This year’s Geneva Salon in March will see Porsche performing the world debut of a new top model in the 911 range, the Turbo S that boasts a more powerful boxer engine as well as an array of features that are otherwise optional on the standard Turbo model.

At the heart of the new 911 Turbo S is a six-cylinder boxer unit boosted by two exhaust gas turbochargers with variable turbine geometry, with an increase in power over the standard Turbo model by 30HP to 530HP, while maximum torque is also lifted by 70Nm or 51.6 lb-ft to 700Nm or 516 lb-ft.

The 911 Turbo S is offered exclusively with Porsche’s seven-speed double-clutch PDK transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shift levers that conveys power to all-four wheels.

In conjunction with Launch Control on the Sport Chrono Package Turbo likewise featured as standard, the Turbo S accelerates to 100 km/h (62mph) in 3.3 seconds and reaches 200 km/h (124mph) in 10.8 seconds, while topping out at 315 km/h or 195 mph.

Porsche claims that despite the increase in power and dynamic performance, the new Turbo S’ combined fuel economy of 11.4 lt/100 km (equal to 20.6mpg US and 24.8mpg UK) is identical to the standard 911 Turbo.

Standard features include Porsche’s Torque Vectoring system with a mechanical differential lock on the rear axle, Ceramic Composite Brakes, Dynamic Bending Lights, 19-inch wheels in RS Spyder design with central locking, a three-spoke sports steering wheel, adaptive sports seats, cruise control, a CD/DVD changer and exclusive twin-tone leather upholstery in Black/Crema or Black/Titanium Blue.

The new Porsche 911 Turbo S will go on sale in both Coupe and Convertible body styles from May 2010 with prices in Germany (including 19% tax) set at €173,241 and €184,546 respectively.

Rounding off the new Megane family is the Coupe-Cabriolet that was formally introduced today ahead of its world premiere at next month’s Geneva Salon. Like its predecessor, the new Megane CC is a two door model with an electric folding top that’s mostly covered in smoked glass

The French carmaker claims the Megane CC’s transparent glazed area of 0.47 sq. metres is the largest in the segment that includes cars like the Pininfarina-styled Ford Focus CC and the Peugeot 308 CC.

The four-seater convertible version of the new Megane also gets a fixed glass wind deflector located behind the back seat headrests that is said to allow draft-free driving at speeds of up to 90km/h or 56mph.

The fully-automatic, electro-hydraulic operated two-piece glass top goes up or down in 21 seconds at the press of a button with the Megane CC’s boot capacity standing at 417 litres with the roof closed, and 211 litres when open.

Depending on the market, the new Megane Coupe-Cabriolet will be available with a choice of up to seven gasoline and diesel powertrains.

The petrol line includes a 110HP 1.6-liter unit linked to a six-speed manual, a 1.4-liter TCe turbo with 130HP matted to a six-speed manual and a 140HP 2.0-liter with a CVT.

Diesel options include the 110HP dCi matted to either a new 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission or to 6-speed manual gearbox and the 130HP dCi and 160HP dCi that both drive the front wheels through a six-speed manual.

European sales of next generation Megane Coupe-Cabriolet will begin this spring.

The most powerful kit features a larger turbocharger, a sports exhaust system with a different downpipe and a racing catalyst, reprogrammed ECU, a revised air intake system and a new intercooler.

The most powerful kit features a larger turbocharger, a sports exhaust system with a different downpipe and a racing catalyst, reprogrammed ECU, a revised air intake system and a new intercooler.

B&B claims that the 362HP Golf R sprints from standstill to 100km/h (62mph) in just 4.8 seconds and maxes out at 280km/h or 174 mph.

The tuning firm also offers a special 8-caliper high-performance braking system, an adjustable coilover suspension with new springs that lower the vehicle’s ride height and a set of black-colored alloy wheels in sizes 19” and 20”.

Where’s the best place to meet Jamie Lee Curtis? Why, at the bustling corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Federal Avenue near hippy-dippy Santa Monica, California, where you can’t toss a watermelon without hitting a Toyota Prius.

Jamie Lee will be the one in the merlot-colored Honda, gliding up to one of those rarest of things, a commercial hydrogen fuel pump. Stand there, enjoying the company of the loitering beach bums for a day or three, and you’re all but guaranteed to see her roll in, low on juice, her FCX Clarity shaped like an Australian lungfish and whining like a tomcat being scalped.

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After yesterday’s leak there was no point in keeping the new Countryman under wraps so MINI went ahead and released initial details and a full gallery of its first-ever crossover model. Bear in mind that the BMW Group owned automaker noted that the car may not be named Countryman in certain markets without giving out any further details.

The Countryman is not only the British firm’s first-ever crossover, it’s also the first modern MINI to have four doors, an available all-wheel-drive system, four full-size seats and to measure around four meters in length.

The styling inside and out is unmistakably MINI, with the Countryman trying to stand out from the rest of the range with its chunkier nose job, raised ride height and some unique styling cues such as the headlamps and the alloy wheel designs.

The company said that driver gets a slightly elevated seating position while a new feature inside is the MINI Center Rail that extends from front to rear allowing anything from a cupholder and sunglasses to audio devices and an armrest to be attached and slid wherever they are required.

The Countryman comes as standard with four seats, but a three-seat bench is available as a no-cost option.

According to MINI, the rear seats can move fore-and-aft either individually or in a 60 : 40 (three-seat bench) split, the backrests may be tilted for angle either individually or in a 40 : 20 : 40 (three-seat bench) arrangement, increasing capacity in the luggage compartment from 350 to 1,170 liters (12.2–41.0 cu ft).

When the Countryman goes on sale in Europe this fall (North America in early 2011), it will enter the market with a choice of three petrol and two diesel engines, extending from the 90HP turbo diesel in the One D to a 184HP 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol with a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct fuel injection in the rang-topping Cooper S.

All versions will come equipped with Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start Stop system and a gearshift point indicator.

MINI said that as an alternative to the six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard, the petrol engine models will also be available with six-speed automatic tranmission.

As an option, the Cooper S and Cooper D models will be available with MINI’s ALL4 permanent all-wheel drive system that uses an electrohydraulic differential positioned directly on the final drive varying the distribution from front to rear.

Under normal driving conditions, the system sends up to 50 per cent of the engine’s power to each axle, but in more extreme situations, up to 100 per cent can be sent to the rear wheels.

As with the rest of the MINI models, the Countryman will be offered with a wide range of customisation and equipment options on both the exterior and interior including an extra-large Panorama roof.

The official presentation of the Countryman will take place at the Geneva Salon in March, 2010.