News on the future Porsche Cajun has quieted down as of late, but a few spy shots have catapulted the baby Cayenne back to the headlines. Our spy photographers have caught the Cajun doing a bit of winter testing somewhere in Northern Sweden.
The Porsche Cajun will be built on the same platform as the Audi Q5, which is why this mule looks identical to Audi’s SUV. However, somewhere under that wider track lies Porsche’s future baby crossover, packed with better brakes and wheels. The engine line-up will also be borrowed from the Q5, meaning both both petrol and diesel variants, fine-tuned to Porsche specifications for higher power figures. A hybrid powertrain may also be in the works and may combine a 2.0 TFSI engine that produces 210 HP with a 44 HP electric motor. This will help Porsche get closer to the average CO2 emissions goal of 130 g/km that all car manufacturers need to reach by 2015.
At the initial launch, the Porsche Cajun will be available with four doors, but a sportier two-door model will follow shortly thereafter.
The 2012 Detroit Auto Show will be held in less than a month and as expected, more and more automakers are announcing their line-up for the show. For example, Bentley just provided details on its Continental GT V8 and Acura has announced their list of debuts for the show. The line-up includes an all-new compact sports sedan, a redesigned RDX crossover sport utility vehicle, and a concept version of the next generation Acura NSX super car.
The ILX Concept previews an all-new luxury compact sedan scheduled for launch in Spring 2012. It will be offered with a choice of three powertrains including Acura’s first-ever gas-electric hybrid. For the 2013 RDX, Acura has shifted its attention, much like everyone else, to improving the vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
Acura’s new Supercar Concept will take top billing in this showcase, with future plans for a production NSX consuming our minds. This concept was announced at the same time Honda CEO, Takanobu Ito, confirmed that the next NSX would be a high-performance exotic sports car. The company is currently working on a 3.5-3.7 liter VTEC V6 engine in combination with a twin electric motor set-up powered by lithium-ion batteries. This motor will have a plug-in recharge system for a small electric-only range, giving it great amounts of torque.
Another source told AutoExpress that the Dual Note 4WD Hybrid Concept from the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show was the first glimpse at the technology that will underpin the NSX. This concept was powered by a 3.5 liter V6 engine which sent power to the rear wheels, while in-wheel electric motors sent power to the front. This setup delivered an output of over 400 HP.
"Acura has a steady cadence of exciting new models coming to market and it will all begin in Detroit," said Jeff Conrad, vice president and general manager of Acura sales and service. "From the all-new Acura ILX at the gateway of the lineup to the pinnacle of performance with the Acura NSX Concept, Acura vehicles are being created for luxury customers who aspire to the highest levels of quality and value, with beautiful styling and the right balance of technology, performance and environmental responsibility."
Image above is of the Supercar Concept as seen on the movie set for The Avengers.
The Mercedes GLK went on sale in 2009 and after a few years on the market, is just about due for a facelift. Our spy photographers were able to capture the future Mercedes during some cold weather testing in Northern Sweden, wearing a tad bit less camouflage than in the past. With the camouflage strip down comes new details about the future facelifted GLK.
In these images, we can see that the light tube in the headlights will be similar to the ones found on the recently revealed Mercedes B-Class and will alter the light graphic. The front bumpers have also been redesigned and new front air intakes have been added. At the rear, the lights will also be redesigned and will receive LED technology.
The spy photographers were also able to get a shot of the interior, giving way to new air outlets on the dash that follow the new round design and look of the SLS. The revised GLK is also getting the gear changer for the automatic gearbox moved to the steering rack - like its bigger brothers, the ML and GL - instead of in the middle console like on the current model.
As far as powering the crossover goes, no official details have been provided just yet, but it has been rumored that Mercedes will offer a new engine range, including a new 3.5-liter V6 with 302 HP (up from the current 258 HP) and 273 lb-ft of torque for the GLK350.
The facelifted Mercedes GLK will be revealed sometime in 2012.
Up until now, we’ve only heard rumors about possible Audi Q6 and Q4 SUVs, but now its official. Walter de’ Silva, Design Boss at Audi’s parent Volkswagen Group, has confirmed that the company has started to work on a BMW X6 competitor, while plans for a smaller SUV are still under consideration.
The X6 competitor is known as the Q6 and will be placed between Audi’s Q7 premium large SUV and the Q5 premium medium SUV: "We will definitely launch a sportier crossover in between the Q7 and Q5." The new model will be built on the Q7 platform and is expected to arrive sometime in 2015.
As for the other SUV, known as the Q4, it will be placed between the Q5 and Q3 and will be a competitor for the X4, a model that BMW will be launching in 2014.
Both models will be offered in an attempt to boost Audi’s sales, especially on the European market where BMW is the leader in the SUV market.
If there was ever a Mini Cooper that was on everyone’s wish list, it would be the John Cooper Works, but just because everyone wants it, doesn’t mean everyone can get it. Until now. Mini has come out with a solution to turn your standard Cooper S, Cooper SD, and Countryman into a true JCW without taking a trip to the tuning shop.
The new John Cooper Works Championship tuning package will allow any Mini fan to experience the allure of rallying by adding a more dynamic and sporty character to their car. It was created as a tribute to the John Cooper Works WRC that Dani Sordo currently drives in the WRC. It includes go-faster stripes, side scuttles in a special package design, additional spotlights up front (which are available in Chrome and Black), a"37" logo on the doors, and the famous John Cooper Works aerodynamics package in the color of the car. You can also opt for a new set of Double Spoke R129 alloy wheels in matte black.
