Spy Shots

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.

Updated 04/17/2018: The next generation Porsche 911 Turbo was caught testing once again around the famous Nurburgring race track.

Continue reading to learn more about the 992-generation Porsche 911 Turbo.

It’s been only a week since the fourth-generation Ford Focus was unveiled, and the company is already testing a new version of the hatchback. Our paparazzi just spotted a camouflaged Focus on the Nurburgring track, and despite the thick wrap, it’s pretty obvious that Ford isn’t testing the standard model. But what is it?

Introduced in 2010, the Aston Martin Rapide isn’t exactly fresh, and it’s been five years since its most recent upgrade. While the DB9 was replaced with the DB11 and the Vantage was redesigned from the ground up, the Rapide remains alongside the Vanquish one of the last old-generation Aston Martins in need of an update. While we’ve seen prototypes of the new-generation Vanquish, the upcoming Rapide has yet to make a public appearance. Whether Aston Martin is working on a new sedan remains a mystery, but we just got confirmation that the British firm is preparing an AMR version of the current Rapide.

This isn’t exactly surprising though. The AMR division, which is derived from the Aston Martin Racing arm, was launched at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, where the company showcased two near production-ready concepts. One of them was the Rapide AMR and had various new features inside and out, as well as a more powerful engine. The second car on display was the Vantage AMR Pro, a more hardcore model tuned for track use. Whether the Rapide will also get the AMR Pro treatment remains unknown, but we’re definitely getting a production variant of the Rapide AMR later in 2018. Let’s find out more about that in the speculative review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Aston Martin Rapide AMR.

Introduced in 2006 as the company’s first full-size SUV, the Mercedes-Benz GL developed from a longer version of the ML into a model of its own with unique features and an AMG version. Just like the ML, which became the GLE, the GL was renamed to GLS in 2016. Part of the brand’s revised nomenclature, the GLS badge signals that this vehicle is the SUV equivalent to the S-Class. On the market since 2012 in its second-generation, the GLS is about to get a big overhaul for the 2019 model year. Alongside the redesigned SUV, Mercedes will also launch a brand-new version of the AMG GLS63. Already spotted on public roads, the performance SUV will arrive sometime in 2019.

While the standard GLS has plenty of competition to go against, including the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Lexus LX, and the Land Rover Range Rover, the AMG version is almost alone on the market. The Range Rover is the only SUV available with a high-performance drivetrain, and it will remain the only option until BMW launches the X7 and its M version. From this standpoint, the AMG GLS63 will remain a unique full-size SUV on the market and will enable Mercedes-Benz to dominate the niche in the high-performance realm. Let’s see what the upcoming AMG GLS63 might have in store for us.

Continue reading to learn more about the Mercedes-AMG GLS63.

A lot has happened since Kia showcased the Telluride Concept at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show, and at the time, we were told that it was a “theoretical exercise.” For the longest time, the trail went cold but the SUV market continued to grow and, to little surprise, we eventually got our hands on some spy shots of a large KIA SUV being put through the paces. With that in mind, you’re looking at a three-row, eight-seater SUV with will serve as a flagship of Kia’s SUV lineup. It has changed dramatically so far, so let’s dive on in and see what we can make out!

Get ready to bring the noise with full-throated Italian V-12 fury, because it looks like Lambo has something special brewing. That’s because the black and white camo’d test mule you see here is most likely a new top-trim Aventador dubbed the SV Jota, with hotness dripping from every winglet and crease.

The SV Jota name is plucked from Lambo’s past, specifically a limited-run edition of the Miura, which offered up racing-inspired modifications like weight reduction, stiffer suspension pieces, new aero bits, and extra muscle. We’re not sure how many Aventador SV Jotas will be see the light of day, but either way, every one of ‘em is most likely already completely sold out.

Regardless, look for a heady dose of V-12 power in the middle of the machine, possibly with figures as high as 800 ponies. The 0-to-60 mph should happen in the mid-2-second range, while top speed will be in excess of 220 mph. As a reference, the standard Lamborghini Aventador produces around 690 horsepower, while more modern versions like the Aventador S make 730 horsepower.

The SV Jota will also sport an enormous wing in the rear, plus a reworked exhaust system. Lambo will probably kick things off with this coupe hardtop version spotted here, followed later by a Roadster model.

Expect a debut some time this summer or fall.

First introduced for the 2003 model year, the Lincoln Aviator was initially offered as a luxury sport utility vehicle for the mid-size segment. After failing to meet sales expectations, Lincoln axed the nameplate in 2005 after just a few years in production. Now, however, as nationwide SUV sales continue onwards into the stratosphere, the Aviator makes its triumphant second-generation return for the 2019 model year. The upcoming model will slot in between the Nautilus and the standard wheelbase Navigator in Lincoln’s lineup, possibly as a replacement for the Lincoln MKT. Unfortunately, we don’t know all the nitty gritty technical specs yet, as Lincoln just debuted a “preview model” at the 2018 New York International Auto Show intended to stoke the flames of interest for an on-sale date sometime next year. Read on for the details released thus far, including the exterior styling, interior tech, and a new hybrid powertrain.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2019 Lincoln Aviator.

After rumors and speculation, Mercedes-Benz finally dived into the pickup truck segment with the X-Class in 2017. Sure, Merc’s utility vehicle is mostly a rebodied Nissan Navarra, but it’s a welcomed addition to a compact segment that lacked the premium appointments of a Mercedes vehicle. Unfortunately, the X-Class didn’t get the green light for North America, where it would have provided solid competition for the popular Chevrolet Colorado and the newly launched Ford Ranger. Not all hope is lost though, as Mercedes has been spotted testing a new version of the X-Class with a longer bed. If recent rumors are accurate, this model will cross the pond to the U.S.

If there is a car that is included on almost every list of “greatest enthusiasts car,” it’s the Toyota Supra. The little two-door sports car was originally bolted together as a response to the Z cars coming from competitor Datsun (and later Nissan), but it eventually grew into a special machine with a cult-like following. Now after years of rumor, speculation and dreaming, the Supra is set to return. With Toyota having launched the FT-1 concept in 2014, with sporty prototypes spotted on the road since 2016, and a Supra racing concept at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the next-generation coupe turned from rumor to reality and an official debut is expected to happen by the end of the year.

The story of the Supra may start in 1978, but it was in 1987, with the introduction of the first turbocharged model, that it began to truly build its performance legacy. This third-generation Supra was fitted with more than a powerful engine. It featured adjustable suspension and brake systems that helped make it great around a racetrack as well. It became a cult icon in the auto enthusiast world, and everyone has been clamoring for a new model since the old one was pulled from U.S. showrooms in the late 1990s.

But we heard nothing but rumors until September 2016, when the first prototypes hit public roads. The camouflaged cars offered strong hints that Toyota is using a familiar design with some FT-1 cues. We also got more and more reports that the new Supra will share underpinnings and engines with the next-generation BMW Z4, as part of a collaboration between the two companies. But information remained slim until recently, when a couple of leaks brought more data into the spotlight. With the GR Supra Racing concept having already debuted in Geneva, the production model is just a few months away from showing itself in the metal, and we gathered all the existing information in the speculative review below. Check it out and make sure you stay tuned for updates.

Updated 04/11/2018: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming Toyota Supra testing on Nurburgring.

Continue reading to learn more about the Toyota Supra.

The Renault Kadjar is a relatively new model in the crossover segment. It only made its debut in 2015 and has only been on the market for a few years. I bring this up because our excellent spy photographers managed to capture a peculiar-looking Renault SUV that looks awfully like the Kadjar, except that it isn’t. Could this be a new SUV that Renault is planning to launch in the near future?

AMG might be responsible for Mercedes’ most-powerful and appealing models, but the high-performance brand has yet to use its full potential as a car manufacturer. Sure, the Affalterbach-based division brought us the awesome SLS AMG, and more recently, the AMG GT, but it hasn’t developed more than one stand-alone vehicle at a time. Until 2018, when Mercedes-AMG launched the GT 4-Door, a four-door, four-seat version of the AMG GT sports car. Unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, it’s the brand’s highly anticipated competitor for the Porsche Panamera, and it includes the most powerful GT-badged model ever.

The company’s plans to develop a high-performance four-door became more than obvious at the 2017 Geneva Auto Show, where Mercedes-Benz unveiled the AMG GT concept. The show car also confirmed that the sedan will be based on the AMG GT in terms of design, but still feature some of the more traditional Mercedes cues seen on the regular sedans. The concept was pretty much a mash-up between the AMG GT sports car and the CLS four-door coupe, attributes that also made it on the production model. Let’s find out what Merc’s new performance sedan is all about in the review below.

Continue reading to learn more about the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe.

Launched in 2005 and updated in 2013, the Bentley Flying Spur is getting a little long in the tooth. As a result, the British firm has already begun testing the next-generation model and we have already received the first spy shots of the upcoming luxury rig. Don’t let the Panamera body fool you, this is actually a Bentley mule, and the fact that Bentley is using a Porsche body is by no means surprising. As you may recall, the first Bentayga prototype hit the road with an Audi Q7 body. Also, keep in mind the Bentley, Porsche, and Audi are all under the same Volkswagen Group umbrella. If you’re still in doubt, our paparazzi have already checked the British plates with the DVLA, which revealed that the prototype is indeed registered as a Bentley.

Likely to break cover in late 2018 or early 2019, the next-generation Flying Spur will bring major improvements to the nameplate. Arguably the most imporant is the MSB-F platform, which already made its debut in the new Porsche Panamera. The redesign will also spawn a new styling language, a more luxurious interior, and give the sedan more powertrain options. Official data is virtually non-existent, but I gathered all existing rumors in a speculative review that should keep you covered until a Bentley-bodied prototype shows up in 2017. Make sure you stay tuned for details.

Updated 02/13/2018: Our spy photographers caught the new generation Flying Spur out for a new testing session in Sweden. The new car is expected to debut in late 2018 or early 2019.

Continue reading to learn more about the Bentley Flying Spur.

When it unveiled the 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4 in February 2015, Porsche finally did what gearheads had been asking for a very long time: it allowed the mid-engined Cayman to live up to its true potential, which had been kept leashed to prevent it from being faster than the base 911. Now that the first Cayman GT4 has come and gone and the mid-engined sports car it was based on received its mid-cycle update, it’s time for a new track ready coupe.

Ever since the first GT4 was announced, enthusiasts have been asking themselves whether Porsche will take things up a notch and develop a GT4 RS. But, despite favorable rumors and the fact that an RS version would make sense, a more powerful GT4 has yet to happen. This could change with the upcoming model. And even though there’s no confirmation whether it will be called the GT4 or GT4 RS, the new coupe will definitely pack a significantly beefed-up engine. So I’m tempted to go with an "RS" badge.

Updated 02/13/2018: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming Porsche Cayman GT4 out for a new testing session during cold winter conditions. New details suggest that the GT4 will be unveiled on March 6, at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.

Continue reading to learn more about the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS.

After four years with the Audi A3 Sedan being the only four-door on the premium compact market, Mercedes-Benz decided its time to jump in with a three-box version of the popular A-Class. The company’s smallest sedan made its debut in concept form at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show and the Germans were quick to confirm that a production version is in the making. With the fourth-generation hatchback just unveiled for 2018, the sedan is only months away from an official unveiling. And alongside the standard model, we’ll also get the potent AMG A45, and according to recent spy shots, a milder AMG variant too. The latter is rumored to be called the AMG A35 and it will take on the Audi S3 Sedan.

While the new A-Class is spectacular in just about every department and sports the most beautiful interior in the compact market, the really big news about the A-Class Sedan is that it will be a global vehicle. When the unveiling took place in Shanghai, I was almost certain that the German sedan will follow in the footsteps of the BMW 1 Series Sedan, which is only available in China as of 2018. But Merc has big plans for the A-Class and has already confirmed that the sedan will be sold in the U.S. The regular model should be followed by both AMG versions, including this one. Before we dig in, I want to stress that the A35 nameplate is by no means official. Last year, the less potent AMG was rumored to get an A40 badge, so it could be anything at this point.

Continue reading to learn more about the Mercedes-AMG A35.

It’s been around six months since Lamborghini upgraded the flagship Aventador to S specs, thus introducing the facelifted model, and the Italian firm is already testing a new iteration of the supercar. With the mid-cycle facelift and the high-performance SuperVeloce (SV) already on the road it might seem out of place for Lambo to test a new version of the current generation model, but the prototype our paparazzi caught testing on public roads doesn’t appear to be a next-gen car. Instead, it looks like Lamborghini is actually preparing yet another high-performance model.

There’s no official confirmation from the automaker as of this writing, but the general consensus is that Lamborghini will launch a Performante version of the Aventador soon. As you may remember, the Performante is a more extreme version of the Huracan that uses a more powerful engine and race-inspired aerodynamics. Oh, and it’s the fourth quickest car around the Nurburgring as well as the fastest Lambo on the German race track. Yup, it’s quicker than the Aventador SV, which is why a Performante version of the flagship supercar is actually a really good idea. Let’s find out more about it below.

Updated 02/02/2018: Based on the recent rumors and speculations, we created a rendering for the upcoming Aventador Performante.

Continue reading to learn more about the Lamborghini Aventador Performante.

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 1-4-2018: The Porsche Macan was caught playing again, this time in the snow. Check out the latest images below.

Introduced in 2011, the current-generation 911 is entering its seventh year on the market in 2018. It may sound like a lot given that most carmakers redesign their models every six to seven years, but the 2015 facelift (called 991.2) managed to keep things fresh. However, the 991-gen 911 is indeed getting a bit long in the tooth, and a brand-new model is under development for the 2019 model year. The German firm has been testing the 992-generation 911 since late 2016, and the sports car’s design moved closer to its production form in the final months of 2017. Come January 2018 and Porsche began testing the convertible version.

Spotted on public roads with the top down, the upcoming 911 Cabriolet sports the same design features as the coupe. Not surprisingly, the visual upgrades are rather mild, with the 992 exterior being heavily based on the outgoing model. The interior is still a mystery as of this writing, but more changes are in store under the skin. The fact that every version of the 911 will be turbocharged is a known fact, but word has it that the next-gen 911 will also get a hybrid variant and maybe even an all-electric model. There’s a big chance that the 992 will be a radical departure from the traditional 911 and the convertible model will follow suit.

An official unveiling is likely to happen in 2018, but I expect more test cars to hit the road over the next six months. So stay tuned for updates and check out the speculative review below for more info on the next-gen 911 Cabriolet.

Continue reading to learn more about the Porsche 911 Cabriolet.

We didn’t get a chance to enjoy the second-generation 1 Series here in the States, but with the introduction of the third-gen model, BMW has decided we are worthy yet again. So far, very little is known about the new 1 Series, but one big factor could be rather detrimental to its success: it’s shifting from a RWD architecture to a FWD architecture. It’s a move that’s surely ruffling some feathers in the Bimmer community. This switch is made possible by UKL platform that debuted in the 2014 Mini Cooper and now underpins the new 1 Series Sedan, 2 Series Active Tourer, and the X1. Outside of this, the new 1 Series will shed its homely exterior design in favor of a more aggressive look with a slightly longer wheelbase than previous models. Rumor also has it BMW is dropping the three-door model, leaving just the five-door hatch to fight against models like the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus, among others.

More importantly, however, is the fact that the UKL platform will translate to more space inside for rear seat passengers and cargo. Compared to the Mini Cooper, the new 1 Series will be a bit longer and is even said to be coming back to the U.S. And, to add even more fuel to the fire, the BMW 1M could come back with as much as 360 horsepower on tap – just enough to put the Focus RS and Golf R in their place. But, before we get too far into all of that, let’s take a short walk down memory lane before diving into hints offered by the first round of spy shots.

Updated 12/27/2017: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming BMW 1 Series out for a new testing session, this time during its first winter testing.

When BMW joined the SUV market with the X5 back in 1999, little did we know that the German manufacturer will become such an important player in this segment. But in a little more than a decade, the Bavarian brand has launched no fewer than four different crossovers. At least two more are underway as of 2017, with the X7 to join the family as a range topper, above the popular X5 and the sportier X6. The SUV was already spotted on public roads and we have just enough info to speculate as to what it may bring to the table.

The Bavarian brand made an announcement about the X7 in 2014, when it revealed that it will be built at the company’s plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, which also produces the X3, X5, X5 M, X6, and X6 M models. Although production was initially planned to start in 2016, it appears that the X7 will hit the assembly line later, most likely in 2018. There’s no word as to when the X7 will make its public debut, but I expect it to break cover in the second half of 2017, meaning it could go on sale for the 2019 model year. When it arrives in showrooms, it will become BMW’s largest offering yet and will enable the German manufacturer to compete against SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz GLS, Range Rover, and even the Cadillac Escalade.

Updated 12/18/2017: Our spy photographers caught the upcoming BMW X7 out for a new testing session, and it is pretty obvious that the prototype started to drop some of the camouflage.

Continue reading to learn more about the upcoming BMW X7.

The new Mercedes GLS-Class isn’t scheduled to arrive in dealerships until 2019, but as early as now, we’re already seeing the luxurious people-mover making public rounds, albeit covered in heavy layers of camouflage. Just recently, YouTube channel walkoART captured the GLS-Class driving around the streets of Germany (the road signs are in German). The footage itself doesn’t reveal too much about the SUV, but we do get a good look at some important bits, including the LED headlights peaking from underneath the camo wraps.