Toyota has unveiled the 2007 Prius Touring Edition. The 2007 Prius gains standard driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags and front and rear side curtain airbags (previously optional). The new Prius Touring Edition provides “more spirited driving responses” due to its European-tuned suspension and 16-inch alloy wheels. The Prius Touring Edition is distinguished externally by the new wheels, a larger rear spoiler, High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps and integrated fog lamps.
The Concept S, as it is called in show-going form, will debut at next month’s Paris Motor Show and will be displayed in showrooms in 2008.
The VW Scirocco is likely to have a similar face to the new Eos, and incorporate the familiar VW grille.
A wide range of engines is being lined up, including the new 1.4-litre turbo TSI unit from the Golf GT. The GTI’s 197 hp 2.0-litre will also be available, as will a 170 hp TDI oil-burner. A range-topping model could use the Golf R32’s 3.2-litre V6 or a new 260bhp version of VW’s 2.0-litre turbocharged FSI engine.
Pricing expecting something in $20k realm.
The new Chrysler Sebring convertible was caught in Detroit. Expect the front and rear to look similar to the sedan. An expected feature for the new convertible will be a retractable hard top in lieu of the standard soft folding top. The convertible version should start production a couple months later than the sedan in late winter or spring of 2007.
Above spy photo of new BMW 135ti that will be the sports-hatch by packing an extra 50+ bhp over the current BMW 130 or VW Golf R32.
The new BMW get the same 3.0-liter turbocharged 3.0-litre turbo engine delivering no less than 306 bhp! The 135ti would debut in 2007 for the 2008 model year.
Lexus is introducing the fourth annual Lexus SC Pebble Beach Edition retractable hardtop convertible at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Lexus Fashion Preview on August 18.
The long-awaited supercar formally known as the Le Mans Quattro was caught on public roads in Germany. The concept featured a V10 “biturbo” engine with FSI to produce 610 bhp at 6,800 rpm. We’d guess the production version of this supercar will debut at the 2006 Paris Auto Show.
Hot snap shots from Brenda Priddy: KIA testing a new seven-seater SUV on public roads. The next-generation of the Sorento will be living large with increases for the requisite third row of seating.
The president of MG Motors North America/Europe, Duke Hale, was interviewed about Nanjing Automobile’s plans for the MG brand, both in the U.S. and in Europe.
Highlights of the interview include:
– the manufacturing/R&D facility in Oklahoma is definitely going ahead
– Nanjing will build three MG sedan models in China
– MG Motors will build a modified version of the MG TF roadster in the U.K., and a coupe variant (artists concept pictured) of the roadster in Oklahoma
– the MG TF roadster will (re-)launch first in the U.K., then Europe, in mid-2007, followed by a U.S. launch in mid-2008
– the MG TF coupe will debut in 2008
– watch for a MINI-like campaign to revive the MG brand image in the U.S.
– MG Motors plans 300-350 dealers in the U.S.
Brenda Priddy has posted spy shots of the 2008 Mazda 6. The new Mazda will be at once wider and longer than the current model. While this cobbled-together mule looks borrows heavily from the existing model, it is in fact longer.
The new Ford?s CD3-2 platform is expected to underpin the new Mazda6 (a derivation of the CD-3), meaning that it will share its skeletal bits with Mazda?s own Tribute. The platform will also be used underneath a number of 2012 models.
Chrysler today unveiled the 2007 Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Pacific Coast Highway Edition ? a special-edition PT Cruiser. The Pacific Coast Highway Edition will be available later this summer as a limited-production version of the 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The U.S. Retail Price (MSRP) for the new PT Street Cruiser Pacific Coast Highway Edition will be $20,735 for the manual transmission and $21,570 for the automatic version.
