2010 VW Golf GTI VI Production Model Photos

Volkswagen's public UK site has uploaded a new set of photos depicting the production version of the 2010 VW Golf GTI VI. But wait; didn't the Germans introduce the production model at last year's Paris Show, we hear you ask? The answer is sort of as VW unveiled the near-to-production GTI VI. And the differences are? Well, if our eyes aren't playing games with us, the only visible changes we see by comparing these photos with the ones from last year's show car are the more-production like headlamps and the blacked out front lip spoiler that was painted white on the Paris Show Golf GTI.

For more detailed information and photos on the sixth-generation Golf GTI, click here for the 3-door variant and here for the more practical five-door model.

Via: Worldcarfans , Source: Volkswagen UK

Aston Martin Rapide: New Photos of Production Model

New photos of the production version of Aston Martin's Rapide sport sedan have been leaked into the web. The crew over at Autocar that released the pictures claim that Aston Martin's Porsche Panamera rival will be revealed this autumn, most likely at the 2009 Frankfurt Show in Germany. The allegedly official, computer generated images show that not much has changed in terms of design from the 2006 Detroit show Rapide concept.

The most noticeable changes concern the stronger crease that runs from the front wing vent through both doors, the redesigned front apron that does away with the side vents and the restyled rear-bumper.

The four-seater British sports saloon is based on a stretched version of the DB9's platform with power coming from a 6.0-liter V12 engine generating around 500HP. The Rapide will be the first car in the marque's history to be built out of Britain as production will be carried out by Magna Steyr at the firm's Austrian plant in Graz.

Via: Autocar

BMW PAS: 5-Series Hatchback Teased Ahead of Geneva Debut

BMW has released the first video of a series presenting the concept behind the 5-Series spin-off, the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS) that will be revealed for the first time at the Geneva Show, according to our Bavarian sources. We guess you're wondering what the PAS is; well to put it short, it's a more practical, hatchback version of the 5-Series sedan with a higher roofline, a coupe-like fastback rear-end and slightly raised road clearance. Sounds 'bungled' up, but we'll give BMW the benefit of the doubt until we see the PAS the in person. Hit the jump for the video.

2009 Renault Clio Facelift Spied Ahead of Geneva Show

It's a busy time at Renault as the French automaker is planning to introduce an collection of new or facelifted models including the 2009 Scenic & Grand Scenic, Megane Coupe RS and the revamped Clio at its Geneva Motor Show stand this March. While Renault has not revealed any details or photos of the facelifted Clio, a member of a Dutch automotive forum scooped an undisguised prototype model in a parking lot.

The photo reveals that the mildly-revamped French supermini has received a new snout evidently inspired from the firm's latest creations such as the new Megane and Laguna. The faclifted Clio hatchback will most likely be accompanied in Geneva by the Clio Sport Tourer that will receive the same updates.

Source: Autoweek Forums

Video: Amateur Captures the Alfa Romeo 149 on the Road

Before you begin working on your 'French' in our comment section, allow us to tell you that this amateur video is a only mere 15 seconds long and it just gives us a very tiny glimpse of a camouflaged Alfa Romeo 149 prototype. Like the MiTo, Alfa's new C-segment proposal will draw heavy inspiration from the marque's halo model, the stunning 8c Competizione. As we reported previously, if Fiat seals the proposed deal with Chrysler LLC, Alfa's VW Golf rival will make its way to the States, however, don't expect to see it here before 2011. In Europe, the 149 should hit showrooms by the end of the year or early 2010.

Grazie for the tip Mario!

High-Performance Opel Insignia OPC with 320HP and AWD Scooped at Official Event

British car magazine EVO has posted a grainy photograph of what appears to be a prototype model of the forthcoming high-performance Insignia OPC, or as it will called in the UK, the Vauxhall Insignia VXR. We're not entirely sure, but from what we can tell, the picture was taken at some sort of internal gathering of top Opel executives. Aside from the new front bumper that is apparently inspired from the Opel GTC Concept coup� that was previewed at the 2007 Geneva motor show, the OPC prototype also seems to feature wider wheel arches than the standard Insignia.

Details of what is hiding under the Insignia OPC's hood have not been disclosed, but is said that the Opel's performance saloon will get a modified version of the firm's twin-turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 producing around 320HP matched with the latest Haldex AWD differential.

It is expected -but not yet confirmed- that Opel will unveil a prototype version of the car at the Geneva Motorshow in March with the production model following at the Frankfurt show in September.

Source: EVO , Via: Autoblog.it

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe Spied in Mallorca

A reader over at our fellow Spanish 'compameros' at Motorpasion snapped some of the best photos we've seen up until now of the Mercedes CLK replacement, the new E-Class Coupe. With the exception of the thinly masked headlights and tail lamps, the coupe was virtually free of any disguise. Judging from the board seen in the photos that were shot at a resort in the beautiful island of Mallorca in Spain, it appears that Mercedes hosted an internal even for its employees to show off the new E-Class Sedan and Coupe, as well as the upcoming S-Class facelift. Point your mouse here for more details on the E-Class Coupe or hit the jump to see the complete image gallery.







Via: Motorpasion

Insider: Fiat 500 Convertible to Premiere at Geneva Show

The Geneva Motor Show this March will see Fiat taking the top off its much anticipated 500 Convertible. As you can see in our rendering, unlike the MINI Cooper Cabrio that features a fully retractable rooftop, Fiat chose to retain the standard car's pillars and side windows, and simply fit the 500 Convertible with a folding-back canvas top that covers the roof and the rear glasshouse section. Although this solution does not offer a full drop-top experience, it helps keep the price down and logically, should make the 500 one of the most affordable cabriolets in the market.

The 500 Convertible will arrive in dealerships across Europe by summer 2009. As one would assume, the engine range will be shared with the hatchback version and include 1.2- and 1.4-liter gasoline units and a 1.3-liter turbo diesel.

Stay tuned on Carscoop as our insiders are working overtime to bring you first all the world premieres that will take place at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

2010 BMW 5-Series Touring Spied on Public Roads

With its chief-rival, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, having already been introduced, BMW is moving full force with the development of the sixth-generation 5-Series that will be available in both sedan and station wagon (Touring) forms. Our spy photographers captured a prototype version of the 5-Series Touring on public roads covered in a coat of riveted dummy panels. While it is extremely difficult to make any assumptions for the car's styling other than it will boast the latest interpretation of BMW's twin-kidney grille that has evidently grown in size, it is apparent that the Touring variant will retain the somewhat conservative shape of the current model.

Our inside sources state however that the new 5-Series will take several design cues from the all-new 7-Series (see high-res photos and details here) that was unveiled in the summer of 2008. This means that BMW's executive model will most likely be less controversial, with its harder angles smoothed off, and in the case of the saloon, with a less provocative (Bungle) bootie.

It is expected that the new 5-Series will grow a few inches in length and width thus improving passenger and luggage space. Despite being a bit bigger than the current model, weight saving measures that will include the extended use of aluminum body parts will help keep the mass low.

The new 5-Series will be offered with a wide variety of gasoline engines including naturally aspirated and turbocharged inline-six cylinder units and a twin-turbo V8 as well as 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder turbo diesels. As for the highly anticipated M5 that will once again be available in sedan and Touring bodystyles, it is almost certain that BMW will ditch the current 507 HP 5.0-liter V10 and replace it with an even more powerful, yet lighter, twin-turbocharged V8 engine.

The new 5-Series is due to hit showrooms around the world in 2010.

2011 Jaguar XFR-S Rendered for your Delight

At last year's 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Jaguar revealed a limited production version of the XKR called the XKR-S that featured subtle chassis alterations and a series of visual enhancements. While the British firm has not announced any plans for the introduction of a similar version of the new XFR sport saloon that was unveiled at the Detroit Show earlier this month, chances are that Jaguar will most likely give the green light (if it hasn't already) for the development of the XFR-S.

With this in mind, the crew over at Jaguarmania came up with a series of renderings depicting the XFR-S. In their opinion, the 'S' model will gain a set of unique 20-inch alloy wheels, different side sills and a new rear-diffuser incorporating larger tailpipes. We're guessing that if Jaguar goes ahead with the XFR-S, it will most likely get an even more aggressive look with a new front spoiler, blacked-out chrome effects, a larger wing and a lowered suspension.

Source: Jaguarmania - Grazie Giancarlo!

2011 Nissan Versa / Tiida Rendered, Gets New Turbo Engines

The Nissan Tiida, also known in the U.S. and Canada as the Versa, has been around in Japan since 2004. That is a long time in automobile-years so it comes to no surprise that Japanese magazines like �Best Car� have started publishing renderings of the Versa / Tiida�s replacement, expected in 2010. The artist�s rendering seen here, depicts a no-frills design proposal for the sedan variant that would also spawn a five-door hatchback version.

Best Car claims that, at least in what concerns the Japanese-market model, the 2010 Tiida / Verso will be offered with new range of turbocharged petrol engines. Since it is rumored that Nissan�s next-generation compact car will be based upon the Renault Megane architecture, the engine range could include Renault�s new 1.4-liter and 2.0-liter TCe turbocharged petrol units that deliver 130 and 180 HP respectively.

Expect to see the new Versa / Tiida hitting showrooms in the States and Europe sometime in 2011.

Rendering: Best Car

2010 MINI Crossman SUV Scooped: Production Model Gets Conventional Five-Door Layout

These are the latest spy shots of the new MINI Crossman, expected hit showrooms in early 2010. MINI gave us a preview of its baby SUV model at last year's Paris Motor Show with the Crossover Concept. Our scoop pictures reveal that the production version will lose the prototype's relatively low-slung roof and most importantly, the two asymmetric doors on the driver's side that have been replaced by conventional ones for a more practical five-door layout.

At the rear, MINI will most likely ditch the prototype's huge side-hinged door for either a normal liftgate or a split tailgate similar to the one found on the Clubman.

Though heavily camouflaged with the usual 70's style patterns that we see on most BMW Group prototypes, it is apparent that the concept's gaudy face with the large sweptback headlights will be retained on the production Crossman.

The fourth variant of the MINI after the classic two-door hatch, the convertible and the estate-like Clubman, will be powered by a range of petrol and turbo diesel engines. The difference is that for the first time, MINI will offer the Crossman with a four-wheel drive layout.

In another first, the Crossman will be built for MINI by Austrian contract manufacturer, Magna Steyr, as the firm's factory in Cowley, England does not have sufficient capacity to handle the production.

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe: First Official Photos

Mercedes-Benz seems to be having a problem lately keeping anything that concerns the new E-Class under cover. Just like the E-Class sedan that made its debut on the web well before the official unveiling, the Coupe version of the Merc's executive saloon that will replace the CLK coupe and convertible models has been ingloriously revealed through a series of leaked photos that appear to have been scanned from a brochure. With its quad-headlamp arrangement, the more dramatic styling of the three-part side windows combined with the sleeker roofline and its heavily shouldered rear wheel-arches, the new E-Class Coupe looks more stylish and has more presence than the current CLK.

Inside, from what we can tell, the dashboard is identical to the one found on the new E-Class Sedan. However, Mercedes has fitted the Coupe with four-individual, high-rise bucket seats.

The 2010 E-Class Coupe's engine line-up is likely to match that of the sedan model, meaning that you should expect to find (depending on the marker of course) four- and six-cylinder turbodiesels, plus four-cylinder supercharged petrols, a direct injection 3.5-litre V6 petrol with 292HP and a 5.5-liter V8 producing 388HP. The range-topping E 63 AMG Coupe model will get a 525HP V8 unit.

The new E-Class Coupe will make its show debut in Geneva this March with sales following shortly after in Europe, and towards the end of the year or early 2010, in the U.S.

Via: Autoblog.nl - Thanks for the tip Vincent!

Insider: BMW Alpina B7 gets 507HP Twin-Turbo V8, Debut Set for Geneva

Carscoop's insiders have learnt that the all-new Alpina B7, a souped-up version of BMW's latest generation 7-Series sedan, will make its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Furthermore, we also managed to find out that the 2009 Alpina B7 will use a modified version of BMW's 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine delivering around 507HP, or 7HP more than the previous B7 that was fitted with a supercharged 4.4-liter V8. While Alpina has yet to release any official details or pictures, a teaser sketch of the new B7 was leaked into the internet in December 2008, giving us a first glimpse of the sport sedan.