Porsche’s new baby SUV, little brother for the Cayenne, has been spied testing at the Nurburgring in Germany.
Based on Audi’s Q5 platform, the Cayenne mini SUV is a new model in Porsche’s range. The new smaller Cayenne’s version will be rival of BMW’s X3 and Land Rover’s Freelander.
As you can see a Cayenne baby as a disguise, the new model is shorter and narrower. It will feature four-wheel drive and will share engines with the Q5, including a 3.2-litre V6 petrol and even the possibilty of diesel power for the first time too.
The new model is expected to go on sale next year with a price tag of around $80,000.
The new Renault Laguna Coupe was spied on cameraphone. As you see it will be similar to the concept unveiled at the last Frankfurt Motor Show. The lights and position of the number plates have changed. A 205bhp four-cylinder turbo, 3.5-liter 230bhp V6 petrol, 185bhp four-cylinder diesel and 230bhp 3.0 V6 oil-burner will be offered. Four-wheel steering will appear, and the interior will have a similar blend of comfort and sportiness as the Laguna GT hatch. The Renault Laguna coupe goes on market before the end of the year, price started from $34,000.
Mercedes Gullwing test mule was caught in Germany at the Nurburgring.
The proportions of this prototype would appear to put to rest any of the McLaren F2 mid-engine rumours that had been swirling around Mercedes next supercar effort.
The test mule uses some Dodge Viper body panels at the rear, but any similarities end there, as this Gullwing car mule has a longer wheelbase which closely matches that of the SLR, and it clearly displays a long hood and cab-rearward stance.
Despite previous reports of the Gullwing car being a smaller SLR, based on the R230 SL class platform, it now seems unlikely judging by the overall dimensions of this test mule. As a result, some uncertainty as to the true nature of this vehicle is starting to circulate.
Spy shooters have caught undisguised test mule of the Cadillac XLR out testing.
As these snaps of the undisguised car show, the nose is completely undisguised, revealing a new grille and restyled fog lamps. In addition, this prototype also gets chrome vents on the fenders.
Expect to see the new Cadillac XLR in dealerships in 2009.
The new Citroen supermini-MPV was spied in France!
The new Citroen’s MPV, called Monospace, will be based on the same platform as the all-new C3 hatchback. The Monospace takes its styling cues from the C4 Picasso. The front end will feature large headlights, chunky bumpers and the trademark double-chevron grille, while at the rear the screen opens independently of the tailgate. A central instrument binnacle will dominate the dashboard, and expect interiors to feel bright and airy, thanks to the panoramic windscreen and clever use of numerous cabin lights.
Engines are shared with Peugeot’s 207, and the range comprises 1.6-liter normally aspirated and turbocharged petrol units, plus punchy HDi diesels. These are mated to manual, automatic or clutch less SensoDrive transmissions.
The C3 supermini-MPV will debut next year, and take on the Renault Modus, Opel Meriva and Nissan Note when it goes on sale in 2010.
Look at the spy-shots of the long awaited Cadillac CTS estate, code-named GMX 206.
GM has revealed production of the Cadillac CTS Wagon is to begin in Spring 2009.
The Cadillac CTS Wagon will attempt to fill the gap in Cadillac’s lineup which will be left by the SRX when it is discontinued in the first half of 2009.
Despite the front and rear disguise it is clear the forthcoming CTS will share many features with the SRX but differences such as the stretched air vents above the front wheel arches and the spacious interior and lower profile give good indicators of the direction Cadillac are looking to move in.
The new BMW Z4 has been caught in camouflage and filmed testing in Nurburgring.
The BMW Z4 is getting a folding metal roof for the first time and will grow in both size and price.
The new BMW Z4 is expected to arrive in 2010 and is likely to have styling similar to that of the CS concept, with a wider grille and larger intakes at the front and LED lights at the back.
There will be both twin-turbo and normally-aspirated straight six engines, as well as a base four-cylinder unit, and the flagship M-car will get a brand new turbo six with around 350bhp.
Meet the world’s first car that parks itself! Volkswagen’s advanced Park Assist Vision lets drivers select an available space using their sat-nav screen. They then simply slot the automatic gear selector into Park. They can choose whether to stay in the car and watch as the system goes to work, or get out and walk away!
All they have to do is point the remote-control keyfob at the vehicle, and it will reverse-park into a space, cut the engine off and activate the door locks automatically.
The self-parking Passat uses twin cameras in the door mirrors to gauge the dimensions of the space. By sending commands to the steering, using the electronic parking brake, gearbox and engine idle, the car then drives itself slowly into the gap.
The driver can also interrupt the man oeuvre at any time using the remote control. VW’s existing Park Assist system already helps drivers of Tourans, Tiguans and Passats with parallel parking, but the new set-up works in an altogether different way, by allowing perpendicular spaces to be negotiated, too. VW claims these are often too narrow for drivers to squeeze into, and when they do they then can’t get out of the vehicle without damaging its doors against other cars or walls.
The VW says the system won’t reach production before 2010.
Ford has released a new images of its 2009 Kuga Crossover that was unveiled earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show. The Kuga is a good choice if you think about compact crossovers in the U.S. market.
In Europe, the Ford Focus (Euro-model) based Kuga will go on sale this summer where it will be initially available with a 136Hp 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine that’s good enough to offer an average fuel consumption of 6.3 lt / 100 km or 37.3 MPG to the front-wheel-drive version and 6.4 lt / 100 km or 36.7 MPG to the all-wheel-drive variant.
The sedan version of the Audi RS6 has been caught on testing in Germany. The shots suggest that Audi is preparing a little butt-lift for the entire A6 range to fall in line with its new posterior styling direction, but is using the RS6 to showcase it first.The front fascia in unchanged from the avant model but you can see the rear styling design that of the A4. Engine will come from the Avant’s V10 which will give impressive performance figures of 0-100km/h in 4.6 secons.
