Geneva 2011: Ferrari FF's Show-Official Debut [Updated Gallery]

By now we've all heard and read about Ferrari's FF shooting brake GT. With the Geneva International Motor Show under way, there are now some live shots of Maranello's newest stallion. For all the official info and specs feel free to check out our previous posts; after all, you're really here for a recap of the basics and some live shots from the land of money, milk, and honey.

Much like its forbear, the 612 Scaglietti, the Ferrari FF gets a mid/front-mounted V12 and 4 seats to meet the demands of Ferrari families worldwide. The FF's engine, however, is a world first: a GDI 6.3-liter V12 (660 hp at 8,000 RPM ; 683 Nm/504 lb-ft at 6,000 RPM) unit mated to a 7-speed F1 DCT and Ferrari's 4RM all-wheel drive system.

With these numbers, Ferrari's new GT can reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds on the path to 335 km/h (208 mph).

Just for kicks, Ferrari also threw in a 1,280 Watt/16-channel Dolby sound system and TVs in the headrests. Some lucky kids out there are going to be having a straight ballin' time on the way to school.

By Phil Alex

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Geneva 2011: Jaguar’s Spicy Hot 550HP XKR-S [Updated]

In 2010, Indian-owned British car maker Jaguar introduced the XKR Speed Pack: the fastest XK yet built. Twelve months later and the Big Cat is back in the form of the XKR-S with even more power and a slicker, more track-focused profile. Carscoop has all the pics and details on the brand’s 550 hp behemoth.

With a top speed of 186 mph (300 km/h) and a 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) time of just 4.2 seconds, the XKR-S is the most powerful mass production vehicle Jaguar has ever built. It’s expected to carry a price tag of £97,000 (US$157,926 / €114,265) when it launches in September of this year.

The 5.0 L supercharged V8 puts out 550 hp (410 kW) of power and a non-too-shabby 680 Nm (502 lb. Ft.) of torque, all the while admitting a (comparatively) green 300g/km of CO2.

Jaguar’s altered the XK with a custom exhaust, bespoke suspension set up and unique styling elements derived from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling and wind tunnel testing. These include new intakes, sills, rear apron and carbon-fibre splitter and rear diffuser. The ride height has also been lowered by 10 mm and a new rear wing features a carbon fiber centre section.

The XKR-s also gets LED headlights, a leaping cat on the boot lid, 20-inch alloys, 16-way adjustable memory seats with “carbon-fibre effect leather” and some unique colour options reflecting the Brand’s sporting heritage including the French Racing Blue pictured here.

It seems fitting to end with a comment from Ian Callum, Jaguar’s Design Director and the man responsible for the XK, current gen XJ and XF:

“The styling of [the XKR-S] isn’t about image, it’s about true performance. Like other iconic Jaguars before it, the styling has been driven by geometry and aerodynamics for genuine design purity. The physics required to achieve 300kph have led the aesthetic; if you don’t like the way it looks, you probably won’t like the way it drives either.”

The Jaguar XKR-S made its world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show. You can check out our comprehensive image gallery below.

By Tristan Hankins

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Pocket Ferrari: Alfa Romeo 4C Concept Live Photos Geneva Motor Show 2011

Compact, the size of the 4C: He is about four feet long and a wheelbase of 2.4 meters. Fall short overhangs front and from behind. Lightweight suppressed by Alfa Romeo, the weight of 850 kilograms. Most parts of the body are made of carbon. The rear frame structure and the crash structures are made of aluminum.

The 4C Concept is equipped with well-known by the models 159 and Giulietta 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbo. 200 hp are the concept-car available. The performance weight of the later production model is specified with less than four kilograms per hp. This fits at first sight is not quite the weight specified. The solution: Alfa Romeo suggested to request that the direct injection of the series-4C as Giulietta in the 235 will make more than 200 hp. Even for the study to give the Italians appealing performance: In less than five seconds it will go from zero to 100 km / hr. The top speed is 250 km / h.

Automatic transmission
Power is transmitted via the automated transmission Alfa TCT "with double clutch. With the familiar from other Alfa models, "DNA"system can be selected from different driving dynamics programs. For the agile handling, a suspension with multi-link suspension front and rear McPherson suspension provide. The weight of the 4C concept is distributed so that 40 percent front and 60 percent rear loads.

What does it cost?
Now the only question: How much does the 4C, when he comes into production in 2012 as planned? Alfa calls a very affordable price: around 45,000 euros. This would be the 4C € 8,000 more expensive than the Lotus Elise. But she has about 100 hp less. Of the performance of the Alfa is more on level of the 280-hp and 15,000 € more expensive Lotus Evora.

Porsche Cayenne by Hamann

German tuner Hamann will debut the Hamann Guardian at the Geneva auto show based on the Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

The extensive tuning job begins with a design-changing aerodynamic kit. That includes a front apron with large air inlets and integrated LED daytimers and fog lights, a lighweight carbon bonnet with a power dome slit for engine ventilation, and fender extensions and side skirts that widened the Cayenne by a 120 mm at the front axle and 160 mm at the back. At the rear is also a rear apron with integrated diffuser holding two massive centrally-mounted stainless-steel exhaust pipes - gaping at 120 mm in width each.

Power is boosted by means of a sport exhaust system, silencer, catalysts and air filter. All that hardware coupled with an ECU remap increases output on the 4.8 liter V8 twin-turbo unit to 550 PS (405 kW / 544 bhp) at 6,100 rpm with a torque rating of 770 Nm (568 lb-ft) between 2,300 and 4,600 rpm (series - 500 PS / 368 kW / 493 bhp). That makes for a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 4.6 seconds for the Cayenne and a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph).

Hamann furbishes the Cayenne with a ceramic sport brake system too and fits it with ultra-light forged rims, 11J x 23-inch, wrapped in Dunlop Sport Maxx tires sized 315/25R23.

Also for the ride is a sport suspension module for the Cayenne's air suspension that lowers the Hamann Guardian by 35 mm over the series model.

For the interior finish, Hamann fits a full leather upholstery with stitched embroideries for the dash and seats. An ergonomically refined steering wheel with airbag is also part of the cabin tuning with carbon trims added to the instrument panel and center console.