Paris Auto Show

Ferrari Launches Online Configurator for SA Aperta even though it's Sold Out...

Ferrari may have sold all 80 examples of its awkwardly named SA Aperta before the roadster's world premiere at the Paris International Motor Show on September 30, but that hasn't deterred the company from launching an online configurator for the rest of the world to see.

Unfortunately, the configurator is preset, meaning you're only allowed to check out the five available configurations and can't fool around with paint schemes or interior decors, so unless you're a photoshop wizard, there goes your dream of creating a lime-green colored SA Aperta with pink seats.

If you don't fancy Ferrari's site, here are the five available color configurations of the SA Aperta:

Nero Stellato

Rims: Chrome shadow
Brake calipers: Rosso Corsa
Interior leather color: Sabbia colour with black straight stretch; ecrÃ¹ stitching
Passenger zone dashboard: black wrinckled
Other features: F1 dashboard, radio doors/panels, collar badge in varnished black

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Blu Elettrico

Rims: Chrome shadow
Brake calipers: Argento Alluminio
Interior leather color: black with straight stretch, blue central part of the seat, central part of the panel and white stitching
Passenger zone dashboard: external Blu Elettrico
Other features: F1 dashboard, radio doors/panels, collar badge in carbon fibre

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Giallo Tristrato

Rims: Chrome shadow
Brake calipers: Nero
Interior leather color: black with yellow straight stretch and white stitching
Passenger zone dashboard: carbon fibre
Other features: F1 dashboard, radio doors/panels, collar badge in carbon fibre

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Rosso Fuoco

Rims: Chrome shadow
Brake calipers: Black
Interior leather color: black with red straight stretch and white stitching
Passenger zone dashboard: Argento NÃ¼rburgring Opaco
Other features: F1 dashboard, radio doors/panels, collar badge in varnished black

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Rosso Dino

Rims: Chrome shadow
Brake calipers: Argento Alluminio
Interior leather color: black with straight stretch, central part of the seat and central part of the panel in orange leather
Passenger zone dashboard: Black wrinckled
Other features: F1 dashboard, radio doors/panels, collar badge in carbon fibre

CitroÃ«n UK Details and Prices 2011 C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso Facelift

CitroÃ«n's UK division has released more intel and pricing on its mildly facelifted for the 2011 model year C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso minivans that will get their first public outing at the Paris Motor Show later this week.

Both the five-seat C4 Picasso and seven-seat Grand C4 Picasso benefit from new styling elements including CitroÃ«n's new chevron design on the front grille and tailgate, a restyled front bumper, new headlights and rear light clusters, plus LED daytime running lights for the higher grade VTR+ and Exclusive models.

In addition, VTR+ models get chrome side window sills and a chrome rear bumper strip, while the C4 Picasso Exclusive is now offered with a 'Black Top' option which adds a glossy black finish to the roof, A-pillars and exterior door handles, door mirrors and alloy wheel centre caps. Interior upgrades are limited to new materials and colors for the upholstery.

There's also added standard equipment on the VTR+, which gets rear parking sensors, electrically folding mirrors, a USB socket and Bluetooth, and the Exclusive which benefits from 17-inch alloys, new upholstery USB and Bluetooth connectivity and the new CitroÃ«n eTouch Emergency & Assistance System.

For the 2011 model year, both C4 Picasso ranges are offered with CitroÃ«n's new e-HDi micro-hybrid technology, which combines a second-generation Stop & Start system with an e-booster function that re-starts the engine instantly (0.4 seconds), a reversible alternator that recovers energy during braking, and a Euro 5 1.6-liter HDi 110hp DPFS engine with a 6-speed EGS transmission.

According to the French automaker, with this powertrain setup, the C4 Picasso delivers a combined fuel economy of up to 58.9mpg UK (Grand C4 Picasso: 57.6mpg UK) with CO2 emissions of between 125g/km and 132g/km (see list below for details).

Finally, both MPVs get a new 2.0-liter HDi 150hp diesel engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox, which delivers a combined cycle fuel economy of 49.6mpg UK. A 2.0-liter HDi 160hp with a 6-speed automatic gearbox is also newly available on Exclusive models.

UK sales of the new CitroÃ«n C4 Picasso range will start in from 1st October.

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Lamborghini's Paris Supercar Teaser No4: Can You Guess What it Shows?

Here's the fourth teaser shot in a series of six photos of Lamborghini's Paris Motor Show-bound supercar. We're not sure what part of the car is shown in this latest picture (feel free to speculate in our comments section below), but it's obvious that the material used is carbon fiber.

The Sant'Agata-based company is keeping a tight lid on details until the grand opening of the show on September 30, but our first guess after seeing all these pictures would be a lightweight supercar concept with a V10 powerplant. More to come in the next few days.

Honda Jazz Hybrid: More Details and New Photos Released ahead of Paris Show

Being that the 2010 edition of the Paris Auto Show is just around the corner, Honda has released a new batch of photos as well as a few more details on its new hybrid variant of the Jazz, which is called Fit in the U.S. and other markers.

The smallest member of Honda's gasoline-electric hybrid family features the same IMA parallel hybrid system found on the Insight, combining a 1.3 liter engine with a 10 KW electric motor. The system allows the car to operate with engine only, engine and motor or electric motor only at low to medium speeds.

In the Jazz Hybrid, the IMA battery pack and power control unit are stored under the boot floor, keeping the normal boot (above floor) area of 300 liters, while also allowing the car's so-called "Magic Seats" to fold in the same manner as the non-hybrid version to provide a boot space of 831 liters.

Honda said the new Jazz Hybrid returns a combined fuel consumption figure of 4.4 l/100km [53.5 mpg US] in the European cycle. That's the same as the Insight and faintly better than the European variants of the Civic Hybrid (4.6 lt/100km) and CR-Z 2+2 (5.0lt/100km).

However, the Jazz Hybrid has CO2 emissions of 104 g/km, which is slightly higher than the Insight's 101g/km. Honda claims this is due to the Jazz's "taller, more flexibility focused shape."

The Japanese automaker said the Jazz hybrid will go on sale in some European markets in the early part of 2011, with prices, homologated emissions levels and full specifications to be announced in "due course". Currently, there are no plans to offer the Jazz Hybrid in North America.