Spy Shots

The Volvo S90 is scheduled to receive a mid-cycle revamp that’s expected to debut in 2020 for the 2021 model year. Once Volvo finally applies the finishing touches on the facelifted model, the S90 will feature mainly visual changes on the outside, but the Swedish firm might also tweak the sedan’s infotainment system to keep up with its rivals, and it may even introduce the mild-hybrid powertrain brought by the freshly-revised XC90.

A big question mark for now is how (and if) the S90’s interior will change. Volvo’s prowess for nicely laid out cabins that are also comfortable and high-quality suggests the carmaker won’t fiddle too much with an already perfect recipe.

The BMW M3 has been around for a while now, first entering production in 1985 as a high-powered go-faster variant of the ever-popular BMW 3 Series. The latest F80 generation dropped in 2014, essentially setting the benchmark for all other fast four-doors to match, and now, there’s a new generation in the making. Dubbed internally as the G80, the next M3 is shaping up to be quite the ultimate driving machine, so we gathered up all the rumors we could find and put ‘em right here in the following speculative review.

Update 11/14/2019: The BMW M3 was caught out on a fall drive with new headlights and a revised decklid.

The 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is an upcoming high-performance variant of the 982-generation Cayman that’s rumored to debut in 2020. Essentially a more aggressive and powerful version of the existing 718 Cayman GT4, the 2021 will be the first of its kind and the first modern 718 to feature the "RS" badge. This car has been in the rumor mill ever since the first Cayman GT4 was introduced in 2015, but it took Porsche around four years to turn it into reality. Better late than never, I guess.

The 2021 718 Cayman GT4 RS is more than just a rumor now. The car has already been spotted on public roads with some camouflage on its body, but also with a beefed-up exterior. It features bigger vents in the front, a big rear wing, and many small details that set it apart from the already familiar GT4. Just like the latter, the 2021 718 Cayman GT4 RS will feature the 911’s 4.0-liter flat-six under the hood, but in a more powerful setup. Let’s find out more about it in the review below.

The new Ford Puma will, most likely, come in several different guises. The one we are most interested in is an alleged performance ST version that, lately, hooned its ST skills over the hard tarmac and bends of the Nurburgring race track in Germany. Spy shots that come from Europe clearly showcased the small Ford SUV tackling the ’Ring with large exhausts and rather large wheels and tires. That is basically the only differentiating factor between this Nurburgring-caught Ford Puma, and other units previously spotted on the roads.

Update 10/31/2019: The Ford Puma ST has been caught testing in the wild once again, this time feature a lot of production parts and no padding. Check out our special “spy shots” section below to learn more about it and see the latest images.

Porsche is officially going to have several versions of its Taycan all-electric model, one of which will be an estate or wagon model that will most likely be called Sport Turismo. The Taycan Sport Turismo is exactly the same as the sedan model, but with a bigger trunk and more practicality.

It’s actually going to be the first mass-market, purpose-designed, all-electric wagon ever, and no, the handful of coach-built Tesla Model S wagons don’t count.

The rest of the package remains unchanged, so it’s only going to be sold with an all-electric powertrain (don’t be fooled by the fake exhausts on the back of the camouflaged prototype in these photos provided by our spies) which will provide great performance, as well as a large lithium-ion battery pack for decent range.

Design-wise, expect a slightly more toned down version of the Mission-E Sport Turismo concept that debuted at the Geneva motor show this March. Porsche is apparently also going to make a higher-riding crossover-style version of this wagon, but it will be the sedan and wagon that will be the two main models.

But even if Tesla doesn’t make a production wagon variant of its Model S, that model is going to be the Taycan and Taycan estate’s main rival because it is already quite well established in its segment.

Updated 10/28/2019: The 2021 Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo was spotted testing in the wild once again with some minor changes as it moves closer to its launch for the 2021 model year. Check out the latest images in our spy shots section below!

If you like the Targa top in your Corvette, you must know that Porsche did it first, in 1967. Now, the 992-generation of the ageless Porsche 911 continues the tradition and the latest Porsche 911 Targa will be introduced as a 2020 model year car and will feature the 444 horsepower 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged flat-six seen on both the Carrera S and the Carrera 4S. Expect it to cost at least $135,000, some $22,000 more expensive than a Carrera S. Blame it on that roll hoop that’s drenched in history.

Once upon a time, there was a road race through Sicily’s narrow, winding roads that awarded those that proved to be unphased by angry locals, that sometimes drew guns on the competitors, and the perilous condition of the tarmac in many areas of the Circuito delle Madonie. That race was the Targa Florio, launched in 1907 by rich entrepreneur Vincenzo Florio, that became a sort of a favorite for Porsche and its drivers, the brand from Stuttgart winning the race 11 times in less than two decades. How is this relevant to a 2020 Porsche? Read on to find out.

Updated 10/22/2019: The upcoming 911 Targa (992) has been spied once again making its rounds on public roads.

Porsche is currently gearing up for the release of the next generation 992-era 911, offered as a follow-up to the current 991-era 911. Per usual, Porsche will offer a variety of body styles and equipment levels, including high-end speed and unlimited headroom with the up-and-coming 911 Turbo Convertible.

Updated 10/21/2019: The 992-gen Porsche 911 Turbo Convertible was caught testing on public roads again and, while it doesn’t sport that cool red top we saw last time, there are some small changes that tell us this baby is ready to debut. Check out the new pictures and the details in our Spy Shots section below!

With Dieselgate still not just an ugly distant memory in the back of Volkswagen’s brain, Wolfsburg looks like it’s leading the electrification revolution in the car world, driven by the traction offered by the behemoth that is the Volkswagen Group. But Volkswagen, as a brand, irrespective of what its other sisters and brothers are doing, has become synonymous with electrification plans of all sorts.

This so-called offensive will ultimately rub off on VW’s future models. TheID.3 is already out of the bag, but for now, the company is busy at work preparing the new Golf 8 for debut. When that finally happens on October the 24th, the new Golf will also come as a mild-hybrid model, the first in its history, as well as in the shape of conventionally-powered versions (i.e., diesel and gasoline variants). What’s more, the VW Golf will also receive a plug-in hybrid iteration under the GTE moniker, but no e-Golf model - since the ID.3 is already here to cover the all-electric ground. So with the e-Golf out of the scene, we’ll focus on the new VW Golf 8 GTE, which was caught during pre-production tests by our spy photographers.

The Jaguar F-Type is, arguably, one of the best-looking sports cars on the market today and one could even go so far as to say it’s one of the best lookers of the decade. While this might be true, it has also been on the market since 2013, and we all know that it’s due to be replaced in 2020. We’ve finally seen the first prototype of the 2021 Jaguar F-Type being tested, and we have to admit that there’s going to be some serious changes taking place. Expect a similar silhouette with an all-new face and rear end. There’s also a certain rumor about the V-8 engine that you don’t want to miss out on, so be sure to check out our drivetrain section to learn more about that.

The 2020 Volkswagen ID.3 is an all-electric compact hatchback that the German automaker unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. The 2020 ID.3 is the first Volkswagen based on the new MEB platform, which will underpin a full range of electric vehicles in the future. Heavily based on the ID Neo concept, the 2020 ID.3 is similar to the Volkswagen Golf in size, so it’s pretty much a replacement for the e-Golf.

A competitor for models like the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt, and Tesla Model 3, the 2020 Volkswagen ID.3 is available with three drivetrains that provide different outputs and mileage ratings. The range-topping model will deliver in excess of 200 horsepower and return more than 300 miles of range on a single charge. The 2020 ID.3 will cost less than €30,000 in Europe. Sadly, this EV won’t come to the United States. Let’s find out more about it in the detailed review below.

Introduced in 2014, the Mercedes-AMG GT is no longer the company’s flagship sports car, but a full lineup of vehicles. In three years, AMG not only developed a Roadster but also launched a higher performance coupe and a beefed-up convertible too. Oh, and it also created two different race cars based on the GT. In all, the AMG GT includes seven members, which is darn impressive. But Mercedes-AMG won’t stop here. Although rumors of a Black Series model have yet to be confirmed, recent spy shots suggest that such a version is indeed underway. And we might just see it in the metal in early 2019.

With the GT R in showrooms, a Black Series model might not make much sense, but Mercedes has plenty of room to either slot it between the GT S and GT R or place it above everything else as a range-topping model. The latter scenario is more likely, so we could get an AMG GT with close to 600 horsepower and built in a very limited run. We should find out more later this year, so make sure you stick around for updates. Meanwhile, have a look at my speculative review below.

Update 09/23/2019: Our spy photographers caught the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series doing some final testing before its big debut. Check out our latest pictures in newly updated spy shots section below.

Whether you like or dislike the idea that the BMW M8 is basically a supercar within the BMW lineup, the Munich-based company is currently testing the large coupe with a massive rear wing. BMW already has a long history of large, fast coupes prepped for track action. Just remember all the M6 GT3 cars in the Blancpain and British GT series. In fact, the BMW M8 first debuted as an endurance racer called the M8 GTE. Now, a production model that hauls a big wing can mean a multitude of things - an additional M Performance model, an early prototype of the BMW M8 GTS, or the BMW M8 CS. Or just a prototype created for the development of the next-gen aero for the whole fleet of dangerously quick M cars.

Far away from the spotlights and the glamour of the Frankfurt Car Show we spotted this BMW M8 testing today. So, what’s so strange about a M8 that’s already official you might ask? A wing!

We noticed that this M8 prototype has a big wing in the back, a wing that’s never been seen before on the 8 Series and of course that wing makes us wonder what this could be. A special aerodynamic package? A Clubsport model? Well, for now we don’t really know what BMW is up to with this M8 but we are investigating more and hopefully we will find out. Until then just enjoy the photos.

The 991.2-generation Porsche 911 may be just a year old, but the German company is already working on the next iteration of the iconic sports car. Likely to be called the 992, the upcoming 911 is already being tested on public roads according to our paparazzi, who just sent us the first pictures with the coupe. Although the 992-gen 911 looks identical to the current model, that’s not to say that the upcoming sports car will carry over unchanged on the outside. The reason for the similar looks is that the 992 is still in its early stages of development, and thus Porsche uses the body of the current model, albeit with some modifications.

We don’t know much about the next-generation 911, but Porsche is working on a brand-new platform and new version of the existing engines. Alongside the standard model, Porsche will also launch a new Turbo variant, which will be sportier and will use a more powerful drivetrain. There’s no official word as to when it will arrive, but I expect it to break cover sometime in 2018. However, we should see an update model with the new styling features on the road by the end of 2017. Meanwhile, find out what we already know about the upcoming 911 Turbo in the speculative review below.

Update 9/21/2019: The Porsche 911 Turbo was caught cruising around the Nurburgring yet again. Check out our latest spy shots in the Spy Shots section below.

Even though they are arguably the most practical vehicles you can buy, wagons were never really considered to be an enthusiast’s first choice. Things are so bad in the States that automakers started retracting their wagons from here and focused on the European markets instead, where they were greeted with open arms. However, times are changing now. Volvo has been renovating the 90 series, and now it’s the V90’s turn. The current V90 is already about three years old and it has started to look dated (blame the Cross Country models to an extent for this). The new V90 does not look radically different from the current model, but the automaker did hide the subtle changes it brings in on the bumpers and fog lamps.

The 2020 Hyundai i10 N is a higher performance version of the company’s third-generation hatchback. Set to be unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, the tiny i10 will spawn a more powerful variant in 2020. At least that’s what the recent spy shots suggest. Our paparazzi spotted a slightly beefed-up i10 testing on public roads and we have reasons to believe that it will sport an "N" badge.

This will be the first time the i10 spawns a higher performance version. Although it’s been around since 2007, the i10 was never more than just a mundane city car with small engines rated at well below 100 horsepower. This could change with the third-generation model. Let’s find out more about it in my speculative review below.

An all-new 2020 Audi A5 Sportback is nearing its introduction. While we are still months away from the reveal, numerous spy shots of A5 Sportback prototypes provide us with a unique glimpse into the future of the popular Audi fastback sedan.

Captured somewhere in Scandinavia earlier this year, and lately, in Germany and Spain, the 2020 Audi A5 Sportback prototype shows new light clusters in the back, new tailpipes, and even some mods on the bumpers. The car is likely to assume the technology from the latest Audi A4, and it will remain as one of the most alluring small executive sedans on the U.S. market.

Renault has been selling the current Megane unchanged since the current generation was launched back in 2016. Then, it attracted a lot of attention with its bold LED daytime running lights, wrap-around rear light clusters (that almost created a full-width light bar) and upmarket-feeling interior with its large portrait-style touchscreen infotainment screen.

Now, the manufacturer has brought the Megane in for its midlife makeover, in order to keep it looking fresh and to bring its look in line with that of newer models in the range (like the all-new generation Clio subcompact). The facelifted Megane features redesigned headlights (with a different but equally bold LED signature), a revised grille and front bumper, as well as a new rear light cluster design; the rear bumper may also be different, but if so, then the difference is so subtle we can’t really spot it.

Its interior has also been updated, but the biggest change can be found under the revised Megane’s hood. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains will be offered for the first time, as Renault continues the quest to electrify as much of its range as possible - this was to be expected, though, since the new Clio can also be had as a hybrid, so electrifying the Megane was a logical next step.

The 2020 Nissan Juke is an upcoming subcompact crossover from the Japanese firm. It’s the second-generation of the already iconic SUV that has soldiered on with minor changes since 2010. The 2020 Juke will make its global debut in September with a brand-new exterior design, a revamped interior, and state-of-the-art technology borrowed from bigger Nissan models.

When the Nissan Kicks replaced the Juke in the U.S. for the 2018 model year, it was rumored that the old crossover won’t have a future in other parts of the world. We were basically expecting a replacement under a different nameplate in Europe as well. In an unexpected turn of events, Nissan announced that the Juke will carry over with a second-generation model. The new Juke will arrive in early September 2019 and Nissan just released preliminary information and photos of camouflaged prototypes. Check out my speculative review below to find out everything we know about this vehicle.

The Chevrolet Blazer XL is an upcoming variant of the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer. Introduced in 2018, the 2019 Blazer is a midsize crossover that revived the iconic nameplate after a 13-year absence and slots between the Equinox and the Traverse in the lineup. The Blazer XL is essentially a longer version of the standard SUV. Spotted testing with heavy camouflage on its body, the Blazer XL will likely debut in 2020.

Word has it that the longer Blazer was developed mainly for the Chinese market, where customers favor vehicles with longer wheelbases. But since the prototype was spotted in Germany, the Blazer XL might make it to Europe as well. South America is yet another growing market that will see the Blazer XL debut in 2020. Although this SUV is scheduled to cross the pond to the United States as well, the fact that it’s going to be built in China might be an issue for Chevy due to America’s import tariffs on Chinese products.

With an impending approach of the numerous Volkswagen ID electric cars, the spy photographers come into their own finally having a proper reason to film camouflaged Volkswagens. The latest that fell victim to a spy photographer’s lens is a curiously uncovered Volkswagen Tiguan. It was wheeling, silently, in nearly the same way as that Golf Sportsvan I wrote about earlier. As it turns out, this one famously hides the body of the next Volkswagen ID Crozz. It is definitely one of the most important electric vehicles that will appear in the next year or two, and this is essentially all that we know about it.

Update 08/11/2019: We spotted the Volkswagen ID Crozz testing with what we believe to be official metal. Check out our latest spy shots and what we’ve learned in our special spy shots section below!

The 2021 Chevrolet C8 Corvette ZR1 is an upcoming high-performance version of the eighth-generation Corvette. Likely to debut toward the end of 2020, the Corvette ZR1 should become the range-topping version of the C8 Corvette lineup and sit above the upcoming Corvette Z06. Details are slim as of 2019, but the 2021 Corvette ZR1 should feature a more aggressive and more aerodynamic body, extra carbon-fiber, a V-8 with forced induction (it could even be a hybrid), and a beefed-up chassis packed with race-bred components.

Original rumors claimed that the ZR1 might feature a "Zora" badge in honor of former GM engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, also known as the "father of the Corvette" and the man who experimented with mid-engined Corvette designs back in the day. It seems that this rumor might not become a reality, but the C8 ZR1 could be a massive departure from its predecessor thanks to a hybrid layout and all-wheel drive. Of course, this has yet to be confirmed, but Chevy did admit that the C8 Corvette was developed with electrification in mind. Let’s find out more about that in the review below.

The F-Series has been a consistent seller for Ford. It has been the top-selling vehicle in the States for 42 consecutive years, thus scripting a legacy that will be most likely remain unbeaten in the 21st century at least. But given the way the competition has upped the ante, it is going to be hard to sustain and keep this consistency alive, unless Ford decides to take the game to the next level. To maintain the pole position, Ford has decided to replace the current generation of the F-150 with a newer breed and what you’re looking at here is our first spy shots of the 2021 Ford F-150. This heavily camouflaged mule was spotted doing test runs in Dearborn, Michigan. Will the next-gen F-150 feature changes that a merely aesthetic, or can we expect new drivetrain options as well?

BMW is set to launch an all-new 4-Series two-door sometime in 2019 or 2020, and while the G23 coupe version will not feature any dramatic changes over the current model, the G22 droptop will. Spy shots indicate that for the first time in two generations (E93 and F33), BMW is giving up on the folding hardtop design in favor of the more traditional soft top option which it last used on the E46 model discontinued in 2006.

Heavy camouflage covers the prototype spotted, but this important change is quite evident as the canvas top is left completely bare (quite obviously on purpose). It might be an illusion caused by the camo, but it also appears this new 4-Series has a longer hood and rear decklid compared to its predecessor.

Update 06/24/2019: We’ve received new images of the 2021 BMW 4 Series Convertible testing with its top and side windows down. Check out the spy shots section below to see how it looks for yourself.