Spy Shots

An updated version of the Audi A4 sedan is making the test rounds in Germany, looking every bit like a model that’s on the receiving end of a few facelifts. The premium sedan is expected to be released a little earlier than expected as rumors continue to swirl around the current model’s sales struggles. If true, we can expect the updated Audi A4 to get a quick turnaround date, possibly as soon as the latter part of the year or maybe in early 2019.

The new Audi RS6 Avant has been spotted covered in partial camouflage while making the test rounds recently. The high-performance wagon model of the A6 sedan is the latest Audi model to be captured by spy photographers. If anything, this shows that Audi’s test drivers have had their work cut out of them. The sporty station wagon was even spotted alongside the RS Q8 SUV.

Aston Martin is in the middle of revamping its entire lineup. Having replaced the DB9 with the DB11 and the old Vantage with a brand-new model, the Brits are now testing a replacement for the Vanquish. But the new grand tourer won’t carry the same name. In April 2018, Aston Martin announced that it’s reviving the DBS Superleggera nameplate for its flagship model.

The DBS name goes a long way back, having been used for the first time between 1967 and 1972. The badge was revived in 2007 when it was used for the super GT that replaced the first-generation Vanquish. The latter returned in 2012, and it’s now set to disappear again to make way for the "DBS" badge. The Superleggera name will be used as a tribute to Carrozzeria Touring, the company that designed the iconic Aston Martin DB4, DB5, and DB6. Here’s what we already know about the upcoming grand tourer.

Continue reading to learn more about the upcoming Aston Martin DBS Superleggera.

A prototype version of the new Audi A6 Allroad has been spotted on a test run, suggesting that we could be close to seeing the new model make its debut. While it does look like an old test mule for the Audi A6 Avant, there’s no question that this is the A6 Allroad given how much higher it rides compared to the Avant and the base A6 sedan.

The Audi A6 was redesigned in 2018 after six years on the market and now its time for other versions of the sedan to get their official launch. First on the list is the S6, which we began seeing on public roads as a camouflaged prototype in 2017. Come 2018 and the four-door moving closer to an official launch, and we already know a lot of details about it.

The sedan is still hidden under wraps, but as before, the S6 will sport the same styling cues as the A6, but it will feature a slightly more aggressive exterior and a more potent drivetrain. The upcoming S6 is more important than ever to Audi, as both BMW and Mercedes-Benz have solid offerings in this niche in the M550i xDrive and the AMG E53 Sedan, respectively. Will the new S6 have what it takes to give its competitors a run for its money? Let’s find out in the review below.

Updated 06/14/2018: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming Audi S6 out for a new testing session in the heat of the southern Europe regions.

Continue reading to learn more about the upcoming Audi S6.

The Skoda Kodiaq RS is approaching its autumn reveal, and with a few months left, before that fateful moment arrives, the SUV has been spotted going about in the Alps in full production view. The new batch of spy shots leave little to the imagination as we can see the Kodiaq RS dressed in a flashy red color with what appears to be a set of 20-inch wheels. The performance SUV will make its debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show.

The European version of the Volkswagen Passat is set to get a facelift for the 2019 model year, bringing it more in line with the new look of the new Volkswagen Arteon and maybe even bring some new updated engines and technology into play as well. It was recently spotted being put through the general testing phase, so it’s time to get the speculation mill running at full speed.

Audi is currently gearing up to release its new flagship SUV. It’s called the Q8, and it was originally presented in concept form at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show. In its wake will follow a go-faster version called the S Q8 and, according to a recent batch of spy photos, an even-faster RS Q8 version - the latter of which will be Audi’s take on the new Lamborghini Urus.

Update 06/12/2018: It hasn’t been that long since the RS Q8 was spotted doing an initial round of test, and it looks like Audi isn’t wasting any time as it’s already dropped some camo and taken on some production-ready features. Check out the spy shots section below to see what’s going on with the upcoming Audi RS Q8

Much has been said about the return of the Chevrolet Blazer, and a handful of new spy shots have all but confirmed the comeback of a nameplate that Chevy hasn’t used since 2005. Over the past few months, test mules of the full-sized SUV have been spotted going around sporting heavy camouflage to hide its production design. The latest set of photos sheds a bit of skin, giving us somewhat of a clearer picture of what to expect when it’s finally ready to show its face to the world.

When Porsche decided to step into the SUV segment with the Cayenne, Porsche purists we’re all that happy, expecting the brand to soldier on with different 911 variants until times end. But, the Cayenne turned out to be a huge success, and the German brand decided to come out with a compact model named the Macan. Originally codenamed Cajun, the Macan hit the market in the spring of 2014 and became an immediate success, being one of Porsche’s most sold models. Be that as it may, the compact luxury segment is intense, so Porsche needs to keep things fresh until the next-gen model comes to be at the turn of the decade.

Now, we’re getting a first look at the facelifted model thanks to a new round of spy shots. There won’t be a whole lot of change on the table, but the headlights and taillights should get a new layout, and it looks like there’s a bigger chin spoiler up front. The interior is set for some minor nips and tucks as well, and the available engines could get some minor retuning to help keep things interesting.

With that said, we know Porsche’s facelifts aren’t typically that in-depth, so there won’t be a lot of significant change, but the subtle things will make all the difference. We expect the facelifted Macan to debut sometime in the next few months and should be sold as a 2018 model, so let’s take a closer look before Porsche spills the beans.

Update 06/12/2108: It’s been a while since we’ve last seen the facelifted Porsche Macan doing cold-weather testing but we’ve finally seen it again, and this time it’s rocking the pre-production green paint that Porsche is known to use just before it goes into production. That means a debut is imminent and there are a few new details to send your way. Check out our spy shots section below to learn all about it.

First revealed in 2011 at the Barcelona Motor Show for the 2012 model year, the i40 is Hyundai’s line of large family cars, offered in a number of body styles across multiple worldwide markets. Now, it appears as though there’s a new generation on the horizon, as spied in camouflaged test mule-form by our car paparazzi. Details are scant as of this writing, but read on for our take on what it might bring to the table.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2019 Hyundai i40 Wagon.

The Audi A8 was introduced to the world in 1994, and in 1996 the European market laid its eyes on the first Audi S8 – a beefed up version of the A8. Since then, the S8 has gone through two more generational changes with the most recent being in 2012. A mild facelift came in 2014, but the S8 still looked somewhat dated. Now, we’ve finally gotten a look at the next-gen model testing on the Nürburgring and, as expected, it will take on Audi’s updated design language. Unlike the current model, however, we expect the 2018 S8 to drop the 4.0-liter V-8 in favor of that 2.9-liter V-6 that is found in the Porsche Panamera.

As a beefed up version of the A8, the S8 should take on similar styling cues with a more aggressive twist to them. It will also get new wheels, bigger brakes, and some extra interior appointments too. We saw the upcoming A8 testing back as early as June 14 on the Nürburgring, so it took about three months for Audi to open the gate that was keeping the S8 in captivity. Now that it’s out in the wild, let’s dive on in a take a good look at the future Audi S8

Update 05/23/2018: It’s been a while, but we’ve finally spotted the upcoming Audi S8 being put through the paces again. We’re not sure what’s taking Audi so long to hammer out the production model, but there’s no camo in play here so it must be pretty close to being production ready. Check it out and learn more about what we know so far in our special section below.

Audi first introduced the TT as a sporty compact two-door in the late ‘90s, with the latest third-generation model arriving in 2014 at the Geneva International Motor Show. Offered with both a hardtop coupe and a drop-top roadster body style, the TT is looking to get a mild refresh heading into the 2019 model year. Updates include the usual bumper treatment changes and a few extra mpg and horsepower under the hood.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2019 Audi TT Coupe.

The Hyundai i30 N Fastback was spotted in prototype form being put through the paces. It will be the second model to be worked over by Hyundai’s new N division (the i30 N Hatchback was the first) and will even feature the same engine and design cues. It will be much sportier than the standard fastback and should offer as much as 275 horsepower, all of which will be channeled through a six-speed manual transmission.

An instant classic ever since it was introduced back in 1999, the Porsche 911 GT3 is living its final years as a naturally aspirated sports car, with rumors suggesting that it may go turbo for the next generation. With both the GT3 and GT3 RS models having received their updates for the 991 generation, Porsche may be preparing a new model before the 992-gen 911 arrives. The latest spy shots we received from our paparazzi suggest that Porsche might be working on a convertible version of the GT3 Touring.

Unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, the 911 GT3 with the Touring Package is essentially a slightly more comfortable version of the track. It’s still fast and powerful, but more usable on public roads. More importantly, it doesn’t have the massive wing atop the engine lid. We like to call it the love child between the 911 GT3 and the strictly limited 911 R. Needless to say, a Cabriolet model would be a nice way to send the current GT3 into the history books, but is this mule a beefed-up drop-top or are we actually looking at the 911 Speedster? It’s difficult to say at this point, but a 911 GT3 Touring Convertible would be a really cool idea.

Continue reading to learn more about the Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Cabriolet.

The current Audi TT was unveiled in 2014, and the range-topping TT RS model was introduced for the 2017 model year. The high-revving coupe has been on the market for less than two years as of May, but Audi is already testing a mid-cycle facelift. Spotted testing on public roads in late 2017, the TT RS visited the Nurburgring track in April 2018. The coupe is still wearing camouflaged over the body parts that will get updates, but it seems that it won’t be long until it’s ready to go into production.

Like all Audi facelifts, expect the upgrade to bring only minor revisions inside and out. The exterior should get new bumpers and improved aerodynamics, while the cabin should receive Audi’s latest technology, but retain the third-generation design layout. The German car will continue to use the turbocharged, five-cylinder engine, but revised internals should add a bit of extra power and decrease CO2 emissions. An unveiling could happen by the end of 2018, but don’t expect the updated TT RS to arrive in the United States before the 2020 model year.

Continue reading to learn more about the Audi TT RS.

When Volkswagen debuted the second-generation Tiguan for the 2016 model year, it debuted alongside the Tiguan PHEV GTE Concept – a model that served as a preview for the upcoming Tiguan PHEV. Now, it looks like the production version of the Tiguan PHEV is about to make its debut as it was spotted with zero camo cruising around public streets. As you can see it’s not all that different from the standard Tiguan, but it does have its differences. If the concept is any representation of what we can expect, and it obviously is, the production model should deliver between 210 and 220 horsepower and offer up some 30 miles of all-electric range for those of you with a short commute.

Rumors of Porsche working on a competitor for the BMW X6 surface a few years ago, right before the Germans launched the mid-cycle upgrade for the second-generation Cayenne. Although original reports claimed a 2015 launch, Porsche’s competitor for the BMW X6 failed to show up. In the meantime, Mercedes-Benz came up with its very own proposition, the GLE Coupe. Hopes of seeing a Cayenne coupe based on the second-generation model were almost lost after that, but 2016 brought us the first prototype of Porsche’s X6 fighter. However, instead of a redesigned Cayenne body with a sleeker roofline, our paparazzi spotted an awkward test mule that looks like a Panamera on stilts.

But while this isn’t 100-percent solid proof that Porsche is testing the Cayenne Coupe, we’re definitely looking at an SUV prototype. Since there aren’t any known plans for a new crossover, this mule can only be an early version of the Cayenne Coupe. With the third-gen Cayenne already in showrooms since 2017, a sleek, coupe version could arrive by the end of 2018. Not much is known about it at this point, but it’s expected to use the same underpinnings as the standard Cayenne, as well as the same drivetrains. The name is not yet official so you should take the "Cayenne Coupe" with a grain of salt, but this badge is very likely given that the sleek crossover will be part of the same family. We’re still waiting for Porsche to confirm the new SUV, but until that happens, we created a rendering of the upcoming vehicle, as well as a speculative review about what it may bring to the table.

Continue reading to learn more about the Porsche Cayenne Coupe.

Introduced in 2011, the 991-generation Porsche 911 is slowly moving closer to retirement. The 991.2 facelift is already three years old, and the next-generation 911 was spotted testing on public roads in many versions, so the 992 will probably go into the history books in 2019. But Porsche is not yet done with the current model. Recent spy shots suggest that the final batch of sports cars will include a Speedster model.

The convertible was caught testing in Southern Europe alongside a few 911 GT3s and word has it that an official debut is planned at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed in July. Rumors also claim that power will be provided by the same 4.0-liter flat-six engine in the 911 GT3 so it will be among the most powerful variants of the outgoing 991. Production will be limited to a few hundred cars. The 911 Speedster returns to the market after a seven-year hiatus. The previous Speedster, based on the 997-generation 911, was launched in 2011.

Updated 05/18/2018: The upcoming Porsche 911 Speedster was caught testing in the Spanish Mountains.

Continue reading to learn more about the Porsche 911 Speedster.

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.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2020 Porsche 911 Turbo Convertible.

Audi first kicked off production of the Q3 luxury subcompact crossover in 2011 for the 2012 model year, following it up with a series of refreshes in 2014 and 2015. Also offered as a pair of tuned versions from Audi Sport GmbH under the SQ3 and RS Q3 nomenclature, it looks as though the Four Rings is gearing up to release a second generation for the go-faster Q3’s, as evidenced by this series of spy shots showing a black-and-white test mule out and about for some apex huntin’ at the Nurburgring.

Update 5-17-2018: The Audi SQ3 \ RS Q3 was just spotted playing around on the Nurburgring and little has changed but our photographers have reported some new information. Check out our update section below for all the details.

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 05/17/2018: The M3 is about ready to make its debut, but engineers decided to take it out for another spin on the Nurburgring. Check out the latest photos in our special section below.

Back when Audi debuted the Audi E-Tron Quattro Concept at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, it promised a production version of its all-electric SUV would be ready in 2018. Sure enough; it looks like Audi is about on par with keeping that promise as the production version of the E-Tron Quattro was just spotted in the wild for the first time. Little is known about the E-Tron Quattro at the moment, but based on the concept and what we see here, it will be a sporty, sleek SUV that shouldn’t have a problem standing up to vehicles like the Tesla Model X. I wouldn’t expect to see all of the futuristic tech from the concept inside, but it should get a digital instrument cluster and a large tablet-like display. If Audi keeps the same drivetrain setup from the concept, the production model should boast a 95 kWh battery pack that’s good for 310 miles per charge along with somewhere around 429-496 horsepower and up to 590 pound-feet of torque.

Of course, by the time this thing hits the market as a 2019 model, it’s quite possible that other automakers could be taking part in the all-electric SUV niche too. Think about models like the Mercedes EQ and the BMW i5, which should both be on the market by 2020 or 2021. Be that as it may, the segment is rather bare right now, and it looks like Audi just might beat the flock in enough time to grab itself a nice little piece of the market. Before that happens, though, let’s take a good look at the spy shots we have now and talk a little more about what we can expect.

Uodate 5/16/2018: The Audi E-Tron Quattro SUV was caught playing on the Nurburgring. Check out the spy shots section below to see it for yourself.