After a small facelift that we saw at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, General Motors has already started to work on the next generation Opel Antara amd Chevrolet Captiva. Our spy photographers have caught the first mule out for a testing session, and even though the company tried to hide it under this chopped up Chevrolet Orlando, it is clear that it’s something completely different.
The new-generation Antara/Captiva will be built on a new platform, called D2XX, which will also be used for the new Chevrolet Cruze that will arrive in 2014.
Ok, so what makes us believe this is not a real Orlando? First, this prototype is offered with a four-wheel-drive system, which is not available on the Orlando, and there are also twin exhaust pipes. The wheelbase is slightly shorter than the standard Orlando and the front end is also chopped up to make room for the new engine and cooling system.
Of course, when it comes to exterior design, the next-generation SUVs will have nothing in common with the Orlando seen here. Rumors suggest it will borrow something from the recently announced Opel Mokka.
Expect the new Antara/Captiva to be unveiled sometime in 2015.
Click past the jump to read more about the Antara and Captiva
The 5-Series GT is one of the most unsuccessful models in BMW’s lineup, so before deciding if the model will survive or not, the company has prepared some small revisions for it. Our spy photographers have caught the car testing one more time, and as you can see, it has dropped more of its camouflage.
The car is wearing camouflage on only those parts of the body that benefit from this revision. Up front, the revised 5-Series GT will receive a new bumper, a slightly revised grille and a new headlight design that will most likely go all the way to the grille, like on the 3-Series. For the rear, the model will receive a new bumper and taillights with new graphics.
The most important update will lay under the 535i GT’s hood; this model will drop the current N55 engine in favor of a new turbocharged in-line six-cylinder.
This is the second time that Mercedes has taken its baby performance SUV out for a testing session. Instead of hitting the cold weather with the GLA 45 AMG, like the first time we caught it, Mercedes took it for an extreme test at Nürburgring in Germany.
The next GLA 45 AMG will be based on the same platform as the new-generation A-Class and will be offered with the same engine as the CLA 45 AMG and A 45 AMG: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers a total of 360 horsepower and a peak torque of 331 pound-feet.
Unlike the standard GLA-Class, the AMG version will feature a more aggressive look with dual exhaust pipes, bigger wheels and cross-drilled brakes – pretty standard stuff for the AMG lineup.
The standard GLA-Class is expected to be unveiled in September at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, with the AMG version to follow few months after.
Yesterday, BMW was caught testing what appeared to be an electric version of the X1, and today our spy photographers have caught the upcoming i3 out for a testing session.
As you can see, the prototype continues to strip and we now can see the roofline and the lower parts of the front bumper. In these spy shots you can also see the lines of the classic BMW kidney grille and the window line in the rear doors.
Also, when looking from the side, it appears that the future i3 will lack the Hofmeister kink that was introduced back in 1961 and has been on almost every BMW since then.
The car will use a powerful 170-horsepower electric engine that will sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in under 8 seconds and up to a top speed of 93 mph. Rumors suggest it will be priced at about $55,000 at the current exchange rates.
Today must have been national test day for electric cars. Shortly after catching the R8 E-tron testing in the cold, our spy photographers caught a very interesting model testing. At a first look it appears you are looking at a standard BMW X1, but you are actually looking at an all-electric X1.
As you can see from the spy shots the prototype features no exhaust pipes and there are also some Hybrid stickers – an obvious attempt at subterfuge. Our spy photographers lurked around long enough to confirm that this is an EV, as when it finally took off, there was not a peep from a gasoline engine.
We are not too sure if this means that the company is developing an electric version of the X1 or if it is simply testing the technology for other models. Still, considering that BMW and Toyota have recently signed an agreement and that Toyota already offers an electric version of the RAV4, you shouldn’t be too surprised to see something similar from BMW.
When Audi announced that the R8 E-tron was delayed indefinitely, we were pretty skeptical. After all why spend so much money on a project that will never make it to production, right?
Today, our spy photographers have caught some R8 E-Tron prototypes testing during in the cold, despite the certificate of death. Additionally, a few R8 E-Tron prototypes where spotted in Spain last week, making us believe that the R8 E-Tron is very much alive.
This news does not come as a big surprise, considering that BMW is almost finished with the development of its i8 supercar. As usual, Audi will need an i8 fighter to draw customers’ attention back to its lineup and the R8 E-Tron would certainly do that.
However, we need to be fair and admit that Audi could be testing the E-Tron’s technology for a different model. Unfortunately, only Audi knows what’s really going on here, so stay tuned to learn more about a possible production version R8 E-Tron.
Click past the jump to read more on the R8 E-Tron.
At the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, Honda unveiled a quite interesting Civic Tourer Concept and, of course, everyone was expecting a production version to follow shortly after. Today, after just one month since the concept made its world debut, the production version has been caught testing for the first time.
As no surprise, the production version will look a lot like the concept, but Honda decided to fully camouflage it in an attempt to hide some design elements taken from the Civic hatchback. Most of the design elements borrowed from the standard version, like the taillight shape and the low roofline, will stay like on the concept.
The new Civic Tourer will likely be unveiled in September at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show with sales to being in early 2014. The model will be produced at the Swindon plant in the UK alongside the Civic hatch. Honda is expecting the Tourer to make a total of 20% of the Civic sales.
The second-generation Ford C-Max was unveiled in 2010 and Ford is already preparing the first revision for this compact minivan. With this revision, Ford is continuing its attempt installing its new "Aston Martin" looking face on all of its vehicles. The revised C-Max was been caught testing in cold conditions in Sweden.
The first spy shots reveal that the revised C-Max will receive the same treatment applied to all the other models in the lineup. Translated, this means we are going to see a new trapezoidal front grille, bracketed by laser-cut headlamps with LED daytime running lamps and a new power-dome hood. We expect to see some minor updates on the interior where Ford will add new technologies, including the new MyKey system offered in all the other models.
Under the hood, the lineup of engines will remain unchanged, but Ford will most likely add the new 1.0-liter EcoBoost petrol engine that delivers a total of 119 horsepower.
Expect the revised Ford C-max to arrive later this year, most likely in September at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.
BMW has earned a reputation for being one of the most socially in tune automakers out there. Time and time again, we’ve seen BMW involve its fans in some way. Whether its through promos, Twitter contests, or even the occasional social marketing endeavor, the German automaker knows how to tap into its fans and get their feedback.
It certainly looks like BMW is going on that route again with the release of a teaser sketch of a future BMW model on its Facebook page. The company didn’t release any specific details on what car this is, opting only to pose the question (in German): "Welcher BMW ist hier in einer frühen Design-Skizze zu sehen?"
Translated in English, the question means "Which BMW is seen here in an early design sketch?"
Obviously, speculation has run rampant on what model this is. Based on its looks, we’re venturing a guess that this could be the upcoming 4-Series GranCoupe. The dimensions appear to be there, including the low roofline and the front fascia is similar to what the renderings, sketches, and spy shots of the 4-Series.
Hopefully, BMW provides us with the answer to its own question sooner than later.
Click past the jump to read more about the 4-Series
Like all the other models in Porsche’s lineup, the Cayenne is also about to receive a redesign for 2015. Some of you may believe this is a strange move, considering the second-generation Cayenne was just unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, but it looks like the company decided a refresh was needed order to keep the model fresh for the next couple of years.
As you can see, the prototypes caught testing are camouflaged just in the parts that Porsche is updating. This means that the revised Cayenne will receive an updated front bumper and headlamps up front. On the backside the Cayenne will receive new slimmer looking rear lights and a redesigned bumper. Porsche is also offering new wheel designs and small interior changes. It is also rumored that the redesigned Porsche will also be a little bit lighter and will feature revisions under the hood.
Expect the revised Porsche Cayenne to be unveiled sometime in 2014 as a 2015 model year.
Updated 04/05/2013: Today we have created a very cool rendering for the revised Cayenne that has been caught testing the other day. As you probably would have expected, the revised Cayenne will feature design elements we have already seen in the second-generation Panamera, including: redesigned air intakes, new LEDs and headlights.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2015 Porsche Cayenne.
