What we have here is a bunch of spy shots picturing a Skoda Superb prototype equipped with Scout parts, which has been spotted together with a mule of the production version of the VisionD concept car. Rumors of a Superb Scout model have been floating around for quite some time, and we suspect that the car has probably been ready for almost as long as these rumors have, but as usual it’s Skoda’s parent company Volkswagen that makes the decisions, and it is likely that VW wanted to find a better time to introduce this model in order to not get in the way of their own Passat Alltrack.

In light of the fact that it is Volkswagen making the rules here, we guess that Skoda will not be allowed to use the 170 hp TDI engine for their Superb Scout. Chances are that the model will end up using the less performing 140 hp TDI unit, but at this moment there is no official information on this topic. The Superb Scout is expected to share engines and drivetrains with the ‘regular’ Superb 4×4.

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A mule of the next Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake has been spotted in Northern Sweden during some cold weather testing, were these spy shots were taken. In the plans of the three-pointed star house this new model is going to pioneer a new niche of the market, that puts together the oomph of a coupe with the body of a sporty station-wagon. The final goal is to fill any gap that hasn’t been explored yet in the luxury car market.

This “station-coupe” model from Mercedes-Benz seems to have kept the bold styling of the Shooting Brake Concept, that was showcased for the first time at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show. Bodywork aside, this new variant will be identical to the classic CLS sedan, with the same platform and engine range.

Thereby the Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake should come with four engine options: the petrol line-up includes a 3.5-litre V6 producing 306 hp and a 4.7-litre twin turbo V8 delivering 408 hp; on the diesel side we have a 2.1-litre twin turbo unit producing 204 hp and 500 Nm of peak torque and the recent 3.0-litre V6, with an output of 265 hp and 620 Nm. AMG and AMG Performance variants are obviously in the works too, equipped with the same 5.5-litre twin turbo V8 unit delivering 525 hp and 700 Nm for the former and 557 CV with 800 Nm for the latter. The new Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake is expected to show up at the next Geneva Motor Show.

View the full Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake spy shots photo gallery

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We have just received this set of spy shots picturing the next Audi RS6 Avant during a winter test on the cold roads of Sweden: the model is wearing very little camouflage and uses wider wheel arches hiding a larger track. The final version is expected to use a similar front fascia, but shape and size of the integrated air-intakes might not be the definitive ones. Besides, we would expect some LED technology to appear in the fog-light area, and we wouldn’t be surprise to see some CFRP bit here in there as in the case of Audi RS3. As for the rear end, the new RS6 Avant might end up replacing that double pair of exhaust piped with on pair of oval-shaped cans as in the current version of the model, while other subtle cosmetic changes might also be in the cards. We also notice big ceramic brakes underneath A8 wheels, which is a further confirmation of this car’s RS status.

La new Audi RS6 Avant will probably be equipped with a 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 delivering 580 hp, meaning the same output of the model it will replace. It should be the same engine that - in different power steps - will be used for S8, S7, S6 and the recently unveiled V8 range of the Bentley Continental GT. The new model is expected to emerge in its definitive form by the end of this year.

View the fullAudi RS6 Avant spy shots photo gallery

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Skoda has begun testing of its electrically powered estate car, the Octavia Green E Line, deploying a fleet of no less than 10 units. The model is the first ever all-electric vehicle from the Czech manufacturer, which aims at collecting as many data as possible during the tests in order to further develop the model, in view of a possible mass production.

The Octavia Green E Line is based on the Octavia Combi whose structure was deemed ideal to host the whole electric package (battery, electric motor and electronic controllers). Its powertrain is credited with a constant power of 80 hp (60 kW) and maximum output of 114 hp (85 kW) for about 60 seconds, while its impressive 270 Nm (199 lb/ft) of torque is available right from the start. All in all, Skoda Octavia Green E Line’s performance figures are not too bad, boasting a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 12 seconds and a limited top speed of 135 km/h (84 mph). Power comes from a 315 kg 26.5 kWh ion-lithium battery, which provides the car with 150 km (93.2 miles) of range and requires a charging time of 8 hours at 230 V (single-phase AC) and just 2 hours at 400 V (three-phase AC).

Skoda CEO Winfried Vahland commented: “The Octavia Green E Line shows our technological expertise in the field of electric mobility. It is a milestone in our comprehensive sustainability strategy“. Skoda R&D main man Eckhard Scholz added: “There is no doubt electric propulsion is becoming more and more important for mobility with as low emissions as possible. Working as we are with our Group partners, we think we are making very good progress.”

View the full Skoda Octavia Green E Line photo gallery

via | Škoda

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Audi unveils the new A6 Allroad by releasing the first official pictures and info of the third generation of its successful crossover estate. Measuring 4.94 meters in length, 1.90 meters in width and 1.47 meters in height, and with a wheelbase of 2.91 meters, the new version is slightly bigger than the model it is about to replace, and is said to be also 20 % more efficient in terms of fuel consumption. Thanks to the fact that about 20% of its whole body is made of aluminum, the new A6 Allroad is also 70% lighter than the current version. The design language of the car stays loyal to the style adopted by the previous generations, launched in 2000 and 2006: the ride height 6 cm higher than the A6 Avant - the model it basically derives from - also retaining its typical plastic fenders.

The passenger compartment is roomier than ever, while the loading capacity is rated at 565 litres, a figure that can go up to 1,680 litres with the rear seats folded. The new A6 Allroad shares the same infotainment systems in use by Audi A6 ed A6 Avant, including the MMI radionavigator with touchpad, 4-zone air conditioner, cruise control with radar and the advanced audio system by Bang&Olufsen.

The whole engine range is made of either petrol or diesel 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 units. The only gasoline option is the 3.0 TFSI with direct injection, producing 310 hp with 440 Nm of peak torque. This unit pushes the A6 Allroad from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 5.9 seconds, with a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) and an average fuel consumption of 8.9 l/100km. As for the diesel line-up, we have the 3.0 TDI producing 204 hp and 450 Nm of maximum torque, with an average fuel consumption of 6.1 l/100 km and 159 g/km of CO2 emissions. Then we have a more performing version of this engine, with an output of 245 hp and no less than 580 Nm of torque, which will soon become available in a low-emission configuration. Last but not least, at the top of the range we have the new 3.0-litre twin-turbo unit delivering 313 hp and 650 Nm of peak torque, coupled to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. With this powertrain, the A6 Allroad accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds only, reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). All the other aforementioned versions come with a 7-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission.

View the full Audi A6 Allroad photo gallery

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The first images of what should be the new Opel Insignia Sport Tourer CrossFour have leaked on the internet. Based on the Opel Insigna saloon, the model is expected to give Audi A4 Allroad and the upcoming Volkswagen Passat Alltrack a run for their money on the market, and even though the manufacturer tried to keep the whole thing secret until the model will be officially presented to the public, some details about it have already came to light.

As the name suggests, the car will be all-wheel drive model, with higher ride height than the model it derives from and will have the Start-Stop system. Apparently, the Opel Insignia Sport Tourer CrossFour will have an initial engine range made of two units: a 2.0-litre CDTi delivering 158 hp and available with either manual or automatic 6-speed transmission, and a more powerful 2.0-litre twin turbo petrol engine with an output of 192 hp and 400 Nm of torque. This is what we know for now, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see more performing units being added to the range.

via | Motor.terra.es

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As previously reported, Volvo just released the first official teaser of its upcoming new model, that CEO Stefan Jacoby confirmed is going to be called V40. In the intentions of the Swedish carmaker, the new 5-door hatchback will replace both the S40 sedan and the V50 in its range, positioning itself right under the S60/V60 line. At this moment the fate of the C30 is still unclear, as Mr. Jacoby himself has been quite sketchy on the matter.

Apparently, Volvo is trying to go more premium with the new car. The mule pictured in these new spy shots is still very heavily disguised, still wearing the same sort of armor we had seen on the previous lot of spy shots (when we still thought the model was going to be called V30) to defend itself from the cameras of the onlookers, but what we can see is enough to guess that the new V40 will look a lot like a smaller version of the V60. Rumor has it that at a later stage we will also see a XC40 model, while a S40 sedan for the Chinese market should also be in the works. The new V40 will have its public debut in March at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

View the full Volvo V40 spy shots photo gallery

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What if Bmw decides to make a station wagon version of the recently unveiled BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe? An answer to this question comes from Singapore-based designer Theophilus Chin, who just dispatched two very well-made renderings of an hypothetical 6-Series ‘Gran Touring’, based on the brand new Gran Coupe. We would be the first to admit that such a model is quite unlikely to ever see the light of the day but Bmw has already caught us off-guard in the past, so you can never say never. Think of the X6 for instance, a crossbreed between a SUV and a coupe that is now selling like hot cakes, or - at the opposite end of the spectrum - the controversial and unfortunate 5-Series GT.

Moreover, Bmw’s historic rival Mercedes-Benz is about to launch a station-wagon version of its CLS, a car that somewhat prompted Bmw to create the Gran Coupe, so the actual possibility of seeing one day a car built along the lines of this Gran Coupe Tourer might not be that remote, after all.

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Jaguar releases yet another image (or Christmas card) of the same XF Sportbrake mule we have seen a while ago, still wearing some heavy camouflage on the rear half in an attempt to hide the newly designed rear end, which is likely to feature re-designed tail lights and a customized hatch. The front end will benefit from the recent restyling of the Jaguar XF range, while the powertrain should be left untouched too.

The engine range of the XF should also be the same: 4 and 6-cylinder diesel units as well as 8-cylinder petrol engines, including the 510 hp version of the XFR. Apparently, the XF Sportbrake should be officially unveiled at the next Geneva Motor Show.

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Subaru introduces the Advanced Tourer Concept at the 2011 Tokyo motor Show. The model is basically an evolution of the previous Hybrid Tourer Concept, presented in 2009, which laid the foundations for the design style currently adopted by the Japanese carmaker.

Subaru Advanced Tourer Concept was developed as a new-generation sports wagon providing both superior driving performance and utility. It features an innovative exterior design not found in conventional wagon model which uses a quite impactful and massive front grille and a dynamic but sleek look that is quite reminiscent of some modern-day coupe model. Headlights uses LED technology exclusively and features many details made of carbon fibre, such as the rear diffuser.

The Advanced Tourer Concept is equipped with an horizontally-opposed 1.6-litre 4 cylinder boxer engine with direct fuel injection and a not better specified electric unit, whose power will be transferred to all four wheels through Subaru’s Lineatronic continuously variable transmission. As for the interior, a large monitor is built into the steering wheel allowing access to maps, television and internet services. Textures such as wood and metal are incorporated into the inside layout to produce ample ambiance, while a roof entirely made of glass adds to the spacious feel.

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