Hyundai used the 2009 Geneva Auto Show to unveil the “ix-onic” – an crossover concept that will eventually become the successor to the Hyundai Tucson. Hyundai also plans to change the entry-level SUVs name to the ix-35.

This stunning concept car makes use of a turbocharged direct-injection 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 175hp. Possibly even more exciting is the fact that the crossover concept also uses a double-clutch gearbox with ISG (Idle Stop and Go) technology. Will we see either this engine or transmission in the production vehicle?We certainly hope so.

Some of the notable design features are the LED daytime running lights, 21-inch wheels and the hexagonal front grille. This grille is particularly important as Hyundai intends to use this strong design across its SUV range. In fact, the is-onic Concept will donate its creativity to the next generation Santa Fe and Verarcuz.

GALLERY: Hyundai ix-onic Concept

Official release after the jump:

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Oh hell yes!

Rumors abounded before the Geneva Auto Show that the company was bringing a new crossover. Well, for anyone who really wanted YET ANOTHER crossover from the Japanese luxury arm of Nissan we hate to tell you this but… they decided to take the wraps of a 600hp Hybrid Concept car instead. It’s name? The Essence Concept.

We won’t ramble on about the design elements – you can stare at the pictures for that. (Or read the press release below).

Let’s just say it’s achingly beautiful. It does, however, look a lot like the Lexus FL-A – only with classic Infiniti styling.

As for the powerplant, it is made up of Infiniti’s 3.7-liter V6 engine with two turbochargers and direct injection and makes 440hp. An electric motor is also a part of the package. The electric motor is a new innovation from Infiniti, which the company called 3D Motor. Infiniti says it is quite small but makes twice the power of a conventional electric motor. This motor creates 160hp and uses  lithium-ion battery pack in the trunk area to store power.

As to speculation over if this car will ever make it to market, the possibility seems to be there as Infiniti has repeatedly boasted that they intend to take on the entire European market.

GALLERY: Infiniti Essence Concept

Official release after the jump:

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Ferrari unveiled two vehicles at the Geneva Auto Show today, with the most exciting one not even being a street car. The 599XX was conceived specifically for track use, and will be part of Ferrari track events that will be arranged for the 2010/11 season – for those lucky enough to afford it of course.

The program is expected to be similar to the FXX program or possibly even as involved as the F430 Challenge series.

The V12 engine found in the 599XX makes an outrageous 700hp at 9000 rpm. To achieve this Ferrari engineers significantly modified the engine with a new, lighter, crankshaft. Carbon fiber is also used for the intake plenums. As well, the 599XX has the same 60 millisecond shift time as found in the F430 Scuderia.

Due to the new aerodynamics of the 599XX it now gets 612 lbs of downforce at 124 mph and almost 1,400 lbs of downforce at 186 mph!

One particularly important innovation on the 599XX is Ferrari’s new “Actiflow” technology, that adjusts downforce and drag depending upon how the car is operating. This is achieved through the use of a porous materia in the diffuser and two fans in the trunk lid that work to channel air from under the car out through two grilles next to the tail lights. Rather noticeable winglets have also been added to the the are just behind the winds, where the buttresses are located.

Ferrari hasn’t yet released how much lighter the car is but you can be sure it is significant as almost every part of the vehicle we checked is made of carbon fiber.

GALLERY: Ferrari 599XX

There isn’t much more to tell about the Gumpet Apollo SPEED that what we already reported. These are, however, the first photos of the German supercar.

Whereas past Apollo models, including the Apollo, Apollo Sport and Apollo Race, were all aimed at track performance, the Speed model is designed for hitting and breaking those 200+ mph barriers. And according to Gumpert, that shouldn’t be a problem with the Apollo Speed, as it is listed as having a top speed of 224 mph!

To hit these speeds, Gumpert stuck to modifying the aerodynamics of the car and left the engine well-enough alone. A revised front end, including new, smoother front fenders and a modified front air intake, as well as a new adjustable rear spoiler are apparently enough to get the Apollo up to that 224 mph speed.

As you can see from these new photos, the Apollo SPEED also uses special wheel covers to hit that 224 mph mark.

As for the engine, it remains unchanged from past models. Out back can be found a 4.2-liter twin-turbocharged Audi 4.2-liter V8, which produces anywhere from 650 to 800hp. Gumpert claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.0 seconds.

GALLERY: Gumpert Apollo SPEED:

That’s right, VW will be getting into the ultra-competitive sub-compact segment in North America with the new VW Polo.

There is no word on which engine options will be offered but we wouldn’t be surprised to see one of the TDI engines (of which VW will produce three) offered. TDI models will range in power from 60 to 105 hp.

As for gasoline engines, the Polo will be offered worldwide with four different FSI engines. The U.S.-market is likely to see just one of these but possibly two. The most likely is the 1.2TSI, a turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 105hp.

The next engine down from that is a naturally aspirated 1.4-liter four-cylinder with 90hp.

VW is planning to offer some of the higher-performance Polos with its new 7-speed DSG gearbox. Some models will also be offered with 17-inch wheels.

Look out Honda Fit!

GALLERY: 2010 VW Polo

Official release after the jump:

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**UPDATED with Official REVEAL Photos

Lambo has done it again, releasing an even more powerful version of the LP640, the LP670-4 SuperVeloce. Boasting as outrageous 670hp and 487 ft-lbs of torque from the Lambo 6.5-liter V12 engine this is enough, says Lamborghini, to propel the LP670 SV to 62 mph in just 3.2 seconds.

There are, however, two other important reasons for the incredibly fast acceleration time, the supercar’s weight and its AWD system. For starters, as the 4 in the car’s name suggests, the SuperVeloce is still an all-wheel drive beast.

The amazing thing, however, was that Lamborghini still managed to reduce the weight of the car by 220 lbs.!

Top speed for the new Bull is rated at 212 mph thanks in part to the extra power but also due to the  increased aerodynamics of the car. In fact the LP670 SV is offered with two different spoilers as well as some very custom aerodynamcis that help keep it stable at high speeds.

The Lamborghini LP670-4 SV will be limited to just 350 units.

GALLERY: Lamborghini LP670-4 SuperVeloce

Official release after the jump:

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Thanks to good friend of AutoGuide, Chris Grosser, we have quite a gallery of exotic cars from an ultra-exclusive event held in Florida.

Just over a week ago several dozen exotic car owners got together and rented out a two-mile-long aviation runway in Ochopee, FL, to see just how fast these cars could go… and just how big their owners’ cajones are.

Included in the long list of exotics was a twin-turbo 1000 hp+ Lamborghini Murcielago and several “Underground Racing”twin-turbo Gallardos. A stunning Saleen S7 also made an appearance.

“It’s not an everyday occurrence to view such cars in the wild,” says Grosser, “much less out on an endlessly long runway being pushed to their limits. It’s a thing of sheer beauty to view a car like the S7 being run to its full potential and not just sitting near a glass showcase or behind velvet ropes like a coveted piece of art.”

Amen to that!

Grosser, a student and photographer, obviously wasn’t out running his own hyper-car but did manager a 175mph ride in a friends Bentley Continental GT.

Grosser reports that many of the “tens of millions of cars” in attendance surpassed the 200mph mark, including those Lambos, the Saleen, and a Ford GT.

GALLERY: 200 MPH EXOTICS

[Source: ChrisGrosserPhotography]

We just captured a few images of Opel’s upcoming Ampera (unfortunately all from the same angle), based on the yet-unreleased Chevy Volt. The styling is certainly more progressive, although the basic shape of the car remains similar to the Volt/Prius/Insight design.

We’ll be sure to bring you full info on this car from tomorrow’s press conference and see if Opel’s recent decision to spin-off from General Motors will disrupt plans at all.  We’ll also be sure to bring you more photos.

The Lexus LS460, Rated the Best Overall Car by Consumer Reports for 2008

Consumer Reports has just released its list of the best cars in each class and the Japanese are dominating with 8 vehicles (out of 10) in the top spots. CR says it bases its results on three variables: Road Tests, Reliability and Safety.

For a car to be a top pick it must have ranked at the top of its class in an overall test score, which includes 50 individual tests. A Car must also have an average of better predicted reliability rating and must perform “adequately” in safety tests by the NHTSA or IIHS. Consumer Reports also stipulates that for any car to be a top pick it must have stability control (ESC).

And The Winners are:

Best Overall: Lexus LS460

-powerful, good fuel-economy,uncompromising luxury

Best Family Sedan: Honda Accord

-Roomy, well-rounded and fun to drive, plus ESC (Altima bested Accord in most tests but not all Altimas come with ESC)

Best Pickup Truck: Chevrolet Avalanche

-functional and comfortable

Best Small SUV: Toyota Rav4

-roomy and quiet, good on gas with 4 or 6-cyl, third row seat available

Best Midsized SUV: Toyota Highlander

-quiet, three rows of seats, decent fuel economy, versatile, AWD optional, Hybrid available

Best Minivan: Toyota Sienna

-versatile, seating for 8, rivals luxury cars for interior, AWD optional

Best Small Car: Hyundai Elantra

-comfortable and roomy wih good fuel economy, ESC on SE model

Best Green Car: Toyota Prius

-Prius wins six years running

Best UpScale Sedan: Infiniti G37

-Agile, great interior, AWD optional, luxury and sport all in one.

Best Fun to Drive Car: Mazda MX-5 Miata

-Tied Boxster in testing but costs half as much

[Source: Consumer Reports]

World famous Italian design studio Giugiaro said that it would be bringing the world’s fastest hybrid to the Geneva Auto Show and we have the first pictures. Giugiaro did send out a press release with a rendering but these are the first photos. We still don’t really know anything more about the exotic-looking beast but heck… the show doesn’t even start until tomorrow.

What we did observe were Lambo-style scissor doors with a stunning quilted Alcantara interior. The car also has a set of big Brembos. And judging from the matrix design in the glass on the upper corners of the roof and on the hood the car appears to have some solar-heating applications.

We did watch Giugiaro staff place a decal on the side of the car that appears to read “VAMIR.” Could this be the name of Giugiaro’s fierce creation?

GALLERY: Giugiaro