Fisker Karma (2010) Plug-in Hybrid Sports Sedan

At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Fisker Automotive are set to reveal their advanced aluminium space frame which is to feature in the stunning Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid electric sports sedan. The Fisker Karma, the world’s first premium plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, will make its Chicago debut at the Chicago Auto Show February 12-21. With the Karma, American automaker Fisker Automotive (www.fiskerautomotive.com) proves that with eco-friendly cars you can enjoy beautiful, distinctive design and thrilling performance with a clear conscience.

Fisker Karma (2010) Plug-in Hybrid

2010 Fisker Karma Preview – 2008 Detroit Auto Show: Just this morning we attended a press conference held by a well-known Italian luxury car company, one that sells fewer than 10,000 cars annually and employs executives who tout the brand’s exclusivity. Maybe they haven’t heard about Fisker Automotive, and in particular, the 2010 Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid.

Despite a projected annual production run of approximately 15,000 units, the Karma comes much closer to the true definition of exclusive thanks the plug-in’s first-to-market status, relatively affordable $80,000 base price, lithium ion battery technology, full-electric range of 50 miles, and a gas/electric fuel economy rating of 100 mpg. That kind of exclusivity will be available from Fisker in late 2009.

The 403hp, four-door Karma plug-in hybrid can go zero to 60mph in six seconds and has a top speed of 125mph, but it can still achieve an annual average of more than 100mpg and drive tailpipe-emission free. Features include a sculpted body, 22-inch wheels, trunk space for two sets of golf clubs, a 10.2-inch haptic touchscreen control center, reclaimed wood trim and an available animal-free interior trim package.

"Our top priorities when we designed the Karma's aluminium space frame were that it have extremely high torsional rigidity and could be easily modified to accept Karma model variants," explained Henrik Fisker, CEO, Fisker Automotive. "We benchmarked some of the world's best cars to create an all-new space frame that will deliver an exhilarating experience behind the wheel." A super-structural tunnel running down the car's centerline acts as the Karma's backbone. The spaceframe is designed around the car's unique Q-DRIVE series-hybrid powertrain.

Behind the rear-drive Karma’s taut skin is a lightweight chassis that places the battery pack in the vehicle’s center to enhance driving dynamics and safety. Fisker says its plug-in hybrid sports sedan will hit 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and travel up to 50 miles on electric power alone; with a supplemental four-cylinder gasoline engine that powers a large generator, its range will extend to 620 miles while returning 100 mpg. When plugged into a 110-volt household outlet, the Karma fully recharges in eight hours, using a 220-volt outlet will get the job done in three hours, and a solar roof panel aids with trickle charging while the Karma is parked.

The Karma is a series Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) powered by a lithium-ion battery and an efficient 2.0-liter range-extending gas engine. The engine only turns a generator, which sends electricity to two electric traction motors attached to the rear differential. The Karma has a 300-mile range with a full battery charge and a full tank of gas. The first 50 miles are electric-only and emission free.

The battery can be recharged in less than six hours using the same 220v household current that powers some major appliances. The Karma can also be charged using standard 110v power from any electrical outlet.

Fisker Automotive’s first car is the Fisker Karma, the world’s first production Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). The four-door Karma will be followed by two variants and a second line of lower cost, high volume premium green automobiles by 2012.

2010 Touring Superleggera A8GCS Berlinetta Sports Cars Concept

Touring Superleggera A8GCS Berlinetta was revealed in the flesh at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show after being previewed at the Concours d'Elegance. At the Festival Automobile in Paris last month, a panel comprised of designers, car experts and former Formula 1 driver Alain Prost awarded the Maserati A8GCS Berlinetta Touring the most beautiful supercar of the year. Television network Eurosport fielded over one million votes from viewers for the competition. Viewers’ choices included the Bugatti Sport Veyron, BMW 750i and Lotus Evora.

2010 Touring Superleggera A8GCS Berlinetta

Now this is how it's done. The Touring Superleggera A8GCS Berlinetta is a Maserati Gran Turismo rebodied with classic GT proportions and shapes. The result is classically beautiful, like a 1950s Maserati re-interpreted with 21st century technology.

Based on the Maserati Coupé GranSport mechanics, the A8GCS Berlinetta Touring represents the high performance sports car concept, with small dimensions, state-of-the-art constructive technology and perfect stylish synthesis between factory tradition and advanced aesthetic criteria.

Unlike the Bentley Flying Star shooting brake that's also from Touring Superleggera, the Berlinetta isn't destined for a well-heeled car nut. The company created it specifically to showcase its coachbuilding skills. If they have their way, they'll be turning the Maserati Gran Turismo and other exotic cars into vehicles that are even more exclusive, luxurious and personalized.

The new A8GCS Berlinetta Touring has been designed by the young Belgian designer Louis de Fabribeckers, in charge of the Touring styling department. The A8GCS Berlinetta Touring lines are not affected by time or fashion: the car is characterized by a soft aggressiveness originated by the perfect balance between the front end, directly derived from competitions, and the harmonious and fluent flanks reminding of the extraordinary Alfa Romeo, Isotta Fraschini and Lancia Flying Star of the Thirties, an exceptional series created by Touring and still considered the best interpretation of Marinetti and Boccioni’s Futurism.

The Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera style is first expressed through perfecly balanced volumes (reduced front overhang, front central engine and large rear overhang). The result is a dynamic form that doesn’t need a lowered waistline. Moreover, the horizontal development of lines create a natural elegance.

The sporty look of the car is underlined by the combination between bonnet and front grille. An element dashing forward the other volumes. Hence the lateral lines of the body: the lower line ends on the rear wheelarch and the upper line dissolves in the rear end of the car. Together they create a dynamic sail shape, as on Flying Stars.

Of course, also the most successful car design is not enough to make an alive and complete object. It must be combined with excellent dynamic qualities, derived from state-of-the-art technical solutions. For the prototype A8GCS Berlinetta Touring, Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera studied and designeda body in advanced composite materials, able to give the car lightness, structural strenght and performance typical of top granturismo and obviously respecting all international safety and environmental rules. The result is clear: the style protoype A8GCS Berlinetta Touring is able to enter small series production, gaining immediately a top place among the best sports cars.

The A8GCS is a strict two-seater, unlike the car on which it's based which features a 2+2 seating layout. Touring Superleggera have made extensive changes to the car's bodywork while still retaining similar proportions. The styling details like the minimalist chrome trim and classic wire wheels give the car a distinctive retro vibe, while also not being unnecessarily nostalgic.

"We wanted a strong project" - says the Belgian Head of Design of Touring Superleggera, Louis de Fabribeckers - "I drew from the stylistic heritage of Touring the work of surfaces and also this sinusoidal line across the side of the Berlinetta".

The Touring Superleggera A8GCS Berlinetta is 4.2 metres long and only 1.2 metres high. The engineers are aiming for a 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) weight for the finished car - 180 kgs (400 lbs) lighter than the Maserati GranSport.

2010 Sbarro Autobau Sports Cars Concept

Swiss performance car and replica builder Sbarro introduced another new concept at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show this year.  Powered by a 500-horsepower 12-cylinder engine from Ferrari, the Sbarro Autobau is certain to tear up the pavement.

2010 Sbarro Autobau

Whether you love it or hate it, the Autobau is the only car of its kind at Geneva. While we mention the three-pointed front end, a la Speed Racer, it has also been compared with the Cylon Raider from Battlestar Galactica and the Pink Panther-mobile.

Designed by Frank Sbarro, the one-off concept is just wrong from every conceivable angle. The recessed front end looks like something out of a horror film, complete with what appear to the naked eye as limb-shearing saw blades. The flat windshield. The flaring nostrils. The up-swinging cockpit entry. Wrong, wrong and wronger.

The only thing right about the concept is the 550 hp Ferrari V12 engine fitted in back. But even that waste of a good engine should be construed as indisputably wrong.

Wow, we thought we’d seen some weird, head-jerking concepts and sports cars in Geneva already, but this one takes the pie–probably the entire bakery. The car was built as a piece of hate-art an homage to Swiss racing legend Fredy Lienhard.

Some of us were just barely mastering our Big Wheels back in the 1970s, but we imagine most of the concepts at those Salon de Geneves all looked hairy and wild. You know what we're talking about. Star Trek meets George Barris design language, lower than your waist, nonsensical ingress/egress mechanisms, $5 afterthought interiors and colors pulled from the center of only the finest quaalude trips. Kinda like SEMA cars actually, but with European sensibility and sophistication.

Meet the Sbarro Autobau, a concept car we know almost nothing about but really enjoy looking at. Yes, it's totally non-conventional (hey, it's a Sbarro), and according to the Francais-only marketing material the Autobao is a tribute to Swiss racing stud Fredy Lienhard. It's also (supposedly) packin' 12-cylinders, 500 horses and weighs about 3,200 pounds.

Sbarro designed the 1,500-kilogram car in the memory of his friend, Fredy Lienhard. The Swiss driver of car races has competed since the 1970s. He has had outstanding victories at the 24 Hours of Zolder in 1997 and 24 Hours of Daytona in 2002.

2010 Aston Martin DBS Edo Competition Luxurious Sports Car

Edo Competition Aston Martin DBS is a result of a modification carried out by Edo Competition Motorsport for the 12-cylinder Aston Martin that already produces 517 horsepower and has a top speed of more than 300 km/h (186 mph). Improving and underlining the elegance and beauty of this British triumph and strengthening its sporting character was the goal declared by Edo competition.

2010 Aston Martin DBS Edo Competition

The first step taken by Edo Competition was improving the power output. The DBS’s engine control unit was modified via software recalibration, then supported by a new high performance exhaust system, and was fitted with special catalytic converters and high flow air filters. As a result, the DBS’s power output was increased from 517 hp and 570 Nm (420 ft-lb) to 550 hp and 600 Nm (442 ft-lb), an enough power to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds and continue on to a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph).

The high performance exhaust system, which was specially designed for the DBS, incorporates butterfly valves allowing it to produce a fantastically rich and sonorous sound. They further help increase the British luxury sports car coupe`s power and torque output. The exhaust comes with a programmable control system that monitors backpressure inside the exhaust and opens the 70 mm butterfly valves when a pre-determined level of backpressure is exceeded. 

The unique advantage of this system is that it provides good torque at low engine speeds without sacrificing top end horsepower. The exhaust system is made from stainless steel and the chromed exhaust tips accentuate the elegant design. The driver can adjust the sound of the DBS at any time using a remote control.

Dealing with the levels of grip, Edo competition offers a new wheel design, a set of 21 inch racing wheels. The three-piece wheels come with stainless steel outer rims and the customer can choose the stock tire dimensions

Further, Edo competition has developed a new high performance brake system, 405 mm rotors with 6-piston monoblock calipers and performance brake pads for the front and 380 mm rotors with 6-piston monoblock calipers and performance brake pads for the rear, both including braided stainless steel brake lines.

As with all edo competition models, we set no limit to our customers` imaginations. Special interiors or lavish leather upholstery, individual requests are accommodated and executed with quality.

The modifications of this Edo competition Aston Martin DBS are all carried out at Edo competition Motorsport GmbH in Ahlen, Germany.

2010 New Seat Sporty Leon Cupra R

Following a very successful debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the new Seat León Cupra R is about to go on sale. Equipped with a new 265 hp engine, it instantly becomes the brand's most powerful production car to date, earning a special chapter in Seat's history in the process.

2010 New Seat León Cupra R

2010 Seat will unveil its most potent series production model to date, the new Leon Cupra R at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show (all of you may know already because we revealed this fact back in June in this post). The standard model’s 240-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot is replaced with a 265-horsepower direct injection 2.0 TSI. It is unconfirmed if the 2.0 TSI is the same engine found in the Vw Scirocco R.

2010 New Seat León Cupra R

Seat claims however, that the new four-banger features a new, high-pressure fuel pump injector to satisfy its greater performance demands, while fully complying with strict EU5 emissions standards. As a result, the front-wheel drive only Leon Cupra R slashes the 0 to 100km/h (62mph) sprint from 6.4 seconds (standard Cupra) to 6.1 seconds and top speed climbs from 247 km/h (154mph) to 250 km/h (155mph).

2010 New Seat León Cupra R

A be guiling mix of Latin passion and practicality, this new ‘superSEAT’ remains, of course, the rational choice for ultra-hot hatch buyers who want sporty coupé looks allied to five-door functionality.

2010 New Seat León Cupra R

Boasting a thoroughbred sporty engine, the new Seat León Cupra R features exclusive interior and exterior styling touches which reflect its unique character. The Seat León Cupra R is, simply, an attention-grabber. Its feisty exterior design is mirrored on the inside, too, with a motorsport-inspired look and feel that lets you know this is not just another car.

2010 New Seat León Cupra R

The standing kilometer takes 25.7 seconds and it has a combined fuel economy of 8.1 lt / 100km or 29mpg US / 34.9mpg UK. The range-topping Leon gets the ‘R’ logos on the central grille and at the lower right of the hatch, the right instrument dial and the remote control key. In addition, it also receives 19-inch, five double-spoke wheels shod with 235/35 tires.

2010 New Seat León Cupra R

The larger wheel assembly allowed Seat’s engineers to upgrade the braking system with 17-inch 345 x 30 mm discs at the front and 16 inch 286 x 12 mm at the rear. The interior of the Leon Cupra R gets a pair of racing-style bucket seats in grey alcantara upholstery, LED lighting on the instrument dials, a leather multi-functional steering wheel and an aluminum pedal arrangement.

2010 New Seat León Cupra R

The intercooler fitted to the new engine delivers its superior performance through greater turbo pressure. As on the 240 hp version, the engine set-up includes a new, high-pressure fuel injection pump to satisfy its greater performance demands, and the ratios on the six-speed gearbox have been specifically adapted.

2010 New Seat León Cupra R

The extensive, generous equipment list features Seat's impressive new electronic self-blocking XDS system for excellent handling, as well as a broad array of standard features that provide both top notch safety and exceptional on-board comfort. Undeniably, the focal point of the new Seat León Cupra R is its 265 hp direct injection 2.0 TSI engine. Its main characteristics are its tremendous power, easy torque transmission and fabulous flexibility.

2010 New Seat León Cupra R

UK pricing for the new Leon Cupra R is confirmed at £25,205, with orders books opening at dealers nation wide on Thursday 1 April, and the Spanish sports car is Euro 5 compliant as CO2 emission levels are at just 190 g per Km.

2010 New Seat León Cupra R

Welcoming the UK arrival of the brand’s most extreme model to date, SEAT UK Product Marketing Manager Andy Medcraft said: ‘The engineeringand styling revisions that have gone into the new Leon Cupra R under line our determination to make this exceptional new car a tru e class leader.

2010 Bufori Geneva Luxury Sports Saloon

Bufori is one of those odd little manufacturers which has somehow managed to survive and prosper in an environment littered with the carcasses of bankrupt, stillborn or struggling small volume car makers.

2010 Bufori Geneva

Quite how it's managed this feat is a mystery. Although the main advantages it has over the competition is a unique sense of old-world style which is difficult to find from other makers, and the fact it's one of the few low volume car producers to be located in the far east - Malaysia to be exact (also home of Lotus' parent company Proton).

2010 Bufori Geneva

Today, BUFORI Motor Car Company (M) Sdn Bhd has unveiled, its most eagerly awaited model at the 80th Geneva International Motor Show. The car was officially presented by BUFORI Motor Car Company’s Founders at a press conference during the prestigious Swiss Motor Show. At the same occasion, the Luxury Saloon, which was previously code name Bufori MKVI, was officially named “Bufori Geneva”.

2010 Bufori Geneva

Bufori Motor Company presented at the Geneva Motor Show its most awaited model, the Bufori Geneva. The model was officially launched by the founders themselves Bufori, Anthony Khouri, George and Gerry Khouri Khouri at a press conference during the Geneva Motor Show. In the Motor Show, the company unveiled the name, formerly known as Bufori MKVI.

2010 Bufori Geneva

"We decided to name the new model Bufori as the city where he was released, as this marks a historic event for the company. Let me also pay tribute to the 80 year history of the Motor Show."

2010 Bufori Geneva

Made of Hybrid Carbon Fibre and Kevlar which is infused with Vinylester resin, the BUFORI Geneva features classic design elements with long running boards, integrated bi-xenon headlamps, and LED rear lights. The Bufori Geneva is powered by a thoroughbred 6.1-litre V8 engine, producing an impressive 430hp and 586Nm of torque.

2010 Bufori Geneva

The acceleration from 0-100 kph is under 6 seconds with a top speed of more than 260kph (estimated figures). Besides, an optional supercharger that increases the performance of the engine to 560hp and 690Nm of torque is also available.

2010 Bufori Geneva

The interior design team of the company has endeavored to create a relaxing environment, combining traditional and modern materials such as leather and wood. The center console is completely customized to the needs of most demanding owners. Some of these features include a set of tea with boiling water and a sink, coffee maker or even an ice box. An integrated thermal box and mini bar and champagne glasses, a security safe for valuables or a cigar humidor.

2010 Bufori Geneva

To provide a more comfortable and safer handling, the model will have ABS, electronic brake force, brake assistance, traction control, steering angle control and cruise control.

2010 Bufori Geneva

You will have a thermal cameras in the bumpers. When activated, you can recognize pedestrians and objects up to 300 feet away and displays them on screen. Bufori Geneva production is scheduled to begin in June 2010 with the first units shipped before year end.