Jeep Wrangler Gets Smoky Rubicon X Package in Europe

The special-edition Jeep Wranglers keep coming in, with the latest being the Rubicon X Package introduced at the Geneva Auto Show. Based on the off-road oriented Rubicon trim level, the new special-edition model for Europe brings exclusive styling cues and functional features.

The styling package includes a seven-slot black front grille with black inserts, black painted 17-inch aluminum wheels, dual-intake Power Dome hood, deep-tint sunscreen glass, Mopar black fuel-filler door, body-color hard spare-tyre cover, as well as a standard body-colored hard top, which is a first on the Rubicon.

The new body-color hard top is included in the standard Dual Top configuration that offers the possibility to have both the Sunrider soft top and the three-piece modular Freedom Top in one package. Finally, the Mopar rock rails add functionality to the Wrangler.

On the inside, the Wrangler Rubicon X Package brings red or black leather seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel, standard heated front seats, silver accents across the cabin and Mopar tread-pattern slush mats.

Other standard features of the special-edition Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X Package are the UConnect multi-media infotainment and navigation system with 6.5-inch touchscreen, 40-gigabyte hard disk, USB compatibility, AUX port, DVD player, and voice-activated Bluetooth UConnect Phone.

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon X Package will be introduced in Europe in the second quarter of 2014, as both a two-door Wrangler and four-door Wrangler Unlimited. The model will be available with two engines, the 200hp 2.8-liter turbo diesel unit and the 284hp 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar petrol unit. Both engines are paired with a five-speed automatic transmission.

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New Subaru WRX STI Makes Euro Debut in Geneva

Subaru has officially unveiled its new WRX STI to the European press and public at the Geneva motor show that opens its doors today to all who want to attend.

No modifications over versions sold anywhere else in the world have been announced, but what is of interest is the price that’s now sensibly lower than before.

In the UK, for example, the number is £4,000 (~€4,900) lower than that stuck onto the windscreen of the previous gen STI – the car now starts from £28,995 (~€35,200), but it officially goes on sale on the Isles as of May 1.

They probably could have charged more for it based on looks alone, had they made it look like that stunner of a concept that previewed it, but not-so-attractive and cheaper do go hand in hand well, I think, so it gets away with it.

Check it out in the gallery below.

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What Do You Think About the Gumpert Apollo S Iron Car Edition's Chrome Wrap?

At this year's edition of the Geneva Motor Show, troubled German sports car builder Gumpert told the world that it's still alive and kicking after flirting with Miss Bankruptcy one time too often. They also showed a new creation, the Explosion Coupe, and brought along a specially made Apollo S nicknamed Iron Car after the fictional character Iron Man because of, you know, its colors.

It would have made more sense if they used a gold tone instead of silver, but anyway, the Apollo S on display was prepared by 2M DESIGNS in Augsburg, Germany, which tells us that the red- and silver-chrome wraps took 80 hours of "pasting" and cost €6,800 (about US$9,400) with tax/VAT included.

The rims were coated in black "liquid rubber", which we assume means plastic paint or something similar, at a cost of €250 (around US$350), while other additions include the carbon film trims on the mirrors, the new shatterproof Lexani glass cover for the engine and the tinted lights, for which no price was announced.

This particular version of the Apollo has a 4.2-liter twin-turbo'd V8 engine sourced from Audi that delivers 780PS (769hp) offering the car a top speed of 360km/h (224mph).

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We’re Still Wrapping Our Heads Around Koenigsegg’s One:1

One doesn’t take a car that can do 280 miles her hour (450+ km/h) lightly. Even in the photos, browsing through, the ridiculous numbers it was built to achieve don’t go out of focus for one second.

This car wasn’t styled like family hatchbacks are, in order to look appealing by seeming mean, and its appearance is purely the result of having to deal with a lot of air, and do it well and smoothly.

Revealed at the Geneva motor show, it was by far the fastest-looking car there too, making the Bugattis at the venue look like luxury barges with far too much sound damping and a gearbox that does the changing for you.

Thankfully, though, millions of enthusiasts will get to drive this extremely rare car, though, only with….a controller, in the average Rivals game, part of the Need for Speed franchise that also spawned a movie I'm not sure won’t be a disappointment yet.

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Jaguar Teases and Names New XE Sedan as BMW 3-Series Rival

It’s now official: Jaguar’s new BMW 3-Series, Cadillac ATS and Lexus IS rival will be called the XE. Set to be revealed in the coming months, the car features an aluminium monocoque construction (the first in the segment) and promises to be the most advanced, efficient and refined in its class.

Power for this new sedan, originally believed to bear the name XS, will come from a new series of UK-built enignes called Ingenium. These petrol or diesel units all displace two liters, they’re all turbocharged and the most frugal of them all promise sub-100 g/km CO2.

Other, more powerful engines will be offered, though, as Jaguar mentioned that the car is designed to achieve speeds in excess of 300 km/h (186 mph), so the BMW M3 and upcoming C-Class AMG had better watch out for the future XER.

Speaking at the Geneva Auto Show, Jaguar-Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth, mentioned: "We announced just a few weeks ago that our new Engine Manufacturing Centre would produce a new family of premium, lightweight, low-friction, low emission four-cylinder petrol and diesel units. The first of our Ingenium engine range will be used in our all-new mid-sized Jaguar sports sedan. That car will be called the Jaguar XE, and it will be unveiled in production form later this year."

Full specs “will be announced later in 2014. The global roll-out will begin from mid-2015.” It won’t be shown this year in Geneva.

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