Three SOUL concepts to reveal ‘fun’ side of Kia

Defying traditional automotive classification, three new SOUL concept cars to be unveiled by Kia at the Geneva Show on 4 March, will reveal a whole new individual and fun direction for the Korean brand.

Honda at the Geneva International Motor Show

The all-new Accord makes its debut at the Geneva International Motor Show next month. One of the first cars to be unveiled – at 08.30 on Tuesday 4 March – the European Accord will be shown in both Saloon and Tourer body styles. It will be joined by the FCX Clarity, Honda’s ground-breaking hydrogen fuel cell car – featuring for the first time ever on European soil. The CR-Z hybrid sports car concept also makes its debut on this side of the world after its reveal in October last year.

2008 BMW 1 Series Review

Few brands have grown more than BMW in the past 25 years. That growth can be seen in their sales figures and the vehicles themselves. Today's 335i is larger than 1986's 535i, for instance, and it certainly sells in much greater volumes. This trend toward bigger and heavier has altered the brand's lineup to the point that there's now room for a cheaper, smaller entry-level car. Stepping boldly into the gap is the 2008 BMW 1 Series.

The 1 Series already debuted in Europe earlier this decade as a four-door hatchback, but that body style's limited appeal to American shoppers prevented its journey across the pond. With the introduction of new coupe and convertible body styles, however, BMW believes the timing is right for a small car revival.

With their compact two-door bodies, high-performance engines and scalpel-sharp handling, the 2008 BMW 128i and 135i are arguably the spiritual successors to BMW's classic 2002 coupe. Yet the 1 Series features many of the modern high-tech and luxury features that have become just as much a part of BMW during this decade as the raw driving experience. Some features like active steering and navigation with iDrive are dubious in terms of value, while others like keyless ignition/entry, premium hi-fi stereo and the convertible's heat-reflective leather seating are welcome niceties in a small car.

The 1 Series coupe is 8.7 inches shorter than a 3 Series coupe and a bit narrower as well. Though its front engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration is pretty unpopular in this size category because of its lack of space efficiency, BMW reckons its layout has unique appeal to people who care more about driving than carrying passengers. As such, the 1 Series comes with the same engines as the 3 Series: a 3.0-liter, 230-horsepower straight-6 for the 128i and a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter six good for 300 hp in the 135i.

Considering its $30,000-plus price tag and its rear-wheel-drive layout, this is a coupe and convertible without any real apples-to-apples competitors. Potential rivals are either too big (Infiniti G37), have front-wheel drive (VW Eos), are too mechanically different (Mazda RX-8) or are more an unrefined muscle car (Ford Mustang GT) than a finely balanced sport coupe/convertible. Plus, with its tiny backseat, the 1 Series toes a very fine line between usable four-seat coupe and a 2+2 sports touring car like an Audi TT.

© Source: edmunds
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Rolls-Royce to Reveal Phantom Coupé at Geneva

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will unveil its new Phantom Coupé at the 78th International Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday, 4 March 2008. Production of the new car will start at Goodwood in the summer of 2008.

Geneva global debut for new Fiesta

FUN-loving and fashionable, sensational and safe; Ford's all-new Fiesta is guaranteed to wow the crowds when the wraps come off at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. Taking much of its exterior and interior design from the striking Verve Concept, the next generation of Britain's best-loved small car promises to shake up the supermini scene at its global premiere.

Gemballa Tornado GTR700 Cayenne

We all get that the Porsche Cayenne, though it has its talents, is no prize pig down at the beauty pageant. But this is just mean. Like a caricature of the Cayenne itself, we can applaud the go but shudder at sight of the show. Under the hood, Gemballa has primped and preened the twin-turbo V8 to produce somewhere in the neighborhood of 700 horsepower. It will also offer a 2WD conversion – that's got to be a first – to go with the severely dropped ride height and beefed-up suspension.

The mad-science plastic surgery is another story, however, as Gemballa opens up the Cayenne's mouth, adds a carbon-fiber hood insert, cuts open a whole mess of new vents, throws on some Ferrari-esque tail-lights and a set of roof-mounted brake lights to boot. Inside they've added fully-adjustable racing buckets front and back, separated by a strange-looking full-length center console. Maybe Gemballa was trying to prove a point when it decided to mix styling cues from the Carrera GT with its ugly step-sister the Cayenne. Whatever it is, we don't get it.

© Source: autoblog
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Volvo XC60 - first official images

Our friends over at Autoblog.nl have discovered these first official images of the Volvo XC60, out a couple of days before the embargo date.

The Volvo XC60 is the new mid-sized SUV from the swedish brand, from which much is expected in terms of sales. At the moment there are no technical details available and nothing is known about when sales will start.

© Source: eurocarblog
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