Yes that seems to be the beautiful shape of the Maserati Gran Turismo and yet if we look more closely we can see that it has central-mounted twin exhaust outlets and a large rear spoiler, so must we assume that this is a new version of the MC Sport which was presented in Geneva a few months ago? An updated Maserati gran turismo provided with a slightly hotter power train maybe borrowed from corporate partner Ferrari? We have no answers at the moment but while waiting for un update from Maserati itself, take a look at our gallery and enjoy the beauty of this unidentified Maserati Granturismo.

Unidentified Maserati GranTurismo spy shots

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Audi has created an ecological flagship in the new A8 hybrid, which still has the classic, smooth sedan lines of the A8. The A8 hybrid present at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show is a not-quite-final prototype of a car which will have its debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show in October. The only changes likely to occur on the final Paris version are aesthetic, as the technical aspects of the car have already been decided.

The Audi A8 hybrid is equipped with a 2.0-litre TFSI engine with 211 hp and 350 Nm of torque, and an electric motor with another 34 hp and 211 Nm. Fuel consumption is down to 6.2-litres per 100 km, although the car weighs 1,885 kg. CO2 emissions measure 144 g/km, and acceleration to 100 km/hr takes 7.6 seconds. Top speed in hybrid function is 235 km/hr, and in full electric mode, top speed is 65 km/hr.

Audi A8 hybrid new pics

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Following release of pics of the new generation Porsche Cayenne, the company had a strong offering at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, with the lovely Porsche 918 Spyder on show, alongside the Porsche Cayenne S hybrid and Porsche 911 GT3R Hybrid. Such that the new Porsche Cayenne and 997 Turbo S faded into the background. In the galleries below you’ll see Porsche live at Geneva, and the official pics of the new Cayenne.

Everything about the Cayenne restyling suggests more sport and less utility. It is lighter, more compact looking (although longer) and has more Porsche style than previously. The major evolution in the model, though, is the new hybrid version, which will be available from its market launch date, expected in dealerships from May 8th. The Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid is equipped with a 3.0-litre V6 turbo engine with 333 hp, and a battery-powered motor with another 47 hp, for a total of 380 hp. It produces 193 g/km of CO2 emissions and has fuel consumption of 8.2 litres per 100 km.

The new Cayenne diesel is also more environmental than the previous model, consuming 20 percent less fuel with its 3.0-litre V6 with 240 hp and 550 Nm of torque. Other engine options include the 4.8-litre V8 of the Cayenne S and the Turbo, while the entry level Cayenne model now also has the eight-speed Tiptronic S with Start&Stop technology. Automatic transmission is available on all models.

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As we check out these live pics of the Lamborghini LP570-4 Superleggera from the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, we discover that Lamborghini had a tough sales year for 2009. Going green like the Ferrari 599 Hy-Kers concept, the Lamborghini SuperLeggera is the heir to the current Gallardo Superleggera, and the little sister to the Murcielago SV. Basically it’s all about carbonfibre, making the body light and therefore also increasing the performance.

The Lamborghini LP570-4 Superleggera is 70 kg lighter than the Gallardo, for a total of 1,340 kg. The V10 engine gets a power boost of 10 hp, up to 570 hp and the weight-power ratio is now a record 2.35 kg/hp. There is also a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions compared to the first Superleggera. Top speed is 325 km/hr and acceleration to 100 km/hr occurs in 3.4 seconds.

There are plenty of other features of this model which hopefully bode well for Lamborghini in the future as sales reveal that the company sold just 1,515 vehicles last year. That’s a fall of 37.7 percent on 2008 figures. After the previous year saw record sales for Lamborghini, it’s now been dealt a hard blow, with earnings sliding from 479 to 281 million euros. It’s all down to the world economic crisis and the hard hit US and Eastern European markets. Grabbing the bull by the horns, so to speak, for 2010, Lamborghini is reducing production to keep the demand exclusive and hopes to ride out the crisis. We’ll have to wait and see.

Continue reading: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera live at Geneva in face of Lamborghini sales crash

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Here’s a live video of the Alfa Giulietta at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, courtesy of our colleagues at Autoblog.it. The competition is fierce for the new Alfa hatchback, with the Giulietta up against hugely successful models like the Audi A3 and the Volkswagen Golf. The 147 replacement is a good looking model, though, and has plenty of Alfa engine technology and performance to boot. See our post for official Giulietta pricing, and our analysis of the Giulietta competitors.

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Here are live pics of Volkswagen at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, and a gallery of the 2010 Volkswagen Touareg after the jump. Much like its German counterpart, BMW at Geneva, Volkswagen is focussing on its green credentials for the environment, or blue in this case, with its Bluetec models. The new Touareg Hybrid was on display, for example, which weighs 208 kg less than the original version. With its V6 333 hp engine combined with an electric motor of 47 hp, it should compete directly with the BMW X6 hybrid, and the Audi Q5 hybrid.

Other models on show at the 2010 Geneva motor show from Volkswagen include the Amarok pick-up and the Polo GTI, which is more economical than the previous version despite an increase of 30 hp. The CrossPolo also debuted, which can only be described as a hatchback soft off-road model.

Below is a full gallery of the 2010 Volkswagen Touareg, which could be quite a successful model for the brand in the future. It is roomy, with more luxury internal finishings than the previous generation, and large boot capacity. The Touareg is already available on the German market, costing 50,700 euros for the entry level model, and 73,500 euros for the top-of-the-range Touareg Hybrid. The 4.2-litre TDI V8 costs 70,800 euros. Click on the galleries for more pics.

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At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show BMW presented the new 5 Series, the 5 Series ActiveHybrid concept, and the ActiveE electric concept based on the 1 Series coupe. The BMW catch cry for this year is “Efficient Dynamics“, a project which was first launched at Geneva three years ago. For a better idea of why BMW is so focussed on what may seem a boring concept, check out the BMW physics lesson video after the jump, which takes a jab at Audi via an upstart youngster who knows how to draw the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car.

BMW is more than serious, though, about the technology from that concept car that it intends to adopt across the range. The entire range of BMW vehicles has a calculated average of fuel consumption for each vehicle of just 5.9 l/100 km. The ActiveE will soon start road tests, while the Megacity concept development will get underway.

In addition to the environmental focus, on display at the show is the X5 restyling, the 3 Series coupe and cabriolet restyling, the 2010 X6 range and the Z4 SDrive 35is. There was also the 135i with Valvetronic Twinpower Turbo N55 with dual-clutch technology, which is a technical novelty for the BMW M5 now available with Start-Stop, a Competition Package and rear LED lights. We’ll be bringing you more details and pics of the new BMW 5 Series, X5 and the other models from the show, but see these live pics from Geneva to see if BMW is staying exciting while focussing on its technology.

BMW 5 Series live pics from Geneva motor show

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Pininfarina celebrates 80 years with the Pininfarina 2uettotanta Concept presented at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The concept is based on, and inspired by, the old Alfa Duetto spider model; a situation which has now given hope that a Duetto revival is on the cards. The 2uettotanta is also a homage to Alfa Romeo, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

The concept measures 421 x 180 x 128 cm and has a wheel base of 250 cm. It is based on the old cuttlebone design, giving it a dynamic and sporty look. The classic Alfa Romeo front is not missing, with air intakes and wings for aerodynamics, and a front carbon splitter. The interior suggests a driver-oriented experience, taking the Duetto steering wheel and combining it with steering wheel paddles for the dual clutch transmission.

Other features include Alfa style wheels, Brembo carbon ceramic brakes and Alfa DNA selector. Aside from the technology, the thing that really gets your heart fluttering is the amazing Pininfarina design on one of its favourites, Alfa Romeo. It’s a partnership that dates back to the 30’s, with the cabrio 6C 1750 Gran Sport and the Spider Sport Aerodinamico. The post-war years saw 88 cabriolets produced: the 1900 C Sprint. (Video and more after the jump).

Pininfarina 2uettottanta Alfa Concept official pics

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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

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Here are the live pics of the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, debuting as a homage edition to the model. It’s equipped with 20-inch “Multi Trident” alloy wheels and the exclusive “Quarzo fuso” tint. It has dual-cast braking technolog and luxury Frau and Alcantara leather finishing on the interior. Present at the Maserati stand at Geneva was also the GranCabrio in Mediterranean Blue colour.

In the meantime, InsideLine reports that Maserati will develop its own hybrid powertrains, most likely making use of the Ferrari hybrid technology that appeared on the Ferrari 599 Hy-kers model at the Geneva show. Hybrid technology combined with research into reducing the weight of Maserati’s vehicles should allow for more competitive CO2 emissions and fuel consumption as environmental laws make it ever more difficult for luxury car brands.

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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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The Dacia Duster will debut in the UK in 2012, with the new SUV appearing on the European market in a few weeks’ time at just 11,900 euros. The Dacia is a Romanian car brand that belongs to the Renault group, and is creating a stir with its entry level market options. Dacia was not a brand originally earmarked for the UK market, but with solid results in the last five years, the Duster is up to the challenge.

While Dacia is not set for a UK debut until 2012, you can see details of the project on the website at www.daciacars.co.uk, complete with a countdown. The Dacia Duster will be available in both 4×2 and 4×4 driving options, costing 11,900 euros or 13,900 euros. It has an engine range with a 16 valve, 1.6-litre petrol unit with 110 hp, and two dCi diesel models with 85 or 110 hp. CO2 emissions measure between 135 and 145 g/km. It has the minimum safety features you’d expect with ABS, ESP and four airbags.

Off-road options include the Pack Look kit with 16-inch light alloy wheels, roof bar, brushed chrome side skirts and darkened rear windows. The Pack Cuoio, on the other hand, includes interior leather finishes. The Dacia Duster comes with a six-speed manual gearbox with a short shift for off-road driving. Below you can find live pics of the Duster at Geneva, more official pics and a video showing its offroad capabilities.

Continue reading: Dacia Duster at 2010 Geneva Motor Show: official details, price and video

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