Aston Martin said it would have a “property” here in Paris, and indeed it did. The Aston Martin One-77 made its “debut,” but it looks like we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see the British automaker’s $1,000,000+ super coupe.

Judging by the limited upskirt shots in our gallery, the length of the One-77 easily surpasses the DB9 and the stylized front end, with blacked-out headlamps, ensures that the One-77 will spend more time in the comfy confines of heated and carpeted garages then out on the track where it’s 7.3-liter V12, carbon fiber monocoque and massive brakes will be put to good use.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Lexus has chopped off two doors and the roof from the IS250 to create the IS250C, due to arrive in Europe in the summer of 2009, and the U.S. shortly thereafter.

The 2009 Lexus IS250C features a three-piece aluminum roof that retracts in a “world’s fastest” 20 seconds, and features revised overhangs 15mm (front) and 55mm (rear) longer than the sedan, a new fog lamp design and a rising beltline that integrates into the revised haunches. The IS250C’s rear end leaves a lot to be desired, with an odd assortment of angles terminating into a set of awkwardly placed LED taillights. With the top up, nothing seems to seamlessly blend together, looking like an ill-advised amalgamation of the outgoing SC430 and BMW 335i. Inside, thing get mildly better – in typical staid Lexus tradition – with a set of rollover hoops for the rear seat passengers, a 12-speaker Mark Levinson sound system and a speed sensitive climate control system that will boost the heat during open air jaunts. And naturally, you can fit a golf bag in the trunk with the top down. Continued

Popularity: 1% [?]

We already saw the first images of the new MK VI Volkswagen GTI and we now have them in all their high-res glory courtesy of VW’s German media site. As with the standard version of the Golf and the Scirocco, VW is abandoning the huge Audi-like grille of recent models in favor of something more subdued. The new GTI also harkens back to the original GTI of the late 1970s with its red-bordered grille. Under the hood, the new GTI gets the latest edition of the corporate 2.0L TFSI four cylinder cranking out 210 hp and a reasonably healthy 207 lb-ft of torque at just 1,800 rpm. The electronically controlled limited-slip XDS differential will help guide that torque to the wheel with the most grip and hopefully manage torque steer as well. The GTI is expected to hit 62 mph from a standing start in 7.2 seconds with a combined fuel efficiency on the EU cycle of 31.4 mpg. VW will start adding to the GTI’s cumulative tally of 1.7 million units sold next spring in Europe and in the U.S. during the summer of 2009, while the regular Golf VI will hit our shores as the new Rabbit in the fall of 2009.

Popularity: 1% [?]

A third teaser shot of Lamborghini’s mysterious concept car has surfaced on the web just weeks before its debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. All signs point to a front-engine, four-door coupe concept similar in form to the Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide. The first teaser merely showed the car’s rear diffuser, but the second showed its front wheel with a fender vent clearly visible that indicates a front-mounted engine. This third teaser shows the rear taillight and what we can clearly see as the cut line for a trunk lid. The taillight itself features LEDs and seems to be inspired by new taillight designs on the Reventon and LP560-4. Though we don’t have a name for the concept yet, Lamborghini recently registered the name “Urus” with the Italian copyright office. All will be revealed soon enough, though expect a few more teasers between now and Paris.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Marking the end of an era, Bentley will bid farewell to its 10-year-old Arnage flagship sedan with the release of the so-called Final Series at the Paris Motor Show next week. Production of the special edition model will be limited to just 150 units. According to the British automaker, the Arnage Final Series combines the performance of the 507 PS Arnage T with the refinement of the Arnage R and design elements from the Brooklands coupe.

Key elements of the Arnage Final Series’ appearance include a dark-tinted Bentley matrix radiator grille with Flying ‘B’ mascot and dark-tinted lower grille along with 20-inch alloy wheels and Le Mans’ lower front wing air vents from the Brooklands coupe. Additional unique features include body-colored front and rear lamp bezels, ‘jewel’ fuel filler cap (made from billet aluminum) together with ‘Final Series’ wing badges and polished stainless steel tread plates to the front doors.

The engine, transmission, chassis and running gear of the Arnage Final Series are identical to those previously employed in Arnage T. This means that the Final Series gets a 6.34-liter V8 engine that produces 507 PS and 1000 Nm (738lb ft) of torque. The V8 is matted to a six-speed ZF automatic transmission with three different driving modes (Drive, Sport and Semi-Automatic). Acceleration to 60 mph is accomplished in 5.2 secs (0-100km/h in 5.5 secs) with 100 mph reached in 12.1 secs (0-160km/h in 12.0 secs). Top speed of the Final Series is 179 mph or 288 km/h.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Saab unveiled the 9-X BioHybrid Concept hatchback last March at the Geneva Motor Show, and it will be joined next month at the Paris Motor Show by this: the 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept. Both vehicles are said to herald the coming of a production Saab 9-1 small car, but the 9-X Air goes a step further and replaces the original concept’s closed roof with a flat-folding canopy top that’s said to celebrate the brand’s history in the convertible building business. Aside from that, the concepts appear to be almost identical right down to sharing the same turbocharged 1.4L Saab BioPower engine producing 197bhp. We’ll bring you more pics and info of the Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept straight from the show floor in Paris next month. Continued

Popularity: 1% [?]

After showing the A1 Metroproject concept at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, Audi is reportedly planning to reveal a four-door variant in Paris next month. The production version of the A1 will go into production in 2009 at an Audi factory in Brussels, Belgium. Audi will be targeting the A1 at the premium small car segment to go up against the MINI. It’s unknown if the A1 will be offered in the U.S. market although the most recent reports have indicated that it would not. The A1 is also expected to form the basis for an upcoming electric car from Audi in the next few years.

Popularity: 3% [?]