Usually when you open your car’s top, you are looking to enjoy a sunny day. In Europe, however, spring is running a little behind schedule and there is still a lot of snow. This didn’t stop the guys over at BMW, who decided to take the Convertible version of the new BMW 4-Series out for a testing session. They opened the roof and enjoyed... well, the cold.
The new 4-Series will be a cheaper alternative of the larger 6-Series Convertible and will combine design elements from both the 6-Series and the 3-Series. It will distinguish itself with more squared-off headlights and larger eyebrows, plus the new 3D kidney grille. The 4-Series convertible lineup will include the 428i, which will likely come with a 240-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a 435i, which should come with a 306-horsepower, 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine.
The new BMW 4-Series Convertible will be unveiled in late 2013 and will enter production in November 2013.
We’ve known for quite some time now that Jaguar has been working on a smaller luxury sedan that will take on models like BMW 3-series, Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4. After much speculation, the car has finally been taken out for a test session and the first details suggest the model could be named the XS.
The mule caught testing today is a chopped-up Jaguar XF and is testing the suspension and powerplant, which is apparently a diesel unit. Along with the engine tested here, Jaguar will also offer a turbocharged four-cylinder engine for the base model and a supercharged V-6 for the top version.
The car is internally known as project X760 and will initially be offered as a sedan, but Jaguar will also offer station wagon and a crossover variants. We also expect a more powerful R version with its sights set on the M3 and C63 AMG.
You have to remember that this is just a mule and looks nothing like the final product. Expect the Jaguar XS to hit the market in 2015.
At the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, Rolls Royce expanded its lineup with the new Wraith luxury coupe. While no official confirmation is available just yet, we are pretty sure that the new Wraith is going to see more body variations, just like the Phantom did. So, what do you say about a Wraith Drophead? Sounds good, right?
We thought so too, and while Rolls Royce debates bringing it to the market, we have produced a rendering for the Drophead version. As no surprise, it will be pretty much identical to the coupe version, but, just like the Phantom Drophead version, it will be offered with a folding soft-top roof.
We expect everything else to remain identical to the coupe version, including its distinctive fastback profile. Under the hood, the Drophead version will retain the same V-12 engine that delivers a total of 624 horsepower and a peak torque of 590 pound-feet.
Expect the new Wraith Drophead to be unveiled sometime in 2014.
With Daimler choosing to cut the Maybach brand, there is now a huge gap in the luxury automaker’s line of vehicles. Despite how hard Mercedes tries, it simply cannot compete with super-luxury brands, like Bentley and Rolls-Royce. Well, that was until Mercedes announced a Pullman edition – longer – of the upcoming revised S-Class.
Even with that announcement, we still have no clue when the model will be unveiled or exactly how long it will be. That is, until today, as our slick spy photographers have snapped seven shots of the 600 Pullman and one of those images caught the new S-Class sedan in front of the 600 Pullman. You can clearly see that the 600 Pullman is a good 6 to 12 inches longer than the already-long S-Class. This extra length is thanks to the addition of longer B-pillars and significantly longer rear doors.
We expect to see a twin-boosted V-12 engine under the 600 Pullman’s hood initially, but don’t be shocked to see a hybrid drivetrain to make its way onto the market. We’re not too sure if the Pullman will make it to the U.S.
Stay tuned for more information!
A cult classic, the 911 Targa was phased out with the 964 generation, after living a long life that started in 1965. Rumors have been swirling around about its resurrection and our spy photographers have even caught this machine on the road a few times, but it was donning a not-so-impressive disguise: a canvas coating on the roof that made it appear to be just a simple convertible model.
Today, our spy photographers caught the upcoming Porsche 911 Targa for a second time. Unfortunately, it is still wearing its convertible disguise, but it is easy to spot the separation where the removable top is. The official details on the 911 Targa are still completely unknown and we are not too sure if it will be offered as a two-wheel- or four-wheel-drive model, or possibly the option of both.
You can expect to see the 911 Targa unveiled sometime later this year and it should be in stores in time to make it a 2014 model year.
It’s been a while since we last heard anything about the upcoming coupe version of the new generation BMW M4, but our spy photographers have caught the car testing again, and, as you can see, it has started losing more of its camouflage.
Based on the new BMW 4-Series that replaces the old 3-Series coupe, the future M4 will be distinguished by the usual M-design elements: a more aggressive front bumper, LED headlights, a wide track and different side air intakes and for the rear, an M sports exhaust system. The car will also sit on larger wheels.
Despite expectations, the new M4 will be powered by a S55 3-liter inline six-cylinder engine with an output of just 415 horsepower - and not 450 horsepower as initially believed.
The new BMW M4 Coupe will be launched a few months, shortly after the 4-Series Coupe arrives on the market in 2013, most likely sometime in early 2014.
Now that we have finally seen the next-generation BMW 3-Series, it’s time to focus on the coupe version of the model: the 4-Series Coupe. The new model will make its official debut sometime in early-2013, and will start production in July 2013. The 4-Series will have its sights set on the Audi A5 family.
When thinking about the next 4-Series Coupe, imagine a smaller 6-Series with design similar to the current 3-Series, except that it will be a sportier model. The vehicle will be a few inches longer than the sedan version and will feature a more aggressive front end with the new-style exposed, three-dimensional BMW double kidney grille and a larger rear window.
As for the engine lineup, expect it to be similar to the 3-Series sedan version. There will be a choice of four engines - two petrol and two diesel - with the most powerful version being the 435i with an output of 306 horsepower.
The 4-Series Coupe will be shortly followed by a convertible model.
Thanks to the folks at 4-series.com , as they have obtained a leaked document that details the variants of the upcoming BMW 4-Series and the production dates. The F32 – the internal code name for the hard-top variant — will enter production in July of this year. The base variant will be a 2.0-liter four-cylinder-powered BMW 428i followed by a much more powerful 3.0-liter in-line-six-powered BMW 435i. On top of these base models are the 428xi and a 435xi, both of which will feature BMW’s famed xDrive all-wheel drive.
Update 3/14/2013: The leaks just keep on coming, as the folks over at F30post, via Bimmerpost, managed to dig up the ordering guides for the upcoming 2014 435i and 428i. You can see pages from the guides after the jump.
Full story
Everyone was expecting to see the new Citroen Picasso revealed at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, but the French company decided to only come with a concept version. The production version is continuing its testing session and our spy photographers have caught testing again in Sweden, but this time it was camo-free.
The new Picasso will be offered with the same engine range found in the C4, so that customers will have to choose between both petrol and HDi diesel engines. A hybrid version - Hybrid4 - similar to the one offered in the DS5 and Peugeot 3008 will also be offered.
Initially, the new Picasso will be offered as a five-door model, but a seven-seat model, called the C4 Grand Picasso, will also be offered.
The production version Picasso will likely be unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Just the other day, Land Rover tossed us a bone by revealing a teaser image and video of its revised Range Rover Sport. Well, now someone at Land Rover has apparently decided to toss us the entire chicken by posting images of the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport completely camouflage free.
When we saw the teaser image, we noted that the new headlights looked very similar to the Evoque and the larger Range Rover. If these leaked images are, in fact, of the 2014 Land Rover Sport, then our suspicion on the redesigned headlights is correct. What we couldn’t see in those teaser images was just how significant the redesign would be, but these leaked images show us that the redesign is extreme.
Front to rear, the Range Rover Sport is completely different. Gone is the flat front and rear ends, leaving a much sportier-looking SUV. In fact, these images look almost like the LR2, Range Rover and Evoque all had their DNA mixed up to make the ultimate hybrid.
Fortunately, we won’t have to wait too long to find out if these images are real or not, as the new Range Rover Sport will be unveiled on March 26th.
The upcoming coupe version of the new BMW 4-Series has been caught testing one more time, and this time our spy photographers also managed to catch a shot of the interior. Also, the new prototypes reveal the functioning air vent in the front fender.
Set to replace the coupe and convertible version of the new 3-Series, the 4-Series will be a little smaller than the 6-Series, but with design elements inspired by the 3-Series. Spy shots have also revealed that the vehicle will be a few inches longer than the sedan version and will feature a more aggressive front end with the new exposed, three-dimensional BMW double kidney grille and a larger rear window.
Under the hood, the model will keep the lineup found in the 3-Series: a choice of four engines - two petrol units and two diesels - with the top version being the 435i with an output of 306 horsepower.
The new BMW 4-Series Coupe will be put into production in July 2013, so the official launch date is getting closer.
