Autoblog

click above for more high-res images of the Pagani Zonda R

We've been waiting to see the production version of the Pagani Zonda R for about a year now. The track-only version of the Zonda was announced around this time last year and in July we got word that it was headed for production. We're clearly excited to be in the presence of a car boasting 750 horsepower, a bare naked carbon fiber body and a price of 1.2 million euro. Unfortunately, while we'll be in attendance early next month at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, the Pagani Zonda R will not be.

Word has it that Pagani's intentionally delayed the development and official reveal of the Zonda R to focus on other projects, not the least of which is the car slated to replace the Zonda, internally known as the C9. The boutique exotic automaker originally claimed that it planned to sell only 10 examples of the Zonda R, but needed to sell all of them to cover the cost of the project. According to the source we linked, the last count was at six to eight buyers who had paid a deposit for the car. We're not sure if failing to meet the target number of buyers (if true) has derailed progress on the ultimate Zonda to some degree, but regardless, Pagani reportedly promises to provide more official specifications for the Zonda R, as well as photos, in the coming months. But for now, we've been stood up by the prettiest car at the show, and that hurts.


[Source: Argentina Auto Blog (no relation)]

We've got to give GM props on this one, since, unlike other automakers, it's blacked-out teaser isn't nearly as susceptible to Photoshop trickery. Regardless, Saab put up the image above on its media site announcing what we already knew: the Saab 9-1X concept is coming to Geneva and it's going to take all the right cues from its bigger brothers. Although the head-on shot gives us some clues about the concept's wide stance and aggressive snout, what we really want to know is how the designers have shaped the rear hatch. While it's assumed that a sloping rear roofline will terminate into a bulbous back end, we've heard rumors that a large overhang will be fitted at the top of the roof to give a sort of reverse-ducktail. The Geneva Motor Show is fast approaching and we're looking forward to seeing how Saab plans to do battle with the Audi A3 and Volvo C30.

[Source: Saab]

click above for more high-res pics of the 2009 Ford Fiesta

With two and a half weeks to go before the Geneva Motor Show, Ford has finally released details on the production version of its new global small car. After the Verve concept debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show last September, the speculation began about what it'd be called when it arrived in showrooms. Ford's marketing team decided that more than three decades of brand equity was too much to throw away, so this car will be called the Fiesta everywhere in the world that it's sold, including the United States. US fans probably shouldn't get too attached to the 3-door hatchback shown above, though, as it's all but certain that we'll be getting a four-door sedan instead.

As spy photos in recent months have indicated, the production Fiesta stays remarkably true to the Verve concept. Aside from some detailing of the light clusters and framed side glass replacing the concept's flush glazing, the production car is virtually identical to the concept on the outside. This good news continues when you open the door, as the basic interior design is the same as the concept's, but with slightly less flashy-looking switchgear. Underhood, the Fiesta gets a range of five gasoline and diesel-fueled four-cylinder engines. Like the new Mazda2 with which it shares its architecture, the Fiesta is the same size as the car it's replacing, but high-strength steels allow it to be lighter. Production kicks off this fall in Cologne, Germany, to be followed by a second assembly plant in Spain. An Asian facility will be announced at the Beijing show in April, while a site for North American models will be announced later. We have bemoaned the dearth of small car choices here in the US and vilified Ford for keeping its Euro offerings away from us for a long time here at Autoblog. While we still have a bit longer to wait, the emergence of the new production Fiesta is reason to be very enthused. Put simply, it's exactly what we've been asking for. And it's coming.


[Source: Ford]

click above for a high-res gallery of the Ford Kuga

When Ford introduced the Iosis X Concept back in 2006, it proved that the Blue Oval's European Kinetic design language could transfer over to a CUV remarkably well. And when the Kuga Concept made its debut in Frankfurt, it was obvious that much of what made the Iosis X such an eye-catcher would come to the production model. It's done just that and Ford will be pulling the wraps off its first CUV in Europe next month in Geneva.

The Kuga CUV is based off the C-car platform that underpins the C-Max and Euro-Focus (also our Mazda3 and Volvo S40/C30), and is motivated by Ford's 2.0-liter Duratorq TDCi common rail diesel. 136 hp and 236 lb.-ft. of torque can be sent to either the front wheels or all four depending on the model (Trend or Titanium, respectively) and the Kuga comes standard with ESP, Anti Rollover Mitigation, ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.

Inside, Ford boasts a handsomely outfitted cabin, with seating for five and a 60/40 split rear seat that offers a bit of practicality alongside the Kuga's style.

As much as we'd like to bemoan the fact that Ford is still offering products abroad that we think would do wonders for the marque here at home, we can only hope that Mr. Mulally's plan to globalize Ford's lineup happens soon and sends over some of the Kuga's mojo.


[Source: Ford]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford Mondeo.

Along with the production Fiesta and Kuga, Ford will be debuting a new diesel at next month's Geneva Motor Show. The 2.2-liter four-cylinder produces 175 hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque at an ultra-low 1,750 rpm. The new oilburner is a third generation common rail setup that uses Bosch's piezoelectric injectors and will find its way into the 2009 Ford Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxy van. The new engine also boasts an intelligent oil monitoring system that keeps tabs on atmospheric conditions and driver behavior, and then recommends when an oil change should be made – up to 12,000 miles.

Ford will also be introducing the new Galaxy Titanium package for both the Mondeo and S-Max, which includes a few new features inside and out. The optional pack comes with five-spoke, 17-inch alloys held on by a sports-tuned suspension, automatic wipers, power operated and heated wing mirrors, "Quickclear" heated windshield and Alcantara sport seats.

All the details are available in Ford's press release after the jump.

All right. Let's get one thing out of the way right now. The picture above is not the LigHT concept that Webasto will be showing in Geneva. No, that square-jawed little number is the aftermarket firm's Welcome 2 concept that debuted back in 2003, based off a Mercedes CL500. With that out of the way, Webasto will be showing off a roadster concept next month that plays off the German company's idea of "Moving Innovations" by featuring a vehicle that includes a "hybrid top" that makes use of new structural materials and some kind of auxiliary heating system. We'll be on hand in Geneva to get all the details, but in the meantime, check Webasto's press release after the jump.

[Source: Webasto]

Bertone's not about to let an uncertain future stop it from moving forward. Or is it? With its salvation plan rejected by the courts and its future left hanging in the balance, the famous Italian design house is suffering from an apparent crisis in leadership. Automotive News reports that the company's vice-chairman Marie-Jeanne Bertone, daughter of the late Giuseppe "Nuccio" Bertone, confirmed that the company will be present at the upcoming Geneva auto show. Meanwhile the mother superior, company chairwoman Lilli Bertone, says otherwise. All the while the company released a statement saying that it will be unveiling a new concept at the show, now less than three weeks away. This has all the drama of a Mario Puzo novel, and we just don't know what to expect.

The concept car that Bertone will (or won't) show in Geneva is reported to be the Alfa Romeo BAT 11 concept. For those unacquainted, BAT stands for "Berlinetta Aerodinamica Technica" – we'll let you unravel the enigmatic translation – and was used on a series of concept cars designed by Bertone for Alfa Romeo in the mid-1950s (right). The BAT 11, meanwhile, is said to be based on the Alfa 8C Competizione – a rolling work of art difficult to improve upon – but exists only as a styling exercise with no interior. Like its namesake forbearers, the design of the BAT 11 promises to focus on sleek wind-cutting aerodynamics. It'd be a pity if we didn't get to see it.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req'd]

click above for more high-res images of the Rinspeed sQuba

Back in 1977, James Bond took a Lotus Esprit for a swim in The Spy Who Loved Me. It's only fitting that Swiss design company Rinspeed, known for its crazy concepts that often involve playing in the water, has based its newest creation on the Lotus Elise. Called the sQuba, this submersible convertible was first previewed back in December, but the firm has released tons of high-res photos, video and new information on its water toy.

The sQuba is an all-electric vehicle with three motors, one to drive the car on land and two to power a pair of screw drives for underwater movement. These are aided by two Seabob jet drives that "breathe" through rotating louvers mounted on the car's fenders and appear to give the car its maneuverability underwater.

Some might think a submersible convertible sounds like a submarine with a screen door, but Rinspeed has got a handful of reasons why it didn't go with a closed cockpit. Safety is one, because in an emergency, occupants might not be able to exit a closed cockpit vehicle underwater. Buoyancy was another, as the vehicle would've needed two tons of extra weight to offset the volume of air inside a cockpit, which would've seriously compromised the car's on-road handling. The small issue of breathing underwater is solved by an onboard breathing system that works like, what else, scuba gear.

click above image to view more images of the Lorinser Nardo3 Mercedes SL

Perennial Mercedes-Benz tuner Lorinser is coming to Geneva with some new toys. Highlighting its booth at the fast-approaching auto salon will be the Nardo3. Based on the outgoing Mercedes SL AMG roadster, the Nardo3 borrows its name from the high-speed test track in Italy and strives to live up to the name by boosting power from the twin-turbo V12 to 660 hp. It also features some slick aero mods, including a new rear bumper with integrated exhaust outlets and a new front end to match. Although Mercedes has already announced its new AMG SL-Class roadsters, Lorinser will only produce 50 copies of the Nardo3 and should have no trouble selling them.

Lorinser will also be showcasing its modifications for diesel Mercedes-Benz cars with the C-Class T-Model that upgrades the C320 T CDI with revised electronics, boosting power from a perfectly adequate 224 hp to 261.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Click on the image above to view in our hi-res gallery

Morgan has a lot of dedicated fans, but it's image is about as cutting-edge as a cantaloupe. The last time the company unveiled a new concept, the big news was that it had four wheels. But seriously folks, the Morgan LifeCar is a concept that has been a long time coming. It took several companies and three universities almost three years and nearly ₤2 million, including a healthy dose of government funding, to develop. And it's finally ready.

The LifeCar is based on the Morgan Aero 8 and powered by hydrogen fuel cells with regenerative braking technology in a package that is at once both futuristic and retro. (Leave it to the Brits to do both.) Together with its partners, Morgan, which was responsible for the design and final assembly, will take the wraps off the LifeCar concept at the fast-approaching Geneva show, and we've got an eyeful of images for you in the gallery below.

[Source: CarBodyDesign.com]