLaren MP4-12C back in 2011, there had been an outcry of discontent about its looks from the public. Visually, it hadn’t been able to live up to its power and performance they say. Deemed too bland and “evoraesque”? Well to those who feel under the weather when looking at a standard MP4-12C, there is a solution – It’s the memoR by Hamann which is currently making its debut within the halls of the 82^nd Geneva Motor Show.

Roughly speaking, the memoR is a stylistically buffed MP4-12C. No performance upgrades, no chassis fiddling and no 20 or something inch tv’s inside. It’s simply with added “uniqueness” now, according to Hamann.

The main inspiration for the restyle was drawn from the 1995 LeMans winner, the McLaren F1 GTR. Obviously, they didn’t manage to put the driver’s seat back at the center of the cabin but were nevertheless on to something. Four ideas were tossed around when the people at Hamann got to work.

1 Reduce the concave surfaces.

2 Integrate the defining F1 bits and pieces.

3 Add some GT3 elements as well.

4 Create an exciting contrast shade.

By “concave surfaces”, Hamann mean the border of the front air intakes, the cross section of the hood, the rear side panel and the sill area. All of them have been removed. Now we have a large front splitter, an air scoop at the roof, deep drawn door sills a rear wing and a diffuser. Three centered tailpipes finish the look… and the massive wheel arches with the wheels underneath. They too finish it off. Hopefully now nobody will complain about it. All points have been covered.

Source: Hamann

March 10, 2012

Carrozzeria Touring Disco Volante 2012 at Geneva

That gorgeous looking thing, adorning the halls of the Geneva Motor Show hides an Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione engine inside. It even has an 8C chassis. And despite that it has all the necessary looks to be an Alfa, it isn’t. Say hello to the Carrozzeria Touring Disco Volante 2012 – a tribute to the 1900 C52 Alfa Romeo concept from the fifties. It too was made with the help of the same company and now it’s back in a different form. Carrozzeria Touring was (and still is) all about lightness and agility – “supperleggera”. The C52 had a spectacular tubular chassis, an aluminum crankcase and bits and pieces from the Alfa 1900 C. It was a car that set a new benchmark in aerodynamics. It was a pretty car, a flying saucer.

The 2012 Disco Volante bares all that DNA. A whole-piece hood veils the wheel wells. It still has the overall slippery teardrop shape and a silver waistline that would make any maxi model green with envy. You get the sense that it has been thoroughly contemplated and discussed on paper before being commissioned. Creating one of these 2012 saucers requires 4000 hours of labor. The aluminum panels on it are hand-beaten as a part of a company tradition. Many details and components are also hand-built making the car extremely exclusive. Just a few will be made and given to those who need it most – collectors, sporting drivers and design aficionados.

Of course, underneath it is essentially an Alfa 8C which means that the double wishbone suspension keeps the Disco Volante (the flying saucer) fairly planted on the road. It also means that when you peal away that monoblock hood you’ll see a 4.7 V8 that sends 450 PS and 470 Nm of torque through a 6-speed paddle shift gearbox and a limited slip differential. Luckily the brakes are also from the current century and do a pretty good job stopping the perfectly weight distributed Disco Volante 2012.

Let’s just hope you are ready to empty your pockets superleggera style if you want it. The Alfa 8C is expensive enough. Adding a fur coat on the bill, won’t come lightly. But what a car it is!

Source: Carozzerria Touring Superleggera

March 9, 2012

Carlsson smart ForTwo at Geneva 2012

What is there to tune on a smart ForTwo? It’s 2.70 meters long. There are mufflers longer than that. Well, Carlsson beg to differ. At this moment, in Geneva somewhere on a tiny stand sits this thing – the Carlsson ForTwo Coupe. It excels in aerodynamics (apparently), it benefits from a power boost, it sits on some neat wheels, the interior is refreshed and mainly, it’s black and orange.

It’s amazing how much you can do with so little… on something little: The 84 PS smart 1.0 liter, 3-cylinder engine now has a sports air-filter an ECU tweak that rises the bar to 112 PS. Torque is also up by 38 Nm totalling at 158 which are readily available as early as 2000 rpm. 0 to 60 mph takes 9.9 seconds while top speed is 96 mph.

Looking from behind, we see four oval tailpipes shaping the end of a flow-optimised Carlsson resonator that will send unsuspecting onlookers in shock. The rear bumper accommodates them perfectly while a Carlsson front spoiler houses LED daytime running lights. The suspension at the front is lowered by 15 mm while the back – 30mm. 6.5 and 7.5 17-inch Carlsson light alloy wheels finish the look.

Inside a feast of quilted nappa leather awaits you to rest your head on the Carlsson marked headrests. The same goes for the steering wheel, dashboard, glove box, gearstick and door panels. The hand brake is from aluminum and a set of Carlsson floor mats a boot mat in soft velour with Carlsson logo and high-quality aluminium pedal covers round out the interior refinement.

Source: Carlsson

March 9, 2012

Lexus RX Revisited at Geneva

Here it is, the new Lexus RX line… sort of. Currently, the models on display at the Geneva Motor Show represent an update of the existing RX line – the MY2013 specimens include minor redesigns, all-new on board technology, greater exterior and interior color schemes, new steering wheel, a revised instrument binnacle and a second-generation Remote Touch Interface (RTI). Also, the RX 350h and 450h models will now come in F Sport versions as well. Every single one of these RX models can have a Front-Wheel-Drive setup or an All-Wheel-Drive one.

The newfigure of the RX is already common for all GS cars since April – a spindle grille with chrome surrounds now adorns the front. The headlights are new and are complemented by LED Daytime Running Lamps that take the shape of Lexus’ signature arrowhead design.

The F Sport versions get shadow chrome 19-inch alloys, unique mesh grille inserts and some badges. Also, exclusive for that trim is the black and grey leather-accented interior. Bucket seats, alloy pedals and an LFA derived steering wheel (standard for all RX versions) complete the sporty feel. Exclusively, the 350h F Sport also features paddle shifters neatly mounted behind the fore mentioned steering wheel. Thus, the drivers can exploit the performance potential of the six-speed Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) that comes along with the 350h. All RX models will feature an updated, second-generation Lexus Remote Touch system, making activation of on-board systems easier for driver and passenger. There’s a convenient place on the center console where you can plug in your iPod and now iPad as well, USB drive or a 12V adapter

While the engines in the new models remain largely unchanged (270 bhp from the 3.5 liter V6 in the 350h and 295 bhp from the electrically assisted V6 in the 450h), the F Sport chassis do benefit from a re-engineered handling package – suspension tune and lateral performance dampers/braces.

The RX 450h hybrid on the other hand also gets some personality with a new Sport driving mode that completes the set the already existing modes: ECO and EV. That way, drivers can fine tune their style of driving and be capable of great fuel-economy feats. The FWD model of the 450h Lexus Hybrid Drive returns an EPA-estimated 32 mpg city and 28 mpg highway (30 mpg combined) fuel economy ratings, while the AWD model has EPA ratings of 30 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, 29 mpg combined. Keep in mind that this is an SUV we are talking about.

Source: Lexus

March 7, 2012

Kia Cee’d at Geneva and More

The new Kia Cee’d premiers to the world at the 82nd Geneva Motor Show. Although South Korean, the Cee’d is quintessentially European – It’s designed, engineered and made in Europe. What we have here, is most definitely a poke in the eye for the big players on the hatchback market.

Building on the success of the old model, this one is longer (4.3 meters in total) and more slippery. Inside, higher quality materials are now being used and the options list is longer than ever.

There will be four engines available through most of Europe – two petrol and two diesel ones among which the most powerful will be a 1.6 GDI (it’s a petrol). The abbreviation stands for “Gasoline Direct Injection” – Kia‘s latest. Power comes in the form of 135 PS and 165 Nm of torque. If you go with Dual Clutch Transmission option you’ll get some additional frugality from the engine.

If economy is what you are after however, a 128 PS diesel version with Kia’s EcoDynamics fuel saving technologies achieves fuel consumption of as low as 3.7 l/100km and CO2 emissions of just 97 g/km.

The Cee’d is not alone at the Geneva stand. There’s an SW (estate) version of it which will go on sale later this year.

Then there’s the Kia Ray EV‘s European premiere – a zero-emission city car with a range of up to 139 km (86 miles) on a single charge. Though developed exclusively for the Korean market, the Ray EV showcases Kia’s technical expertise in developing a battery electric vehicle and highlights its commitment to provide a comprehensive technical solution to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Lastly, the Kia Track’ster Concept with electronic AWD adds some sportiness to the stand. The 1.6 GDI turbocharged engine in that one delivers 38 PS (215 PS) less than the 2.0 Track’ster we saw at the Chicago Auto Show earlier this year. It still is however, a brilliant spin-off of the Kia Soul.

Kia Ceed SW (2012) — Kia Cee'd SW (2012)

Source: Kia

March 7, 2012

2013 Ford Fiesta ST at Geneva

Here’s a preview of Ford’s new Fiesta ST. It’s at Geneva at the moment with plans to go on sale in the UK early next year. It has been four years since the last Fiesta ST and recently the fan base has started feeling uneasy. Now everyone can calm down as this little fellow here is meet their needs.

A four year gap between the two models can only mean one thing: massive improvements in terms of performance. The numbers speak for themselves – 180PS 1.6-litre EcoBoost, 240Nm of torque, 0-62mph in under seven seconds, and top speed of more than 136mph. All the while, CO2 emissions are down by 20 percent in comparison to the old ST.

Hopefully the new Fiesta will have the handling to match the performance. The guys at Team RS have put a lot of their WRC know how in use while working on the chassis which leaves the ST 15 mm lower than a standard Fiesta. The car’s Torque Vectoring Control system and three Electronic Stability Control modes have all been rigorously developed and tested at the Nurburgring.

Inside, Recaro sports seats will provide support for the enthusiastic drive for the first time in a Ford Fiesta. There’s something for the novice drivers as well – the car will be fitted with Ford’s MyKey solution which can limit the car’s power and speed to a certain degree thus effectively preventing your kids to end up in a ditch.

The Fiesta ST is sure to come to Europe, but Ford are considering other markets as well:

“We’re delighted to be bringing a new generation Fiesta ST to our European enthusiasts in 2013 and we’ll have more to say about our plans for other markets in the near future,” said Jost Capito, Ford’s director of Global Performance Vehicles.

Fingers crossed.

Source: Ford

March 6, 2012

Premiere at Geneva: Carlsson Mercedes ML CD35

We can’t get enough of Carlsson and luckily, they seem to be unable to stop churning out projects. So in this latest win-win situation, we welcome the Carlsson ML CD35 – It’s based on the current Mercedes-Benz M-class (W 166) and will premiere at the Geneva Motor Show this week. 22-inch wheels, suspension tweaks, an aerodynamic package and a performance package all highlight the Carlsson mark on the luxury SUV.

To start off, we have a new look that can only accent the already aggressive stance of the M-Class. A new front apron and dual headlight modules with LED daytime running lights, give the front a typical Carlssonish feel. The mesh inserts withing the bumper, are from an electro-polished stainless steel and so is the main radiator grille. Some sikdeskirts also complement the whole kit and a rear apron and a set of exhausts adorn the back end. Although, we can’t be sure of that until Carlsson fully reveal the ML CD35.

In terms of performance, the standard W166 that has gone under the knife has a 3.0 liter V6 BlueTEC 4MATIC diesel engine that develops 190 HP 680 Nm of torqe. Carlsson have taken that power up to 310 HP and 700 Nm thanks to a C-Tronic supplementary control unit. It’s not just brute power extraction that violates the engine. Rather, the C-Tronic thing cleverly monitors all temperature, emission and rpm reading and shuts off when it senses that the engine has reached a wear-and-tear zone. Soon enough, there will be even more performance tweaks available for the CD35 from Carlsson.

In order to make you even more dependent on your iPhone, the C-Tronic Carlsson suspension provided is linked to an application that allows remote control. Feel free to rise up or lower the CD35 whenever you like. As long as your phone battery isn’t dead. By default, the Carlsson M-class is around 30 mm lower than standard and sits on 10 x 20-inch, light alloy wheels with Carlsson 1/5 Revo design. At the Geneva Motor Show, five-spoke wheels in the Brilliant Edition and Dark Series surface finish will be installed.

The interior has been delicately altered with the help of illuminated door sill panels imprinted with Carlsson lettering, Carlsson door pins, and a footrest plus pedals made from aluminum.

Source: Carlsson

March 5, 2012

Unica Lamborghini Teaser

Here’s a video from Lamborghini of two quite brisk headlights. It’s actually a teaser video from the Bologna company regarding the upcoming reveal of… something. Most likely, it’ll be called the the Lamborghini Unica. But, there’s a lot speculation going around. Some say it will be the Aventador J Speedster – a Spyder version/concept of the Aventador. Recently some photos have also been circulating the web showing a completely topless Aventador rendering.

In any case, if the the Unica/J Speedster has anything to do with the current Aventador LP 700-4, we should be expecting at the very least a V12, 6.5 liter engine developing 700 units of horsepower and nearly 700 Nm of torque. Hope you like windy weather.

A premiere at the Geneva Motor Show tomorrow will most likely substitute speculation with awe (we hope so). Obviously you can also follow the events on Twitter.

On a side note, Unica roughly translets from Italian into “the one and only” or ‘unique’ if you will.

httpv://youtu.be/LgRfGVDDswU

Source: Lamborghini via YouTube

March 5, 2012

Tag: 82nd Geneva Motor Show