Two images of the new Hyundai Santa Fe model year 2013 (which will probably be marketed in Europe as Hyundai ix45) have leaked on the internet through the hyundai-blog website.

The pictured model should be the final version of the car and, as the full reconstruction of the front end operated by AutoEvolution (third image) would confirm, it will be using the same design language adopted by the most recent Hyundai models, with the same hexagonal front grill and similar head lights and LED strips. Same goes for the rear end, also clearly inspired by the latest production of the South Korean carmaker.

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe is expected to make its debut at the next New York International Auto Show (April 6-15), and should be initially available with four engine options: two petrol (a 1.6 and a 2.0 GDi) and two diesel (1.7 and 2.0), all of which should be made available with both front- and all-wheel drive configurations.

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Fiat introduces the new ‘Strada‘, an upgrade of its little pickup truck assembled at their plant in Betim, Brazil. The model will become available in Europe in a matter of days and is meant to be first and foremost a commercial vehicle, but nonetheless it can be used outside work too. The Fiat Strada measures 4.41 meters in length (4.46 for the Adventureversion), 1.66 in width (1.74 m) and wheelbase of 2.72 meters, whereas its loading area is 1,685 mm long and 1,300 mm wide in its ’standard’ configuration. The variant with the long cabin instead will have a cargo area measuring 1,332 x 1,070 millimeters.

The Strada weighs 1,915 kg, can tow up to a ton and - driver included - can carry between 630 and 705 kg. The range includes three trim variants (Working, Trekking and Adventure) and three body-types (with short, long and double cabin), all of which will come with a 1.3-litre Multijet engine producing 95 hp and 200 Nm of torque from 1,500 rpm, with an average fuel consumption rated at about 5.3 l/100km. In its basic version, the Fiat Strada comes with a whole new instrumentation, ABS and (for Trekking and Adventure variants only) a steering wheel adjustable in height. The Adventure can be recognized by its black grille with chrome inserts and by its foglights integrated in the front fascia. Its standard features also include air conditioner, leather seats with special 205/65 R15 all-terrain tyres and E-Locker (Electronic Locking Differential), which improves the car’s performance on low-grip surfaces and includes compass and inclinometer.

All versions will also come with standard audio system and CD player, clima, sunroof, alloy wheels. Fiat has also released to official prices (before taxes) for the Italian market: the basic Fiat Strada with Working trim and single cabin will cost 12,900 €, while at the top of the range we have the Strada Advenure with double cabin, priced at 16,000 €.

View the full Fiat Strada photo gallery

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Our photographers have recently spotted the new Peugeot 301 while testing on some cold Swedish road. The model is a mid-size hatchback that is scheduled to replace the current 308 in 2013, but it is going to be smaller and lighter than its predecessor. The mule captured in these spy shots is basically the platform of the new model with the old bodywork on, hence there is not much we can say about the design of the new car. Rumor has it though that it will be is an elegant and compact mixture between the 208 and the SR1 Concept, but that’s not something we can make out from these pics: the only thing we can say is that it seems that 308’s bodywork has been modified to accommodate a shorter and wider wheelbase. However, it is known that the 301 is being developed on the same platform that generated Citroen C4 and DS4, and will come with an engine line-up made of supercharged petrol and diesel units as well as the new 3-cylinder VTi petrol engine and also an hybrid-diesel powertrain.

To the benefit of those wondering why the model is being called 301 and not 309 (as the Peugeot’s usual arithmetic progression would suggest), it is reported that the carmaker deems the ‘309′ moniker just too reminiscent of the Peugeot 309 of 80s - which is still too fresh in the memories as a “not-so-good-car” - and the French manufacturer definitely wants to avoid any sort of association between the old 309 and the new model . For the record, the old Peugeot 309 was produced in Europe between 1985 and 1993, then its production moved to India where it was built until 1997.

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A few months after it was last spotted and immortalized in some sneaky picture, the new Porsche 911 Turbo 991-series has been caught on camera again by our photographers. The mule pictured in these spy shots during some winter testing is still wearing some heavy camouflage that doesn’t allow us to see its front and rear bumpers, which have always been among the most distinctive features of the previous 911 Turbo. Same goes for the air intakes, including the ones on the sides of the vehicle. However, insiders report that the car will get a brand new rear wing with a mobile part as well as specifically designed mufflers.

As for the engine, it is fair to assume that the Turbo version of the 911/991 will come with a twin-turbo variant of the 3.8-litre boxer engine that can be found under the bonnet of the recent ‘Carrera S‘, but with an output in excess of 500 hp. This power will be transmitted to all four wheels through Porsche’s signature automatic 7-speed PDK ‘dual clutch’ transmission. Although no confirmations are currently available on the subject, some people think that the new Porsche 911 Turbo will be officially unveiled at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, in March.

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BMW releases the first official info about the new X6, releasing also a photo gallery picturing the new version of the Sports Activity Coupe. Aesthetic changes aside, the main new feature of the new range is the addition of the brand new 3.0-litre flat-six Triturbo FH81 unit - that will equip the X6 M50d - to its engine line-up, which delivers 381 hp and 740 Nm of torque between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm. This engine is said to be the most powerful 6-cylinder diesel engine of the world and - in combination with a 8-speed automatic gearbox courtesy of German specialist ZF - is capable of pushing the X6 M50d from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 5.3 seconds, with a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). Average fuel consumption is rated at 7.7 l/100 km, with 204 g/km of CO2 emission.

From an aesthetic point of view, the restyled X6 gets newly designed bi-xenon head lamps, front grille, fog lights and tail lights with LED technology. Bmw also introduced new color options for the livery, namely Orion Silver Metallic, Midnight Blue Metallic and Marrakech Brown Metallic. As an optional extra, a different bonnet with a ‘power dome’ will also be made available to provide the most powerful versions of the model with a more aggressive visual look.

View the full BMW X6 2012 photo gallery

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The third generation of the Mazda-6 is underway. Here is a bunch of spy shots picturing a mule of the new sedan from the Japanese manufacturer caught during some winter testing. This prototype is an early test mule that combines the next models platform together with a chopped up body of the current generation, but we already know that the new Mazda-6 will have very little in common with the current version as it will draw a lot of inspiration from the beautiful Takeri Concept, that we have admired at the recent Tokio Motor Show, in December.

The new Mazda 6 will feature the new Skyactiv fuel saving technologies, including the Skyactiv-D Clean diesel engine, a new 6-speed automatic transmission and an engine “i-stop” idling stop system. It will also be the first Mazda equipped with regenerative braking, the system that converts kinetic energy into electricity during braking and stores it in capacitors in order to use it at a later to feed electrical equipment such as air conditioning, lighting and audio system.

The new Mazda6 is expected to surface in 2012, making its first appearance at the next Paris Motor Show (29 September to 14 October 2012), while the Takeri concept should show up at the Geneva Motor Show (8-12 March 2012).

View 2013 Mazda 6: spy shots images

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Italian design firm UP Design has introduced today at the Qatar Motor Show its latest creation: the Vittoria. The model is the first prototype entirely made by the company and follows two other cars that were instead developed by UP Design in cooperation with Turin-based company I.DE.A.: the Era in 2009 and the Sofia in 2010.

The mastermind behind UP Design is young Italian designer Umberto Palermo (UP are his initials), who also created this sporty and intriguing concept car. The Vittoria measures 4.75 meters in length, 1.96 meters in width and 1.25 meters in height, is proportioned like a GT car and adopts a pretty innovative and original design language, which is said to be production-ready.

The Vittoria has been developed on a parallel hybrid platform comprising a V8 engine and an electric motor, both of which will deliver the power to the wheels through an highly advanced drive line. This device will handle speed of the car and torque of the two engines in order to maximize the energy recovery when braking. As we speak though, there is no word on the actual power and torque figures of the model. The Vittoria also uses the art of renowned painter Taraski to make its styling even more unique. “All of our partners will follow up on their commitments for the future development of the vehicle - stated Mr.Palermo - and the fact it is now on display at the Qatar Motor Show is only the starting point.” For the record, UP Design is not into cars only, they work in many other different sectors (i.e. electric appliances, furnishing and construction, just to name a few): check out their official website to find out more.

View the full UP Design Vittoria photo gallery

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It is known that Opel is currently working on a small car that, in the intentions of the carmaker, will be positioned in its current range right below the Corsa. The project has been known until now as ‘Junior‘, but apparently the new car will adopt the ‘Allegra‘ name by the time of its official unveiling, which is expected to happen in some motor show toward the end of the year in view of its commercial launch in early 2013.

This time a mule of the next Allegra has been spotted during some cold weather testing. The model is expected to measure around 3.70 meters in length and should become available with a 3-door body-type only. At the moment it is still unclear whether the car will rival against the likes of the new Volkswagen Up! in the super mini-car segment or will go for a more upmarket target, battling against such competitors as the Mini squad and Fiat 500. Insiders report that Opel is also developing a whole new family of engines for the Allegra/Junior, that we are likely to see transplanted in the next generation of the Opel Corsa.

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Infiniti describes it as the “fastest accelerating full hybrid” car currently available on the market, and the nice people from the Guinness Book Of Records have now put that down on paper too, so here is a video issued by the Japanese carmaker that celebrates the accomplishment. We are talking about the M35h which, relying on electric power alone, registered a 0-100 mph (161 km/h) sprint time of 11.54 seconds, covering the quarter mile (402 meters) in 13.41 seconds. Apparently, these figures were enough to rank the M35h at the top of the hybrid world, even better than the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid, which is credited with a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 6 seconds flat.

The Infiniti M35h is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 producing 306 hp that, combined with a 68 hp electric motor, provides an output of 364 hp. The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid instead comes with a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 delivering 333 hp that, combined with the electric package, produces a total output of 333 hp.

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German manufacturer PG releases the first images of the Elektrus, an electric sportscar that will be produced in only 667 units. The model shares several features with the Tesla Roadster, most notably Lotus Elise’s chassis, with a few aesthetic changes and different materials: the bodywork for instance is made of Carbon Fibre, while the front end uses a much bigger grille and much thinner LED head lamps.

As for now, there is no information about Elektrus’s powertrain. The maker just revealed that the car will have an output of 272 hp and 350 Nm of torque, with a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of less than 3 seconds and 250 km/h (155 mph) of top speed. The Elektrus should end up weighing less than 1.000 kg, with a range in excess of 350 km (218 mph). Each one of those 667 units will come with price tag of 285.000 € (roughly 367,700 $ - 237,000 £).

via | LeftLane

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