81st International Geneva Motor Show

The 81^st edition of the annual International Geneva Motor Show concludes this weekend, soon to leave the automotive world buzzing about the latest assortment of production automobiles and concept cars.  Though I could opine rapturously about exotic supercars like Artega, Gumpert, or Weisman, here’s a rundown of the most impressive just-unveiled cars that you might actually see here in the United States.  In descending order of my delight:

1.  Alfa Romeo 4C Concept

As its name implies, Alfa’s 4C is a junior cousin of the recent 8C supercar, transferring that car’s design language and use of weight-shaving and carbon fiber onto a shorter wheelbase with a milder powerplant.  The rear-wheel-drive 2-seater features a rear-located 1,750 cc 4-cylinder turbocharged engine from the Giulietta that delivers 200 hp.  Planned for sale in 2012, the sprightly looking 4C is expected to reach 60 mph in less than 5 seconds with a top speed in excess of 155 mph.  The designers definitely got this one right, and if the price tag is as moderate as the reports suggest (less than $60,000), then Alfa may have finally made a most welcome return to the realm of everyman sports cars.  Lotus Elise and Porsche Cayman beware…

2.  Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4

Lamborghini’s long-awaited replacement for the Murcielago offers a completely redesigned 6.5 liter V-12 that boasts 700 hp and 509 lb-ft of torque, both jaw dropping numbers.  In combination with a low weight of 3,472 lbs, the all-wheel drive car reaches 60 mph in 2.9 seconds with a top speed of 217 mph; nothing short of awesome!   The styling is typically Lamborghini, a natural extension of prior Lambo wedge motifs whose lower-than-low silhouette and gaping front vents are arresting by any measure.  Lamborghini has already sold 12 months worth of production for the $379,700 Aventador, which is scheduled to begin taking deliveries in late summer of this year.

3.  Aston Martin Virage

Apparently the price gap between the $181,000 DB9 and the $266,000 DBS is wide enough to include another model, so Aston has updated its venerable grand tourer and resuscitated a model name from the late 80s to result in a new Virage.  Essentially using the same wheelbase and hand built 6.0 liter V-12 powerplant of the DB9 and DBS, the Virage offers a remodeled front fascia influenced by the One-77 supercar, as well as swan-wing doors first demonstrated in the Rapide.  Capable of 490 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, the Virage will also be offered in a Volante convertible bodystyle.

4.  Jaguar XKR-S

Jaguar is using the 50^th anniversary of the iconic E-Type sports car (known domestically as the XKE) to launch a performance variant of the XKR.  Claiming to be the most powerful Jag ever, the XKR-S features an uprated version of the AJ-V8 engine that is capable of developing 542 hp and 501 ft-lbs of torque, figures good for 4.2-second 0-60 mph launches and a top speed of 186 mph.  A retuned suspension and minor design alterations round out the car’s improvements from the standard XKR.

5.  Maserati GranCabrio Sport

In another refinement of a previous model, Maserati has performance-tuned its GranCabrio to result in the GranCabrio Sport.  Now delivering 450 hp and 376 ft-lbs of torue, Maserati’s 4.7 liter V-8 propels the car to 62 mph in 5.2 seconds with a top speed of 177 mph.  Revised handling, a reprogrammed transmission, and a redesigned exhaust system purportedly add further sporting zest to the luxurious Maser experience.

6.  Bentley Continental GT Supersports “Ice Speed Record “ Convertible

In what is surely the final iteration of the first generation Continental GT body style, a limited edition of 100 examples of this variant of the GT Supersports Convertible will celebrate Bentley’s latest world speed record, in which 4-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen piloted such a car to over 205 mph on the Baltic Sea ice off the coast of Finland.  (How’s that for some cajones?)  The all-wheel-drive convertible is assured to be the most powerful Bentley ever, offering 631 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, and reaching 60 mph in 3.8 seconds.  To boot, the car’s 6-liter V-12 is capable of running on E-85 ethanol-based biofuel.