Inside Lane Magazine: Issue 36 "Geneva 2012"

Inside Lane

Issue 36

Geneva 2012

Geneva 2012 Welcome to issue 36 of the Inside Lane Magazine and what an issue we have for you! This moth we cover the biggest motor show of the year in Geneva where every manufacturer under the sun has something noteworthy on their stand. Ferrari unveiled their new V12 beast, Lamborghini came bearing gifts, but don’t go thinking they were the only surprises...

It’s all waiting for you over the page.

Teeing Off...

It’s an alluring proposition a convertible but when you need practicality and reliability it doesn’t seem very logical. A Golf GTI with all its refinement and German engineering is a much more sensible option. Even drives with vigor. But if you still crave that open air experience VW might just have something for you.

We saw a Concept for a GTI Cabriolet a while ago but this is the 100% production ready machine. Powered by the same 2.0 litre turbocharged engine that the hatchback uses, the Cabriolet is no slouch and even comes with serious kit such as a limited-slip diff and optional DSG gearbox. 0-62MPH is completed in 7.3 seconds.

MINI MONSTER A paradox is the coming together of two things that should never be, for example traveling back in time and meeting yourself. If science fiction has taught us anything it is that paradoxes should be avoided at all costs. Actually sci-fi and BMW’s X6 have reinforced this come to think of it. So When the not so mini Mini actually because a functioning machine that we really liked, we were very surprised. Now it gets better…

This is the Mini Countryman JCW, or John Cooper Works to give it it’s full name. This rather angry looking motor is what you get when you turn the standard car up to 11. Its 1.6 litre turbo engine provides all fur wheels with 215BHP and 207lb-ft of torque. 0-62MPH is completed in just 7.1 seconds and the aggressive revisions to the bodywork makes sure people know about it. The cars top speed is 140MPH but the best part is its “overboost” function. Just like something out of Knight Rider, one push of a button gives you a further 14lb-ft of torque.

Want one? The Mini Countryman JCW hits showrooms this September for £27,800.

Volvo don’t really do things by halves. When they set a goal they tend to achieve it to very high standards. They are leaders in safety on the road and various models such as the XC90 lead their class overall. The Swedish company now plan to take on the Germans in a market that will be hard to break.

This is the Volvo V40 and it shall enter the premium hatchback market later this year. It certainly looks the part with clean swooping lines and a clear elegant stance.

Seating five in comfort, the V40 is squarely aimed at the likes of BMW’s 1 Series and Audi’s A3. The Volvo features a rather interesting 2/3 glass roof that provides high levels of natural light in the cabin.

Volvo V40

Big Cat

It has been a long time coming. The Jaguar XF has a wide range of engines and trims but everyone knows there has been a missing variation. An estate has been in the works for a few years now, kept as quiet as possible for its big entrance. We got our first look a few days ago via a leaked image but now it is time for the big cat to pounce.

Named the Sportbrake, this wonderfully penned design is genuinely good looking. I’m going to stick my neck out here and say it is the best looking estate car ever! Sticking with the XF’s ethos of power meets elegance, the Sportbrake is very much the cat that got the cream. Not only can you cram 1,675 litres of what ever you can think of in the back, but you also get the choice of four 2.2 litre diesels as well as a 3.0 litre 6 cylinder.

The XF Sportbreak goes on sale later this year.

The Evoque Goes Topless

Today you can go out and buy a convertible of almost anything. Chop-top supermini’s, rag roofed sports cars, and even topless supercars can all be purchased. Think long enough about it and the only segment that hasn’t really dabbled in the convertible market is the 4X4 or crossover. Range Rover’s highly successful Evoque hopes to capitalize on this niche.

Though just a concept for now the Evoque Convertible, if received well, is a safe bet for production. Just like the standard car, this Evoque would get the option of both front or all wheel drive. Seating four in a familiar cabin, this luxury SUV would come to market in 2014 after extensive testing to insure it kept the rugged capabilities of the hard top.

We love pocket sized hatchbacks in Europe! The way they fizz around town, ducking and diving though busy car parks, it makes them fun to drive even at low speeds. They get even more exciting when the manufacturer make spicier variations with more power and even keener handling.

Renault’s little Twingo has recently been refreshed and with it comes the very eager RenaultSport model.

Powered by a naturally aspirated 1.6 litre engine, the sporty Twingo produces 133BHP and 118lb-ft of torque. 17 inch rims and a more aggressive body foreshadows the seriousness of which this little car takes itself. It will even manage 43.5MPG combined leaving very few reasons why, if you in the market for such a car, you would choose anything else.

TWINGO SAYS “GRRR!”

Sit Down...

SHUT UP...

I HAVE ARRIVED BMW’s M badge is something the Germans are very proud of. It is a performance benchmark in the automotive world and so they wont just pin it to any old road going model. The BMW M6 is a behemoth of car car with the power to overthrow a country. Now the 2012 model has arrived and with its new offerings promises to be bigger and badder than its predecessor.

And here it is in all of its orange ostentatiousness. Now powered by the same twin-turbo 4.4 litre V8 as the M5, the new M6 produces an earth moving 560BHP. The run, or should we say warp, from 0-62MPH takes just 4.2 seconds. Sporting an attractive double-bubble carbon roof, this menacing machine threatens to drive as aggressively as it looks.

A convertible will also be offered that shall arrive in showrooms in June, the coupe will follow soon after.

Maserati GranTurismo Sport A couple of years ago Maserati were lost in a sea on confusion. What did their brand signify? Their cars simply lived in Ferrari’s shadow and seemed purposely half hearted to keep them that way. Then came the GranTurismo, a brilliant GT that put the legendary trident back on the map. Now there is a new one‌ The very popular GranTurismo S model is the companies biggest seller, but for 2012 it is being replaced with this, the Sport. Its Italian 4.7 litre V8 produces 454BHP and promises to deliver a 0-62MPH time of under 5 seconds. That is impressive and impressing is exactly what Maserati need to continue to do with up and coming models. The GranTurismo Sport comes with two gearbox options, one is the standard 6 speed automatic and the other is a manual sequential gearbox. New front architecture and LED lights make an appearance for 2012 making this Maserati an even more handsome package.

Now here is a manufacturer who has endured and indeed thrived during this global economic downturn. Aston Martin have a near faultless range, we will forget about the Cygnet for now, bringing forth style and elegance in a truly British performance package. Aston have previewed the 2012 V8 Vantage.

This is quite an important update for the V8 Vantage as it represents the biggest in changes since the cars launch. Being Aston Martins largest seller means that it has to impress, and going by past experiences they have nothing to worry about. Starting at £84,995 the standard V8 Vantage gets a revised 420BHP motor and much more aggressive styling that includes a rear diffuser and lower front splitter. The breaks have also been improved as well as a 7 speed gearbox being made an option. With a new Vantage comes a newer Vantage S with a price tag of £99,995. For that the V8 will muster 430BHP driven to the rear wheels via the previously mentioned 7 speed box. Both variants are avalible as both coupe and convertible models.

“2012? It’s Not The End of The World...”

A Hot hatchback isn’t a complicated recipe. Take a fairly standard family hatchback that would be found in any supermarket car park, add a generous helping of power normally via turbo, stiffen the chassis a little, finish with swollen bodywork that looks like it belongs in a behavioral correction centre, and there you have it! Peugeot want to return to their hot hatch roots with the new 208 GTi. The French company were once kings of this segment, oh how the mighty have fallen, but now the new 208 GTi wants to stand top of the pile once more. Though currently a concept, but more than likely to go into production within the next year, the car is powered by a twin-cam turbocharged 1.6 litre engine.

Producing 197BHP and 203 lb-ft of torque the GTi will get to 60MPH in under 7 seconds. Top speed is pegged at 140MPH.

i T G

“White-VanMan’s Stock Just Went Up” The Mini range over the past 6 years has boomed. Once the simple hatchback was all that was on offer but now a vast range consisting of convertibles, coupes, crossovers and estates populate the showroom. Mini have taken a look back at their past once again for inspiration and come up with this… The Clubvan.

Based on the rather obscure Mini Clubman estate, the Clubvan aims to be a classy alternative for businesses needing to carry “stuff” (technical term) from location to location. That said, the Clubvan doesn’t have the capacity to store Narnia behind its doors and so trades much more on its image. Fitting a human cargo of two and retaining it’s third door, the new Concept takes centre stage for Mini at Geneva.

M is for Madness I’ll be honest with you. I have never really liked the BMW 1 Series. I felt that the badge didn’t really suit a car of that size and that overall it was a little on the dull side. That was until BMW unleashed the incredible 1M Coupe. It was the perfect combination of German engineering, performance and overly aggressive design. The second generation 1 Series looks like a guinea pig that has been disgruntled.

But yet again my opinions changed when I saw the new M135i Concept.

Powered by the same glorious 3.0 litre 6 cylinder as the 1M, this car promises over 300BHP running through the rear wheels. The concept is not even a full M car and an even hotter version has been promised! The M135i is capable of a 0-62MPH dash of just 4.9 seconds! 0-124MPH in 17.3 seconds and it wont stop until it reaches its electronically governed killjoy of 155MPH. If BMW can put this plan into production, I may just have to change my opinion of the 1 Series for good.

IT’S HERE!

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

A Ferrari is a very special machine. Fueled by passion, powered by devotion to ultimate performance. The Italian’s give their all in both motorsport and out on the road. Today we see the birth of an all-new Italian stallion that replaces the much loved 599 GTB. This new machine has a lot to live up to but becoming the most powerful road going Ferrari ever, we are confident it will fill these big shoes well.

Named the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, it is exactly what my perfect supercar ideal is. Big V12 up front producing 730BHP powering the rear wheels. A perfectly sculpted body that not only provides the world with an art form to look upon, but its science provides the downforce to tame those rampant horses. 0-62MPH is done in a blistering 3.1 seconds, 0-124MPH in 8.5 seconds and it wont stop until it hits its top speed of 211MPH. Despite all this performance it will still achieve over 18MPG. It has been a long with but one that has been worth it. The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.

Out With The Old...

The Mercedes SL over the years has become more and more refined, bringing luxury touches once exclusive to saloons. However, the byproduct of all this lavish equipment is that the SL is a little porky on the scales. This has been rectified with the latest model shown a few month ago with its extensive use of aluminium. But let’s be honest… The AMG is the one we have all been waiting for.

Launched next to Mercedes-Benz’ brand new 2012 Formula One car, the new AMG packs quite the punch. Gone is the 6.2 litre V8 and in its place sits a twin-turbo 5.5 litre unit. Bolt on the AMG Performance Pack and the numbers begin to speak for themselves. 557BHP and 664lb-ft of torque propel this convertible to 62MPH in just 4.2 seconds. The top speed with this option is 186MPH (limited to 155MPH without). Uprated suspension, also features in the new car.

RS4 Efficiency is something all manufacturers, to varying degrees, strive for. Be it in performance, economy or another form, it is hard to obtain and even harder to maintain. The Germans are arguably the most efficient manufacturers of the motor car in the world and Audi is a prime example of this. Their new RS4 literally drives the point home.

With an appearance of solidified aggression, the 2012 RS4 instantly looks like a brute. Those angular hunches are merely a warning, like a dog showing its teeth, that this machine has some serious firepower. Loaded with a 4.2 litre V8 the Avant only model packs a monstrous 450BHP and ruthless figure of 317lb-ft of torque. 0-62MPH in banished in just 4.7 seconds and it wont stop until it reaches 174MPH. Despite all this lunacy under the body you still, at the end of the day, have a practical luxury estate. Inside the leather bathed sports seats sit proudly surrounded in subtle carbon fibre.

an inSPECTER calls...

If you want the very best in off-roading you buy a Land Rover. If you want the a performance machine to turn heads you buy a Ferrari. And if you want the ultimate in automotive luxury you buy a Rolls-Royce.

The hand built British brand is unquestionably the worlds benchmark for road going royalty. Now the double R shows the world its new Phantom and they still maintain that the loudest thing in the cabin at 100MPH is the ticking of the clock.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II takes the success of its predecessor and enhances it. Spawning multiple models across the range, from Coupe to Long Wheelbase, each car is built to order and to your exact specification. Refinements for 2012 include a slightly reworked body incorporating LED lights, 3D maps for the sat-nav, a new 8 speed automatic gearbox, and a V12 that produces 10% less CO2.

If you have to ask the price, odds are you probably can’t afford it.

“Don’t Stare At It”

You may remember a few months ago that a new Bentley SUV was on the cards and all but confirmed. Well now you have your official confirmation with this, the EXP 9 F Concept. A super SUV, something we have never seen before from a manufacturer. So naturally we were very excited to find out all about this British brute…

Unfortunately we were disappointed in almost every respect. Yes it is powered by a 6.0 litre W12 with twin turbos that can do 180MPH, that is indeed “super.” But what is not super is that it has a name that was invented by someone who has been playing lucky dip with a bag of scrabble tiles, and an appearance so vomit inducing that if you had to look at it for an hour you would be inside out. I am very aware that I am being rude about this car but I was expecting great things from the winged B. It may contain every luxury under the sun but for potentially £150,000 it is a case of try harder

Bull in a china shop

Aventador J Remember when you were a kid where a blank sheet of paper and a pencil were the greatest inventions. You could draw whatever your imagination came up with. Lamborghini are the masters of these beyond creative designs and the Lamborghini Aventador certainly captured the attention of the 6 year old within us. With the Aventador J, the Italians have fed their designers plenty of E numbers.

It looks like something fresh from fiction, the Lamborghini Aventador J is in fact a functioning machine. It is not a concept car but it is a one-off. Take the standard Aventador and hack off its roof, remove any form of luxury item, and add carbon fibre. The 700BHP 6.5 litre V12 now lives 4 inches from your ear and with a lack of a roof, or windscreen for that matter, it will be screaming directly into your eardrum to over 186MPH.

Pocket Rocket!

At the end of the day, when you put your childhood dreams aside, here in the UK it is unlikely your dream supercar won’t really work out on a day-to-day basis. Speed bumps, lack of practicality and continual fear of curbing those £2,000 alloys whilst struggling to park would taint your ownership. This is why we love the hot hatch! It has all the performance thrills of a supercar but without the bills that come with it.

This is the finished production ready Ford Fiesta ST that will come to market next year. At £16,500 it is 1.6 litre turbocharged bargain. 0-62 is complete in under 7 seconds and it is said to do more than 136MPH. Power is rated at 178BHP with 177lb-ft of torque as an accompaniment. The ST is 15mm lower than standard and Ford’s RS division even tuned the chassis.

What’s That Coming Over The Hill???

Within the world of supercars there are a handful of upstart companies that try to take on the big boys. Very rarely do they stick around long enough for you to catch their name, but every now and then they beat Ferrari or Lamborghini at their own game and for that they are immortalized. Think about Mr Pagani and his Zonda. Gumpert are halfway there as their performance machines are unquestionably fast, however, they also only have faces a mother could love.

This menacing machine is the Gumpert Apollo Enraged, and as its name suggests, it is quite an angry character. Those scowling looks haven’t got any better but if it hears you say that it might just give you a taste of the 4.2 litre V8 under the bonnet.

Producing 780BHP and weighing only 1,175KG the Enraged is no toy, more a street legal race car. Only 3 units will be produced.

Every nation that produces a car tends to have a stereotype attached to it. A car built in Italy tends to be involving, a Brit encourages exuberant driving, a French car will just break down. The Germans, well lets just say it is unlikely to go the way of the French. Audi’s brand new A3 looks to be another reliable addition to the four rings portfolio.

Come spring the all-new A3 can be ordered for your collection in September. Starting at £19,000 the very well finished hatchback has a range of 3 engines; a 1.4 and 1.8 petrol as well as a 2.0 litre TDI. It certainly isn’t the most exciting car at Geneva, but it genuinely is a step up from its predecessor and that is saying something as the old A3 was a very well rounded machine.

Audi A3

A-class act What market segment is the most competitive? That is a difficult question to answer but in my view, especially in the current economic climate, I would say manufacturers are all fighting to build a good selling hatchback. Mercedes have shown their brand new A-Class and despite the new A3 being fresh out of the blocks, Audi should watch their backs.

A dramatic improvement from the rather sub-standard predecessor that we all know, this 2012 car looks fresh and dynamic. With bold styling up front that is sculpted and tamed by sweeping lines by the rear, it is a good looking machine. Inside the interior looks to be of a quality that its main rivals, the A3 and 1 Series, have yet to attain. Power comes from a wide range of engines with petrols ranging from a 1.6 litre 113BHP base to a 208BHP motor. Diesel begins with a 1.8 litre with 107BHP and ends with a top 2.2 litre 168BHP unit.

Also next year expects to see the arrival of a 2.0 litre turbocharged AMG model. It is civil war in the German automotive arena‌ AND WE LOVE IT!

Infiniti Emerg-E Infiniti are a reasonably new brand to British soil and incase you didn’t know they are Nissan’s luxury brand. Think of them as what Lexus is to Toyota. Mainly they build big, slightly obscure, luxury saloons but they have brought something very new to Geneva.

Something that we like very much.

Named the Emerg-E Concept, this delectable shape that you see before you could just be the best way to save the planet yet. Packing 400BHP the craft can bolt to 60MPH in four seconds, but thanks to its extended range powertrain, it can achieve a range of 300 miles.

Though just a concept for now we could well see the Emerg-E go the way of the Lexus LF-A.