Under The Spotlights

Every year during this time, the Swiss city of Geneva prepares for the auto industry's most anticipated event of the year. The Geneva Motor Show features the latest and greatest creations from automakers all over the world, starting from new hypercars and supercars, to production cars for the next few years and concept vehicles for the future. The show starts on the 6th of March, and stays open for the following ten days.

Ferrari California T
Often described as the least masculine Ferrari by people who cannot afford them, the Ferrari California is finally on it's way out. Except it's not, because it's replacement is the same Ferrari California with a T attached to it. The “new” old California now has an all-new 3.8-liter turbocharged V8 engine pushing north of 550 horses and it happens to be the first turbocharged Ferrari since the F40 from 1992. The Italian automaker promised a smooth power curve without turbo lag and an exhilarating soundtrack, despite being turbocharged. Ferrari's new magnetic active dampers are said to be 50% faster reacting for a better ride. The front end is updated to a more aggressive styling with 458 inspired headlights, while the interior is tweaked to a sporty layout with a new infotainment system along with a touch screen turbo boost gauge on the dash.

McLaren 650S
McLaren's long awaited answer to the Ferrari 458 Speciale is finally here. It's called the 650S and is made to fill the gap between the between the 12C and the recently released P1 hypercar. The core idea of this car is very similar to the Speciale treatment, it is based on the 12C chassis and retains most of the overall shape too, but with 25% more downforce courtesy of a 12C GT3 inspired front bumper design and rear diffuser. It's headlights are borrowed from the P1 for a more distinctive appearance and despite the 12C already being faster than Ferrari's 458 Speciale, the 3.8 liter V8 engine is pumped up to a whopping 641 bhp (650 ps). The suspension has been recalibrated to allow further driver adjustment, and the steering sharpened for the spirit the 12C seemed to have lacked. Inside is a full alcantara treatment with the option of fixed carbon fibre seats. With such improvements on an already mad fast car, don't be surprised if the 650S puts Aventadors to shame when it goes on sale this summer.

Mercedes S Class Coupe
Having shut down their Maybach brand of uber-luxury cars last year, Daimler AG has started to fill its shoes with Mercedes' latest S-Class line of luxury super saloons. Soon after launching the all new 2013 S Class Sedan, the Germans have now set out to compete with Bentley's Continental Coupe and the Rolls Royce Wraith with their new luxury coupe. The S Coupe is based on the sedan, but with two fewer doors and a streamlined body cued from the CLA's flowing lines. The interior is a 2+2 layout with luxury and entertainment that is unparalleled in any car of it's kind, including a digital speedometer slash infotainment system that stretches along the entire length of the dashboard and upholstery covered in the leather of a hundred million unicorns. Under the hood is a 4.7 liter turbo V8 with about 450 horses, while V12 models are expected to come shortly afterwards under the AMG badge. The gadgetry in this car is more than we can manage to fit in here. Even the headlights are constructed with 47 Swarovski Crystals in them for you to tell everyone how filthy rich you are.

Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4
Geneva is never complete without a new raging bull, and this year we finally see the Gallardo model going out after ten years of production. The replacement, originally codenamed “Cabrera” is to be called the Huracan, named traditionally after a Spanish fighting bull. The Huracan retains the 5.2 liter V10 from the Gallardo now rated at 610 PS, and is connected (finally!) to a new 7 speed dual clutch transmission through to a complex electronic all wheel drive system. It has magnetically controlled adaptive suspension for comfort or stiffness whenever needed. The new baby Lambo weighs about 1400 kilos and does 0-100 in 3.2 seconds up to a top speed of 325 km/h.

Honda Civic Type R
Although Honda has been quite vague on the details of the next Civic Type R, we already have a general idea of how it may look from YouTube videos and test mule photos. Why is this so important? Because Honda's Type R's are usually the best cars in their class, a refresh is long overdue and the upcoming model is set to have the first factory turbocharged V-Tec pushing out over 280 horsepower.