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Weekly Recap: Geneva's splendor reflects growing demand for ultra-luxury cars

Geneva is one of the most glittering auto shows in the world, but the list of high-powered and bespoke luxury cars was decadent this year even by the rich standards of the Swiss exhibition. It's great for enthusiasts to revel in the flame-throwing Aston Martin Vulcan, the racing-inspired elegance of the Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 concept and the insane performance of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce, but there's a reason for all of this opulence: the luxury market is big business. And it's growing. IHS Automotive forecasts that so-called ultra-premium sales will nearly triple this decade from 123,000 to 353,000 units around the world. The estimate includes brands like Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari and Rolls-Royce, but doesn't count BMW, Mercedes and Audi, which offer less expensive models in addition to their high-end flagships. Though IHS includes Porsche and its relatively large volume in the study, the ultra-premium segment is still set grow at about the same rate, even without the German automaker's figures. So what is propelling all of this growth in the most expensive segment of the auto industry? Put simply, there's more rich people. IHS Automotive principal analyst Tim Urquhart pointed to economic expansion in China, market recovery in the United States and a surge in the lucrative technology sector as contributing factors. This dovetails with a research report by UK-based Oxfam, an international relief organization, which found the world's richest one-percent owned 48 percent of global wealth in 2014, and it's expected to increase to more than 50 percent by 2016. View 17 Photos Carmakers are moving quickly to capitalize with new products, expanding their portfolios with low-volume speedsters like the 800-hp V12 Vulcan at Geneva, and plans to enter new segments, like Rolls-Royce's strategy to make an SUV. "Ultra-premium carmakers are looking to explore ways of growing their product offerings, and thus their bottom lines, in this most potentially profitable of segments," Urquhart wrote in a report on the Geneva show. In a nutshell, there are more choices for people with more money. It's a good time to have expensive taste. Other News & Notes 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata production launches It won't be long now. The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata arrives later this year, and it's officially in production. Mazda announced this week that the roadster began rolling off the assembly line at its Ujina factory in Hiroshima, Japan.

Recharge Wrap-up: Energica Ego drag race video, GM recycles Flint Crisis water bottles

Watch the electric Energica Ego streetbike face off against a race-spec Kawasaki and Lamborghini. First, the street-legal EV bike takes on the Pedercini Racing World Superbike Kawasaki ZX-10R. While they're about equally matched in 0-62 mph acceleration (at three seconds), the race-spec Kawasaki appears to finish first. It's a closer finish compared to the stock version of the bike. The Energica, however, leaves the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570 Super Trofeo far behind in the quarter mile. Watch the video above, and if you're hungry for more, watch the Energica Ego take on a Tesla and a Ferrari in an earlier video. GM is recycling 2 million water bottles from the crisis in Flint, Michigan to make coats for the homeless, engine covers, and air filters. The bottles are an addition to the automaker's ongoing Do Your Part recycling program. Of the 2 million bottles being transformed into other products, a number will become engine covers for the Chevrolet Equinox V6, while others will be turned into air filters for 10 GM manufacturing facilities. The most novel and noble use, though, will be to turn the recycled plastic fleece into coats for the homeless. The coats themselves – which are made by formerly homeless women through The Empowerment Plan – transform into sleeping bags. Read more from GM. An urban mobility organization called the Transit Center is calling for simpler bus routes to make riding more bearable. Using the hastag #StraighterIsGreater, the group has called upon citizens to share the most convoluted routes that lead to long, boring, inconvenient, and inefficient travel. The Transit Center believes smarter, simpler bus routes would improve commute times and help convince more people to use public transportation. There are certainly obstacles to streamlining routes while continuing to accommodate the most riders, though, but many people are sharing their favorite successful examples on Twitter. Read more from CityLab. Related Gallery Energica Ego: First Ride View 26 Photos News Source: YouTube: ih8u2be, GM, CityLab Green Motorsports GM Lamborghini Automakers Green Automakers Transportation Alternatives Motorcycle Electric Videos recharge wrapup

Mansory unveils 1,600-hp Carbonado GT under a carbon fiber panda body

European tuners show up at the Geneva Motor Show in spades to display their very expensive wares in hopes of finding a handful of buyers. The only way to set your company apart is to make cars that are increasingly extreme. Mansory is no different, and to keep up with competitors it has brought the 1,600-horsepower Carbonado GT to Switzerland.
The GT starts life as a Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, but practically every body panel is replaced with new carbon fiber pieces. It doesn't hide it either with the entire center portion of the car finished in clear-coated carbon. The biggest changes include fenders that are 1.6-inches wider at the front and 2.0-inches wider in the rear, and even the wheels have carbon inlays.
To make sure the Carbonado GT has the power to back up its hardcore looks, Mansory has fitted the Aventador's 6.5-liter V12 with two turbochargers to produce the aforementioned 1,600 hp and torque electronically limited to 855 pound-feet. The powertrain is upgraded to take the boost with pistons, connecting rods, rod bearings, crankshaft and cylinder head being replaced with high-performance units. Mansory claims the highly modified engine gets the GT to 62 miles per hour in 2.1 seconds and to a top speed of 230 mph.