Marangoni's Range Rover Evoque HFI-R

In keeping with its tradition of showing up at the Bologna Motor Show with an impressive concept, Italian tire manufacturer Marangoni chose this year's edition of the venue to reveal the Range Rover Evoque HFI-R.

The first thing that catches your eye as you look at the pictures is the experimental ruby red coloured Marangoni tires – well, for many it will actually be the curvalicious brunette model but that's irrelevant to this story.
Marangoni says that the bespoke “M-Power EvoRed” tires are made from special compounds with high silica content that helps rolling resistance and consequently fuel consumption. The 255/30R20 tires are wrapped around a new set of 20-inch alloy wheels from O.Z. Racing.
In addition, the bodywork of the car has been completely repainted in a special satin paint called Titanium Fluid Metal while the roof, the pillars, the door handles and the grille are finished in gloss black.
Other changes on the outside include the redesigned front and rear bumpers, and a carbon fibre aero kit comprising of a front apron, side skirts, wheel arch extensions and a rear diffuser. The same material is also used on the air intakes, the boot handle, all the bottom door guards and the mirror covers that feature small Italian flags. 
 
The Evoque's interior was also revamped with high-quality materials such as leather, Alcantara and carbon with the seats and door panels now featuring a diamond pattern with double red stitching.
Complementing the styling changes is a raft of mechanical upgrades the most important of which concerns the Si4 2.0-liter Turbocharged petrol engine that has been tuned and modified to run on either gasoline, natural gas or alternatively a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas from a separate tank. It delivers an output of 300-horsepower with the two tanks offering a combined cruising range of 1,000 kilometres or 620 miles.
Marangoni says that when using a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas, the system can completely eliminate fine particle emissions and reduce CO2 emissions by the same percentage (up to 30 percent) as the hydrogen contained in the mix.
Other performance mods include a Tarox B360 brake kit with 10-piston calipers and composite disks, with 330x26 diameter brake rotors.

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New Renault Megane Coupe-Cabriolet Floride

Renault is using the name of its 1960s Floride rear-engined sports car for a new limited edition of the modern-day Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet that will make its first public appearance at the Brussels Motor Show on January 10, 2012.

In France, the Mégane CC Floride will be offered exclusively in a pastel ivory exterior paint that harks back to the 1960s, while the rest of Europe will also get the option of a more mainstream red color.
Either way, the French car's retractable panoramic top will come in a contrasting high-gloss, piano hue, while Renault has also added retro-style Floride badging on the front wings. On the ivory model, the new 17-inch diamond-effect alloy wheels will be finished in a similar shade.
There's more going on inside as the exterior color scheme is matched by a two-tone red and ivory full-leather interior including the seats and steering wheel. The chrome Floride badge makes its appearance inside on the dashboard that is finished in red with an ivory trim strip, while the gear lever knob and the new floor mats are inscribed with the letter 'f'.
 
A numbered plaque located on the center console rounds out the changes.
The new Mégane CC Floride will be offered exclusively with a 130HP turbo diesel engine (dCi 130 DPF) that drives the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.
Renault's latest model is available to order in France with prices starting from €33,100 (approx. US$44,700).

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Toyota Aqua Hybrid Spiffily Modded

While in the business of producing and developing cars for Toyota for more than half a century, Kana Auto Works has generally stayed under the radar.

However, at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese company came out of its shell introducing several bespoke models.
Aside from the Toyota Century-based FS Hybrid concept that we showed you earlier today, Kana Auto Works also displayed two prototypes of the newly presented Toyota Aqua hybrid, which will be marketed under the Prius C brand name outside of Japan. 
 
The first Aqua Fun concept is finished in an orange hue and sports a subtle aero package and new alloy wheels.
The other Aqua Fun study is more extreme boasting a bright yellow finish and several cosmetic changes including new front and rear bumpers, different headlamps and tail lights, larger spoilers and bigger wheels while also riding on a lowered sports suspension.

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