2011 Porsche Boxster Spied on Nurburgring

Although it is just ten months since the debut of the current Boxster Facelift, the Stuttgart-based automaker looks like it is well into development of the new vehicle.

Spied on the 'Ring, the Boxster is still showing off a cloth roof, and we get another look at the rear LED light clusters. Beyond that, it looks evident that the front end is bulging and somewhat elongated, but not massively. All around the car, it is more of the same: same spoiler, same third brake light, same sidesills, same vents, etc. Instead, we expect there to be some solid differences to the mechanics, and possibly weight reductions, instead of a radical new design. After all, the old design just came out.

Nonetheless, look for the 2011 Porsche Boxster to have a refined front and rear fascia as well as a new rear light cluster. Something beyond mechanics will be needed to entice potential customers. Hopefully, Porsche will finish with the mule, and begin testing the production prototype. We'll bring you any new shots as soon as they appear.

2011 BMW 5 Series further details surface - Active Hybrid 5

A very reliable insider from BMW has shared some interesting titbits about the next 5 Series. Slated for a 2010 arrival the 5 will be sold as a 2010 model in countries like the US. With rivals fast catching up and some even overtaking the car, BMW has apparently planned a reply that will silence critics and regain it some lost market share, especially in regions like Germany where the Audi A6 and the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class have made serious sales inroads.

An important aspect of automotive development for the 5 is weight. Several methods were used to reduce the weight which is good for both performance and fuel consumption. Such measures include using lighter body construction materials and producing parts like water pumps, transmission cases and suspension mounts out of lighter substances.

Although quite related to the 5 Series GT, the sedan will only share a minimum number of body panels with its four-seater sibling. Among them are the door handles, the side indicator lights and the side mirrors.

BMW has deliberately designed the car to look more compact than it actually is in order to help it stand out in a segment populated by cars that look quite large. The short overhangs, the low roofline and the wide track will ensure a lot of this happens.

EfficientDynamics systems are now an everyday part of most BMWs sold in Europe so expect to see the next evolution of the fuel-saving measures. Still on fuel, the 2011 5 Series will be fitted with hybrid power for two models. The first will be the same mild ActiveHybrid system used in the 7 Series while the other will be one from the X6 ActiveHybrid. Instead of the V8 petrol though the car will use a 3.0d engine.

Mercedes SLS AMG Cabrio Caught during Hot Weather Testing

Looks like Mercedes-Benz is planning a whole range of models for its upcoming SLS AMG supercar. The petrol coupe has been somewhat detailed and a confirmed electric drive version is in the works. Now the convertible has been caught testing in the heat of the California desert.

Spies saw clues of a retractable roof despite the heavy camouflage and doors that look like they are conventional. That means the SLS convertible will lose its "gullwing" status if these remain as they are on the spied prototype. The normal door handles are further pointers to a standard ingress and egress system, as opposed to the coupe's low-mounted ones.

Mercedes-Benz has engineered the SLS to counter its perceived lack of grunt - 420kW/ 571hp which isn't exactly a mind-blowing supercar figure, by minimising weight gains. The coupe is said to accelerate from 0 - 100km/h in 3.8 seconds and top off at 315km/h. Convertibles are normally a little slower than their hard-top counterparts so the same is expected of this one.

The SLS should be making an appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show in just over a month.

Audi RS5 Latest Spy Photos

Audi's 2010 RS5 coupe has once again been spotted undergoing high performance testing on Germany's famous Nürburgring.

While the new photos don't reveal any additional details, the matte black paint scheme is simply out of this world. Up front, the RS5 is distinguished by larger, more aggressive air intakes and a revised mesh grille. Other styling tweaks include 15-spoke alloy wheels, a more pronounced rear spoiler, and a massive dual exhaust system.

As we have previously reported, the RS5 will come equipped with a powerful 4.2-liter V8 engine with at least 450hp (331kW). Boasting quattro AWD and a standard six-speed manual transmission (a seven-speed R Tronic gearbox will be optional), the RS5 is expected to accelerate from 0-100km/h in less than 5 seconds. Audi will likely limit the top speed to 250km/h (155mph), but aftermarket tuners will surely fix that.

Look for the 2010 Audi RS5 to be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

2011 Porsche Cayenne most revealing spy photos yet

The Porsche 911 ultimately defined the Porsche look. But these days it seems the Panamera is the one taking this design language forward. Seen here are the latest and clearest spy pictures of the upcoming 2011 Cayenne yet.

The only parts that are fully covered are the front and rear ends but happily the protruding headlights are fully-Panamera compliant. The rear lights are new and so is the third window, taped up as it is. While the Cayenne is still an SUV it looks more compact now perhaps as a response to the general auto industry trend of sizing down.



Porsche has been testing the vehicle over many different parts and surfaces, even going as far as putting it on the Nürburgring. After all, it still is a Porsche and as such is expected to handle a certain way. Plans are to make it lighter and more fuel efficient. The current model features a turbo diesel motor as one of its engines so that idea should carry into the next model. A Cayenne hybrid version is in the cards too.

Production is scheduled to begin in 2010 with the first customer deliveries to take place later in the year. A production version is sure to be exhibited during one of the major international shows, including Los Angeles.

Audi A8 prototype mocks Mitsubishi jet-fighter front grill

Could this be a new Audi A8?

We should not assume anything here (because you know what that does) but it does seem like this is a short-wheelbase A8 under an A6 shell carrying an upside-down Mitsubishi badge and jet-fighter front grill.

This scoop comes to us courtesy of a VW Vortex forum and Autoblog, and the photos show what is definitely not a Mitsubishi driving along the highway in the Southwest of the United States. The road warrior (Autoblog reader Ryan on a cross-country trip) who snapped the pictures believed it to be a new A6 undergoing testing, after having spotted some camouflaged VW Routan's earlier in the trip. But the details (and Audi's product time-line) seem to point to a new A8 iteration.

A next-generation A8 was expected to debut at the Frankfurt motor show this September, although, there seem to be no indications from Audi that that will occur. But the new A8 is expected to make its debut in the market sometime in the latter part of 2010.

Looking at the design features of the model pictured here, the furrowed-brow headlights, linebacker shoulder lines, bonnet ridges and the long, swooping C-pillar all point to a flagship Audi sedan.

By the way, is Audi allowed to use a Mitsubishi badge as a cover for a prototype?

Just asking.

BMW Concept Vision Z Rendered

Hardly a day has gone by since pictures of the BMW EfficientDynamics Vision / Vision Z were released into the Internet. Yet well-regarded automotive artist Jon Sibal has created a full rendering of the car based on the covered images. It is a rushed job as you can probably tell, something the artist fully admits.

Using the trusted Photoshop digital tool Sibal went underneath the car's skin and imagined what details could be hidden there. The front end features an upturned kidney grille, a sharp headlight area, the traditional BMW "Hoffmeister kink" on the C-pillar (but with a new shape surround). The rims did not impress the artist and so he replaced them with something that was better suited to his tastes. As the concept is missing side mirrors, so is the rendering.

Official words from BMW indicate that the concept will redefine the sports car segment with its innovative technologies in many auto spheres. Should we hold our collective breaths?

Spied BMW concept is not the Z Vision Concept car slated for Frankfurt

iMotormag is reporting that this is, in fact, not the Z Vision Concept rumored to be headed to the Frankfurt motor show, as it was previously believed to be. A call put in to BMW had the Bavarian automaker deny that.

BMW claims this is a five year old design study car that is being moved from their design studio in Germany to be put into storage somewhere.

Our colleagues at iMotormag speculate that this concept may be a precursor to a possible, future BMW 3-Series GT. Or maybe not.

BMW will be premiering a new concept car dubbed EfficientDynamics Vision at the Frankfurt show next month alongside its new 5-series GT and the X1 compact SUV. It remains to be seen what that is.

BMW 5 Series: New spy shots from France!

Here are some spy shots of the upcoming BMW 5 Series in France, near St Remy en Provence. It was a convoy of 5 cars, both sedan and wagon. Have a look!

BMW 3 Series Coupe and Convertible Facelift Spy Photos

Just over a year ago BMW unveiled the facelifted 3 Series sedan. The time will soon come for the Coupe and the Convertible to show their faces in full too. But for now we must satisfy our curiosity with these spy pictures of both models doing final testing before their public debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Modifications include a new front bumper, headlamps, LED rear lights and a new rear bumper. Previous spy pictures showed only the front bumper in disguise but these snapped shots show the true changes. Both models will exhibit these changes when unveiled in September.



Since BMW has a habit of escorting a new product launch or update with a new engine or an upgraded one, our curiosity is running at full speed trying to figure out which new powerplant will accompany these cars. That information might leak out ahead of the show. If not then the wait will be a long one.