Super-Lux Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition heads to Geneva Motor Show

At next month's Geneva Salon, Land Rover will display the new Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition, which is claimed be the firm’s most luxurious model ever.

The highlight of the limited edition model are the two stand-alone rear seats, which are clad in specially selected natural leather and separated by an additional console incorporating an aluminum laptop table and refrigerator. Two Apple iPads, strapped to the front seat headrests, provide the high-tech touch.

The opulence continues in the boot where designers used a teak floor with metal and leather accents. The rest of the interior is dressed in different, but equally exquisite materials, such as the Oxford leather found on the door panels, dashboard and steering wheel, complemented by Kalahari wood veneers.

Available in two unique colors, Roussillon Red and Otago Stone, the Autobiography Ultimate Edition model comes with body-colored door handles, dark atlas radiator grille and side vents. Optional side steps and 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels round up the exterior appointments. Clients from selected markets will be able to specify their cars with the classic Santorini Black paintjob as well.

Power comes from either a 4.4-liter LR-TDV8 diesel or a 5.0-liter LR-V8 supercharged gasoline engine. The oil-burner churns out 313HP and an asphalt-shredding 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. It can propel the heavyweight SUV from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.5 seconds while consuming 9.39 lt/100 km (25.1 US mph) on the combined cycle.

The gasoline engine is capable of 510HP and 625 Nm (461 lb-ft), allowing the Range Rover to complete the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint in just 5.9 seconds.

Both engines are coupled to an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels via Range Rover’s sophisticated Terrain Response system, complete with Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control.

A total of 500 Ultimate Edition models will be built, with prices to be announced individually for the 20+ markets that will receive the exclusive Range Rover later this year.

BMW's Geneva Show Vision ConnectedDrive Roadster Concept Signals the Return of the Shark Nose

Truth to be said, we miss a lot of things from the BMW cars of the pre-Bangle era, but if we had to single one out, it would most likely be the characteristic and aggressive shark-nose of the old-school bimmers. However, BMW's new concept roadster model that was revealed today ahead of its world premiere at the Geneva Salon in March, may very well signal the return of one of the German firm's most characteristic styling traits.

The concept study is called the Vision ConnectedDrive, and with its reveal, BMW is launching a new design language and an array of intelligent driver information technologies that will find their way in future production models.

The two-seat roadster model was penned under the supervision of BMW's new head of design, Adrian von Hooydonk. Aside from the pointier front end with the shark-nose grille, you should also pay attention to the cleaner overall design, the blending of taut and multi-layered surfacing treatments and the shape of tail lights.

The interior is far more futuristic but the minimalistic design philosophy may be applied in a more production kind of way in the next generations of the BMW models.

As mentioned previously, the Vision ConnectedDrive also showcases numerous technologies including a fully programmable instrument cluster with , three-dimensional displays plus a separate HUD (Head-Up Display) unit, and various driver assistance systems.

BMW did not mention anything in the press announcement about the roadster concept's powertrain hardware, which could mean that the Vision CD is a static study with nothing under the hood.

Lexus LFA Nürburgring to get its First Public Outing in Geneva

Nearly 3 months after the start of production of the standard LFA, Lexus will debut the more track-focused Nürburgring Edition at the Geneva Motor Show in March. While we've known about the bespoke version of the LFA since May, 2010, according to the Japanese automaker, this is the first time that the supercar will be shown in public.

Available as a special package on the options list, Lexus will build a maximum of 50 Nürburgring Editions out of a total of 500 LFAs. The limited production model gets additional aerodynamic features and technical revisions to improve handling and downforce, increases the V10 engine output by 10bhp to 562bhp and speeds up gear shifts in the six-speed sequential transmission.

In the United States, the Nürburgring package is priced at $70,000 while a Matte black finish carries an additional cost of $20,000. The MSRP of the standard LFA is $375,000.