Historically, Rolls-Royce has somewhat smugly declined to quote horsepower numbers, utilizing amusingly evasive language like "entirely sufficient" to describe its engines' power outputs. Perhaps a sign of the times, Rolls is now being a bit more forthcoming about details for its upcoming "baby" RR4 model, including approximate horsepower numbers.

The company has disclosed that the RR4 will be powered by a new, 6.6-liter turbocharged V12 engine that gives "upwards of 500bhp." Further, it will route that prodigious output through a ZF transmission with no less than eight forward ratios. Despite its ability to generate big power figures, Rolls says that one important drivetrain figure will be smaller than any other Rolls on the market: C02 output.

The news came from CEO Tom Purves himself at a New York press event for the 200EX, where the Geneva concept car is making its first stop on a world tour designed to get prospective clients in the car and booking orders for the production RR4 version.

The BMW-owned British automaker has long been famous for its peerless interiors and isolated ride, but Purves promises that the RR4 will bring with it a new emphasis on driving entertainment: "... we have consciously engineered this car to be more involving and dynamic for those owners around the world that will wish to drive it themselves."

While we don't expect Porsche Cayman-baiting dynamics, we look forward to seeing what the company views as more involved driving dynamics when the car starts rolling out the front doors of its Goodwood production facility. Official press release after the jump.



[Source: Rolls-Royce]

Say "Duster" to most auto enthusiasts and you're likely to conjure up images of 1970's Plymouth Valiant-based muscle cars, or perhaps the P-bodied Chrysler buzzbins of the Eighties. What doesn't usually come to mind is the very first concept car from the Romanian low-cost transportation experts at Dacia.

Initially shown at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, word from Autocar now suggests that a production version of the showcar is on the way. According to the UK publication, the Duster will hit the ground running at next year's Geneva show, and it will launch with a choice of four-cylinder gas and diesel engines, as well as available all-wheel drive.

Interestingly, Autocar suggests that the production crossover will likely retain the concept's trick reconfigurable seats, including a passenger seat that can slide under the driver's seat for extra room. Check out the jump a video that shows the Dacia's trick disappearing seat, as well as the high-res gallery below.



[Sources: Autocar; Dacia]

It's been a while since we heard anything about the long-time-coming partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Aston Martin. But while we got a good look at what's inside Aston's new One-77 supercar, reports indicate that if we'd taken a peek under the Lagonda concept's skirt we would have seen the familiar parts of the Mercedes GL-Class sport-ute.

According to Aston CEO Ulrich Bez, the company tested a wide variety of luxury SUVs and found the Mercedes the most suitable. Only the wheelbase and A-pillar positioning are said to have carried over, with everything else having changed. The engine, however, is Aston's own. If they decide to build the Lagonda – a decision on which the mixed reaction in Geneva will undoubtedly be a factor – it could be ready in three to five years, but production would likely take place at Aston's own facilities in the UK rather than Mercedes' plant in Alabama.





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

What the hell is a gigapan image? It's an image used taking a robotic device that takes a bunch of little images and stitches them together to make one giant, high-resolution image. You may remember seeing the gigapan image of President Obama's inauguration speech back in January. That same technology was recently used by the folks at image engineers to take some interesting photos of the 2009 Geneva Motor Show this past week. If you're not part of the automotive press, you've probably never seen what a show floor looks like beyond the small windows we give you in our coverage of production vehicles and concepts that are unveiled there. These images, one of the show floor and one of the Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire, reveal an angle of the show that you've likely not seen before. We've also embedded a time lapse video of the action that takes place at the Geneva Motor Show after the jump. These three bits of media are a great way to bring our coverage of the 2009 Geneva Motor Show to a close. Hope you enjoyed it.

[Source: image engineers]

At the Geneva Motor Show this week, Aston Martin publicly showed its limited-edition One-77 super-car for the first time. While the design is certainly attention grabbing, the machinery sitting next to it was perhaps even more so. On the first of two press days, the Aston stand was dominated by the first complete One-77 chassis laid bare for all the world to see. Resplendent in carbon-fiber and cast, forged and extruded aluminum, the skinless One-77 is an engineer's dream.

Chris Porritt, Chief Program Manager for the One-77, took a few minutes to give us a guided tour of this remarkable example of engineering art. The mechanical bits of the One-77 are built more like the guts of an Le Mans Prototype racer than any typical production car. Of course, calling this a production car is a stretch anyway given that only 77 examples will be produced. Major automakers typically produce more prototypes than that for a new vehicle program. Follow the jump for a walk through of the One-77.



Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

No. 3, not exactly the most imaginative name, but the Kia concept car that so intrigued us at this week's Geneva Motor Show looks to be headed for production.

What looks to be a Soul-based mule has been nabbed in spy photographs while cold-weather testing in Sweden. Kia says the slick-looking MPV will haul five passengers in its Honda Fit sized footprint. From what we can tell in the spy shots, the No. 3 will be another entry in the small/useful/fun (hopefully) segment that actually looks pretty good. Hopefully they beautify the name to match the rest of the car.

[Source: NextAutos]

Toyota officially unveiled the latest version of its slick looking, Euro-centric people mover at the Geneva Motor Show this week. Called the Verso (not to be confused with the Nissan Versa), the three-row, five-door hatchback wears handsome sheetmetal with lines that are definitely "in family" for Toyota. For as much as we like the outside, the instrument panel has Scion disease. Center gauges. Please stop it. That third row also has severely limited legroom, but it's still a neat trick to fit so many perches within a Corrola-sized footprint, even if some are occasional-use grade. The Verso will likely delight for bopping across the moorland, but you might need to have your legs removed so you'll fit in back.

Europeans are about to get one more soft-roading cute 'ute to add to their shopping lists now that Skoda, Volkswagen's Czech subsidiary, has released the production version of the Yeti at the Geneva Motor Show. First shown in concept form back at the 2005 show in Geneva, the production Yeti keeps the same basic design as its conceptual forebear, but we think it loses some of what made it so interesting in the first place.

Gone is the contrasting white roof that was obviously cribbed from Toyota's FJ Cruiser but looked perfect in this application. So too gone are the flanks, now smoothed out and looking very first-gen Honda CR-V-ish and missing the hidden rear door handles from the concept. See for yourself, we've included a gallery of the concept along with live shots of the production Yeti below.

Inside, the Yeti features the same innovative seating arrangement as the Roomster, featuring three separate rear buckets that can individually slide fore and aft or be removed completely. Gas and diesel-powered engines ranging from 1.2 liters to 2.0 liters will be offered with up to 170 horsepower along with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. Expect sales in Europe to begin later this year.

The Bleu Centenaire wasn't the only limited edition Veyron on the floor at the Geneva Motor Show. While Bugatti has created a wide array of individualization programs for its supercar, German tuner Mansory saw fit to create its own and displayed a revised version of the Veyron dubbed the Linea Vincero. We got our first look at the car back in December when it was mysteriously pictured on a dealer web site, but with its official unveiling we now have full details from Mansory. Exterior modifications are relatively subtle and include a new front fascia, shorter hood, LED daytime running lights, side skirts, a diffuser, larger side and rear air outlets and new forged wheels. The interior features carbon fiber accents, special leather seating and trim and an ambient lighting system utilizing LEDs. Unlike the other Veyron models, the Vincero comes with a power upgrade, up to 1109 bhp and 967 lb-ft torque, thanks to an upgraded cooling system and exhaust system. With a total of three planned for production, the Linea Vincero could very well be one of the more popular color combinations out there. More details can be found in the press release from Mansory after the jump.

Since its inception back in 1985, Wiesmann has been busy building beautiful retro-themed coupes and convertibles, and to celebrate its 20th anniversary (of what, exactly, we're not sure) the automaker has just released its MF4 Roadster at the Geneva Motor Show. We love the old-school looks, especially the soft top that collapses on the rear parcel shelf as it does on classic British and German roadsters. The running gear, though, is thoroughly modern and highlighted by a modified version of the BMW M3's 4.0-liter V8, in this case tuned to put out 367 horsepower.

If you want one, you'd better act fast. Wiesmann only plans to assemble between 250 and 350 units this year, and they are only available in Europe for now.