Set to launch in Europe later this year, Infiniti is the luxury marque everyone is talking about in Geneva this week. Not only does the firm have on display its three core models, but it has also revealed a brand new sporting SUV to take on Porsche’s Cayenne and the Range Rover Sport. Called the FX50, the Japanese model’s striking looks and V8 performance are sure to appeal to fans of fast 4x4s.Power comes from a 385bhp 5.0-litre V8 petrol, which will be joined in 2010 by a new V6 diesel engine that has been co-developed with Renault. The key to the FX50’s pace and efficiency is its relatively light weight. Aluminium bodywork and a plastic tailgate help it to be the lightest model in its class.

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Sporty and luxurious saloons are traditionally the domain of German manufacturers, but now the Koreans are daring to encroach on their territory. The Hyundai Genesis V8 makes use of an all-new rear wheel drive chassis, a 4.6-litre V8 mated to a six-speed manual ‘box and an up-to-the-minute interior.Hyundai claim their sports saloon has 12 to 14 per cent better torsional rigidity than the BMW 5-series or Mercedes E-class, and with a well-balanced 53/47 front to rear weight distribution it promises to be a rewarding drive. Despite this it boasts more room in the cabin than a 7-series! Other innovations inside the Genesis include a heated and cooled driver’s seat, an ultraviolet reflective steering wheel that stays cool to the touch even in direct sunlight and a 17-speaker premium sound system found in only one other car on the road – the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

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Second applies in many ways to the new Lincoln MKT crossover concept being unveiled by Ford at the Detroit Auto Show. It's the second production-intent Lincoln to wear the new design language pioneered on last year's MKR concept after the MKS. It's the second vehicle based on the platform of the new Ford Flex crossover. It' s also the second Ford concept at this show powered by Ford's new EcoBoost 3.5L V-6 with turbocharging and direct injection paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Unlike the Explorer America concept, this one has been optimized for use with E85 allowing the power output to increase from 340hp to 415hp with 400lb-ft of torque.

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