Volkswagen Europe is offering a R-Line treatment to the new Passat facelift. The package will be offered for both sedan and station wagon versions and prices will start from 30,225 euro ($39,600 at the current exchange rates) while the optional R-Line Design Package adds an extra 990 euro (about $1,300).
The new R-Line package will be distinguished by a new front bumper with larger cooling air vents, a R-Line logo in the grille and integrated fog lamps. The rear will get a diffuser be painted in "Gloss Black" and an elegant roof spoiler in body color. The car will sit on a new set of 17" "Mallory" alloy wheels (optional 18-inch) combined with a dynamically tuned sports suspension that can lower the car’s ride by 15 mm.
The interior adds sports seats in "Kyalami" design, decorative inserts in "titanium silver" on the dashboard, door panels and center console for extra sportiness. There is also a leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel and stainless steel pedals.
The extra R-Line Design Package will include: rear and roof spoiler in body color, newly designed side sills and R-Line logo on the radiator grille.
After a very long wait, Ford has finally unveiled the production version of the dramatic new Focus ST at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and they’ve also announced that, next to the standard five-door model, Europeans will also be getting a station wagon version. The Focus ST is Ford’s first truly global performance car and Ford promises it will combine power with fuel efficiency and an impressive handling characteristic.
For the new model, Ford has tuned the 2.0-liter Ford EcoBoost engine with a redesigned intake and a new exhaust system with a unique engine calibration for a total output of 250 HP. The engine was combined with a 6-speed manual transmission which has also been specially revised for the ST.
Ford has also announced that many of the design elements seen in the Focus ST will also be used in all the future ST models. These elements include the aggressively enhanced front and rear bumpers and the addition of a rear spoiler and sideskirts, plus a unique signature color.
UPDATE 05/01/2012: All hatchback performance enthusiasts are monitoring the upcoming release of the new Ford Focus ST salivating like a pack of dogs surrounding a meaty T-bone steak. There is good reason for this excitement, as this 2.0-liter turbocharged Focus pumps out a stout 247 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque, which is an astonishing 45 percent more horsepower and 83 percent more torque than the final model year of the Focus SVT (2004).
Well, the Ford Focus ST ordering books are now open and prices have been revealed. Let’s start with the base model Focus ST, which it is set at $23,700. The Ford Focus ST2 (group 201A) has a base MSRP of $26,205 minus a $120 discount and the ST3 (group 202A) has a base MSRP of $28,540 minus a $405 discount. Granted, this is all barring dealerships doing the ultimate screw-the-customer move and slapping a “Market-Based Markup” on the sticker price. Hit the jump for more pricing details!
Hit the jump to read more about the Ford Focus ST.
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It seems as if the new Ferrari FF will soon have a serious competitor from McLaren. The British company has tried to keep their future models as much of a secret as possible, but now AutoExpress has obtained the first details on a future shooting brake model set to arrive in 2014.
The new model will be based on the platform of the new MP4-12C supercar and will be similar in concept to the Ferrari FF. However, the British magazine reports that the Mclaren model will be significantly cheaper. While the FF is priced at about £230,000 ($366,000 at the current exchange rates) on the British market, the new McLaren model will be priced from about £150,000 (about $240,000).
The new McLaren Shooting Brake (not its actual name, at least as far as we know) will be a two-seater model, but with more boot space than the MP4-12C. Under the hood, expect to see the same 592 HP 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine as the sports car, meaning the future model will deliver impressive performance numbers.
Check out our rendering of what we’re calling the McLaren MP4-12C Shooting Brake and let us know what you think!
Audi is preparing to add a new RS model to its line-up as shown by these images of the future RS6 Avant. The sports-focused mid-sized vehicle was caught testing at the Nurburgring race track in Germany, donning some heavy camouflage. This just means that the mule that was testing previously has been tossed out and the production version is now making its testing rounds.
As previously reported, the Audi RS6 will be powered by the same 4.0 TFSI bi-turbo V8 as the S6, the S8, and even the new Bentley Continental GT V8. However, the final output is expected to be increased to the 500 HP area, so the RS6 should be a real monster.
The future Audi RS6 will also feature a wider track and more aggressive brakes, as well as a meaner overall look. The bad news is that Audi doesn’t plan on offering it as a sedan just yet, so station wagon haters will have to give in or wait that much longer.
In November 2011, Volkswagen displayed a concept called the Passat Alltrack at the Tokyo Motor Show with no plans of it coming to the U.S. In the auto industry, things tend to change quickly, as now Volkswagen has decided to display a concept car bearing just the Alltrack name at the 2012 New York Auto Show.
At this point, the Alltrack is strictly considered to be a concept, but it wouldn’t be completely outlandish to see it hit the market here soon, especially given the fact that VW no longer offers a wagon model in the U.S. The closest to a wagon that VW offers is the Tiguan, a crossover SUV, and the Routan, a minivan.
The Alltrack is reported to arrive with a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine that cranks out a respectable 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. Along with the TDI engine, the Alltrack will feature a six-speed, dual clutch automatic transmission and 4Motion AWD.
The Jetta Alltrack is a really good looking car, for a station wagon that is. The question that really arises is can a traditional station wagon not named “Volvo,” roam the streets of America anymore? Lately automakers are starting to move back into the wagon market, but most are “sport wagons,” including: Acura TSX Sport Wagon, Audi A3 Wagon, Cadillac CTS-V Wagon, and so on. Its most likely competition would be the BMW 3-Series Wagon and the upcoming Volvo V40.
The determining factor will be the response it gets at the auto show. If potential buyers start clamoring for it, you can expect VW to release it almost as quickly as they can produce them. We will continue to provide details on this potential new model, as VW releases them. One thing is for sure, we can all appreciate VW spelling “Track” the right way. Not “Trac,” “Trak,” “Trax,” or any other odd variation.
Station wagons are boring! We generally agree with this statement, but when we’re talking about a $64,340 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon and a $94,075 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Estate, boring shouldn’t be anywhere near the front of our minds. In fact, we’d take one of these killer grocery-toting family vehicles over our current SUV any day of the week!
The Cadillac CTS-V Wagon is powered by a 6.2 liter supercharged V8 engine that delivers a total of 556 hp and 551 lb.-ft. of torque. As a comparison, the E63 AMG Estate features a 6.2 Liter AMG V8 that delivers 525 HP and 516 lb-ft of torque. Motor Trend took the two sports wagons and put them through an impressive test drive that includes a short trip to a drag strip. Which was the best of two? Find out by watching this 9 minute video. We can assure you that it will be worth it!
BMW’s 5-Series GT hasn’t been as successful as the company hoped it would be. However, the Bavarian company will expand its Gran Turismo line-up with the addition of two new models, one based on the 3-Series and one on the 1-Series. Audi hopes it can stunt the success of these models as well with its new A4 Superavant.
Audi’s new model will be built on the A4 platform and will be built to fill the gap between the A4 Avant, the Q5, and the up and coming BMW X6-competitor, the Q6 crossover. As for the name, there are three different possibilities: A4 Sportback, A4 Avantissimo, or A4 Superavant, the latter being the most likely.
Under the hood, expect to find a 255 HP 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a 2.0-liter TDI rated at 197 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.
The new A4 Superavant will be offered as a concept sometime in 2014, with a production version to follow two years later.
After revealing the CLS Shooting Break Concept at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show, Mercedes officially confirmed that a production version would follow in the coming years and as is typical, every Mercedes model will also get an AMG version. Today, we have a series of new spy shots of the production ready prototypes, wearing only minimal camouflage.
The new CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake will keep almost all of the sleek lines of the "CLS Shooting Break Concept," but it will get a more aggressive front fascia, sportier wheels and tires, bigger brakes, and a quad tip exhaust.
While the standard version will be powered by a 402 HP 4.6 liter, twin-turbo V8 engine, the AMG version will be powered by a 5.5-liter V8 biturbo engine that delivers 525 HP and 516 lb-ft of torque. It will be mated to an AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission and Controlled Efficiency stop/start function.
An official debut for the Mercedes CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake will be made later in 2012.
We absolutely just love talking about wagons that we’ll never get to see on our side of the pond. Wait, scratch that. It actually sucks to hear that Jaguar has finally unveiled the XF Sportbrake and Europe will be one of the few that will actually revel in its luxurious five door space. It’s not their fault that the British brand is going where the wagon demand is at its highest nor that we decided bigger was better before giving these in-between vehicles a chance, but we’re still a little envious.
The XF Sportbrake was supposed to make its world debut in March at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, but Jaguar decided to offer the first details one week before the actual event. While the car’s front is identical to the sedan version, the new XF Sportbrake is entirely new from the B-pillar and back. Under the hood, Jaguar has placed a range of four-cylinder 2.2-liter and V6 3.0-liter diesel engines with power going up to 275 HP.
UPDATE 03/13/2012: Jaguar has unveiled a new video featuring the car’s designers explaining all the little details that went into creating the stunning new wagon. Hit the jump to watch the video.
Hit the jump to read more about the new Jaguar XF Sportbrake.
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Now that Jaguar has officially announced the new XF Sportbrake what would you think about a XFR Sportbrake version? We are pretty sure that this will be Jaguar’s next step and today we have a rendering for you that might help you make a pretty good idea on how the XFR Sportbrake will look like.
Just like with the XF-R sedan the Sportbrake version will be featuring a more aggressive look thanks to a new front grille, a new hood, modified front fenders, redesigned LED taillights and a special exhaust system with four end pipes.
Under the hood Jaguar will place the same 5.0-liter V8 engine in its supercharged version that will deliver a total of 510 HP. Of course the Sportbrake won’t be as fast as the sedan version, but expect to see a 0 to 60 mph sprint time kept in the 5.0 seconds area.
You should expect the new XFR Sportbrake by the end of 2013.
