It’s been long time coming but finally, we have a semblance of proof from Hennessey that the Venom GT is alive and well.

It shouldn’t have even come to this point because the car was expected to make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. But reportedly, there wasn’t enough room for the Venom GT to strut its wares, so Hennessey eventually decided to hold off the car’s debut until March 30.

As the first production car from a renowned tuning house, the Venom GT is a twin-turbo LS9 V8 engine Lotus-based machine that is poised to drop the jaws of anyone who gets too close to it. The car is available in three set-ups, specifically 540 kW, 745 kW and 895 kW – with all of its power converted to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. The car is expected to reach a top speed of 420 km/h – yes, you read that right, with a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of, wait for it…2.2 seconds!

It’s going to take a few more weeks before we see the Hennessey Venom GT in the flesh. But for now, consider this teaser photo of the car, shrouded in minimal lighting, as the first appetizer before the full entree is served on the 30th of March.

Adapted from TopSpeed

While going through the process of purchasing Saab from General Motors, development of Spyker’s upcoming D12 Peking to Paris SUV was put on hold. According to CEO Victor Muller, the company’s Cayenne rival is now back on track.

Launched four years ago at the Geneva Motor Show, Muller said at this year’s show that the development will now be accelerated since Spyker has more facilities, parts and technology at its disposal following the Saab deal. The Spyker D12 Peking uses a 373 kW Volkswagen W12 engine, that allows it to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 5 seconds with a top speed of 296 km/h.

Adapted from egmCarTech

Car fanatics visiting the Geneva Motor Show this week will certainly do a double-take at the Abarth stand. There, they’ll find the Abarth 500C and the Abarth Punto Evo, both created out of a partnership with Fiat.

The 500C show car is a two-tone model with half painted white and the other half in black. The 103 kW 1,4-litre turbocharged engine produces up to 206 N.m of torque and is capable of hauling the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds. This is still almost a second slower than the MINI Cooper S Convertible, however, fuel economy is much better than the Cooper, with the 500C using 6.5 l/100 km, versus the MINI’s 7.2 l/100km.

Right next to the 500C is the Punto Evo show car, in white with red accents, which sprints to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. It features a Garrett turbocharger mounted to the 1.4-litre Multiair engine, which now produces 119 kW and up to 250 N.m of torque. The ‘SS’ badged Punto Evo has an extra 12 kW. Exterior enhancements include a larger font bumper and a new rear bumper with space for twin exhaust pipes and a diffuser. The SS model also features better brakes and 18-inch wheels.

Customers in Europe and Japan will be the first to drive the new cars with South Africa and other world markets to follow around mid-year.

Toyota’s RAV4 gets a fresh new look for 2010, with a redesign that blends contemporary urban style with the durability for which Europe’s original recreational compact SUV is renowned.

Unveiled this week at the Geneva motor show, the 2010 RAV4 has an all-new front-end that not only looks good, but is also more aerodynamically efficient. A wider grille, with horizontal bars and chrome accents, displays the new Toyota family look that has been carried over from the latest Avensis, Verso and Auris models. The grille is flanked by new headlights, with projector-type low beam lamps.

A new flowing bonnet design helps to emphasise RAV4’s wide track and dynamic appearance, qualities that are further expressed in a new full-width front bumper. Further chrome detailing around the foglamps and bonnet moulding add an extra dash of premium appeal. Inside the cabin the high quality finish is complemented by new leather and Alcantara upholstery.

In the UK the 2010 RAV4 will carry forward its Toyota Optimal Drive powertrains, with 2,0-litre Valvematic petrol and 2.2 D-4D and D-CAT diesel engines, with six-speed manual, Mutridrive S (Toyota’s advanced continuously variable transmission) and six-speed automatic transmissions. CO2 emissions start from just 150 g/km.

Adapted from TestDriven

Last year Koenigsegg displayed a new 4-seater electrical car concept, this year the Quant is back, but this time at the stand of NLV Solar, the company that will further develop the electric car.

The NLV Quant has a full carbon chassis, carbon body and four electric motors producing 147 kW each. Through the use of lightweight carbon fibre, the car weighs just 1 680 kg’s and despite the heavy batteries, manages to accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in a phenomenal 2.8 seconds. The four engines are placed one-per-wheel, with a torque vectoring system between them to aid with stability and agility.

The exterior of the car is covered in a thin film of pyrite, converting sunlight into energy, to supply power to the operating electronics and the battery. According to NLV Solar, the concept can be readied for production and brought to life within the next 12 months.

With 588 kW on tap and a top speed of 377 km/h, the Quant is certainly one of the most exciting concepts at Geneva this year.

Bugatti has presented two bespoke Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport models for audiences at the 2010 Geneva International Motor Show. They are there to show more of what Veyron buyers can choose when customising their cars.

On the first car, the bonnet, monocoque and rear section are made of carbon fibre, tinted in a Royal Dark Blue colour. The hue also comes through on the air intakes, grilles and inner sides of the horseshoe-shaped spokes in the wheel rims. Inside, the dashboard, centre console, seats and door trim panels have been crafted out of a dark blue Indigo leather. Bugatti has already sold this car direct from the factory for €1.75 million.

On the second car, dark grey carbon fibre can be seen on the upper body and the rims are finished in polished aluminium, while the EB logos and all screws are made of sparkling aluminium. Similarly the dashboard, centre console, seats and interior trim panels are leather-bound with a soft contrast in silver. This particular car has also been spoken for, at a price of €1.65 million.

Bugatti Press Release (Click to expand)

Adapted from WorldCarFans

Prior to its Geneva launch this week, details of the new Volkswagen Polo GTI were announced, along with a couple of images. This week, there have been plenty of cameras on-hand to capture the new car on display in Geneva, so we thought we’d let you feast your eyes on the new baby GTI.

To refresh your memory, the new Polo GTI will be powered by a 1,4-litre TSI (Turbo- and Supercharged) engine, producing 130 kW and 232 N.m of torque. Zero to 100 km/h will reportedly take 6.9 seconds and top speed is a respectable 227 km/h. Not too far off the bigger Golf GTI in terms of power and top speed, not to mention the lighter weight, we can see many chip-tuning companys extracting a few more kilowatts from the Polo GTI to give Golf GTI owners a hard time on the strip.

Expect a South African launch towards the end of the year – no word on pricing yet.

The Black Baron is back. After shoehorning an insanely powerful V12 into a Mercedes-Benz E-class sedan at last years Frankfurt Motor Show (and dressing it like the Batmobile), German tuner Brabus announced they’re offering the same prescription for the new E-class Coupé.

Brabus starts with Mercedes’ 5,5-litre V12, which powers the likes of the S- and SL600 models, but bores it out to that magical 6,3-litre displacement. The larger bore, coupled with new camshafts, a special crankshaft, twin-turbochargers and other tuning tricks, allow the engine to whip up an astounding 588 kW and 1 420 N.m of torque – although electronically limited to 1 100 N.m so as not to tear the tarmac from the earth.

As was the case with the E V12 Sedan, power is enough to rocket Brabus’ magic coupé from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, and to 200 km/h in 9.9 seconds. The car can reach a top speed of 300 km/h with the speed limiter intact, but removed, that figure grows to an insane 370 km/h.

Like the sedan, the E V12 coupé receives a number of upgrades to help contain the lunacy, including upgraded brakes (12-piston 380 mm up front and 6-piston 360 mm at the rear), a revised suspension system, and a carbon fibre body kit that was actually designed in a wind tunnel. Unlike the sedan, the coupe has thankfully not been fitted with the ghastly rear wheel covers.

No word on pricing yet, although don’t be surprised if Brabus keep the E V12 Coupe as expensive (US$875 000) and exclusive (10 examples total) as its four-door sibling. The E V12 Coupe is now the quickest Brabus available, taking the crown from the fractionally slower Brabus Bullit C-Class.

The Mercedes-Benz F800 Style was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show this week. As a research design study, the vehicle could be pivotal for fans of the German brand. The car could be a preview of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS Class.

Engineers designed the car to be able to use two different powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid and a fuel cell. As a plug-in, the car uses a 220 kW V6 petrol engine mated to a 81 kW motor for a combined output of 301 kW. The car is capable of running as an all-electric up to 120 km/h, or to 249 km/h when using the engine. A zero to 100 km/h sprint takes just 4.7 seconds. Impressive figures, but perhaps the most astonishing feature of this powerplant is the economy it deliveres; less than 2,9 litres/100 km according to Mercedes. This setup has already been earmarked for use in the next-generation S-Class.

If built with a fuel cell, the concept’s electric motor would be rated at 101 kW, producing up to 290 N.m of torque. Hydrogen in the four tanks reacts with an onboard oxygen supply to create an electrical current sent to the lithium-ion battery. Mercedes was not clear about what the vehicle’s range would be.

The car features a flowing, modern design that uses modern LED lighting with an interesting front-end, and a stubbed rear, some 177 mm shorter than the current CLS. According to Mercedes-Benz’s head of design, Gordon Wagener “the exciting coupe-like roof line, and in general the vehicle’s balanced proportions, lend it a stylish sporty look that reinterprets the Mercedes-Benz design idiom and emphasizes the sculptural character of the F800 Style. The result is a harmonious blend of innovative form and function, which conveys a sense of great styling and authority”.

The new Nissan Micra has at last been revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. It seems the Micra has grown up and traded its youthful, quirky, looks for a more stayed and conventional design.

Expected to be launched in South Africa later this year, the next-generation Micra is Nissan’s answer to the growing ‘global car’ trend. Built on Nissan’s new V-platform, the new Micra will be produced in China, India and Thailand. Nissan says its V-platform has been developed to maximise the car’s compatibility with the localisation requirements of different global markets. The Japanese carmaker has over 150 countries in its sights.

With a slightly longer wheelbase than its predecessor, Nissan says the new Micra offers greater interior space and comfort, particularly in the rear. The Micra will be launched in Europe with two engine choices. The first being a naturally-aspirated 1,2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine developing 60 kW and 108 N.m of torque, and the second a turbo-charged version of the same engine, producing 75 kW and 142 N.m of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, with Nissan’s new Continuously Variable Transmission also available.

Nissan’s Parking Space Measurement system will feature as an option, along with a multi-function touch-screen with navigation, and a glass roof. Depending on the market, safety features will include ABS, dual front airbags, curtain and side airbags, ESP and pre-tensioner seatbelts.

Nissan SA has not released details on the specifications and engine options for the car’s local launch.

Audi has revealed the A8 Hybrid, at Geneva today, showcasing a new petrol-electric hybrid powerplant that is expected to be added to the A8 range in 2011.

The Audi A8 hybrid will be powered by a 2.0 TFSI engine and an electric motor, both of which are linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Audi says the A8 Hybrid has the same performance figures as a model powered by a large-capacity conventional six-cylinder engine. The petrol part of the power equation comes from Audi’s 2,0-litre turbocharged engine producing 155 kW and 350 N.m of torque, while the electric motor puts out 33 kW and a healthy 211 N.m of torque. When both are operating simultaneously, a total of 180 kW and 480 N.m are available.

Electric drive power is supplied by a lithium-ion battery pack mounted in the rear of the car, and ancillaries such as the power steering, air-conditioner compressor and brake vacuum are now electrically-run rather than engine-driven. The battery pack does intrude into boot space, however a full 400 litres of cargo volume is still available.

Despite weighing in excess of 1 800 kg, the A8 Hybrid is still capable of accelerating from 0 – 100km/h in 7.6 seconds and running up to a top speed of 235 km/h – thanks to the 2,0-litre TSFI engine. Average fuel consumption is claimed to be just 6.2 l/100km on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 144g/km, and city traffic sees the A8 Hybrid using 20 percent less fuel than a petrol-engined model. Fully-electric operation can be sustained for over two kilometres at speeds up to 65km/h, and regenerative braking enables the battery to be topped up while on the move. When coasting or at rest, the petrol engine shuts down to conserve fuel.

Audi has yet to announce precise launch dates for a production version of the A8 Hybrid, but the German automaker acknowledges the hybrid design study is “near-production” and industry pundits expect it to go on sale in Europe and the USA by late 2011. So far there’s no indication on a South African release for the A8 Hybrid, and the car will likely be built in left-hand drive only.

Much of the technology showcased in the A8 Hybrid will transfer to Audi’s upcoming Q5 Hybrid mid-size SUV, which was confirmed for a 2011 debut late last year and will be sold almost exclusively in the United States. Specific details on the Q5 Hybrid have yet to be released, but expect much of its tech specs to echo those of the A8 Hybrid concept.

Adapted from TheMotorReport

Joule, the electric vehicle from South African company Optimal Energy, is on display at the 80th International Motor Show in Geneva in a form tantalisingly close to the planned production version.

Designed by South African-born Keith Helfet – well known for his design of the iconic Jaguar XJ220 – Joule has been developed from a static display model and engineering prototype into a pre-production prototype by Zagato’s Total Design Centre, and Joule deservedly forms the centrepiece of a stand at Geneva shared by Optimal Energy and the iconic Milanese design house.

The Optimal Energy-Zagato-Helfet team has made a number of changes to Joule and the car shown in Geneva is somewhat different, especially at the rear, from the version first unveiled in Paris two years ago. This car was hand-built in Port Elizabeth by Hi-Tech Automotive, which is responsible for building a marketing and test fleet of approximately 100 vehicles. These will double as research and development units, some of which will be on South African roads by the start of the Soccer World Cup in June.

Joule’s mantra is Born Electric. A key strength and differentiator of Optimal Energy is freedom from many of the constraints that affect traditional car companies. As virtually the only automotive manufacturer focused exclusively on electric cars for the mass market, everything Optimal Energy does is directed towards achieving that goal. Not only has this fresh approach led to the creation of a new kind of car, but it will ultimately also lead to a new way of buying a car and a new kind of customer ownership experience.

Full-scale production of Joule will begin at the end of 2012, with cars in showrooms by mid-2013. Key design goals for the finished product include a range of 230 kilometres based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) or 300 km using the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS); integration with existing charging infrastructure; a genuine freeway cruising capability; seating for five; a 4-star NCAP safety rating and a retail price of €24 300, or roughly R260 000 at today’s exchange rate.

Optimal Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EDAG, a German automotive full service supplier, to industrialise the Joule. EDAG has built an outstanding reputation working with many well known carmakers over the past 40 years, and in partnering with EDAG, Optimal Energy is ensuring that the best of German automotive engineering will be integrated into the series production Joule.

Optimal Energy has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Energy Innovation Group (EIG), a South Korean lithium battery cell supplier, to explore the potential of setting up a manufacturing facility in South Africa, for the non-exclusive supply of cells to Optimal Energy. The Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), as potential investor, is party to this Memorandum. The IDC is currently an investor in Optimal Energy.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of South Africa has just announced its 2010 – 2013 Industrial Policy Action Plan, in which the commercialisation of South Africa’s electric car is specifically addressed. This includes the provision of appropriate support to encourage local manufacture of EV’s and related components, infrastructure roll-out for such EV’s, creation of testing facilities, provision of demand stimulation mechanisms and public education on the use and benefits of alternative energy source vehicles.

These are major steps towards reaching Optimal Energy’s vision of establishing and leading the electric vehicle industry in South Africa and expanding globally.

Via Optimal Energy. Images via @HannesO_CARmag