Edmunds’ Inside Line has published some new spy shots of the RR4, the baby-Rolls Royce that will be positioned halfway between the Phantom and a BMW 7 Series.

According to rumours, there will be some similarities to the BMW 7 Series, although the RR4 will be wider, longer and taller than the flagship BMW. Even the wheel base will be longer. The RR4’s main competitor will be the Bentley Continental Flying Spur. For the engines it’s likely we’ll see a more underpowered version of the Phantom’s V12, 6.75-litre, possibly a 6-litre 441 hp or a 4.4 litre twin-turbo at 408 hp that will debut on the BMW X6 50i. All these engines though, suffer from a marked power deficiency compared to the Flying spur whose W12 comes in at around 560 hp.

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Refined lines, integrated front lights vaguely conjuring up a boomerang, completed updated mechanics: if the letter wasn’t already legendary, taking its place in the history of the manufacturer, it could even be substituted to mark the coming evolution.

The new Mercedes E-Class, already admired in previous spy shots, will follow the new stylistic course of “all lines”, recently applied to the C and CLC: renderings created by World Car Fans contribute to picture by now quite realistic.

The rear seems to be a more traditional example though with a higher back for exhaust and quite conservative lines. The front, however, benefits from nervy lines along the bonnet and an oversized grill, and renouncing single circular headlights seems to be an evolution in style.

Continue reading: New Mercedes E-Class: preview renderings

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After the relatively quiet debut at the Geneva show, Renault is revealing new technical data and photos of its Laguna Gt, all-wheel steering version that has already been ordered by more than 50,000 customers across Europe.

The model’s main innovation is the 4 Wheel Steering system called “Active Drive“, looking for new life after years being in the dark: up to 60km/hr the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front ones with a maximum angle of 3.5°.

Continue reading: New image galler for the Renault Laguna GT

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Some updates on the Audi A4 destined for the US market: with availability in October the Ingolstadt vehicle will have a new 2.0 TFSI engine, increased to 211hp, 11 more than currently in use on many VAG models, with 350 Nm of torque.

The two-litre car will be equipped with the modern Audi Valvelift system controlling distribution and allowing the sedan a 0-60 miles (0-96 km/hr) in just 6.5 seconds. Combined with the engine - presented on the Avant at the American debut - it will be possible to choose as optional extras the double clutch, S tronic shift.

Management is also considering the introduction of a 3.0-litre V6 TDI for the American market. After Mercedes, that with its BlueTEC presented itself in great pomp to American customers, another German manufacturer is betting on diesel to reinforce its presence in the US.

Update: corrected eroneous reference to Steptronic shift

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Halfway through 2009 FAW Group will present a new, upsetting (it’s the case to say it) limousine that will break any last psychological barriers, bringing a Chinese manufacturer of the hypercar world, and creating an exclusive V12 engine, so adopting the most noble part of the automobile world. That it’s happening in China is another thing.

What can we say? Looking at the photos, some of the Hongqi HQE’s details - developed as a concept a few years ago - are unashamedly copied from the much more aristocratic Rolls-Royce Phantom, including the flanks and the unmistakable suicide-doors.

Aside from these considerations, it needs to be said that the engine (from the CA12VG project) is an aspirated 6.0 developed entirely independently and which will be the first engine with exclusive production to finish under the bonnet of a Chinese car. The HQE will be the most expensive Hongqi ever produced by the company.

Hongqi HQE V12

Via | edmunds

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World Car Fans publishes some spy-shots of an Audi A4 being tested in the snows of northern Sweden. If the quadruple exhaus tubes and the big alloy rims don’t lie, it should be the new Audi S4, which should be coming out later this year.

The biggest unkown of the new S4 is the engine: will it be the same 4.2 litre V8 FSI of the S5, with 354 ps ? Or will it get un upgraded version of this same V8, with up to 390 ps ? Or, again, it could get the new V6 3.0 Turbo-FSI that everyone expects to come out soon, which should output 333 ps.

Continue reading: The new Audi S4 in the snows of Sweden

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Honda unveils the new Accord for Europe, with a sportier design, a whole slew of new safety systems and three new engines, all Euro 5 compliant. The new Accord is both wider and slower than the current model, with sharp edges and a wider stance.

The engine line up includes a 2.0-liter i-VTEC gasoline engine (156 ps). Power output is unchanged compared to the current model but fuel economy and emissions are much improved. The 2.4 i-VTEC engine gains 10 ps (200 ps now), as does the new 2.2 i-DTEC diesel engine compared to the i-CTDi engine of the current Accord. The i-DTEC engine outputs 150 ps with 350 Nm of torque. All engines are matched to a 6 speed manual gearbox, Automatic transmissions are an optional for the gasoline engines. Below you can find the full text of the Honda EU press release.

Continue reading: Honda Accord 2008

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It is very hard to forget a car like Lancia Thema, one of the best luxury sedans ever made in italian automotive history. Especially since it has been replaced by two models that have not been able to repeat the commercial success of the foregoing car.

Obviously we are talking about the Lancia K and the Lancia Thesis both of which played an important role during the decline of the charming italian brand.

Thanks to the financial situation of Fiat Group, which is finally healthy, it is now possible to dream of such a remake, that will surely touch many Lancia aficionados’ hearts.

Continue reading: Lancia Thema 2010: renderings from InfoMotori.com

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For the delectation of anyone who is as obsessive-compulsive as us about new cars, here’s a link to the microsite of the new Audi A4, a nice gallery of wallpapers of the new saloon from Ingolstadt and a video with studio shots of the A4 where the excitement consists mainly of seeing the xenon plus headlights and LED daylights being switched on and off.

Continue reading: New Audi A4 - microsite, wallpapers and video

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Some more photos of the new Audi A4, this time with the S line trim. And, to go with them, the official press release on the Audi A4 (pdf , 29 pages), of which you can find the brief version below the fold.

Continue reading: More about the new Audi A4

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