Renault pulled out all the stops for this year’s Geneva Motor Show, taking the wraps off the swoopy Megane Coupe concept, as well as debuting the Twingo Renaultsport, Laguna GT and this, the Koleos crossover. Although closely based on mechanicals borrowed from sister-company Nissan, the Koleos is far more of a complete project than that other pair of French sport-utes from archrival PSA Peugeot-Citroen.The Koleos shared center stage with the Megane Coupe this week, outlining how important the new model is to Renault. This is its first proper foray into the sport-ute segment, finally surrendering when the French automaker realized the crossover craze would not be subsiding any time soon. When you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, the saying goes, but push come to snooty shove, Renault actually appears to have done a decent job.

For all the details, refer back to the preview post we featured on the Renault Koleos, and be sure to view our gallery of live shots from the show floor alongside Renault’s own press shots by clicking on the thumbnails below.

[Source: AutoBlog]

It’s pretty incredible to think that three years ago there were no Aston Martin race cars. Now we can watch them in the European Le Mans Series, American Le Mans Series, FIA GT racing, as well as endurance races like the 24 Hours of Nurburgring and the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans. To celebrate both the factory-backed and privately-owned teams, Aston Martin hosted all of its racing cars at the Paul Ricard circuit in France for a little preseason test. The product of that event, aside from many famous drivers taking their turn behind the wheel of each and every car, was this family portrait of Aston Martin Racing. Front and center is the Gulf livery DBR9 flanked by the new Vantage GT2 on its left (our right) and one of many V8 Vantage N24 cars on its right. See that white car being left in the dust way in the back? That’s the V12 Vantage RS concept that just got off a plane returning from the Geneva Motor Show.

[Source: AutoBlog]

Last year we told you about a plucky little UK-based firm called Lightning Car Company (LCC) that had announced its intention to build a 700-hp equivalent electric sports car called the Lightning GT. It’s a lofty goal that took one step closer to fruition recently when LCC unveiled the production form of the Lightning GT. The carbon fiber body is certainly sexy, flowing between positive and negative spaces that wrap around the car and bulge in all the right places. We see a little Corvette in its shape, as well as some Aston Martin and Jaguar in the details. The Lightning GT also sports mechanicals that are available right now, including the same Altairnano batteries that propels the Phoenix SUT and the PML wheel motors powering the 640-hp electric MINI. LCC is currently building a prototype to see how well the Lightning GT will work in the flesh, but like any visionary company worth its weight in vaporware, is currently accepting £15,000 deposits.

[Source: AutoBlog]

At the Frankfurt Motor Show last year we met the first Suzuki Kizashi Concept, a large sport wagon proof of concept that looked like a Dodge Magnum had crashed into a box of Anime. Next we encountered the Kizashi Concept 2 at the Tokyo Motor Show, which carried forward the first concept’s design theme but applied it to a low-slung CUV body. At the New York Auto Show later this month, we’ll meet the Concept Kizashi 3, the most production feasible Kizashi concept to date and the last one in the series. Cast in the form a sport sedan, the Concept Kizashi 3 portends a future performance four-door for the Japanese brand, and we’re down with that given Suzuki hasn’t played in this space with a decent offering, like, ever. We have no other information on Suzuki’s big debut for New York, so no word on what powers it, which wheels are driven or what the interior’s like, but we’ll find out soon enough when Autoblog goes to Gotham.

[Source: AutoBlog]

Novitec Rosso is good at making fast things even faster. Such has been the case with its twin-supercharged Ferrari F430s, which pretty much go like stink. Now, with the introduction of the Novitec Rosso F430 RACE, it would appear that any remaining deodorant has worn off. What’s faster than going like stink? Going like stench? So be it. That’s what this striped rocketship does.

The boost is dialed up on the dual blowers, which are also fitted with larger turbine vanes. Further engine, intake and exhaust tuning bump the car’s output to 707 horsepower and 525 lb-ft of torque. Zero to sixty takes merely 3.5 seconds, and this stallion doesn’t stop running until the speedo touches 216 miles per hour. Naturally, the suspension, brakes, aerodynamics and overall appearance are also given the once-over. After all, this is a super tuner car, and it needs to look and act the part. The customized interior features details like longer shift paddles, and the updated bodywork is set off with darkened lenses and the triple stripes. Bigger wheels and brakes sit at each corner, and an even bigger check is required if you want to take one home — plan on writing it for a minimum of €193,277. How creative you get with Novitec Rosso’s generally limitless set of options will determine just how much higher it’ll be.

[Source: AutoBlog]