McLaren has expanded its Sport Series with a new model called 570GT.

While the 570S was designed for hot laps at the track, the 570GT was developed for buyers who want to use their supercar on a regular basis. Designers have consequently given the GT a more fastback-like silhouette and added a glass hatch mounted on a carbon fiber frame. The longer roof line frees up 7.8 cubic feet of storage space behind the seats, which bring the 570′s total cargo capacity up to 12.4 cubes.

Accessed via doors that boast a greater opening arc, the cabin offers niceties such as power-adjustable heated seats with a memory function, posh leather upholstery on nearly every surface, an eight-speaker sound system, and an electric steering column. A standard panoramic glass roof fills the cabin with sun light, while a quieter exhaust makes it easier to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Like the 570S, the 570GT uses a mid-mounted 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that delivers 562 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 443 lb-ft. of torque from 5,000 to 6,500 rpm. Bolted to a seven-speed automatic transmission that spins the rear wheels, the eight-cylinder sends the 2,976-pound GT from zero to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, from zero to 124 mph in 9.8 seconds, and on to a top speed of 204 mph. Fuel economy nonetheless checks in at 19 mpg in a mixed cycle.

McLaren has tossed out the 570S’ carbon ceramic brakes and replaced them with iron discs. The company has also improved the 570′s day-to-day usability by making the suspension softer, and by slightly reducing the steering system’s ratio.

The 2017 McLaren 570GT will go on sale shortly and deliveries are scheduled to kick off later this year. Pricing information hasn’t been published yet.

BMW has unveiled its latest Alpina-tuned version of its 7-Series sedan at the Geneva Motor Show. The 2017 BMW Aplina B7 xDrive will arrive in dealer showrooms in September.

The B7 is largely based on the BMW 750i, but the flagship sedan’s 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 has been substantially stoked for the Alpina treatment, including new turbos, intercoolers and pistons. While the standard 750i generated 445 horsepower and 480 horsepower, the B7 is rated at 600 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque thanks to its 20psi of boost.

And, in true Alpina fashion, that torque is available almost instantaneously. At 2,000rpm the B7 develops more torque than the 750i at max peak, and all 590 lb-ft of torque is available from 3,000rpm.

As a result, the BMW Alpina B7 xDrive can accelerate from 0-60 in just 3.6 seconds, which is 0.8 seconds faster than the previous B7 and 0.7 seconds faster than the standard 750i xDrive. The B7 has long legs as well, with a claimed top speed of 193mph.

In order to cope with that kind of speed, the B7 has been fitted with an up-rated sports air suspension. A special Alpina Sport+ Mode automatically lowers the B7 by 0.8 inches and increases front wheel camber to provide better turn in. Four-wheel Active Steering helps the B7 navigate tight corners.

In order to stand out from a regular 7-Series, the B7 has been fitted with unique spoilers front and back, 20-inch Aplina Classic wheels and an Alpina sports exhaust system. The B7 is available in Alpina-specific Blue metallic and Green metallic, but other BMW Individual paint finishes are also available.

Alipna’s signature blue and green colors are used in the B7′s interior.

BMW will announce pricing for the 2017 B7 xDrive closer to the car’s fall market launch.

Live photos by Ronan Glon.

Just when you were starting to think that the European automakers were going to have all the fun in Geneva, Chevrolet unveiled its 2017 Corvette Grand Sport, bringing back the popular trim that anchored performance Corvettes of the previous generation.

The Grand Sport effectively takes the formula of the existing C7 Z51 package and dials it up to 11 (or maybe more like 13). Essentially, it’s a Z06 without the supercharged engine. You get all the aero, all the grip and all the cooling without the forced induction. And, as a bonus, the super-focused Z07 package from the Z06 is available, meaning all of the aforementioned go-fast bits are even go-fastier.

The basic Grand Sport upgrades include unique Grand Sport wheels with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires in 285/30ZR19 in the front and 335/25ZR20 in the rear, Brembo brakes with six-piston front calipers and four-piston rears, magnetic ride control (optional on base Corvettes), an electronic limited-slip differential and the base Corvette’s 460-horsepower LT1 V8 engine and seven-speed manual transmission.

If you do opt for the Z07 package, that adds carbon-ceramic brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.

Chevrolet brought its Collector Edition model of the Grand Sport to Geneva to show off its Watkins Glen Gray Metallic paint finish and Tension Blue accents. The color combo carries into the suede and leather interior, where you’ll also find images of the original Grand Sport racer embossed in the headrests and on a dash plaque signifying its pedigree.

Look for the Grand Sport to hit dealers in the latter half of this year.

Live photos by Ronan Glon.

Bentley has unveiled the updated version of its Mulsanne flagship sedan.

The introduction of the new Mulsanne will see the nameplate separated into three distinct models for the first time — the new lineup will include the regular Mulsanne, the high-performance Mulsanne Speed and the chauffeur-driven Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase. All three models will boast fresh styling and improved electronics.

Bentley says the Mulsanne is all new from the A-pillars forward, with changes made the car’s fenders, hood and bumper. There is also a new grille inspired by cars like the 8 Litre of 1930 and “floating” LED headlights. The rear of the car features a new taillight design and a reshaped bumper.

In order to stand out from the regular Mulsanne, the Speed model features a dark tint finish on its exterior brightware, tinted head and taillights, rifled sports exhaust, Speed badging and a set of unique 21-inch wheels.

Inside the Mulsanne is mostly carryover, but the old world sedan receives a healthy dose of modern technology, including a new 8-inch center display with haptic touchscreen technology. Other tech features include high beam assist, blind spot warning and Bentley’s new Bentley Entertainment Tablet, which provides rear-seat passengers with a pair of 10.2-inch Android tablets. Those tablets can connect to the internet via the Mulsanne’s 4G WiFi connection.

Those that spring for the Extended Wheelbase model will also enjoy an extra 250mm of rear seat legroom afforded by a 250mm stretch of the Mulsanne’s wheelbase. The Extended Wheelbase model also includes airline-style electronic legrests and can be optioned to include a folding table and electric curtains.

The Mulsanne and Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase are motivated by Bentley’s 6.75L twin-turbocharged V8. Developing 505 horsepower and 752 lb-ft of torque, the Mulsanne is capable of accelerating from 0-60 in 5.1 seconds and hitting a top speed of 184mph.

The Mulsanne Speed uses a tuned version of the same V8 that bumps power to 530 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque. As a result, the Speed can accelerate from 0-60 in just 4.8 second and tops out at 190mph.

The Speed model also gets a few other sporty tweaks, including an ‘S’ mode for its eight-speed automatic transmission that automatically keeps engine revs above 2,000rpm, ensuring the turbos are always fully spooled. Bentley has also added a stiffer Sport setting for the Mulsanne Speed’s air suspension.

The new Bentley Mulsanne range should be available for order shortly.

Live photos by Ronan Glon.

The Abarth 124 Spider has made its debut in Geneva, offering a first glimpse of the hopped-up variant of the Mazda-based Fiat 124.

We first saw the new Fiat 124 Spider in Los Angeles, where it was announced that the Italian roadster would be offered with a 160-horsepower variant of the 1.4L MultiAir turbo engine available elsewhere in the FCA lineup. Paired with the 124′s 2,400lb curb weight, we expected performance similar to that of the Miata on which it is based.

Featuring a 170-horsepower version of that same MultiAir engine, the Abarth 124 also incorporates other performance features to make it the enthusiast’s 124 of choice. A mechanical limited-slip differential is standard, for starters, along with Brembo brakes and Bilstein dampers made specifically for Abarth. There’s good news on the transmission front, too. The Abarth 124 will be offered both with a six-speed manual gearbox and a sequential automatic.

170 horsepower may sound soft when you consider that the base car for the U.S. already produces 160, but bear in mind that this is a European annaouncement. Abarth models sold overseas are not as potent as those we see. (For example, the 500 Abarth that we get in the U.S. is equivalent to the Abarth 500 “esse esse” model sold in the home market.) Fiat stressed in the announcement that the powertrain specified in the technical data is only for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) markets.

The exterior is all Abarth, with a prominent scorpion badge up front and red and black accents from nose to tail. That theme continues inside too, where the otherwise very obviously Mazda-derived cabin shows off red seating surfaces with quilted ribs, an Abarth-branded wheel with a red leather centering stripe and Abarth-specific dash and console trim materials.

We expect to learn more about the American-market version of the Abarth 124 in the coming months. In the meantime, to see (and hear) the new Abarth 124 in action, check out the video below.

The Honda Civic hatchback prototype has made its global debut in Geneva.

The current five-door Civic was unabashedly designed with the European market in mind. However, that’s set to change soon because the next-gen model will be exported from Swindon, England, to the United States for the first time ever. Whether there’s a market for it here remains to be seen, but every example sold abroad brings Honda one step closer to turning around its struggling European division.

The leaked images confirm the five-door hatchback borrows styling cues such as C-shaped tail lamps and a discreet spoiler from the Civic Coupe that was shown in Los Angeles last November. It also indicates the hatchback features a raked roof line, which means it won’t look as boxy as the Volkswagen Golf and the Chevrolet Cruze Hatch. Its front end is all but identical to the four-door sedan’s, though the concept gains a splitter and large air dams.

Honda revealed last month that the hatchback, like all new Civic models, will feature a six-speed manual transmission on at least some of its trims.

Honda will show the Civic hatchback to American media for the first time in New York next month. The production model is widely expected to make its global debut at the Paris Auto Show in the fall, and Honda has confirmed it will join the sedan and the coupe in showrooms early next year.

Live photos by Ronan Glon.

The Porsche Boxster has been renamed 718 Boxster as part of a mid-cycle update. It also gets a minor facelift, and it receives Porsche’s first flat-four engine in decades.

The base 718 swaps the Boxster’s naturally-aspirated 2.7-liter flat-six for a turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four that makes 300 horsepower and 280 lb-ft. of torque. Moving up, the 718 Boxster S uses a 2.5-liter turbo four rated at 350 ponies and 309 lb-ft. of twist. Both engines offer 35 more horses than the six they replace.

A six-speed manual transmission comes standard, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic controlled by shift paddles is available as an option. The extra power allows the base Boxster to reach 60 mph from a stop in 4.5 seconds when it’s equipped with the optional Sport Chrono package and the aforementioned dual-clutch gearbox. The similarly-equipped Boxster S performs the same task in four seconds flat, half a second faster than the outgoing model. Porsche has completely redesigned the suspension and the brakes.

Visually, the 718 nameplate is accompanied by sharper headlights, larger front air dams, bigger air inlets behind the doors, and thinner LED tail lamps that emphasize the roadster’s width. 19-inch alloy wheels come standard, and 20-inch units are available at an extra cost.

The cabin is fitted with the latest generation of Porsche’s touch screen-based infotainment system and a three-spoke steering wheel whose design is loosely inspired by the one found in the sold-out 918 Spyder. Navigation is available at an extra cost. The cloth soft top carries over from the Boxster to the 718 with no major modifications.

The 2017 Porsche 718 Boxster will go on sale in June with a base price of $56,000, excluding a mandatory $1,050 destination charge. To put that figure into perspective, the 2015 Boxster starts at $52,100.

The Cayman will become the 718 Cayman, and it will receive the same mechanical and visual updates as the Boxster. Porsche admits the two cars will share more visual similarities than ever before. In short, the Stuttgart-based car maker is combining its two smallest models into a single model line offered as a coupe and as a convertible. The Porsche 718 Cayman will likely make its official debut in April at the New York show, and both models will go on sale in time for the 2017 model year. Interestingly, Porsche has confirmed the coupe will cost less than the convertible.

What’s in a name?
The heritage-laced 718 nameplate was first applied to a successful race car that Porsche introduced in 1957. Powered by a flat-four engine, the original 718 took first place twice in the Targa Florio that was held in Sicily, and it won first in its class during the 1958 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Live photos by Ronan Glon.

We now have live photos to go along with the teaser video of Lamborghini’s forthcoming mystery model, expected to be named the Centenario.

The 20-second video includes a few shots of company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini. The ultra-exclusive model celebrates 100 years since his birth in April 1916.

The darkened silhouette of a car can be seen around the nine-second mark, though it is too vague to confirm if the recent patent drawings are representative of the Centenario.

Outgoing chief executive Stephan Winkelmann recently told LeftLane the car will be based on the Aventador chassis. It will share the same mid-mounted V12 engine, potentially tuned to deliver more than the Aventador‘s 691 horsepower and 509 lb-ft of torque.

The Raging Bull will only produce 40 examples, an even split between coupes and roadsters. Every example has already been called for, each with an asking price around $2.4 million USD.

More details could surface later this week as the Geneva Motor Show carries on.

Live Photos by Ronan Glon.