BMW 1-Series three-door hatchback F21 leaked

BMW 1-Series Hatchback F21

Bad news for the German based automaker BMW, after the new F21 1-Series three door hatchback has leaked in patent images.

The new generation of the five-door hatchback 1-Series made by BMW has no more secretes to hide, but even so, the three-door version is well guarded, or at least was well guarded, until recently, when some patent images revealed it. Thanks to sohu.com, we now know what the BMW 1-Series three-door hatchback F21 will look like and, as you can see in the images posted below, the B-pillar has been pulled back and angled towards the rear and by not having any doors in the back, the model makes us think of a shooting brake.

Even if we don’t have any official details about the upcoming BMW 1-Series three-door hatchback F21, rumors are saying that the model will come as a 125i, with a 2.0 liter turbo inline-four engine, developing 220 horsepower, as a 125d, to complement the 116i, the 118i and the 120d. The BMW 1-Series is expected to be offered in a total of six different body versions divided into two different build architectures and the new F21, or the 1-Series three-door hatchback as it is also known, will be revealed in Spring 2012.

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Source: INAUTONEWS

Spied! Mercedes-Benz Testing V-12 Powered G65 AMG?

Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG

That mysterious pair of Mercedes-Benz G-Class mules has once again been spotted by our spy photographer, this time running winter tests in Sweden. The facelifted G-Wagens don’t look that different from when we last saw them in October, but our spy shooter now believes one of them to be the rumored V-12-powered G65 AMG.

The test mules retain the classic, utilitarian shape of the G-Class, and still sport the updated grille, new side mirrors, and revised front bumper that we saw last time around. The dual side-exit exhaust pipes are also present, placed in their usual spot right in front of the rear wheel wells. One interesting difference about these mules, however, is the appearance of openings in the front bumper, which our spy photographer believes hide turbocharger intercoolers. One test mule sports a single intake vent on the passenger side of the front bumper, while its otherwise identical testing partner sports two. Our spy photographer speculates that the one with the single opening is packing Mercedes’ 5.4-liter twin-turbo V-8, estimated to make around 525 hp in the G55 AMG. The other one could be hiding the S65 AMG’s twin-turbo 6.0-liter V-12 under its hood, good for around 612 hp. If MB’s current naming scheme sticks, that would make this SUV a G65 AMG.

Further evidence that this one is the more powerful of the two can be seen in the brakes, which look upgraded for better stopping power. It’s believed that the V-12-powered G-Class will be a limited-run vehicle, with production numbers as low as 200 units at 250,000 euros (roughly $326,850) a pop. Mercedes-Benz won’t confirm the existence of either vehicle, though rumor has it that these hot boxes could debut as early as the Detroit show in January. Whatever beastly powerplants Mercedes has in store for these rugged machines, we’re glad to see the automaker hasn’t given up on its tried-and-true G-Wagen just yet.

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Source: Motor Trend

Spied! Mercedes-Benz A-Class Strip Tease

Mercedes-Benz A-Class with less camouflage

The upcoming third generation A-Class is one of the most interesting new vehicles currently being prepared by Mercedes-Benz and all for good reason as the only common factor it has with the current model is its name.

You see, the Stuttgart-based company decided to compete more directly with the BMW 1-Series and even the higher-end versions of the VW Golf and as a result, opted for a sportier looking hatchback body built on a conventional platform instead of the tall, minivan-like shape and sandwich floor of the first two generations of the A-Class.

These latest spy shots of a five-door prototype of the A-Class testing in Europe suggest that the development of the car is nearing its end as engineers have removed much of its camouflage. If you want to see what the final model will look like, you can check out the patent images we posted earlier this year.

Our spy photographers also captured a shot of the interior. Even though it's slathered in cladding, the design appears similar to that of the new B-Class that made its debut in Frankfurt.

The latest B-Class will also lend its powerplants to the A-Class including a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline four-pot in 122HP and 156HP guises, and a 1.8-liter common rail turbodiesel with 109HP and 136HP.

A 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline unit producing around 200-horses and a high performance version developed by AMG featuring a four-cylinder turbo engine with close to 300 ponies will follow down the line.

The new A-Class hatchback will make its debut next year.

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Source: Motor Trend

New Audi A3 revealed

New Audi A3

Executive hatch will be more luxurious than ever - and there's hybrid and electric versions in the pipeline, too

The new Audi A3 will be more stylish, luxurious and hi-tech than ever – and Auto Express has full details on the firm’s BMW 1 Series challenger, which will arrive first in sporty three-door form in early 2012.

Previewed earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, the new A3 range will consist of four body styles. A five-door Sportback arrives in 2013, but before then there will be this three-door, plus a saloon for the first time. There will also be hybrid versions and an electric model.

Based on official Audi sketches, our exclusive images show how the big-selling three-door will look. It’s more angular than before, and the LED headlights are inspired by those on the facelifted A5 and all-new A6. The large grille is lifted directly from the compact saloon concept Audi displayed at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.

A sloping roof and chunky rear pillars give it a sportier profile, while the pronounced crease running from front to back along the car’s flanks – called a ‘tornado line’ by Audi designers – will be a feature of all A3 variants.

Audi’s most recent models, such as the A6 and A1, have been praised for their class-leading interior build quality, and the firm plans to continue this trend with the A3. Chunky heater controls and eyeball-style air vents will be lifted from the A1, and a soft-touch dashboard and high-quality materials will be used throughout.

Hi-tech gadgets include a sat-nav system which displays directions on to satellite images taken from Google Maps, and an Internet connection. The engine line-up will comprise 1.2, 1.4, 1.8 and 2.0-litre turbo petrol units delivering between 105bhp and 210bhp. Diesel options will use 1.6 and 2.0-litre TDI engines with the most powerful producing around 170bhp. A frugal TDIe model producing around 100bhp but capable of more than 80mpg is also set to appear.

Audi will also offer all-electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, which are expected to arrive late in 2013. No powertrain details have been released yet, but the A3 saloon concept used a 211bhp 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine and 27bhp electric motor. The electric version will borrow technology from the A3 e-tron concept.

Audi’s new hatch will have better handling and more comfort than the current generation, too. It rides on the Volkswagen Group’s new MQB chassis, but will have more aluminium parts than the next-generation Golf – which will use the same chassis – to reduce weight and help improve agility in both two and four-wheel-drive models. Audi Drive Select and adaptive dampers will also be offered as options.

The three-door and saloon models arrive first early next year, while the five-door Sportback and Cabriolet – which is expected to be based on the longer wheelbase saloon, rather than the hatch – will follow late in 2013.

Source: Auto Express UK

Maserati GranTurismo S Limited Edition revealed

Maserati GranTurismo S - Limited Edition

The Maserati GranTurismo S Limited Edition has been officially presented by the car manufacturer at the 2011 Bologna Motor Show.

Even if the Bologna Motor Show took place quite a while ago and this isn’t actually recent news, the late find made us want to present it thanks to its aggressive exterior look, carbon fiber accents, matte blue paint scheme and impressive large alloy wheels. According to the car manufacturer, the Maserati GranTurismo S Limited Edition will only be made in 12 copies, and all of them will be available on the Italian market. The model is finished in matte Sebring Blue and it has carbon fiber accents, 20 inch alloy wheels, a numbered commemorative plaque on the center console and has been developed to celebrate 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification.

Maserati says that the cockpit of the GranTurismo S Limited Edition has been inspired by the GranTurismo MC Stradale, with the added carbon fiber trim on the instrument panel and center console. As a reminder, the Maserati GranTurismo S has been introduced in 2008 and it’s powered by a 4.7 liter V8 engine which is developing a total output of 434 horsepower at 7.000 rpm and it has a peak torque of 490 Nm (360 lb-ft) available at 4.750, mated to a robotic six-speed sequential transmission with Transaxle layout.

Source: INAUTONEWS

BMW 5-Series by Prior Design

BMW 5-Series by Prior Design

The aftermarket specialists at Prior Design have recently revealed a new upgrade package for the BMW 5-Series.

With a unique exterior design and the BMW technology under the bonnet, the F10 5-Series modified by the tuners at Prior Design has all the potential of becoming a best seller. As you can see from the images posted in the photo gallery below this article, Prior Design has chosen a body kit which isn’t that aggressive for the BMW F10 5-Series, but it’s still offering the vehicle an appealing look. Even if this body kit has already been revealed by Prior Design earlier this year in April, the tuner has modified the design style since then, and now the model has a lot in common with the M3 version.

According to the aftermarket specialists at Prior Design, the BMW 5-Series F10 has been fitted with a new front bumper, new side skirts, a rear diffuser and a rear roof spoiler made out of carbon fiber. In addition to these, the kit also brings a cat back exhaust system with quadruple tailpipes, inspired from the M3, along with a fresh set of lightweight alloy rims, wrapped in high-performance tires. Prior Design didn’t say anything about the price of the upgrade yet.

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Source: INAUTONEWS

Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrow Concept revealed

Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrow Concept

The German based automaker Mercedes-Benz has released a few official images with its Silver Arrow Concept.

The Mercedes-Benz Arrow Concept has been inspired by the legendary classic cars made by the German manufacturer but its design lines are also bringing it closer to the future, and even if this probably doesn’t make any sense, the vehicle is trying to bring the company’s history to the new era. As you can see from the images posted below, the Mercedes-Benz Arrow Concept has a unique design, packing the classic shape of the old models and combining them to the new lines, but the only thing that makes it quite unappealing is the front design, with the Mercedes grille on it.

The car manufacturer says that the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrow Concept is the star of a short film for the Los Angeles Design Challenge, named the Silver Lighting, whose action has been set in the future and the basic themes are the speed and security. The main characters of the film are two dummies trying to escape from crash tests with the Silver Arrow. Sadly we don’t have any official details on the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrow Concept, but the automaker might have something planned for us, considering the fact that these images have been launched before the 2012 Detroit Motor Show.

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Source: INAUTONEWS

Audi R8 E-Tron and new A3 confirmed for 2012

Audi R8 E-Tron

The German based automaker Audi has recently confirmed that the Audi R8 E-Tron and the new generation of the A3 will be launched in 2012.

According to the car manufacturer, 2012 will bring us the new generation of the Audi A3 and the production version of the Audi R8 E-Tron, which has already been previewed earlier this year, at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Introducing the two new models in 2012 is part of Audi’s total investment of 13 billion euros in new products and technologies, as well as in expanding its sites by 2016.

“We are aiming to achieve strong growth on an international scale and boost our lightweight construction and electric mobility areas of expertise in particular. This is why we will be hiring even more people and are planning to appoint a further 1.200 experts next year”, said the member of the Board Management for Human Resources at Audi AG, Thomas Sigi.

Besides the production versionof the R8 E-Tron and the new generation of the A3, Audi will also launch the A8 Hybrid in 2012. As a reminder, the prototype of the R8 E-Tron presented at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show came with a 53 kWh lithium-ion battery which sent power to the four electric motors which were generating 308 horsepower and an impressive 4.500 Nm of torque, or 3.319 lb-ft, enabling the supercar to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds. The Audi R8 E-Tron can travel up to 250 km on a single charge (155 miles).

Source: INAUTONEWS