Auto For Speed

This past Wednesday, Lotus sent us an invitation to take part in the world premiere of a “special edition of a special edition” Evora at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

The company’s invitation noted that the car would be an F1-inspired version of the limited-edition Lotus Evora GTE first shown at the Frankfurt auto show last year. This

“We’re launching a special edition of a special edition, and to make things extra special our Lotus F1 Team driver Kimi Raikkonen will be there to field questions. Now, it doesn’t get more special than that…,” read the British automaker’s invitation.

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An epitome of British luxury motoring, Bentley’s flagship model the Mulsanne Mulliner is being reinvented with a sporting and highly distinctive interpretation to stand out among grossly mass produced vehicle. Bringing the joy of driving back to car owners, the luxury car offers the world’s most exclusive motoring experience merging immense sportiness and power in one vehicle. The hand crafted luxury vehicle combines the coach-building elegance of classic Grand Touring Bentley with a state of the art cabin that is fitted with hand-cut and hand-blown lead crystal champagne flutes, an electrically operated bottle cooler exquisitely designed for the flagship model and a large, tinted glass tilt-opening sunroof that is introduced exclusively in the model.

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The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sports might be have been discontinued, but the French carmaker is now giving us its targa version, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, which is set to make its debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.

The new version borrows the Super Sports’ engine, which means that we get a W16 unit with larger turbos and intercoolers, which delivers 1,200 hp and a peak torque of 1,500 Nm (1,106 lb-ft).

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The new 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG is another masterpiece from Mercedes-AMG. This SL 63 AMG is available with a choice of two power outputs. The AMG 5.5-litre V8 ‘biturbo’ (twin-turbocharged) engine, which delivers 395 kW (537 hp) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque. If the AMG Performance package is specified, these figures are increased to 415 kW (564 hp) and 900 Nm (664 lb-ft). The acceleration is from 0 to 100 km/h in only 4.3 or 4.2 seconds and to 200 km/h in 12.9 or 12.6 seconds respectively. Top speed is electronically limited 250 km/h. With the AMG Performance package on board it is raised to 300 km/h (likewise electronically limited). NEDC combined consumption comes in at 9.9 litres per 100 kilometres for both power outputs – a full 4.2 litres or 30 percent lower than for the outgoing model.

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At last year’s Geneva Motor Show, Lancia previewed its adopted models from the Chrysler brand in pre-production form, and now the Italians are returning to the…scene of the crime at the 2012 edition of the Swiss salon to debut the final version of the Flavia Cabrio before it goes on sale across Europe in late March.

We’re not sure where Lancia gets its feedback from, but in the company’s own words, the Flavia Cabrio enjoyed “critical and public success at the most prestigious motor shows”.

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