Rolls Royce will be showcasing a one-off, fully electric powered Phantom at the Geneva Motor Show on 1 March 2011. The British automaker said the car will serve as a working test bed to explore the feasibility of battery-powered Rolls Royce models in the near future.

“We have engineered the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment,” said CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, speaking from the company’s headquarters in Goodwood. “With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future.”

The 102EX, also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), will go on a world tour in 2011 offering Rolls Royce owners and enthusiasts in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America the opportunity to test drive the car and share their experiences, thoughts and concerns directly with the company.

According to Rolls Royce, these include the 102EX's ability to deliver an acceptable range between re-charges and to operate in extreme weather conditions, as well as to benchmark reliability and quality against customer expectations.

“I must be convinced that any alternative drive-train we choose for the future delivers an authentic Rolls-Royce experience,” added Müller-Ötvös. “It must be a technology that is right for our customers, our brand and which sets us on a sound footing for a sustainable future.”

Rolls Royce said it will reveal photos and full technical specifications for the 102EX at the Geneva Salon on March 1.

Correct us if we’re wrong, but we believe it is every man’s dream to have a cool supercar in his garage and a hot girl in his bed. Whether any man wants to deny it or not, his wildest dreams certainly feature these two components and Lexus has taken full advantage of this in their latest video for the Lexus LF-A which features supermodel Rianne ten Haken. Sounds like a deadly combination to us!

The LF-A is powered by a 4.8 liter V10 that delivers a maximum output of 560 HP at 9,000 RPM and a peak torque of 354 lb-ft at 6,800 RPM. As a result, the LF-A can sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.7 seconds and won’t stop until it reaches a top speed of 202 MPH. Put these next to Rianne ten Haken’s measurements of 33-24-35 and tell us which set of numbers you prefer!

Touring Superleggera was on hand at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show to unveil their new Touring Bentley Continental Flying Star - a shooting brake version of the 2-door coupe. The car is being offered at a base price of €590,000 when based on a Continental GTC.

The Flying Star is powered by a 6.0-liter W12 engine that develops a total of 560 hp and 650 Nm of torque (when based on the Continental GTC). When based on the GTC Speed, it develops 610 hp and 750 Nm of torque. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph is made in 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 200 mph.

Customers may choose from a variety of customization options, ranging from bespoke cabinetry and trim to a wide range of dedicated options. The accessory collection includes the Touring designed luggage set coordinated with the boot trim, and distinctive Borrani X-Ray spoke wheels. Blending advanced technology with craftsmanship, Borrani 20" 9.5j X-Ray spoke wheels provide distinctive design, precision, and comfort.

UPDATE 02/18/2011: A year after the Flying Star debuted at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the car has finally been put on the market, but anyone with a desire to purchase this extremely limited model better hurry. There are only two units available worldwide with a price tag of $1,000,000.

At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show IED will unveil the Abarth Scorp-Ion Concept, a compact 2-seater sportscar that combines the brand’s core values of compactness and performance with an eco-friendly all-electric powertrain.

he Abarth Scorp-Ion Concept is an all-electric sportscar created by the students of the Master of Arts in Transportation Design – work experience at Turin-based IED.

Developed in partnership with Abarth, the Scorpion aims at exploring the very essence of the brand – independently from the Fiat models.

Following Abarth’s tradition, the Scorp-Ion has compact dimensions: a length of 4,010 mm, a width of 1,905 mm and a height of 1,1192, with a wheelbase of 2,350 mm.

It combines a 2-seat layout with an all-electric powertrain, powered by Lithium-Ion batteries located under the load floor behind the seats.

To optimize the interior space the Scorp-Ion uses four in-heel electric motors.

César Mendoza, Director of IED Turin, has commented “It’s always exciting and also a source of a particular apprehension to know that our school participates each year at the Geneva Motor Show without having a definitive vision, from the outset, of the project we will present; a vision that is gradually refined and takes shape once the concept has been completed by the students. It is this silent confidence in our students and which exists among the school, lecturers and students that underlies the professional growth of each single designer”.

The seven students who worked at the Scorp-Ion project were supervised by Pininfarina Senior Designer Luca Borgogno and Maserati designer Luigi Giampaolo.

Starting from seven different concept proposals presented as 1:4 scale clay models, the selected project
conceived by Emre Husmen (Turkey) was then finalized into a full scale model that will be unveiled at the upcoming Geneva Show.

The design team also included Alexandre Goloskok (Russia), Aydar Nigmatullin (Russia), Maksym Shkinder (Ukraine), Karla Dennis Soriano Farfan (Mexico), Chrysanthos Therapontos (Cyprus), Marcos Villalon (Argentina).

Technical partners of the project included Pirelli, OZ Racing and GR Painting.

After months of speculations and several hints coming from Goodwood, Rolls Royce announces the 102EX concept, a one-off electric Phantom, and it will debut at the Geneva Auto Show.

The full technical specifications for the electric Rolls are still under embargo and will be releases prior to the show. Just as the previous concepts, the latest one carries the EX nomenclature which stands for experimental. 102EX concept is built on the Phantom platform and inside, it will feature a special battery gauge.

According to Rolls-Royce, the car is just a prototype at the moment and it is not heading for production, but as we learned in the past from our sources, based on customer’s feedback, an production vehicle could follow in the future.

More details are available in the press release below.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars today confirmed the development of 102EX, a one-off, fully electric powered Phantom, to debut at the Geneva Motor Show on 1 March 2011. The car will tour during 2011, serving as a test bed to gather a bank of research data which will be crucial in informing future decisions on alternative drive-trains for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

“We have engineered the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment,” said CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, speaking from the company’s headquarters in Goodwood. “With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future.”

Rolls-Royce produces cars that represent the pinnacle in luxurious motoring for the world’s most discerning customers. With 102EX, also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), it is the company’s intention to carefully test the opinions and reactions to alternative drive-train options of a range of stakeholders including owners, enthusiasts, members of the public and the media.

102EX will serve as a working test bed for a global tour that takes in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. Through test drives, owners will be given the opportunity to experience an alternative drive-train technology and to feedback their experiences, thoughts and concerns directly to Rolls-Royce.

While there are no plans to develop a production version, as one of the company’s EX models it will serve to begin a dialogue with existing owners and stakeholders, posing as well as answering questions of its audience.

These include the car’s ability to deliver an acceptable range between re-charges and to operate in extreme weather conditions. But also to benchmark reliability and quality against customer expectations of the world’s pinnacle automotive brand.
“I must be convinced that any alternative drive-train we choose for the future delivers an authentic Rolls-Royce experience,” added Müller-Ötvös. “It must be a technology that is right for our customers, our brand and which sets us on a sound footing for a sustainable future.”

In preparation for the Geneva debut, Rolls-Royce will launch the website www.electricluxury.com this week, a portal to fuel a wider global debate seeking views on the question of electric luxury from media, VIPs and stakeholders. The site will also deliver regular updates of the car’s progress while on tour.

Full technical specifications for 102EX, as well as images and b-roll will be published at 00:01 GMT on 1 March 2011.

BMW today announced a new M Performance exhaust system specifically designed as an accessory for the BMW M3 Coupe, Sedan and Convertible. With the racetrack and the street in mind, this new exhaust system is crafted from an extremely heat-resistant and lightweight chrome-nickel alloy called Inconel®. This flow optimized exhaust system reduces exhaust backpressure and allows the M3’s 414 horsepower V8 engine to produce an even more powerful sound.

Inconel’s unique qualities allowed engineers to reduce the thickness of the tubing from 1.5mm to 0.8mm. This resulted in a weight reduction of approximately 40%, or about 20 lbs. when compared to the stock exhaust system. Inconel has also proven to be very corrosion resistant and has been used at the highest level of

The M Performance Exhaust includes perforated inner pipes and polished titanium tips, which are laser engraved with the M logo. It represents the ultimate in technology and sportiness, accentuating the individual character of the BMW M3. The exhaust was developed using state-of-the art CAD and FEM technology ensuring optimum fit and OEM quality.

The new exhaust may be installed at any Authorized BMW Center at a price of $4,374 plus installation. M Performance parts are warranted for the New Vehicle Limited Warranty period when the installation occurs before the first delivery of a new vehicle. If the M Performance parts installation occurs after the first delivery, the accessory will be warranted for the balance of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty period or two years and unlimited mileage from the date of installation, whichever one is greater.

The M Performance Exhaust note can be downloaded as a ringtone from:
www.bmwusa.com/news