Spy Photos

[InlineSIX24]

SEMA eNews, Vol. 11, No. 6 - Feb 07, 2008
SPY SHOTS—AUDI'S RUGGED NEW ALL-WHEEL A4
Don't let the sedan shape fool you, warns spy photo ringleader Brenda Priddy; this is a test mule for Audi's A4 Allroad, caught here in Sweden during cold-weather testing. The all-wheel-drive Allroad, currently available only on the A6 Avant wagon, looks to make its way to the smaller A4 platform, likely after the A4 Avant debut.

If the matte-black wheel arches and higher ride height are any indication, the A4 will try for a piece of the market—that for a car-based utility car with refined and rugged styling—currently enjoyed by Volvo and its XC series wagons.

[~Barn~]

So what would be some of the major differences between something like this, and just your run of the mill A4 Quattro? I saw the part about the increased ride height, but there's got to be more.

[InlineSIX24]

http://blogs.edmunds.com/.ee92b98
Spy photos: 2009 Audi A7
We've seen this Audi test mule before on the Nurburgring, but this time when our spy photographers caught up with the prototype testing in the heat of Death Valley they were able to get a closer look.

In addition to snagging a few shots of the interior, they also pulled out a tape measure to confirm its wheelbase. From the interior photos you can see new bezels for the gauges while the wheelbase measured an even 111 inches. This puts it just shy of the current A6 (111.9), a fact which leads us to believe this could be the upcoming A7 four-door "coupe" designed to go head-to-head with the Mercedes-Benz CLS. Our photographer also reports this particular prototype was accompanied by an A6, an S6 and an S8, all cars likely to share parts with the A7. We're expecting to see the smaller A4-based coupe early next year, but it's clear Audi isn't wasting any time ramping up development of its other new "coupe".




No its not an all-Audi thread.. that just what I've found so far.

[Devaclis]

It''s gonna be an over priced VW - Sweet!!!

[InlineSIX24]

Hilux Disguise Hides New Volkswagen Taro Pickup
http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080129....olkswagen-taro
Volkswagen has already confirmed it will produce a midsize pick-up in Germany, South Africa and Argentina. Internally called “Robust Pick-Up”, or RPU, it will compete mainly against the Toyota Hilux in emerging markets. Is there a better way to know a competitor than inside-out? Volkswagen seems to have followed this idea literally and has used a Hilux body to hide its brand new pick-up truck, which is expected to be launched by the end of 2009.

Ironically, the test mule that was chosen by Volkswagen evokes a previous partnership between the German and the Japanese automakers, as well as the possible name of the new pick-up truck. Although the official name has not been released yet, we can bet it will be called Taro or Taro II. This was the name used by VW to sell a rebadged Hilux that was produced both by Volkswagen and Toyota from 1989 until 1997.

It may really seem to be a Toyota Hilux, but the wheelbase of this vehicle is larger and the registration plate of the pick-up truck indicates it was registered in Brunswig, a city close to Wolfsburg here VW has its headquarters, and is commonly used by the company to register its prototypes.

Engines are expected to be turbodiesels, but there may be gasoline powerplants if plans to export the pick-up truck to the USA get the green light. As the pictures allow us to see, there will be a four-wheel drive version of the new Taro, just like this one, which was being tested in Northern Scandinavia.

Rumors are that the 2WD version will be front wheel drive, but we would bet on a rear wheel drive pick-up truck, especially considering its size and the heavy duty it may be subject to. Sources state it will be able to carry up to 1.5 ton.

Besides the Taro (or Taro II), an SUV based on the platform is also expected. It would be called Volkswagen Namib and would be a lower-cost option to the Touareg, what helps explain why the AAC Concept was never produced. The Touareg is considered to be too expensive for emerging markets and is very sophisticated even in European markets.

[InlineSIX24]

Spy photos: 2010 Mazda RX-8
These are the first shots of the 2010 Mazda RX-8. Obviously this test mule isn’t all that different from the current RX-8, but it appears as though a new front end is on the way at the very least. We’re not expecting big changes for Mazda’s rotary-powered sportscar, so the minimal camouflage isn’t much of a surprise. Mazda's designers are currently working on a new face of Mazda which will be applied across the lineup starting with the 2009 Mazda 3.

Update: Mazda has officially announced that the 2009 Mazda RX-8 will debut at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. In its release Mazda says the new RX-8 will have “a freshened design, improved handling, acceleration, quality and features.” Sounds like your basic midcycle refresh. We weren’t expecting it so soon, however, so our 2010 forecast was a little off.

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Spy photos: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V uncovered
After snagging numerous spy photos and videos over the last year, we finally got our hands on these pictures of the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V completely uncovered. They reveal a completely revised front end, well integrated hood bulge and a set of massive rotors that look more than capable of hauling it all to a stop. We won’t get the rest of the details until the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January, but these spy shots should hold you over for now

[InlineSIX24]

Spy shots: 2009 Ford F-150 caught sans camo
Inside Line was lucky to get a couple of images of the new 2009 F-150 caught in testing. As you can see, the exterior changes fall into the facelift category, rather than full makeover. Will this be enough to keep the competition at bay?

[InlineSIX24]

Spy photos: Is this the Hyundai Genesis coupe?
According to the post, the information and photos were gleaned from a marketing presentation several months ago which seems plausible given the Mustang coupe on hand for comparison. They were told there would be two engines: a 2.0-liter 215hp turbo four-cylinder and a 300hp 3.8-liter V6. Pricing at the time was expected to come in around $20k for the four-cylinder and $26K for the V6. Sounds like this new coupe really is the Hyundai Mustang.

[InlineSIX24]

Spy photos: 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco
This isn’t the actual 2009 Volkswagen Scirocco, but it pretty close. Based on the same prototypes shown in our latest Scirocco spy video, this illustration reveals just how close the production Scirocco will come to the Iroc concept. It looks pretty good, but don’t expect to see it in the U.S. anytime soon. Executives at Volkswagen initially balked at the idea of trying to sell another performance coupe in the U.S., but there’s a new CEO in charge now so this situation could change. It would probably have to cost around $35,000 to position it above the R32. Would you pay that much for this Scirocco?


..No I wouldn't

[InlineSIX24]

Spy photos: Nissan GT-R beats 911 Turbo around the Nurburgring
There were plenty of enthusiasts who scoffed when Nissan's engineers started dragging a 911 Turbo around with them while testing the 2009 GT-R. It seemed like a lofty benchmark for a car that's expected to cost around $75,000, but the latest word from Germany suggests Nissan may have met its goals.

Prototypes of the 2009 GT-R started circling the Nurburgring yesterday, and according to spy shooters on the scene it was clear that the GT-R was running at full steam. With that in mind, they pulled out their stop watches to get an idea just how fast the GT-R was getting around the Nordschleife. The fastest hand timed lap came in at around 7:38, two seconds faster than the 911 Turbo's widely reported fastest lap of 7:40.

And as if that wasn’t enough to cement the GT-R's reputation around the Nurburgring, our spies also caught a couple shots of the Nissan blowing by the facelifted Porsche 911 Turbo we showed you earlier in the week. The Porsche may not have been running at full speed, but a pass is a pass.

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Spy photos: Mercedes-Benz SL 63 Black Series hits the Nurburgring
Looks like yet another model in the Mercedes-Benz lineup is getting the Black Series treatment from AMG. This prototype of the Mercedes-Benz SL 63 Black Series was recently spotted at the Nurburgring and it looks every bit as aggressive as its current CLK counterpart. Huge fender flares add a good 10 to 12 inches of width to the car which clears the way for a monster set of wheels and tires. The brake calipers appear slightly different than those on the current SL 55/65 too. A new front fascia with more rectangular headlights is also part of the package and we expect to see it applied to all SL models next year. Our spy shooters will be at the Nurburgring all week, so expect to see video of this high-powered roadster shortly.

[InlineSIX24]

Subaru's first motorcycle: the HS500sa
It's rumored that this bike could be branded a Subaru. Powered by a Fuji Heavy Industries -- Subaru's parent company -- 500cc single-cylinder engine, it could also herald a new era of challenging-to-ride, low-capacity sportsbikes. While the styling is a bit generic for our tastes, the beefy, Chinese-made frame and swingarm are promising. The whole thing looks very production ready, so expect to see more of it, possibly in a Subaru dealership in Asia, very soon.

[Canuck]

The Touareg is considered to be too expensive for emerging markets and is very sophisticated even in European markets.

Yes it is

[Canuck]

So what would be some of the major differences between something like this, and just your run of the mill A4 Quattro? I saw the part about the increased ride height, but there's got to be more.

This would be a smaller version of the All-Road, which is an A6 chassis. It was Audi's first attempt of an (soft) off-road vehicle. The All-Road is a better alternative than the Q7 for most people, unless you truly need the extra cargo room. Plus, it's better than the Q7 for off-road traction and on-road performance. I think that the A4 All-Road will be a great addition to the line up, but as Dana mentioned to, its just and overpriced VW

[Matty]

I'd hit it!!!!! that shit is hot.

[InlineSIX24]

Giovanni had a CTS-V out at SEMA that I wouldn't mind having. Just have to win powerball now..

[InlineSIX24]

Subaru To Build Next Toyota Celica?
Those missing the RWD Celica's of yore can take hold of some gossip based on a rumor about the dead coupe getting revived with some mechanicals from the Subie parts bin. Going chronologically, the exciting gossip last August was that Toyota was going to use its new stake in Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) to help it build a small RWD Coupe, which everyone took to mean a new Toyota Corolla AE86. Now AutoWeek.nl has it that the rumored AE86 might be a suspected Celica
The speculation points to the next generation Celica being produced by Subaru and coming in two versions: Celica GT and GT-4. Both will get the 2.0-liter boxer out of the WRX, with the GT-4 getting the 300 horsepower version of out of the STI and four-wheel drive (with in-wheel electric motors, if you can believe that). If rumor is to be believed, the new Celica will come in coupe and three-door hatchback form. Where it's sold, what it costs and when it debuts is all a matter of intuition and random guessing at this point.

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First Subaru-backed WRX Sedan Tuner Caught in the Wild?
What we think is probably the first manufacturer supported US tune of the new Subaru WRX sedan was spotted on the 405 near Irvine by a reader over at Fast Lane Daily with a quick eye and an even quicker shutter. The tip-off that it's something special is the manufacturer plate in the pic, as well as the manny-plated Legacy GT chase car. The WRX features the carbon fiber hood and black wheels we've come to expect from the Japanese tuner crowd.

[InlineSIX24]

Spy photos: 2009 Dodge Challenger prototype
With production of the 2009 Dodge Challenger slated for next spring, it was only a matter of time before prototypes started showing up. What we have here isn't quite a full-blown prototype just yet, but our newest spy photos show what appears to be the front clip of a Challenger grafted onto the body of a Charger R/T. This is a common practice when engineers want to test airflow to the engine of a car that has a radically different grille design compared to existing models. Despite the heavy camouflage, it's clear the Challenger's front end will look almost identical to the prototype which should come as no surprise given that Dodge officials have already promised minimal styling changes for the production Challenger. With an official unveiling scheduled for the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, we expect this will be the first of many Challenger spy photos to come.

[InlineSIX24]

Lexus LF-A Uncovered
Finally, here it is. For the first time without disguise, the V10 powered Lexus LF-A prototype driving is its rounds at the Nurburgring. It's close to the concept as we all expected, with just some minor changes. The official debut will probably be at the Car Show in Frankfurt during September. In the meantime the guys at Lexus will continue testing and fine tuning suspension and handling. With photos of the Honda NSX mule surfacing a little while ago, Lexus probably wanted to let the readers of car magazines across the globe have a glimpse of the LF-A instead of the NSX mule. The Japanese super-car war has just started, beware of the Ninjas.
Source: copyright Lehmann Photo-Syndication

[Jason ON]

Subaru's first motorcycle: the HS500sa
It's rumored that this bike could be branded a Subaru. Powered by a Fuji Heavy Industries -- Subaru's parent company -- 500cc single-cylinder engine, it could also herald a new era of challenging-to-ride, low-capacity sportsbikes. While the styling is a bit generic for our tastes, the beefy, Chinese-made frame and swingarm are promising. The whole thing looks very production ready, so expect to see more of it, possibly in a Subaru dealership in Asia, very soon.

So, will it be all-wheel drive?

[InlineSIX24]

Not blue and not awd.. kinda falls under the wtf? catagory.

[InlineSIX24]

SEMA eNews, Vol. 11, No. 7 - Feb 14, 2008
SPY SHOTS: SMOOTHER LINES, POSSIBLE TURBO V8 FOR NEXT BMW 5 SERIES

Under the plastic camouflage shown in these Brenda Priddy & Co. spy photos is the next-generation BMW 5 Series, codenamed F10 and set to replace the E60 platform. Expect to see softer lines, more conventional headlights and a cleaner front-end design, say the writers at Edmunds.com.

“New European pedestrian safety standards are expected to drastically alter the design of many European cars for the worse, but BMW will not only maintain its classic twin-kidney grille design, it will reduce the length of the front overhang,” Edmunds says (look closely through the front mesh decoy grille and you can just make out the twin-kidney split).
Underhood, the F10 will likely use variations of existing BMW engines, including a 2.5L straight six, a 4.8L V8, a diesel and possibly some combination of a small displacement turbo V8.