Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of all the Kia SOUL concepts.

The production version of the Kia SOUL is on its way, and is likely to make its official debut sometime later this year. As an appetizer for what's to come, Kia unveiled three SOUL concepts in Geneva that supposedly speak directly to the perceived intentions and personalities of its buyers.

The first of the three concepts shown was the SOUL Burner, which takes the Korean automaker's idea of the bad-boy lifestyle to an ill-informed, urban extreme. From there, Kia takes off a pop-idol tangent with its "Diva" model, which purports to be sporting a more feminine, yet edgy appearance. We're not sure about how someone of the female gender would feel behind the wheel of a the SOUL, but we're guessing that the gold wheels and matching trim might turn off someone that was upwardly mobile. Lastly, the SOUL Searcher is exactly as its name implies: someone who's attempting to get in touch with the softer side of the automotive spectrum – essentially a modern day VW Camper Van.

All the details about each concept are available in the press release after the jump.

Click above image for a high-res gallery of the unveiling of the 2009 FX from Geneva

Last week we showed you a teaser shot of the headlight of the all-new 2009 Infiniti FX. Tonight in Geneva we saw the whole thing. Carlos Ghosn himself introduced the new FX at a club-like venue just down the road from the Palexpo. Accompanied by some choreographed theatrics, the new FX dropped from the ceiling and landed front and center ahead of its EX37 and G37 siblings, which will join it in the new Infiniti dealerships starting up in Europe this year.

The redesigned 2009 FX will come in three different flavors, topping out with the FX50 we saw here. As the name tells us, it features a new 5.0L V8, said to be good for 390HP and more than 500nM of torque. Fairly stout numbers compared to the outgoing 4.5. The 2009 FX should start appearing at North American Infiniti dealers by June. You can read about the rest of the changes to this fairly highly anticipated CUV in the press release after the jump, but we think the photos in the gallery will tell more of the story. Personally we'd be remiss if we didn't note that although most of the changes sound great, the second-gen FX doesn't improve on the previous generation in the styling department.

Press release after the jump. And we should also mention the new microsite that many of you have tipped us about, which is available by clicking here.

Click image for a hi-res gallery of the Jaguar XKR-S

Jaguar will produce a limited run of 200 XKR-S coupes, which will be offered in Europe only. Now, the regular XKR is a delectable conveyance that combines endless sex appeal with eye-widening performance. Put plainly, it is an absolute hoot to drive. The XKR-S takes all that goodness and ramps things up a bit. The 420-horsepower blown V8 is unchanged, and the XKR-S has the same 0-60 time (4.9 seconds) as its standard counterpart. What does change is the electronically governed top speed. Adding the "S" also adds 19 mph to the cat's top end, now 174 mph.

Among the myriad other changes made for the XKR-S are the addition of big Alcon Performance R brakes, a retuned suspension, and a host of visual and aerodynamics upgrades, such as new wheels with retro-logo caps, a new front splitter, side skirts, a new rear spoiler, and a rear diffuser insert. Inside, what was already a very nice cabin becomes opulent, with new interior trim, a higher-end audio system, updated instruments (to accomodate the higher top speed) and other sundry niceties. You can sum the whole thing up in two words: "fast" and "beautiful." We want.


[Source: Jaguar]

Click image above for high-res shots of the R8 V12 TDI Le Mans

We just got our first glimpse of the newest AudiR8 concept and we are breathless. Most of that is due to digging ourselves out of the scrum that resulted when the press conference concluded and we found ourselves in a crush of humanity that made us momentarily consider knocking down a few pushy folks around us. Gladly, the thought passed quickly and so did the crowd. What we have for you now is a cluster of pics of this tasty turbodiesel treat. When we told you about this car yesterday, we expected it to be much like the silvery version we saw in Detroit. That was mostly true. This version, finished in Brilliant Red is called the Audi R8 TDI Le Mans to play on Audi's participation in dominance of that legendary endurance race in recent years. It features the same 6.0L V12 pumping out 500 horsepower and prodigious torque, enough in fact (737 lb-ft) to be among the torquiest cars extent. 0-62 doesn't drop much at 4.2 seconds, and the 186 mph top end isn't too far off the V8 version's, but remember, this baby is Euro 6-compliant, making it mean and green. And red and chrome. Enough with the chrome Audi, but the car is a winner so please build it now.

Live shots are here, and the press release is after the jump.

Click if you dare to check out our high-res gallery.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and in this case, we've been rendered so speechless that we need the photos to do all of our talking. Why, oh why, would somebody intentionally inflict this kind of punishment on a pair of perfectly good Mercedes Benzes? Fab Design is showing these two shockers and the best guess as to an answer to our question is that they are desperate for attention. I guess that makes us enablers now. Actually, they might have been made for Kobe Bryant, now that we think of it. Just check out that purple and gold.

Click above for a gallery of high-res shots of the Euro-spec Honda Accord.

Our European brethren have enjoyed the Accord in a variety of forms over the years, and the soon-to-be-unveiled Acura TSX gave us a few hints as to what the Euro-spec Accord would look like prior to its unveiling. The profile is similar to the outgoing model, but the smoothed swage lines and slightly blistered fenders give it a more staid appearance. The front fascia does an admirable job of striking a balance between the outgoing model's angularity and the U.S. Accord's aggressive (ungainly even?) snout. Thankfully, the front end is devoid of the Acura-specific shield that's infecting the rest of the luxury marque's lineup.

Three engine choices are available abroad, including a 2.0-liter i-VTEC four producing 154 hp, a 2.4-liter four dolling out 200 hp and a i-DTEC diesel that meets Euro 5 emission standards while outputting 148 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. Naturally, both a sedan saloon and wagon estate will be available when the Accord goes on sale in Europe later this year.

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

Click above for hi-res gallery of the Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermes

The press release says "This car's greatest strength is its ability to make you feel like a child again (a somewhat boisterous child, admittedly)." We can't agree enough. Who among us doesn't have childhood tales of doing 200-plus in our €1.55 million toys? This blogger used to do it all the time -- no, really, all the time, 'cause I was really boisterous -- and I am sure I'm not alone. Hyperbole aside, it's a Bugatti, and that makes it exquisite. And frankly, even if you aren't a fan of Hermes, they do amazing work, which, incredibly, makes the Bug even more exquisite. The "H"-logoed wheels and the fitted bag are spot on. The Hermes engraved fuel filler door could be over the top, but one loses any sense of O.T.T. after flying by the $2 million mark. But hey, if we're all feeling like kids again, maybe I can get them to take 1.55 million mud pies instead of euros. Until then, thirty one hi-res photos await you in the gallery below. Enjoy.

Click above to view the Alfa 8C Spider in hi-res

All the big rollers came out for the game this year in Geneva, but Alfa Romeo raised the stakes yet again with the unveiling of the production version of the breathtakingly curvaceous 8C Spider. Take the term "production" with a grain of salt, though, as only 500 examples of the roadster will be built, making this one of the few chances we'll have to see and bring you this exemplary piece of exotic Italian machinery first-hand.

Newly-appointed CEO Luca de Meo was on hand to unveil the ivory roadster to the throngs of anxiously awaiting scribes and photogs, but that didn't stop us from shooting the 8C until our hands started to tremble. Check out our best shots in our high-resolution gallery, laid out with the thumbnails below for your viewing pleasure, along with the press release excerpt after the jump.

Click above image for a high-res gallery of the Maserati Gran Turismo S.

As we reported it would be last week, the Maserati Gran Turismo S was on it's way to Geneva and we've finally had some time to caress it with our lens. Featuring the same 4.7-liter 440HP V8 engine developed for the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, this updated Maser won't take a backseat to its pricier and swoopier cousin any more. Okay, maybe it will considering it actually HAS a backseat. The upgraded engine is mated to an electro-actuated MC-Shift gearbox mounted on the rear transaxle for optimized weight distribution and faster shifting times. Maserati even put a demo version on display with the car so we could see the improvements firsthand. Going is one thing, stopping another. To that end, Brembo has supplied an upsized brake package, the same one in fact, that is seen on the Quattroporte Sport GT S. It features those trick front brakes that are dual-cast iron/aluminum discs gripped by six-piston aluminum calipers. As you can see from the live images we've added to the gallery, the new wheels, badges and leather/Alcantara interior make this GranTurismo S stand out even when it's standing still. We were just starting to see some of the "regular" GTs on the road, and now Maserati has upped the ante. Honestly, this is what the car should have been all along. Now they just need to develop the convertible to match the recently unveiled 8C pop-top.

Check the full press release after the jump.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.

After circumnavigating the whole of the Geneva expo center, a strange force drew us to a minimalistic booth on the west side of the complex. There, we were afforded our first live glimpse of Lamborghini's newest exotica, the Gallardo LP560-4. As its name implies, the gussied-up Gallardo is sporting 560 hp from its new, direct-injected 5.2-liter V10. Hacking off 20 kilos from the curb weight allows the LP560-4 to rocket to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 201 mph, all the while increasing fuel efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions by some 18-percent.

All the official details are available after the jump and we've assembled a high-res gallery of live and press images below.