Another BMW Z4 with an M Package was spotted by our spies. Previous shots revealed a red model which is now switched with this grey one. It seems most of the kit is concentrated on the front and rear bumpers where the black and white camouflage is pasted. Since BMW is not producing a high-performance Z4 M for the current model the kit is just about as close as fans will get to that halo car. Unfortunately even accompanying engine upgrades are not expected, although the new 326hp, 450Nm M Sport power pack for the 135i and 335i cannot be discounted.
Instead the suspension will be tweaked slightly, larger wheels fitted and M badges posted in key areas, inside and out. The package should be offered across the Z4 range.
More spy pictures of the 2011 Audi A8 have appeared as it went around the Nürburgring. Audi is giving it a workout that should make it stand out against competitors in terms of handling. The black and white camouflage is still quite heavy so not much can be seen.
The big news is kept under the bonnet where a new range of powerplants will be found. Downsizing is quite a popular practice across the motor industry and Audi has been at the edge of it all. Therefore, a new compact 2.0-litre TDI is rumoured to be the entry-level diesel for the next A8. Speculation is that it will use twin-turbo technology to churn out over 147kW (200hp) and 400Nm of torque.
There will be other options of course such as V6s and V8s, both petrol and diesel. The V10 currently in the S8 is to be deleted in favour of a smaller V8 packing over 300kW (408hp). Another new engine for the A8 will be based on the same supercharged 3.0-liter V6 found in the 245kW (333hp) S4/ S5. However, it will have twin-turbos producing even more power. At the very top end we should see a new powerful 6.5-litre V12 doing well over 368kW (500hp).
While over 90% of the A8s sold will feature quattro AWD, the rest will be driven through the front wheels. The range-topping Audi will also come with an upgraded MMI system, night vision technology and road sign-recognition abilities.
The new A8 will debut at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and go on sale sometime during the year. In the US it will be sold as a 2011 model.
It was just a matter of time until the 2011 BMW 5 Series will begin to reveal itself even more. Latest spy photos published by MotorAuthority are giving away some design details unseen before.
For the first time, the front fascia is almost fully unveiled, with the kidney grille and headlights showing us the final details. As we expected, the corona rings headlights are very close to the ones seen in the 5 Series GT model. The larger than usual kidney grille seen in the new 7 and 5GT has been toned down, but at the same time, it is wider than the current E60 model.
At the rear end, the bumper has been revealed, but the headlights still keep some mystery around them. The test mule seems to feature production ready wheels giving the car the aggressive look we’ve all been waiting for.
Some visible features include the two massive tailpipes, a rear diffuser, rear LED lights and low profile tyres. A brief sneak peak through the windows reveals two front sports seats similar to those of the RS 6.
Since Audi postponed a number of their new product launches, thanks to the global recession, the RS 5 has had to bide its time and clock up extra test miles. Hopefully that makes it an even sharper road hog than originally planned.
Under the bonnet lurks a rumoured 330kW (449hp) of power from a 4.2-litre V8 engine. It would be placed under the care of quattro AWD and a standard 6-speed manual or a 7-speed R Tronic. As with recent versions of quattro most torque should head rearwards under certain driving conditions.
The RS 5 will debut at an international motor show within the next few months, with first sales scheduled for July 2010.
Spies have caught the first images of the Audi A1 prototype being taken around the block. BMW-style black & white psychedelic camo cannot do enough to hide the Audi front grille. Just from these pictures it appears the car will have a longer wheelbase than its chief rivals. An Audi executive was recently quoted as saying several body variants were possible. Clearly this is a 3-door but a 5-door, a Cabriolet and a possible coupe/ roadster can be expected. Even an SUV cannot be discounted.
Engines would include a 1.8-litre TSI, some diesel units as well as hybrid or full-on electric. Drive would be placed mainly on the front wheels but a possible S1 might take a leaf from bigger S cars and use quattro AWD.
Audi is not yet at a stage where customers in the US are prepared to part with premium cash for an ultra-compact model. Therefore the A1 will not be launched for this market, not until such time as public attitudes at least improve.
Whether the A1 eventually looks more like the Metroproject Concept remains to be seen.
If our sources are correct, we’re weeks away from the unveiling of the first official photos of 2011 BMW 5 Series. In the mean time, 5 Series test mules continue testing across Europe.
The photos shown below were spotted in Germany and Austria, including some shots from the car doing the ‘Ring track. If most of the spy photos we’ve seen where giving us the 5er in a dark silver color, these latest ones show us the new 5 in the Milano Beige color.
A WCF reader has taken pictures of a BMW 1 Series Coupe in Munich. However, this is no ordinary 1er. According to our "spy" it features a carbon fibre roof and 19-inch wheels shod with 265/35 R19 Michelin Pilot Sport tyres. More interesting are the wide rear wheel arches which suggest an xDrive-equipped 1 Coupe could be undergoing testing. The 1 has not had AWD before so if it happens it would be a first.
What piqued our curiosity even more is the fact that these images were snapped on a road directly from BMW's M-GmbH. Munich has repeatedly stated that a 1 Series-based M car was out of the question. But two years ago a performance-bred 1 Series Coupe tii Concept car did the international motor show circuit. It featured carbon fibre materials and other lightweight construction substances.
The current ranger-topper is the RWD 135i Coupe with the BMW Performance Power Kit producing 240kW (326hp) and up to 450Nm of torque.
A new set of photos featuring the next-generation Mercedes-Benz CLS surfaced this week. The photos show a car with less padding, giving us some insight into its design.
The prototype featured in the pictures appears to have a shorter trunk that smoothly integrates with the roofline. Windows appear to be bigger, and side mirrors are squared off. Headlights on the new model may be a bit more conventionally shaped, not quite rising as much towards the wheel-wells.
Taillights also take a new shape, stretching upwards instead of downwards. LEDs also appear to be present.
Previously spied were the vehicle's rectangular tailpipes and the sunroof. Both items are still seen in the new photos.
The new 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS should be launched sometime next year. A BlueHybrid version of the "2+2" is expected, as well as petrol and diesel models ranging up to the 530+ horsepower AMG unit.
An Audi A8 prototype has been spied testing again.
The pics do not reveal anything new and what to expect from the next-generation of Audi's flagship sedan is based mostly on speculation.
But that the new A8 will be fitted with Audi's standard array of large engines is an easy guess to make. Those include the 3.0 liter TDI and the 4.2 liter V8 petrol/gasoline. Despite reports of the S8 being cancelled in America, perhaps and S8 will come with a variant of Audi's 5.0 liter V10 FSI engine as seen in the R8.
Questions arising, though, as to what new technology Audi will introduce into the A8 to keep it competitive, newsworthy and eco-friendly. Mercedes has an S-Class hybrid, as does BMW with the 7-Series, but there's been no word yet about any possible hybrid A8.
Likely to be featured is a second-generation of Audi's Aluminum Space Frame (ASF II) technology which makes the A8 standout in terms of engineering accomplishment. The aluminum frame keeps the A8 light and agile, a key distinction in this notoriously heavyweight class.
The next-generation Audi A8 will be making its debut sometime next year - maybe at the Geneva auto salon, or perhaps later at the Paris show in September. Audi will want to make sure that its flagship sedan will get the appropriate amount of fanfare for what is one of the most important launches for the German premium brand.
CAR magazine UK has reported on its candid conversation with Audi executives regarding the A1. According to CAR, the A1 will not only come in hatchback form but also as cabriolet and estate models potentially including quattro AWD.
"We will start with the three-door version with several different engine variants," Schwarzenbauer told CAR. "Will we do further models? Look at what we do with the A3 range - we could something similar with the A1."
That means probably anything from a 1.2-litre up to 1.8-litre turbo units, both petrol and diesel. Because the A1 will be a direct rival to the MINI, which is busy testing an electric model (MINI e), it may be safe to assume that alternative power sources are also on the cards here. We'd definitely be up for a performance S1 as well. And since MINI has all sorts of variations, including SUVs, two-seat Coupes and Roadsters coming up, expect the A1 to follow suit with similar offerings and even a possible Q1 SUV.
In terms of basic looks Audi has already given clues through the Metroproject Concept car (pictured here). The A1 is very important to Ingolstadt as it will add greater volumes and spur the company on with its plans to overtake BMW as the world's largest premium car manufacturer by 2015.
Unfortunately the A1 does not quite feature in the Audi's US plans as yet. Executives have said as much on a number of occasions.
These are the latest spy photos of Audi's hotly-anticipated RS5 Coupe that is expected to celebrate its world premiere at the next Geneva Salon in March of 2010. Compared to the S5 upon which it is based, the flat-black prototype you see pictured here is distinguished by a new front bumper with larger and more pronounced side air inlets, the honeycomb grille and the single-outlet tailpipes that replace the S5's two smaller outlets on each side of the rear bumper.
Furthermore, the black panels on the front and rear fenders of the test car clearly indicate that the RS5 will get a wider body with flared arches harking back to the original Quattro coupe as well as to the current RS6 saloon and Avant models.
The spy photos also suggest that the RS5 may get a deployable rear spoiler located at the tip of the boot.ers like the Mercedes-Benz CL (tba S-Class Coupe) and the Aston Martin DBS.
Porsche's four-door Panamera has only just started selling in countries like Germany and the UK but already there's talk of a topless Cabriolet. Rumours say the convertible will have two instead of four doors and cost about €11,000 (US$16,000) more than the sedan.
"We have a broad range of 14 derivatives of the 911 that are very successful," development chief Wolfgang Duerheimer told Automobilwoche. "So it stands to reason we should diversify the lineup for the Panamera as well."
New Porsche owners Volkswagen AG are keen to see the sports car maker increase its model range and thereby increasing its sales footprint. In addition, such an expensive platform as the Panamera's would have to pay for itself at some stage and spreading it around the group including to brands like Bentley and Audi would be good business.
While we are rolling on the speculative road why not bring up the previous rumour of a possible Panamera hard top Coupe? Logically it makes sense to build this variant as a match for a Cabriolet. It would also allow Porsche entry into the premium luxury GT segment occupied by current lead
It is not often that we get to tell you about a car capable of reaching over 200 km/h, while using less than 2 liters of fuel per 100 km. Yesterday, BMW introduced such a concept vehicle at the company's museum in Munich. With angles like a stealth bomber, the BMW Simple concept is a three-wheeler that measures just 110 centimeters wide. It is meant to combine the protective qualities of an automobile, with the speed and maneuverability of a motorcycle.
The name "Simple" is meant as a first-letter mnemonic, standing for, "A sustainable and innovative mobility product for low energy consumption." It is both lightweight and aerodynamic, helping it to be ultra-efficient. The 450 kilogram vehicle produces 50 grams of CO2 per 100 km.
Built as a solution to urban traffic jams, the car has a shorter length than the MINI Cooper. Despite this, height was kept about level with the BMW 5er to provide a decent level of comfort and headroom.
Performance is aided by an automatic tilting technology, where one side of the car is lifted when going into a corner. The vehicle's hydraulics keep the car stable whether going slow, or if the driver attempts to drift. Despite the respectable top speed, acceleration is much slower than many motorcycles. Utilizing a 48 horsepower engine, the BMW Simple travels from 0 to 100 km/h in about ten seconds.
Also introduced was the BMW Clever concept, or "Compact Low Emission Vehicle for Urban Transport," first seen in 2006. The seven-year old project is just 3 meters long by 1 meter wide by 1.4 meters tall, and weighs less than 400 kg. It has enough room for two people inside its aluminum space frame.
With a 230 cc CNG engine, the Clever gets to 60 km/h in about seven seconds. It has a top speed of 100 km/h, and a range of 200 km. The low price of compressed natural gas translates to a cost of roughly one euro per 100 km, when carrying two people.
The Clever is surprisingly safe as well, using a Formula One-inspired crash absorbtion system. Special airbags and seatbelts means this car actually complies with Euro NCAP crash testing standards, even in a 56 km/h head-on collision.
Both vehicles are on display now at the BMW Museum in Munich.
The Mercedes-Benz B-Class (codename W245) has been in production since 2005 and it experienced a facelift in 2008. Coming soon in 2011 an all-new model hits the streets. These spy pictures reveal a longer vehicle than the current one as well as a roofline that doesn't slope to the rear. Instead it's the window line which flows lower as it approaches the front end.
Because it replaces both the current A and B-Class, Mercedes-Benz is said to be planning a number of variants including a coupe cabriolet, a sporty hatch (subject of these photos) and a five-door coupe. Only the hatch has been confirmed though.
Power sources will include turbo petrols and diesels, while hybrid and fuel cell models will be added to the line-up. At the moment the most potent is the 2.0-litre powered B200 Turbo worth 145kW (197hp) and 280Nm of torque.
Rumours indicate for the first time the B-Class will also be available to US consumers.
The BlueZero concept which appeared in near production form in Detroit earlier this year is widely believed to foreshadow the overall design of the 2012 B-Class.
Partly shot at the Nurburgring the clip takes us through just under four minutes of footage. At 00:59 you'll seen a Nissan GT-R seemingly chasing the M5. What a future battle that will be for motoring media. At several points in the video, particularly at 3:17, the turbos can be heard spooling up and pitching quite high.
BMW begins selling the new 5 Series globally in 2010 and the M5 should follow around a year later. It is thought that BMW's 4.4-litre twin turbo machine will also do duty for the bahnstomer but instead of 300kW (408hp) or 408kW (555hp) it will produce something close to 430kW (585hp).
Speculation is that an 8-speed sequential transmission will send all power to the rear wheels with the assistance of an electronic differential. To improve driving dynamics and fuel efficiency, weight will be kept as low as possible using sophisticated light body construction materials.
Spy photographers have been working overtime again and today, we have a new set of BMW 5 Series spy shots. Due to launch at Geneva Motor Show in March 2010, the next generation 5 Series is in the final testing stage.
By entering the Final Evaluation Phase, the new 5 Series is going through a variety of testing scenarios to correct any issues that might arise in real life driving. The test mule still sports the funky BMW camouflage, but if our sources are correct, the first official photos will hit our inbox sometimes before year-end.
2011 BMW 5 Series grows a few inches both in length and width, but one of BMW’s goals was to keep the car at the current weight levels. To achieve this, extensive aluminum in the exterior panels have been used. The next 5 Series also uses a new all-steel chassis with some special techniques to process the steel tubes.
While the front-end is not much of a secret anymore – corona ring white LEDs, larger grille and the aggressive bumper leaked earlier this year – the rear-end remains a mystery. None of the photoshops we’ve seen so far seem to come close to what the taillights design will look like and the design lines on the rear-bumper or trunk are still hidden underneath the tape.
The interior design shares some design elements with the 7 Series models, from the steering wheel with multi-control buttons to the beautiful dashboard and Black Panel tachometers. High quality materials are giving the new 5 Series interior a more luxurious feel and look.
Turbocharged engines will be the core of the new 5 Series line-up. The new 4.4L twin-turbo V8 from the X6 and new 550i GT will power the high-end 5er, but a variety of other turbo engines will be available as well, including diesel powerplants. A hybrid version is rumored to be in works as well, but it will be revealed at a much later date.
Not many 5 Series test mules have been spotted on U.S. soil so far, but moving into the winter, we expect to see some of them moving into the Californian desert.
No, your eyes aren't deceiving you. Mercedes hoisted their new supercar to the roof terrace of the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. Resting 42 meters (137.8') above ground, the car is part of a new exhibit dedicated to the awe-inspiring SLS AMG.
According to the Museum's Managing Director, Michael Bock, "This super sports car stands for excitement, passion and high-tech. As museum for the past, present and future of the automobile, we provide an ideal setting for the exclusive presentation of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG."
Despite appearances, Mercedes didn't modify the COMAND system to allow the gullwing doors to act as real wings. Instead, they hired a 120-ton hydraulic crane to do the heavy lifting.
As we have previously reported, the SLS AMG features a 6.3-liter V8 engine with 420 kW (571 hp) and 650 Nm of torque. Backed up by a seven-speed double clutch transmission, the V8 enables the car to rocket from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 317 km/h (197 mph).
This tidbit of information comes to us care of Car Magazine's print edition, which Jalopnik.com has reported on online.
BMW will be building a competitor to the Audi A1 and the Mercedes A-Class. The so-called '0-Series', apparently referred to internally as the UKL1 (Untere Kompactklasse, or sub-compact) over at BMW, will be based on the third-generation MINI platform and, hence, be BMW's first front-wheel drive model.
What's striking about this news is that BMW has always been a strict rear-wheel drive automaker, a trademark that distinguishes it from its fellow premium brand competitors. BMW will be going back on a promise never to make a front-drive model. The sub-compact range is scheduled for a market release in 2013.
According to the report, the UKL1/0-series will be offered as both a 3-door and 5-door hatch, with a two-seat roadster variant also in the works. BMW will also develop a couple of brand new 3 and 4-cylinder engines to power the new range.
The 0-series will likely be built at the same plant in Oxford in the U.K. where MINI models are assembled.
Now, does calling it the 0-Series make sense or does it just seem ridiculous? Hard to say.
The latest spy shots of the S-Class Coupe, previously known as the CL, are here.
What's new?
LED daytime running lights, and new front and rear bumpers.
Check out the related links for a few more details which we've previously reported on but that's pretty much it for this facelift.
Engines expected in the S-Class Coupe will be the same as featured in the sedan variant. A 5.5 liter V8 and 3.0 liter diesel will be available, the diesel also likely to be offered with BlueEfficiency technology for improved fuel economy.That drivetrain is made up of a 3.5 liter V6 gasoline engine with 279 hp coupled to a 20 hp electric motor providing a total of 385 Nm of torque. Fuel economy on the S400 BlueHybrid sedan is a healthy 7.9 liters/100 km, though, some critics contend you'd be better off with the 3.0 liter diesel.
The next-generation Mercedes-Benz CLS AMG has been spied testing out in the open. While the normal CLS has been caught a number of times, this is the first time that we see the high-performance AMG model strutting its stuff in public. Its side mirror indicators have the same design style as the E-Class sedan and the four oval tailpipes are an obvious indication regardless of the heavy camouflage.
The current CLS 63 AMG shares its engine with the previous-generation E 63 AMG and both make 378kW (514hp). If the same arrangement sticks then expect to see a 6.3-litre V8 installed and making 386kW (525hp). Driving the rear wheels should be Merc's Speedshift MCT 7-speed gearbox. Just like the E 63 AMG standard wheels should be 18-inches with the 19-inch size listed on the options menu.
Sales of the CLS 63 AMG should begin in 2011. Segment rivals will include the new Porsche Panamera Turbo and the high-performance version of Aston Martin's new Rapide. Audi will also enter this four-door coupe segment with the A7.
Another BMW Z4 with an M Package was spotted by our spies. Previous shots revealed a red model which is now switched with this grey one. It seems most of the kit is concentrated on the front and rear bumpers where the black and white camouflage is pasted. Since BMW is not producing a high-performance Z4 M for the current model the kit is just about as close as fans will get to that halo car. Unfortunately even accompanying engine upgrades are not expected, although the new 326hp, 450Nm M Sport power pack for the 135i and 335i cannot be discounted.
