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Spy Shots: Subaru’s RWD sports car caught wearing same outfit as Toyota sibling

Filed under: Spy Photos, Scion, Subaru, Toyota

spy shots subaru coupe

Spy Shots: Subaru Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

Judging by the recent influx of spy shots, Toyota is working hard, fine-tuning its upcoming Scion FR-S sports car. Now, we’re finally getting a look at the Subaru version. Spy photogs snapped the two-door Subie undergoing some road testing. The style is similar to the Scion we’ve been seeing, but the Subaru appears to get a different front-end treatment.

Though most of the important bits and pieces are well-covered by all the swirly graphics, the spy photographers did manage to grab a shot of the interior of the coupe. A paddle shifter is clearly visible, and we hope to eventually spy a version with a manual transmission as well. Check out all of the spy shots of the Subaru coupe by clicking through the gallery below.

Subaru’s RWD sports car caught wearing same outfit as Toyota sibling originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 May 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Scion FR-S caught on its working vacation in Germany

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Scion, Subaru, Toyota

Scion FR-S spy video

Scion FR-S takes in the German countryside – Click above to watch video after the jump

We have the Scion FR-S on the brain, and it’s not going away anytime soon thanks to the onslaught of new spy photos that keep rolling in. This time, however, we’ve got video instead of still photography courtesy of our friends at FT86club.com.

It’s always great to see a car in motion, and besides, now we have an idea of what the Scion sports car’s exhaust note might sound like.

We’ve been having some fun at Autoblog HQ debating exactly what’s going on under all of that swirly camouflage. Some think we may, in fact, be looking at the Subaru version of the Toyota/Subie joint venture – that wing and those wheels say STI to us. However, others point out that the wing could easily be a shout-out to the Supras of yore. Regardless, we all like what we see and can’t wait until someone pulls the wraps off this thing. Click past the jump to see the prototype in motion.

Continue reading Scion FR-S caught on its working vacation in Germany

Scion FR-S caught on its working vacation in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 May 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Audi S1 caught testing, likes wearing A1 clothing

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, Audi

spy photo audi s1

Spy Shots: Audi S1 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Spy photographers have been training their lenses on upcoming Audi models as of late. Earlier, we got a look at the R8 GT Spyder, and now those cameras have captured the S1 hot hatch. Though it may look like a standard Audi A1, this mule is covering up S1 guts. What’s the give-away? A set of large exhaust pipes planted in the rear end.

Rumor has it that the mill powering this sporty hatchback will pump out 270 horsepower. That energy will be sent out to all four corners courtesy of the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Expect to see more aggressive bits of body work on the real S1 when it finally shows its face.

Audi S1 caught testing, likes wearing A1 clothing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Scion FR-S caught prepping for ‘Ring runs

Filed under: Spy Photos, Scion, Toyota

spy shots scion fr-s

Spy Shots: Scion FR-S – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve been waiting, rather patiently we might add, for Toyota to bring out its latest sports car for what seems like millenniums. This new coupe will be wearing a Scion badge and go by the name FR-S, which stands for “front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport.” It’s the “R” and “S” that has enthusiasts eager to lay eyes on this Scion in the flesh. A concept version was trotted out at the 2011 New York Auto Show, but spy photographers managed to capture a camo-covered development mule adding “Germany” to the stamps in its passport book.

What specific area of Germany, you ask? Just a little town called Nürburg, which is home to a slice of asphalt you may have heard of before. This means Toyota engineers are fine-tuning the sports car, and the Nürburgring is sure to provide lots of data points for them to dissect. Data points make engineers happy, and happy engineers make fun-to-drive cars.

Looking over the pics, it appears those engineers have ditched the concept’s rear diffuser but added in a rear spoiler. We can’t wait to see what else is in store once that swirls come off.

Check out the spy photos of the Scion FR-S by clicking through the gallery below.

Scion FR-S caught prepping for ‘Ring runs originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 May 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda CX-5 caught with less camo

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Spy Photos, Crossover, Mazda

Mazda CX-5 spy shots

Mazda CX-5 spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Mazda is quickly readying its new CX-5 small crossover, previewed by the shapely Minagi concept that bowed at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The test mule you see here still uses a lot of bits from the larger CX-7, but as more of the camouflage comes off, we can start to see the Mazda’s shapely new front end, inspired not only by the Minagi, but by the automaker’s Shinari design concept from 2010.

When it enters production, the CX-5 will replace the Tribute CUV in Mazda’s lineup. The Tribute is simply a rebadged version of the Ford Escape, and since the Blue Oval is prepping its new Vertrek-based global crossover to replace the Escape (and Kuga overseas), the Tribute will simply go the way of the dodo.

Look for the production version of the CX-5 to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Gallery: Mazda CX-5: Spy Shots

Mazda CX-5: Spy Shots

[Sources: KGP Photography, Kicking Tires]

Mazda CX-5 caught with less camo originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2013 Ford Flex caught sporting first major update

Filed under: Spy Photos, Etc., Crossover, Ford

2013 Ford Flex Spy Shot

2013 Ford Flex spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

The engineers and designers at Ford are hard at work on the next take for one of its largest crossovers. Our spy photographers have managed to snap a few photos of the 2013 Ford Flex ahead of its debut later this year, and from the looks of things, the vehicle will borrow more than a few styling cues from its platform-mate, the 2011 Explorer. Expect to see a more corporate face, complete with a new grille, angular headlights and a revised front fascia among other tweaks. Projector fog lights seem to have made their way to the option sheet for the first time and new wheels should also be available.

Out back, the 2013 Flex looks like it will make use of a restyled tail gate as well. So far, it’s unclear exactly what sort of interior upgrades the three-row CUV will receive, though we’d feel comfortable in guessing that MyFord Touch will likely make an appearance in the cabin for the first time. In addition, Ford may pull some fuel economy tricks from the ether as well.

Gallery: 2013 Ford Flex spy shots

[Source: Brenda Priddy & Company]

Spy Shots: 2013 Ford Flex caught sporting first major update originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ford Focus ST caught cold-weather testing and track tuning

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, Ford

spy photos ford focus st

Spy Shots: Ford Focus ST test mule – Click above for high-res image gallery

We saw the 2012 Ford Focus ST in the flesh at the 2010 Paris Auto Show, but at the time, the hot-hatch unveiled to the waiting press was merely a close-to-the-real-thing concept version. The production Focus ST should be arriving at an auto show in the near future. Apparently it’s not quite ready, however, because our spy photographers managed to capture Ford engineers working over a mule-bodied example, both at the track and in the snow.

It may appear to be a standard Focus from the outside – note the standard front fascia instead of the show car’s more aggressive look – but a closer inspection reveals a few unique touches first seen on the concept. For instance, a centrally mounted exhaust outlet at the rear expels emissions from the 2.0-liter EcoBoost unit lurking under the hood. Speaking of which, power is expected to be up around 250 horsepower, and the engine will be paired with a six-speed manual transmission.

We hope to see the 2012 Focus ST hitting dealer showrooms by the end of 2011. We also hope to score some seat time before that happens. Until then, we’ll just stare at the spy photos in the gallery below, and dream about the sporty action going on under the suspiciously plain wrapper.

Gallery: Spy Photos: Ford Focus ST

Spy Photos: Ford Focus ST

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Ford Focus ST caught cold-weather testing and track tuning originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2012 Nissan Tiida hatch (pronounced: “Versa”) caught ahead of Shanghai reveal

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Spy Photos, Hatchback, Nissan

Yesterday, we told you that the 2012 Nissan Versa is coming to the New York Auto Show later this month, and today we can show you exactly what its JDM counterpart will look like. Above is a completely undisguised photo of the Tiida hatchback as it sits in a parking lot in China. The hatch shares a virtually identical front end to that of the Versa sketch Nisan showed us back in October. The Tiida also shares a platform with the already in production Sunny, which shows that a sedan variant is also likely.

The spy photo shows highly stylized headlamps and a grille that is framed in chrome. The lower fascia is agape, framed by a pair of similarly large fog lamp openings. Overall styling of the Tiida appears to be a bit more conservative than competitors like the Ford Fiesta, though it’s a clear improvement compared to the outgoing Versa. Another spy photo, which is available on autoincar.com, shows that the Tiida carries a Direct Injection Gas 1.6 liter turbo engine, which currently pumps out 188 horsepower under the hood of the Juke, though we’d be very surprised if the Versa gets that kind of power – a naturally aspirated 1.6 will likely be offered.

We’ll see how close this spy shot of the Tiida is to the production 2012 Versa when it is unveiled in New York later this month.

[Source: Auto In Car]

Spy Shots: 2012 Nissan Tiida hatch (pronounced: “Versa”) caught ahead of Shanghai reveal originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: All-wheel-drive Mini Cooper hybrid caught weathering the arctic

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hybrid, Mini

hybrid mini cooper spy shot

AWD Mini Cooper Hybrid Spy Shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Once you’ve put an all-electric drivetrain into a Mini Cooper, is it that hard to hybridize one? Well, yes, especially since BMW’s limited testing program was intended to give the company information about a plug-in architecture. But our spy photographers have discovered what’s believed to be the first Mini Cooper prototype fitted with a hybrid drivetrain.

The body certainly looks the same, but – as you can see in our high-resolution gallery – BMW has affixed a sticker in the window that clearly says “hybrid test vehicle.” We don’t know many details about the powertrain sitting under the bright red paint, but sources indicate that this is a through-the-road hybrid, with the front wheels powered by a normal engine and the rear wheels motivated by an electric motor. Things like displacement, total horsepower and battery size are all as mysterious as they ever were, but rumor has it – no, really this time – that a hybridized Mini will be available when the next-generation arrives in 2013.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Mini Cooper Hybrid with AWD

[Source: Carpix]

Spy Shots: All-wheel-drive Mini Cooper hybrid caught weathering the arctic originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ferrari FF’s first crash caught on video

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Europe, Hatchback, Ferrari, Humor, Luxury

Ferrari FF Crash

Ferrari FF crash – Click above to watch video after the jump

This is why we can’t have nice things, CAR Magazine. Ferrari recently hosted a passel of journalists from around the globe in Italy to fully introduce the company’s new FF to the world. You know, the sexy-as-sin shooting brake with a European price tag of £230,000? Yeah, that Ferrari FF.

Jethro Bovingdon showed up to represent the CAR crowd, but ran into a bit of trouble while trying to work up a video monologue and pilot the obscenely expensive Italian supercar through some narrow country roadwork at the same time.

Shortly after announcing that he intended to demonstrate “just how committed to the throttle you can be on a very twisty narrow road that shouldn’t suit this car,” Bovingdon managed to bash the FF off of a curb. According to CAR, the damage was limited to both wheels on the passenger side. We’re guessing the repairs likely cost more than the tester’s fancy sunglasses, but not by much.

Hit the jump to check out the in-cabin video of the incident for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Throwback!

[Source: CAR Magazine]

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Video: Ferrari FF’s first crash caught on video originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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