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Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Hybrids/Alternative, Geneva Motor Show

Pininfarina. Just the name evokes thoughts of sheet-metal rendered into curvaceous works of art. And at Geneva this year, Pininfarina did not disappoint, unveiling one of the most achingly beautiful four-door concepts we’ve seen to date. In fact, we were so taken with it, we had to bring you more after our own Jonathon Ramsey brought you the first live pics yesterday.

The Sintesi, whose slow reveal we brought you incrementally as the studio released details week by week in the wind-up to this year’s Geneva Motor Show, takes the notion of a four-door coupe, crumples it up and ever so elegantly throws it in the face of just about every passenger vehicle that has come before it, including Pininfarina’s own Maserati Quattroporte. Come to think of it, the QP is due for a replacement, and if the Sintesi previews the next Trident sedan in any way, we just might have to mortgage our homes.

Click on the thumbnails below to view all our best live shots and a host of new press pics.

Sedans/Saloons, Paris Motor Show, Audi

We knew that the new Audi S4 was due to be unveiled within the next six months, but CAR was able to confirm that the supercharged sled will make an official appearance at the Paris Motor Show this September. As previously reported, the new S4 will ditch its 4.2-liter V8 in favor of a new supercharged 3.0-liter V6 producing around 350 hp - a few ponies more than the current S4’s output.

CAR got the details about the new S4 while running the twin-clutch-equipped S5 through its paces, and is able to confirm that the S-badged sedan will benefit from the same seven-speed gearbox, with shifts taking place in 200 ms. Naturally, the S4 will be equipped with quattro all-wheel-drive, and sales will begin in the UK in early 2009, with wagon and convertible variants following thereafter.

As for the future of the RS4, Audi isn’t confirming any specs yet, but they’re confident that when the new M3-fighter hits the streets in 2010, the new S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox’s shifts will be reduced to around 140-150 ms.

[Source: CAR]

Convertibles, Coupes, Cadillac, Rendered Speculation, Rumormill

We’re all fidgety waiting for the arrival of the Cadillac CTS coupe, but GM has already axed a potentially popular variant of the two door entry-Caddy. Despite indications that GM’s turnaround plan is making headway, resources still need to be allocated carefully, so we’re guessing that an alfresco CTS Coupe didn’t make a good enough business case to justify the cost to bring it to market. While it certainly cost GM money to make the CTS a two-door, significant investment would have been necessary to engineer and fine-tune the reported retractable hardtop the convertible would have gotten. Convertible buyers are often a little different than hardcore coupe purchasers, opening up another sales niche. GM also misses out on another challenge to BMW, which offers a Skyliner-ized 3-series. If there’s enough clamor for a convertible CTS Coupe, GM may eventually commit to it as Cadillac takes aim at BMW with it’s awesomeized CTS.

[Source: Inside Line, Photo: Inside Line]

Concept Cars, Sports/GTs, Euro, Supercars, BMW, Misc. Auto Shows

BMW’s supercar icon, the M1, blew out the candles at the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este this weekend. In honor of the car’s thirtieth birthday, BMW rolled out the new BMW M1 Hommage, a concept/design study that pays tribute to the original M1 and shows what could be possible if BMW were to produce a new mid-engined sports car. Follow the jump for the breakdown.
[Source: BMW]

 Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Coupes, Scion

The Scion Hako is one of the ugliest concept cars any of us have ever seen. Seriously, in New York, our watches stopped working in its presence. At the vehicle’s introduction, Scion called its orange-hued affront to the senses a “sporty version of a box” — a turn of phrase we’re still trying to wrap our brains around. What’s next? Record execs selling us the “easy-listening version of Slayer”? But we digress.

Our friends at Jalopnik were equally uninspired by Hako, so they asked their readers to build a better concept using the magic of Photoshop. They have winnowed down the entrants to a group of five finalists — a mail truck (above), a better coupe (shown at right), a hot rod, a Hako-mino, and a Deora-ish pickup. Follow the jump to see the latter three and then head over to Jalopnik to vote for your favorite. The winning ‘chopper will be announced tomorrow. His or her prize?

[Source: Jalopnik]