2005 Geneva Motor Show Index by TCC
Team (2/28/2005)
BMW 3-Series
TCC has driven the completely renewed BMW 3-Series, but the
model’s official debut for the public didn’t happen until
Geneva. The fifth generation of the highly
successful compact sports saloon offers more interior space and better driving
dynamics that its predecessor. The four- and six-cylinder engines are more
powerful and fuel efficient. BMW expects to set new records with the 3er, of
which the 320i, 325i, 330i, and the 320d arrived on the European markets this
week.
U.S. sales begin this spring. In
September the 318i and 318d, and 320d will follow in
Europe as well as the Touring, the station wagon. We
expect the Convertible to arrive in the course of next year and the M3 will
probably be available at the end of 2006.
BMW
7-Series
2006 BMW 7-Series
The BMW flagship 7-Series
underwent a serious face lift to stay as competitive in the second half of its
life cycle as it has been in the first. TCC also drove the 750i right before its
world premiere in
Geneva. As impressive as
before and with a lot of comfort and —even
more important for the BMW driver —
a lot of power and
torque, the big 750i has been smoothed out and trimmed down. With a freshened
look including a toned-down rear end, with new or renewed engines and a
simplified iDrive system the 7-Series is now fit to compete with the new Mercedes-Benz
S-Class that will bow in September at the IAA in Frankfurt. Expect the
2006 BMW 7-Series to arrive in North America this
fall.
BMW M6
2006 BMW M6
The M6 is the performance version of the
6-Series and is equipped with a 5.0-liter (4999 cubic centimeters) V-10 with 507
hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. The engine boasts a high max engine speed of 8250
rpm, which means that the pistons cover a distance of about 20 meters, or 787
inches per second. The V-10 is teamed to BMW’s Sequential M Gearbox (SMG) an
automated manual transmission. BMW is the first manufacturer that offers such a
seven-speed transmission and Drivelogic. The latter provides both a manual gearshift
and an automatic function. The performance 6er should provide all the qualities
of a super sports car, with its sport suspension and engine performance. The
Integral IV rear axle is made almost completely of aluminum and has been adapted
for the high performance levels. Like the M3 and M5 the M6 also comes with a
variable, speed-sensing M Differential Lock for optimum stability and
traction.
High-performance brakes with
double-piston calipers are carried over from motorsports and should provide
excellent stopping power. A sensor determines brake pad wear and transmits data
to the DSC control unit, which forecasts the lifespan of the
pads.
The M6 is equipped with 19-inch
forged aluminum wheels; the front tires are 255/40s and the rears are 285/35s.
The M6 is expected on the North American market by the end of this year.
Hyundai
HED-1
2005 Hyundai HED-1 concept
Hyundai presented the HED-1
concept, an evolution of the small minivan E3 (Cube) that debuted a year ago in
Geneva. The Korean car manufacturer wanted to test
public reactions to this concept for a new mini-MPV. It may be Hyundai’s answer
to newcomers such as the Renault Modus and the Peugeot 1007. The HED-1 is 162
inches long, 71 inches wide, and 60 inches tall. The concept car is equipped with
front seats that can be swiveled around 180 degrees, while the rear seats have
power adjustment. It is not yet certain if such seats will make it into the small
car that has to compete in the low-end price segment.
Hyundai
Grandeur
2005 Hyundai Grandeur
The Grandeur is longer (at 193 inches), wider and taller than the XG and will
offer more interior space. Nevertheless, according to Hyundai the weight did not
increase. The Grandeur will be available with a 3.3-liter V-6 with 233 hp and a
2.2-liter four cylinder common-rail diesel with 145 hp. Standard equipment
should include dual climate control, leather seats, and a power adjustable
steering wheel. Front airbags, side airbags for both rows of seats, and curtain
airbags will be standard, as well as active head rests and ESP.
Mercedes-Benz
B-Class
2005 Mercedes-Benz B-Class
Spyker
Wins
U.S.
Approval
In
January in
Los Angeles, Dutch car builder Spyker
displayed the C8 Spyder and the C88 Double 12S, the street version of the 2003
Le Mans car. In
Geneva the Dutch
car builder presented the new Spyker C12 La Turbie.
To
commemorate the win in 1922 of Dutch nobleman Hugo Baron van Pallandt with his
standard Spyker C4 Tourer in the hillclimb held on the Mont de La Turbie near
Monte Carlo, the
new 12-cylinder Spyker bears the name La Turbie. It is the first Spyker model
powered by the 6.0-liter W-12 engine from Audi, and has a power output of 500 hp
and 443 lb-ft of torque teamed to a six-speed gearbox, which will have paddle
shifters, Formula 1-style. Acceleration from zero to 60 mph takes 3.7 seconds
and the car reaches a top of 202 mph.
The car features a lightweight aluminium space
frame with integrated roll cage, a limited-slip differential, ABS, and double twin
exhausts. Prices include a hard top and start at 290,000 euros, excluding taxes
and factory charges. The equivalent is at the moment around $328,000.
Spyker also announced that it
has obtained approval for its C8 short-wheelbase models in the
USA by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). The certification of the long-wheelbase models, the C8 Double 12 S
and Double 12 Spyder is expected this summer. The company is wating for the
final approval by the NHTSA of two waiver applications, upon receipt of which
the cars will be fully
U.S.
road-legal.
Bizzarrini
Name Revived
Italian
contractor Giorgio Viti is the man behind VGM Motors. He already put a
spectacular motorbike on the streets, and in the meantime bought the name
Bizzarrini. Mr. Bizzarrini was not in Geneva for the presentation of the new model
that bears his name and which was accompanied by the legendary original
version.
VGM presented the reincarnation of the Bizzarrini in the modern form
of the GTS 4.4 V. The sportster has a 4.4-liter V-8, the BMW Alpina B7
powerplant with 530 hp and 524 lb-ft of torque. The V-8 works together with a ZF
sequential six-speed automatic transmission. The GTS should be able to sprint
from 0-60 in 3.8 seconds and to reach a top speed of 224
mph.
The GTS has a wheelbase of 112 inches, is 184 inches
long, 79 inches wide, and 48 inches high. It is equipped with 20-inch wheels
with front 335/30 tires and 385/30 rear tires. VGM hopes to have a homologation for the GTS within half a year
and be able to start production by the end of 2006. A price was estimated
at 500,000 euros, or $656,500.
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