The current Wiesmann Roadster is badged the MF3, and is powered by the same 3.2-liter six that powered the last generation BMW M3. Not content with that engine’s hearty output, Wiesmann is set to add MF4 and MF5 Roadsters to the mix, powered by BMW-sourced 4.8-liter V-8s, and 5.0-liter V-10s respectively. Both cars are slated to debut at next year’s Geneva Motor Show.
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No, it’s not the Saturn Flextreme, it’s the Opel Meriva. This Euro-only car won’t be utilizing the E-flex powertrain of the Flextreme Concept, but, instead a 1.4-liter turbocharged I-4 motor.
The Meriva has even got some cool suicide-door action (Flexdoors). There’s no timeline on Opel’s compact, but we doubt it’ll come stateside as a Saturn anytime soon. Check out our gallery of the Meriva at the Geneva Motor Show below.
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Earlier this week Infiniti dropped the wraps on its 2009 FX model at the Geneva Motor Show – sorry, we couldn’t get to everything in two days.
The second-generation Infiniti FX crossover features an all-new 390-horsepower, 5.0-liter 32-valve DOHC V-8 (a V-6 will be available, but Infiniti didn’t provide the details, yet). The crossover also features a seven-speed automatic with Adaptive Shift Control and an available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive.
Infiniti is also offering a sport package for the 2009 FX. It includes Continuous Damping Control, Rear-Active Steer, and 21-inch alloys.
The interior features all of the luxury perks you’d expect from Infiniti, including sport seating, nav system, and an 11-speaker Bose audio system.
Automotive design house Fioravanti brought its blatantly futuristic concept called Hidra to the Geneva Motor Show this year, which featured an innovation that could render the common windshield wiper obsolete. That is, if huge sums of money, product lifespan, and production capacity are no object.
The Hidra utilizes a window clearing system called Geyser, which is said to be capable of doing a far better job keeping a windshield clean than traditional wipers. The complex system is based on a layered windshield, which uses titanium dioxide to filter UV rays and spread water evenly over the surface. Another layer somehow pushes road dirt to the edges of the window, at which point small nozzles blow the filth away from the car. A final layer is responsible for conducting the electricity to power the entire operation.
(Click through the jump to read on including the Fioravanti Hidra press release.)
Maserati just launched one of its all-time sexiest coupes at the Geneva Motor Show, the scintillating GranTurismo S. While it still may be a while before we get our hands on this version of the Maserati, why let little issues like time, space, and availability get in the way of a great car?
It may not be the same as sliding behind the wheel, but Maserati has provided a video that shows off all of the sights and sounds of the GranTurismo S on the move. Click on the image above (or the link below) to have a peek, and then tell us how you found the car in comments.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Usually an extreme form of punishment, decapitation - for Alfa Romeo’s 8C Competizione - is a gift to all Alfisti who desire top-down motoring. We had a chance to look over the drop-top halo car at this week’s Geneva Motor Show, and if you think the coupe looks good, the ‘vert certainly doesn’t disappoint.
Granted, precious little changes between the fixed-and drop-top cars, which is a great thing. Without a doubt, Alfa created a stunning design with the 8C, and we’d argue that if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. That said, without the buttresses of the fastback roof, the fenders now flow with little interruption to the tail - something that makes the three-quarters rear view, at least with the top down, quite breathtaking.
As much as we look forward to the coupe’s arrival within the U.S., we’re jumping at the bit to blast through the countryside with the wind in our hair from within the cockpit of an 8C. What say you - do you prefer the car with or without top? Send your thoughts in the comments section below.
While much of the action on BMW’s stand at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show focused on the new M3 Convertible, there were some interesting goings on inside of the new X6 on display.
Much has been made of automakers providing vehicle-based internet access, but BMW is looking to take the lead in that cutting-edge arena. The automaker is planning to offer a production version of its ConnectedDrive system by the end of the year, which will allow for unlimited web browsing while on the go. BMW says that the functioning display model it has in the X6 at Geneva is a prototype, but that the final consumer version of the system won’t look a lot different.
ConnectedDrive will be interfaced with BMW’s much-discussed iDrive, with the web pages appearing on a high resolution, dash-mounted display (pictured). The engineers have wisely limited front-seat access to the system to when the engine is turned off, but passengers with an optional rear display (and a special iDrive interface) will be able to browse while the car is running.
In case you missed it, have a look at BMW’s new M3 Convertible at its Geneva launch below.
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
What happens when you mix a Subaru Outback with a Scion xD? We’re not sure why you’d want to breed such a creature, but the result is Toyota’s Urban Cruiser, a baby-SUV introduced at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.
Aside from the fact that this “design concept” is essentially a dead ringer for a production model due in 2009, we know little more about the Urban Crusier - especially in terms of powertrain. We’re guessing the production model will be powered with the same motors also powering the Euro-spec Yaris, but we don’t know if that pseduo-off-road stance hides all-wheel-drive. We’d be inclined to say no, but in mentioning the Urban Cruiser’s similarity to the late RAV4 three-door, Toyota name-drops a “four-wheel-drive transmission.” Moral of the story? AWD can’t be ruled out at this point.
Styling is virtually identical to what we’ve seen on the xD, although to make it seem more SUV-like, Toyota’s pushed out the bumpers, tacked on large wheel flares, and added larger 17″ alloy wheels. Although Toyota seems happy enough keeping the Urban Cruiser a Europe-only product at this point, there’s always a chance it could migrate to our side of the Atlantic as a Scion. xDx4, anyone?
The Geneva Motor Show saw more bows than the fourth encore finale at a Rolling Stones concert. Nearly every automaker had something to show off – from Jaguar’s XKR-S to Volkswagen’s Scirocco.
We brought you a wealth of galleries from the 103rd Geneva Motor Show. Review them, take them in, and then let us know which reveal you found most impressive. Was it the Mazda2? Was it the Fiat 500 Abarth?
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
Did you manage to catch every shiny image of all the cool metal we captured during the second day of our Geneva Motor Show coverage? If you answered “no,” don’t worry about it. We’ve listed galleries and links to everything we snapped on day two, directly below for your browsing bliss. Get in there and mix things up.
Despite earlier reports flying around the blogosphere that Tata Motors would acquire Jaguar and Land Rover, then sell Jag and move LR to India, Ratan Tata maintains that his company will retain the British heritage of the two.
“Our plan would be to retain the image, the touch and the feel of Jaguar and Land Rover. We will not tinker with the brands in any way. They are special global brands and whoever acquires them has a responsibility to nurture them and enable them to prosper,” Tata said at the Geneva Motor Show.
He also said that Tata would not move Jaguar or Land Rover production from the UK, as was speculated and feared by the UK labor unions. He said, “We are conscious that the brands belong to Britain. These brands will continue to belong to Britain.”
If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com
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