Now that the Geneva motor show is open to the public, you might be lucky enough to spot some of the motor show girls, generally seen perched on or in the vehicles. Then again you might not - the ladies might be for press only. In which case, you can see the fourth part of our gallery of the girls from Geneva here. For the other galleries, see “motor show girls“.

Continue reading: Girls from the 2010 Geneva motor show: part four

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Here’s the last past of the lovely motor show girls from the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. There are a few weird outfits, but we reckon you won’t be looking at them too much, anyway. See the first gallery of the girls from Geneva, and the second part here, too.

Girls from 2010 Geneva motor show: part three

Continue reading: The girls from the 2010 Geneva Motor Show: part three

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Ferrari’s first hybrid technology will debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in the form of the Ferrari 599 hybrid. The confirmation comes from Luca de Montezemolo after the new Ferrari F1 car presentation in Maranello.

Original designs indicated that Ferrari would be developing a four-wheel-drive model, and since then subsequent reports have suggested that the drivetrain would be comprised of electric motors at the front wheels and a V12 or turbocharged V8 powering the rear wheels.

A hybrid vehicle would be the first real step in producing an ecological model at Ferrari, and reports say that a 35 percent saving in the fuel consumption of the 599 could be achieved. The hybrid technology has been developed from Ferrari’s Formula One KERS technology: or Kinetic Energy Recovery System.

Source | Autonews

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For the first time in Fiat’s 111-year history, Italy is no longer the brand’s number one market. The local market has been overtaken by Brazil, purchasing 750,000 cars a year to Italy’s 722,000. If any evidence was needed as to Brazil’s “emerging” market status, the stats speak for themselves. Italy’s purchases decreased by 0.5 percent, while Brazil’s increased by 12.6 percent.

That’s a big number which has left even CEO Sergio Marchionne surprised (figures of this kind were expected for Brazil, but further down the track). What’s more, Fiat seems to be on a winning formula for this South American market, taking out the number one spot for car manufacturers, too. Volkswagen follows, selling 695,395 vehicles and General Motors trails behind a little at 610,836 sales.

The results are not due to one particular model, but a combination of Fiat’s hard work over a number of years to build their presence in the Brazilian market, providing vehicles that customers want to buy, and new car tax incentives from the Brazilian government. By comparison, the Italian car market is likely to experience a slight decrease this year, which could get very costly if the government chooses not to continue scrappage schemes.

Source | Autoblog.it

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As the car world waits for the plan of the Fiat-Chrysler deal to be revealed, it looks as though a new Chrysler logo could be revealed. You might wonder why, if the brand is going to disappear from Europe, but it could be a show of faith from Fiat that Chrysler will get a revival in its own market of North America.

The new logo is quite sexy, definitely modern and hopefully marks the dawn of a new era for America’s beloved Chrysler. So far the Fiat-Chrysler plans have been sketchy and mostly include the arrival of the Fiat 500 or Abarth 500 on the US market, the appearance of the Alfa Giulia in the US, but perhaps not the Milano or MiTo, and the retaining of the Jeep brand on the European market. It looks as though Dodge will go niche, including an electric car in its line-up, and that we will see Lancia-badged Chryslers, particularly the new 300c already spied, in Europe. All will soon be revealed. Stay tuned.

Source | Autoblog

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The Aston Martin Rapide Frankfurt debut is in these pics, and it could be a contender for our vote on the most beautiful car at the Frankfurt motor show. Really, what to say about the Aston Martin coupé-sedan? This is one stunning vehicle. In a new segment for Aston Martin, the first impression is of a very sleek automobile - long, wide and very, very low. The Rapide is beyond elegance, really, with a stylish British DNA that is guaranteed.

Despite the extremely classic exterior, the Rapide interior is very modern with a minimalist design but opulent finishings in terms of the material used. It’s been design in a kind of private jet style.

The aim of the Rapide is to marry Aston Martin extreme luxury with a pinch of practicality, as is the trend in luxury sedans these days. Fit for four adults, driving pleasure can be compared to a DB9, and in a touch of curious exclusivity, the doors open in a “swan wing” fashion.

The Aston Martin Rapide is equipped with a V12 5.9-litre engine with 476 hp and 600 Nm at 5,000 rpm, Touchtronic 2 six-speed automatic transmission, autobloc rear differential, and carbon fibre and alluminium parts. Not to mention plenty of that indelible Aston aura that we were utterly enchanted.

Continue reading: Aston Martin Rapide live pics at Frankfurt

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Here’s a tip for your “ferrarista” PC from Downloadsquad:

For those of you who happen to be running Windows 7 and love automotive sexiness, you’ve got to check out the Ferrari prototype themepack from WindowsZone (German). The pack is available to download from SkyDrive, and includes 5 awesome, high-resolution wallpapers.

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Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking and Chief Financial Officer Holger Haerter have resigned from the company effective immediately. Wiedeking will get a 50 million euro payout and Haerter will receive 12.5 million euros.

Wiedeking has been CEO of Porsche AG since 1992 and is credited with a huge financial turn-around for the company. He was also key, however, in the long-running difficulty to buy out Volkswagen, joining that company’s board in 2006.

Wiedeking’s departure is set to catalyse a merger between Porsche and Volkswagen, and he will be replaced by Michael Macht, currently Board member of Porsche AG in charge of Production and Logistics. Volkswagen is meeting today and is expected to make further announcements on proceedings.

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Alfa Romeo will celebrate its 99th birthday at the Goodwood “Festival of Speed” by inviting three particular models, some coming from the Arese Museum in Turin: the first 8C Spider in its definitive design, the P2 Gran Premio of 1924 (first winner of the Automobile World Championships in 1925) and the 6C 3000 CM, led to second place by Fangio in the Mille Miglia of 1953.

Two prototypes, designed by Bertone, will not be missing, and have been entered in the Cartier Style et Luxe design concours show in the category of “Serious Wedge - Studies in Angular Sports Car Design 1965-1980”: the Carabo of 1968, equipped with an original hydraulic mechanism (seagull-wing style) to open the doors, and the Navajo of 1978.

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If the Russian automobile industry trusts in the Opel-Magna deal (supported by Sberbank), the designer Igor Krasnov shows how using fewer rubles can really serve to start a credible growth process: without inventiveness and imagination, the capital has a lower incidence.

The young designer has thus come up with the Marussia, the super sports car that takes inspiration from the Lamborghini Reventon (lights, the shape of the front scoops) and from the Pagani Zonda (the rear, the set up of the passenger compartment). It is still unclear what engine and technical structure the supercar will have, let alone the eventual production date will be. Well, rubles aren’t so insignificant after all…

Continue reading: From Russia with love: Igor Krasnov presents the Marussia

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