2008 Geneva International Auto Show

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Geneva Show: The headlines behind the scenes

There might not be a show-stopping star car at Geneva this year, but as usual there's lots of gossip and intrigue as the auto industry gathers for what is traditionally the best networking show of the season. Here are some of the headlines from behind the scenes:

* Don't write off the XK-RS for the U.S.

Jaguar may have confirmed it will build just 200 of the special 174mph Jag super-coupes for sale in Europe only, but don't write off chances a version of the car may appear in the United States in the future. Jaguar officials are well aware 60 percent of all AMG Mercedes-Benzes are sold in the U.S., proving a lack of high speed autobahns is no obstacle to selling expensive, high-performance machinery Stateside "It's a pretty compelling business model," says one insider.

* Audi's diesel R8 is moving closer to production

Audi is moving closer to okaying production of the R8 V12 TDI, the world's first diesel-powered supercar. The car has long been a personal project of Audi powertrain chief Wolfgang Hatz, who confided to me at the R8's world debut at the 2006 Paris Show he had fitted an R8 prototype with the 500hp V-12 diesel developed for the Q7 SUV. Audi is now reportedly developing a dry-sump system for the somewhat bulky engine so it sits as low as possible in the R8 chassis to maintain the car's excellent handling.

* Holden wants a new Monaro, but Pontiac won't play -- yet

Mike Connor's exclusive story last week linking the stunning Holden Coupe 60 concept with a still-born, three-year-old proposal for a Zeta-based Pontiac GTO replacement has been confirmed by a GM insider here in Geneva. The source also confirmed one of the reasons Holden showed the Coupe 60 was to stir the head office into reconsidering the decision not to replace the GTO. Holden wants to do a new Monaro, but the financials don't add up unless Pontiac agrees to take the car as a G8 coupe to boost production volumes.

* If Porsche runs VW, who reports to who?

The announcement that Porsche plans to take a controlling stake in VW Group raises all sorts of interesting questions, not the least who reports to who. That might explain this interesting group spotted emerging from a quiet interview room away from the show floor: VW Group product development chief Ulrich Hackenberg; VW Group design chief Walter de' Silva; Porsche R&D chief Wolfgang Durheimer; Porsche design chief Michael Mauer. Alternatively, they could have simply been talking about joint development of the next generation Touareg and Cayenne SUVs...

Geneva Show: The headlines behind the scenes | Auto Shows Blog at Motor Trend


M
 
Great photos. I'll take all except that open-top Bentley.

M
 

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