Several events will also be featured: The EDF electric cars test centre, the BNP Paribas Learning centre to Eco-Driving , the Incredible Collection 2, the indoor electric karts track and an entire hall ( Pavilion 2 / 1) dedicated to emerging energies and clean cars. A fine program in perspective! To fully enjoy the Show, please plan your visit, prefer the public transport for reaching the fair, and purchase your ticket now to enter faster! See you soon!

Audi presents the Audi e-tron Spyder, the study of an open sports car, at the fall 2010’s largest auto show. The show car, with plug-in hybrid drive, is 4.06 meters (13.32 ft) long, 1.81 meters (5.94 ft) wide and only 1.11 meters (3.64 ft) high. The two-seater is equipped with a 221-kW (300-hp) twin-turbo V6 TDI at the rear axle and two electric motors producing a total of 64 kW at the front axle.

The Audi e-tron Spyder’s low total weight of only around 1,450 kilograms (3,196.70 lb) combined with the high-torque TDI and the two electric motors results in respectable performance. The car accelerates to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 4.4 seconds, and top speed is electronically governed at 250 km/h (155.34 mph).

The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento features lightweight, carbon-fiber construction, which translates to a curb weight less than that of a Lotus Elise, and a zero-to-62 mph time of 2.5 seconds.

It’s a high-technology powerhouse, pioneering advanced, lightweight, carbon-fiber construction. Astonishingly, the stunning Sesto Elemento tips the scales at just over 2,200 pounds. That’s not much more than a Lotus Elise. Yet the Lambo, with the company’s V10 engine, pumps out an amazing 570 horsepower. What does that mean? The Sesto Elemento will reach 62 mph in 2.5 seconds. That’s right — 2.5 seconds. In the flesh, the Sesto Elemento looks more like a fighter plane than a car: all-black composite, with the most aggressive rear end ever to grace a road car. The exhaust exits under the rear wing.

Inside, though, it is stripped to the bone to keep the weight to a minimum. There’s not even a traditional dashboard beneath the screen, just an instrument pod.

5 Things Your Car Doesn’t Need
By some estimates, the automotive aftermarket has swollen to a $295 billion-a-year industry. A lot of useful products are being sold at auto parts stores and specialty outlets all over the country. But for every company that sells quality replacement parts and other products for your vehicle, there are 10 pushing magic potions and gizmos that do nothing but pull hard-earned cash straight out of your wallet and place it into someone else’s. We’ve identified five common automotive scams that won’t do anything for your vehicle’s resale value. Avoid these gimmicks — unless you like to toss money out the window.

1. Higher-Grade Fuel

Each vehicle is engineered to accept a certain grade fuel as determined by the engine’s compression ratio. If your owner’s manual says your car is rated for regular gasoline and you’ve been feeding it premium, you’re wasting your money. The only difference between the two is that premium has a higher resistance to knock, or pre-ignition, than regular gasoline. While you can run premium in a regular engine, it will neither clean it nor give you any additional power. Meanwhile, using regular in an engine that requires premium could cause serious mechanical damage.

2. Nitrogen in Your Tires

Have you noticed that many tire stores now offer nitrogen as an alternative to compressed air for your vehicle’s tires? The theory behind this practice is that pure nitrogen is less subject to contraction and expansion than the regular air we all breathe, and that inflating your tires with the gas will save you fuel as a result. The truth is, standard compressed air is already around 78 percent nitrogen, and the differences between a tire filled with standard air and one filled with nitrogen are negligible at best. If the service were free, we wouldn’t turn it down, but we wouldn’t pay for it, either.

3. Far-Fetched Fuel-Saving Gizmos

We’ve all seen the late-night advertisements for the air filter that is supposed to save you gallons of fuel or the magic “conversion kit” that will allow your vehicle to run on water. Don’t believe them. By and large, these types of gadgets are a complete waste of money. In the end, it pays to listen to what your parents told you when it comes to things being too good to be true: They probably are. Do your research and trust your gut. Car manufacturers spend billions of dollars each year trying to come up with the next fuel-saving technology, so chances are if you haven’t seen it in the showroom, the bit in the back of the magazine won’t do you any good.

4. Potions

Have you seen the automotive aisle at your local superstore lately? There are more magic potions for car care than there are for restoring hair growth. If you find yourself with a problem such as a leaky radiator or head gasket, don’t be fooled into thinking there’s a magic panacea that will cure it. Most of the time, those products will take care of your problem but have unwanted side effects that could lead to expensive repairs. Bite the bullet and get the problem fixed right the first time.

5. Wheels, Stereos and TVs

If you’re planning on putting money into your vehicle, make sure it goes toward something that will actually make your car worth more at the end of the day. Contrary to popular belief, bolting on a new set of larger, flashier wheels or installing an insane entertainment system won’t bring you any extra cash when it comes time to trade in or sell the car. On the contrary, aftermarket additions such as wheels and stereos can actually detract from the total value of your vehicle. Skip the flash and fix what’s broken on your vehicle before something small turns into larger trouble.

Next: 5 Things You Should Do for Your Car: Keep Up With Maintenance
Purchasing an automobile is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. It doesn’t matter if you buy new or used — you’ll end up with a hefty sum of money (the initial purchase price, the cost of insurance, fuel and maintenance) wrapped up in that shiny hunk of metal in the driveway by the time you decide to sell it or trade it in for a newer hunk of metal. Consequently, it makes sense to protect that investment from environmental damage and the typical wear and tear that comes with age. Here are five easy things you can do to maintain the value of your 4-wheeled friend and keep the cash you put into it from going down the drain.

1. Keep Up With Maintenance
The absolute easiest way to maintain the value of your car is to get it serviced frequently, and stick to the schedule maintenance timetable like glue. Although that includes things such as changing your oil, it also means not forgetting larger items like timing belts or water pumps. And make sure to keep all of your maintenance records; they show potential buyers that the car was cared for, not simply used.

2. Keep It Clean
A clean car is good for more than just looking sharp. Regularly washing your vehicle can keep moisture-trapping dirt deposits off the paint and out of nooks and crannies. It will also make any damage easier to spot — things like door dings and scratches that can develop into rust spots if left untended. This doesn’t apply just to the exterior, either. Regular detailing can keep your interior looking and smelling its best while cutting down on wear.

3. Paintless Dent Repair
A single dent can make a huge difference in how a potential buyer looks at your car. The good news is that repairing everything from small door dings to larger dents has never been easier. Plenty of companies specialize in paintless dent repair — fixing the trouble spot without having to go through the mess or expense of respraying a body panel. You can usually have the repair done for less than $100, and it can make a huge difference in how much you can ask for your car when selling it.

4. Car Cover
Whether your car is a $16,000 economy commuter or a $70,000 luxury sedan, a quality cover can go a long way toward reducing damage from the sun and weather. It can also keep it free of droppings from birds and other creatures. All these things can ruin your vehicle’s finish and, in some cases, actually eat through the metal underneath. An inexpensive, breathable cover can cut down on that damage in a big way. It will also save the interior materials from harmful ultraviolet rays that cause colors to fade and leather and plastic to crack.

5. Seat Covers and Floor Mats

Seats and factory floor mats take quite a bit of abuse over the life of your car. Every time you get in or out, the seat material suffers scratches that will eventually lead to tears or cracks. Meanwhile, the floor mats will eventually lose their carpeting from the constant friction of your shoes as you work the pedals. The best way to protect both is to visit your local auto parts store and pick up inexpensive seat covers and replacement floor mats. Store the factory mats in a clean, dry place while you own the car, and simply reinstall them when it’s time to sell — the clean mats will help the interior look as good as new.

Tangerine Scream
But it’s the all-new Focus ST that’s getting all of the attention. With its bright Tangerine Scream paint, the ST looks the business — lithe and sporty and we absolutely love the central-exit twin exhausts.

Inside are loads of ST cues, and the racy dash-top dial gauges have been carried over from the previous model. Under the hood lies a 250-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo engine. It’s a shame it won’t arrive stateside until 2012.

Focus on Facebook
Ford also announced that the new Focus is to be launched worldwide via Facebook, the popular social networking site. One hundred Facebook users will win the opportunity to drive the new car before everyone else. They’ll come to Europe in early 2011 to preview the new vehicle over two days and then share their experiences with other Facebook fans.
The initiative is called Global Drive and will begin right after the Paris Motor Show.

Other Models
The Focus isn’t the only car lineup on the Ford stand. The new C-Max and Grand C-Max, for instance, are also on hand. MSN Cars UK recently drove these vehicles and was especially impressed by the torquey and refined EcoBoost engine.

There’s ample future “green” stuff, too. In 2013, the C-Max plug-in hybrid will go on sale.

Ford has committed to launching five electric models by 2013; an electric Focus will be coming next year, too. The company is keen not to get left behind by rivals such as Toyota.

Not that it’s all green stuff. The covers were also pulled off the new Ford Fiesta RS WRC rally car, set for the special stage next year. It uses the 1.6-liter EcoBoost turbo engine and looks sensational. Here’s hoping it leads to a Fiesta RS road car, too.

America’s best-selling truck will get two new V8s and two new V6s for 2011. Ford F-150 Powertrain Lineup Overhauled
Ford’s 2011 F-150 will get two new V8s and two new V6s in the next few months, the biggest engine makeover ever for America’s biggest-selling truck. During a press introduction in Texas, we got to talk to several engineers at Ford about the new powerplants. So here’s some more info on the engines.
A V6 in America’s best-selling pickup? Ford enthusiasts know there has been a six-cylinder engine available in F-Series pickups most years since the truck’s debut in 1948. But never has so much combustion efficiency been seen in any of them until now.
The most interesting powerplant is easily the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. Like every other carmaker on the planet, Ford has to figure out ways to meet looming CAFE standards that keep going up. That and the just-confirmed loss of the Ranger pickup after the 2011 model year mean another V6 engine was due. But the last V6, a 202-hp 4.2-liter offered in 2008, accounted for just 15 percent of sales. Ford wants this and a 3.7-liter V6 also being offered to account for 50 percent of F-Series sales. That’s a huge leap. To make sure buyers scoop up enough V6s to put a real dent in those CAFE numbers, Ford had to make its V6 offerings strong. And they are, particularly the EcoBoost.
The 3.5-liter EcoBoost also powers the current Taurus SHO, Ford Flex and Lincoln MKS and MKT.
The twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 makes 365 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and a whopping 420 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm. Ninety percent of that torque is available from 1,700 to 5,000 rpm. That’s enough to tow 11,300 pounds and, at least on paper, silence any critics who claim they “ain’t buyin’ no dang V6.”
The engine is loaded with high-tech componentry that would have seemed like science fiction to the engineers who built the flathead straight-six of the 1948 model year. Ford’s twin independent variable cam timing adjusts the phases on each camshaft by up to 60 degrees on the intake cam and 50 degrees on the exhaust. BorgWarner makes the two turbochargers — one for each bank of cylinders — that add up to 13.5 psi of boost to the combustion process. An intercooler sits up front, sharing grille space with the radiator. Direct injection blasts fuel into the combustion chambers at 2,100 psi. Cast iron exhaust manifolds are durable and help with catalyst light-off. Computer mapping for the turbo is unique to the F-150.

“Truck customers should think of the EcoBoost truck engine as a gas-powered engine with diesel-type capability and characteristics,” said Jim Mazuchowski, V6 engines program manager. “The twin turbochargers and direct injection give it the broad, flat torque curve that makes towing with a diesel so effortless — and hard acceleration so much fun.”

But the EcoBoost V6 engine and its peripheries weigh about the same as the previous 5.4-liter V8, so there’s no loss of curb weight based on having two fewer cylinders.

The other V6 is Ford’s naturally aspirated 3.7-liter unit shared with the Lincoln MKX, Ford Edge Sport and Ford Mustang. This base engine delivers 302 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. The cylinder heads and the whole air system are new. The camshafts have longer lift and the compression ratio is bumped up from 9.8:1 in the other applications to 10.5:1 for the truck. It has a tow rating of 6,100 pounds.

Ford also improved the truckliness of the 5.0-liter V8 from the Mustang, mostly by upgrading the structural integrity of the aluminum block. Engineers added beefier bulkheads in the bottom end and ribbing on the outside, the latter which helps reduce engine noise. Compression ratio was lowered from 11:1 in the Mustang to 10.5:1 in the F-150. They reduced the duration of the intake cam as well. Exhaust manifolds are cast iron instead of tubular steel. And an oil cooler was added for towing, something the Mustang doesn’t normally do.

Finally, the 6.2-liter, normally aspirated gasoline V8 is pulled straight from the SVT Raptor. The engine is strong, according to Ford engineers, with a cast-iron block, six-bolt mains, two side bolts per cap and five main bearings. The rods are forged, the crankshaft is cast and the pistons have sculpted skirts that reduce reciprocating masses while helping avoid slap. Exhaust manifolds are cast iron. The single overhead cams have variable cam timing and roller rockers operate the two valves per cylinder. There are also two spark plugs per cylinder.

All four engines are mated to the same design six-speed automatic. Only the torque converters are unique. As with most six-speed automatics, you gotta think it was done just for CAFE, like seemingly everything nowadays.

The EcoBoost V6 will be available in early 2011, likely February, while the other three powerplants will be in showrooms by the end of this year.

One interesting thing not addressed adequately at the Texas hoe-down was fuel economy. Ford would only make vague verbal gesticulations about “best-in-class” and promises of a “20-percent improvement over (take your pick) the competition or current V8s.” Real numbers would have helped their case, unless real numbers don’t impress.

• 
  The new Ford Focus wagon makes it debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Ford has unveiled a new small load lugger.

The Focus wagon made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, along with the revelation that a hot performance Focus will also hit the roads some time this year.

“There will be an increasingly global approach to our performance Fords in the future,” the company’s group vice president of product development , Derrick Kuzak revealed after the wraps came off the Focus wagon. Kuzak said the performance Focus would be a global car, which means it could be heading to Australia. “It will have both left and right hand drive,” he says.

However, Kuzak would not be drawn on whether the hot Focus would be sold under the Ford Performance Vehicles banner. “Obviously, it’s a very strong brand,” he says.

2010 Lincoln MKT — Review
Rating: 9.4
Bottom Line:
Stylish, powerful and flexible, the all-new Lincoln MKT combines sedan handling and SUV capacity in a luxury environment. An innovative powertrain option also gives it a class-leading 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway fuel economy.

Pros:

• * Surprisingly precise driver
• * Just the right amount of techie toys
• * Hushed like a library, yet still fun to drive

Cons:

• * Grins like a baleen whale
• * Window tint too much L.A. confidential
• * Noisy sunroof wind deflector

The phrase “surprisingly good” aptly sums up the all-new 2010 Lincoln MKT. Muscular yet confidently quiet and filled with techie gee-whiz highlights, the MKT is something like the sixth new or significantly updated Lincoln model to be introduced in the last year, and it easily fulfills Lincoln’s luxury mandate. Plus, it is more precise and satisfying to drive than expected. Furthermore, the 3-row, up to 7-passenger crossover equals and bests its competition in fuel economy and passenger room — a step forward for Lincoln as bold as the MKT’s grille.

Model Lineup
Sharing its chassis and powertrain with the Ford Flex, but not a single exterior or interior panel (and definitely exuding its own uptown vibe), the Lincoln MKT is offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, with a choice of two V6 engines. The AWD EcoBoost versions are clearly more desirable due to their superior power and flexibility. The EcoBoost is a twin-turbocharged, direct-injected engine that Ford claims will reduce noxious emissions without sacrificing power and performance. But there is a less expensive, less powerful option: the 3.7-liter naturally aspirated V6. It is the only MKT to use FWD (AWD is optional with the 3.7-liter); all EcoBoost 3.5-liter MKTs are AWD vehicles.

Bursting with features — no fewer than 12 of them class exclusives — the MKT is heavily equipped in standard form. Entry-level features include real wood inlays on the dash, steering wheel and door panels; a power rear liftgate; rain-sensing wipers; and even heated rear seats. All expected luxuries, such as leather trim, puddle lights under the side mirrors, power adjustable steering column, a Sync entertainment system, an 8-inch touch-screen and a 110-volt power outlet are standard.
The Premium Package delivers 12-way front power seats, rear footrests and rear-window sunshades, among other things. The Elite Package brings a voice-activated DVD navigation system with single DVD/CD/MP3 player, 10 gigabytes of music storage and SIRIUS Travel Link, plus Ford/Lincoln’s latest radar-guided blind-spot and parking lot warning aids. And yes, the MKT can parallel park itself.

Besides the turbo engine and AWD, the EcoBoost MKTs offer dual exhaust, an upgraded battery and 255/45R-20 all-season Goodyear RS-A tires instead of the standard 235/55R-19s.

Under the Hood
With double overhead variable-timing camshafts and four valves per cylinder, the 3.7-liter V6 is a smooth, sophisticated powerplant that runs on regular gasoline. But its 268 horsepower and especially its 270 lb-ft of torque are no more than politely adequate for the MKT’s curb weight — 4,680 pounds with FWD and 4,857 pounds in AWD trim. Hence, Lincoln’s emphasis on the EcoBoost V6.

Combining direct fuel injection with dual turbochargers, the 3.5-liter V6 whirs out 355 horses and, more importantly, 350 lb-ft of torque from just 1500 rpm up to 5250 rpm on premium gasoline (a little less on regular). It’s the generous torque that seemingly lofts the MKT — along with the Lincoln MKS sedan, Taurus SHO and Ford Flex, which share this V6 EcoBoost powertrain — in defiance of its nearly 5,000-pound weight. This innovative powertrain option also gives the MKT a class-leading 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway fuel economy.

Inner Space
MKT buyers can choose between 7-passenger seating using a split-bench middle row and 6-passenger seating with an extended center console reaching between the center seats and terminating with a small, optional refrigerator. The console fridge holds seven 12-ounce cans, runs only when the MKT is in Run or Start modes and has enough oomph to freeze.

A pair of large glass roof panels — Vista Roof — is standard over the front and middle seats, but to get the front panel to tip and slide open will cost extra (or require the Elite Package).

Several interior color schemes are available. We enjoyed the black version most, for its contemporary look. A tan version is a bit lighter, and a white option reminds us of sleepy country club Sundays; both the latter schemes are broken up by the always black dash and door tops.

No matter what the color, the MKT seating is plush in front and almost equally so in the center row. The two front rows provide generous passenger room, with the third row best for younger, more agile bodies, but serves adults in a pinch.

On the Road
Most unexpected from the MKT is its precise steering and confident handling. Its smooth ride is firmly plush, yet without the head toss and general upper body workout so common in taller crossovers and SUVs. All told, we enjoyed driving the MKT on twisty roads better than Lincoln’s flagship MKS sedan, which doesn’t offer the same midcorner stability and accurate tracking of the MKT.

The MKT is also quiet. This is not by accident; Lincoln spent the dollars for a lighter, stiffer, magnesium rear liftgate, acoustic glass, extra seals and sound deadening. The result is minimal wind and road noise and excellent speech intelligibility at all speeds.

At least with EcoBoost, power is not an issue; the turbo V6 acts like a healthy V8. Either jumping ahead at a light or whooshing along on the freeway, the MKT makes easy speed. Good control of that speed is available from the paddle shifters on steep grades or winding roads. Otherwise, the automatic transmission does fine on its own.

An unexpectedly useful item is the Adaptive Cruise Control, which maintains one of three preset following distances. It takes nothing to get used to it, and you miss it right away in other cars.

While not major MKT selling points, the strong EcoBoost powertrain allows a meaningful 4,500-pound tow rating and provides excellent altitude compensation for those Rocky Mountain vacations. The turbo engine’s torque doesn’t begin to fall off until over 5,000 feet.
Right for You?
All this goodness comes at a price, of course. The base MKT starts at $44,995 with destination and delivery charges. Add AWD and the price climbs to $46,990; tack on the dual headrest DVD system ($1,995), power tilt-and-fold third-row seats ($595) and perhaps a few of the smaller options, such as winter-friendly rubber floor mats ($75), and the basic FWD MKT reaches 50 grand without panting.

And $49,995 is the starting point for the EcoBoost MKT. You’ll also pay extra for some of the goodies such as radar cruise control and a brake-assist package at $1,295, along with $895 for the refrigerator and the other options listed above. That means a well-equipped MKT reaches into the mid-$50,000s pretty quickly.

We’d advise buyers to reach for the EcoBoost version for anything more than around-town shuttling. And while this most versatile of Lincolns beckons strongly, if the EcoBoost version is simply too much, consider the Ford Flex SEL, which offers the same mechanicals and much of the same functional luxury for about $12,000 less.

10 Cars That Should Be in U.S. Showrooms, but Aren’t
It’s hard to imagine that in some parts of the world, you can stroll up to your local BMW dealer and order up an even more focused version of the already lethal M3.

Here’s the skinny: The M3 Competition package adds a handful of go-fast goodies and a little fuel-saving tech to make the car even more fit for battle on your local track. Most importantly, the car gets a revised sport suspension and a reworked traction control that will allow you to misbehave a bit more than before. A few styling cues set the car apart from its more plebian brethren, too, including a carbon-fiber front spoiler, 10-millimeter lower ride height and huge 19-inch wheels. Oh, and BMW also threw in a new engine start-stop system to help the car save fuel when you’re not embarrassing more expensive metal at the track.

Audi A1

Yes, Audi pulled the sheets off an extended-range electric version of the company’s new hatchback in Geneva, but we’re more concerned about why we’re not getting the standard model on this side of the pond. The car manages to mix clean Audi styling with an up-market interior and plenty of pep, creating the perfect antidote to MINI fatigue. Under the hood, European buyers can nab a number of engines to suit their tastes, including two turbodiesel powerplants that are all but guaranteed to provide a fun driving experience with fuel economy to match. Just what kind of numbers are we talking about here? Try 44 mpg without any nasty battery packs to deal with. C’mon, Audi, throw us a bone here.

BMW M3 Competition Package

It’s hard to imagine that in some parts of the world, you can stroll up to your local BMW dealer and order up an even more focused version of the already lethal M3. Here’s the skinny: The M3 Competition package adds a handful of go-fast goodies and a little fuel-saving tech to make the car even more fit for battle on your local track. Most importantly, the car gets a revised sport suspension and a reworked traction control that will allow you to misbehave a bit more than before. A few styling cues set the car apart from its more plebian brethren, too, including a carbon-fiber front spoiler, 10-millimeter lower ride height and huge 19-inch wheels. Oh, and BMW also threw in a new engine start-stop system to help the car save fuel when you’re not embarrassing more expensive metal at the track.

Lexus CT 200h

Like exercise and a healthy diet, Americans just can’t seem to wrap their minds around the notion of a small luxury car. Things get even murkier for the well-moneyed when you throw the words “hatchback” and “hybrid” into the mix. In the case of the Lexus CT 200h, that’s a shame. Lexus raided the Toyota parts bin for the car’s drivetrain (for better or for worse — cough, cough), and the result is the same hybrid setup found in the Prius — and wrapped in a decidedly more attractive package. Given the extra weight, you probably won’t see the 50 mpg achieved by the Toyota electric wonder, but high 40 mpgs wouldn’t be out of the question. Right now, Toyota is trying to figure out exactly which markets will get the CT 200h, but given the fact that the company’s small HS 250h hybrid is already struggling uphill in our market, it doesn’t look good for this hatchback.

Ford Focus Wagon

The Ford Focus has a long and storied history of being significantly better across the pond than it is in our own backyard. Take this past generation, for example. While we got a coma-inducing Toyota Corolla fighter, Europe got to choose from a number of high-performance versions of the Focus, including a 300-horsepower turbocharged 5-cylinder version. See what we mean? We’ll admit that things are starting to get better. Ford has finally decided to go with a global platform, meaning we will get exactly what the rest of the world enjoys. Well, sort of. While the 2011 Focus is downright beautiful compared with the current generation, we turned jealous in a big way when the Blue Oval showed off the Focus Wagon in Geneva. The car adds a significant amount of space behind the rear seats and remains just as good-looking as the U.S.-bound versions we saw unveiled in Detroit. But so far, it looks like this one will elude our grasp.

Citroen DS3 Race

It’s been a very long time since a French carmaker sold its wares here in the U.S. That’s partly because the French products of the ’80s left a taste of spoiled wine in our mouths. But companies such as Citroen and Renault also realized that the hassle of doing business in the U.S. just wasn’t worth it. We’ll be honest with you — that hasn’t really bothered us until lately. Citroen unveiled a new version of its DS3 hatchback called the DS3 Race, and the car looks like the perfect answer the goofy-looking MazdaSpeed3. If you can look past the bizarre wheels and crazy paint scheme, you’ll see the lightweight hatchback with a 200-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine at its heart. There’s even a lower, more sports-oriented suspension on tap, too. Yes, we’re jealous.

Renault Clio Gordini RS

As long as we’re pining after unattainable French models, we might as well give the Renault Clio Gordini RS its due. In the halls of Renault lore, the Gordini badge means one thing: This is going to be a hair faster than your average econobox. In the case of the Clio Gordini RS, that means the standard Clio RS — already one very capable hatchback — gets a healthy dose of Gordini livery. That white-on-blue paint scheme has carried many a Renault to victory in motorsports over the decades, and it looks as if that trend will continue. Renault will also let buyers opt for a Cup chassis, which includes tweaks to the suspension and brakes to make the car sharper all around. Either way, you get a completely reworked interior with hot black-and-blue leather seats and a sport steering wheel.
VW

Polo GTI

Hands down one of the most frustrating “can’t haves” of this year’s Geneva Motor Show is the new Volkswagen Polo GTI. This is what would happen if you accidently shrank your Golf in the dryer and then tried to restore it using steroids. The Polo is 300 pounds lighter than the standard Golf, but packs around 178 horsepower from a turbocharged and supercharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine. There’s also a staggering 184 lb-ft of torque on hand to help scoot the little hatchback up hills and around lumbering semis. If it sounds good, that’s because it is. But good may mean too good to be true: Chances are VW isn’t bringing the Polo to our neck of the woods. Since the profit margins on subcompact models are already low, VW wouldn’t be able to import the car and keep the price competitive with other small cars.

MINI ONE D

If you can get past MINI’s affinity for capital letters, you’ll realize that the ONE D is the MINI that Americans want and need. In Europe, you can buy a number of stripped-down MINI models that aren’t available to gadget-happy Americans. Chief among those is the ONE, a car with a big focus on fuel economy and little else. MINI used the Geneva Motor Show to unveil a new D (for diesel) model, and the specs are absolutely jaw-dropping. Power from the 1.6-liter turbocharged diesel 4-cylinder engine isn’t exactly staggering at 90 horsepower, but the fuel economy certainly is. MINI says the ONE D can manage around 60 mpg. Even better, the car should be dirt-cheap. Yeah, it’ll take you 11 seconds to get to 60 mph, but think of all the time you could save cruising past fueling stations.
Alfa

Romeo Giulietta

By now, you’ve probably noticed a trend here: We like efficient and functional diesel hatchbacks. And why not? Diesels are fun to drive and easy on the environment and use a fraction of the fuel of their gasoline counterparts without the globe-destroying lithium batteries of hybrids. And if you’ve ever owned a hatchback, you know just how useful that body style is. Leave it to Alfa Romeo to combine those two loves into a body that will make your knees weak. The car is called the Giulietta, and it’s styled after the ridiculously gorgeous Alfa Romeo 8C supercar. Let us be the first to tell you: It works. While European buyers will have their choice of a number of powerplants, the most exciting is a 170-horsepower turbodiesel 4-cylinder. Yes, it gets insanely good fuel economy, and no, we can’t have it.

Audi RS5

The Audi A5 is arguably one of the best-looking coupes on sale anywhere in the world right now. But it doesn’t exactly put down the kind of performance figures that will knock your socks off. The S5 is a lot faster, of course, with a 4.2-liter V8 engine that produces 350 horsepower. But it isn’t BMW M3 fast. That’s where the RS5 comes in, predictably enough. Looking even less aggressive than an M3, the pinnacle of Audi “5″ performance has the same displacement as its more pedestrian S5 brother, but develops an additional 100 horsepower. As you might have guessed, the engine is coupled to a quattro all-wheel-drive system — this time with a significant rear-wheel-drive bias. If your mouth is watering, you’re not alone.

Mercedes-Benz Twin Turbo 5.5-liter V8

We’re talking about an engine here, not a car. But Mercedes-Benz did manage to stuff it into a rather special new S-Class for the show, so that’s worth mentioning. The new mill is a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 that produces up to 571 horsepower and 663 lb-ft of torque, making it more powerful and lighter than the 6.2-liter naturally aspirated engine it’s meant to replace. The engine will work its way into the Mercedes-Benz lineup in a number of slots, but you’ll be able to see it first in the 2011 S63 AMG available this summer. The company says the engine will deliver up to 25 percent better fuel economy — serious numbers if they turn out to be true — and feature trick technologies such as start-stop and variable throttle mapping.

Ferrari Hy-KERS Hybrid Concept

It wasn’t so long ago that Ferrari denounced the idea of building a Prancing Horse with a hybrid powertrain. But the company’s tune has obviously changed with the unveiling of the new Hy-KERS Hybrid Concept — a car with, you guessed it, battery packs and an electric motor. As it turns out, this hybrid is less interested in saving the planet than it is in churning out better lap times. The chugging V12 gasoline engine from the Ferrari 599 is joined by a 107-horsepower electric motor, sandwiched between the engine and the 7-speed transmission. That extra grunt pretty much cancels out the fact that the electric system adds 220 pounds, but it should help to reduce the car’s emissions.

Lexus CT 200h

Lexus is moving into uncharted waters with the CT 200h. Historically, luxury buyers in the United States have been wary of hatchbacks and even more skittish when it comes to hybrids. But the Japanese manufacturer seems bent on ignoring those facts with this interesting gas-electric hybrid, a luxury hatchback complete with a drivetrain borrowed from the Toyota Prius. That means a 1.8-liter gasoline engine and a slew of electric bits to keep fuel consumption low. Distribution plans are murky at best, but this one will head to Europe and Japan but, sadly, skip Uncle Sam’s backyard entirely.

Citroen Survolt Concept

We don’t get to enjoy Citroens on the U.S. side of the pond, and that’s a real shame, judging by the company’s Survolt Concept. While this thing is technically just a design study, the company says that the car is meant to be an all-electric performance vehicle with bloodlines that run back to the RevoltE concept that we saw at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Citroen is keeping performance figures to itself, likely because the Survolt relies on auto-show trickery to move under its own power, but the company does say it was built with motorsports in mind. Does that mean Citroen may be looking to add electric racing to its résumé? Maybe, but who cares? We’ll never see it here.

Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

Ferrari wasn’t the only sports car manufacturer balking at the idea of slapping a hybrid drivetrain in one of its creations. Porsche was right there with the Italians saying that the tech just didn’t make sense for its products. Well, so much for that. The company pulled the wraps off a new hybrid version of its Cayenne SUV in Geneva. The truck is the company’s first shot at adding a 47-horsepower electric motor to a supercharged V6 gasoline engine. Porsche says the result is 380 horsepower with a 23 percent bump in fuel economy. How much will it cost you? That’s still up in the air, but it we can guarantee won’t be cheap.

Volvo S60

Face it: Volvo has always been a brand that favored safety over sexiness. Generations of America’s youth have grown up being bused about in big, lumbering Swedish boxes, if for no other reason than Volvo’s widespread reputation for building some of the safest cars on the planet. It looks as if the company is out to prove it can do safe with a pulse by unveiling the new S60. Under the hood sits a turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, enough to get our palms all sweaty. But Volvo isn’t walking away from its safety-first mantra just because it’s now owned by the Chinese manufacturer Geely — or, for that matter, jumping into the sexy-cars arena any time soon. The S60 also comes with the company’s collision-avoidance system and a pedestrian-safe front end.

Volkswagen Polo GTI

Does anyone remember the first-generation VW Golf? The pint-sized Bavarian hit the scales at a featherweight 1,900 pounds. Compare that to the 2,968 pounds of heft on the most recent version of the Volkswagen compact and you can see how there’s a market for a sub-Golf model. Meet the Polo GTI — the Golf’s smaller, more efficient younger brother. Powered by a turbocharged and supercharged 1.4-liter direct-injection gasoline engine, the little hatch promises to be decently powerful and plenty efficient. So far, VW hasn’t said if the Polo GTI is headed our way, but rumors suggest it may be a good possibility.

Saab 9-5

It’s been a shaky few months for Saab. The Swedish carmaker’s on-again off-again sale to Dutch supercar manufacturer Spyker had fans of the brand biting their fingernails, but the deal went through and Saab was on hand at Geneva to show off the new 9-5. The last time an all-new 9-5 hit the stage was sometime during the Paleolithic era, so the car was due for an update. The sleek new bodywork is expected to define the rest of the Saab stable moving forward, and the company says the 9-5 will receive a number of powerplant options, all of which are turbocharged. The company isn’t saying when we can expect to get our hands on the car, but it should be soon.

Mercedes-Benz F800 Style Concept

Mercedes-Benz tipped its hand, giving us a clue as to what the future of the company’s design will look like with the F800 Style Concept. Though the rear-sliding doors and futuristic interior help the F800 Style stand out from the rest of the show-car crowd, we’re more likely to see some version of the concept’s face on future Silver Arrow products. The new look moves the company away from the angular layout of the current model lineup and returns it to a more emotive state, akin to the SLS AMG. We like what we see.

Audi A8 Hybrid

Audi may be calling its A8 Hybrid a design study, but it’s clear that one more company that once balked at the idea of electric cars is giving hybrids and EVs a serious once-over. Under this flagship’s hood is a gasoline/electric tag team good for 245 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. Most of that oomph comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged gas engine, but a small electric motor serves up 45 horsepower and can ferry the massive sedan along for 1.2 miles at 40 mph. Not too shabby. The company says we could expect up to 38 mpg — that is, if the car were more than a simple design study.