Spy Shots

Mercedes is ready to revise its most potent version of the GLC SUV, the GLC63 AMG, along with the rest of the range. Camouflaged prototypes have been spotted testing on the Nurburgring, hiding some new bumpers, as well as new lights too.

This is is not a major revision of the model, at least not from the outside, and interior changes won’t be excessive either. Regarding its powertrain, since this is a mid-life cycle refresh, we don’t expect it to get any more power or any extra performance.

The big news with this is the new front end which has been reshaped to resemble that of the new Mercedes corporate face you’ve already seen on the CLS or the new A-Class.

Volkswagen is testing its upcoming T-Roc Convertible, and this is the very first set of shots showing a camouflaged prototype of the drop top. The vehicle will replace the VW Golf Convertible in the range, and like that car, it will feature a soft top and frameless and pillarless doors.

It is going to be a four-seater vehicle with decent room in the back for passengers, powered by a range of mostly gasoline and probably diesel engines and at the moment it has no real crossover rivals in the same size and price bracket.

The soft top it uses looks like it’s very similar in shape to that of the current Golf Cabriolet, and it will pretty much offer the same experience as that car but will sit slightly higher off the ground and better off-road capability. But make no mistake, it is designed to spend most of its time on the road, and we doubt anybody will want to do serious off-roading in one of these.

Lexus was seen this week testing a modified LFA with the Nurburgring package right at the fabled German circuit, and it got us intrigued. It’s been six years since the last LFA rolled off the production line, so could Lexus prepare for a replacement despite claims they aren’t looking at this possibility?

The original LFA, launched after much lament and almost a whole decade in the works, back in 2010 is a sort of a flawed genius. Originally criticized for its lumpy gearbox and somewhat underpowered V-10 engine, it ultimately grew on and won over some of its most fierce critics due to its special charisma. It was a refined supercar with build quality that rivaled and maybe surpassed that of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and with an engine that sounded as good as any Italian thoroughbred.

Now, six years on, we know from a couple of years ago that the message that was conveyed by the LFA has endured and that Lexus might not be looking at building a replacement for it in the next few years. But what if they are? Yoshihiro Sawa hinted during his visit this year at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed that “a pure F GT car, which could be a hybrid with an electric motor and a strong engine” is on the cards. What if he’s not only referring to an LC F but to something more?

Keep on reading to find out our thoughts on how the LFA’s replacement could be.

BMW is going to launch an all-new generation of its larger coupe-styled X6 SUV (which it calls SAC, short for Sport Activity Coupe) and, as with the current model, it will also be available as a hot X6M with the full Motorsport treatment.

That means it will be powered by a development of the current 4.4-liter, twin-turbo, V-8 that powers the M5, although it’s been suggested it may get more power, while from a visual standpoint, expect it to look like an X6 on steroids, with bold flared wheel arches, aggressive bumpers, side skirts and rims, as well as the trademark exhausts in the back.

Jaguar is preparing its smallest sedan offering, the XE, for a refresh and these spy photos show some of the changes that will be made to it. The car is quite heavily camouflaged, with camo covering most of its lower body but we can spot the redesigned front fascia and possible new rear light cluster design.

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.

Updated 10/09/2018: The M3 was once again spied, both at the ’Ring and on the street, and this time it’s sporting even less camo! Check out the new round of pics below...

The E-tron Quattro is Audi’s first-ever all-electric SUV. It was previewed by a similar concept car back in 2015 and made its debut as a production model in 2018. Developed as a competitor for the Tesla Model X, the E-tron Quattro joins Audi’s existing range of hybrid models that also use an "e-tron" badge.

Smaller than the Q7 but notably bigger than the Q5, the E-tron created its very own niche in the Audi lineup. It’s not big enough to offer full-size capability, but it’s not too cramped either. At the same time, it’s the perfect compromise for urban driving, as it’s not as difficult to park as the company’s range-topping SUV. The big question is, does it have what it takes to give the Tesla Model X a run for its money? Audi has yet to unveil all essential information, which makes predictions difficult, but we still know enough to paint a fair picture. Find out more in the review below.

Updated 10/03/2018: We’ve added all the latest, straight from the 2018 Paris Motor Show!

Renault is preparing to launch a small crossover based on the next Clio city car, aiming to woo buyers away from the Ford Fiesta Active, Hyundai i20 Active and other similar small high-riders. What’s a bit strange is that the French automaker already has just such a vehicle in its range, called the Captur, but apparently, this one is going to be placed under it in the model lineup.

We also don’t yet know what Renault wants to call this new model, whether it will use the Clio SUV or a completely new name. One thing’s certain - it won’t be merely a Clio with extra ground clearance and body cladding; its body is taller and looks different compared to the fifth-gen Clio we’ve seen in another batch of spy photos.

The Volkswagen T-Roc R is not yet officially unveiled, but we know what it looks like thanks to a fresh round of spy shots. The car has been spotted at the Nurburgring numerous times where it’s undergoing high-performance tests while giving us a clue of what to expect. Spy shots reveal the T-Roc R sans any camouflage, and it looks largely similar to the regular T-Roc with just a few minor updates to make it stand out.

Ford offers an array of Focus-derived variants of its latest generation compact hatch that include the base model, a sporty looking ST Line, a posh Vignale and a high-riding Active. All are available as practical wagons, and the Active is no exception, arguably making more sense to buy as a wagon than the standard hatch.

The Focus Active tourer (and the regular hatch too) sit 30 millimeters higher on its suspension compared to the standard model and features plastic body cladding for a more rugged overall appearance. Front and rear bumpers are different too, as is the grille which gets its own unique design.

This is Ford’s response to similar models from other automakers, like the Skoda Octavia Scout or VW Golf Alltrack, although unlike these models, Ford doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Have you ever heard of supercars getting mid-life facelifts? The Lamborghini Huracan is an exception. The car has been spied twice with heavy camouflage, clearly indicating that the Huracan is being refreshed for the market. The last update seen on the Huracan range was at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year, when Lamborghini introduced the Spyder Performante, but now it looks like theHuracan Spyder is due for some changes inside and out. Get ready to witness the Huracan’s rebirth!

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.

Land Rover is already working on a next-generation Discovery Sport, but with the model still a few years away from arriving, a facelifted version of the current Discovery Sport is making test rounds. The prototype is wrapped in heavy camouflage, but the overall shape of the SUV suggests that there could be a lot of changes made to the updated Discovery Sport ahead of the next-generation model’s arrival in a few years.

It’s not often that we get to see a car testing with its top down, and things get much more interesting when the car in question is Porsche’s new 911 Turbo. The 992-generation model is still months away from release but power output is said to be in the 600-horsepower region, and those beefy hips make us enjoy what we see so far.

Porsche’s been racking up the miles on their 992 test mules for well over a year now. We’ve seen them testing out in the Eiffel Mountains, on the Nordschleife to be precise, on the snow, and on the open road. What we hadn’t seen, though, was the new 911 Turbo Cabriolet with the soft top folded. Now that we’ve also ticked that, there’s not much else we would ask for before release aside, maybe, for a spec sheet?

The current 991 Turbo S packs quite a mean punch with its 580 horsepower, so a break into 600-horsepower territory wouldn’t be wishful thinking for the new car. What we’re sure of, in any case, is that we’d love to be in the place of that test driver and enjoy the last warm days of 2018 aboard a 911 Turbo, be it a factory test car.

The electrification process has taken over the world by storm. From smallest of hatches, to the marques, every automaker is electrifying its range. Bentley has been vocal about its electrification ambitions, and plans to offer a hybrid version on all its models. Recently, the Bentley Continental GT was spotted in its Hybrid avatar. Even though it looks just like the regular Continental GT, the additional charging port in the rear left fender was the giveaway.

The Bentley Continental GT Speed is a higher performance version of the British grand tourer. Sportier looking and more powerful, it slots between the standard model and the range-topping Supersports. The new-generation GT Speed, based on the latest Conti GT, is scheduled to arrive in 2019 for the 2020 model year.

Launched in 2017, the third-generation Bentley Continental GT is already in dealerships, but the British luxury company has yet to offer all the usual variations, like a base V-8 model and higher-performance models of the W-12-powered coupe. But it seems the wait is nearly over, as the GT Speed was spotted testing on public roads recently. Just like its predecessor, the GT Speed will arrive with slightly sportier looks, a few extras inside the cabin, and a more powerful version of the company’s 6.0-liter W-12 engine.

Introduced in 2015, the Mercedes-AMG GT is currently available in a variety of models with output ranging from the 456 horsepower of the base model to the impressive 577 horses of the range-topping GT R. But AMG isn’t stopping here. According to recent rumors, a Black Series model is underway, and we just received the first spy shots of the sports car.

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!

Update 9/10/2018: Kia has chosen to debut the new Telluride, full-size SUV as a concept-like one-off during New York Fashion Week. Check out our special section below to see the first shots of it and learn about what we know about the production model thus far.

Two years after introducing the Genesis G80, a revised and upgraded version of the luxury sedan has been caught testing in Germany. Even with the heavy camouflage, it’s clear that the new G80 is bigger and more identifiable than its predecessor. Genesis will unveil the G80 in 2019, with a market launch scheduled around the last part of the same year.

While considered laughable just a decade or two ago, the idea of a high-performance electric vehicle is now widely accepted in even the most traditional of speed circles. As the list of battery-motivated monster machines continues to grow, Porsche is getting in on the action with its up-and-coming Mission E. As a follow-up to hybrid superstars like the 918 Spyder and the Panamera, the Mission E is slated to become Stuttgart’s very first all-electric vehicle. Porsche teased the new model with a concept at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, and now, we’re getting our very first shots of the production iteration in the wild. Captured out and about doing some real-world testing just outside Porsche’s factory in Weissach, the spy shots reveal just how close the Mission E is to becoming a reality on public roads. Expect specs that either match or beat the Tesla Model S, with several hundred miles of range and a blistering 0-to-60 mph time, not to mention a luxurious cabin space and Nurburgring-tested handling.

While full details are still forthcoming, there’s plenty of info floating around out there to go on in terms of speculation. Regardless, it’s sure to be top-shelf and quite fast, but the question remains – will it be enough to take out the Tesla? Is this finally the Model S killer we’ve been waiting for? We’re still a few years away from the release of the Mission E, so we’ll have to wait, but in the meantime, check out our speculative review.

Update 09/10/2018: The Porsche Taycan was spotted during its pre-production test runs with minor changes. Check out the spy shots section below to see what has changed as it moves closer to production

It’s been only hours since our paparazzi spotted the mid-engined Corvette on public roads and GM’s upcoming supercar took another trip outside the garage. This time around, the mid-ship ’Vette got its wheels stretched on the famous Nurburgring track.