Check Out The (Very Sexy) Future Of Luxury From The Geneva Auto Show

It's been 60 years since the 1952 Alfa Romeo C52 Disco Volante concepts showed up on the world auto show stages. At this week's Geneva Motor Show, the Italian coach-builder debuted the Touring Superleggera Disco Volante.

This modern flying saucer pays homage to its ancestors with flat-top fenders and a split grille. The new Disco Volante is built on the bones of the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, relying on the same 4.7-liter V8 found in that super car. As such, buyers can look forward to 443 horsepower pumped exclusively to the rear wheels.

That's right. We said "buyers." This Disco Volante will be available in limited quantities (the company isn't saying how limited), though expect to pay a pretty penny for each one. Touring Superleggera says each example will be coach-built to order for the well-heeled.

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Superleggera Disco Volante Info
Superleggera Disco Volante Photos

Aston Martin is offering just 150 copies of this super car. The £330,000 aluminum and carbon fiber coupe produces 510 horsepower and comes with production tricks borrowed from the Aston One-77 exclusive. Deliveries will begin toward the end of this year.

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Aston Martin V12 Zagato Info
Aston Martin V12 Zagato Photos

Ferrari pulled back the sheets on its F12 Berlinetta at this week's Geneva Motor Show. The car boasts a ludicrous 740 horsepower V12 under its hood that's capable of launching the vehicle to 62 mph in 3.1 seconds. Indeed, Ferrari took the time to let the F12 Berlinetta loose for a few blistering laps around Fiorano, and the coupe managed to snatch the lap record. The newcomer did the deed in a scant 1:23, besting the previous champ by a full second, and the mighty Ferrari Enzo by two seconds.

As you can see, engineers positioned most of the vehicle's weight toward the hind quarters, with 54 percent of the vehicle's curb weight pushing on the rear rubber. While the styling certainly isn't for everyone, there's no denying the performance in this dream machine.

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Ferrari F12 Berlinetta Info
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta Photos

The idea of the luxury sports performance wagon is a uniquely European phenomenon. In the U.S., about the only example we have is the Cadillac CTS V Wagon. Audi debuted its RS4 Avant at the Geneva Motor Show this week, but, sadly, if you want one of these on U.S. roads, you'll have to see if you can ship it in.

Like the RS5, the RS4 Avant packs Audi's meticulously crafted 4.2-liter V8 putting out 450 horsepower at a stratospheric 8,250 RPM and 317 pound-feet of torque from 4,000 to 6,000 RPM. A seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox sends power to Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system, including a beefed up version of the S4's torque vectoring rear differential. The run to 60 mph happens in about between 4 and 5 seconds, while the "standard" top speed is limited to 155 miles per hour. Autoblog says, though, that a mechanic can tweak the governor on the engine to get it up to 174 mph.

Sales are due to begin this fall in Germany. And if Audi can make the case in the States, we hear the next generation of this scorcher could be a global model available to all.

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Audi RS4 Avant Info
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The A3 is the starting point in the growing Audi lineup, and this week marks the debut of an all new version. The overall size is just about the same as the outgoing mole, but the wheelbase and interior dimensions have grown. Even so, the new A3 has lost 176 pounds, meaning the 1.4 TFSI model weighs just 2,590 pounds. That 122-horsepower 1.4-liter engine will be one of three offered at launch, along with a 180-hp 1.8-liter TFSI and a 2.0-liter TDI with 150 hp and 236 pound-feet of torque, all driven through the front wheels.

Quattro (all-wheel-drive) versions come later "for more powerful engines," as will alternative-fuel power-plants. Shifting will come in either five-speed manual or six-speed S-tronic forms.

Technological conveniences once found only in higher-end sedans have made their way to the entry-level A3, with the A3 offering adaptive cruise control, an evolution of park-assist and a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo.

Sales are due to begin this fall in Germany. And if Audi can make the case in the States, we hear the next generation of this scorcher could be a global model available to all.

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Audi A3 Info
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Lighter. Faster. Efficient-er. These three adjectives are things you definitely want to hear when talking about a new sports car, and the 2013 Porsche Boxster embodies all three.

A new all-aluminum body reduces weight by 55 pounds across the model range, meaning the new base Boxster tips the scales at a scant 2,889 pounds, while the more powerful S weighs in at 3,043 pounds. The standard car is powered by a direct-injected 2.7-liter flat-six with 265 horsepower, while the Boxster S uses a direct injection 3.4-liter flat-six with 315 horsepower – gains of 10 and five horses versus the 2012 models, respectively. A six-speed manual comes as standard kit (sorry, no seven-speed stick here), but buyers can opt for Porsche's fancy PDK dual-clutch gearbox (that does have seven speeds, by the way).

Performance? The base Boxster with dual-clutch PDK gearbox is estimated to hit 60 miles per hour in just 5.4 seconds and the Boxster S will do that same jaunt in just 4.7. Of course, that's before you opt for the Sport and Sport Chrono packs that will surely knock a few tenths off of those numbers. Zoom.

The 2013 Boxster officially hits North American showrooms this summer, priced from $49,500 ($60,900 for the S).

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2013 Porsche Boxster Info
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We are partial to the Range Rover Evoque, and even named it "2011 AOL Autos SUV/Truck of the Year," so we are naturally curious a bout the convertible version shown this week in Geneva.

This is a concept car, and unfortunately reminds us of the Nissan Murano convertible that the Japanese company can;t give away with a case of ice cream bars on the hood. So, we are bit puzzled at why Range Rover is jumping into the convertible crossover fray.

"We believe that the Evoque lends itself beautifully to the idea of a convertible," says Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern. Our apologies, sir, but we respectfully disagree.

So, it's a three-door Evoque without a roof. That's really all there is to say, though we'd absolutely need to see how it looks with the folding soft top in place. After all, the sleek roofline of the standard Evoque is one of our favorite design elements, and as much as we'd like to squint and make believe that the convertible still looks dashing with its cloth hat on, we're skeptical.

The 2013 Boxster officially hits North American showrooms this summer, priced from $49,500 ($60,900 for the S).

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Range Rover Evoque Convertible Info
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This is not an entire redesign of the Lexus RX, the best selling luxury SUV on the market, but there are enough upgrades and changes to make us take notice.

Up front, the 2013 RX now wears its own version of Lexus' new corporate face, including the spindle grille that we now see on the GS, LX and CT, complete with LED running lamps. On top of that, there's a new F Sport model for 2013, incorporating smoked out headlamps and taillamps, darker wheels, and a bolder, sportier front fascia.

The RX 350 and RX 450h models will carry over with largely unchanged power-trains, the former available with a 270-horsepower V6 and the latter with a 295-hp electrically assisted V6. Both models can be had with either front- or all-wheel drive.

Inside, there's a modestly updated interior with a new steering wheel and IP cluster, as well as a refreshed center stack. Of course, there's a smattering of luxury options available including a Mark Levinson premium audio system, a HDD navigation unit and Lexus Enform.

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Lexus RX Info
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British luxury carmaker Bentley has been teasing us for a few years about rolling out an SUV or crossover. And this is it.

This SUV looks as awkward as its name suggests. Grabbing bits from the Mulsanne and Continental range, mounting them up front, raising the ride height and then adding a lift-back hatch is the easy way out. Same for the interior, which takes Bentley's bespoke aesthetic and gives it a philistine "Big Gulp" treatment. This seems like a Bentley for Homer Simpson or Rush Limbaugh. There is a lack of class and gravitas here that we expect from Bentley.

The drivetrain utilizes the 6.0-liter W12 that's been powering the Continental for years. The only interesting propulsion proposition is the possible fitment of Bentley's new V8, augmented with an electric motor and battery pack to make the world's largest and least efficient plug-in hybrid.

It's just weak on all sides, so like the Aston Martin Lagonda concept before it, we're hoping Bentley sees the light, heads back to the drawing board and comes up with something befitting of such a storied marque.

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Bentley EXP 9 F Info
Bentley EXP 9 F Photos