With Audi having already provided all the details and pictures on its new A1 model that’s set to debut at the Geneva Auto Show this week, the German automaker seems to have a little surprise up its sleeve. And we do mean little.

Having shown the E-tron concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show and a very different version at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, rumors suggest Audi will display an A1-based E-Tron – something that certainly makes a lot of sense. After all, a small, premium electric city car isn’t much of a stretch for the European market.

There’s not word on power or recharge information, but we expect Audi to provide those details at the vehicle’s debut on Tuesday, March 2nd. It will most certainly be a concept, but look for an actual production model in the next few years.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

[Source: LeBuzzAuto]

Arguably the most prestigious auto show of them all, this year’s Geneva Motor Show looks to combine the venue’s usual theme of high-powered exotic and luxury cars with new, green hybrid technology. With the 2010 Geneva Auto Show officially kicking off its schedule of world premieres on Tuesday, March 2nd, the show will also be open on the 1st allowing us to bring you plenty of early coverage – particularly on the wild creations from the German tuning industry.

Along with our usual fast-paced blogging of all the new vehicles, we’ve launched a complete Geneva Auto Show coverage hub, where you can find all of our stories in one convenient location. To access that page click the link below, where we’ve already assembled as much show news as possible:

2010 Geneva Auto Show Coverage

World premieres for this year’s show include a long list of high-end hybrids, from the Ferrari 599 Hybrid Concept, Porsche GT3 R Hybrid, 2011 Porsche Cayenne (including a Hybrid model), 2011 Volkswagen Touareg (including a Hybrid model), BMW Concept 5 Series ActiveHybrid, Audi A8 Hybrid and Lexus CT200h – the first full hybrid in the premium compact class. Lotus will also show a hybrid concept based on the Evora sports car. Called the 414E Hybrid, it works like the Chevy Volt, delivering 35 miles of emissions-free electric driving before the gasoline engine kicks in to extend the car’s range to 300 miles. Oh, and it also makes 400-hp!

Not all unveilings will be hybrids however, with several high-performance models relying on good-old internal combustion technology. These include a new high-performance version of the Lamborghini Gallardo, referred to as either the LP570-4 SuperVeloce or the LP570-4 Superleggera, as well as Audi’s new RS5 and the Porsche 911 Turbo S. Plus, there will be plenty of wildly modified cars from renowned German tuning houses such as Brabus, TechArt, Hamann, Carlsson, ABT Sportsline and Mansory.

See after the jump for quick links to our 2010 Geneva Auto Show preview stories:

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Fiat’s performance-minded Abarth brand will unveil two new models, based off of Fiat products that were introduced last year. Up first is the Abarth 500C, an upgraded version of the Fiat 500C (the C, standing for convertible). The car isn’t technically a convertible, but rather features a retractable cloth top and retains the roof rails. Power comes from Fiat’s turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder with 140-hp, allowing for a 0-62 mph time of 7.9 seconds. Also included are upgraded wheels, brakes, a new suspension setup, aero kit and stylish two-tone paint scheme. There’s no official word, but we’re likely to see this model join Fiat’s lineup in North America in the next several years – after the standard 500 and 500C are introduced.

Next up, Abarth will also debut a larger and more powerful model, based on the Fiat Punto Evo. Looking like a hot-hatch we’d love to have in our garage, this model gets the same 1.4-liter turbocharged Multiair engine but tuned to 165-hp. (A 178-hp Esse-Esse model will also be available). It gets the usual list of wheel, brake and suspension upgrades as well as a typically-sporty aero kit and paint scheme.

We can’t say we’ve been overly excited about Fiat’s return to North America, but if it includes these Abarth models, we’re stoked!

Click here for AutoGuide’s live Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: Abarth Puno Evo

GALLERY: Abarth 500C

Official release after the jump:

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Several images of Ferrari’s upcoming 599 Hybrid concept have leaked online ahead of the car’s official debut at the Geneva Auto Show next week. The photos appear to be snapped at the Italian automaker’s stand at the Geneva Show, where the car is sitting in preparation for its Tuesday unveiling.

Little is still known about the hybrid exotic, although it is expected to use a version of Ferrari’s F1-derived Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) setup, using power generated under braking to deliver an extra boost of power, available to the driver via a steering wheel button.

It is not clear if Ferrari intends that the hybrid system work to save fuel as well, but rumors have suggested that it could help power the car at low speeds and when combined with an automatic start/stop system could drastically reduce the vehicle’s fuel consumption.

See here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: Ferrari 599 Hybrid Concept

[Source: CarSpyShots]

Toyota today confirmed that it will extend the pick-up and drop-off of vehicles involved in the recent recalls to all its customers in the United States. Earlier in week, Toyota announced the program of extraordinary service for its customers in the New York region.

Services provided by Toyota include a pick up and return of the vehicle by a dealership employee, driving the customer to the dealership or his or her place of work, or (when necessary), providing alternative transportation including a loaner vehicle, rental car or even taxi reimbursement.

Toyota says the service will be covered entirely by the company, and will not have to be covered by dealers. It applies to all customers with a recalled vehicle in one of four recalls: sticking accelerator pedals, floor mat pedal entrapment, anti-lock brake system software updates, and Tacoma front drive shaft inspection.

Toyota advises that anyone with additional questions should contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 or the Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-255-3987, or visit www.toyota.com/recall.

Official release after the jump:

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Toyota “withheld relevant electronic records” that it was required, by law, to produce said Rep. Ed Towns, Chairman of the committee looking into Toyota’s current recall woes. Towns, (D-N.Y.), made the comments today during the continuing House Oversight and Government Reform Committee meetings that earlier this week saw Toyota CEO Akia Toyoda grilled by lawmakers over his company’s numerous and far-reaching recalls and its slow response time in issuing those recalls.

Towns made the comments after reviewing documents subpoenaed from a former Toyota lawyer, which show that Toyota didn’t hand over its research data on some models, instead opting to engage in multi-million dollar settlements rather than divulge the information. The documents relate specifically to SUV rollovers, not to the current recall issues.

Toyota responded by saying it had done nothing wrong and that it stands by its decision to withhold certain information, “to maintain the confidentiality of competitive business information and trade secrets.”

In a press release issued in response to Rep. Towns statement, Toyota states that, “We are confident that we have acted appropriately with respect to product liability litigation and our discovery practices and look forward to addressing Chairman Towns’ concerns.

[Source: Automotive News]

Thanks to photos and information from GTSpirit, we’re able to bring you the very latest supercar from Koenigsegg – the Agera. Looking mostly similar to the CCX, the Agera appears to be some sort of special edition version of the Swedish supercar.

So what’s so special about it? We’re glad you asked.

For starters, the 4.7-liter twin-supercharged V8 has been boosted further to create an incredible 910-hp and 811 ft-lbs of torque. When combined with an ultra-low curb weight of just 2,832 lbs and using a sequential gearbox the Agera can hit 62 mph in just 3.1 seconds and blast on to a top speed of 242 mph.

Style-wise, the Agera does get slightly modified front and rear bumpers and, like every other car these days, the Agera gets some LED lights. The car’s carbon-Kevlar body is specially designed to produce downforce at speed, with 661 lbs of downward force being generated at 155 mph.

According to GTSpirit, just 16-20 Agera models will be built each year, starting later this year.

AutoGuide will bring you plenty of new photos of the Agera and of the rest of the cars at the Geneva Auto Show with live coverage starting next Monda, March, 1st.

See here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: Koenigsegg Agera

[Source: GTSpirit]

Novitec Rosso has struck once again with an even more powerful version of the Ferrari 599 GTB. Thanks to some new turbine blades on the superchargers, some modified piping and a retuned ECU, the twin-supercharged V12 engine has been bumped from the last 808-hp tuning phase all the way up to 848-hp. Novitec claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 214 mph.

Painted in matte white and black and including all of the Novitec goodies, like a special aero kit, 20 and 21-inch wheels with a massive brake upgrade and a height adjustable suspension, Novitec will build just three 848 Race models.

The car will officially debut at the Geneva Auto Show next week and AutoGuide will bring you plenty of live photos with complete show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: Novitec Rosso 848 RACE

See the official release and an incredible video of the Novitec Rosso 599 (808-hp version) after the jump:

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German Porsche tuner TechArt has two new projects in store for the Geneva Auto Show, one powerful and traditional, and one that takes the tuner in a whole new direction. First up is the Concept One, based on the Panamera Turbo. Looking quite like a concept, particularly on the inside, where unique materials and funky designs meet up with a black and white canvass highlighted by lime-green detailing. There’s even a 10.2-inch LCD screen in the rear. Outside, the car gets plenty of unique options, like 22-inch wheels and a widebody kit. The purpose of the Concept One is to highlight TechArt’s individualization program, which it offers to clients. And as much as this looks like a concept, TechArt isn’t the sort of company to toss it’s money around needlessly and so you can be sure that as wild as the Concept One looks, it likely belongs to a customer who actually intends to drive it.

Next up is the GT Street R, a significantly modified version of the new 2010 911 Turbo, with 660-hp and 635 ft-lbs of torque. This model is more in line with TechArt’s usual creations, delivering incredible amounts of power in a show car package. We particularly like all the dry carbon body parts and the massive (and adjustable) rear spoiler. Much like the Concept One, the interior of the GTStreet R is also a work of art, but on a more realistic level with bountiful amounts of carbon fiber, black leather and red stitching.

Importantly, the GTStreet R, it is intended to be a serious performance machine (on the street or the track), delivering a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed o 214 mph – autobahn anyone?

See here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: TechArt Concept One

GALLERY: TechArt GTStreet R

Official release after the jump:

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Famed Honda tuner Mugen has just released a full line of aesthetic and “performance” accessories for the new CR-Z. While in stock form the CR-Z doesn’t seem overly sporty with just 122-hp, Mugen is hoping to improve on that with a new stainless steel exhaust system which will be good for maybe a pony or two. New brake pads are also offered, as well as a completely new suspension. Also helping in the handling department are two new wheel designs in several finishes, which will no doubt be larger and lighter than the stock rollers with the ability to handle some slightly wider and lower profile tires.

As for the Mugen dress-up parts, they really give the CR-Z an aggressive side, although we’re not quite sure about the LED bumper insert. Oh, and that rear spoiler seems a bit much too. We do, however, particularly like the triangle-shaped exhaust finisher.

Other accessories include a Mugen shift knob (already being copied and sold on eBay, no doubt), as well as Mugen floor mats and a three-gauge cluster.

Have a look at the full gallery below and download your Mugen CR-Z wallaper here.

GALLERY: Mugen CR-Z