##Geneva logo--left## New 5-door versions of the Alfa Romeo 147, Car of the Year 2001, will be unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show next week.

They will be represented by a version sporting the latest 2.0 Twin Spark engine/manual transmission combination, and a 1.9 JTD 115 bhp Common Rail diesel. Both models will go on sale in left-hand drive markets this spring.

The distinctive 147 profile is unchanged in its latest 5-door guise. Black rear door handles are 'hidden' in the trailing edge of the rear window frames, as in the Alfa 156 and Sportwagon, and the B-pillars have been moved forward to accommodate the extra doors.

New 3 and 5-door versions of the Alfa 147 will become available in the UK later this year.

The Vauxhall name will be represented at the Geneva motor show by Opel, which is presenting a line-up of world premieres, namely the Astra Coupe Convertible, Zafira Turbo, billed as Europe's fastest MPV, a gas-powered Zafira and the 'X-Treme' Coupe concept.

The Astra Coupe Convertible goes on sale this summer and Vauxhall says is the only contender in its class featuring a fully retracting soft top as standard that operates at the touch of a button. It also features four full-size seats, the Dynamic Safety chassis, and a choice of 1.8-litre 16v and 2.2- litre ECOTEC engines.

On show for the first time will be the Zafira Turbo with a top speed of 137mph and a 0-60 time of around eight seconds thanks to a 2.0-litre ECOTEC engine, with a fuel consumption of 28.5mpg.

Additional features include wider wheel arches housing light alloys, a front spoiler with a large intake, wide side skirts and rear spoiler, Recaro seats, leather steering wheel and white instrument dials.

On a calmer note, Opel will be displaying a compressed natural gas 1.6-litre Zafira, with the same power and torque as the petrol equivalent and a 107mph top speed. Four gas tanks under the floor plan ensure the CNG Zafira has the same Flex7 seating system as the rest of the range.

The Astra Coupe OPC X-Treme concept – with gull-wing doors and a 4.0-litre V8 engines - will also celebrate its world premier.

##Gullwing--none--Astra Coupe OPC X-Treme##

Skoda has revealed the first picture of the four-door Fabia saloon which will have its first public showing at the Geneva motor show.

The saloon shares the same platform as the Fabia supermini and estate, but with a boot compartment with a carrying capacity of 260 litres, compared to 260 litres in the hatchback.

Full specification details will be released at Geneva. The show will also be the first time Skoda has given a public showing to the Octavia 4x4 hatchback, featuring the Haldex Coupling 4-wheel drive system, which has only been available in the Octavia estate.

##Fabia saloon--none--Fabia saloon##

The Rover 75 Tourer, the first compact-executive estate car from the company, is among a host of unveilings due to take place at next week's Geneva motor show.

The wraps will also be coming off the new Honda Civic Type-R, the Lexus SC430, IS300 saloon and SportCross, Toyota Avensis Verso and the 90bhp Mini.

The Rover 75 Tourer will be entering production at Longbridge in May, with first customer deliveries from June in the UK and from September to European markets.

##75 Tourer--none-- Rover 75 Tourer##

The Honda Civic Type-R is powered by a new 2.0 litre DOHC i-VTEC developing 200PS pushing the car to 60mph in seven seconds with the use of a new six-speed gearbox. It comes with a chin spoiler, side sill garnish, rear under-spoiler, larger roof spoiler together with 17-inch alloys.

Production is expected to start in the autumn and sales in October. Prices will be announced in the summer.

##Civic Type-R--none--Civic Type-R##

The Lexus SC430 is the production version of the concept car, which was shown at last year's Paris and Birmingham motor shows and designed as a luxury cabriolet with an integrated aluminium retractable roof. It's powered by a 283bhp, 4.3-litre V8 engine with Variable Valve Timing-intelligent (VVT-i), coupled to five-speed automatic transmission.

The Lexus IS300 comes with a straight six VVT-i 3.0-litre engine and a new five-speed automatic with an E-shift, push-button gear-change system.

The IS300 SportCross is know as a 'crossover' concept, bringing what Lexus calls radical styling to the IS300, but shares the powertrain and front-end styling. It will enter showrooms in the autumn.

##IS300SportCross--none--IS300 SportCross##

Toyota's all-new Avensis Verso is based on a new platform and will be offered in a choice of 2.0-litre VVT-i petrol engine or 2.0-litre common rail turbo diesel, with 43.5mpg combined cycle economy.

Avensis Verso will be offered with disc brakes as standard with brake assist, computerised anti-lock and electronic brake force distribution. Driver and passenger airbags are standard, as are remote control central locking with alarm system and engine immobiliser.

It will go on sale in the summer.

Aston Martin will premier the V12 Vanquish, the most sophisticated and technologically advanced model ever built by the company. It will be priced £158,000. Interest levels have been so high since first details of the car were released in October that dealers are predicting a three year waiting time when sales begin in early summer.

The Vanquish is powered by a 6.0-litre V12 460bhp Aston engine with a 200mph top speed. The six speed transmission is controlled through a Formula 1-style paddle gears on the steering wheel.

##V12 Vanquish--none--V12 Vanquish##

BMW will unveil the entry level 90bhp Mini, which goes on sale in the UK on July 7.

BMW will also be debuting the 3 Series Compact, with the new British-built Valvetronic engine, the X5 3.0d and the M3 with Sequential M gearbox at the Geneva motor show.

Making their European debuts will be the X5 4.6is, the M3 Convertible and the revised M Coupe and M Roadster, powered by the new M3 engine.

The second generation BMW 3 Series Compact (pictured) goes on sale in the UK in August 2001. It has the same wheelbase as the 3 Series Saloon, but the body is 21cm shorter. Two models will be available at launch, the 316ti, featuring the Valvetronic four cylinder engine, built at Hams Hall, and the 325ti, powered by BMW's recently updated 192bhp straight six.

Following in the footsteps of the X5 4.4i and the X5 3.0i (now on sale in the UK), the new 3.0d is the third X5 model to be introduced. Powered by BMW's direct injection, common rail, straight six turbo-diesel, the 3.0d develops 184bhp and 302lb-ft of torque. It shares this engine with the widely acclaimed 330d and 530d.

Acceleration from 0-62mph is 10.5 seconds, top speed 125mph and combined cycle fuel consumption 29.1 mpg. The X5 3.0d is available with a five-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox, with the manual transmission in mid 2002.

The new M3 has gearbox technology borrowed from Formula 1. Now in its second incarnation, the Sequential M gearbox will be available on the M3 in the UK from the middle of this year.

There is no clutch and fears are selected using paddles on the steering wheel or by using the shift lever in the central console. It can also be driven in self selecting mode.

##3-series--none##

Hyundai is proclaiming the future to be a two-seater sportscar cloaking a 2.7 V6 engine and a six-speed gearbox.

The company is to show a concept car (pictured below) at the Geneva motor show this month that could go into production as long as it gets public support.

The Hyundai HCD6 Roadster open top roadster has detached 'floating' front and rear carbon fibre bumpers, a clear, see-through engine cover and high-mount exhaust.

The HCD6 is finished with a unique teal and dark purple colour using an experimental pigment supplied by DuPont.

The engine is a modified, high performance version of the 2.7-litre DOHC Hyundai V6 used in the Santa Fe SUV.

Inside there are only two knobs visible on the instrument panel, one for the stereo and the other for driving functions.

##HCD6--none##

##HCD6(2)--none##

Fiat's new compact hatchback, the Stilo, will make its international debut at the Geneva motor show at the end of this month.

Stilo (pictured below) will be available in three and five door versions, with different dimensions and driving positions in each variant – low in the three door, higher in the five. Both will be available with a choice of four petrol and two common rail turbodiesel engines.

A Fiat spokesman said: “The new five-door will appeal to those customers who have shown an interest in the MPV sub-sector, which has recently emerged as a growth areas of this market.

“Stilo brings the advantages of an MPV to a more traditional formula. It is easy to get in and out of, there's lots of space inside and the driving position is higher.

“One front seat can be folded forward and the two rear seats moved fore and aft and reclined independently, making it easy to adapt the car to the needs of the moment.”

##Stilo--none##

##Stilo(2)--none##

Mazda is to inveil a concept for a versatile, economical and environmentally-friendly sport tourer at the Geneva motor show this month.

The MX Sport Tourer showcases Mazda's "exploration into innovative designs and technology beyond the next generation of production models".

The power for the MX comes from a lightweight, high-performance 2.0-litre S-VT engine, plus an electric motor. The petrol unit is for out-of-town use and the electric motor of zero emission urban use. Electric mode gives a top speed of about 30mph. The motor recharges on the move through the petrol engine and regenerative braking.

Other distinctive features include a sports car cockpit, easy-to-use cargo area and a roof that can be retracted for open-air driving or to carry heavy loads.

##MX Sport--none--Mazda MX Sport Tourer concept##

The Geneva motor show in March will see the debut of the improved Mercedes-Benz A-class, with redesigned body details, enhanced interior and technical improvements.

The new car (pictured below) will be available with a choice of two modified direct-injection diesel engines, utilising common rail technology to develop 25% more power output than previously, without increasing fuel consumption.

The A-class will also be available with the option of windowbags for greater occupant protection. Another unique feature is the newly developed optional air conditioning system with an additional air humidity sensor. For the first time the fourth-generation Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) operates in conjunction with an even more efficient Brake Assist system.

The car's front end has been redesigned with contoured bumper and extended air intake giving the body a wider look. The radiator grille is new as are replacable rub strips in the front and rear bumper and the newly developed headlights.

The interior dash has been redesigned and softer, higher quality materials used. The three-spoke steering wheel has also been redesigned.

##New A-class--none## ##New A-class(2)--none##