Rendering by Huckfeldt
According to BMW, their GT series represent a “Natural Progressions” with the GT 6 being a progression of a premium sports Coupe. GT 6 will be the first BMW to have a full hatchback and unique passenger entry - excluding the Z concepts, X models or GT. The BMW GT 6 will get rear hinged opening doors like the Mazda RX-8 and a left/right split interior for four, think about the MINI Clubman or Rolls-Royce.
German car news outlet Automobilwoche claims Audi has confirmed a 2010 release for the new Audi A8. This validates rumors about the A8 that have been around for a while.
An Audi spokesman told the Automobilwoche, "Our new flagship will come next year."
WCF previously reported that the Audi A8 will be released with two diesel and two petrol engines. The two engine displacements available will include a 3.0-liter and 4.2-liter V8. It does not appear that Audi will release a hybrid version of the car, unlike the BMW 7-Series and the Mercedes S-Class. However, Audi will likely improve A8 fuel consumption with a start-stop automatic. An Audi S8 could see the benefit of a 620 hp 5.0-liter V10 FSI.
It is also looking more likely that the Audi A8 will use the ASF II, the second generation of the company's Aluminum Space Frame. It uses an aluminum passenger cell, with steel and foam built in to reinforce vulnerable areas.
No word yet on the debut location of the new 2010 Audi A8. An introduction at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September seems to be a distinct possibility.
Here's a look at the upcoming standard S-Class Coupe.
"Standard" meaning as opposed to the AMG version we've previously had a sneak peek at.
New in the S-Class Coupe (besides the name, as it replaces the CL) will be the redesigned headlights, the addition of LED-day driving lights, a different grill that slants much less, full LED tail lights, new front and rear bumpers and a new set of pipes for the exhaust.
Engines expected are the same range as seen in the S-Class series, likely coming with improvements in fuel economy and upped performance output through engine management techniques that Mercedes-Benz is constantly developing.
An S-Class Coupe 400 BlueHybrid may also be in the works as the S-Class sedan version is already expected this May. The 400 BlueHybrid features a 3.5 liter V6 engine with 279 hp coupled with an electric motor of 20 hp and a combined torque reading of 385 Nm. With the addition of stop-start technology, the 400 BlueHybrid rates an impressive fuel economy of 7.9 liters per 100 km (30mpg US) for the full-sized S-Class.
Aston Martin Racing showed off its 2009 LMP1 challenger at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France. This was the first time that the Le Mans Series race car had been driven but team Aston Martin came out of the test with a positive attitude. Reliability and performance were the yardsticks that they measured success on. One accident involving Czech driver Tomas Enge driving car number 007 ruffled the team's feathers a little but Enge escaped injury. Nevertheless the car was heavily damaged. The second car numbered 009 is fine.
Other than that all six drivers Jan Charouz (CZ), Tomas Enge (CZ), Stefan Mücke (DE), Harold Primat (CH), Miguel Ramos (PT) and Darren Turner (GB) managed to get a feel for the car.
"The LMP1 feels great, the speed on corning is great," said Ramos. "I'm not yet used to it as I normally drive a GT car but it is getting easier...I'm comparing my lap data with the more experienced drivers and making adjustments each time I drive which means I'm improving every lap. My last lap was my fastest of the two days."
About 3,500 spectators witnessed the event which saw 28 of the 50 competitors taking part in the test. It was the first time in 10 years that the public were allowed access to the Paul Ricard Test Track.
Aston Martin Racing team partner Drayson Racing also put their number 87 Aston Martin Vantage GT2 through its paces. They were also encouraged by the results they achieved.
Team bosses at Aston Martin Racing are aiming to reclaim the brand's 1959 ultimate success at the 24 Hour Le Mans which takes place on June 13 and 14, 2009.
Audi's Le Mans 24 Hours competitors will be scrutinising the new R15 TDI as closely as they can after Audi officially unveiled it. Because the German automaker has been dominating that race for some time now when it releases a new challenger to the Le Mans grid everyone takes notice. After all, how many other manufacturers can boast a win at Le Mans 24 Hour using a diesel-powered car? None.
Several technical adjustments have been made on the R15 TDI which were previously not available in the all-conquering R10 TDI. Such adjustments include a lighter, more compact V10 TDI engine with new diesel particle filters that improve fuel consumption while reducing C02 emissions. The turbo and fuel injection systems have received the engineers' attention which result in a better engine response. Aerodynamics are said to be much improved too from the preceding cars.
Audi says the new R15 TDI pushes out more than 600hp (441kW) and maximum torque peaks at above 1,050Nm.
"The R15 TDI has many detailed technical solutions never seen before on a sports prototype," said Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport. "To a certain extent we followed entirely new routes."
A new electrical system for the series is being utilised by Audi. It is primarily based on a lithium-ion battery which was chosen for its lightness and better power output than conventional batteries. The Audi-synonymous low-beam LED lights will be seen for the first time in the R15 TDI as well.
The R15 TDI takes on rivals at the 12 Hour race in Sebring on March 21. This should be a good proving ground before it debuts on June 13 at the 24 Hour in France.
An Audi R4 it has been suggested, would use smaller engines than the TT range. These would be placed mid-section like in the R8. Three engine possibilities currently exist for the R4 in the 1.4 TSI, the 1.8 TSI and the 2.0TDI. The new TT RS may also have provided a possible engine for the R4 in the 340hp (250kW) 2.5-litre TFSI. Naturally, quattro all-wheel-drive would be fitted to the top-of-the-range model while the lesser versions get FWD. Of course two versions in the form of a coupe and a roadster would eventually appear.
The R4 would potentially share the same platform as the production version of the VW BlueSport Concept which was shown in Detroit earlier this year.
Thanks to professional car designer and Autocar Czech Republic magazine freelancer Jan Kamenistiak for the renderings.
When comparing the two sets of spy photos, past image of the front bumper show a thin horizontal splitter behind the mesh grille while these new photos place it in front of the grille. Through casual observation the front bumper air intake pockets appear to have a different shape too, but this may be the result of the car's black and white psychedelic camouflage.
At the rear the changes are more acute with the lower centre portion of the bumper showing the most difference. The previous rear bumper pictures showed this part to be quite flat-shaped whereas this one has a trapezoidal diffuser shape in the middle.
With every facelifted model BMW tends to introduce new engines. Among these would be the new 180kW (244hp) 3.0-litre turbo diesel and the 4.4-litre twin turbo petrol used in the 750i. We can also speculate that the new iDrive system with 3D sat nav mapping that is fitted to the 3 Series and 7 Series will appear in the facelifted X5.
The worldwide economy may be in the toilet, but that's not stopping Mercedes from getting ready to do battle with the Porsche 911, Aston Martin DB9 and Audi R8 V10. The gullwinged SLS (formerly identified as SLC) is on track for production, which is expected to begin in the spring of 2010.
Mercedes AMG CEO Volker Mornhinweg confirmed at a press conference that the SLS, which has been spotted as a heavily disguised prototype, is on the way. In addition to the gullwing doors, a Mercedes-exotic hallmark dating to the original 300SL, the SLS will feature a number of new features. Among them, are a rear-mounted seven-speed transaxle and dual clutch gearbox, to keep the long-nosed car's weight balanced. AMG's naturally-aspirated 6.3 liter V8, now featuring dry sump lubrication, routes 571 horsepower through this gearbox. An all-aluminum spaceframe keeps the SLS' weight to 1620kg. Zero to 100 km/h can be achieved in just 3.8 seconds, and zero to 200 km/h in less than 12. A speed limiter kicks in at 315 km/h (195 mph). Should the driver want to limit his or her speed before that, ceramic brakes are on hand to facilitate this.
Pricing hasn't been set, but as Mercedes intends to go head-to-head with the 911 and others, the SLS is expected to have an MSRP in the €140,000 range.
The sheer volume of spy photos of the 2010 Mercedes E-Class coupe and convertible is enough to make it clear that both vehicles are close to introduction. The coupe is scheduled to bow in Geneva next month, and according to Edmunds' Inside Line, the cabriolet will debut this fall at Frankfurt, as expected.
It's official: The E-Class coupe and cabriolet will replace the CLK model. A convertible with a retractable hardtop is still a possibility, based on prototypes spotted in testing, but the soft-top is a certainty. Both two-doors ride on a modified version of the sedan's chassis with a longer wheelbase and more interior room than the outgoing CLK. The cabriolet is expected to share the same powertrains available in the coupe.
What will those be? Well, Mercedes' first direct-injection four-cylinder engine is the base powerplant, a turbocharged 1.8 liter unit making 204 horsepower. A common-rail diesel-powered four will also be available, though neither of the four-cylinders (designated E250 CGI and CDI for the gas and diesel models, respectively) is expected to make it to North America. Americans will have to be content with the E350 coupe and cabriolet's 231-horsepower 3.0 liter V6. V8 power is provided by the E500. Of course, a high-powered AMG variant is inevitable; expect 500 horsepower or so once AMG shoehorns its 6.2 liter V8 into the E-Class coupe's engine bay.
Other advances will be similar to those found on the high-tech E-Class sedan, including a revised COMAND system, PRE-SAFE braking and a driver attention-assist system which detects drowsiness.
Porsche's upcoming 2011 Cayenne SUV has once again been spotted undergoing winter testing in Northern Europe and this time our spies managed to catch the new model on video.
The exterior follows in Porsche's philosophy of evolutionary design but from the spy pictures, it appears clear that the new model features a much sleeker appearance than the current Cayenne.
While we can't say for sure what model is being tested in the video, the new Cayenne should boast a variety of petrol, dieseland hybrid engines. On the petrol side, we can expect the 2011 Cayenne S to come with the Panamera's 4.8-liter V8 engine that develops 400 bhp (294 kW) while the top of the line Cayenne Turbo should be powered by the 4.8-liter biturbo V8 engine from the Panamera Turbo that cranks out 500 bhp. In diesel models, expect the current Volkswagen V6 TDI engine which produces 240 hp (176 kW) and 550 Nm of torque to carry over to the next generation with some minor improvements. Considering that Porsche's first Cayenne S hybrid will appear as a 2010 model, its hybrid powertrain should carry over to the 2011 Cayenne virtually unchanged. Power for the hybrid comes from Audi's supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that produces 333 horsepower and 324 ft-lb of torque, it is connected to a three-phase synchronous electric motor which receives power from a 38 kW NiMH battery that resides in the spare tire well.
The new Cayenne is also supposed to adopt a more street focused setup, which means some of the current model's bulky off-road equipment could be dropped in order to make the new one more Porsche-like. Audi took a similar approach when they introduced the Q7 and that model has received rave reviews for offering a decent driving experience despite its large size.
This car is also riding on bold, seven-spoke wheels that we don't remember seeing previously. At the back, we see the dual exhaust more integrated into the rear bumper. Taillights are improved by the addition of LEDs.
We're not sure how long we have to wait for the official debut of the facelifted Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but we hope to see it at Geneva. The new lineup should come to market soon as a 2010 model year car.
At a special event in Munich, BMW have unveiled the highly anticipated 5-Series GT, aka PAS. The model is set to have its official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show next month and follows in the vein of previous concept vehicles from the Bavarian automaker with a production ready look.
Styling is drawn very strongly from the new 2010 BMW 7-series with its large front grille, headlights and L-shaped tail lights. The coupe-like profile clearly follows in the footsteps of the X6.
An extended wheelbase similar to the 7-Series Long Wheel Base results in an extremely spacious cabin giving rear occupants extra legroom for a more comfortable experience.
Full details along with a mountain of official photos are expected later today, until then enjoy the photos.
The BMW 5-series Gran Turismo Concept is all about the "driving experience." At least, that is the theme BMW wants to strike with this car and what inspired its creation in the first place.
The 5-series Gran Turismo Concept is a Progressive Activity Sedan. BMW like to come up with their own category names for vehicles. They chose to categorize the X6 not as an SUV but as an SAV (Sport Activity Vehicle). So here comes a Progressive Activity Sedan.
What is it supposed to be?
Well, many elements are present here. There's the luxury sedan-level elegance and comfort of the 7-Series balanced with the sporty, outdoors-yness of the X6 as well. It's a concept, so there are few details on power plants and transmissions and lots of talk about style and design. The photos do tell most of the story.
The Gran Turismo is a four-door, four-seat coupe, a design that has become somewhat of a fashion of late. But the rear seats fold down to give this grand tourer 1650 liters of luggage space well-suited to the wanderer in you. And the Panorama glass roof provides the sense of openness you want to feel on the road.
By naming this vehicle a Gran Turismo BMW is looking to re-establish the iconic ideal of the Gran Turismo as a comfy coupe meant for traveling in style. It remains to be seen if this BMW will fly as an actual production model. But they've been known to try stranger things and succeed at it.
