Lamborghini Aventador J: From Blank Sheet to One-off Supercar in 6 Weeks

Unveiled to great fanfare at the Geneva Motor Show, the Aventador J was first conceived just six weeks prior to the event. 

A veritable smorgasbord of supercars is on show in Geneva and amongst the most outrageous, head-scratching designs being served up, the screenless, roofless Aventador J is the most sumptuous.Europe's premier auto show is an annual affair, so you would be forgiven for thinking the sensational one-off speedster was long in the making; something that was deliberated over for months, with dozens of designs drawn up and discarded, and hours spent in board rooms thrashing out ideas.
You would be forgiven, but you'd be wrong. According to Top Gear, who secured an exclusive interview with Lamborghini designer Filippo Perini, when CEO Stephan Winkelman asked his team to come up with "something special" for Geneva there was a little over six weeks to complete the project. From scratch.From a blank sheet of paper to a road-legal, homologated supercar in a month-and-a-half is a phenomenal achievement. Perini claims the car was drawn up in a weekend, but don't assume this is simply the Aventador with a few missing parts. Save for the hood, front fender and headlights, every other panel on the J is bespoke.

At the front lurks a huge winglet-covered diffuser, while the rear has adopted a quad-exhaust system. Sleek humps and a carbon-fiber crossbrace covering the engine replace the coupe's slatted rear deck, and the 'periscope' rear-view is a stunning new detail.The speed from conception to full-blown supercar is impressive, but equally so is the speed in which the car was sold. Top Gear say it found a buyer prior its Geneva introduction, and Perini claims one of Lamborghini's best customers snapped it up after being presented with the project.At a cost of $2.74 million, that's one seriously loyal fan.As an interesting appendage to the story, Top Gear discovered that reports claiming the 'J' suffix refers to the FIA's 'Appendix J' regulations that governs technical specs of sports cars are misleading. In fact, the 'J' is short for 'Jota,' the Miura-based racer that is still regarded as Lamborghini's wildest, most iconic creation.

Lamborghini Aventador J: From Blank Sheet to One-off Supercar in 6 Weeks

Making the Ferrari Enzo Look Bland: Marussia B2 Displayed at Geneva

Marussia is gearing up to take on the best and most advanced in the supercar industry. Supercar maker and F1 team owner Marussia made an appearance at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Hailing from Russia, the company seems to be continuing their expansion and now they're out to show the world they have what it takes to go up against the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini (at least in design).Their first model was called the B1 and their latest has been given the logical designation of B2. It looks absolutely incredible and we love everything about.

Its angled exterior design showcases everything a supercar should be in terms of being over the top.Power comes from a specially made 3.5-liter Cosworth V6 with 420hp. It's built on the same frame as the B1, but it's clear the design is an evolution of the previous model which was released in 2009. Like the B1, the new car has a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. It weighs just 2,425 lbs. and even comes with a choice of engines. Besides from the aforementioned Cosworth V6, buyers can also opt for a 2.8-liter turbocharged Cosworth V6 with 360hp and there are future plans to offer a 550hp unit.The 3.5-liter V6 will take the B2 from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and has a top speed close to 200 mph.Marussia is saying the B2 will once again be built by independent Finnish manufacturer Velmet alongside the B1 (and the Fisker Karma). Production is slated to begin later this year with a goal of 1,500 units per year. Pricing will start at around 100,000 Euros.

Making the Ferrari Enzo Look Bland: Marussia B2 Displayed at Geneva

The Girls from the 2012 Geneva Show

There were also cars on display too. 

Every auto show has more than just cars on display. And Geneva is the biggest European yearly automotive event, so it only makes sense for there to be plenty of beautiful women on hand to help present all of the latest car debuts.Like many European events of this scale, the women not only looked glamorous, but were more than happy to pose for the camera. Thanks to the good people over at motor.ru, we can now bring this highly enjoyable collection of photos showing everything that Geneva has to offer. And yes, the cars also looked good.

The Girls from the 2012 Geneva Show

AC 378 GT Zagato Launched in Geneva

The resurrected British sports car maker has cooperated with Italian design house Zagato in producing the 6.2-liter GT Zagato. 

Back in the early sixties, a young Texan by the name of Carroll Shelby liked the AC Ace so much, he added more power to it as well as some more muscular styling and developed the Cobra.Over the next half-a-century the iconic British sports car brand has had a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs culminating in the company going into receivership in 1996. Since then, things have been on the up, servicing existing cars, putting the Cobra back into production with the MK II and MK IV models, and now introducing a new car.

Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the AC 378 GT Zagato is the first all-new model by the company in more than a decade. AC and Zagato first collaborated back in 1957 creating a one-off AC Ace Bristol Zagato, designed with the double-bubble roof and equipped with a 2.0-liter inline 6-engine.The 111-year old AC brand is continuing its Anglo-Italian heritage and following two years of testing, around ten pre-production units have been completed in the AC 378 Zagato's manufacturing facility in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The chassis and body is unique, based on the design of the Perena Z-One concept by Zagato first shown in 2009.However power comes from the same 6.2-liter, naturally aspirated V8, found in the Corvette C6, which AC claim is good for 434hp and 430lb-ft of torque. Mated to a six-speed manual transmission, the 1,465kg coupe can sprint from 0-60mph in under 4 seconds and hit a top speed of 185mph.Initially, AC is offering the model exclusively in the UK and Germany, priced at £89,990 and 109,990 Euros respectively. There are no current plans to bring it to the US, but after an initial run AC will take the brand global where it's sure to get lapped up by emerging economies.

AC 378 GT Zagato Launched in Geneva

Wiesmann’s Psychedelic Fantasy Final Edition MF3 in Geneva

Wiesmann is giving their MF3 Roadster a farewell edition fit for Joseph.

The Final Edition MF3 roadster, dubbed the 'Scuba Mobil' and created by Sieger (a fashion house), made an appearance at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.Wiesmann's final MF3 can be summed up in the sense of a roadster meeting Joseph's Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. A bright yellow finish with light blue, white and black stripes (not to mention a loud interior) will do that to car.The MF3 roadster is powered by a BMW-sourced 343hp inline 6-cylinder engine.
The Final Edition hits 62mph in only 4.9 seconds and can reach a top speed of 158mph.18 models each sporting a unique design have been produced of the MF3 Final Edition, marking its 18 years on the market.As an added perk of purchasing the 'Scuba Mobil,' it comes with an exclusive admissions ticket to more than fifty automotive events all around Europe.

Wiesmann’s Psychedelic Fantasy Final Edition MF3 in Geneva

Sportec Creates the SP 525 Based on the Porsche 911 GT3 RS4.0

Sportec is heading to Geneva with several new programs.

Sportec from Switzerland is doing a number of new programs set for the Geneva Motor Show. The Porsche 911 (997-Series) GT3 RS4.0 looks stunning in its new SP 525 moniker and packs plenty of power indicative of the Swiss company's work.The SP 525 puts out an appropriate 525hp and 354 lb-ft of torque from its 4.0-liter six-cylinder boxer engine thanks to the addition of an Akrapovic exhaust system along with sports catalytic converters and a revamped ECU.
The changes add a total of 25hp and 15 lb-ft of torque.Sportec has also added an in-house built traction control system, lightweight carbon fiber hood and Bilstein shocks. Sitting on a set of 20-inch Mono/7 wheels wrapped in Michelin PS2 Cup tires, the SP 525 can sprint from 0-62mph in only 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 196mph. Bigger brakes with ceramic disks have been added to handle the added performance.The Porsche 911 GT3 RS4.0 SP 525 by Sportec is currently on display now at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Sportec Creates the SP 525 Based on the Porsche 911 GT3 RS4.0