Koenigsegg says the Agera R can beat the McLaren P1 and the Ferrari LaFerrari

The 2013 Geneva Motor Show is already over but people are still talking about it and all the hypercars that were introduced in the Swiss city. He saw the Lamborghini Veneno, the Ferrari La Ferrari and the McLaren P1, but there was one that didn't got much attention, the Koenigsegg Hundra, a car that celebrated the production of 100 cars over the last ten years.

So when asked what they (the guys from Koenigsegg) thought about those supercars they just said they liked the P1 and the engineering solutions McLaren used in it, but quickly pointed that the Agera R is more powerful, faster and lighter.

The discussion than went to another level. Recently the Pagani Huayra set a new lap record on the Top Gear track (Dunsfold) and was accused of using slick tires with hand-made cuts in it (racing tire) from the Zonda R while the car should have used the Pirelli PZero Corsa. McLaren now says the P1 was 10 seconds faster in the Top Gear track than the current lap record, which belongs to the Huayra. This means the P1 can go around the Dunsfold track in around 1:03.

Now Koenigsegg says the Agera R (and the CCX) can beat the (cheater) Pagani Huayra in road tires. And what about the McLaren P1? They didn't comment on that, but they already said the Agera R is faster... And Ferrari has been really quiet about performance figures. Can't wait for the next season of the Top Gear show, since we will get to see the Agera R try to beat the shows track lap record. We might even get to see the P1 and even the La Ferrari.

I can only wish to see the Veneno join the party.

Source: carsuk

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The Ford Tourneo family made its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show

With all the super cars presented there is now more time to write about some of those vehicles that are a little bit less exciting. Ford brought to Geneva the European EcoSport, and a bunch of versions based on the Tourneo, which in turn is similar to the Transit; the Courier, Connect and Custom. But let's concentrate on the Tourneo family.

First we have the smaller family member, the Courier. Based on Ford’s latest global small-car platform used by the Fiesta and B-Max, it measures 4.16 meters long. It comes with two sliding doors and has room for five people inside. You will be able to choose between a 1.5 liter (75hp) and a 1.6 liter (95hp) Duratorq TDCi diesel engine, and the 1.0 liter EcoBoost petrol engine with 100hp.

Then we have the Connect that uses the same C-segment platform that is also used by the Focus and the new Kuga/Escape. The regular version of the Connect has five seats and is 4420mm long, while the Grand Connect has seven and is 400mm longer (4820mm). Because it is a larger vehicles, therefore it is heavier, it also needs more powerful engines. The range of choices include several versions of the 1.6 liter Duratorq TDCi diesel engine (75hp, 95hp and 115hp), and the same 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine also used in the Courier. There is also available the 1.6 liter EcoBoost engine with the optional six-speed automatic transmission.

Finally we have the Custom, the larger Tourneo is also available in two versions, one with 4970mm and another with 5340mm that can sit eight or nine people, depending on your choice. The Custom also comes with sliding doors and like the rest of the Tourneo range it has available several things that make your life easier while driving like Ford'ss SYNC, Rear View Camera, Driver Alert, Speed Limiter, Auto High Beam, Lane Keeping Alert and SYNC Emergency Assistance. Power comes from the latest 2.2 liter Duratorq TDCi diesel engine with several power outputs; 100hp, 125hp and 155hp. You can only have a manual six-speed gearbox and it comes with the Auto-Start-Stop system.

Source: ford

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2013 Aston Martin Rapide S is just an upgraded version

The S after the Rapide name doesn't mean it is a sportier version of the four-door car, but just an improved version, a restyle if you want. Still it does get a bump in power and if you thought that Audi made cars with the bigger "mouths", wait till you see this new Aston Martin with an even bigger one-piece front grille. Already previewed here.

Otherwise the Rapide S did not had any significant changes in appearance besides that front grille, but you still notice its amazing profile and aggressive look if you are lucky enough to be near one.

The all-new Rapide Gen 4 AM11 6.0 liter V12 engine now produces 558hp (410kW) and 620Nm (457lb/ft) of torque. That means the power was increased by 17% from 477hp (351kW) and a smaller but also important increase in torque which stood at 600Nm (442lb/ft).

The 0 to 100km/h (62mph) is reduced by 0.3 seconds dropping from 5.2 seconds to just 4.9 seconds. The top speed increased to over 306km/h (190mph). But besides being more powerful it is also more fuel efficient. The Rapide S now emits 332g/km (the previous version emitted 355g/km) and consumes just 14.2 liters of petrol/gasoline per 100km (19.9mpg UK or 16.6mpg USA).

All of those improvements are justified by Aston Martin by the use of a lighter and hollow cam shafts, dual variable camshaft timing, knock sensing and fully CNC machined combustion chambers.

The chassis of the car is based on the new Gen4 VH architecture and includes the new dynamic stability control (DSC) and the latest Gen4 iteration of Aston Martin’s hi-tech Adaptive Damping System (ADS) that has three modes; ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Track’.

Pictures of the UK-Spec Aston Martin Rapide S.

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The rebirth of the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante aka Flying Saucer [Video]

The Alfa Romeo Disco Volante also known as the Flying Saucer or the 1900 C52 was a car thas was produced in 1952 and 1953 which had a curious looking body. At that time it was made in collaboration with the Milan based coachbuilder Touring Superleggera, that now has brought to us the modern version of the Disco Volante.

The car was presented at the Geneva Motor Show and it is surely a head turner. Some of the more round shapes of the original car have been replaced by sharper lines that best suit our modern tastes but it still looks classic and classy.

The original Flying Saucer used the 2.0 liter engine with 160hp (118 kW) from the Alfa Romeo 1900 but the modern car uses the chassis, engine and gearbox of the Alfa Romeo 8C. For those who can't remember it's a 4.7 liter V8 that produces 450hp (331kW) and 485Nm (354lb/ft) that is connected to a six–speed semi-automatic transaxle gearbox.

Buy one while you can, production is limited to an undisclosed number of cars.
  
Pictures: autowp

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Pininfarina Sergio Concept also had its reveal in Geneva

This concept is named Sergio, after the man who led Pininfarina for 40 years and conceived some of the greatest car legends, the Life Senator Sergio Pininfarina. The future-looking two-seater barchetta has the Ferrari 458 Spider mechanicals and could easily be produced in limited series of a few units.

Chairman Paolo Pininfarina, said that “My father would be proud of this concept car”, “because it expresses the aesthetic values that always inspired him: the purity of the lines, the harmony of form, and balance. Furthermore, he would be happy with this latest concept on Ferrari base, a brand to which we are related by a history that has helped define the most beautiful cars of all time in an evolution that has lasted 60 years and shows no sign of ending".

The design of the car is inspired by the ‘60s Ferraris, including half doors with vertical rotation opening, the headlights inspired by the Dino Berlinetta Speciale 1965, the rear lights reinterpret the circular themes of Pininfarina-Ferrari history and the rear bonnet borrows the iconic round graphic holes of other historical Pininfarina achievements.

Like i said before the car uses the Ferrari 458 Spider mechanicals, so it has the same 4499cc V8 engine with a seven-speed sequential gearbox. Weighs about 1280kg, has a top speed of 320km/h (200mph) and will accelerate from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 3.4 seconds.

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Infiniti Q50 revealed at the Geneva Motor Show

The Q50 is the first car from Infiniti that uses the new Q naming structure and wants to be a serious rival for to all the other top level cars in the premium D-segment. To help achieve that Infiniti made a collaboration agreement with Daimler AG in which the German company would supply the engines to the Japanese company (Infiniti is Nissan's luxury vehicle division).

The entry-level Q50 has a 2.2 liter direct-injection four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine producing 170hp (125kW) and 400Nm (295lb/ft) connected to a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic gearbox. The rear-wheel drive car emits an estimated 112g/km of CO2 while the average fuel consumption sits at just 4.4l/100km (53.5mpg USA or 64.2mpg UK). The top speed of 230km/h (143mph) and the 0 to 100km/h (62mph) time of under 9 seconds means this wont be a slow car.

The other choice available is the Q50 3.5 Hybrid. It uses a 3498cc petrol engine with 302hp (225kW) and 350Nm (258lb/ft), and a 50kW (67hp) electric motor for a combined power output of 364hp (268kW). With this combination you can only have the seven-speed automatic gearbox but you will be able to choose if you it to be all-wheel drive or just rear-wheel drive. Top speed is limited to 250km/h (155mph) while the 0 to 100km/h (62mph) run is done in under 5.5 seconds. The low value of 6.2l/100km (37.9mpg USA or 45.6mpg UK) combined fuel consumption and the also low CO2 emissions of 145g/km are achieved thanks to the hybrid system.

Besides the engines there are other things worth mentioning. It will be one of the first cars ever to use a driver-selectable steering weight and gearing with the world-first Direct Adaptive Steering, dual touch-screens for totally intuitive control and new comfortable seat designed with spinal support inspired by zero gravity research by NASA.

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Spyker shows the B6 Venator at the Geneva Motor Show

Spyker, possibly because of the failed attempt to save Saab, was gone from from most auto shows and every time we heard something about the Dutch company it wasn't good news, so it is good to see the car maker is trying to make a return starting with the presentation of the B6 Venator Concept "a unique alternative in the High Luxury Sports sector".

The B6 Venator is a mid-engine luxurious sports car designed to deliver a "rare combination of heritage, design, performance and exclusivity." that includes a timeless piece like the trademark radiator grille’s mesh is V-shaped, referencing Spyker models of the previous century, with modern technology such as the 3D LED rear lights, the aerodynamically shaped glass aircraft canopy and the 19” Turbofan™ wheels.

Like all Spyker the hand-made luxurious interior is made to the higher standards of quality with the finest materials like the leather which is sourced from the Litano range produced by the Royal Hulshof Dutch Tanneries in Lichtenvoorde. It also has the trademark exposed gear change mechanism.

The engine is a mid-mounted V6 that produces over 380hp (280kW) connected to an automatic six-speed gearbox that drives the rear wheels. It weighs less than 1400kg and measures 4347mm length, while it has a width of 1882mm and a wheelbase of 2500mm. It will cost over €100.000.

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