News in brief

Before it's debut in Geneva, Nissan has revealed its new NV200. The NV200 will arrive in 3 variants; a commercial van and two 7 seat passenger versions - a combi for passengers and load carrying and a passenger only version. Nissan is presenting the NV200 to the world as a global product which has been tested under many different conditions to suit very different markets. Nissan is launching the NV200 in Japan before Summer, in Europe in Autumn 2009 and then in China and other markets. Engines are a 1.6 litre petrol with 108PS and 153Nm of torque. The second option is a 1.5 litre dCi, producing 86PS and 200Nm. Both use a 5 speed manual transmission.Optional equipment includes a rear view parking camera, ESP, ABS with EBD, driver and passenger airbags and side airbags on the options list.

Hyundai is likely to sell the Genesis Coupe in Europe. Prices should start around €25,000, undercutting the Nissan 350Z by €13,000 at €38,000. Sales should start in 2010 with EU cars limited to 1,000 units a year. Hyundai Genesis Coupe priced at €25k.

Ford reveals revised Ranger pick-up. Set to debut at next weeks Geneva motorshow, the Ranger is built in Thailand and will reach European showrooms in April. Engine wise, buyers can purchase 2 4-cylinder diesels; 2.5 litre, 143bhp and a 3.0 litre 156bhp unit both of which can be paired with either a 5 speed auto or manual.

Kia's new mini-MPV, referred to as the "YN" will be unveiled in Switzerland in concept form. The concept named, Kia No 3 Concept is designed by Peter Schreyer, who heads the Korean brand's European design studio. At 4,045 mm in length, the new MPV is a little longer than the Ford Fiesta. Underpinnings will be borrowed from the Soul.

Kia has released 2 more teaser images of the forthcoming Sorento SUV. The Korean market will get a 2.4 litre Theta II petrol, a 2.7 litre LPI and a 2.2 litre turbo-diesel R-engine, kindly donated by sister firm Hyundai. The 200bhp, 2.2 litre turbo-diesel R engine will achieve 33mpg UK whilst mated to a new 6 speed automatic transmission. CO2 emissions are likely to top 225g/km. A 175bhp, 2.4 litre Theta petrol engine will be offered in the UK alongside the 2.2 diesel. A 3.8 litre V6, expected to produce more than 270bhp won't be offered in the European market. The U.S will only get the petrol engines. The new Sorento goes on sale in South Korea in April. In Europe and North America, the model will be launched late in 2009.

The Skoda Fabia Scout will stand in Geneva next month. Based upon the Fabia, it receives cladding along the front, side and back. Sales start in May.

Rolls-Royce will show a concept version of the forthcoming "RR4". The 200EX will use the underpinning of the BMW 7 Series. Measuring at 5.4 metres, the baby Rolls is likely to start at £180,000. Power will come from a V12. The official product will premier at the Frankfurt motorshow with worldwide sales starting in 2010.

Courtesy of the European Office for Harmonization of the Internal Market (OHIM), where trademark records are kept and spy photographers, we can see the European Chevrolet Volt, named Vauxhall/Opel Ampera in all it's glory in Germany. Set to debut in Geneva next week, the 5 door hatchback will be on sale by 2011. It'll be built in Ellesmere Port, England and is claimed the Ampera will be capable of returning upto 176mpg with CO2 emissions of under 40g/km. It will use the same Voltec plug-in hybrid system as the Volt. GM says that Voltec system has a 40 mile range from a single charge. A small petrol engine in the car which powers the generator will increase the range to about 500 miles. Recharging from a European 230-volt outlet is expected to take 2-3 hours.

New face for Grande Punto

Fiat's hot-selling Grande Punto has been on the European market since 2005. Recently, the UK model (MY 2009) received some subtle changes to the exterior, interior and pricing. A few pre-production cars, caught in Sweden and Italy show that the newcomer will bring substantial changes to its mechanics, interior and exterior. On the outside of the prototypes, Fiat engineers have only covered the front radiator grille with tape. It seems that the facelift could be small, but who knows.

In a market where comfort, affordability/running costs and style are the most important factors, the G.Punto's interior is likely to be upto Alfa Romeo standards. Engines will remain the same.

Whilst one of the engineers were testing the 5dr mule in Sweden, our Norwegian spy photographer said the vehicle caught alight whilst in motion. The driver escaped unharmed and started filming the incident by our spy, instead of phoning the emergency services. Sales of the Grande Punto will start in Winter.

Entry-level Mini Clubman One announced (UK)

Mini has announced an entry-level version of its popular Clubman.

Under the bonnet is a 1.4 litre 4 cylinder petrol engine producing 95bhp that allows the Clubman to run from 0-62 mph in 11.6 seconds. The sacrifice in power does add up to impressive gains in fuel economy and reduced emissions thanks to brake regeneration, start/stop and a shift point display that tells the driver when to shift to maximise fuel economy. The end result of all these technologies means that drivers can expect to achieve a combined fuel consumption of 52.3 mpg and CO2 emissions of 130g/km. A short-shifting 6 speed manual transmission is standard with the option of a 6 speed auto with manual-shift capability.

The new addition will be unveiled at next week's Geneva autoshow. Orders are being taken now with sales starting on Saturday 28th March. Prices start at £13,290 and all models will feature new exterior paint combinations and air conditioning as standard.

Ferrari 599XX and 599 GTB HGTE

At next week's Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari has announced that it will take the wraps off of two new versions of its 599 GTB Fiorano. The more approachable one (at least in terms of a high-end Ferrari fare) is the rumored 599 HGTE. Details are scarce on what comprises the Handling GT Evoluzione package at the moment, but the promise is that it will take the already accomplished GT to the next level.

Perhaps the more interesting car will be the 599XX. This model will apparently only be available to select clients – in other words, those with a long history of Ferrari ownership. Like the existing FXX version of the Enzo, the 599XX will be a rolling laboratory that incorporates technology that Ferrari engineers have been developing on both road and track cars. At this point, Ferrari isn't saying how many of these cars will be available – or what they will cost – but we expect for them to make the standard 599 look quite affordable by comparison.

[Source: nekoauto]

Hyundai Genesis Coupe V6 beats out Infiniti G37 in first comparison test

While we're working on our own shoot-out between the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and a yet-to-be-named contender, the crew at Inside Line put Hyundai's new rear-wheel-drive two-door against one of its strongest opponents: the Infiniti G37.

IL's 3.8-liter V6 Genesis Coupe tester came equipped with the Track pack, which includes a stiffer suspension, limited-slip differential, Brembo brakes and 19-inch wheels, along with the standard six-speed manual. The sticker? $30,375, or $6,625 less than a base model Infiniti G37. For the extra scratch, the Infiniti is a more luxurious package and carries a bit of badge snobbery, but performance and driver engagement are the metrics we're interested in and the Hyundai proved to be a serious contender.

The G is packing more power from less displacement (330 vs. 306 hp), a bit more torque (270 vs. 266 lb-ft) and revs higher (7,600 vs. 6,800 rpm). But it's also packing the pounds. The Infiniti tips the scales at 3,709 pounds, while the Genesis Coupe comes in just under 3,500 pounds.

IL performed its usual battery of tests, along with a dyno run, and deemed the G37 a better vehicle on the road from both a driving and livability standpoint, but gave props to the Genesis for its competence on the track and predictable handling characteristics. Both cars were remarkably close in the performance department, with the Hyundai taking the win on the skid-pad, while falling short on the sprint to 60, quarter-mile time and slalom run.

A word of advice to all you Genesis Coupe tuners.

It is nice to see that tuners are off to a good start with the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. This clean orange example has undergone a few tasteful modifications. It is possible to say that it is what hasn’t been done to the Genesis Coupe that makes it so attractive. Keep up the good work, and stay off the vinyl.

With Hyundai releasing an affordably priced enthusiast model of the Genesis Coupe, expect for the vehicle to be embraced by tuners. So please use this fine example of a modified Hyundai Genesis Coupe as a template for what tastefully tuned vehicle looks like.

The orange car includes modifications such as:

Volk Racing Rims

Aftermarket Exhaust

Slammed Suspension

Smoked Taillights

De badged treatment

What the car does not have:

Over sized GT Wing

Vinyl Graphics

Altezza Tailights

Coffee can muffler

Aftermarket wheels with a stock suspension

Porsche 911 Carrera Video

Fantastic car Porsche

Ford Mustang pricing announced (U.S)

Prices of the 2010 Ford Mustang will increase by $1,000, pushing starting price up at $20,995, excluding destination, delivery, tax, title, or licensing fees. The Mustang V6 convertible starts at $25,995, $27,995 for the V8 GT coupe and a GT convertible starting at $32,995. Ford also released pricing details for the new Shelby GT500 Coupe ($46,325), with the Shelby GT500 Convertible going for almost $5,000 more.

Standard equipment for the base V6 includes a 5 speed manual transmission, stability control, anti-lock brakes, keyless entry, LED taillights and stop light, painted 17 inch aluminum wheels, an auxiliary audio input, and chrome accents on the instrument cluster and 4 airbags come standard.

An upgrade to the V6 Pony Package gets the customer 18 inch polished aluminum wheels, body colour mirrors, a new grille, fog lamps and some other detail elements. Heated seats and a glass roof can also be purchased.

For an extra $8,000, the Mustang GT brings a set of painted aluminum 18-inch wheels, fog lamps, rear spoiler, body colour mirrors and a post-crash emergency services system. Several performance upgrades can be purchased as options, including better brakes, better stability control, a performance rear axle, and 19 inch wheels.

Engine plant size stays the same for both models, with base buyers getting a 4.0 litre V6 that still produces 210bhp. Torque is likely kept at 240 ft-lb. GT buyers will get a retuned 4.6 litre V8 that increases power output by 15bhp to 315bhp. Torque increases by 5 ft-lb to 325ft-lb.

Pagani bringing "hybrid" Zonda F Cinque

The Pagani Zonda F Cinque seen here isn't a hybrid as in "green," it's a hybrid of the Pagani F and the Pagani Cinque. The car, slated to star at the Geneva Auto Show, is a one-of-a-kind Pagani simply meant to hold a place in our hearts while we wait for the Pagani Cinque to arrive next year.

The car hasn't been finished yet, but the Zonda F Cinque is essentially a Zonda F in Cinque colors. That means you'll miss the roof intake and lower aero modifications of the Cinque, but you'll get the carbon fiber and silver exterior treatment, and the spoked mags with red accents. That isn't much different than a decal package, but this is a Pagani and there will only be one of them, which means we still look forward to bringing it to you next week from Geneva.

[Source: GT Spirit via World Car Fans]

Gemballa unveils Mirage GT Carbon Edition

Production of Porsche's Carrera GT may have ended a few years ago, but that doesn't mean tuners have stopped playing around with them. Techart, 9ff, and edo competition have all come out with different versions of Porsche's ultimate supercar, but Gemballa's Mirage GT is perhaps the most well known due to its aggressive bodywork and variety of colors and finishes.

The tuner's latest version is dubbed "Mirage GT Carbon Edition," and though details are in short supply, we're guessing that the package involves plenty of carbon fiber to go along with the two-tone Pearl White and Black paint. Gemballa does provide performance specs for the car, which includes an upgrade to 670 horsepower, 0-100 km/h (62 miles-per-hour) in just 3.7 seconds, 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in 9.7 seconds, and a top speed of 208 mph. We're hoping the Carbon Edition will make an appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in just a few days, and if it does, we will be sure to bring you plenty of pictures and any additional info.


[Source: Gemballa via GTSpirit.com]

Tata Nano to officially debut on March 23, sales start in April

After a slew of problems and delays – not the least of which was a huge amount of opposition from local farmers in West Bengal where the first assembly plant was being built – Tata Motors has finally announced that production of their Nano city car will begin on March 23 at the alternate facility in Gurajat. Sales will officially begin the first week in April as dealerships receive their first allotments of what is sure to become an instantly popular vehicle.

Much of the hype surrounding the Nano is related to its targeted low price, which at 100,000 rupees (just under $2,000 in U.S. dollars at current exchange rates) would make Tata's Nano the cheapest automobile in the world. Of course, that's without standard air conditioning or painted bumpers and such, but it will come with a 33-horsepower, 623cc two-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels.

[Source: Tata Motors via Motor Tips]

Mazda recalling almost 31,000 CX-9s over faulty seats

Nearly 31,000 Mazda CX-9 crossovers are being recalled to repair an issue with the driver's seat. Models affected were built during the 2007-2009 model years. According to Mazda North American Operations, improper routing of wires under the driver's seat cushion can lead to a short-circuit that activates the power-adjustment mechanism. This could lead to an inadvertent change in the seating position, height adjustment, or seat back recline while the vehicle is in motion. According to Mazda, dealers will be able to fix the potential problem with cable ties and replacement parts. If you are a late-model CX-9 owner, check your mailbox after the notices go out on March 9.


[Source: Automotive News ]

2010 Kia Sorento SUV

few days ago Kia has unveiled two new renderings along with initial details of its forthcoming 2010 Sorento SUV. The Korean automaker said that the second-generation Sorento, codenamed XM, is set for launch in April, meaning that it will most likely make its world premiere at the Seoul Motor Show. The teaser sketches reveal that the new model will follow the 2007 Kue concept car's edgy and chiseled lines while it will also feature Kia's new corporate grille.

The leader as a chief Peter Schreyer of design of engines of Kia said, dynamic design of XM adopts the single circuit linear lines to lend a powerful aspect, however polished. Sportsman and seizing, XM represents a new race of SUV. 

Sorento 2010 will most probably offer to purchasers the option to add a third line of the seats, increasing the capacity in seats at Sept.

New Sorento will become the first vehicle of Hyundai-Kia to come equipped with the R-engine favorable to the environment all-nine from diesel with company 'with passenger with S. 2.2 the unit with cylinder with liter 4 product a result with 200 powers in horses. According to Kia, when hung until an automatic transmission 6 speeds, new Sorento 2.2R will have a combined fuel consumption of 7.1lt/100km or 33.2mpg the USA.

Kia also envisages to satisfy various tastes of the consumer by offering the model with a gasoline 2.4 and one engine of 2.7 LPI (liquified petroleum gas). The Korean car manufacturer claims that this made in Kia XM the first vehicle in the world with the race on each of the three types of fuel.

One expects that sales of new Sorento begin in Korea this spring, with the rest of the world following towards the end of 2009 and at the beginning of 2010.

Bentley Continental SuperSports

This is Bentley Continental SuperSports : powered with 621HP and 204MPH Flex-Fuel Supercar
few days ago hand made supercar supersport Bentley has revealed the fastest and most powerful model in its 90-year history ever, this is the new 621HP Continental Supersports,this car will show for the first  time in   Geneva with sales following in most markets from autumn 2009 and in the U.S., in the summer of 2010. The Continental Supersports, whose name is inspired by the firm's 1925 two-seater 3-litre Supersports model, is powered by a 6.0-liter W12 engine capable of running on either petrol and E85 biofuel or any combination of the two. Bentley supports that the E85 biofuel can offer a reduction of up to 70 per cent in CO2

Honda Insight pricing announced (UK)

Honda UK has announced pricing on it's Insight hybrid sedan.

The entry-level Insight SE will start at £15,490 which comes with Vehicle Stability Assist, dual front SRS airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, active headrests, ISOFIX anchorage points, multi info display, x4 electric windows, 15" alloy wheels, climate control, tilt & telescopic steering wheel with audio controls, electric heated mirrors with power-folding and integrated mirrors, front armrest, CD stereo tuner with RDS/MP3 and AUX socket. The Insight undercuts the entry-level Prius T3 by £2,380.

ES Insights will be priced from £16,790. You get 16" alloy wheels, front fog lights, privacy glass, cruise control, paddle shift, heated front seats, automatic lights & wipers, leather steering wheel and gear knob, USB, rear armrest, tweeters and a map light.

ES-T models add satellite navigation and a hands-free telephone system at £18,390.

SE fuel economy and CO2 emissions are 64.2mpg combined and 101g/km. ES and ES-T models get 61.4mpg combined and emit 105g/km.

The new Honda Insight will go on sale in the UK at the beginning of April with Honda holding a preview launch on Saturday 21st March.

Suzuki Alto pricing announced (UK)

The all-new Suzuki Alto will start from £6,795 OTR. Your £6,800 will buy you the entry-level SZ2. Power steering, electric front windows, remote central door locking, MP3/WMA compatible CD player with 2 speakers, urethane tilt adjustable steering wheel, 2 speed front wipers with intermittent, single speed rear wiper with intermittent, rear window demister, internally adjustable door mirrors, remote fuel lid opener, digital clock, twin sun visors with drivers vanity mirror, rear single folding bench seat, 12v interior accessory socket, x2 front cupholders w/x2 rear bottle holders, 14" steel wheels with wheel caps, green tinted glass, immobiliser, internal tailgate opening, ABS, EBD, x4 airbags (twin front and side), foot protecting brake pedal, ISOFIX child seat anchorage and high-mounted stop lamp come as standard.

Move up to SZ3 and you will get manual air-conditioning with pollen filter, however, this comes in at £7,245.

Flagship SZ4 model gains drivers seat height adjustment, x4 extra speakers (6 in total), tachometer, 50/50 split folding rear seats, front fog lamps, 14" alloy wheels, body coloured door handles and mirrors, ESP and curtain airbags (6 in total). This comes in at £7,960 for the manual and £8,560 for the auto. Both sit in group insurance 2E, with the SZ2 & SZ3 sitting in 1E. All Alto's come with a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty.

Metallic paint is a £360 option.

The 5 door hatchback is powered by a 3 cylinder 67bhp 1.0 litre petrol engine and has a combined fuel consumption of 64.2 mpg/54.3mpg (manual/auto) with CO2 emissions of just 103g/km, rising to 122g/km (manual/auto).

While the Alto looks like good-value for money, the Hyundai i10 comes with more kit and is a little cheaper compared with the Alto.

Sales start Sunday 1st March.

Smart gets Limited Edition Three treatment

Companies often exploit our fondness for Spring in their marketing efforts. There are detergents that smell like flower beds, flora-inspired fashions and candles that give off the soft scent of freshly cut grass. We're a people who like the restorative, born-again qualities of the season that emerges after a long, cold winter, and smart knows this. No stranger to unveiling special edition models of its fortwo model, the Daimler-owned brand will be showing off the new "edition limited three" model at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The "edition limited three" model tugs at our temporal heart strings with a new exterior color called Melon Green Metallic. The Spring-ish hue is carried over into the top soil-colored interior where it's used as an accent on the seats, door panels and dash. smart says the interior also features dark brown "leather-effect details" – spoken like a true economy car salesman.

Available as a coupe or cabrio, the "edition limited three" is based on the company's Passion trim level and also adds mhd, or Micro Hybrid Drive, which is another way of saying the powertrain has start/stop functionality to save fuel when the car is stopped or coasting at slow speeds.

[Source: smart]

Kia releases pair of new Sorento renderings

Last week's teaser image of the 2010 Kia Sorento was just to whet our appetite, and now new images have surfaced that show big changes are in store for Kia's CUV. The biggest deal is that the Sorento will move from a traditional body-on-frame construction to a unit-body design. The new look is more muscular, following some of the same themes as the sharp looking Forte. In the North American market, the new Sorento will reportedly carry a four cylinder or the snarly 3.8-liter Lambda V6. Attendees of the Seoul Motor Show in April will get to feast their eyes on this version of the Sorento, code-named XM. Sales also begin in April, so Kia's West Point, Georgia manufacturing site is doubtless winding up as we speak.

Fisker now taking orders for Karma S convertible

Fisker is out to prove that green cars don't have to be boring with its extended-range plug-in hybrid Karma, available in both sedan and retractable hardtop variants. Potential buyers have already placed over 1,300 orders for the four-door model and now we hear that the burgeoning automaker is accepting deposits of $25,000 for the Karma S drop-top. Those placing orders early are being told they can expect a delivery date in late 2011.

Both Karma models come equipped with lithium ion battery packs that can provide gasoline-free travel for up to 50 miles, after which a GM-sourced 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct injected Energizer Bunny powerplant will kick in to recharge the battery. There's reportedly enough juice to power twin electric motors that offer over 400 horsepower to the rear wheels, which is sufficient to push the electric stunner to 60 in under six seconds and up to a top speed of over 125 mph.


[Source: eGMCarTech]

Lamborghini Murcielago LP650-4 Roadster and other series Pictures

This year will be put up for sale now, limited production of the Lamborghini Murcielago lp650-4 Roadster first photos



and other murcielago series photos








and LAmborgihini Murcielago video

New Car: 2009 Hyundai Equus

Just before the Hyundai Equus bows in Geneva next week, Hyundai hosted a media only test drive event of its flagship Equus at the car maker's R&D centre in Namyang, Korea. The invited attendees were able to test the Equus against the car's prime rivals like the Lexus LS460 and Mercedes S-Class.

Brimming with confidence, they even let journalists test drive all three cars at their own event, just to demonstrate the Equus' abilities to compete with more established luxury sedans. Some of the available equipment will include Xenon headlamps with LED daytime lights and tail-lights, fog lights, dual exhaust, lane warning departure system, a new computer system that analyses data from the entire chassis, pre-crash seatbelts, satellite navigation system, electrically adjustable seats, steering wheel and door mirrors with memory feature, power folding door mirrors with auto-dimming, rear electric sunblind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, wood & leather steering wheel, Lexicon sound system with 17 speakers producing 500 watts, front and rear ventilated leather seats and 9 airbags. The new generation Equus will have 2 engine options, a 3.8 litre V6 and a 366bhp 4.6 litre V8.

The new Hyundai Equus likely to reach the U.S with a launch name of: Genesis Prestige. It is expected to receive the attention of international media next week, Tuesday 3rd March as it debuts. The Equus arrives in South Korean dealerships the same day.

Bugatti Veyron Centenary Edition to be revealed in Geneva

It’s been 100 years since Ettore Bugatti first starting putting his rare and fast creations on the street, and to celebrate it, the company that bears his name may be going to try and take back the fastest production car crown.

Bugatti will unveil a special edition Veyron in Geneva. It will be called the Centenary, and it should have 1350 hp (349 hp more than the current Veyron.) This is rumored to take the top speed from 253 mph to 264 mph. If true, the Veyron Centenary could take back the title of fastest production car from the 256 mph SSC Ultimate Aero.

We don’t have all the details just yet, including how many vehicles will make up this limited edition. But fear not, the Geneva Motor Show is just around the corner, and we’ll be keeping our eye on this one.

Aston Martin DBS Volante

Thanks to the embargo-breaking crew at World Car Fans, we can finally give up the details on the 2009 Aston Martin DBS Volante. The drop-top version of Bond's uber-Aston features a fabric roof that can be retracted in 14 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph and supposedly looks just as good with the top up as the top down. Motivation is provided by the same 6.0-liter V12 found in the standard DBS, putting out 510 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque to a rear-mounted six-speed manual or "Touchtronic" sequential gearbox. The run to 62 mph is dispatched in a scant 4.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 191 mph. Aston says it was able to keep the weight down (the DBS Volante tips the scales at 3,990 pounds) through the use of a lightweight roof mechanism, along with a carbon fiber hood, front splitter and trunk lid. The standard carbon ceramic brakes – pulled directly from the fixed-roof DBS – reduce unsprung weight at all four corners and provide the neck-punishing stopping power you'd expect. We'll get our first look of the DBS Volante at the Geneva Motor Show next week, but in the meantime, get all the details in the press release below the fold.

Bentley goes green - really fast - with the Continental Supersports

Bentley has decided to go green, and the fabulously white coupe you see above is how they've done it: "a muscular two-seater that delivers supercar performance and a highly focused driving experience." Sounds green so far, right? It's called the Continental Supersports, and the marque from Crewe hasn't merely pulled out all the stops... they created a few extra stops, just so they could pull them out as well.

Under the hood is the Supersports' main event: the most powerful engine Bentley has ever created, it is a 621 brake horsepower, 590 pound-feet of torque, E85-capable W12 that pulls the ghostly looking thing to 60 in just – ready for this? – 3.7 seconds. The engine is fitted with sensors to monitor how much gasoline and/or ethanol is being used, and power and torque stay constant no matter what the ratio is. Speaking of torque, all of it is available at the low, low rpm of 1,750. In case there's a Polaris rocket in the next lane you need to teach a few lessons.

While that engine might take the title card, there is a massively full undercard as well. That 3.7-second 0-to-60 flip is not only about the engine, it's about the fact that the car is 110 pounds lighter than its 4-seater brethren. The Supersports has rear deck where back seats once resided, and it has also scored a raft of weight-saving components like the wheels and those carbon fiber thrones. It also benefits from Quickshift, which halves gear change times.

[Source: Bentley]

720hp, twin-turbocharged V12 Tramontana R

Two years ago, we tracked down a small, independent automaker on the floor of the Geneva Motor Show that promised to deliver a segment-busting supercar to those bored with Lamborghinis and Ferraris. Fast-forward to today and the Tramontana Group seems to have made good on its promise with the unveiling of the Tramontana R Edition.

The R is an evolved version of the standard open-wheel two-seater, packing a Mercedes-sourced 5.5-liter V12 available in either naturally aspirated, 550 hp guise or a twin-turbocharged 760 hp version that dolls out an astonishing 811 lb-ft of torque. The Group claims a 0-100 time of 3.6 seconds and a 10.15-second run to 200 mph.

The wheelbase has been shortened by 50mm to improve handling and aerodynamics, and weight is down by 202 pounds to just 2,777 pounds. The R stretches 192 inches from nose to tail, is 82 inches wide and 51 inches tall, and weight distribution is a perfect 50:50 left to right and 42:58 front to rear. Tramontana fitted 20-inch carbon fiber and magnesium wheels at each corner, along with high-performance summer rubber sized 245/40 in front and 335/30 in the rear. 380mm, six-piston Brembos handle stopping duties, while a custom Ohlins suspension allows the R's ride-height to be adjusted between 85 and 135 mm.

The body speaks for itself, as does the exposed carbon fiber interior, which features a chop-top steering wheel, an LCD instrument panel and the controls to the six-speed sequential gearbox. Production will be limited to 12 units per year with a price tag of €385,000 ($495,000), but unfortunately, we won't be seeing it in Geneva next month – the Tramontana R will make its official debut at the Top Marques Monaco show at the end of March.