Seeing the latest Audi A1 and A1 e-tron models at the Geneva Motor Show it is clear that the small car offerings are at the center the quad-ring automaker’s attention. In addition to all this news fresh gossips are spreading that A2 may have a possible successor: an eccentric little hatch that never was seen in US and had less fortune in the Europe.

During the Geneva Motor Show Audi CEO Rupert Stadler noted ”There’s evidently room for another product and another concept between the A3 and A1,”. The new A2 would probably be based on A1 and utilize an electric powertrain, possibly founded on the A1 e-tron concept. European mass media has informed that the A2 successor is likely to debut by 2014, and again no remarks have been given about a potential U.S.-spec version. Nevertheless, keeping the A1 away from American soil, does not except that the A2 would have the same fate in the US, being only an Europe affair.

 

The Auris has been enhanced with a new front end that comprises a restyled grille, swept-back headlamps, new bumper and revised bonnet profile, while at the back, the tail lamp clusters are revised and there’s a new rear bumper with extended corner sections.

The new Auris has a new centre console and examined Optitron dials with white illumination, while Toyota also added soft-touch materials on the top of the instrument panel and around the glovebox. Toyota’s engineers fine tuned the Auris’ suspension and speed-sensitive Electric Power Steering (EPS).

The standard Auris holds its present range of petrol and diesel engines and six-speed manual and MultiMode transmissions.The facelifted Auris will have its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March alongside the production version of the Auris HSD Hybrid.

 

The German car producer has released the first images and official details of the new 2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI prior to its world premiere at Geneva auto show next month. The Polo GTI is the fifth generation hatch of the VW and is expected to be available as a three- as well as five-door.

The new 2011 model year VW Polo GTI is equipped with the same 1.4-liter TSI gasoline engine with turbo- and supercharging, as well as the seven-speed DSG transmission of the Seat Ibiza Cupra. The output of the car is 180 horsepower, while it has 250Nm or 184 lb-ft of torque, available from 2,000 to 4,500 rpm.

According to Volkswagen the vehicle reaches from 0 to 62 mph in 6.9 seconds. The top speed is 142mph or 229 km/h.  The Polo GTI is said to be able to deliver a low fuel consumption of 6.0lt/100km (equal to 39mpg US or 47 mpg UK), while the emission is just 139 g/km of CO2.

2011 VW Polo GTI has been dropped by 15mm and comes with 17-inch alloy wheels.  Stiffer springs make the suspension tighter and the car will feature the same XDS differential as the Cupra, which electronically replicates a limited slip diff.

Some of the most significant features of the Polo GTI include honeycomb grille ringed in red, dual tailpipes, red brake callipers, flat-bottom steering wheel, blacked out headlamps with LED daytime running lights and plaid cloth.

BMW held a press event for its 2011MY 5-Series saloon in Lisbon, Portugal. The 2011 5-Series is based on a new vehicle architecture also featured in the 5-Series GT as well as the 7 Series luxury sedan. The 530d is powered by a 3.0-liter turbo diesel with 245hp and 540Nm of peak torque (398 lb-ft) that propels the car from standstill to 100km/h (62mph) in 6.3 seconds and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 250km/h (155mph).

The new 535i gets a new 3.0-liter straight-six with a single, twin-scroll turbocharger pushing out 306HP and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque for a zero to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 6.0 seconds and an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h or 155mph.

In Europe, the new 5-Series will also be available with two more diesels, a 184HP 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit (520d) and a 204HP 3.0-liter inline six (525d) as well as three more petrol engines, a naturally aspirated 3.0-liter straight six with 204HP (523i) and 258HP (528i) and a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 407HP (550i).

All versions of the new 5 Series saloon are available as an option with BMW’s new eight-speed automatic transmission.

Bentley has released the full details and images of the new Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible, which is scheduled to be officially introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. According to the manufacturer the vehicle is the fastest and most powerful Bentley drop top ever produced. It is also claimed to be the fastest four-seat convertible in the world.

The all new Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible comes with the same twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 engine found on the Continental Supersports Coupe. The engine can run on both gasoline and E85 bioethanol, well as any combination of the two. The car produces 630 HP (621bhp/463kW) at 6000 rpm and 800Nm (590lb ft) of torque at 2000 rpm – 4500 rpm.

According to Bentley, the convertible accelerates from 0 to 60mph in 3.9 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds), while it can reach 100mph in 9.6 seconds (0-160km/h in 9.5 seconds). The top speed is limited to 202mph or 325km/h.

The Continental Supersports Convertible rides on 20-inch 10-spoke lightweight alloy wheels shod in 275/35 ZR20 Pirelli Ultra High Performance tires.

Bentley hasn’t released pricing on the Supersports Convertible yet.

2011 Lotus Elise is restyled and now has got many of updates that comprise styling and mechanical tweaks as well as the introduction of a new entry-level model with a Toyota-sourced 1.6-liter gasoline engine.

The redesigned model has a new fascia up front that boasts a redesigned hood, new bumper with a wider grille, and reshaped headlights featuring LED daytime running lights for the first time.

More significant changes are found under the hood with the 2011 Elise gaining a new entry-level ‘S’ model powered by a Toyota-sourced 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine.

 

This new engine is 200cc smaller than the outgoing Elise S 1.8L model and makes the same output (134HP at 6,800 rpm) and slightly less torque (160 Nm or 118 lb-ft at 4400 rpm versus 172Nm or 127 lb-ft), but offers a significant improvement to fuel economy of more than 23 per cent, to 6.1 lt / 100km (46.3 mpg UK or 38.6 mpg US) and by13 per cent more reduction in CO2 emission.

Lotus announces a 0-60mph sprint time of 6.0 seconds (0-100km/h 6.7 seconds) and a top speed of 124mph or 200km/h for the new 1.6-liter version.

All 2011 Elise models gain advantage from a new six-speed manual gearbox while both the 189bhp 1.8-liter ‘R’ and the 217bhp 1.8-liter SuperCharged SC boast lower CO2 emissions and better fuel economy than their 2010MY siblings.

Audi has announced the limited edition RS 6 Sport and the RS 6 Exclusive. The car manufacturer has added two new special packages to the list of options that come with the 580HP V10-powered Audi RS6.  The RS 6 Sport and the RS 6 Exclusive will be limited to 500 units and will feature exclusive equipment packages, including a carbon-fiber trim kit for the engine compartment, 20-inch wheels with a five-spoke design, the sports suspension plus system and a numbered plaque in the interior.

The RS 6 Sport features leather trim for the instrument-panel hood and center console, and unique RS6-badged front floor mats. The buyer can also add to the car the exclusive package, Audi RS 6 Exclusive, which includes seat upholstery, controls, door trim inserts, (a) front center armrest, and door armrests in unique leather. A custom paint job from the extensive quattro GmbH color palette is also available for order.

Audi RS 6 Sport and RS 6 Exclusive special edition vehicle come with carbon fiber engine dressing, a special sports suspension, an individually numbered badge, and 20-inch wheels.

Both models will be equipped with a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V10 engine with the output of 426 kW (580 PS / 571 hp) and 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque. The limited edition vehicles accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, while the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph).

The sport package is priced from €3,250 and the exclusive package from €8,310.

The Nissan Patrol was first presented in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. The Patrol’s all-new exterior design is less rugged and more upscale. It is a much more luxurious place to be with the company saying that since most customers spend less than 15% of the time off-road, it wanted to create “a better, higher quality interior for the whole family.

The Nissan Patrol has a more premium design with generous amounts of leather, polished aluminum and wood grain paneling as well as a bevy of luxury features such as a new multi-screen DVD entertainment system with two rear-facing 7-inch screens embedded into each front seat headrest. It has improved passenger space suggesting over 100mm more legroom for second row passengers, and a roomier third row of seats as well.

The new Patrol is built on a new platform and is suggested with a new and more powerful 5.6-litre V8 engine that replaces the previous model’s 4.8-liter V8. The new V8 produces 400hp and 550Nm of torque. Nissan did not bring out any details on any other future powerplant offerings for the Patrol.

The 5.6-liter V8 engine is connected to a new 7-speed automatic transmission and an upgraded 4WD system that incorporates a variable 4×4 mode package allowing the driver to quickly switch between four drive modes: sand, on-road, snow and rock.

The 2011 Patrol has a new suspension setup that now uses 4-wheel independent suspension, upgraded from the previous rigid axle setup, while Nissan also equipped the SUV with a Hydraulic Body Motion Control System (HBMC), which is said to reduce body roll during lane-changing and cornering.