Bentley will Debut New Luxury SUV Concept at the Geneva

What started out as a rumor and then later confirmed as part of Bentley's future product plans will be revealed in the flesh as a very close to production concept model at this week's 82nd Geneva International Auto Show. We're talking, of course, about Bentley's upcoming SUV, which aspires to become the world's most luxurious and expensive crossover model.
The as-of-yet unnamed Bentley SUV is the work of Bentley CEO, Wolfgang Duerheimer, who was responsible for bringing the Porsche Cayenne into the world.
We'll find out more tomorrow, but Duerheimer has revealed that the production version, which is expected within the next couple of years, will be powered by a variety of large displacement engines including Bentley's W12 gasoline unit and possibly Audi's 6.0-liter V12 turbo diesel.

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New Kia Cee'd Station Wagon to Debut at the Geneva

The five-door hatchback version (pictured above) of Kia's second generation Cee'd model won't be standing alone at the South Korean firm's Geneva Motor Show booth next week, Offgae has learned. According to our sources, Kia will also host the world premiere of the estate version featuring an elongated rear end that will further increase its boot capacity offering an additional advantage over the hatch.
Both the hatchback and the station wagon variants of the 2012 Cee'd ride on the same 2,650mm long wheelbase and will be offered with up to five diesel and gasoline engines with improved fuel economy and CO2 figures.
In Europe, the Cee'd range competes in the mainstream section of the highly popular C-segment with rivals such as the Opel Astra and the Peugeot 308.
Stay tuned for more news on the Geneva Motor show.
*2012 Kia Cee'd 5d hatch featured in all photos

PHOTO GALLERY

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New Seat Toledo Prototype and Ibiza FR Heading to the Geneva

We have more news concerning the VW Group's presence at the 82nd Geneva International Auto Show as we learned that Seat will bring a new Toledo prototype along with the FR versions of its facelifted Ibiza supermini range. We weren't able to obtain more details, but it is believed that the Toledo study will mark a return to a more conventional saloon or liftback body style for the series after the confused third generation model that was essentially an Altea MPV with a boot strapped on the rear end.
As for the modestly updated Ibiza range, along with the regular versions of the three- and five-door hatchbacks and the ST estate (pictured below), the Spanish automaker will also introduce the sportier FR models.
* The opening image is from the 2011 Seat IBL Concept

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Ford Kuga and Fiesta ST in Geneva Motor Show

 

With less than a week left for the grand opening of the 2012 edition of the Geneva Auto Salon, we're continuing our reports on the vehicles that will make it to Switzerland with the Ford brand. Today we can confirm that aside from the world premiere of the production B-MAX small MPV that we've already covered extensively, the Blue Oval will debut the European version of the 2013 Escape as the new generation of the Kuga SUV and the production version of last year's Fiesta ST Concept 3d.
The new Kuga will be offered with additional engines over its North American counterpart including a choice of more frugal diesel units. It is expected to go on sale in Europe by late 2012 or early next year.
The Fiesta ST was shown in concept form as a three-door model at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and as a five-door model at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.
According to Offgate sources, Ford will show the production version of the three-door variant in Geneva. It will be equipped with a 1.6-liter EcoBoost turbocharged inline-four petrol producing 180PS or 178hp.
There's also a good chance that we may see the new European Mondeo (aka Fusion in North America), though we have yet to officially confirm this.
More to come, but for now, hop over the break to check out the photos of the North American Escape and the conceptual Fiesta ST.

FORD FIESTA ST CONCEPT

2013 FORD ESCAPE

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