Lotus has introduced the 2016 Evora 400 at the Geneva Motor Show. The coupe stands out as the fastest and most powerful full-production car that Lotus has ever built.
The Evora 400 is an evolution of the Evora coupe that was sold on these shores until recently. The front fascia gets a new bumper with a massive air dam and LED daytime running lights, while the rear end features a more sculpted design, a pair of round tail lamps and a three-piece rear wing. The coupe rides on 19-inch front wheels and 20-inch rear wheels.

A comprehensively re-tuned aluminum chassis lies under the Evora 400′s composite bodywork. The coupe weighs 3,119 pounds when equipped with a manual transmission, about 48 pounds less than the model it will replace. Selecting the automatic transmission bumps that figure up slightly to 3,128 pounds.

Inside, the Evora gains high-quality materials and more space thanks in part to narrower door panels. The front seats, the HVAC controls and the touch screen-based infotainment system are all new.

As its name implies, the Evora 400 is powered by a supercharged 3.5-liter V6 engine that generates 400 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 302 lb-ft. of torque between 3,500 and 6,500 rpm. The upgrades help the coupe reach 60 mph from a stop in 4.1 seconds and go on to a top speed of 186 mph. Lotus says the Evora 400 is a full six seconds faster around its Hethel, England, test track than the model it replaces.

Buyers can choose between a manual transmission or an optional automatic controlled by shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel. Cars equipped with three pedals benefit from a Torsen-type limited-slip differential.

The 2016 Lotus Evora 400 was designed with U.S. regulations in mind and it is expected to land on our shores in the coming months. Lotus predicts that demand for the new Evora will help it boost production from 45 to 70 cars a week by September of this year.

Pricing information will be published at a later date.

Live images by Ronan Glon.

Volkswagen has introduced the all-new 2015 Caddy at the Geneva Motor Show.
Aimed at the heart of the compact van segment, the fourth-gen Caddy gets evolutionary design updates that are visibly inspired by the seventh-gen Golf and the smaller Polo. The smallest member of Volkswagen’s commercial vehicle lineup is again offered as a cargo-hauling panel van and as a more family-oriented model called Kombi that is capable of comfortably carrying up to five adults and a trunk-full of gear.

The changes are more comprehensive inside, where the Caddy is fitted with a noticeably more modern-looking dashboard that is built with improved materials. Kombi models gain a strip of body-colored trim on the dashboard, and nearly all versions can be ordered with Volkswagen’s touch screen-based Discover Media infotainment system. Additionally, the van is available long list of electronic driving aids including a Park Assist function that allows it to park itself in parallel spots, a 360-degree camera and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Caddy buyers have no less than eight engines to choose from including four TDI turbodiesel four-cylinder units whose outputs range from 73 to 147 horsepower. A trio of three- and four-cylinder gasoline-burning engines that generate between 83 and 123 ponies are available, and a 1.4-liter natural gas-burning turbo four rounds out the lineup.

A manual transmission comes standard on most models and a dual-clutch automatic is available at an extra cost. Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system can be paired exclusively with the 120-horsepower TDI mill.

The 2015 Volkswagen Caddy will go on sale across Europe in the coming months and, interestingly, it could land on U.S. shores in the not-too-distant future. Volkswagen of America CEO Michael Horn recently suggested that a new commercial vehicle could soon join the company’s North American lineup but he did not specify if it’s the new Caddy, the next-gen Transporter or the full-size Crafter.

Generation Four Edition
In Germany, Volkswagen will celebrate the launch of the 2015 Caddy with a special edition model called “Generation Four.” The Generation Four panel van gains body-colored bumpers and mirrors, smoked tail lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels and body-colored trim sprinkled throughout the cockpit.

The Generation Four Kombi benefits from a silver roof rack, tinted windows, 17-inch alloys with a burnished black finish, A/C and partial leather upholstery with contrast stitching.

Live images by Ronan Glon.

Volkswagen has introduced the 2015 Golf GTD Variant at the Geneva Motor Show.
Aimed directly at the Peugeot 308 SW GT, the GTD Variant stands out from the stock Golf Variant with styling cues like GTD-specific bumpers, honeycomb inserts in the radiator grille, smoked tail lamps, two chromed exhaust tips and 17-inch alloy wheels. The GTD sits nearly half an inch lower than the Variant thanks to a sport-tuned suspension.

Interior pictures are not available but Volkswagen promises the cockpit has been upgraded with sport seats upholstered with Clark tartan, stainless steel pedal caps, Checkered Black trim on the dashboard and the door panels and a golf ball-shaped shift knob. The wagon offers 21.4 cubic feet of trunk space with five passengers on board and 57.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat.

Power comes from a GTD-sourced 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI turbodiesel engine that makes 181 horsepower at 3,500 rpm and 280 lb-ft. of torque between 1,750 and 3,250 rpm. Linked to either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed dual-clutch DSG, the oil-burner sends the GTD Variant from zero to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds, roughly half a second slower than the GTD hatchback. Fuel economy checks in at over 53 mpg in a mixed European cycle.

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTD Variant is on sale now in Germany with a base price of €31,975 (roughly $36,000). The list of options includes a €965 (about $1,000) Sports and Design Package that adds tinted windows, red brake calipers, 18-inch Nogaro alloy wheels and a driving mode selector.

At the time of writing Volkswagen is not planning on offering the Golf GTD Variant in the United States.

Live images by Ronan Glon.

Nissan has formally unveiled its Sway concept at the Geneva Motor Show.
Nissan’s European arm explains the Sway was designed to preview what the next generation of the tiny Ford Fiesta-fighting Micra could look like. The hatchback’s front end falls in line with the Japanese automaker’s latest design language thanks to styling cues like sharp LED headlights, a bold ‘V-motion’ radiator grille and V-shaped quarter bumpers.

Pronounced wheel arches and oversized alloys increase the Sway’s road presence. Overall, the concept looks considerably more muscular than any Micra built over the course of the nameplate’s 33-year history.

Designers have simplified the interior and removed the B-pillar to make the space seem larger than expected. Lightweight seats extend the architectural theme with an exposed aluminum structure, covered in a pearlescent suede-like fabric.

Drivers face just two gauges in front of the steering wheel, placing the rest of the virtual controls and infotainment features on a large trapezoidal tablet in the center of the “gliding wing” dashboard.

Nissan has not revealed what the Sway is powered by. In Europe, the current Micra is powered by a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline-burning engine that sends 80 horsepower to the front wheels via either a standard five-speed manual transmission or an optional CVT. Buyers after more grunt can order a supercharged version of the triple that makes 98 horsepower.

“With this new concept car for Geneva, we are experimenting to see how Nissan might be able to bring fresh ideas to the compact hatchback segment,” said Nissan design chief Shiro Nakamura.

Live images by Ronan Glon.

Aston Martin has introduced a new segment-blurring concept car at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.
Described as a luxury GT car for the 21st Century, the concept car, known as the DBX, combines the sleek lines of a typical Aston Martin sports car with the high-ride of a utility vehicle. Though not a traditional SUV, the DBX Concept could be our first indication that Aston Martin is considering a new model for the high-growth utility segment.

In addition to its elevated stance, the DBX also boast all-wheel drive thanks to in-wheel electric motors at all four corners. Performance figures weren’t released, but the DBX also features a kinetic energy recovery system for an added dose of power. Carbon ceramic disc brakes haul the DBX down from speed.

The DBX is easily identifiable as an Aston Martin design, but there are some forward-looking cues, including thinner headlights, cameras in place of side mirrors, floating roof and unique lower bumper treatments. The DBX is finished in a Black Pear Chromium paint that was specially designed to replicate the look of genuine black pearl.

Inside the DBX offers seating for four and uses rich Nubuck leather to contrast the car’s high-tech elements. And because the DBX uses in-wheel motors, both the trunk and under-hood are can be used for cargo, ensuring there is enough luggage space for four passengers.

“A concept car such as this should, in my view, challenge conventional thinking and explore the art of the possible,” said Dr. Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin. “In the DBX Concept, I believe we have created a new type of luxury car that can not only broaden the appeal of Aston Martin to a whole new generation of customers, but sit with pride alongside the rest of our range.”

Palmer added that the DBX isn’t production ready, but noted that Aston Martin “will, in due course, be entering a car into the new DBX space.” What exact form that car will take remains a mystery at this time.

Live images by Ronan Glon.