Spy photographers caught the first full-fledged prototype for the next-generation BMW 3 Series being trailered between development labs in Munich, Germany. Based on the 7-year gap between the E46 BMW 3 Series (1999) and E90 3 Series (2006) sedans, we're likely looking at either the 2012 or 2013 BMW 3 Series sedan here.
Although 3 Series mules have been on the scene for a while, this prototype is believed to have all of the final styling hiding beneath the camouflage. As on the next-gen BMW 5 Series, the redesign appears to a be a conservative one. The front end appears broader, though, and the car seems to have a slightly wider track and a longer wheelbase and body.
Second photo is after the jump.
Continue reading Spy Photos: Next-Generation BMW 3 Series.
Categories: BMW,Luxury Cars,Sedans,Spy Photos
We've been told on various occasions that there will be no M version of the latest Z4. Something about poor economic conditions or something like that. But that hasn't completely stopped development on a hotter Z4.
This prototype was spotted lurking around the Nurburgring recently and it shows signs of a few mild tweaks that indicate BMW is working on some kind of enhanced sport package for the hard top convertible.
A deeper front air dam, reshaped rear fascia and a more aggressive set of wheels and tires are the most visible modifications. Whether there will be any upgrades under the hood is debatable. Seems like it would be easy to turn up the boost on the twin turbo six, but that would also make for a far more complicated project, exactly the kind of capital intensive project BMW was trying to avoid.
Categories: BMW,Convertibles,Future Vehicles,Spy Photos
Audi's biggest and most expensive sedan has been on the market for too long. Sure, it still looks as good, or better, than its competition, but it's a little behind in the technology and power department.
This prototype of the 2011 Audi A8 was caught testing at the Nurburgring recently. It's scheduled for a official debut in the next few months, but this test mule gives a pretty good idea of what it will look like.
Power will continue to come from a V8 in standard models and a W12 on the top-of-the-line version. An aluminum spaceframe chassis will form the structure and quattro all-wheel drive will remain standard as well.
Look for the official debut of the 2011 Audi A8 at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show in January.
Spy Video: 2011 Audi A8 on the Nurburgring
Categories: Audi,Detroit Auto Show,Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,Sedans,Spy Photos
Volkswagen released this official sketch of its upcoming midsize sedan. It will be built in the company's new Tennessee assembly plant and be slightly larger than the current Passat.
Like most sketches, this one makes the upcoming sedan look all sporty and stuff. But if history is any indication, the car that arrives next year won't be anything like this, save for the grille and maybe the shape of the C-pillar.
We'll see soon enough as this car may very well show up at the L.A. Auto Show in early December in not in Detroit a month later.
Categories: Detroit Auto Show,Future Vehicles,LA Auto Show,Sedans,Spy Photos,Volkswagen
We're just a week away from Chrysler's big strategy meeting where it will roll out its product plans for the next few years. Part of that plan will be a new Chrysler 300C and this test mule is the fist indication of some progress with the program.
There's not much to see here as most of this prototype wears current sheetmetal and SRT trim, but the camouflage over the front end likely means there's some sort of engine testing going on with a new front fascia.
Will the Hemi V8 remain? Probably, but the next-generation 300C will likely put more emphasis on smaller engines given the stricter fuel economy standards on the way, not to mention the fact that this 300 may underpin some Alfa Romeo and Lancia sedans in Europe.
We'll have more details next week, but it looks like Chrysler is still moving ahead, for now.
Categories: Chrysler,Luxury Cars,Sedans,Spy Photos
Not likely, especially when it comes to muscle cars like the Ford Mustang. Of all the vehicles in Ford's lineup, the iconic pony car seems like the last piece of property the company would let out of its sight.
So what are we to make of these latest spy pictures that show a Mustang prototype emerging from GM's proving grounds in Milford, MI? Collaboration? Theft? A GM employee with an odd sense of humor and bad taste in paint?
Categories: Auto Industry,Ford,General Motors,Spy Photos
Ford seems to be conducting consumer clinics to see how the European Mondeo registers with American consumers. Driving around Dearborn were a European Ford Mondeo, a Lexus ES, and a BMW 5-series all identically camouflaged to make them look visually the same.
Cover their rear-ends (as all three cars are equipped with velcro strips around the rear quarters to make the installation and removal of black covers easy), and only the most car-savvy would be able to tell one from the other. This lets Ford know how the consumers rate the Mondeo, free from the influences of the Lexus and BMW brand identities.
The recent arrival of the new Taurus would certainly seem to have muddied the waters on the prospect of a U.S.-spec Mondeo. But this photo suggests that Ford is actively gathering feedback on the Mondeo in the U.S.
Categories: Auto Industry,BMW,Ford,Future Vehicles,Lexus,Luxury Cars,Sedans,Spy Photos
It used to be that BMW sedans all pretty much looked alike -- the so-called sausage-cut-to-different-lengths school of design. Then things got real weird around BMW.
These new spy shots of a nearly naked BMW 5-series sedan reveal that the middle-size BMW might again become Sausage Size M. Take a look at the front end of this prototype. It's very much like the new 7-series, no? That similarity shouldn't come as a surprise, we suppose, since under the swirly skin, the new 5 is built from a version of the new 7-series platform.
Bringing nice perspective to the pictures is the black 5-series GT hatchback/sedan thingy. Note the subtly different nose. It too is built on the 7-series underpinnings, of course. That the overhanging character line running along the flank of this prototype looks a lot more like a 3-series attribute, we will conveniently forget since it doesn't fit the conceit of this post.
Anyway, the last time we caught a 5 series in testing, it was the big-daddy BMW M5.
We expect the new BMW 5-series to make its debut at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show.
Continue reading Spy Shots: 2011 BMW 5 Series Impersonating 7 Series.
Categories: BMW,Sedans,Spy Photos
This BMW M3 prototype recently showed up for some testing at the Nurburgring. It looks fairly standard for the most part, but there are a couple aerodynamic changes that suggest this M3 could be packing a little more power under the hood.
Are you digging that gigantic rear spoiler? Well, don't get too excited as its nothing more than a test piece to allow the engineers to easily adjust the available downforce at the rear. There's an extended air dam up front as well although it looks like it has a chance of showing up as a production piece.
Nothing else on the car suggests anything new, so this may be nothing more than a special aero package for those who like high speed cruising. We'll keep an eye on this prototype in the coming weeks to see if reveals any additional changes.
Categories: BMW,Coupes,Spy Photos
Yes, the Ford Explorer still exists. It's a little less popular these days though. Probably has something to do with all that useless off-road and towing ability. Today's SUV buyers want cush instead and lots of it.
The prototype you see here should deliver. It's an early test mule for the 2011 Ford Explorer and underneath all the camouflage is the same D4 platform used by the Ford Flex. That's would be of the unibody variety, so this Explorer should ride more like a car than a softly sprung truck.
Interior space should be improved as well which should make for more useful third-row seats. You know, sort of like the Flex. In fact, this Explorer will probably use the same engines as the Flex too.
So why bother making this Explorer if it's just going to be a rebodied Flex? Don't worry, Ford will have a very long explanation for it sometime next year when the official production version debuts. More pics after the break.
Ford Explorer America Concept
Continue reading Spy Photos: 2011 Ford Explorer Spotted in Dearborn.
Categories: Crossovers,Ford,Future Vehicles,SUVs,Spy Photos
At the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show, this car will be officially called the Toyota FT-86 Concept. But as you can see here, there's a production version already in development.
The chopped up Subaru body helps to conceal the final design, but we don't expect it to change much from the concept coupe. With rear-wheel drive, a low-mounted boxer engine and an extremely small overall size, the FT-86 promises serious performance for the entry-level buyer. More pics from the Nurburgring after the break.
2009 Tokyo Auto Show: Toyota FT-86 Concept
Continue reading Spy Photos: Toyota FT-86 On the Nurburgring.
Categories: Coupes,Future Vehicles,Sports Cars,Spy Photos,Tokyo Motor Show,Toyota
We're not really sure if Mercedes-Benz is gong to revert back to the S-Class coupe name just yet, but it seems logical given the switch already made on the E-Class. Regardless of what's it's called, this revised version of the current CL coupe will only get the most minor of exterior updates.
Changes like new headlight clusters, revised taillights and new electronics on the inside are probably the extent of the changes on this midcycle refresh. With that in mind, expect to see this car arrive with only minimal fanfare sometime early next year.
Categories: Coupes,Luxury Cars,Mercedes-Benz,Spy Photos
Redesigning a sedan that made its name on looks alone isn't easy. Mercedes-Benz looks as though it's taking a conservative approach with its next-generation CLS sedan. The prototype seen here testing in Germany retains the same signature roofline as the current model and appears to be roughly the same size as well.
Details like quad tailpipes and sizable wheels and tires indicate this is probably the AMG-tuned version. We expect to see output similar to the new E63 AMG, so figure around 520-horsepower or so. That ought to do it.
Categories: Future Vehicles,Luxury Cars,Mercedes-Benz,Sedans,Spy Photos
Back at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show, Mitsubishi showed a Lancer-based crossover SUV that was smaller than the production Outlander. It was called the cX. This is the production version of Mitsu's compact crossover.
It still doesn't have a real name but sources close to the project say it will go on sale in Japan soon. It's also a go for the European market later in 2010, and the production version will be at the Geneva Auto Show next spring. And the U.S.? We hear we're still a maybe.
The more extravagant show-car aspects of the original cX have been relaxed in favor of a more conventional package with strong Lancer overtones -- the corporate grille is impossible to miss. The size of this prototype appears to place the cX in the crosshairs of the Nissan Rogue.
The concept cX had a 1.8-liter turbodiesel four, rated at 134 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 207 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm, which we imagine the European production version will get. For Japan (and maybe the U.S.), though, either the global 2.0-liter or 2.4-liter gasoline inline-4 is more likely. The optional all-wheel-drive system should be similar to the Outlander's.
It still needs a proper name, though.
Another photo after the jump.
Continue reading Spy Photos: Mitsubishi cX Crossover.
Categories: Crossovers,Mitsubishi,SUVs,Spy Photos
When spy photos of the next-generation BMW M5 surfaced recently, they gave us an idea what the new super sedan would look like, but didn't give any indications what was under the hood. The current 5.0-liter V10 is a bit of an oddball within the lineup so something a little more mainstream was expected.
To us, the most logical powerplant was BMW's new turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that debuted in the X5M and X6M. It develops 555 horsepower and 500 pound feet of torque, more than enough to make the M5 a contender in the high-end super sedan category.
Sure enough, when we posed the question to BMW insiders they confirmed that the next M5 would have a turbocharged V8. They wouldn't give us any more detail than that, but it's safe to say that the 4.4-liter is the logical choice.
We dug for additional information on other potential Motorsport vehicles, but came up empty. Our sources squashed any hope for a Motorsport version of the 1 Series and when we suggested a high-powered variation of the upcoming 2011 3 Series GT they said that's not probably not happening either. Turns out sales of the M3 sedan have been miserable, so the company will most likely stick with coupes and convertibles only when it comes to Motorsport-tuned 3 Series models.
Categories: BMW,Crossovers,Future Vehicles,Sedans,Spy Photos
