During the last Frankfurt Motor Show Skoda showed up with the Mission L concept, and today we received the first lot of spy shots starring the future production version of that model, which - according to the latest rumors - will be named Rapid. If these rumors have to be believed, the choice would be quite strange as the VW Group is already selling a sedan version of its own Polo in India with the same name, a model that could also be introduced in Europe later on. However, some people think that this last model will end up being sold in Europe as a 3-box variant of the Skoda Fabia.

Going back to the spy shots, it is fair to say that this new Rapid will be positioned in Skoda’s current range between the Fabia and the Octavia, and that a hatchback and a station wagon versions are also in the cards. Moreover, the model will be marketed in Spain as the new version of the Seat Toledo.

The next Skoda Rapid will be developed on the standard platform - hence it will not be based on the brand new MQB one - and will come with the most recent VW’s engines and gearbox options. The definitive version should be ready by the summer, and chances are that its official unveiling will happen at the next Paris Motor Show.

....

0 comments

The 2014 Mercedes C-Class (codenamed BR205) has been spotted during its first winter testing, and here are a few spy shots of the model. As you can see in these images, the pictured mule is wearing quite some heavy camouflage which makes it really difficult to see the lines of the new design, with the only exception of the roof. The model is expected do draw some inspiration from the F800 Concept Car showcased at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010, especially as far as its front end is concerned. Considering that the C-Class is probably the most important model for Mercedes-Benz, it seems unlikely that they will experiment too much with the design of the new model, but in order to compete with such cars as the Audi A4 and the 3-Series from BMW it will have to look dynamic and sporty.

The new C-Class will come with an engine range made of several petrol and diesel units, but it will also see the addition of a hybrid powertrain for the first time. The sedan version will be the first C-Class body-type to become available on the market in early 2014, followed by the wagon a few months later. The coupe and convertible version instead are supposed to debut in early 2015. Apparently, the new C-Class will be produced in the US as well: rumor has it that the Alabama plant will build the C-Class as well as the GL and M-Class.

....

0 comments

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.

....

0 comments

Last month we showed you a bunch of spy shots picturing a mule of the Rolls Royce Phantom sedan, which is currently undergoing its mid-life restyling. Similarly, the coupe version of the famous RR model will is also about to receive some cosmetic change, and here are a few spy shots showing us the relative mule taking on some cold weather testing.

The most visible modifications should be affecting the front end of the car, especially the layout of its head lamps. In fact, just like the aforementioned Phantom sedan mule, this one too sports some smart cammo on the front lights designed to resemble the aesthetics of the current model, making it clear that that is the area where the major changes will happen. As with the sedan version, we suspect that the coupe will feature some minor changes to the interior and infotainment system too, and it is quite likely that some new units with more power and less CO2 emissions will also be added to its engine range.

....

0 comments

Here are the latest Mercedes SL spy shots showing us a mule stripped of most of its usual camouflage, surely the most revealing set of pics so far. These images allow us to have a clearer idea of the recent development of its aesthetics, now featuring a front end that is actually a continuation of the styling we have seen on the latest Mercs, although it might be just a little too similar to the last SLK. There is also a more upright grille, designed in accord to the most recent European rules regarding pedestrian protection.

The rear end is clearly inspired by the CLS - especially as far as tail lights are concerned - while the lines of the side view are quite reminiscing of the current model. Besides, the bodywork uses one of the new metallic paint colors that have been introduced with the SLS AMG Roadster range.

As for the interiors, the new Mercedes SL will use the same scheme adopted by SLS and SLK models, featuring round-shaped commands and instrumentation and loads of leather, aluminum and carbon fibre. Power will come from a wide range of power plants including a 3.5 liter V6 and a 4.6 liter bi-turbo V8. Needless to say, spiced-up AMG versions are already in the works.

View the full Mercedes SL spy shots photo gallery

....

0 comments

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

....

0 comments

BMW is currently working on a small facelift for the X6, just to keep the model fresh for some more years until its successor will come. In comparison to the original X6 - launched in 2008 - this restyled version will feature just some minor changes. The most remarkable one should be the new headlights, featuring squared off ‘angel eyes’ rings and LED daytimers (very similar to the ones we have seen on the BMW 1 series). Rear lights as well will get new graphics and will adopt BMW´s latest LED design, to match the rest of BMW’s line up. There will also be smaller changes to the bumpers, although the front bumper of the pictured prototype is still the same one that is being used on the current version of the car.

Way more interesting are the news concerning the mechanical side as a new six cylinder 3.0 tri-turbo diesel engine - which will deliver 750Nm of torque and a maximum power of around 390hp - will be made available for the M50d. The revamped X6 is scheduled to enter the market in spring 2012.

View the full BMW X6 facelift photo gallery

....

0 comments

Here you are the first pictures of the 2009 Mercedes E-Class Station Wagon caught during tests in Germany. The camouflage is still pretty heavy, so this is not enough to have a definitive say on the final looks of the car, but we can assume that the body style will inherit many of the new C-Class and S-Class features. Plus, we know that the front will no longer feature the twin round headlamps. The new E-Class’ body seems to be sleeker than the previous model’s, especially in the rear.

Mercedes engineers are still working at quality and electronic glitches that have afflicted the current generation E-Class since its debut, so we should expect some simplification on the W212 (the next-gen’s codename). Problematic components such as the SBC, the electronic braking system developed by Mercedes-Benz, will be abandoned in favor of more conventional components.

Continue reading: Mercedes E-Class SW spy-shots

....

0 comments