A thin slither of hope emerged today as news circulated about a potential return for the discontinued Dodge Viper. It won’t have escaped your attention that Dodge discontinued its iconic sports car last year amid poor demand and its alleged inability to comply with FMVSS 226 regulations which require new cars to be fitted with side curtain air bags.
The rumours suggest that Dodge will do away with the classic V10 engine in favour of a naturally aspirated V8 engine. Whilst its competitor, the Corvette, looks set to switch to a mid-engined layout, the Viper will retain its trademark front engine, rear wheel drive setup.
The new Viper’s engine will probably be shared with the Challenger range with a 550 hp version likely for entry models and a 700 hp Hellcat version to follow. Convertibles will hit the market first with Coupe’s to follow. Pricing is expected to start at around the $90,000 mark, increasing once the hardcore ACR version is released.
Dodge will likely use an aluminium spaceframe setup with carbon fibre bodywork. Given that Dodge closer the Viper factory last year when the previous generation model was discontinued, it is expected that the 4th generation model will be built by an outside contractor.
The Viper is likely to have stiff competition from its American rivals.
May 25, 2018 / Comments Off on Dodge Viper to Return in 2020 with Hellcat V8 Instead of V10
Reports circulated in Swedish media yesterday that one of the 25 Koenigsegg Agera RS’ had crashed while testing on a road outside Trollhättan, Sweden. Photos seem to show a Koenigsegg finely balanced on the grass verge of a road. The car in question is hard to make out, yet a few Koenigsegg aficionados seem to have identified the wrecked hypercar as the Koenigsegg Agera RS Gryphon.
We know the Gryphon quite well. We saw it first at the Geneva Motor Show 2017. It was designated for famous US collector Manny Khoshbin at that time and featured a wealth of custom features, making it one of the most expensive Koenigsegg’s of all time.
Soon after the Geneva Motor Show, while Koesnigsegg were carrying out shakedown tests of the car, it was crashed into a ditch. Khoshbin was subsequently offered a new chassis to replace the crashed vehicle. The replacement, recently delivered and the last of the Agera RS production run, was named the Koenigsegg Agera RS Phoenix. It is understood that the Gryphon was to serve as Koenigsegg’s test mule.
The photos show that damage to the underside of the car is likely to be extensive. The exterior looks to be relatively in tact. Photos show that the Gryphon was likely running without a rear wing at the time. We understand that there were no reported injuries to the driver or passenger.
The accident happened near NEVS’ facility in Trollhättan. NEVS are the company that acquired the assets to Saab when it went bankrupt in 2012. It develops electric vehicles at the moment which begs the question, was it purely coincidence that an Agera RS test mule was operating near their test facilities? Is this an early mule for the next iteration of the CC/Agera platform?
The accident happened on a public road, Flygfältsvägen, very close to the NEVS facility.
May 18, 2018 / Comments Off on Koenigsegg Agera RS Gryphon Crashes for a Second Time
Mercedes-AMG have announced a 12 month limited edition version of the new AMG GT 4-Door Coupé. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S Edition 1 will be available from September 2018 until September 2019.
The special edition model gets 21-inch AMG cross-spoke forged wheels with a choice of paintwork in either designo graphite grey magno, diamond white bright or graphite grey metallic.
2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S Edition 1
Inside, AMG Performance seats will be fitted with nappa leather finished in magma grey/black with yellow contrasting topstitching. The microfibre AMG Performance steering wheel gets yellow contrasting topstitching and AMG matt carbon-fibre trim.
The limited-edition model is available exclusively as a Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ which means it gets the 4.0 litre bi-turbo V8 with 639 hp. It manages a top speed of 315 km/h and from a standing start to 100 km/h takes just 3.2 seconds.
The aerodynamics package includes a larger front splitter and integrated flics, an enhanced diffuser and a fixed rear spoiler with mechanical adjustment. The later adds up to 30 kg of downforce at 300 km/h.
The Edition 1 will debut at the ADAC Zurich 24h Race at Germany’s Nürburgring this weekend. It should be available to order from summer 2018 with the first vehicles delivered to customers from September 2018.
May 8, 2018 / Comments Off on Official: 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S Edition 1
As the 911 type 991 generation is winding to an end and stepping down for a new generation to continue the legacy, Porsche is keen on displaying all that the 991 generation can achieve. Who can blame them, when every car they release under the GT name seems to heighten the benchmark once again? This time, another record crumbles at the feet of a 911 – the latest 911 GT3 RS is the culprit. Despite having only recently made headlines with the vastly powerful GT2 RS that broke lap records and dropped jaws, Porsche makes bending benchmarks and breaking records look easy.
This week, a road legal 911 GT3 RS set a lap time of 6:56.4 minutes with the 520-hp race-bread Porsche at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit. This makes the GT3 RS the third quickest road car to ever lap the Nordschleife, right behind the Lamborghini Huracan Performante and the 911 GT2 RS. Although the GT3 RS may not have broken the track record, some perspective into the story quickly reveals how spectacular this new lap time truly is. The lap time is a whopping 24 seconds quicker than the previous GT3 RS and over 16 seconds quicker than the new GT3. That is some serious time improvement that surely took some major power increases? Leave it up to Porsche to wrench every bit of performance out of a ‘small’ engine: the new GT3 RS only has 20 more horsepower than its predecessor. Most of the time advantage will have come from significant chassis upgrades, including much stiffer springs, and new solid mountings on both the front and rear subframes. The optional Weissach package is likely to improve its performance evermore with additional carbon fiber and stunning magnesium wheels. The tires used were the road-legal Pilot Sport Cup 2 R – optimized especially for track use, the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R is fully compliant with EU and US road-tire requirements.
Andreas Preuninger, Director GT Model Line, commented; “All four lap times of both drivers were below seven minutes and only tenths of a second apart. This proves not only the outstanding power of the GT3 RS, but also its extraordinary driveability at the limit. A perfectly composed overall system allows for highly dynamic performance even with a relatively modest engine power. For a driver, each of the car’s thousands of parts have to feel like one – that’s an unbeatable strength of the GT3 RS.”
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The 911 GT3 RS has a 520 horsepower, four-litre, high- speed naturally aspirated engine had its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in early March this year. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, reaching a top speed of 312 km/h. Although it was never thought to run a sub-7 minute time at the ring, it’s performance only highlights the spectacularism.
April 21, 2018 / Comments Off on Video: 2019 Porsche GT3 RS Sets 6min 56s Nurburgring Record
Following hot on the heels of the new Audi A6, the Avant version has big boots to fill. The current generation A6 Avant is one of the most successful estate cars in history. We are particularly fond of the RS version which has earned its reputation as the market-leading family car.
The new Audi A6 Avant offers much the same blend as the old model. It delivers between 565 and 1,680 litres of load capacity while offering performance and comfort by the bucket load. The interior has also been completely refreshed with the latest in Audi’s fully digital MMI experience.
The rear end of the Avant looks less and less like an estate car with every generation. With a tapered rear hatch, the design hides it’s almost five-metre length extremely well. The tailgate has electronic opening as standard with an optional sensor control. Interior space is said to be class leading while we expect the A6 to share the same acoustic dampening qualities as the new A7 and A8. It has a drag coefficient of just 0.27.
2019 Audi A6 Avant
Audi will also pack the A6 with a huge number of safety systems. LED headlights are standard with three versions available including the HD Matrix LED headlights. Two packages will be available called “City” and “Tour”. In addition to the standard emergency braking assist, the driver assistance systems will also include adaptive cruise assist with narrowed road assist.
All engine options are fitted as standard with a mild hybrid system which we have already experienced in cars such as the A7. The belt alternator starter recovers up to 12 kW during braking through the 48 V system and the electricity is fed into a separate lithium-ion battery. Between 55 and 160 km/h, the A6 Avant can coast with the start-stop kicking in at 22 km/h. Power is transferred to the road either through a seven-speed S tronic or an eight-speed tiptronic gearbox with optional sport differential.
In Europe, early customers will get the choice of a 3.0-liter TFSI V6 with 340 hp and 368 pound-feet of torque or a 3.0-liter TDI V6 rated at 286 hp and 457 pound-feet. Other options will become available later in the year and into next year.
Dynamic all-wheel steering is an option. Four different suspension variants are on offer too with standard steel-spring suspension, a sport suspension system, a suspension system with shock absorber control and adaptive air suspension with controlled shock absorbers. The electronic chassis platform (ECP) actively distributes the drive torque between the rear wheels with the settings adjustable through the Audi drive select dynamic handling system.
The interior is typical modern Audi. A stylish, minimalist look uses a black panel surface with an MMI touch response display. The lower 8.6 inch display is used for climate control, comfort functions and text input.
Four equipment lines are available, each with its own color concept: sport, design, design selection and the S line sport package. Various seat options are available, an air quality package with two different fragrances as well as an ionizer, a large panoramic glass sunroof and adaptive windshield wipers with integrated washer jets.
No word on pricing or availability yet.
April 14, 2018 / Comments Off on Official: 2019 Audi A6 Avant
After a performance SUV? It would seem that you aren’t alone! Performance SUV’s are in high demand at the moment. Mercedes-AMG, BMW and Audi all produce high performance versions of their SUV’s. Lamborghini, Bentley and even Rolls-Royce have realised the potential too. Maserati? The Maserati Levante Trofeo fills that gap in their model range.
The Levante has been around for a little while now. The Maserati Levante Trofeo is the natural extension of the platform. Introduced at the New York Auto Show 2018 last week, it features a Ferrari-developed V8 engine. It is one of the fastest SUV’s currently on the market, if not the fastest!
The example in the press photos is a limited series model, aimed at the U.S. and Canada market, although we expect that the Maserati Levante Trofeo will soon be available worldwide. It comes fitted with a 3.8-litre Twin Turbo V8 engine delivering a staggering 590 hp and 730 Nm of torque. 0 to 100km/h is possible in just 3.9 seconds with a top speed in excess of 300 km/h.
2019 Maserati Levante Trofeo
Underpinning the Levante is a unique calibration for the Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system. From the cabin, the driver is able to choose the new “Corsa” mode together with the Normal, I.C.E., Sport and Off Road modes. The Maserati Integrated Vehicle Control (IVC) system replaces the traditional Electronic Stability Program (ESP) system.
Stylistically, the Levante gets new carbon fibre exterior pieces. The side air intakes sit lower, with two aerodynamic wings. New bezel blades and a carbon fibre splitter finish the front. A new rear diffuser and a set of quad exhaust pipes finish the rear. The headlights are new Full Matrix LED units and the detailing is piano black.The c-pillars get “Seatta” Trofeo logos.
At the business end of things are a set of 22-inch forged aluminium wheels – the largest ever fitted to a Maserati. Calipers come in red, blue, black, silver or yellow.
Inside, the sport seats feature full-grain “Pieno Fiore” natural leather in black, red and tan each with contrasting stitching. Inlays are matte carbon fibre with a specific instrument cluster graphic and Trofeo floor mats. An exclusive option is the Bowers & Wilkins, 1,280-watt, 17-speaker sound system.
The launch edition model will get eight unique exterior colours and most of the spec list ticked. Pricing has not yet been announced.
April 2, 2018 / Comments Off on Official: 2019 Maserati Levante Trofeo
Audi Sport is grabbing into its parts bin to create a new car and a new segment: The RS5 Sportback is an A5 Sportback with the 450-horsepower engine of the RS5 Coupe and the RS4 Avant.
This awesome power (and a whopping 600 Nm of torque) comes courtesy of a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6, co-developed with Porsche. The only available transmission is a ZF 8HP 8-speed automatic which sends the torque to all four wheels. The default 40:60 front/rear torque distribution is variable between an 85:15 and a 30:70 front/rear ratio.
For even more agility, Audi Sport offers a rear sports differential, a sports chassis and dynamic steering. For ultimate braking performance, you can order carbon-ceramic brakes.
Audi RS5 Sportsback
While we haven’t driven the RS5 Sportback yet – it was launched in New York tonight – our experiences behind the wheel of both the RS5 Coupe and the RS4 Avant lead us to expect nothing less than an ultra-fast and laser-precise machine of extrem agility.
What’s more, the RS5 Sportback looks great, with its gently sloping roofline that contrasts with the aggressive “blisters” above the 19- or 20-inch wheels, wide head- and taillights, a honeycomb mesh grille and two fat, oval exhaust pipes.
Beyond the already impressive standard look, you can order carbon fiber, matte aluminum or high-gloss black decor. A number of more or less tasteful colours further enhance the design, the most extreme being the “sonoma green metallic” showcased on the computer-generated images that Audi supplied with the initial information. Inside, there is a plethora of RS logos, and the TFT cluster features specific RS gages.
The Audi RS5 Sportback comes to market in mid-2018. America gets the first batch of models, the rest of the world will receive the new model shortly thereafter. There is no direct competition; the closest competitors are the more conventionally designed BMW M3, Cadillac ATS-V and Mercedes-AMG C63.
March 28, 2018 / Comments Off on Official: 2019 Audi RS5 Sportback
Jaguar have used the New York Motor Show 2018 to present a new addition to the F-Pace range, a Jaguar F-PACE SVR! The long awaited performance version of the SUV emerges a few years into production with Jaguar’s familiar Supercharged V8.
The 5.0 litre V8 engine strapped to the SVR generates 550 hp and 680 Nm of torque. It manages a 0 to 60 mph sprint of just 4.1 seconds, taking 0.2 seconds longer to hit 100 km/h, impressive figures for a heavy SUV. Top speed is claimed at 176mph (283km/h).
The SVR aerodynamic package has adds unique front and rear bumpers, lower body sides and rear boot lid spoiler. The combination of parts enhance are claimed to improve cooling, reduce lift and drag and improve high-speed stability. An exclusive SVR bonnet features further venting to extract hot air.
2019 Jaguar F-PACE SVR
At the tarmac side of things, the SVR-tuned chassis features uprated dampers with improved spring rates. New lightweight 21 inch wheels are available together with optional 22 inch forged wheels. Jaguar fit a rear Electronic Active Differential and uprated brakes measuring 395/396mm front/rear.
Jaguar’s Variable Valve Active exhaust delivers a 6.6 kg weight saving. As you would expect, Jaguar have developed bespoke calibrations for Quickshift transmission, Electric Power Assisted Steering, Adaptive Dynamics, Torque Vectoring, Dynamic Stability Control and All-Wheel Drive systems
Inside, the SVR gets a set of slimline sports seats, front and rear with lozenge quilting and embossed SVR logo. The rotary selector is replaced with a Sports Shift Selector.
When it hits the road this summer, it will be priced from £74,835 including UK taxes.
March 27, 2018 / Comments Off on Official: 2019 Jaguar F-PACE SVR
Danish hypercar manufacturer Zenvo has presented a their model for its TS model range at the Geneva Motor Show 2018. The Danish manufacturer appears to be alive and kicking although we have to admit that we haven’t seen any customer cars on the road yet! We took a closer look and found out what differentiates the Zenvo TSR-S.
Zenvo TSR-S
Zenvo TSR-S
The third model in the TS (Twin Supercharged) model lineup joins the TS1 GT and TSR track car. The headline figures are an increase in power. Zenvo’s 5.8 litre twin-supercharged V8 produces a staggering 1,177 bhp and 1,100 Nm of torque through a 7-speed transmission or a race gearbox. It allows a 100 km/h sprint of 2.8 seconds and 200 km/h sprint in 6.8 seconds.
The TSR-S is essentially a street-legal version of the TSR, track car announced last year. The Centripetal Wing is brand new with an active multi-axis design which acts as an air brake, rotating to generate inward force with the conventional downforce. It’s a bit like an aerodynamic gimbal.
Zenvo’s production of the TSR-S is apparently underway and will form part of Zenvo’s limited production of just five cars a year. We hope to see one on the road in the coming year!
March 11, 2018 / Comments Off on Zenvo at the Geneva Motor Show 2018
The tension is growing: The jury World Car of The Year has announced the three top candidates in its six categories. 82 international jurors, all of them active motor journalists, have cast their vote in a secret ballot supervised and certified by KPMG. Full disclosure: The jury includes GTspirit.com founder and publisher Des Sellmeijer, as well as GTspirit.de co-publisher Jens Meiners.
Here are the three finalists in each category:
World Car of The Year: Mazda CX-5, Range Rover Velar, Volvo XC60
World Luxury Car: Audi A8, Porsche Cayenne, Porsche Panamera
World Performance Car: BMW M5, Honda Civic Type-R, Lexus LC 500
World Green Car: BMW 530e, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Nissan Leaf
World Urban Car: Ford Fiesta, Suzuki Swift, Volkswagen Polo
World Car Design of the Year: Lexus LC, Range Rover Velar, Volvo XC60
Interestingly, the top contenders for overall World Car of The Year are yet again three SUVs. Even in the design category, two of the three finalists are SUVs. reflecting a fundamental change in preferences: In the past, SUV proportions were seen as an aesthetic disadvantage.
The winners will be announced on March 28 at the New York International Auto Show.
March 8, 2018 / Comments Off on World Car of The Year: These are the Finalists
The Pagani Huayra Roadster has been officially unveiled ahead of its debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show 2017. It has taken quite some time for Pagani to remove the roof from its Huayra, the result is staggering.
Work on the Huayra Roadster actually began in 2010. Pagani reveal within the release information that the design was binned in 2013 and Horacio went back to the drawing board. Production of the Huayra Roadster is limited to 100 vehicles, all are sold. The base price is a staggering €2,280,000 plus VAT.
The key design element of the car is the Pagani Huayra Roadster’s roof. There are two options. The first is a lightweight carbon too with a central glass element, similar in style to the Porsche Carrera GT. The second is a fabric and carbon cover which can be installed easily in the event of an emergency.
Pagani Huayra Roadster
The Pagani Huayra Roadster gets an aggressive front end, wider wheel arches and a redesigned roll bar. The Roadster is actually lighter than the Coupe with improved torsional rigidity of the frame. A new carbo-titanium composite material has helped create a 52% increase in stiffness. Dry weight is 1,280kg, about 80kg less than the Huayra Coupe.
The suspension assembly is made from a lightweight aluminum alloy, called HiForg, designed specifically for the Huayra Roadster. It achieves a 25% weight saving. Brembo brakes are uprated carbon ceramic (CCM) discs measuring 380×34 mm with 6-piston calipers in the front and 380×34 mm, 4-piston calipers at the rear. Unique Pirelli Piero Corsa’s are also redesigned and allow a lateral force of 1.8 G.
The Pagani Huayra Roadster continues to use the Mercedes-AMG M158 engine. The twelve-cylinder unit uses twin-turbochargers to produce 764 hp at 6,200 rpm, with a torque of over 1000 Nm available from 2,400 rpm. It has full EURO 6b and Carb environment regulations.
It is coupled to a new seven-speed AMT gearbox developed by X-Track. It uses a hydraulic and electronic activation system with carbon synchronizers. Bosch developed a new ECU and electronic differential for increased drivability while the entire system weighs 40% less than the standard dual-clutch gearbox.
February 14, 2017 / Comments Off on Official: Pagani Huayra Roadster, 100 Units all Sold Out
There are quite a number of new cars to look forward to in 2017, and you can see them here from our earlier post. Geneva Motor Show 2017 will be home to most of those debuts and it’s only fit that we do a proper preview. This is what you should expect to see from the show and more so, what we will focus on during our coverage.
The McLaren 720S, Ferrari ‘F12M’, Pagani Huayra Roadster and the Huracan Performante are just a few of the highly anticipated supercar debuts. There is so much more including concepts and the latest from the tuning scene. This list will be updated regularly in the coming weeks as we approach the Geneva Motor Show 2017.
Geneva Motor Show 2017 Preview
25. Techrules GT86
We already saw the concept back at Geneva 2016 and one year later Techrules has the production version ready. As a concept, the output was rated at 1030bhp with a 0-60mph time of 2.5s, the top speed was 217mph. It had an interesting and unique plug-in hybrid style system. Rather than a traditional petrol powered engine, this system uses a micro-turbine to generate electricity and charge a 20 kilowatt hour Lithium-Manganese-Oxide battery pack. We will provide details of the production version in coming weeks.
24. Toyota Yaris Hot Hatch
Toyota Yaris WRC
With Toyota back in WRC, the Yaris is set to receive an even hotter FWD version with three doors. Like other WRC manufacturers, Toyota is bound to have a roadworthy version of their Yaris WRC. No details have been revealed but we expect a limited production and a power output in the region of 220hp or more.
23. Alpine A120 Coupe
Alpine revived its sports car brand with the Vision Show Car last year, months later we began seeing prototypes of what will become their first mid-engined coupe. Dubbed the A120, the new car will debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2017.
22. Jaguar XF Sportbrake
Not too long ago Jaguar was still debating whether to introduce a wagon variant of their business saloon, as the market seems to be declining and competition is fierce from its German rivals. The E-Class estate, Audi A6 Avant and 5 series touring are all well established models, especially in their dominant home market Germany. To keep up with the competition, Jaguar will launch the XF Sportbrake at Geneva Motor Show 2017.
21. BMW M4 Facelift
BMW have recently updated the BMW M4 and BMW 4-Series range to offer a mildly tweaked exterior design together with a set of interior features. The car will be unveiled to the public at Geneva 2017 and even though the changes are hard to notice, the 4 Series has reached halfway its lifecycle. The M4 gets a slight power bump to 431 hp while the Competition package gets 450hp.
20. Volkswagen Arteon
With the Phaeton out of production, expect a new premium sedan from VW that will replace the CC. Little is known of this model but word is there could be a shooting brake version as well. As for the powertrain options, we expect to see VW move towards clean energy with hybrid versions leading the way.
19. BMW 5-Series Touring
With deliveries of the new BMW G30 5-Series already in play, a Touring version will join in soon after its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2017. The boot capacity has grown to 570 litres, 1,700 litres with the seats folded down. It can now handle 120 kgs or 720-730 kgs with the seats down. The interior is pretty much the same as seen on the sedan version. No word on whether the M5 will receive a Touring version.
18. Lexus LS
The new Lexus LS was unveiled at Detroit Motor Show 2017 and competes with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series and Audi A8. The new LS sports a sleeker, more Coupe-esque shape. It sits on a rear wheel drive platform which was also used for the new LC Coupe. It is 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) lower than the outgoing model with a six-side window design.
Power comes from a new 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. Total output is 415 hp and 600 Nm of torque, enough for a projected 0-60 mph (96 km/h) acceleration time of just 4.5 seconds. The power is driven to the rear wheels through a 10-speed automatic torque converter transmission.
17. David Brown Speedback GT
David Brown will reveal the updated Speedback GT at the Geneva Motor Show 2017. New features include refined design, new colors and extra bespoke features. The Speedback GT is based on a Jaguar XKR chassis and drivetrain, this unique coachbuilt car costs £600,000.
16. Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint
Render by Rain Prisk
The new Alfa Romeo Giulia has truly brought back the spirit of Alfa Romeo to the masses, the QV model has garnered popularity in a segment dominated by the likes of the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-AMG C63. To spice things up a little bit, Alfa Romeo will introduce a Coupe version dubbed the Sprint with the same powertrain options including the range topping V6 used on the QV.
15. Black Cuillin
Created by Morgan rival company Eadon Green, the Black Cuillin is a retro-styled Coupe set to launch at the Geneva Motor Show 2017. The teaser image released by the company resembles Morgan’s Aeromax, full details will follow soon including official images.
14. Zenvo TS1 Anniversary Edition
Zenvo will mark their 10th anniversary with a special model based on the TS1 set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2017. The TS1 was revealed at Geneva 2016, it’s powered by a 5.9 litre twin supercharged V8 engine producing over 1,100hp.
13. Vanda Dendrobium Electric Hypercar
Singapore’s first hypercar has been officially revealed ahead of its worldwide release at the Geneva Motor Show 2017 which starts next month. The fully electric supercar, named the Dendrobium Concept, has been designed in collaboration with Williams Group’s Williams Advanced Engineering arm and will be built by the company as a concept.
The Dendrobium Concept is the brainchild of electric mobility experts Vanda Electrics. It is set to feature advanced aerodynamics, lightweight composites and an electronic powertrain. The concept features an automatic roof and doors designed to open in a theatrical manner, reminiscent of the dendrobium genus of orchid common to Singapore.
12. Range Rover Velar
As if the F-Pace wasn’t enough, Land Rover will reveal a new SUV coupe dubbed the Range Rover Velar. It aims to compete against the likes of the Mercedes GLE Coupe, BMW X6 and Porsche Macan, at a time when SUV coupes are increasingly gaining popularity among manufacturers. We expect to see a different range of engines including both petrol and diesel as well as an SVR version.
11. Pininfarina H600 Eco Luxury Sedan
The Pininfarina H600 Eco Luxury Sedan is said to combine a luxury sedan body with a new energy propulsion system. Little is known about the show car except the it was designed and manufactured by Pininfarina for the Hybrid Kinetic Group. Information on the innovative propulsion system is available on the Hybrid Kinetic Group and appears to indicate that the engine runs on compressed natural gas, backed up by electric batteries and a small gasoline tank.
10. Mercedes-Maybach G650 4×4 Landaulet
The Maybach brand is growing at a fast rate, and it has moved up levels to the G-Class. The Mercedes-Maybach G650 4×4 Landaulet with a G65 AMG engine is the ultimate G-Class in terms of luxury. Like the Maybach S650 Cabriolet, the G650 4×4 Landaulet benefits from an ultra luxurious interior while retaining the off-road capabilities of the G500 4×4. Read our first impressions here (link coming soon).
9. Koenigsegg Agera RS and Regera
Koenigsegg Agera RS chassis #125 – Photo by @photochristofferf
Koenigsegg has been busy with deliveries over the past couple of months, we expect to see Regera deliveries kick off soon. At Geneva Motor Show 2017, expect to see a new production Regera unit as well as the Agera RS or RSR. We shall confirm the details in coming days.
8. 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 S Estate
Following the launch of the sedan version last year, the Mercedes-AMG E63 Estate will make its debut at Geneva Motor Show 2017. Power comes from the 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine tuned to produce an output of 571 hp for the normal variant and 612 hp for the E 63 S. Respective torque figures are 750 Nm at 2,250 rpm to 5,000 rpm and 850 Nm at 2,500 to 4,500 rpm for the E 63 S. Combined with the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system, it is able to deliver a staggering 0 to 100 km/h time of just 3.5 seconds, setting new performance benchmarks for the performance estate market.
7. Aston Martin Vanquish S Volante
The Aston Martin Vanquish S made its debut last year, an upgrade over the normal Vanquish coupe. Deliveries of the coupe began in December 2016 and will be followed by the debut of the Volante at the Geneva Motor Show 2017. The Vanquish S packs 600 hp from its naturally-aspirated 6.0 litre V12 engine. It is of course the same product evolution the original early-2000’s Vanquish experienced mid life. Larger inlet manifolds allow a greater flow of air to the engine, improving throttle response and stronger power delivery.
6. Audi RS Q8
The Audi RS Q8 Concept will debut alongside the RS Q5 model at the Geneva Motor Show 2017. We already saw the Q8 Concept back in Detroit, and is Audi’s way of getting back at BMW for the X6 and Mercedes for the GLE. That said, the RS Q8 will compete against the X6 M and the GLE 63 among others. The Q8 Concept had a hybrid powertrain but the RS Q8 should receive the same twin-turbo V8 found on other bigger RS models, more so the output should mirror that of the S8 Plus or RS6 Performance – 605 hp or more.
5. McLaren 720S
The McLaren 720S will replace the outgoing 650S, McLaren has revealed a few details about it including the use of a new carbon fibre Monocage II body structure. It will be lighter, faster and a lot of other things. The 3.8L V8 TT has done McLaren quite some wonders across their model range, the 570S alone is a really fast car so expect some gaga performance with the new 720S. Details regarding powertrain have not been revealed but we shall know that soon as it debuts at Geneva Motor Show 2017.
4. Porsche 991.2 GT3
The 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 facelift will harbor a plethora of changes key among them being a new 4.0L H6 unit tweaked from the 3.8L unit found on the current model. Additionally, a six speed manual transmission will be offered for the first time since the 997 GT3 ceased production in 2011. This and a few exterior changes will make the 991.2 GT3 an even more people’s Porsche. Power output should increase from the current 475hp to around 500hp found on current GT3 RS and R models. A Geneva 2017 debut is imminent.
3. Lamborghini Huracan Performante
A lighter version of the Lamborghini Huracan has been testing for quite some time now. We expect to see it at the Geneva Motor Show 2017 wearing a new badge with lightweight being the focal point just like the Gallardo Superleggera. The Huracan Superleggera is expected to receive a power boost of 10-20 horsepower or even more over the standard car, bringing output of the supercar’s 5.2-liter V10 to 620-630hp or more. Lamborghini will also strip 100 kilograms of weight from the Huracan in moving to the lightweight Performante model. With the Gallardo, the Performante was the convertible version of the Superleggera.
2. Ferrari F12M
Not its official name yet, the Ferrari ‘F12M’ will be the final version of the F12berlinetta. It will be the last naturally aspirated V12 from Ferrari and although not as exclusive as the F12tdf, its very nature of being the last N/A V12 will place it in a class of its own demand. That said, expect F12tdf prices to shake off a bit, more so, the F12berlinetta prices should fall. This model is similar to Lamborghini’s Aventador S. We expect to see it at the Geneva Motor Show 2017 in March, special viewing will be carried out before then to select Ferrari clients around the world.
1. Pagani Huayra Roadster
The Pagani Huayra Roadster will debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2017. Pagani has already dropped a few teasers showing what to expect beforehand. The renders reveal the new glasshouse layout with tall buttresses fitted with rows of venting. The render reveals that the front gets a front splitter similar in style to the Tempesta package. More details will follow in coming weeks.
February 12, 2017 / Comments Off on Geneva Motor Show 2017 Preview
