Maserati GranCabrio Sport

      When the Maserati GranTurismo made its debut at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, it came equipped with a 400-horsepower, 4.2-liter V8 made by Ferrari. A year later, Maserati shoehorned a larger 4.7-liter unit under the GT's hood, boasting 434 horsepower. But when the GranCabrio – known as the GranTurismo Convertible in the United States – hit the market, the Modense automaker opted to skip the smaller engine and go straight for the 4.7 from the S. Now the Trident marque is doing one better with the new GranCabrio Sport.

Due to be unveiled in Geneva, the top-spec four-seat convertible packs an upgraded version of the 4.7-liter V8. 450 horsepower are driven through the same ZF six-speed auto as the standard model, but re-calibrated with the MC Auto Shift programming for quicker response. The Skyhood active suspension has also been optimized, along with the upgraded brakes, and as you can see from the images in the gallery below, the automaker has also applied a number of sporty touches to the styling as well.

Brabus 700 Biturbo

Brabus has taken the 6.2-liter SLS AMG V8 and attached a pair of turbochargers to the already-excellent mill. Output has gone from 563 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, up to 700-hp and 626 lb-ft of torque. Brabus has also gone ahead and changed the intake and exhaust manifolds, engine mapping and exhaust system on the Mercedes-Benz flagship.

In fact, Brabus has gotten down to the nitty-gritty with its 700 Biturbo at the Geneva Motor Show. Traditionally, twin-turbocharged engines have a pair of turbos both spinning in the same direction. Brabus has fitted a right-turning and left-turning exhaust to the respective sides of the engine, and this allows for optimal air flow into the engine.

All of this work has produced a luxurious grand tourer that hits 0-62 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds, and can run on to top speed of 213 mph. Brabus has managed to do all of this without slapping on eye-searing paint an ill-advised body kit. 

Fiat surprises with hot little 500 Coupe by Zagato

     Most of the time we come to major auto shows knowing exactly what to expect. But once in a while an automaker throws us a curveball we weren't anticipating. Like Fiat did, for example, with this Zagato-bodied 500.

Unfortunately just a concept (for the time being anyway), the 500 Coupé Zagato is actually a throwback to a similar coachbuilding joint-effort from the 1950s. The sleeker bodywork features Zagato's trademark double-bubble roof and almond-shaped side glass, lacquered in special three-layer Pop Yellow paintjob.

Fiat also used the occasion to demonstrate a 105-horsepower version of its TwinAir two-cylinder turbo engine

Saab PhoeniX Concept previews a new Swedish shape

       It's been about one year since Saab and General Motors parted ways, and the automaker is hellbent on showing the world what it's capable of creating on its own means. In addition to an Independence Edition of the 9-3 Convertible, Saab is showing off a major concept for the brand at this year's Geneva show – a design that will preview the future face of the automaker, penned by famed designer Jason Castriota. In case you haven't been paying attention, Castriota has created such pretty creations as the Ferrari P4/5 by Pininfarina and Bertone Mantide.

Castriota's latest creation, the Saab PhoeniX, is a sleek hatchback concept that uses the automaker's new 'aeromotional' design language. Saab describes this as "a visual evocation of the aerodynamic design principles and passion for innovation that inspired the creators of Saab's first car, the iconic Ursaab." Long story short – absolute gorgeousness. The concept uses butterfly doors that reveal a two-plus-two seating arrangement, and the modern interpretation of the Saab teardrop shape is seriously attractive.

Under the shapely metal is Saab's 200-horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four mated to the automaker's XWD all-wheel-drive system. Inside, the PhoeniX uses the new Saab IQon infotainment platform that uses the Google Android operating system. The car itself may be totally conceptual, but we'll see IQon make its way into Saab products in the coming years (stay tuned for more details).