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03/03/2010 | By: Colum Wood

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Leave it to Germany’s largest and most popular Volkswagen tuner to take something as cool as the brand new Golf R and make it even better! With VW’s 4MOTON all-wheel drive and a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder the Golf R is already seriously badass, but ABT has tuned the 2.0 TFSI engine to 310-hp, allowing for a 0-62 mph time of just 5.2 seconds.

ABT has also launched a new front bumper for the car and the company offers either 18 or 19-inch wheels.

We’re certain ABT will deliver even more goodies for the most hard core Golf yet, but until then, feel free to browse through the gallery below and say a prayer that the Golf R might make its way to the U.S. some day.

GALLERY: ABT Sportsline Golf R

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Official release after the jump:

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03/03/2010 | By: Dennis Chung

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Aston Martin introduced a new limited edition run of 40 cars celebrating Chief Executive Ulrich Bez’s tenth anniversary heading the luxury car manufacturer.

The DBS UB-2010 edition includes a run of 20 Coupes and 20 Volantes, each personally specified by Bez with a new Azurite Black paint finish with metallic bronze leather with woven seat inserts and Cryptic Titan facia finish. Each limited edition model features a UB-2010 sill plaque signed by Bez.

Gallery: Aston Martin DBS UB-2010 edition Volante

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03/03/2010 | By: Colum Wood

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Normally one of the quietest automakers when it comes to announcements and new products, Lotus has plenty to say these days and of the four vehicles on display at the Geneva Auto Show, all of them are new. Along with the restyled 2011 Elise, the Evora 414E Hybrid and Evora Cup Car, Lotus is also displaying the Evora Carbon Concept.

Taking the light-weight Lotus philosophy to new heights, the Evora Carbon Concept has a reduced overall weight (although we don’t know by how much) thanks to a structural carbon fiber roof as well as a carbon fiber front splitter and rear diffuser. A set of forged 19-inch wheels also help to keep weight to a minimum, while the interior is a carbon fiber and Alcantara oasis, with carbon door trim and even a carbon fiber steering wheel.

If we’re lucky, perhaps this concept car is a look ahead at a higher-performance Evora, or a new line of light-weight options for the Lotus flagship sports car.

GALLERY: Lotus Evora Carbon Concept

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Official release after the jump:

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03/03/2010 | By: Dennis Chung

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Tata unveiled a new electric version of its Nano at the Geneva Auto Show. The Nano EV joins the Indica Vista EV in Tata’s electric line-up.

The Nano EV will use the same super polymer lithium-ion battery as the Indica Vista EV. The electric version of the world’s least expensive automobile has a range of 99.4 miles, short of the Indica Vista EV’s 124-mile range, which is unusual considering the Indica Vista is a larger vehicle.

The Tata Nano EV will make its way to European markets in 2010 with expansion to other markets coming later.

Gallery: Tata Nano EV

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03/03/2010 | By: Colum Wood

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When Maserati announced it would debut another special edition model at the Geneva Auto Show we hardly even managed enough excitement to yawn. The new Quattroporte Sport GT S “Awards Edition,” is, however, worthy of a very intense look.

Sure its just another of probably a half-dozen limited edition QPs, but in person is a prime example of fine Italian coachwork. The Quarzo Fuso paint scheme is stunningly elegant, as is the car’s interior, with special Poltrona Frau leather seats, piano black wood trim and plenty Alcantara – including for the headliner. Other additions to this special edition include deep black 20-inch Multi Trident wheels and polished brake calipers.

Under the hood, the very excellent 430-hp, 4.7-liter V8 remains untouched.

As for the story behind the “Awards Edition,” Maserati has built the car to celebrate the 56 awards it has received since its inception. No doubt, this also signals the near end of the original QP as Maserati readies a second generation platform.

GALLERY: Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S “Awards Edition”

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Official release after the jump:

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03/03/2010 | By: Colum Wood

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German Ferrari-tuner Novitec Rosso chose the Geneva Auto Show as the venue to debut its most powerful car ever – an 848-hp Ferrari 599 GTB. With matte-white and matte-gray paint, this car is just one of three 848-hp special edition models, aptly named “848 Race.”

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 up to 848-hp. Novitec claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 214 mph.

Like the 808-hp version the 848 RACE also gets Novitec’s special wind-tunnel-tested aero kit, 20 and 21-inch wheels (staggered fitment), a massive brake upgrade and a height adjustable suspension.

GALLERY: Novitec Rosso 848 RACE

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Get all the details on the Novitec Rosso 848 RACE after the jump:

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03/03/2010 | By: Colum Wood

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We knew exotic car tuner Mansory was set to debut a fabulously hideous blue and gold Rolls-Royce Ghost at the Geneva Auto Show, but what surprised us was its equally outrageous co-stars. Sitting next to the Ghost, there’s also a widebody Porsche Panamera (which doesn’t look all that bad), the Cyrus carbon widebody Aston Martin DB9 and another carbon fiber clad beast, a Mercedes G Class.

The Rolls is still the main attraction, however, with gaudy gold wheels and detailing (including the grille). We particularly detest the gold fender vents sitting right next to the gold Rolls-Royce emblems.

What we do like is what Mansory has done under the massive hood, taking the twin-turbo V12 to 720-hp thanks to some larger turbos and other upgrades. Torque is rated at 750 lbs and Mansory estimates the car’s new top speed to be 193 mph. Ugly has never been so fast.

Be sure to check out the gallery below, for more pics of the Mansory Ghost and of the other Mansory-tuned cars at the Geneva Auto Show.

GALLERY: Mansory Rolls-Royce Ghost

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03/03/2010 | By: Colum Wood

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With Mitsubishi set to bring back the Colt to North America in the near future, we really hope a Ralliart model is also in the plans. While at the Geneva Auto Show we stumbled across such a car and just had to share it.

For starters, it just looks cool, with a big EVO-styled front end that really stands out against the pristine white paint. We even like the decals.

As a front-drive sub-compact, it looks to be plenty of fun thanks to a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder that makes 178-hp. (That’s 180 ps in Europe, hence the Ralliart 180 badges). Other parts involved in making it a Ralliart trim include a stylishly-subtle aero kit, a rear roof spoiler, as well as a set of 16-inch wheels and 205/45/16 tires.

Mitsubishi’s initial plans in bringing the Colt back to the U.S. are to expand its lineup and increase the volume of its sales, helping to grow the company back to what it was just a few years ago. If that plan goes well (which it may not considering how competitive the sub-compact market has become recently with additions like the Fiesa and upcoming Mazda2) perhaps a Colt Ralliart could be offered.

GALLERY: Mitubishi Colt Ralliart

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03/03/2010 | By: Colum Wood

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Hanging out near Ferrari and Maserati we found Fiat’s performance brand – Abarth. With several standard Fiat models set to arrive in North America in the next few months, we can only hope they will be followed shortly thereafter by their modified Abarth cousins.

Up first is the Abarth tuned version of the Fiat 500C (convertible). The car isn’t technically a convertible, however, 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 is also displaying its version of 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 still can’t find our way to liking the style of the Fiat 500, but we’d be likely to overlook it in an Abarth version. Better yet, give us the Punto Evo (Esse-Esse) please. And in fact we may just get what we’re asking for… sort of, as rumors suggest a Dodge branded version of a future Punto Evo model is in the works for our shores. Design-wise, we like the Punto Evo just the way it is and hope to get a similar looking vehicle in North America soon.

GALLERY: Abarth 500C

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GALLERY: Abarth Punto Evo

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03/03/2010 | By: Colum Wood

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Along with the first officially showing of the new 5 Series, BMW is also displaying a new hybrid 5 Series concept at the Geneva Auto Show. Following closely after the ActiveHybrid 7 Series and ActiveHybrid X6, the Concept 5 Series ActiveHybrid is powered by a 300-hp inline-six mated to a twin-scroll turbocharger – the same unit found in the 535i. This is then combined with a powerful 40kW electric motor (the motor in the 7 Series hybrid is just 15 kW) enabling this version to operate as a full two-mode hybrid. As a result, the Concept 5 Series ActiveHybrid can operate on electric power, gasoline power or a combination of both. The transmission used is an eight-speed automatic.

BMW says the electric battery is located in the trunk, although it has not specified if the battery is a more advanced lithium-ion unit (like in the 7 Series) or an old school nickel metal hydride unit like the in X6.

No fuel economy numbers have yet been released, but BMW is claiming an improvement in fuel economy by roughly 10 percent. That doesn’t at first seem all that great, but we should remind you that as a hybrid BMW, the 5er ActiveHybrid is likely to also have a performance advantage over the 535i, using the electric power under normal motoring to increase acceleration.

GALLERY: BMW Concept 5 Series ActiveHybrid

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