Aston Martin One-77 almost fully revealed

Dr. Ulrich Bez may not be British, but as he revealed the Aston Martin One-77 today at the Geneva Motor Show, he paraphrased the classic Rolls-Royce performance description: The performance of the One-77 is "more than enough", as if there could be such a thing in a supercar. Nonetheless, this will be one seriously fast machine.

What we saw here today for the first time is the completely exposed exterior and guts of the most expensive and highest performing production Aston Martin ever. Starting with the typical 6.0L V12 block, the displacement has been increased to 7.3L and the output is somewhere north of 750 hp. Zooming to 60 mph will come somewhere in the lower half of the three-second range and the car's top speed is high enough to be utterly irrelevant except for those seeking bragging rights. We also got to see the first completed carbon fiber and aluminum chassis on display with the body buck. We'll have an in depth article on the One-77's greasy bits in a couple of days.

The only part we haven't seen yet is the interior, which will be coming later this year. In the meantime, start counting your pennies because Aston Martin is building only 77 examples of this remarkable car. The first is due to be delivered to a customer before the end of 2009 with the remaining 76 units coming in 2010.

Nissan Qazana is so bizarre it almost looks French

We're just back from checking out the Nissan Qazana, and we're happy to report that it's every bit as zany as it looks in the stock images we saw seen earlier. In fact, it almost looks Gallic, like something from Citroen or Peugeot, or perhaps something reverse-engineered from a Paris-Dakar rally special. We're not entirely sure if (and/or how) the big-fendered, narrow-greenhouse look will translate to Nissan's planned production compact crossover, and we're quite sure that the rear-hinged suicide doors won't see showrooms when the Qashqai receives a kid brother. For now, we're enjoying its novel lighting (including the pair of crazy large front driving lamps and the fender-ridge daytime-running lamps, along with well-integrated boomerang taillamps) and red-velvet cake interior.

Bleu Centenaire is every bit as special as any other Bugatti Veyron

Given the level of bespoke specification that is part-and-parcel with the Bugatti Veyron ordering experience, we doubt there have ever been two identical cars built. As such, each example is something of a one-off, and by this rationale, the Bleu Centenaire is, paradoxically, just another Veyron.

Pre-show rumors of a massive power infusion and a stratospheric 270 mile-per-hour vMax have proven to be utterly unfounded, as the BC's drivetrain is standard Veyron fare. The changes, then, essentially amount to cosmetic paint-and-trim, but to be fair, the Blue Centenaire does look quite fetching in its mix of matte and glossy blue paint.

Ferrari 599XX is our kind of menace to society

Ferrari stormed Geneva with a pair of new versions of the 599 GTB Fiorano. We'll have more for you soon on the new Handling GT Evoluzione package being offered on the V12 supercar, but what you really want to see is this: the 599XX. Following up on the FXX development program, the 599XX is a rolling test bed for new technologies making their way from the F1 circuit over to Ferrari's road car division.

Only 20 or 30 examples off the 599XX will be offered to a very select clientele, and participation in the program (which includes the car) will cost upwards of one million euros. The vehicles itself is technically based on the existing Fiorano road car, but is treated to an extensive array of track-spec modifications including a retuned V12 corralling some 700 prancing ponies at 9,000 rpm, revised electronics, an "Actiflow" aero package that produces some 280 kilos of downforce at 200 km/h and 19-inch competition rims with F1-derived covers.

Zagato's Perana Z-One is desire in motion

The world doesn't need another sportscar. But then we don't really need anything beyond food, clothing and shelter. Everything else is desire, and the Zagato Perana Z-One definitely fits the mold... and fits it well. The Z-One's got the power (a 440hp 'Vette-sourced V8), the looks (styled by Milanese coachbuilder Zagato), the exclusivity (less than 1,000 units annually) at a competitive price (starting at 50k euros). To our eye, the South Africa GT is one of Zagato's best contemporary designs – following such recent examples as the Maserati GS, Ferrari 575 GTZ, Spyker C12, Diatto Ottovu and Bentley GTZ

Specification Sheet

TECH DETAILS

General Data
Curb Weight - 1195 kg
Weight Distribution - Front: 50%, Rear: 50%
Wheelbase - 2540 mm
Track - Front: 1627 mm, Rear: 1570 mm
Length - 4406 mm
Height - 1233 mm
Width - 1924 mm

Accommodation

Seating Capacity - 2

Engine
Configuration - V8, All Aluminium
Displacement - 6200 cc
Power - 328 kW @
Torque - 583 Nm @
Max. rpm - 6600 rpm
Fuel Delivery - Fuel Injection. Electronic, Sequential Port.
Compression Ratio - 10.7: 1

Drive train
Gearbox - 6 speed manual
Differential - ZF Limited Slip

Wheels
Perana / Zagato - Front: 18 x 10J, Rear: 19 x 12J
Tyres
Michelin PS2 - Front: 275/35 ZR18, Rear: 345/30 ZR19
Chassis
Layout - Front/Mid Engine - Rear Drive
Frame - Steel Tube Space Frame
Body - Vinyl-Ester/Glass Composite
Brakes - Front: 325mm
Rear: 305mm
Assist type - Vacuum
Steering - ZF Power Assist
Suspension - Front: Unequal Length A-arms, Eibach springs,
Bilstein shocks, Anti-roll bar
- Rear: Unequal length A-arms, Eibach springs,
Bilstein shocks, Anti-roll bar
Fuel Capacity - 85 litres

Performance

Power/weight ratio - (328 hp/tonne) 240 kW/tonne
0 – 100km/h - sub 4 secs (est)
0 – 160km/h - sub 10 secs (est)
Braking - 38m (est)

Apollo-Latest Gumpert is one Raging Smurf

Despite its massive performance credentials, the Gumpert Apollo has endured more than a few knocks for its extreme function-over-form design. After seeing the new, more powerful Apollo Speed in the flesh, we can report that the naysayers are likely to keep jawing, particularly given this car's Raging Smurf two-tone paint.

The renovated Gumpert is lower and meaner, with the buyer's choice of 650-, 700-, or 800- horsepower specification, along with revised aerodynamics, new taillamps, and ultra-aerodynamic disc wheel covers. Inside, there are different four-point seat harnesses, a detachable steering wheel, and a two-tone interior loaded with blue Alcantara.

Given that the new Speed can run to 60 miles-per-hour in three seconds dead, hit 124 mph in 8.9 clicks, and storm to a top whack of 224 mph, however, we suspect that Gumpert owners will at least take a measure of comfort in knowing that they can outrun all hecklers.

Infiniti Essence Concept

Infiniti is looking to make a big splash as it enters the European market at an unfortunate economic moment, and not much can tug at the heartstrings of the continent's populace like a high-powered, sexy coupe with a green soul. With the Essence concept, Nissan's upscale brand has delivered in a big way. The sultry cab-backwards coupe is nothing if not dramatically indulgent in its scale (it's a commanding 4.7-meters long), and the rear-drive, gas-electric hybrid is something to behold in the metal, with elements that recall other coupes (the Fisker Karma comes to mind), but a look all its own.

Powered by a twin-turbo, direct-injection 3.7-liter V6 and a new electric drive design dubbed "3D Motor", the Essence yields a combined 592 brake horsepower (434 via internal-combustion, 158 brake horsepower via the lithium-ion backed disc-shaped electric motor).

The very unjapanese scale of the Essence yields a more Nippon-influenced interior for two, including an attractive driver-oriented "cocoon" that features a flat-bottomed steering wheel, hand-painted wood designed to look like Japanese laquerware and eccentricities like asymmetrical seat seams that mimic the way 'Japanese men and women tie their kimonos." Presumably, said kimonos fit nicely in the bespoke Louis Vuitton luggage (made more accessible via a powered trunk shelf).