This year’s Geneva Motor Show was definitely smaller than last year’s, but despite the show’s focus on all things green, one thing that didn’t get smaller was the horsepower rating of the engine in the latest Brabus super coupe. Dubbed simply the E V12 Coupe, it is based on the latest generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class and features another twin-turbo V12, this time displacing 6.3 liters and producing 800 horsepower and 1047 lb-ft torque. Brabus quotes a 0-100 km/h time of just 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 230 mph for this black beast.

Besides the upgraded engine, the E V12 Coupe also benefits from larger brakes, a Brabus-spec coilover suspension system, 19-inch wheels and a healthy dose of carbon fiber. The front spoiler, grille, front and rear fenders, rear diffuser, intake system, interior trim and seats are all made from the lightweight material. European buyers have first crack at it, needing 478,000 Euros (approximately $650,000 using today’s exchange rate) to secure one. In case you were wondering, that’s more than the cost of 13 regular E-Class Coupes.

What is going on over in Gaydon these days? It seems Aston Martin was synonymous with grand touring not too long ago, with some of the most beautiful luxury sportscars and GT rides around. Nowadays you’re just as likely to find an SUV, four-door or tiny urban car on their show stand. The Rapide four-door is undoubtedly gorgeous, and will no doubt perform spectacularly, but what are they thinking when they show something like the Lagonda crossover concept? Neither beautiful, nor sporty, it was quickly panned by those who saw it, criticized for being way too big and ungainly. Perhaps overreacting to those critics, Aston Martin is now going the other way and showing something that seems to be way too small to wear the famous DB wings.

The little commuter car they have dubbed the Cygnet, is based on the Toyota iQ, and is intended as a sort of land-bound-dinghy for A-M owners who need something a bit more manageable in the city. As odd as it may sound the idea has some merit, especially when you consider how well the premium Mini Cooper sells. Those who have seen the Cygnet in person at this month’s Geneva Motor Show have said that the fit and finish on the Cygnet look suitably Aston. It takes many of the Aston Martin styling cues and shrinks them down to a pocket-rocket-sized mini-me. It might have the looks, but it certainly won’t have the moves of the bigger Aston Martin models.

Evora Carbon Concept

The 80th Geneva Motor Show is now open to the press and sitting smack dab in the middle of the Lotus booth is one extra special Evora. The company, known for their mantra of “adding lightness,” have added a healthy dose of carbon fiber to create this Evora Carbon Concept.

Lotus’ motorsport pedigree is said to be the inspiration for this particular special, with its exposed carbon fiber accented roof, nose, tail and sills, and a more aggressive carbon diffuser. The striking white concept car is finished in “an advanced water based pearlesent paint” that combine nicely to create that great Stormtrooper look.

The interior of the Evora Carbon Concept gets some carbon fiber of its own, along with perforated black leather and generous swathes of gray alcantara covering the footwell, dashboard and roof.

Other changes from the standard Evora include diamond cut forged 19” alloy wheels front and rear, shod with Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres (235/35 wide front and 285/30 wide rear).

No word on whether or not the Evora Carbon Concept will see production, but we’re going to go ahead and say it probably will, or at least parts of it will.

The hotly-anticipated Ferrari 599 Hybrid, which the Italian automaker has confirmed for the Geneva Motor Show next week, just got its virtual debut a bit early thanks to the interwebs. The legendary maker of sports and racing cars, so closely associated with Italian racing red, decided to show how green their latest project is by painting it…green.

No new information on the car has been released yet, but we already know that the Ferrari 599 Hybrid will employ a version of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) that originally debuted during the 2009 Formula 1 season. The system captures the energy that is normally lost to the flywheel under braking, transferring it to the wheels when the driver activates a button on the steering wheel. Don’t expect Prius-like mileage from this hybrid, just an extra dose of performance on demand.

Pagani Zonda Tricolore

Perhaps as a way of saying goodbye to the Zonda as it makes way for the upcoming C9 replacement, Pagani will be showing a special edition Zonda Tricolore at the Geneva Motor Show next week. Tricolore is a reference to the Italian flag, the country where Horatio builds his hypercars. The flag’s red, white and green hues should be familiar to anyone who has seen a Ferrari Challenge Stradale.

The Tricolore edition actually honors the Italian air force aerobatics team, Frecce Tricolori. Based on the already-exclusive Zonda Cinque, the Tricolore features a special carbon-titanium weave that has been left bare, save a blue-tinted lacquer. Red, white and green stripes run from the nose to the tail, passing by the car’s unique vertical fin air intakes along the way.

Should you come upon the Tricolore at night, you might be able to differentiate it by its LED running lights which are also unique to the Tricolore edition. Only one example will be built and it will be priced accordingly at 1.3 million euros, or about $1.75 million at current exchange rates.

Ferrari patent for awd hybrid system

We’ve been hearing rumbling, make that whirring, of a hybrid Ferrari for some time now. While some say it is merely speculation, others point to development mules and patents that have been filed that clearly indicate a hybrid and/or all-wheel-drive system in the works. Well, speculate no more. Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo says we can expect to see it during the first week of March at the Geneva Motor Show.

The announcement came at the unveiling of the new 2010 Ferrari F10 Formula One car, whose predecessor happened to use a hybrid system of its own. During the 2009 F1 season Ferrari used its Kinetic Energy Recovery System with mixed results, but the hybrid technology was effective in capturing energy normally lost during braking.

No specifics about what kind of hybrid setup Ferrari will show off, but it will be mounted in the company’s 599 GTB Fiorano, or some version of it. It’s likely going to be similar to KERS and not a Ferrari Prius. While the show car is said to be only a concept, Ferrari promises they will build a production hybrid vehicle in the near future.