While details of the new car are vague, we do know that it is based on GM's Epsilon II platform (unlike the new 9-3, now rumored to be downsized) and that the styling is expected to follow cues from the Saab Aero-X. Back in November 2006, we called the current Saab 9-5 an octogenarian. In today's current automotive industry, the 9-5 has reached centenarian status. The replacement can't come soon enough.
It's been a regular Maserati love-in over here these past few days. First we got a teaser sketch of the coupe designed by Pininfarina. Then the Trident marque gave us three images of the stunning new GranTurismo in advance of its Geneva debut. Then we brought you the MC12 XX by Edo Competition. And now Maserati has hit us with the press release for the GranTurismo and an additional profile shot. It must be Christmas time for fans of the house that Alfieri built.
The press release confirms certain details about the stylish new coupe and reveals others. The 4.2-liter V8, derived from the Ferrari-designed engine in the Quattroporte, gets a power spike of 9 horsepower up to 405. It's driving through a fully automatic gearbox – presumably the new ZF unit recently placed in the Quattroporte – but we'd speculate the paddle-shifted sequential will find its way in their eventually despite the anticipated availability of paddle shifters on the torque-converting auto-box. Weight is distributed, as reported, in an ideal 49/51 rear bias. The styling was penned by Pininfarina's American wonderboy Jason Castriota, the same guy responsible for the design of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and the custom Enzo-based P4/5 one-off.
The GranTurismo's launch at this year's Geneva show marks the (approximate) 60th anniversary of the launch of Maserati's first road car, the original Gran Turismo, which was also designed by Pinin Farina (in an era when words were separated by spaces).
Follow the jump for the press release, or click on the gallery below, where we've added the new profile shot seen above.
We brought you news a few days ago about Zagato's big plans to revive the long-dormant Diatto nameplate with an exclusive coachbuilt sportscar, and the Italian design house has now released an image of its creation. The Diatto Ottovu Zagato will be unveiled at the Geneva auto show in just a few weeks, powered by an anticipated supercharged V8 sourced from Maserati.
Diatto is one of those brands that history forgot, a century-old Italian carmaker that shut down in 1929. The company was founded in 1905, and on the occasion of its 100th anniversary, albeit two years late, two (evidently well-heeled) collectors commissioned Zagato to build them something special – an undertaking not unlike the Ferrari 575 GTZ, or the niche to which the overlords at Porsche would like to relegate Bugatti.
Like the previous 575 project, which recalled the iconic 250 GTZ, the Diatto Ottovu Zagato was realized to recall the coachbuilt motor-carriages Zagato re-bodied for Diatto some 85 years ago.
Click on the image above for all our high-resolution image gallery.
Peugeot will drop its latest hot hatch on us at Geneva next month with the debut of the 207 RC. After bringing you the skinny on the peppy little hatchback last month with early leaked photos, parent company PSA has been nice enough to give us the full monty ahead of the show, where they'll be releasing a number of new models.
The heart of the 207 RC is the same engine as the top-of-the-line MINI Cooper S, a 1.6-liter high-pressure turbo four pumping out 175 stallions. The engine was co-developed by PSA and BMW, and although the MINI's is coupled to a six-speed shifter, Peugeot has opted for five ratios instead. The corporate spec sheet claims the new Pug makes the run to 62 mph in 7.1 seconds and tops out of 136 mph.
Although only a handful are offered Stateside, Coupe-Cabrios – a.k.a. folding-hardtop convertibles – have been gaining popularity overseas. The new Peugeot 207 CC succeeds the 206 CC, which parent group PSA claims is the world's best-selling application of the best-of-both-worlds concept with over half a million sold since 2001. The 207 CC goes on sale across the pond in March 2007, when it will be offered in two trim levels – Sport and GT – with a choice of two gasoline engines – 1.6-liter units producing 120 naturally-aspirated horsepower and 150 turbo horses respectively – and an HDi diesel with 110 hp, all driving through a 5-speed stick-shift (or an available 4-speed Porsche Tiptronic on the 120-hp gas engine).
The folding roof – designed and manufactured in-house by PSA – is now fully automatic, forgoing the manual release on its predecessor. The 207 CC also offers 2+2 seating and leather interior trim, both features not commonly found in the supermini convertible segment. Overall, the styling strikes us as a particularly potent application of Peugeot's new shark-like design language.
Automakers will often be judged by motor-heads on one factor: how close a car company can make their production cars look compared to the concept. In other words, how much worse. We expect some concessions towards reality – production feasibility, safety standards and the like – to hamper the smooth lines and show-stopping curves of a show car before it reaches the showroom. But if you ask us, the production version of the Peugeot 207 CC looks even better than the 207 ePure concept that previewed its proportions.
(Hi-rez images and full press release after the jump.)
Someone's bound to get in trouble for this, 'cause this is not a document that should have hit the internet. But since it has, we're glad to bring it to you. It was apparently prepared for a conference of Fiat Group investors held over the last couple of days.
A few weeks ago, we brought you the anticipated release dates through 2008 for Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo. This leaked document, however, gives us the release dates for Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo and Fiat commercial vehicles straight through 2010. The chart shows the dates for a total of 23 new models plus another 23 facelifts.
2009 will be a really big year for Alfa Romeo, with facelifted versions of the gorgeous Brera/Spider/159 line-up (already arguably the best-looking cars money can buy) hitting the market the same year as the new 169 and 149 (labeled "future c-segment"). Sadly, though the Maserati logo features on the top-right corner of the page, that division's production schedule is not included, nor is Ferrari's for that matter.
Click on the the chart above for all the juicy Italian details.
They may live below a country run by a husky dictator who has a thing for BluBlockers and nuclear weapons, but South Koreans can take heart knowing that Infiniti has bestowed upon them the honor of being the first market to receive the new G35 sedan. Infiniti announced the G35's arrival in South Korea yesterday at the Seoul Trade Exhibition and Convention Center in Hagnyeoul, Seoul. Nissan's luxury division is keenly interested in presenting itself as a global brand (see Related posts below), which accounts for the decision to give South Korea's market the nod before selling the sedan in North America. The car's new generation VQ35HR 3.5-liter V6 now develops 315 horsepower, though the South Korean model will apparently only pair it with a 5-speed automatic and not the 6-speed manual that will also be offered in North America. There's also no mention of an all-wheel drive model. Instead, South Koreans can choose from a "premium" or "sports" version of the G35 sedan, the former offering a bit more luxury and the latter offering a bit more sport. Prices start at 47.5 million won ($49,780USD) for the "premium" model and 49.8 million won ($52,190USD) for the "sport" model.
Typically we get production announcements from manufacturers one model at a time, if not one brand at a time, but the Fiat Group has released their full production schedule for the Lancia, Alfa Romeo and Fiat brands for the next few years.
We'll get right into the good stuff with the most exciting of the three (and the only one destined for a re-emergence in the North American market): Alfa Romeo. The long awaited 149 has been pushed back again to mid-2009, before which the 147 it replaces will get the Fiat Group's new 1.4-liter turbo next summer. While waiting for the 149, the Alfa Junior, a sports hatch slotting below it, will hit the roads in mid-2008. A special version of the Alfa Romeo GT called the "Veloce" will arrive next January, and a sportier Ti version of the gorgeous 159 will hit showrooms next February/March.
The Fiat Bravo, shots of which have been floating around the net, will arrive long before the Alfa 149 with which it shares its platform, arriving late next summer. Fiat's revival of the 500 is due for January '08. A new model called the Linea is due next fall, and the Grande Punto will get the 1.4-liter turbo early next summer.
Lastly, Lancia's new Delta, previewed by the HPE concept in Paris, is scheduled to hit the road early in 2008, a facelifted Musa in fall 2007, and a Sport version of the Ypsillon city-car next spring.
Unfortunately, Fiat didn't give us a production schedule for Ferrari and Maserati, so we'll have to wait for the news piece by piece.
Here's the nitty gritty on the 2007 Chrysler Sebring straight from the automaker's mouth. Aside from the expressive styling inspired by the 2003 Airflite concept, the interior of the car is packed with unique and high-end available features. Most notable is the Harmon/Kardon nav system that features a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, a 20gb hard drive with Music Juke Box software, a USB port to download songs and pictures, a mic in the rearview mirror to record up to three-minute voice memos, Sirius satellite radio and hands-free Bluetooth phone connectivity.
We're psyched about the Sebring's cupholders, however, which can cool drinks to 35 degrees F or heat them up to 140 degrees F. No more warm, flat Pepsi on road trips for us. Heated seats are also available as on option, but no cooling function for the posteriors.
Also available after launch will be LED interior lighting with high-focus white lights for both the front and rear seats. Chrysler didn't forget the obligatory auxiliary audio input jack to connect MP3 players, either.
Available safety equipment includes up to six airbags, ESP with Brake Assist, Traction Control, ABS and a tire pressure monitoring system.
As mentioned in our previous post, engine choices are a 2.4L four-cylinder (172 hp), a 2.7L V6 (190 hp/190 ft-lbs) and a 3.5L V6 (235 hp/232 ft-lbs). In combination with Chrysler's new six-speed auto, the 3.5L should rival the acceleration of the segment's leaders according to the company.
Three trim levels of the Sebring will be available: Sebring, Sebring Touring and Sebring Limited. It will be built at the Sterling Heights Assembly plant in Michigan and be on dealer lots by the fourth quarter of 2006.
All the official images and Chrysler's press release can be found after the jump... We may have video of the press conference for you later, as well.
Originally predicted to be shown at the Paris Motor Show in October of this year, the 2010 Saab 9-5 won't actually debut until the 2009 Geneva Motor Show in March of next year. 
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