Auto News 5

Nearly two years after appearing at the 2008 Geneva auto show in concept form, Opel has recently revealed its second generation Meriva. Called a "small, affordable monocab" by the GM's European arm, the Meriva boasts what Opel calls "FlexDoors," more commonly known here in the U.S. as rear-hinged suicide doors. They open 84 degrees, providing more room for passengers when entering and exiting. A standard B-pillar maintains chassis rigidity and side-impact safety.inline_mediumwraptextright27013808/features/news/1003_2010_opel_meriva2010-opel-meriva-side.jpgTrue

If you were wondering whether Porsche's premiere 911 Turbo S model was going to make a return in 997 guise, you can now sleep easy. Porsche has announced that it will bring back its popular 'Turbo S' variant for the 2010 911 range and the car will make its debut at the Geneva motor show.inline_mediumwraptextright32466378/features/news/1003_2010_porsche_911_turbo_s2011-porsche-911-turbo-s-side.jpgTrue

The I.D.E.A. institute is coming to Geneva again this year, and this time they're bringing a four-door, four-seat hybrid concept sure to encourage comparisons to the Fisker Karma.inline_mediumwraptextright28271932/green/news/1003_2010_idea_institute_sofia_hybrid_conceptidea-institute-sofia-rear-three-quarter.jpgTrue

The Aston Martin Cygnet, a tiny four-seat city car based on the Toyota iQ that's making its public debut at the 2010 Geneva show, is said by Aston to encompass the creativity and prestige of the luxury brand while exhibiting an environmentally conscious approach.inline_mediumwraptextright28273897/features/news/1003_aston_martin_cygnet1003_02_z+aston_martin_cygnet+front_three_quarter_view.JPG.jpgTrue

Here's one reason not to judge a book by its cover: the outgoing Jaguar XJ8. You look at it and think, "It's a hundred years old."inline_mediumwraptextright32425785/reviews/driven/1003_2011_jaguar_xj2011-jaguar-XJ-front-three-quarters-static-passenger-2.jpgTrue

The I.D.E.A. institute is coming to Geneva again this year, and this time they're bringing a four-door, four-seat hybrid concept sure to encourage comparisons to the Fisker Karma.inline_mediumwraptextright28262629/green/news/1003_2010_idea_four_door_hybrid_concept1003_18_z+2010_IDEA_four_door_hybrid_concept+teaser_illustration.jpgTrue

It's hard to believe, but Lotus' pint-sized sports car has soldiered on with only minor changes for the last 10 years. For 2011, more small changes are on the way to give the Elise a fresher look for the new decade.inline_mediumwraptextright32458719/features/news/1003_2011_lotus_elise2011-lotus-elise-front.jpgTrue

We first laid eyes on Ford's Focus-based C-Max multi-activity vehicle as a concept at Frankfurt, and it now makes its production debut at the Geneva motor show.inline_mediumwraptextright32469234/features/news/1003_2012_ford_cmax2012-ford-c-max-front-three-quarter-driver.jpgTrue

Months in Fleet: Two
Mileage to Date: 3995inline_mediumwraptextright26994278/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1003_2009_nissan_cube_sl_february_update1003_02_z+2009_nissan_cube_sL+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

Ferrari's HY-KERS concept, shown at the 2010 Geneva auto show, is a bit tough to swallow. The world's most iconic sports car marque, known for screaming V-8s and V-12s, is playing around with the gas-electric technology epitomized by the Toyota Prius. Yet it gets even more dramatic than a hybrid concept. Eventually - maybe ten years from now - all Ferrari's will be saddled with batteries and an electric motor. Hybridization or electrification of the Prancing Horse lineup is inevitable.inline_mediumwraptextright28251037/green/news/1002_2010_ferrari_599_hy_kers_hybrid_concept1003_01_z+2010_ferrari_599_hY-KERS_hybrid_concept+top_view.jpgTrue

We first heard about Bugatti's latest creation back in November and it's anything but ordinary. The 16C Galibier concept is a four-door luxury sedan , but not just any four-door luxury sedan. This one is capable of a 220 mph top speed and could cost a staggering $1.5 million. That makes the 16C Galibier - when it enters production - the world's fastest, most expensive luxury sedan in the world. And now we have the first live photos available after the Galibier made its public debut ahead of the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, opening tomorrow.inline_mediumwraptextright28255261/features/news/1003_2010_bugatti_18c_galibier_concept1003_03_z+2010_bugatti_16C_galibier_concept+front_view.jpgTrue

Lamborghinis have long stood for sheer, menacing speed, usually courtesy of a monster engine. It's a solid formula, but any engineer will tell you that you eventually reach a point of diminishing returns. How, then, do you make an even more insane Lamborghini? Make it lighter.inline_mediumwraptextright26998088/features/news/1002_2011_lamborghini_gallardo_lp5704_superleggera1003_01_z+2011_lamborghini_gallardo_LP_570-4_superleggera+front_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

The Grand C-Max that Ford unveiled in Geneva on the eve of the first press day gives us a good look at the interior materials that will be used in the Focus when it goes on sale in the USA in early 2011. Likely to be dubbed the Focus C-Max when it goes on sale in the States in late 2011, the seven-seat mini minivan's great-feeling steering wheel, cascading center dash, and rich mixture of interior materials bode well for the Focus sedan and five-door hatch.inline_mediumwraptextright26954594/features/news/1003_2012_ford_grand_cmaxFord-Grand-C-Max-front-three-quarter-view.jpgTrue

Officially it’s only a concept, but there’s no doubt that project XG10 -- or the 918 Spyder concept -- will pave the way for the next Porsche supercar. And what a supercar it is going to be: in addition to the normally aspirated, high-revving, 3.4-liter V-8 good for more than 495 hp, the striking 918 Spyder has three electric motors onboard that add another 215 hp to the tally. Says Wolfgang Dürheimer, board member in charge of R&D: “This car can lap the Nürburgring faster than the Carrera GT. At the same time, it averages 78 mpg when driven gently. Are we going to build it? We will definitely bring some blank sales contracts to the Geneva show, but it’s too early to talk pricing, production volumes, and timing.inline_mediumwraptextright28273045/green/news/1003_2011_porsche_918_spyder_hybrid_concept1003_03_z+porsche_918_spyder_concept+front_three_quarter_view.JPG.jpgTrue

When Ford unveiled the much-anticipated 2012 Ford Focus hatchback and sedan at the 2010 Detroit show, it held back the Focus wagon version for Geneva instead. Why wait? It’s no secret wagons are much bigger in Europe, and with roughly a year before the new Focus actually hits the road, Ford needs to keep the hype machine rolling.inline_mediuminlinewithtextright27010301/features/news/1002_2012_ford_focus_wagonParagraphImage.jpgFalse

Mercedes-Benz’s AMG performance division unveiled its new twin-turbo, direct-injection V-8 engine today in the S63 AMG Showcar, at its headquarters in rural Affalterbach, in the hills outside Stuttgart.inline_mediumwraptextright2011 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Showcar28246171/features/news/1003_2011_mercedes_benz_s63_amg10C178_02.jpgTrue