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Updated Daily: November 2008

 
Published in: April 2007
    Regulars > Reviews and Commentary > New Shining Stars: Geneva and Monaco 2007
 
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“The previous C-Class had much to admire about it, but the latest version is the most attractive edition yet.”

Perhaps the most important car of the show is the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which is the bread-and-butter model of the German luxury marque. It closely follows the design themes first premiered by the 2006 S-Class, and it promises to be a sharper, roomier, better-built car. The previous C-Class had much to admire, but the latest version is the most attractive edition yet.

 
 

Audi premiered its new A5 coupe at Geneva, and it heralds a new era for the company. Although the styling may be familiar, a closer look at its proportions indicates Audi is taking driver appeal more seriously: the engine has, for the first time, been positioned behind the front axle rather than all the way in front of it, which improves its once nose-heavy weight distribution. It has a big V8 engine up front, which should prove to be interesting to drive especially when mated to the standard 6-speed manual box.

 
 

With the most powerful V8 engine the company has ever produced, the new Bentley Brooklands four-seat full-size coupe – sort of a spiritual replacement for its venerated rear-drive Continental range of the mid-1990s – is set to be a most imposing flagship of an all-luxury range. With 530 horsepower, 1050 Nm of torque, a 6-speed automatic and 20-inch wheels as standard, this powerhouse is set apart from its peers, of which there are very few. In the true British grand touring tradition, the Brooklands combines sheer grunt, elegance and stately presence in one superb package.

 
 

Boasting an additional 10hp and liberal use of carbon fiber parts, including the rear diffuser, underbody tray, rearview mirrors, door panels and central tunnel, the Superleggera is a whopping 100kg lighter than the original Gallardo. With a weight/power ratio of only 2.5 kg/hp, the new Superleggera goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds, 0.2 seconds less than the basic model. Its 4.9-liter V10 engine is capable of producing 530hp at 8,000 rpm. It will be available in four colors: Midas Yellow, Borealis Orange, Telesto Gray and Noctis Black. Production volume is set to be lower than the standard Gallardo.

 
 
Top Marques Monaco 2007 - Monte Carlo plays host this month to the most exclusive exhibition of cars in the world, Top Marques Monaco 2007. Here’s a sneak preview of the event and the luxury cars making their world debut.

It takes a special event to get pulses racing in the glamorous city of Monte Carlo, and besides the annual Formula One grand prix, being held from May 24 to 27, one of the few to achieve this is Top Marques Monaco.

The annual event, which is growing every year, perhaps reflective of the exotic car market as a whole, is being held from April 19 to 22 at the Grimaldi Forum. As well as marques like Pagani, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, and Ferrari, there will be exciting world and European premieres from Weber, Caparo, and Bristol Cars. Besides the exotic car show, Top Marques presents luxury real estate, luxury yachts and luxury resorts. There are also a number of supercars displayed outside Casino de Monte Carlo.

 
 
Weber Sportscars will be unveiling its new supercar with a 7.2-liter supercharged engine that is able to achieve speeds of 250 mph (400 km/h). With a body made from carbon and a chassis in high-density aluminum, it will be able to accelerate in 2.5 seconds from 0-100 km/h.
   
The new two-seater Caparo T1, designed by two ex-McLaren engineers, will offer in excess of 1,000 bhp/tonne performance for road and track. It will deliver 480 bhp from a bespoke 3.5-liter, normally-aspirated V8 engine.
   
The Fighter Turbo from Bristol Cars is being touted as the most aerodynamic supercar ever, with a drag factor of 0.255. It has an 8-liter V10 engine that develops up to 1012 bhp.
 
 
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