The upcoming Opel Astra Convertible was caught testing for the first time back in March when it endured the cold weather to get results. Now, it has been taken for a new round of testing, and the warmer weather has allowed the drivers to completely remove the fake roof it was sporting. Of course, that doesn’t tell us too much because the vehicle seen in these images is just a prototype and features none of the vast changes expected on the production model, such as the new frameless doors and a soft top roof that is non-existent at this point (right now Opel has an army tent to serve as the roof).
Under the hood, Opel will place the same engine line-up found in the sedan version: a choice of eight different engines mated to a six speed transmission. The suspension system will be borrowed from the GTC version.
The date for the next Astra Convertible’s official debut is still up in the air. Some say it will be in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show and some say it will be in March at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.
It was only yesterday that the new Skoda Rapid was caught testing on the famous Nurburgring track and just 24 hours later, the company whipped out yet another prototype, this time in a red exterior finish. What’s even better is that the interior was readily accessible to our photographers! Unfortunately, there was nothing revolutionary about the Rapid’s insides, but at least it’s another piece of the puzzle clicked into place. It looks like the Rapid will just be another new small family car.
The Skoda Rapid is inspired by the Mission L Concept unveiled at the 2012 Frankfurt Motor Show and will be placed between the Fabia and the Octavia in Skoda’s line-up. It will be built on a standard platform, not the new MQB multi-vehicle platform, and will be offered with the latest engines and transmissions from the Volkswagen Group.
Expect to see the new Skoda Rapid launched in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show.
We’ve already captured the seventh generation Volkswagen Golf during some of its testing a few months ago, but now we have finally been able to catch the GTI version during its turn on the Nurburgring.
The Volkswagen Golf GTI has been built on the company’s new MQB platform. Compared to the current GTI, the next generation will be longer and lower, but its design will pretty much remain the same. The prototype seen in these images are covered in camouflage, but through the gaps of the coverings we can see that it has received real front lights and door mounted mirrors (the current Golf GTI’s mirrors are mounted at the side window).
Under the hood, there is a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder that will deliver up to 260 HP - an increase of 60 HP over the current generation (if the current rumors turn out to be true).
Expect to see the new Volkswagen Golf GTI launched sometime in 2013, most likely at the Geneva Motor Show.
It’s been about a week since we last offered up spy shots of the next generation Mini Cooper testing on public roads, but today we have another set of images, this time with the future Cooper testing at the famous Nurburgring track.
As reported on other occasions, the next Mini Cooper will be built on the same platform as the next generation BMW 1-Series and will be offered in both FWD and AWD versions. It will also grow slightly in its dimensions and will adopt a more modern design, but will still be immediately recognized as a Mini.
Under the hood, there will be the usual four-cylinder turbocharged engines, but BMW is also developing a new three-cylinder unit to drop in the Coop.
Mini has promised that the 2013 Cooper will be offered in up to ten body versions, including a van. We’ll see how that pans out when the new Cooper is launched sometime in 2013.
Our spy photographers have been on fire these past few days, revealing a number of test vehicles as they make their rounds. Today, the car du jour is the upcoming Mercedes CLA - a model that until recently was known as the CLC. The name change occurred because Mercedes decided that all of its future coupe or four-door coupe models would get a name that starts with CL. Since this baby CLS is based on the A-Class platform, the name naturally evolved to the CLA.
But back to the car. The CLA is based on a long-wheelbase version of the upcoming front-drive B-class platform. It will also get an AMG model that is considered an indirect successor to the classic 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II. As you can see in these images, when compared to the previous prototypes caught testing, this CLA is donning less camouflage, revealing more details such as the front, the rear lights, and more of its overall lines.
The future Mercedes CLA will be offered with a four-wheel drive system that will be paired up with the same petrol and diesel engines found in the new A-Class. In the A-Class, the petrol line-up includes 1.6 and 2.0 liters engines, with power ranging from 115 HP in the A 180, 156 HP in the A 200, and 211 HP in the A 250. Diesel versions include the 109 HP A 180 CDI, the 136 HP A 200 CDI, and the 170 HP A 220 CDI. For the CLA, Mercedes will also be offering an AMG version that will get a turbocharged 2.0-liter unit with about 335 HP.
Expect to see the new Mercedes CLA launched sometime in 2013.
Here we go, folks. The 2012 model year will be the last for the current Aston Martin DBS and a newly redesigned model is on its way. In the mean time, Aston Martin fans can enjoy the 2013 DBS Ultimate, which is little more than a slightly upgraded version of the Carbon Black model, but a limited edition nonetheless.
We all anticipate seeing the upcoming 2014 Aston Martin DBS in the 2012 Paris Auto Show, which kicks off the 29th of September. We are also anxiously awaiting some official photos from Aston Martin, which we expect to see some time in June. As we wait, the spyshot groups are out and about seeking some prey and fell upon a 2014 DBS specimen frolicking around the streets and snapped a few pics. Unfortunately, the DBS was wearing significantly more clothing than the models at the Beijing Auto Show and there wasn’t much to be seen.
Well, our crack rendering team has stripped the clothing from this beauty and gave us a good idea of what to expect, with the above picture. Rendering is not what we’re all about though, as we also are prepared to offer you a full review of this new beast using the information we have gathered and just a pinch of speculation.
Click past the jump to read the entire review on the 2014 Aston Martin DBS
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Skoda began using the Rapid name back in 1984 when it debuted a coupe based on the brand’s 130 sedan. That model was discontinued in 1990, but the name is headed back to the spotlight, this time on a new small car that will be placed between the light Fabia and the next-generation Octavia. The new Rapid was inspired by the Mission L Concept unveiled at the 2012 Frankfurt Motor Show and will be officially unveiled in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show.
The new Skoda Rapide will be built on a standard platform, and not on the Volkswagen Group’s new MQB multi-vehicle platform. This decision was made to keep the car’s price as low as possible. The engines and transmission, however, will still come from the Volkswagen Group.
As for its exterior design, expect to see many elements from the Mission L Concept, combined with the latest expression of Skoda’s design language.
If all of that is not clear enough, check out the latest spy shots of the Skoda Rapid as it takes a test lap on the Nürburgring in Germany.
The Nurburgring has been extremely crowded these past few days with new prototypes taking their turn burning up the track and finishing up their testing. The latest car spotted isn’t exactly killing any speed records, but it will tickle the fancy of soccer moms everywhere. The new Kia Sorento facelift was spotted testing for the first time back in February somewhere in Sweden, but this new prototype has been stripped of that awkward sack up front and also appears to have different rear light graphics.
As previously reported, the future Sorento will feature the same design language as seen in the recently announced C’eed, including its new designed headlights with LED day driving lights and new front and rear bumpers. The interior will also be heavily modified in order to make it a more competitive model in the SUV market.
As far as power is concerned, we are still in the dark as to if any changes will be made. The current model is powered by a choice of two engines: a 2.4 Liter four cylinder engine that delivers 175 HP and 169 lb-ft of torque and a more powerful 3.5 Liter V6 engine making 276 HP and 248 lb-ft of torque. Both are coupled to Kia’s six speed automatic transmission. Worst case scenario is that the same engine choices will be offered, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing at this point.
We’ll keep you updated on the newest information concerning the 2013 Kia Sorento, so stay tuned!
Back in March, Audi unveiled the first teaser video announcing "the new R8 is coming!" Well, it’s been a couple of months and there’s been no sign of the R8...until now. Our spy photographers have come across an R8 prototype as it was finishing up some of its testing. Guess, we’ll be waiting a lot longer than we would like to see the car in full production garbs.
The R8 facelift prototype in these images is heavily camouflaged - dizzyingly so - but we can still make out the new hexagon shaped grille that is similar to the one seen on the Audi R8 e-Tron prototype, the new headlights with LED technology, and the new rear lights. At the rear, the new R8 has also received new exhaust pipes similar to the ones on the R8 GT.
While the exterior will only see minor changes, the biggest change will be made under the hood. Audi will offer the same choice of V8 and V10 engines, but with an increased output of 444 HP (V8) and 533 HP (V10).
Expect to see the new Audi R8 facelift launched in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show.
UPDATE 05/22/2012: It’s been less than an hour since we published images of a highly camouflaged Audi R8 facelift, and now our photographers have sent us new images with the next R8, but this time completely naked! Enjoy!!
A few days ago, Audi trademarked an impressive amount of names that we hope will join the lineup sooner rather than later. One of the most anticipated names from that list is the S9, which has brought out a new hope that the previously rumored Audi A9 will be launched sometime in the upcoming years. And, of course, whenever there is hope for a production version of a model, we automatically create a rendering that embodies our vision for it.
The Audi A9 has been churning up the rumor mill for a long time, but Audi hasn’t really confirmed or denied anything about it, leaving the general public with an empty feeling in regards to the vehicle. The S9 should evoke better feelings, as long as Audi doesn’t drag its feet through the mud with its details. As for the A9, rumors have lead us to believe that it will be a large sedan to be placed above the current Audi A8, and ready to take on models like the Porsche Panamera Turbo. In its base version. it will get a 3.0 TFSI engine with around 300 HP, while the top version will get a V8 with 500 HP.
The Audi A9 will go on sale around 2015 with a price tag of about $150K.
