2010 Lamborghini Reventon Roadster

Just unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show is the ultra-exotic and super-exclusive Lamborghini Reventón Roadster with a sticker price pegged at $1.6 million ($1.1 million Euros at the current exchange rate), and that's before taxes! The Reventón Roadster is an open-top version of the coupe that was shown two years ago at the Frankfurt Auto Show. A model, we might add, that sold out immediately.

The Reventón Roadster retains the stealth fighter-inspired exterior styling with its pointed front end and edgy side cut lines that break up the fenders and the doors. Moreover, the rear continues to carry the multi-angular theme. The front bi-xenon headlights are accentuated by LED daytime running lights. LEDs are also featured at the rear, arranged in a Y-shape to match the spoke design on the alloy wheels. The car is painted in a special shade of matt gray named Reventón Gray, similar to the color seen on stealth fighters used to minimize radar detection.

Inside, the overall design is similar to the Lamborghini Murciélago's. However, instead of the standard analog gauges, the Reventón Roadster sports a full LCD display screen to show the car's vital signs. The driver can switch between two modes: a traditional look where the round dials are displayed graphically, and another that features all the information in varying color bars. The instrument cluster is housed in a single solid piece of machined aluminum on the carbon-fiber dashboard. Carbon fiber, aluminum and leather accents can also be seen on the center console and throughout the rest of the interior.

The Reventón's body is made mostly from carbon fiber, with the exception of the steel doors. Underneath the stealthy look is a high-strength steel chassis featuring upper and lower A-arm suspension like that in the standard Murciélago. The car comes only with a 6-speed paddle-shift e.gear transmission powering all four wheels via a viscous coupling center differential. Up to 35 percent of torque can be sent to the front axle to help with grip. Standard carbon ceramic brake discs slow the car with minimal fade. Overall, the car tips the scale at 3725 lb, only 55 lb more than the coupe.

The muscle behind the Reventón Roadster is a massive 6.5-liter V-12 rated at 670 bhp and 487 lb.-ft. of torque. This is enough to propel the car from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.4 sec, and to a top speed of 205 mph. To help with stability at high speeds, a rear spoiler deploys at 80 mph for increased downforce. At speeds of 136 mph or above, the spoiler will change to a higher angle of attack to further enhance grip.

Want one? Better get in line, fast. Lamborghini tells us there will be fewer than 20 Reventón Roadsters produced, with delivery scheduled to start in October.

READ MORE - 2010 Lamborghini Reventon Roadster

Lexus LF-Ch Concept

Lexus LF-Ch Concept

Lexus says the new LF-Ch concept is its "first approach to the competitive European premium compact segment." Translated, that means, it's not for U.S. consumption, and that Lexus wants to build a premium small car. The LF-Ch's 5-door shape resembles the Lincoln concept C's we saw at the Detroit auto show earlier this year.

Yellow paint is offset by blue interior lighting, while an interior lined with leather, aluminum and wood gives the impression of expensive and artistic furniture. The ambient lighting helps with creating a nightclub like experience, but it's not as good as Audi's. Blacked out B-pillars and hidden rear door handles provide the LF-Ch with a coupelike look, but it's really a sporty hatch with a hybrid powertrain. Because not much is known about the hybrid system, it's not a far reach to think that the Lexus 250h powertrain could fit.

This concept is decently sized, in the same league as the Toyota Matrix. But with its hybrid powertrain, luxurious appointments and unique styling, this Lexus would probably compete against cars such as the BMW 1 series.

READ MORE - Lexus LF-Ch Concept

Hyundai ix-Metro

Looking like an angry egg, the Hyundai ix-Metro concept integrates hybrid power into a small urban crossover that's based on its current i10 small car platform. Designed to compete in the highly competitive sub-B car segment, the ix-Metro goes up against vehicles like the Ford Ka, Toyota iQ and Fiat 500.

The ix-Metro concept, however, differs from the competition with an aggressive (as opposed to cute) grille treatment, rear-hinged back doors and a B-pillarless side opening to ease entry and exit to the rear seats. This hatchback has a crossover's tall ride height and greater ground clearance, plus large rocker extensions that give it a more rugged look than your typical urban commuter. This is the fifth vehicle in a series of concept cars promoting the company's Blue Drive eco-friendly technology, and it was designed in- house at Hyundai's Global Design Team in Namyang, Korea.

The hybrid system includes a turbocharged 1.0-liter inline-3 engine that features direct injection and continuous variable valve timing. The powerplant is mated to a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the front wheels. In back, a battery pack powers an electric motor, giving the ix-Metro all-wheel-drive capability

READ MORE - Hyundai ix-Metro

Flash Drive: 2010 Kia Forte EX

Following the innovative Soul, the all-new Kia Forte does what South Korean automakers seem to excel at - it offers plenty of standard equipment wrapped up in a stylish package, all for a price lower than the competition. The Forte's clean design won't necessarily stand out in the crowded small-car market — I admit to mistaking our test car for a Honda Civic — but it is still a good-looking sedan. Nice materials and a 2-tone color scheme make the interior feel somewhat upscale; our Forte was equipped with comfortable leather seats. The trunk is large, and the back seat is definitely usable by at least two adults. Most surprising was that the Forte is fun to drive. The engine is peppy and, working well with the 5-speed automatic transmission, provides good acceleration for a car in this class. Larger in almost every interior dimension than a Civic but priced considerably less, the Forte is a must-drive for anyone considering a new, entry-level sedan. —Perry Stern
Kia's new Forte compact sedan is the latest example that design is a top priority at Kia. It has a great-looking and distinctive exterior design, a lot of thought seems to have gone into the layout of the controls, and the quality of the materials used in the interior feels upscale. The 2.0-liter engine and 4-speed automatic transmission deliver enough power to merge with traffic, while still getting close to 30 mpg combined city and highway driving. The steering wheel tilts but doesn't telescope. This made it hard for me to reach the wheel once I had the seat in a comfortable position. A really nice feature is a deep, open bin in front of the shifter, which is a perfect place to store anything that you might need to access while driving and includes USB and auxiliary inputs and a power port. —Mike Meredith
The Kia Forte is a smart-looking vehicle. The styling is fresh and stands out against the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, thanks to the wrap-around headlights and the chiseled body lines. You can feel the solidness of the car by just opening and closing its door. Clearly, Kia has built this car well. Inside the Forte, the controls are easy to read and the quality of materials is good. There is good headroom and legroom in both the front and back seats. The rear seat is comfortable for two adults, and it is easy to take infants in and out of their child seats. Driving the car during commuting is a pleasure because the Forte is a miser at the pump, even with a 4-speed automatic transmission. I achieved 30 mpg in mixed driving. While the Forte is slightly underpowered, that sacrifice is worth it to achieve better fuel economy. —Joe Chulick
Kia would have you believe that the Forte is a well-equipped luxury car for a bargain-basement price; that a full feature set equates to luxury. I was skeptical. Does that mean that Walmart is a luxury store because it sells so many different items? And would all those features imply much lower quality to meet the price target? Well in reality, the Kia Forte is not so well-equipped; there was nothing in this $19,000 car (as tested) that seemed like a luxurious feature. However, it didn't feel like a cheap car either. In fact, the Forte is impressive. Kia has simply built a car that can compete on any criteria, not just price. I found myself unable to pinpoint why the Forte isn't best-in-class in this segment, but it's not. It is very good but somehow just doesn't have character enough to stand out. —Paul Hagger

READ MORE - Flash Drive: 2010 Kia Forte EX

Flash Drive: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro

There's no question in my mind — the new Camaro is one of the best-looking new cars on the road. And based on the attention I received while driving it, it appears I'm not the only one who feels that way. Even the base Camaro gets the bold fender flares and power-dome hood. Our test car was further decked out with the RS package, which adds to the good looks with 20-inch wheels, rear spoiler and darker taillights. It had the base engine with the automatic transmission. The V6 is rated at just over 300 horsepower, which should be plenty powerful but just doesn't feel very powerful. Full throttle results in mediocre acceleration, likely due to the fact that the Camaro is no lightweight - it's about 300 pounds heavier than a similar Mustang and 500 more than a Nissan Z car. So as good as the Camaro looks, I'd give up some of the styling for better performance. Of course, there is a more powerful option; I look forward to trying out the SS. —Perry Stern
The 2010 Camaro design is modern, yet captures the essence of the iconic '69. With its big, wide rear fenders and massive C-pillars that create the distinctive design, no one can mistake this car for anything other than a Camaro as it rolls down the street. But the same design element also makes rear three-quarter visibility difficult for the driver. The chassis, suspension and steering all feel good. Ultimately, however, the car feels heavy and not as nimble as I would have hoped. The modern direct-injection V6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission provide more than 300 horsepower — on paper, all the power you need — and deliver almost 30 mpg on the highway. But it's impossible to drive the Camaro without longing for the low-end torque and missing the exhaust note of a V8. Inside, the Camaro might call on many retro design cues — personally I don't care for the way the door-panel trim wraps into the dash — but you get all the modern amenities you will ever need or want. —Mike Meredith
In my opinion, this is the best-looking American muscle car on the market today. I can't remember how many heads were turned and thumbs-up given during my test drive. The Camaro tested was the 306-horsepower V6 engine with an automatic transmission. Surprisingly, the car felt pretty underpowered; I couldn't tell if it was due to the heavier car weight or the transmission gearing. Getting into the car, it was tough to avoid how wide the doors opened, and that made it difficult to get out without dinging the door near tight spots. There was also a large blind spot over the driver's left shoulder. Even with those faults, the new Camaro is a home run. Getting the Camaro with a V8 and manual transmission would be better, though. —Joe Chulick

READ MORE - Flash Drive: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro

2009 Geneva Auto Show

We're being denied once again. The Audi TT S is just a tease. It's turbocharged 2.0-liter direct-injected 4-cylinder boasts 265 horsepower. The TT RS, on the other hand, injects 340 pavement-tearing ponies into the compact 2+2 coupe.

This power increase comes from a purpose-built 5-cylinder direct-injected turbocharged 2.5-liter with a 10:1 compression ratio and 17 psi of boost. Audi's been on the forefront of direct-injection technology combined with turbochargers, and it shows. The torque is up to 332 lb.-ft. and it comes on at 1600 rpm. This should be enough to propel the car to 60-mph in close to 4.5 seconds. An electronic limiter reins the top speed in at 155 mph.

The RS moniker denotes that this TT is built for sporting enthusiasts; as such, the only transmission is a custom-built close-ratio 6-speed with short throws. No DSG twin-clutch paddle shifting for owners of this pocket-rocket. With the press of a sport button flaps in the exhaust open and let the world know just how potent the TT RS is.

Weight is said to be kept low at below 3200 lb. for the coupe, while the convertible version is roughly another 150 lb. heavier. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard... but don't expect the RS to handle well in the snow. It has high-performance summer tires on 18-in. rims. If Audi should see the logic in providing such a performance car in the U.S. market, its price would rival that of the BMW M3.

By Shaun Bailey • Photos by John Lamm

READ MORE - 2009 Geneva Auto Show

Auto Show

Italdesign Giugiaro didn't disappoint at the Geneva Motor Show, revealing a new wedge-shaped hybrid sports-car concept called the Namir. The project was developed in cooperation with British carmaker Frazer Nash.

Besides the Namir's radical styling, what draws attention are Italdesign Giugiaro's claims: To put it simply, the Namir prototype is said to be the fastest yet also the most environmentally-friendly hybrid in the world.

Turin, Italy-based Italdesign Giugiaro says power for the Namir would come from an electric motor in conjunction with a "medium-powered" engine. The result would be a top speed of 186 mph, with 0–62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 4 sec. All this, while achieving a claimed 117.6 mpg with CO2 emissions of just 50 g/km. Of course, those numbers are all theoretical since the Namir is simply a concept at this point.

The lightweight and rigid chassis is made of carbon fiber, while the Namir's body uses aluminum and carbon fiber. The beautifully-finished interior is designed for high-speed comfort.

By Mike Monticello • Photos by John Lamm

READ MORE - Auto Show

Bugatti future unfolds in September

Bugatti unfolds in September its future, as Autovisie message after a conversation with Bugatti chief executive Franz-Josef Paefgen. In that month in home port Molsheim the anniversary event held to mark the 100th anniversary of the name.

Behind the scenes is currently working hard on a new model, as the Bugatti-leader on. "We are working on several projects," he says in Autovisie. The new Bugatti is certainly not smaller or less exclusive copy.

The Volkswagen subsidiary has its hands full for the construction of the Veyron. From the coupe version, the sales counter is already at more than 250 units, which means that less than 50 cars still exist. For the Grand Sport has the brand to own several dozens of orders received. Bugatti produces only 150 two-open. Special editions will be based on both variants come. Whether there is a stronger copy out is not clear. Paefgen leaves at least know that Bugatti is not the throne late strike. "If someone tries to beat us, we will have an answer ready," said Paefgen in Autovisie.


In an earlier interview with Autovisie, the Bugatti boss that "only in 2011 or 2012" is a completely new model. "The new car must fit into the Bugatti history, but also to the Veyron. A totally different direction is not an option." According to the principles of founder Ettore, the new car "at least one plane extreme, though not necessarily for performance. Bugatti affected the limits and always searched for new ideas to outdo the competition," said Paefgen.
via AutoTelegraaf

READ MORE - Bugatti future unfolds in September

Frankfurt preview: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

New 911 GT3 RS is the closest thing you can get to a racing version of the 911 while remaining street legal and it is set to make its first public appearance at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show. Based on the recently introduced 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 facelift, the latest generation RS model benefits from increased engine power, lower weight, shorter transmission ratios and an optimized chassis.

Designed to be the ultimate rear-wheel drive sports car, the RS features a modified version of the GT3's 3.8-liter boxer engine. Peak output climbs to 450 hp, which is 15 hp more than the standard GT3. Backed up by a short-throw six-speed manual transmission, the new 911 GT3 RS should accelerate from 0-100 km/h in four seconds, before hitting a top speed in excess of 314 km/h (195 mph).

The RS also features wider front and rear tracks as well as additional wheel arch covers that increase the span across the nose. The pronounced wheel arches house 19-inch alloys shod with 245/35 ZR 19 sports tyres up front and 325/30 ZR 19 at the rear.


Other performance tweaks include a wider front and rear track, a revised suspension management system, active engine mounts (which adjust their stiffness to reduce drivetrain shuffle), and an optional lithium-ion battery (it weighs 10 kg/22 lbs less than a conventional lead battery).

READ MORE - Frankfurt preview: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS