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Eagerly
awaited has been the launch of the Gallardo, Lamborghini's first venture
under Audi ownership into the mid-size sportscar market. Aiming to go head
to head with the Ferrari 360 Modena, the 500bhp V10 engined Gallardo drew
mixed reactions as the covers came off. While in a real case of shooting
themselves in the foot, it has been revealed that the V10 will gain turbo
power and more horses when it is fitted into an Audi, leaving the Gallardo
looking like a poor cousin.
Very much looking like a "baby" Murcielago, some of the styling looked awkward and ill fitting, while the agressive, chunky tail left journalists undecided. The interior did however win praise for its styling and layout. |
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The 73rd Geneva Motor Show
opened this morning to the press with a wide range of new production models
and concepts. The show, which opens to the public on Thursday, runs daily
until the 16th March.
Fiat kicked off with two vital new models, the Gingo, long awaited replacement for the Panda and Seicento, and the Punto based B-MPV, revealed with the badly thought out name, Idea. The Marrakesh, a Gingo-based "dune buggy" joined the already unveiled Simba "mini off-roader". Alfa Romeo launched the stylish Kamal SUV concept, a dressed-up Sportwagon GTA with more than a hint of Maserati's Kubang GT Wagon, while the new Coupe GT, is another 156-based project. The sportscar manufacturers had much to should about. Lamborghini took the wraps of the Gallardo to mixed acclaim, Ferrari offered the Challenge Stradale, a lightweight 360 Modena, and Pagani revealed a stunning yellow Roadster. |
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Fiat Gingo and Fiat Idea.
Those are the names of the two new Fiat models being given their world
preview at the 73rd Geneva International Motor Show. This information came
from Gianni Coda, President of the Fiat Lancia and Light Commercial Vehicle
Business Unit at an international press conference on the Fiat stand this
morning.
Known until now as the "mini"
or 169 Project, the Fiat Gingo is a super compact 'city' car that goes
on sale in September, replacing the aged Panda and Seicento. The Punto-based
B-MPV known as Project 350, is now revealed as the Fiat Idea, the second
Fiat model to get a world preview today. The Fiat Idea will go on sale
in all the main European countries at some time between this autumn and
early 2004.
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The Kamal concept is Alfa
Romeo's first foray into the lucrative and rapidly growing 'Sports Off-Road'
segment. With prestige manufacturers now churning out SUV's to market acceptance,
Alfa Romeo are playing catch-up to rivals with will include the Porsche
Cayenne and BMW X5. Based around the Sportwagon GTA, the Kamal offers the
250bhp 3.2-litre V6 through four wheel drive coupled to a chassis with
double wishbone suspension all-round, electonically adjustable ride-height
and driver aids including VDC and ASR.
Alfa Romeo describe the Kamal as a "Mix of style and design that represents a distinctive crossover of cultures. The model is a fusion of different vehicle types. It combines the off-road performance of an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) with the driving satisfaction and handling characteristics of a compact Alfa Romeo. At the same time, it offers a versatile, functional passenger compartment typical of a Multi Purpose Vehicle due above all to clever use of space and a wide range of seat configurations. Everything comes packed into an unmistakable Alfa shape designed by the Arese Style Centre. The car would be just as at home on the intricate streets of a European city as it would on a desert track of frontier landscape." |
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Lamborghini
revealed these official images of its eagerly awaited mid-size Gallardo
sportscar ahead of its Geneva Motor Show public debut. Drawing some styling
cues from its larger sister the Murcielargo, the Gallardo has received
very mixed initial feedback, parent company Audi's German design ideas
appearing to be stamped on the Ferrari 360 Modena rival.
The front styling is very Murcielago, although the headlamps, in Ferrari Enzo-style, are set back much further than was predicted and look slighly to large for its clean, sweeping bonnet lines. The side swage and large air intake forward of the rear wheels sit awkwardly together and lead back into the Gallardo's most controversial area, it rear end. Designed to look squat and agressive, it has strong similarities to the Bugatti-based 'Edonis' while offering hints of the marque's classic Countach. The tail lights unusually wrap around over the top of the rear bodywork, while a low spoiler finishes the sweeping engine cover. Two large single bore exhausts protrude through the rear lower bodywork allowing a diffuser to run the width of the bodywork. |
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