Mitsubishi ASX to Debut at Geneva - European

Mitsubishi will be debuting its new crossover, the ASX, at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The ASX is the European version of the Japanese market RVR. It is a 5-seat, compact crossover, about 4.3 meters long, and is slotted below the Outlander in the Mitsubishi lineup.

Mitsubishi hasn't released many details on the model. It will come with a 1.8 liter turbocharged, direct-injection petrol/gasoline engine coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission, but they don't specify power outputs. The concept upon which the ASX is based, the Concept-cX, featured a diesel, but there is no mention of an oil-burner for the European market in the very brief press release. That concept car was also an all-wheel drive but there's no news either on whether this crossover will have that feature too.

The RVR will go on sale in Japan next month. The ASX will be rolled out in European markets in the spring, following its introduction in Geneva. We will have to wait until then for more details.

Audi TT RS Coupe & Roadster 340HP: High-Res Photo Gallery and all the Details

At the 2009 Geneva Motor Show that runs from March 5th to 15th, Audi pulled the covers off the most potent version of the TT, the RS which revives the spirit of the Audi quattro coupes of the 1980s with its 340-horsepower five-cylinder turbocharged engine. Available to order in Europe -but unfortunately, not in the States- in Coupe and Roadster forms from late March, Audi's new high performance sports cars will reach their first customers this summer.

The modern-day successor to the 200HP-plus quattro coupes of the Eighties gets a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine derived from the U.S.-market Jetta that develops 340-horsepower and 450 Nm (331.90 lb.-ft.) of torque. Power is channeled to all four wheels through a close ratio six-speed manual gearbox.

In the case of the Coupe, which weighs in at 1,450 kilograms (3,197 pounds), the power-to-weight ratio is 4.3 kilograms per HP while the Roadster that weighs in at 1,510 kilograms (3,329 pounds) is 4.4 kilograms per HP.

The TT RS Coupe sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62mph) in 4.6 seconds while the Roadster needs a tenth of a second longer (4.7 sec). In both cases the top speed is limited electronically at 250 km/h or 155 but Audi does offer buyers the option to increase it to 280 km/h or 174mph.

The standard TT's aluminum McPherson strut front and four-link rear suspension has been retuned while at an extra cost the basic sports chassis can also be equipped with Audi's magnetic ride adaptive damping system. Braking power is provided by sizeable ventilated disc brakes with black four-piston aluminum calipers and diameters of 370mm at the front and 310mm at the rear.

With the exception of a few details such as the high-gloss black single grille with a frame in matt aluminum look and the fixed rear wing and, the RS does not differ much from the TTS models. Inside, the sports interior is finished exclusively in black, with brushed aluminium inlays and aluminium footrests and pedals, Silk Nappa leather sports seats and a thickly-rimmed flat-bottomed steering wheel.

For those looking for maximum differentiation, Audi offers 19-inch or 20-inch wheels, bucket seats with folding backrests and even Ibis White or Phantom black painted interior inlays at extra cost.

Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA 240HP Live Shots and Video from Geneva

Revealed as a concept in Geneva, Alfa Romeo's high-performance MiTo GTA show car is said to preview a production model that could follow as early as 2010. In line with the famous GTA (Gran Turismo Alleggerito) signature, Alfa's MINI Cooper JCW rival prioritizes weight reduction while power comes from a new 1.8-liter turbocharged engine producing 240HP. Hit the jump for live photos as well a video of the car that was shot during Alfa's press conference at the Geneva Motor Show.

Geneva Show: Renaultsport Megane RS 250

Aimed squarely towards the VW Golf GTI and the Ford Focus ST, the new Megane Renaultsport 250 made its world premiere in Geneva. The hottest version of the Megane comes with a new-generation two-liter 16-valve turbocharged petrol engine producing 250hp at 5,500rpm and peak torque of 340Nm from 3,000rpm. That's an increase of 25hp and 40Nm over the outgoing Megane R26. Power is transferred to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

Under the skin, the new Megane Renaultsport 250 has inherited the same suspension arrangement as the current version. Like the Renaultsport variants of the Clio and Twingo ranges, the Megane is available with a choice of two chassis, the standard sport chassis or the Cup chassis, which comes with a limited slip differential for even greater traction. Equally importantly, the hot Megane is equipped with an ESP (electronic stability control) that is fully disconnectable.

Based on the attractive three-door variant of the Megane, the RS 250 comes with an aggressive bodykit which includes a new front bumper incorporating LED daytime running lights and a splitter, extended wheel arches and sills, 18-inch alloy wheels, central exhaust tailpipe and rear diffuser

Inside, there are sport seats, an analogue rev-counter with visual and audible gearshift indicator, aluminium pedals and the Renaultsport steering wheel complete with thumb grips.