This isn’t the first time we hear about a possible Infiniti GT-R model. In fact, this rumor took root as soon as the Nissan GT-R was launched back in 2008, and has resurfaced numerous times since then. Now, it’s making another appearance. According to British magazine CAR, Infiniti may offer a GT-R version after all, hinted by Francois Bancon, Head of Advanced Planning for Infiniti in Tokyo. He stated that the GT-R platform is too good to use for only one model. In fact, he said that the company is taking under consideration ’three or four’ proposals and that an Infiniti GT-R is one of them.
If the decision does lie with the Infiniti GT-R, it would need to counteract the Nissan GT-R’s power with sophistication: "It would have to be softer than the GT-R. And that’s extremely difficult to do. You can’t easily tweak the GT-R to deliver the sophisticated, more refined performance we would need on an Infiniti."
A final decision on the Infiniti GT-R will be made in the next two or three years and, if chosen, a production version should arrive in the next five years.
A few days ago, it was rumored that the Volkswagen Bluesport had been dropped because the company couldn’t find enough sales to justify investing in the model. But, according to British magazine Evo, this simply isn’t true because the Bluesport is still on track.
In a recent interview with EVO, Volkswagen’s engineering boss, Uli Hackenberg, stated that the Bluesport project is still very much alive: "dealers are always looking backwards, not forwards… this is particularly the case when a new model is being considered as they don’t have any reference point to guide them, so they look around at the current market and give an estimate based on that."
Uli elaborated by stating that a production version will arrive in the next three years and will carry a price tag of about £30,000 (about $47k at the current exchange rates). Maybe this means we’ll also see the baby Boxster in the near future?
After Mercedes unveiled the new generation CLS, rumors started to circulate about a Shooting Brake version. And while this isn’t the first time the vehicle has been caught testing, it is yet another confirmation that the Shooting Brake is happening, however strange it may seem.
The up and coming CLS Shooting Brake was in Northern Sweden doing some winter testing when our spy photographers caught up with it. If anyone expects to see great things from this new model, we recommend they stop dreaming. The Shooting Brake model will only be a station wagon version of the CLS and will feature the same design language as its sedan brother. The technology and engine lineup will also be shared.
This means that when the CLS Shooting Brake finally makes its appearance, it will be powered by a direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 capable of producing 306 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. An AMG version is also a strong possibility.
The Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake is expected to be unveiled sometime in 2012.
Porsche just unveiled the new generation Boxster which means the next to arrive will be the Cayman. From the looks of these spy shots, the sports car is just about ready, but this prototype has a few secrets to tell before its official debut.
These images of the future Cayman were shot in a city in Germany while the vehicle was testing, and not only reveal some of the exterior, but a first closeup of the interior as well. As expected, the interior will be very similar to that of the recently revealed Boxster, but it was covered up enough to hide the perks that we’re sure are there. Maybe we’ll even see the high-resolution 4.6-inch TFT color screen the Boxster just received to display its on-board computer, communication, audio settings, and navigation system.
As for the exterior changes, they will be minimal and will include an updated front fascia and new headlamps. What Porsche will really be focusing on is what’s found under the hood. The Cayman’s dimensions will grow and it will be offered with the same engine lineup as that of the Boxster: a 265 HP 2.7 liter engine for the base version and a 315 HP 3.4 liter engine for the S version. Both will be offered with either a manual six-speed gearbox as standard or a PDK available as an option.
The Porsche 911 Speedster is a rare variant with only three generations notched onto its belt. The first was provided for the 911/930 from 1975-1989 and the second was built from the 911/964 generation from 1990-1994. After 16 years of dormancy, the 911 Speedster arrived at the tail end of the 997 series, more than likely to allow the generation to go out with a bang, but we would have much rather Porsche held out for the 991 generation.
If they had held out, we would expect the
911 Speedster to be the last variant to show up on the 911 roster, sometime in 2013. Like the current model, Porsche would focus on making the car lighter and more powerful: the current version uses a 3.8-liter flat six engine that produces 408 HP. Of course, the model would also be a limited edition, so many of us would be unable to get our hands on one.
That may not matter though. When taking history into account, the odds of Porsche bringing the 911 Speedster back only a few years after the previous version are slim to none, but we couldn’t help thinking of what the model would look like if they did.
