Spy Shots: Extra-hot Jaguar XKR caught ahead of Geneva debut

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Jaguar

spy shots: jaguar xkr and super xk-r xk-e

Spy Shots: Jaguar XKR-based prototypes wander the English countryside – Click above for high-res image gallery

Jaguar testers have just been caught running around the British countryside with a pair of camouflaged XK coupes. One looks to be the upcoming facelifted XKR, while the other appears to be a mysterious – and as-yet unnamed – more powerful XKR variant.

Rumor has it that this super XKR could be named the XK-E in honor of the 50th anniversary of Jaguar’s legendary E-Type. We really only know two things about it at the moment: it’s based off the 530-horsepower XKR Goodwood Special, and we’re dying to see it in Jaguar’s booth at the upcoming 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Jaguar XKR and Super XKR

[Source: KGP Photography]

Spy Shots: Extra-hot Jaguar XKR caught ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai Sonata Wagon? Comely i40 revealed ahead of Geneva debut

Filed under: Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hyundai

Hyundai i40

Hyundai i40 – Click above for high-res image gallery

In advance of its debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, Hyundai has released the first pictures and details of its new i40 wagon. Developed at Hyundai’s European facility in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the i40 is to be launched in Europe in wagon form before the sedan follows later in the year.

Showcasing Hyundai’s latest design language, the i40 packs numerous features you’d normally expect to see on a higher-end products – like Hyundai’s own Genesis and Equus models, for example. Included in the package are features like heated and reclining front and rear seats and an intelligent de-mist system that automatically keeps the windshield fog-free.

The question of relevance for North American consumers, however, is whether the i40 makes it Stateside as a wagon counterpart to the Sonata sedan. We know that both a majority of our readers and a few key folks at Hyundai of America want it, but we’ll have to wait and see if everyone gets their wish. In the meantime, you can check out the pair of images in the gallery below and scope out the specs in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Hyundai i40

[Source: Hyundai]

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Hyundai Sonata Wagon? Comely i40 revealed ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe set for Geneva Motor Show debut

Filed under: Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe

2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

Still puzzled as to why Mercedes-Benz killed off the CLK a couple of years ago? Puzzle no more, friend, for your answer is here. You see, the CLK was designed to slot in between the C-Class and E-Class sedan and wagon ranges, and was both preceded and succeeded by the E-Class Coupe. When Mercedes went back to the old formula, it made room for the vehicle you see here: the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe.

The subject of many spy shots and leaked photos, the new C-Class Coupe has finally been officially revealed by the factory ahead of its official debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. There, the new Benz coupe will arrive with two engine options: The Mercedes-Benz C250 coupe gets the 1.8-liter direct-injected turbo four with 201 horsepower, while the C350 coupe is equipped with the 304-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6. Both are mated exclusively to Mercedes’ 7-speed automatic transmission, which drives the rear wheels. 4Matic all-wheel drive will not be offered on the C-Class coupe. (The AMG version of the coupe is tipped to come along in another month at the New York Auto Show.)

So what else separates the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe from the sedan it’s based on? Two fewer doors and a slightly lower roofline. That’s about it. The C-Class coupe’s wheelbase is the same, the front end is the same, the luxury touches and the cutting-edge electronic wizardry… it’s all the C-Class we know, only coupier. Will that be enough to steal sales away from the likes of the BMW 3 Series coupe and Audi A5, both of which are more distinctly differentiated from their four-door compatriots? We’ll find out once the two-doors hit showrooms, but for now, you can scope out the official details in the press release after the jump, along with the gallery of high-resolution images below.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

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2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe set for Geneva Motor Show debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hispania Racing Team F111 debut rounds out Formula 1 preseason

Filed under: Motorsports, Racing

2011 HRT F111

2011 HRT F111 – Click above for high-res image gallery

We know this looks like an F1 car. But you know what it actually is? It’s the end of the beginning. Because after Ferrari, Lotus, Renault, Sauber, Mercedes, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Williams, McLaren, Virgin and Force India all unveiled their new Formula 1 cars for the 2011 championship, Hispania Racing Team has joined the action with the F111, marking the end of the preseason debuts.

The new car bears all the hallmarks of the new F1 regulations, but the first thing you’re likely to notice is its livery. With little in the way of sponsors, HRT brought in Daniel Simon – the former VW Group designer responsible for, among other things, the light-cycles in Tron: Legacy – to pen the car’s dynamic paint scheme. The result is considerably more attractive than last year’s gray car, leaving open spots for future sponsors (currently held by “this could be you” and “your logo here” lettering). Simon’s Cosmic Motors design firm gets its own logo on the sidepod wing plates, joined only by Tata Motors, which came to the team with Narain Karthikeyan.

The Indian driver, who once raced for Jordan way back in 2005, returns just in time for this year’s inaugural Indian Grand Prix. However, after showing Bruno Senna the door, HRT is the last outfit that still needs to confirm its second driver. This is business as usual for HRT, which last year used four different drivers: Karun Chandhok, Bruno Senna, Sakon Yamamoto and Christian Klien, none of whom scored a single point in the 2010 car. Can Karthikeyan and his to-be-announced wingman do better? Well, when you’re at rock bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up. Details are in the press release after the jump, with high-res images in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Hispania Racing Team F111

[Source: Hispania Racing Team]

Continue reading Hispania Racing Team F111 debut rounds out Formula 1 preseason

Hispania Racing Team F111 debut rounds out Formula 1 preseason originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus to finally debut LFA with exclusive Nürburgring package in Geneva

Filed under: Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Lexus

Lexus LFA Nürburgring package

2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package – Click above for high-res image gallery

Typically, when an automaker launches a new car, or even a variant on an existing one, we get a chance to see it up close at a major auto show within a matter of months at most. But it will have been the better part of a year by the time we see the Lexus LFA with the Nürburgring package in the flesh.

The track-focused version of the Toyota luxury division’s supercar was released all the way back in May 2010, but Lexus has only now announced that it will make its public debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March of this year. For a quick refresher, the ‘Ring edition LFA upgrades the 4.8-liter V10 by ten horses to 562 and drops the shift times down by 50 miliseconds to 150. It also gets an upgraded aero package, all for a $70,000 premium over the “stock” LFA’s $375k sticker price.

With only 50 of the total run of 500 offered with the package, this could be one of our only chances to see the track-prep’d LFA in the flesh, so watch this space in a few weeks’ time for live shots from the Geneva Palexpo show floor.

Gallery: Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package

[Source: Lexus]

Continue reading Lexus to finally debut LFA with exclusive Nürburgring package in Geneva

Lexus to finally debut LFA with exclusive Nürburgring package in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 2012 Subaru Impreza could debut in New York

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Subaru

Subaru Impreza Concept

Subaru Impreza Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

We were smitten with Subaru’s Impreza Concept from the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show. The production version will certainly be toned down for normal road use, and a report from Inside Line states that we could see the next-generation Impreza bow sooner than expected. In speaking with IL, Subaru of America’s executive vice president, Tom Doll, confirmed that the 2012 Impreza will go on sale in the United States in August, meaning that an official reveal at April’s New York Auto Show is very likely.

Like the current model, the 2012 Impreza will be offered in both sedan and five-door hatchback body styles, powered by the automaker’s revised 2.5-liter Boxer flat-four that debuted in the 2011 Forester. We hope that Subaru keeps many of the Impreza Concept’s lines intact for the production car, especially since we drool at the thought of what the STI-fettled version will look like.

Gallery: LA 2010: Subaru Impreza Concept

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: 2012 Subaru Impreza could debut in New York originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai teases Veloster rally car ahead of Chicago debut

Filed under: Motorsports, Hyundai, Racing

Hyundai Veloster Rally carHyundai Veloster rally car teaser – click above for high-res image gallery

Throughout 2010, Hyundai teased us with shots of its unconventionally sporty new three-door. Thankfully, we finally got to see the 2012 Hyundai Veloster in its production skin at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. Now comes a brand-new image to further tantalize us. Wearing Red Bull Racing colors, this rally-prepped Veloster has been captured mid-flight.

We don’t have all of the details on this rally-ready Hyundai Veloster to devulge just yet, but we can confirm that we’re dying to know more. Set your calendars for February 9, 2011 at 9:45am CST because that’s when Hyundai will make good with more information. Also, be sure to tune in to our 2011 Chicago Auto Show coverage, because word on the tarmac, gravel and snow-covered street is that this mighty Veloster is hopping a plane to Chi-town… after it eventually touches down from this jump.

Gallery: Hyundai Veloster Rally Car

Hyundai Veloster Rally CarHyundai Veloster Rally Car

[Source: Hyundai]

Hyundai teases Veloster rally car ahead of Chicago debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Restyled 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan leaks out ahead of Geneva debut

Filed under: SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Volkswagen

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan

Here we have our first look at the facelifted 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan, courtesy of an apparent slip from the automaker’s domestic website.

From the sole image we have so far, it looks like the Tiguan is getting a tweak to more closely resemble the new Touareg, with a new front end encompassing revised headlights with LED elements. The blue vehicle in the background also appears to feature off-road cladding incorporated into the front bumper.

Volkswagen is expected to debut the restyled SUV at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. Stay tuned for more.

[Source: Autopareri via autoblog.it]

Restyled 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan leaks out ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Revised Honda Accord for Europe will debut in Geneva

Filed under: Sedan, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Honda

2011 Honda Accord (Europe)

2011 Honda Accord for Europe – Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda has announced that it will use the world stage of the Geneva Motor Show to pull the covers off its latest Accord sedan and wagon for Europe. Just to be clear, this car is very different from the Accord offered in the United States. In fact, the European Accord is very similar to the Acura TSX that’s available Stateside. ‘Course, we do wish we could get the European Accord’s fascia on our TSX, but we digress…

So what’s new? Naturally, the exterior styling has been revised ever so slightly, mostly to the front fascia and headlights. Honda has also added what it calls Active Cornering Lights that illuminate when the steering wheel is turned more than 90 degrees and a High-Beam Support System that uses a CMOS camera embedded in the windscreen that senses when to turn the brights on and off.

There are also three new colors: Alabaster Silver, Graphite Lustre and Celestial Blue Pearl, while inside you’ll find a few detail updates to the finishes, including red interior lighting for the Type S models and blue interior lighting for all other trims.

Perhaps more important are subtle changes to the car’s 2.2-liter i-DTEC diesel engine (mostly the rather nebulous “reduced internal frictional losses”) that, coupled with a “host of underbody aerodynamic aids,” increase fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions, if even just a small amount.

As for the stuff you can’t see on the surface, Honda says it has quited the cabin and revised the dual-mode dampers for greater high-speed stability and “a significant improvement in ride quality, even on poor road surfaces.” If you like what you’ve read so far, you’re bound to love the entire press release, which can be found after the break.

Gallery: 2011 Honda Accord (Europe)

2011 Honda Accord (Europe)2011 Honda Accord (Europe)2011 Honda Accord (Europe)

[Source: Honda]

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Revised Honda Accord for Europe will debut in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pagani Huayra makes its official web debut

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, MISC

Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra – Click above for high-res image gallery

After taking a look at our high-res image gallery below, we were tempted to say the Pagani Huayra made its o-fish-ial web debut… but we won’t. Oh, wait.

In any case, Pagani’s newest supercar can now be seen in all its glory, and we generally approve of the overall styling, despite the fact it’s got something of a bottom-feeder fascia up front. Moving past that, we see a pretty serious set of gullwing doors and enough slats, flares and strakes to fill the sketchbook of a Boeing designer.

All those aero aids will surely come in handy when all the fury of the Mercedes-Benz AMG-built 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 engine is unleashed on the hapless pair of rear tires – the Huayra is said to be capable of speeds up near 230 miles per hour.

Over 700 horsepower and about 740 pound-feet of torque will be sent to the ground through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Couple that with a weight of just under 3,000 pounds – aided by copious amounts of carbon fiber – and you have the makings of a 21st century rear-wheel drive rocket ship.

Inside you’ll find all the luxury touches you’d expect, including a cockpit slathered in beautiful hides and exposed aluminum and carbon fiber. You’ll also bask in the glowing blue gauges and multi-function display that controls audio, navigation and communications gadgetry.

Even if we’re just a tad stuck on that front fascia, there’s simply no arguing with this level of performance. Have a close look at the Huayra below, then check out the (translated) press release after the break.

Gallery: Pagani Huayra

[Source: Autoblog.it]

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Pagani Huayra makes its official web debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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