Fiat Freemont Debut at 2011 Geneva Auto Show
Fiat Freemont crossover – a rebadged Dodge Journey, and an excellent example of cross-selling Fiat and Chrysler Group models – was unveiled before its debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.
The seven seats Freemont was described by Fiat as a “Factotum developed vehicle to the differing needs of families and people who meet the spacious, comfortable and versatile car.” A “Factotum”is “a worker employed all sorts,” says the Oxford Encyclopedic English Dictionary. Read more…
Categories: 4autochannel, Fiat, Geneva Auto Show, Geneva Motor Show Tags: 2011, Auto, debut, Fiat, Freemont, Geneva, Show
BMW 5-Series GT by AC Schnitzer Debuts in Geneva Motor Show
AC Schnitzer has unveiled their tuning program for the BMW 5-Series GT at the Geneva Motor Show.
In an effort to make the ‘wagden’ (half wagon, half sedan) look more appealing, Schnitzer added front and rear spoilers, a ventilated hood, aggressive side skirts, a redesigned rear fascia, chrome exhaust tips, and new wheels (available in a number of different styles, in sizes ranging from 19- to 22-inches). Inside, the company installed aluminum pedals, velour footmats, and a new cover for the i-Drive controller.
On the performance side, the engine in the 530d has been tuned to produce 286 HP (213 kW / 289 PS) – an increase of 41 HP (31 kW / 42 PS). Schnitzer also added a twin rear silencer and a specially tuned sports suspension.
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Geneva Motor Show 2010: The Porsche 918 Spyder Concept is sexy hybrid madness
We hate to go back to the well-used well on this one but we have no choice: The Porsche 918 Spyder Concept is even hotter in person than it is in photos. About the size of a Boxster, it’s a little wider and a lot meaner. Underneath all that sharkness you get a 500-horsepower V8 in addition to 218 overall horsepower from the two axle-mounted electric motors. And that will get you to 60 in 3.2 lickety-split seconds as well along with the feelgood factor of 94 mph.
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Geneva Motor Show 2010: Koenigsegg Agera is the Swedish supercar evolved
Talk about a super way to kick off the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. And yes, we intend the pun. We all know and love the Koenigsegg CCX, but it’s getting a bit long in the tooth, at least as far as supercars go. Introduced to the world at large at (no surprise) 2006 Geneva Motor Show, the Swedish rocket has wowed enthusiasts for the past five years. But that was then-and in the case of biofuled, 1,100 horsepower monster CCXR, then was a few months ago-the Agera is now.
Designed to stay ahead of the hypercar curve, the Agera can be thought of as an evolution of the CCX. If the previous Koenigsegg had any flaw, it was its slabby, just kinda… there looks. The Agera changes that, with a much more sculpted, almost pinched front end. We find it much more attractive than the CCX, but as always, judge for yourself. Other design highlights include the wheels that generate a vortex in order to better suck hot air away from the brakes. You’ve also got the oval doughnut taillights, the doughnut part meaning that hot air escapes the engine bay via holes in the taillights. Pretty cool, no?
Of course, what we really care about is what lies under the Agera’s carbon fiber skin. It’s the same 4.7-liter built-in-house Koenigsegg V8 from the CCX, but with a twist. Unlike the dual-superchargers found on the CCX, the Agera’s engine gets twin-turbos. Power is typically bonkers, with 910 hp at 7,250 rpm. Though the real story might be the force-inducted torque. Are you sitting down? 738 pound-feet of the stuff is available from 2,680 rpm to 6,170 rpm, with a torque peak of 811 lb-ft. Also, we should point out that the Agera weighs 2,832 pounds.
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Geneva Motor Show 2010: 2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid and Turbo say ‘Tag in hi-po stereo
Porsche’s got a lot on the Cayenne line, and having had a look at the new Hybrid and Turbo variants we don’t believe they have anything to worry about. The Hybrid is the first from the automaker, but will be just one of five Cayenne trims on offer, and gets you 23-percent better mileage for what is sure to be a hefty premium. Overall system horsepower is 380 horsepower, yet often times you won’t even notice it because you’ll be “sailing,” which is when the drivetrain is decoupled from the engine and happens at speeds up to 97 mph.
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Geneva Motor Show 2010: Nissan Juke poised to bring the small and funky to America
Nissan won’t have its official press conference for a few hours, but we’ve already snagged these shots of the production Juke, an oddly styled smaller-than-you-think crossover that’s poised to hit North America for 2011. In person, the Juke is perhaps less bizarre than one might think, with the exuberance of its alien face reined in with comparatively modest alloy wheels, traditional doors and Volvo C30-like taillamps. If you’re wondering where the Juke fits into the Nissan lineup that already has the Murano, Rogue and the Qashqai, this vehicle is markedly smaller than the Murano and actually appears smaller than the Rogue.
The interior is pure Nissan, though it looks like the Japanese automaker has put a few more dollars into some of its interior plastics and materials than it has in the past. In particular, the new HVAC controls have a crisp and colorful display, and the transmission tunnel has a quasi motorcycle-tank look about it.
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Geneva Motor Show 2010: Citroen Survolt bridges the divide
Of all the automakers in the world – and by the world, we mean the world outside the United States – Citroen’s design arguably runs the gamut more than any other’s. On the one hand, you’ve got cheap, compact and quirky hatchbacks like the comically named Revolte concept revealed in Frankfurt half a year back. On the other, you’ve got the GTbyCitroen, an extreme exotic supercar concept, now slated for limited production. In between lies a gorge as big as, well, France itself. But the chevron-emblazoned automaker has bridged the divide this year in Geneva with an intriguing concept called the Survolt.
Not digging the Revolte/GT comparo? Think Bugatti Veyron meets Chevy Volt, circa “Hackers”. Beneath the compact sportscar shape, splattered with more neon graphics than “Tron”, lies an all-electric powertrain. Citroen’s provided little in the way of details regarding the propulsion, but you can read more esoteric prose about the design in the press release after the jump. Better yet, check it out for yourself in the gallery of live shots from the Geneva show floor below, and the studio shots in the gallery below that.
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Geneva Motor Show2010: BMW 5 Series ActiveHybrid ConceptM
The dispersion of BMW’s ActiveHybrid – and conjoined word – initiative continues with the 5 Series ActiveHybrid Concept. Billed as a “future-oriented full-hybrid model in the upper midrange segment” it boils down to the turbocharged inline-six you love and along with a 53-horsepower electric motor you will learn to love working through an eight-speed auto ‘box for the middle-management set. They’ll get 10-percent more distance for the gallon, and a squirt of instant boost thanks to those hard working electrons.
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Geneva Mtoro Show 2010: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg sports more features and curves, less weight
We could say Volkswagen was tired of making an SUV that ended up being rather expensive – for a VW – after you stuck a few options on it. So in addition to the lost weight, the new Touareg has lost some of the four-wheel drive equipment that made the last one so spendy. This one comes standard with a Torsen limited-slip differential, and then you can order a Terrain Tech Pack that adds the differentials and serious off-road capability that once came standard. That takes fuel economy upward, an boost also helped by the increased curve and lower Cd. VW sold 500,000 units of the previous-gen Touareg and it should do even better with this one.
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Geneva Motor Show 2010: Mini Countryman breaks cover
There were no surprises at the Mini press conference today in Geneva when the covers were lifted off the 2011 Countryman. We got our first look at the brand’s first crossover back in January, and we can now fill you in with the full details about the mini-ute. The Countryman is obviously Mini’s largest vehicle at just over four meters in length, and its optional ALL4 all-wheel drive system is a first for the brand as well.
Looking at the car in person, not too much has changed in the front of the cabin for the Countryman compared to its two-door counterparts. Aft of the front seats, however, the second set of doors opens up to two individual buckets that should be relatively hospitable for normal sized adults. Leg room doesn’t seem to be in abundance, but this is a Mini, of course. A variety of gas and diesel engines will be available in Europe, but American customers can expect the same 1.6-liter inline-fours available in the current Mini range.
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