These new spy shots show us the Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake stripped of almost any sort of camouflage. As expected, the luxury staion wagon based on the CLS sedan will be very similar to the Shooting Brake Concept unveiled at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show, creating a new niche in the market for cars combining the practicality of an estate with the exclusivity and performance of a premium coupe-saloon. Engine range and versions will probably be the same of the CLS line, including all the AMG editions.

The Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake is expected to debut in 2012, possibly at the next Geneva Motor Show.

View the full Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake: spy shots photo gallery

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The long-awaited new version of the ‘normal’ Range Rover is currently in its final stage of testing and expected to be launched at the end of 2012, but its little sister Range Rover Sport is also undergoing development and a new and lighter version is supposed to come out one or two years later. These new spy shots show us a mule sporting most of the bodywork of the current model, but nonetheless they prove that a new Range Rover Sport is actually in the making.

As in the case of the next Range Rover, the focal point of this development is weight reduction and new materials will be used by Land Rover to serve this purpose. Rumor has it that both models will use a modified version of Jaguar XJ’s aluminum chassis and boast Evoque-inspired aesthetics.

No information has yet been released about the engine range, although it is quite likely that the next generation of both Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will use tweaked versions of their current engines, with more output and less fuel consumption. Hybrid versions may also surface at a later time, well after the official debut.

View the full Range Rover Sport spy shots photo gallery

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These spy shots of Audi A4 Allroad - spotted while testing in Southern Europe - prove that the model is getting ready for a restyling. Judging by these pictures, it looks like the front is the part that will be more heavily affected by the next upgrade, sporting a new design of the headlights that is quite similar to what we have seen for the new A5 range. Besides, the single-frame front grille has a different shape too. Under the bonnet, the next A4 Allroad is likely to use the same engines as the the renewed A5 range: a brand new 1.8 TFSI engine delivering 170 hp and a 2.0 TDI delivering 177 hp and 380 Nm of maximum torque. The new Audi A4 line, Allroad version included, i scheduled to make its debut in early 2012.

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Photographers have very recently caught on film for the first time what seems to be the new Audi RS1. The car was spotted both on the Nurburgring track (which has become a proper hunting ground for spy shooters by now) and on regular roads in the surrounding areas.

Quattro Gmbh (the well known Audi’s subsidiary specialized in spicing-up Audi cars) is currently testing RS5 Cabrio and RS7 prototypes, therefore it is not much of a surprise to see a RS version of the A1 model around these days. The lack of camouflage doesn’t leave much to the imagination though: the huge wing on the hatchback door is arguably its most evident feature, but we also notice wider side skirts as well as two massive exhaust pipes placed at the two sides of the diffuser.

Although there is no official confirmation on the matter, the RS1 is expected to come with a 250hp turbo charged 4-cylinder engine and it will - of course - have Quattro’s all-wheel drive system.

View the full Audi RS1: spy shots at the Nurburgring photo gallery

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Even though a second concept version was displayed at the last Frankfurt Motor Show, the Toyota FT-86 has still not made its official debut. Regardless, the pictured model will make its racing debut in Germany this coming Saturday: this slightly disguised FT-86 will run this weekend in the German VLN Endurance series at the Nürburgring, in a move that resembles what the Japanese group already did with Lexus LF-A.

The long-awaited front-mounted-engine rear-wheel-drive car (as well as the upcoming Subaru BRZ model that shares the same architecture) is scheduled be introduced in its definitive form in December at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.

View the full Toyota FT-86: spy shots photo gallery

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The upcoming new generation of Mercedes S-Class is still undergoing its testing stage, as these new spy shots reveal. The car is supposed to make its debut in 2012 and then enter into production with 4 different kinds of bodywork. The first ones to appear will be the long and short wheelbase versions, closely followed by the Coupe CL.

Scheduled to make it s debut in 2014 is the new four-seater convertible - which will be inspired by the Ocean Drive concept - and will use the innovative MRA (Mercedes Rear-wheel drive Architecture): a new architecture made of 93 different modules that will be the ’spine’ of all future rear-wheel drive Mercs. The S-Class W222 will also introduce an innovative flat screen right in the middle of the dashboard that will work as rev-counter, speedometer, on-board computer, sat-nav and infotainment system.

View the full New Mercedes S-Class: spy shots photo gallery

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The first spy shots of Audi RS5 Cabrio are finally available. Following a number of rumors predicting the arrival of a convertible version of the RS5 and then Audi’s official confirmation of the project at the end of September, this model has been spotted by photographers nearby the Nürburgring. Up until now the RS5 has been seen in its coupe version only, but this prototype stripped of almost any sort of camouflage can give us a more accurate outlook on how the final product will look like.

The pictured model wears the complete RS5 front, with its bigger front bumper and air intakes, RS5-spec brakes and wider wheel arches. Its back instead is still the one of the S5 as you can tell from the S5 badges, smaller fenders and the typical S-type quad exhaust pipes instead of the definitive 2 oval-shaped cans adopted by the RS5 (probably in an attempt to mislead the most shallow onlookers). Apart from the folding soft-top, the RS5 Cabrio is expected to be almost identical to the its coupe counterparts, meaning it should come with the same 4.2-liter V-8 engine (450hp and 450Nm of torque).

View the full Audi RS5 Cabrio: spy shots photo gallery

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This heavily disguised mule of the Volvo V30 has been snapped in Holland for the first time. Funnily enough, it was driving around in Amsterdam where it was also spotted in a McDonald’s parking lot during a break. The V30 is supposed to be a 4 door version of Volvo’s C30 model, that will also come up with a brand new version which is currently undergoing final testing. A crossover version tentatively called XC30 is also in the works.

Taking a closer look at these shots, the front end looks sleeker and more similar to the S60 than to the current C30, and rear lights also look very sculptured. The V30 is expected to make its debut in late 2012 or early 2013.

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Photographers have recently spotted a sedan version of Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series. The pictured 4 door prototype - spied while lapping at the Nurburgring - shows a more aggressive look thanks to the big deep front spoiler and the wider wheel arches.

No official release date has been set for the model, which will probably use the same 6.3-litre V8 engine (delivering 517hp and 620Nm of torque) powering the C63 AMG Black Series. Gearbox and suspension are also expected to be shared with its coupe counterpart.

View the full Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series: spy shots photo gallery.

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Here are the latest Subaru BRZ spy shots. The upcoming model - based on the architecture of Toyota FT-86 - is set to make its debut in Spring of 2012, and will be the first front engine rear-wheel drive car from the Japanese manufacturer since 1954’s Subaru 1500, the first vehicle ever built bearing a Subaru badge.

BRZ stands for Boxter (engine), Rear (wheel drive) and Zenith (literally ‘highest point’), and will be equipped with a 2.0-litres flat-4 belonging to the next generation of Subaru’s turbocharged boxer engines. The entry level model will have 200hp while the full power 300hp version will probably be used for a STi variation. Both configurations should be coupled with 6-speed manual transmission and the D4S direct injection system developed by Toyota.

View the full Subaru BRZ: spy shots photo gallery

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It was no surprise to find out that the new BMW 3-series, code named F30, will be available in a Hybrid version as well. Even though plans for the X6 Active Hybrid have been dropped, BMW still has the ActiveHybrid5 and the ActiveHybrid7 in the works, and is also developing hybrid versions of the 1-series range. This 3-series Hybrid prototype was spotted running some laps around the Nürburgring and - apart from the stickers on sides and rear - there is nothing in sight that would tell us it actually is a Hybrid version. Stickers are a must during testing, because police and other helpers need to be aware of the danger with electric power, in case of an accident.

Furthermore, we believe that the same engine currently being tested on the ActiveHybrid5 - a 3.0 liter six-cylinder connected to an electrical engine delivering some 40 kW - will be shared with the ActiveHybrid3. So, when will the ActiveHybrid3 come? Well, since testing is at full pace, with plenty of 3-series prototypes with Hybrid stickers around, we believe it will hit the showrooms within a year from the launch of the next BMW’s 3-series range, due by the end of this year.

View the full BMW 3 hybrid spy shots picture gallery

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Here are the first spy shots of the upcoming Opel Junior, a brand new model that the German manufacturer is planning to sell in its 3 door 3.70 meters long version only. Many rumors have anticipated the arrival of this car: initially it was believed to be Opel’s new entry level model, slotting right underneath the Corsa, but now it is thought to be a little premium car in the same league as other ‘trendy’ products such as Mini and Citroen DS3.

The car is expected to enter the market in 2013 with a renewed range of engines, although official sources have denied the development of an electric version of this model because of budget reasons. Besides, Opel is also planning to produce the more economical 2-seat city car currently known as RAK Concept. Rumor has it that ‘Junior’ might not even be the definitive name of the model, some say it will eventually be dropped in favour of ‘Allegra’.

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