#2011GenevaAutoShow

Hatchbacks have their place in the U.S. but the term evokes a less-than-sporty image that sullies the sexy feel luxury manufacturers seek to embody.

Remember the retro-tastic Bulli from Geneva? If not, then this link should refresh your memory. Well, Volkswagen research and development boss Ulrich Hackenberg says it wasn’t just a snazzy show concept—the company plans to put it into production, under the MDS (modular design system) platform.

Like a scorned prom date, Jaguar has turned down the B99 concept that Bertone showed at Geneva this month, rejecting the Italian design studio’s vision of a possible X-Type replacement.

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Drumroll, please…the three finalists for the overall 2011 World Car of the Year are the 2011 Audi A8, the BMW 5 Series and the Nissan Leaf.

For the first time at the Geneva Auto Show, Lexus had on display the very special Nurburgring Edition version of the LFA supercar.

They still build the 9-3? You betcha, bucko, and they still like the 9-3 enough to give it a few more last hurrahs. But as fans of the original 900 know, all good things must come to an end – and when the replacement for the 9-3 is launched, it will draw much of its development from Saab’s PhoeniX concept.

Tata has been trying to dip its toe into the wild, wacky world of the European automobile market ever since they released their $2,500 Nano supermini. They made an attempt at appeasing discerning European customers with the Nano Europa, an “upscale” Nano with alloy wheels, power steering, and an extra cylinder (bringing the total to three).

Looking to return to its roots in a high-tech way, the brand famous for thinking small has unveiled a new more-mini MINI at the Geneva Auto Show.

Roughly a foot shorter in length than the current A4, the A3 sedan concept foreshadows a possible smaller 4-door for the Audi range. While other automakers are targeting younger buyers with coupes and hatchbacks, this concept is poised to bring to market a proven sports sedan package that does away with much of the size and weight (not to mention the price) that have made increasingly large models both unattractive to the Gen X and Gen Y crowd.

Whether you love or hate the way the Nissan Juke looks, it’s hard to argue that it’s anything but a blast to drive. Renault seems to be taking a few things from corporate partner Nissan, and emulating the Juke with their Captur, a concept that debuted at the Geneva Auto Show.

Set to take on BMW in the luxury sport coupe segment, Mercedes-Benz has introduced the C-Class Coupe at the Geneva Auto Show.

Maserati convertibles are for the kind of guys who like to wear their shirts open way past their neck and put their arm on the windowsill so everyone can see their rose gold Hublot Big Bang.

We’re all familiar with the Smart ForTwo, which is a polarizing vehicle to say the least, but initial impressions of their newest concept, the Forspeed EV Roadster, which debuted at the Geneva Auto Show, are all lining up in one direction, and it’s not exactly positive.

Faster? Sure. But better looking? Well, they’ve done it. The team at Aston Martin has beefed-up and beautified an already incredible car, turning the Vantage into the Vantage S.