The French have pulled out the big guns on the concept models at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, with these live pics of the Peugeot SR1 and the Peugeot Cinq. Coming up, we’ll also take a look at the Citroen GQ concept, too. While the Peugeot RCZ is about the new sports coupe focus for the company, the SR1 and Cinq have the important task of launching a Peugeot style.

The 2010 Geneva Motor Show was the first appearance for Peugeot since its new brand identity project, which has seen quite a change in design direction and new models. The Peugeot stand has been a much visited one so far, putting Peugeot among the protagonists at the show - quite an achievement when you think about the calibre of some of the models and some of the cars on show.

The Peugeot SR1 Concept is a futuristic gran turismo-convertible model with hybrid technology. It runs off a diesel-hybrid combination of a 1.6-litre engine and 95 hp rear electric motor, with a total of 313 hp and all-wheel-drive Hybrid4. It’s got plenty of concept features including a plastic roof and a crystal tube interior display, but we don’t know if, when and what of the SR1 will go into production. It’s all part of Peugeot’s aim, though, to gain three spots in the world classification of manufacturers within three years, and so far they’re well placed to achieve that if this model becomes a reality.

Peugeot SR1 live pics from Geneva motor show

Continue reading: Peugeot SR1 Concept live at Geneva

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These live pics show the Maserati GranCabrio presented to press at the NAIAS 2010 Detroit auto show. The model could receive a new name for the US market, becoming the Maserati GranTurismo Convertible. We think the car is so beautiful, it should work either way. Sergio Marchionne put in an appearance at the show, in a good move after the Fiat-Chrysler deal.

Marchionne also discussed the improved fortunes of the Maserati brand after some significant investment. Globally, the US was the most important market for Maserati in 2009, and the GranCabrio should be a key model in continuing US sales success for the luxury Italian brand.

Maserati GranCabrio live Detroit

Source | Autoblog.it

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There’s plenty on offer from Mini in 2010, with a new petrol engine range for all Mini First, One, Cooper and Cooper S models in the hatch, covertible and clubman ranges. The Mini First and Mini One will now have a 1.6-litre engine which replaces the 1.4-litre, and will have more power and torque with better fuel consumption.

A new Mini Rainbow colour option is available, and the Mini Graphite Special Edition model range will now include Clubman models. The Mini Rainbow series will offer three different paint options of Sunlight Metallic, Asteroid Metallic and Nightlife Metallic, and will be available in March/April 2010.

A Mini One Covertible car will also now be able, providing an entry level model in the open air range that previously included just the Cooper, Cooper S or John Cooper Works models. The Mini One Convertible will have a 1.6-litre engine with 98 hp and 153 Nm of torque, and should cost less than 15,000 pounds. Check out the new Mini Rainbow paint job in the gallery!

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The BMW M3 convertible gets a tuning by ATT-TEC that takes power up by 80 hp to a total of 500 hp, for our second tuning job this week. The 4.0-litre V8 managed the extra power with a compressor system, improved engine software and a new exhaust system.

Other features of the M3 tuning include new 20-inch alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres measuring 245/30 at the front and 285/25 at the rear, all of which costs about 3,475 euros. ATT also added a KW coilover suspension system for 2,000 euros. It’s an expensive tuning job as the engine modifications alone are 11,749 euros (including fit-out).

For a real tuning touch, the interior can feature carbon fibre or Swarovski crystals, depending on your taste. ATT has given it the name BMW Thunderstorm M3, and so we guess the exhaust system is doing its job on the sound.

BMW M3 Thunderstorm ATT-TEC tuning

Continue reading: BMW M3 Thunderstorm tuning by ATT-TEC

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The Mercedes SLS AMG convertible is undergoing testing in these spy shots, before sales start in 2011 or 2012. The SLS convertible will be equipped with a 6.2-litre V8 engine with 563 hp and about 650 Nm of torque, the same as the coupe model.

The latter will be presented at this year’s Frankfurt show with sales starting next year. The coupe reaches 100 km/hr in 3.8 seconds, a figure which should increase to about four seconds for the convertible due to the heavier weight.

No gull wing doors are on the SLS convertible, similer in style to the 300SL which also had traditional door openings.

Source | Autocar

Continue reading: Mercedes SLS AMG convertible spy shots

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While you can sort of tell this video has been made by students, their point is clear. Putting a hole in the windscreen of a convertible means more streamlined air, and less wind circulating around inside the cabin. I’m waiting for the hole to become a feature in convertibles, then I might buy one (right after winning the lottery, too).

Source | The Car Connection

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There are those who swear that these spy photos show the future Ferrari 599 GTB Spider. After having taken the pictures, the Czech Ferrari site decided on the least immediate solution. According to them, the irrefutable proof: the car body of the California is in fact replaced by one similar to that of the Fiorano. This is sufficient to declare the arrival of a new drop-top version.

But the logical thread is rather tangled. It is enough to look at the front of the prototype to understand its manifold descent - lights from the Quattroporte, fenders from the California, hood from the 599. Therefore many hypotheses arise - a Tridente coupe, or perhaps a different engine - even if we don’t disregard the possibility of a Modena coupe-cabriolet, maybe one of the first specimens.

Source | CzechFerrari (Thanks to our reader “Ryuk Shinigami” for the recommendation)

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Maserati conceded a quarter hour of freedom to its new GranTurismo Spyder, captured in these spy shots. The Maserati GranTurismo Spyder will be presented in autumn at the Frankfurt motor show, where the debate about what kind of roof it will have will finally be resolved.

LeftLane is betting on a hard top roof, like the Ferrari California, saying that earlier reports had both as an option for customers. It’s still all to be revealed, though the engine range will be that of the coupe, with the V8 4.2 litre and teh 4.7 litre S version available from 2010.

Source | LeftLane

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Not everyone is lucky enough to turn 100-years old, but some are. Morgan is a nice example of that. The traditional British company will celebrate its centennial in 2009 and there is nothing better to do so than presenting a brand new vehicle. And this vehicle, in Morgan’s case, is to be called Aero SuperSports.

Based on the Aeromax, the new vehicle also features an aluminium chassis and other lightweight solutions that will allow it to weight just 1,180 kg. Apart from being light, a regular recipe from Morgan, the car will also be powered by a powerful engine, a 4.8-litre V8 BMW able to generate 372 bhp, with a weight distribution of 50% in the front axle and 50% on the rear one. Perfect balance is desirable in a car that reaches 274 km/h of top speed and sprints from 0 to 96 km/h in 4.2 s.

Just like the Aeromax, Aero SuperSports will be produced in limited numbers: only 200 units, at 127,000 pounds each. Deliveries will start in 2010, but you can already reserve yours with a 25,000 pounds deposit. If you want one, you’d better rush!

Source: Morgan

Morgan Aero SuperSports

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There was a long wait for this vehicle, but it has just ended. Fiat has been working on the convertible 500 for quite a while. The name of the new version is 500C (for Cabrio) and the small convertible follows an unusual recipe, with a targa style soft top that keeps the side structure of the roof. It is inspired by the 1957 cabrio version of 500 and, afterall, it looks quite nice.

Besides the retractable top, this new 500C is very much similar to the regular vehicle. Dimensions and engines are just the same. The only difference is having the Start&Stop system fitted to all 500C. This equipment saves fuel by turning off the engine whenever the car has to be in a standstill position, such as in traffic jams.

Source | Fiat

Fiat 500C

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