After famed styling house Italdesign was swallowed up by Volkswagen back in May 2010, we knew it was only a matter of time before the two came out with some kind of physical manifestation of their union. A little over 9 months later and their new bundle of joy, the Volkswagen Giugiaro Tex concept has burst forth at the Geneva Auto Show.

According to Italdesign, the Tex is an “interpretation of tomorrow’s sporty Volkswagen, and what else could power such a vehicle besides a hybrid drivetrain. The Tex uses VW’s proprietary plug-in hybrid system which apparently has a range of 21 miles on electric-only power.

Inside, the Tex eschews the outlandish cabins of most concepts for a pretty production ready interior. The VW flat-bottom steering wheel will be familiar to anyone who’s spent time in a GTI, and if the exterior is an indicator of the future design direction of a VW hot hatch, we’re all for it.

GALLERY: Volkswagen Giugiaro Tex Concept

During Audi‘s presentation at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show, a company spokesman praised the Audi Q5 Hybrid’s as a usable everyday car and not “…a complicated political statement. While this swipe at a well-known rival may be over the line to some observers, the fact is that they compete for two very different customer bases.

Audi claims that the Q5 Hybrid will best all segment rivals in terms of performance, practicality and efficiency. While we don’t have the numbers off-hand, we’re sure that for the kind of urban driving that crossovers tend to do, the Q5 Hybrid makes a lot of sense. Starting with Audi’s much loved 2.0T engine, the Q5 adds a 44-horsepower electric motor to the already potent 208 horsepower. Total torque output is 354 lb-ft, helping the car get to 60 mph in 7 seconds.

With an electric-only driving range of just under 2 miles, trips to the store could probably be done emissions free. Not that most buyers will care. The status of owning a hybrid is all they need to do their part for planet earth.

GALLERY: Audi Q5 Hybrid

The Kia Rio used to have the ignominious honor of being a “penalty box”, a car you didn’t want to spend time in unless absolutely necessary. But with the upswing in quality from Kia, and shared underpinnings from the promising new Hyundai Accent, the all-new Rio, shown for the first time at the Geneva Auto Show, might just be a solid little car for entry level buyers.

On sale in the U.S. this fall, the Rio features Kia’s new corporate styling cues, but still maintains a very close resemblance to the Ford Fiesta – not a bad thing in this segment. While only European specifications were announced, the North American version will probably use the 1.6L 138-horsepower 4-cylinder engine that the Accent uses, which will also deliver about 30-mpg in town and 41 mpg on the highway. The Rio should also boast one of the lightest curb weights in its class, and may even undercut the Accent’s MSRP.

Gallery: Kia Rio

This may be the most boring post you will ever read about the Volkswagen Golf R. Even though it has an awesome 270 horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder, all-wheel drive and a choice of 6-speed gearboxes, Volkswagen decided to milk the car for every last drop of “publicity” by launching 4 dubiously dubbed “concept” editions at the Geneva Auto Show.

The “concepts” are merely some Golf R models with unique interior and exterior combinations. The “Oryx White” model is available with a “St. Tropez” interior, while the “Carbon Steel Grey” model has the inside trimmed in “Almandine Red”. A third “Space Grey” model features a carbon fiber interior. The final model apes the “Space Grey” car’s exterior treatments but is finished in Aplomb Blue.

Frankly, we couldn’t care less. Just give us the damn car already. It could be painted in Pig Vomit Brown with an interior made of Hyena hides and we’d still drive it. Unfortunately, we won’t be getting those awesome bucket seats shown in the photos.

Gallery: Volkswagen Golf R Concepts

The Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet has always been a 4-wheeled shot of estrogen, and the new car, is no exception. While at first glance the Golf Cabrio looks identical identical to the Volkswagen Eos, the two cars have a couple key differences.

The Cabrio shuns the complex folding hardtop used on the Eos in favor of a traditional fabric roof. The soft top can be dropped in 9.5 seconds, and allows for greater trunk space. The two cars have an identical wheelbase and interior dimensions, but the Eos is longer overall.

Volkswagen hasn’t commented on whether we’ll see the Golf Cabriolet in America, but it seems to us that the Cabrio and Eos are a bit like the Scirocco and the Golf GTI – two cars that are too similar for their own good to be sold in a relatively small market like America. We can’t say we’re too choked up, and if VW was going to bring a low-volume specialty car, we’d much rather have the Scirocco than this sorority girl special.

Check out AutoGuide’s Geneva Auto Show coverage here

Gallery: Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet

The long rumored Hyundai Sonata station wagon exists, and it bowed at the Geneva Auto Show, dubbed the Hyundai i40 Tourer, in keeping with the brand’s European nomenclature.

Although Hyundai PR bigwigs have denied that the i40 will come to America, we think that rising gas prices may provide an impetus for this kind of vehicle, rather than an SUV. The i40 Tourer was designed at Hyundai’s German R&D facility, and it shows in the high-quality interior, compact 1.7L diesel engine and distinct styling. While a choice of powertrains is available, Hyundai is pushing their 1.7L diesel hard, an engine that is much more aligned with European rather than North American tastes. Expect this car to do battle with the Euro-market Volkswagen Passat wagon when it goes on sale this year.

Gallery: Hyundai i40 Tourer

In Germany, the Volkswagen Microbus was affectionately known as the “Bulli”, proving that terms of endearment and the German language aren’t always compatible. While Volkswagen had a false start with their Microbus concept in 2001, the same idea is back 10 years later, and it manages to be even more contemporary while still providing Baby Boomers with a hefty shot of nostalgia.

With an 85 kilowatt motor capable of returning 300 kilometers per charge, the Bulli may not be suitable for following Phish across the U.S.A, but its zero emissions drivetrain will definitely resonate with eco-conscious citizens who smell like bong water. VW is said to be investigating more conventional engines as well.

The usual super-modern infotainment systems, including iPad integration, an audio system designed by guitar maker Fender. One throwback is the front bench seat, a feature not seen since the days when kids could afford to buy a new Volkswagen, one that came with an air-cooled engine at that.

Gallery: Volkswagen Bulli

While Volvo was apparently set to discontinue North American sales of all station wagons – arguably the vehicle they built their reputation on – in favor of crossovers. But that looks like it will change starting in 2012, with the launch of their V60 plug-in hybrid.

Unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, the V60 Plug-In uses a 215 horsepower 2.4L diesel 5-cylinder engine to drive the front wheels, with a 70 horsepower electric motor powering the rear axle. Three power modes are available (one pure electric, one for hybrid driving and one for an extra boost, appropriately named “Power”). All-wheel-drive can also be engaged, with both motors driving all 4 wheels when traction is limited.

In electric mode, the V60 can go as far as 30 miles without using any diesel, and can be charged in as little as 3 hours. 60 mph comes up in only 7 seconds. We can’t imagine this car not coming Stateside. With Volvo exces previously commenting on their customers affinity for eco-friendly products – and the lack of such offerings in Volvo’s lineup – this one looks like a no-brainer.

Gallery: Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid

Mazda took the wraps off its Minagi concept crossover at the Geneva Auto Show today, showing the world what the upcoming CX-5 soft-roader will probably look like when it comes to market in the next couple years.

Powered by an unspecified SKYACTIV powerplant and featuring styling cues taken from the gorgeous Shinari concept car, the Minagi should be a promising entry into the crossover segment – assuming it holds up in the transition from concept to production.

Gallery: Mazda Minagi Concept

One strange aspect about the Chevrolet Cruze hatchbackhas less cargo room than its sedan counterparty. While the Cruze sedan has 450 liters of cargo space, the hatchback has 50 fewer liters because of the model’s shorter rear overhang.

Nevertheless, 65 percent of vehicles sold in Europe are hatchbacks, and a Cruze hatch is a necessity to compete on the world stage. Unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, the Cruze hatch has the same 1.6L and 1.8L gas engines and 2.0L turbodiesels as other world markets. If it makes it to North America, expect the familiar 1.4L Turbo and 1.8L 4-cylinder engines instead.

Gallery: Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback