F12 Berlinetta by Ferrari

Ferrari has unveiled the fastest road-car it has ever produced, ahead of the vehicle’s debut at the Geneva Motor Show (March 8-18).

The F12 Berlinetta can streak from 0-100km/h in 3.1 seconds and continue up to 200km/h in just 8.5 seconds, thanks to a host of powertrain and design changes.

A futuristic bodyframe made out of new alloys has helped bring weight down to 1,525kg, less than the previous V12 Fiorano model, as well as increasing the structural integrity of the vehicle.

Underneath the hood is a 6.3-liter V12 that generates about 740 horsepower, Ferrari confirmed, more than its serious rival the Lamborghini Aventador.

Extensive time in the wind tunnel has helped Ferrari boost downforce by 76 percent and significantly reduce drag, thanks to a hood design to channel air away from the top of the car and ‘Active Brake Cooling’, which only opens the guide vanes to the brake cooling ducts at high operating temperatures, reducing drag.

The automaker’s attempt to jump on the environmental bandwagon has resulted in a reduction in fuel consumption of 30 percent and carbon dioxide emissions of 350 g/km.

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Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati

Fiat-owned performance brand Abarth is to launch a special-edition model based on luxury supercar brand Maserati.
The Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati is a tricked-out version of the Fiat 500 which layers in Abarth performance touches and an admittedly-impressive Maserati veneer.
Somewhat reminiscent of the Aston-Martin Cygnet, the Tributo Maserati is a convertible model finished in a color exclusive to Maserati, Pontevecchio Bordeaux.
In collaboration with Maserati, Abarth engineers uprated the 16V 1.4-liter turbo engine, giving it an output of 180hp to the special electronic gearbox, which Abarth says offers reduced gearshift times.
A set of new 17-inch tires featuring the Maserati ‘Neptun’ design and the distinctive hexagonal exhaust pipes found on Maserati cars such as the GranTurismo or Quattroporte complete the model.
Abarth says that it will only produce 499 of the 695 Tributo Maserati, which will be launched at the Geneva Motor Show (March 8-18).
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The KIA Track Ster

The 2012 Chicago Auto Show has just begun and already the spotlight may have been stolen by the Kia Track’ster. The Track’ster is a race-worthy Soul lookalike designed with performance in mind.
The Kia Track’ster is all about power, weight and performance. The Track’ster’s power comes courtesy of a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine pumping out 250 horsepower. The six-speed short throw manual transmission ensures quick shifts and the AWD makes cornering a breeze.

The concept’s weight is kept in check with the removal of two doors and two seats. The rear of the interior is meant to store racetrack essentials such as spare tires, gloves and helmets. The Kia Track’ster is undeniably awesome, but it may be too race-oriented to be mass produced.

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Fiat 500 soon in a larger version

Fiat’s 500 will reportedly come in a larger version, to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The Italian brand is gearing up to release a wagon version of the tiny model, reports Automotive News.
Although details on the model are currently scarce, it’s believed to be a more roomy version developed specifically for the US market and is likely to come with a high-performance variant from sister brand Abarth.
Recent pictures from Italy suggest that the automaker could be planning to borrow elements of both the 500 and the new Fiat Panda for the new models, if one shot captured at a ski resort is anything to go by.
The larger-than-life 500 LimoCity, Landaulet and LimoSun have been formed of multiple Fiat 500 units to build a 500 that can measure up to a staggering 5.3 meters in length.
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