E 63 AMG Wagon

At the Frankfurt Motor Show we'll be able to see the new Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG in all its full glory, minus all this black plastic you see in our latest spy shots. These cars are not your average mama's trolleys but fully-fledged missiles disguised as baby prams. Spied here is the E 63 AMG in Estate format, meaning Usain Bolt carrying a travel suitcase, but just as quick.

The E 63 AMG shows off its big brakes with cross-drilled discs and a lowered suspension, as well as those four huge round tailpipes. Also a new front bumper with larger air intakes should be a major attraction. That 6.2-litre V8 is expected to keep its place under the hood, producing well over 550 bhp in line with current German power king Audi RS6's 573 horses.

First Image of 1120hp 9ff GT9-R

The folks over at 9ff have a serious addiction to speed. They spent the best part of a year developing the original 987 hp GT9. A monster of a machine that they managed to beat down the track at a death defying 409km/h, a good 2km/h faster than the Bugatti Veyron but just shy of the world production car speed record currently held by SSC Ultimate Aero which stands at 411.71km/h(255.83mph).

Now the German Tuner has released the first image of the GT9 R which boasts a massive power output of 1120 horsepower(835.18kW) and 1050Nm (774.34lb-ft) of toque. No further details have been released yet, but with the Essen Tuning Show coming up at the end of the month, a betting man may have a flutter at more juicy details surfacing around the said time.

Porsche Panamera

German Autobild is reporting that the Porsche Panamera will be initially available in 3 alternatives with 300 bhp (3,6 Liter, V6), 400 bhp (4,8 Liter, V8) and 500 bhp (4,8 Liter, V8-Bi-Turbo). A full-hybrid version with a 30kW electric engine (in combination with the 300 bhp V6 engine) is expected for 2010.

Audi R4

Sports car fans are in for a real treat! Audi is planning a striking new mid-engined machine – the R4. The newcomer will be based on an entirely new platform and sit above the TT in Audi’s range, offering buyers a driver-focused two-seater with a starting price of around £35,000.

It’s the result of a rumoured joint venture with Porsche – so the project will produce a new platform to underpin Coupé and Roadster versions of the R4, and also provide the basis for the next Boxster and Cayman. It’s these core sellers in the Porsche line-up that the R4 will target.

Our exclusive picture shows that the new Audi takes much of its visual inspiration from the R8 supercar, with LED lights, deep air intakes and a sweeping profile. But this similarity is no coincidence. The Porsche joint venture is all part of Audi’s plan to launch a range of R-badged sports cars, which will follow in the wake of the range-topper.

These will include an R6 to rival Jaguar’s new E-Type replacement and the Porsche 911, plus an R10 model based on the V12 TDI R8 diesel concept. Of course, it’s not only Audi which will benefit. Porsche will be able to share Audi’s engines and reduce the costs associated with developing a new platform.

Audi A5 Sportback

From the picture we can see the A5 Sportback will feature a high waistline and low, sloping roof, while the front should remain identical to the current A5 Coupe it is based on.

It is also clear it will have five doors but the sporty, raked, hatchback rear-end will ensure it looks much sleeker than an Avant. The coupe-hatchback will have a more spacious cabin than the standard A5 too which will help the new Audi stand in a niche all of its own.

Next Generation BMW 6 Series Prototype Spied for First Time

BMW’s next-generation 6 Series coupe and convertible, expected to be introduced in 2011, have been spied in early testing. Though heavily camouflaged, the convertible in our photos looks to be longer and lower than the current car, with considerably tighter overhangs front and rear. It’s hard to see the exact lines of course, but the new 6 Series has a smoother, more streamlined look.

The vehicle spotted testing in Germany has a cloth soft top, but closer examination suggests that this may also be part of the camouflage. The wrapped decklid gives the impression that this is a convertible, so the next 6’er just might sport a retractable hardtop, to compete with Mercedes’ SL.

Mercedes E-Class Coupe in Black

Here's another series of spy shots on the coming E-Class. These are of the coupe version, which will be a very important model for Mercedes since they have discontinued the CLK badging and essentially turned the CLK into this E-Class Coupe.

German automakers are very reserved in their styling and prefer the concept of (very gradual) evolution rather than revolution in updating models. This shot reveals that philosophy in action. But the car does appear to have a greater curve along the horizontal length of the body and a more muscular hunch above the rear wheels.

The E-Class Coupe will likely come with, amongst Mercedes standard lineup of engines, Mercedes' latest 204 hp turbodiesel Bluetec, an AMG version with the 550 hp V8, and may also include the BlueHybrid that Mercedes is developing.

The new E-Class sedan will be introduced at the Geneva Motor Show next March. Other variants, including this coupe, will likely only be first unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show next September.

Mercedes E Class Coupe Interior Spied

More spy photos of the 2010 or 2011 Mercedes coupe have surfaced, showing the CLK replacement's slick lines and updated instrument panel. This red coupe's light camouflage hides only the shape of the new headlamps; the larger, C-Class Sport-style grille and dramatic, CLS-like rear backlight are clearly visible. There appears to be enough rear seat room that the E-Class coupe will still be a true four-passenger coupe.

Inside, the new dash shows a sport three-gauge pod and a revised center stack that's less complex than Mercedes' current setup. There's still a lot going on, but the navigation system's information screen has been moved up to the top of the dash, providing better visibility and a less cluttered appearance.

No longer named CLK, the new generation E-Class coupe, although still based on the C-Class platform, is expected to arrive in 2009 with the C207 designation. The E-Coupe convertible (A207) will follow a year later with a retractable hardtop unlike the current C209's soft top.

Porsche Panamera Interior Spied From Passenger Seat

We've got some excellent spy photos of the Porsche Panamera's interior, courtesy of Teamspeed.com.

The pictures appear to have been shot from the passenger seat, and show that the four-door Porsche's got a very familiar-looking five-pod instrument panel. It also appears to have a 911-style left-hand ignition key. The center console is festooned with buttons, hinting at the high equipment levels that will no doubt be available when the Panamera enters the market against some very worthy competitors from Aston Martin, Mercedes and Maserati. During 2009, expect most Panameras to be high-content, high-profile V8 models, with the less expensive V6 coming along once Porsche's luxury-sport sedan has established itself as a worthy competitor to the Mercedes CLS and Maserati Quattroporte.

More photos can be found at the Teamspeed website.

Audi A5 Sportback

Audi has instead given us some actual eye candy, providing official design sketches of four upcoming models: the A5 Cabrio and Sportback, the all-new 2010 A7 four-door coupe and the 2011 A8 sedan. While the A5 Cabrio looks pretty much like a topless A5 coupe, the A5 Sportback is unique for not looking at all like a traditional sportback model, instead bearing resemblance to notchbacks of yore. The A7 brings TT-esque styling to the burgeoning four-door coupe market, while the revised A8, at least in sketch form, looks just about tough as hell.

Audi A7

The flowing lines of the coupe-sedan seem to be increasingly appealing in Germany with four of the countries top brands now releasing similar designs. The A7 will be based on the A6 platform and utilise aluminium (with steel reinforcement in key areas) to reduce weight.

Engines begin with a 2.8-litre V6 FSI with optional 3.0-litre V6 on the petrol front with diesel models said to include a 2.7-litre TDI (single turbo) or 3.0-litre TDI (twin turbo).

Meanwhile the range topping RS7 will feature air suspension and a 5.0-litre twin turbo V10 which will be shared by the S7, albeit slightly detuned. A hybrid version is also expected to be made available shortly after initial release.

BMW PAS Crossover

Another round of spy shots of BMW’s Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS) has surfaced, revealing what appear to be production-ready front and rear light treatments under disguise. The car, which is expected to be a five-door fastback sized between the 5-Series and 7-Series that will debut as a 2010 model, has not yet been officially unveiled. It’s expected to be the first of a possible new range of BMW products, the V-Series.


The PAS--or is it the V5?--will sport “coupe-sedan” styling similar to that of the X6, with a more road-going stance. It’s expected to be a four-seater, also in the same vein as the X6, powered by BMW’s 3.0 liter straight-six in gasoline and diesel permutations. A more powerful 4.0 liter diesel V8 may be offered, and BMW has not ruled out the possibility of a hybrid version.

Underneath the camouflage in these photos, the final hood lines can be discerned, and the dramatically sloped rear glass will give this car a unique profile on the road.

BMW Z4 spied

One of the most controversially-designed but immensely satisfying driver’s cars
, the BMW Z4, is almost at its tail’s end. These are the latest spy photos of its replacement, the 2010 version which has been spied a few times before already. The roof looks like a two-piece hard-top convertible which if it makes it into final production, will mark BMW Z’s first foray into tin top territory.


What makes these particular pictures special, apart from the red colour, is how little effort BMW has put into hiding the car from us. Of course 9 out of 10 times they get found out anyway, which is why we still advocate for a ‘less is more’ policy across the board from all manufacturers in future.


Even in this state a few details are still under wraps, like the front and rear lights, the latter though giving clear clues as to the styling direction the Z4 is taking. We can see how the rear bumper convexes toward the concave boot lid. Z4 is expected to show its first public face at Detroit in January 2009, with production commencing a few months later in Germany.

Audi S5 Cabrio

While these photos are grainy, our spies still got a great look at the 2010 Audi S5 convertible during a sunrise photo shoot. In what appears to be Audi's Ibis White exterior finish, this brochure-ready, convertible two door will pack all the same mechanicals as the current S5 coupe. Though we aren't sure if the convertible will carry the coupe's 354-hp rating.

If you like what you see, you may want to drop everything and place a deposit at your local dealer. With the S5 and A5 coupes already in short supply and high demand, the convertible versions of these coupes may be even harder to come by. The S5 cabrio should go into production in Ingolstadt sometime in the latter half of 2009. Look for the official debut at either the L.A. or Detroit auto show

BMW X4

The BMW X4 will be a smaller version of the BMW’s Sports Activity Coupe, the X6. Today, our friend Palbay confirms one of the speculations: the X4 will be using most of the new second generation BMW X3 components, in a move to reduce costs. This also goes hand in hand with their latest trend of releasing smaller size cars, powered by fuel efficient technologies.

The projected launch date is set at the beginning of 2010 and the X4 will be released in an all wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive models. As mentioned before, the BMW X4 will join the X models production at the Spartanburg plant in South Carolina.

Audi TT- RS

The TT RS will naturally use quattro all-wheel drive to keep all that grunt in check. Audi will use a single turbo – not the twin-turbo set-up that other media have speculated upon.


That 2.5-litre five-pot comes from a far-flung corner of the VW empire: the North American Jetta. And if a five-cylinder, turbocharged, 4wd Audi sports coupe rings any bells (Ur Quattro, anyone?) that's deliberate. Expect many connections to be made in the marketing material.

With the latest version of Audi’s S tronic twin-clutch box, the RS is said to hit 60mph in around five seconds – putting it firmly in supercar territory.

VW's new 2-seat sports car

The modular chassis is said to use clever new kinematics in the new strut-based suspension system that does away with the need for pricey, Golf-style multi-link axles . Money pinching is crucial here, but not at the expense of delivering a fun-to-drive, pointy sports car.

To this end, R&D boss Ulrich Hackenberg has disclosed to CAR that the new affordable sports car will use parts-bin steering, brakes, electronics and DSG twin-clutch transmissions. Bearing in mind some of the expertise out there on Planet VW, that’s no bad thing…

You bet. CAR Online has already revealed the new sub-Boxster Porsche sports car and Ingolstadt is developing its own budget mid-engined sportster in the shape of the Audi R3.

VW, Audi , Porsche : low cost mid-engine sports car

At the Los Angeles auto show in November, Volkswagen will unwrap a new mid-engine sports car concept. This marks the third iteration of a theme that started in 2003 with the Concept R and continued in 2005 with the EcoRacer.


The proposal we'll see in L.A. pursues three different strategic goals:

* For Volkswagen, it provides an attractive product in a niche that has long been defined by the Mazda Miata.
* For Audi, it offers the opportunity to switch the next-generation TT from the current FWD/AWD platform to a much more prestigious and more dynamically rewarding mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout.
* For Porsche (which recently cleared another legal hurdle in its quest to take control of VW), there's a chance to join the fray with a modern successor to the rear-engine 356.

Posche Panamera : Coming with Diesel ?

At launch, the rear-wheel-drive Panamera will come with a 300-hp 3.6L V6 from V-Dub. A 400-hp 4.8L V8 will also be available along with a turbocharged 500-hp version. Porsche has already confirmed a hybrid Panamera for 2010 that will reduce fuel-consumption by 30 percent.


According to Automotive News, the Stuttgart based automaker is now considering a diesel version along with a targa top version for the Panamera as well.

Buggati Veyron : 2009

2009 Bugatti Veyron 16.4: No significant changes.

2009 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport : The new Grand Sport is an open-top or targa version of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4. It's powered by the same midmounted 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine used in the coupe. It's good for 1,001 hp and an unbelievable 922 pound-feet of torque. The all-wheel-drive supercar also packs a beefed-up seven-speed version of its excellent dual-clutch gearbox.

Audi S5 : Spy Shots

We found an interesting source saying that the next-generation Audi S5 which is expected for early next year will receive the new 3.0 TFSI engine, also used in the new Audi S4 and leaving the V8 for the Audi RS5. Anyway the picture looks more like the Audi RS5 to us.

Looks have received subtle revisions over the current car, but we know that under its bonnet the new S5 gets Audi’s new supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engine in place of the current model’s 4.2-litre V8.

The new motor made its debut in the recently-revealed S4, and although its 329bhp is slightly down on old V8’s 339bhp, it has more mid-range torque and a broader powerband.

The revised S5 will also benefit from the option of a seven-speed twin-clutch DSG transmission and the latest iteration of Audi’s Quattro four-wheel drive system, which uses a torque vectoring active rear differential to assist cornering.

Audi A5 Sportback and Audi R4

Audi A5 Sportback : Posh five-door hatch based on the A5 coupe; coming late 2009, with S and RS versions to follow.

Audi R4 : Two-seat mini-R8 coupe developed in tandem with next-generation Porsche Cayman (2013). Roadster/Boxster to follow.

BMW X2

The bimmer fans were greeted today with a new rumor or apparently a confirmation of a new BMW model being launched in the near future. The vehicle in question is the BMW X2 that has been rumored for some time now. We reported back in July, that the BMW X2 might make its way into the BMW line up as soon as 2011.

The initial news and renderings were brought to us by the fellow at LeftLaneNews and today Carmagazine UK came back with more news, but the same rendering.


The BMW X2, codenamed SAR, short for Sports Activity Runabout(yeah, I know, always wonder how they come up with these names), is portrayed as X6’s little brother, a baby BMW, as Carmagazine calls it.

The X2 will be a two-door model with coupe like lines, sharing the same engines as the BMW X1 and most likely similar technologies, one of them being the xDrive.

The conflicting part comes from the fact that Carmagazine UK states the BMW X2 is still on the drawing board and it has not been given a green light, but in the same time, we are being shown a test mule spotted in Munich.

BMW X3 Prototype

In a three way match-up, we have the Mercedes GLK in one corner, the Audi Q5 in another and the BMW X3 in the final corner.
Two of these models are new, fresh and healthy where as the third is old and frail and should be ready for a pounding. That is why BMW are putting their foot to the metal on the development of their all-new X3 to stave off the threat of its two main rivals.

We have seen this latest prototype before, that annoying black and white camoflage is hardly forgettable, however a close inspection reveals a few details on the model have developed since we last saw it. The prototype now sports what appears to be full production style headlight and taillights as opposed to the temporary ones we had seen previously. We can also see the front bumper shows its full shape and the grille has extra covering placed over it leading us to believe the full styling is hiding beneath.


The next generation BMW X3 will be slightly longer than the current model allowing a little extra space in the interior as well as a larger market space for the smaller X1.

Audi R8 GT3

The R8 is the first production Audi bearing the name and genes of a successful racing sportscar and is therefore an excellent base from which to build up our first big customer sport programme,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. "Ever since the R8 was unveiled we’ve been inundated with enquiries about a race version. With the Audi R8 we will offer customers a racing sportscar equipped with high-calibre technology and the typical Audi qualities, but which is nevertheless easy to handle.”


The Audi R8 conforms to the production-based GT3 regulations allowing the car to be fielded in numerous national and international race series.

Because the GT3 regulations prohibit the use of four-wheel drive the Audi R8 comes with the typical GT rear-wheel drive. The power is transmitted via a newly developed six-speed sequential sports gearbox. The suspension uses almost exclusively components from the production line. A comprehensive list of safety equipment guarantees the highest-level of passive safety. A modified front end and a large rear-wing generate the required downforce for the race track.