Automakers

Spy Shot: Saab 9-3X Spied Naked

Seyth Miersma — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:23:51 -0600

The eagle-eyed Swedes over at Trollhattan Saab have managed to catch what would appear to be the new 9-3X out in the wild, completely unburdened by camouflage. The new crossover is pretty much exactly what you’d expect from the current 9-3 design language, adding skid plates and a few inches of ride height to what looks otherwise like the 9-3 Sportcombi wagon.

With the new 9-4X currently in the product development pipeline—with a far more streamlined design according to the latest spy shots we’ve seen of that CUV—it will be interesting to see just how far Saab is willing to push its small premium crossover offerings. Click through the link below for a closer (still low res) look at the 9-3X mule.

+ TrollhattanSaab.net

Spy Shot: Buick’s Next-Gen LaCrosse Spied On Road

Reilly Brennan — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:11:05 -0500

NextAutos caught one of GM’s Buick LaCrosse mules last week on a freeway in Plymouth, Michigan. The second generation of the four-door sedan, based on the Epsilon II platform and set to launch next year as a 2010 model, was undergoing durability testing near the company’s Milford Proving Grounds. Please excuse the grainy phone camera shots, but sometimes a good opportunity to take a spy photo can't be undone by the limitations of your equipment.

We followed the Buick down a freeway near Plymouth, Michigan but were unable to take a picture of the front of the vehicle. However, matching our side view of this car (particularly the roofline and C-pillar) to shots that appeared on Autoblog last week indicate a match.

Note the trapezoidal exhaust pipes and the relatively high trunk height, signaling a more refined design statement that should have the LaCrosse looking like a front-drive alternative to a Lexus GS—visually, at least, although in messaging and price point it will continue to go after the smaller Lexus ES sedan. We’ll learn more about the LaCrosse when it launches at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

Make note of the Buick engineer’s keen sense of non-verbal communication. Perhaps he was just using numeral values to tell us which brand is #1 for American buyers of the age 55.2 years?

Spy Shot: Ferrari 599 Droptop

Chris Paukert — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:11:26 -0500

Ferrari’s full-house grand tourer, the 599 Fiorano, looks like it’s about to flip its lid. The folks over at UK publication Auto Express have evidently caught a mule that appears to have a false hard top and an ill-fitting rear window, lending credence to the idea that Maranello is readying a drophead version of the range-topping model. From the looks of the panel seams on the roof, Ferrari has fitted this mule with a folding hardtop mechanism that’s likely similar to that employed in the company’s forthcoming California.At this point, there’s no reason to think that the alfresco 599 will call upon anything other than the fixed-head car’s 6.0-liter V-12, but as that car puts out a health 620 brake horsepower, the droptop 599 should still make for one quick hairdryer.

+ Auto Express: Ferrari 599 Barchetta (via Autoblog)

Chevrolet Cruze Interior Spotted

Chris Paukert — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:48:16 -0500

According to the folks over at Car Fanatic, you’re looking at an undisguised spy shot of Chevrolet Cruze’s interior. Or, more exactly, judging by the Daewoo logo on the steering wheel boss, you’re looking at the Korean version of the same car, the Nubira.

If that is indeed the case, the accommodations look verypromising and upscale, with strong ties to the new Opel Insignia and Chevrolet Malibu. Judging by the contrasting leather (or at least leather-like) seats, the navigation screen, the A-pillar mounted tweeters, and the chrome rings around the gauges, this is almost certainly a range-topping model. Take away the high-end model frosting, and it would appear that you’re still left with intuitive-looking controls in a modern layout, and hopefully the promise ofgood quality materials and switchgear.

The Cruze, as you recall, will eventually supplant the uninspiring Cobalt in Chevrolet showrooms, although the two will likely coexist on dealer lots for some time. Click on the gallery above to see spy shots of the car in development.

+ Car Fanatic: Chevrolet Cruze Interior Revealed (via Autoblog)

Range Rover Sport at Nürburgring

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:05:49 -0500

These new photographs of the Land Rover Range Rover Sport preview and SUV that looks to be a bit more streamlined, but mostly unchanged from the current (attractive) vehicle. Seen here at the Nürburgring, our spies seem hopeful that Range Rover will be able to pull off increased fuel economy for the Sport, as well as a bit more power. Fingers crossed. Read the shooter’s words below.

The guys at Land Rover are working on a facelifted version for the Range Rover Sport. It seems like the changes will be very small, with a new front bumper and grille giving the RR Sport a cleaner look. The rear bumper also gets some smaller changes.

We guess that the biggest improvements will be under the hood, with new engines and gearboxes to be sure to get a better fuel economy. And somehow they always seem to find some extra power at the same time. The testing is done at the Nürburgring, the right place to be for some serious high speed testing.

Godzilla Lands: Nissan GT-R Arrives in U.S.

Paul Crutcher — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:45:04 -0500

Godzilla has arrived. In tidy rows of primary colors—red, white, black, and silver—topped in protective plastics. They’re arranged at a port in Jacksonville, Florida, waiting to be handed over to dealers and delighted new owners who pre-ordered.

Nissan’s venerable GT-R debuts here in the U.S. as a 2009 model. The approximately 1500 GT-Rs allotted for the U.S. will continue to arrive throughout the year. Look for Godzilla to be thundering out of dealerships across the country in the coming months.

Photos include GT-Rs rolling off the ship, stacked on the lot, and the car’s interior bits.

+ Nagtroc

Speculative Look at Subaru Coupe

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:30:47 -0500

AutoExpress has envisioned just what the upcoming rear-wheel-drive Subaru Coupe might look like when it comes to call in 2010. The rendering seems credible in that it takes most of its visual content from the current STI but adds a considerably more aggressive and stylish rear three-quarters to the car. We’d be pretty alright with the actual car looking a lot like this.

Apart from the imagineering, AutoExpress goes on to confirm that the car, built in conjunction with partner Toyota, will start with a 2.0-liter four-powered rear-driver. The base car should be good for about 180 horsepower, while the higher spec 2.5-liter car will make something like 300 horsepower and might possibly offer Subie’s famed AWD system.

Would the car in the picture put you in the Subaru dealer’s lot? Give us your take, in comments.

+ AutoExpress: Subaru Impreza Coupe sets sights on BMW (via Autoblog)

Facelift Spied: Volkswagen Golf Plus is Having Some Work Done

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:30:40 -0500

The Volkswagen Golf Plus is a slightly bulked up, small MPV version of the German automaker’s evergreen small car. We’re expecting that VW will offer up the sixth generation of the standard Golf at this years Paris Motor Show, but we didn’t know until these spy photos rolled in that a new Golf Plus will be following hard on its heels.

The next generation Plus appears hear with only a face mask for a disguise. Clearly the car’s front end has been updated, wearing new-look front air intakes, and sporting a new shape of headlight than the outgoing car. Expect to hear and see more official news of the Golf Plus sometime around the Bologna Motor Show. Volkswagen hasn’t made any indication that it would bring the diminutive MPV to the U.S. market, though we think that it may be a natural competitor for cars like the Honda Fit.

Would a next-gen Golf Plus be on your shopping list?

Spied! BMW X3 Mule Testing

Seyth Miersma — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:10:58 -0500

Andreas, our spy in the field, has captured these images which hint towards the next generation of BMW’s X3 SUV. While this mule is actually just a jacked-up 3-series wagon it does hint strongly at some of the next X3 features. We’re told that we can expect the SUV to be just a bit longer than the outgoing model, though interior room should grow to X5 proportions. The roomy BMW won’t lack for creature comforts either, as we’re told to expect such niceties as night vision, heads-up display, and ventilated messaging seats. The engine range, at least in Europe, will include diesels making from 177 to 299 horsepower, and two gas engines rated at 231 and 306 horsepower. Click through the jump to read the shooter’s own take on the X3 mule or on the thumbnails below to browse our gallery.

We are still waiting for the next generation BMW X3 to drive in front of our cameras, but so far we have only seen these mules testing under a higher placed BMW 3-series wagon body. The new X3 will just be slightly longer then the current one,but will give the buyers a much roomier interior. Its Exterior will lean towards the current generation X5. And to make sure that it will show its premium heritage, there will be plenty of gizmos to order. Night vision, head-ups display, bi-xenon with curving lights, and seats with ventilation and massage are just some of the new options. The engines will include diesels from 177 horsepower up to 299 horsepower. And two petrol engines with 231 and 306 horsepower will make the non-diesel lovers happy. In 2011 we will see if the new X3 has what it takes to make life harder for the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLK.

More Spied Images of New Camaro Interior

Seyth Miersma — Fri, 16 May 2008 09:45:38 -0500

Enthusiast site Camaro5 has gotten its hands on yet another batch of 2009 Camaro interior shots, this batch showing an even more dressed up automatic transmission version of the car. There’s an interesting bank of gauges down by the shift lever, and one photo also shows an intriguing display in front of the passenger seat. Overall it looks as if the interior quality is coming up though it’s still a bit difficult to make any real judgments without seeing the cabin live and in person. Click through to Camaro5 to see the rest of the story or on the thumbnails below to see an older set of spy photos, and then share your thoughts with us, in comments.

+ Camaro5: BRAND NEW 2009/2010 Camaro INTERIOR SPYSHOTS (MAY '08)

Umm, About That General Motors MPV Mule…

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:00:17 -0500

It seems as if the ball was called just a bit too early on a set of spy shots sent to us recently by Brenda Priddy & Company, as the MPV mule that had been spotted on its way out of the General Motors proving ground has since been discovered to not be a GM product at all.

Initial speculation had it that the mule seen here was the first look at GM new global MPV preparing for a future of battling with such worldly people movers as Mazda’s 5, Volkswagen’s Touran, and Opel’s Zafira. That seemingly good guess was given a healthy dose of probability by the car’s being spotted just leaving GM’s Milford, Michigan test facility.

Now the perspective of just a bit of time has seemingly proven the initial speculations to be false, as Priddy circulated and email today stating that she now believes the MPV to be a product of China’s Roewe. GM is apparently assisting Roewe with the research and development of the vehicle, which goes a long way to explaining why the Chinese car ended up in Milford.

Priddy predicts that the launch of the Chinese MPV will be sometime around 2010, with the Geneva Motor Show being a likely venue for a vehicle looking to compete on the Euro scene.

Roewe’s new MPV had us all fooled:The clues were all in.But they steered us in the wrong direction.We were analyzing a UAW agreement from 2007. Taking mental measurements and logically identifying a vehicle based on all the above, and – what seemed most important at the time – location, location, location!

I mean – it made sense that the Euro-sized MPV that left the General Motor’s Proving Grounds would be their all-new global people mover. But what we didn’t count on was General Motor’s relationship with the Chinese automaker, Roewe.
After watching Roewe successfully introduce the 550 model at the recent Beijing Auto Show, we realized that they’re now going full throttle at developing another model that the Asians hope will be liked by European customers: a five-seater MPV with a European design.

Although we caught this as it was leaving GM’s facilities in Michigan, we’re now convinced this is Roewe’s answer to the Mazda 5, VW’s Touran and the Opel Zafira. In some ways it’s as if General Motor is competing with itself, but they apparently are assisting with the R&D of the newest MPV from their friends in China.

All other details remain secrets at this stage. Name and launch-date, engines and equipment – we can really only guess: A good bet would be a three-digit figure as a name (770? 880?) and an official presentation at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Engine-wise we might see petrol-units between 100 and 150 bhp plus oil-burners in the usual sizes. We don’t believe a third row of seats belonging to the standard equipment – but it could well be offered as an option.

Brenda Priddy

Spied! Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

Seyth Miersma — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:15:54 -0500

It looks as if Cadillac is preparing to bring drivers the CTS wagon they never knew that they always wanted, as evidenced by these new spy shots of a sport wagon variant from the lens of Brenda Priddy & Co.

Priddy tells us that General Motors will start production of the wagon at the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in the spring of 2009. Sales targets for the car will be in the neighborhood of 10,000 to 12,000 units per year, with untold numbers of groceries, camping equipment, and dogs set to be hauled.

Even in this bulky cladding we can’t help but feel that the edgy lines of the CTS will make a handsome translation to wagon form. Have a look at the spy images in the gallery below or click through the jump to read Priddy's thoughts. Make sure to leave us your thoughts on the CTS wagon, in comments.

Today we caught the third Cadillac CTS variant out testing, the CTS wagon.Codenamed GMX 206, GM will start building this luxury wagon in the spring of 2009. It will be built alongside the CTS sedan and coupe at the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant. Expect GM to build around 10,000-12,000 units a year with a significant portion of that run earmarked for sales in Europe.
Back in the U.S., once GM kills the SRX in the first or second quarter of 2009, it will be replacement by committee with the CTS wagon and BRX attempting to fill the SRX's spot in Cadillac's lineup.
PhotoCredit: Chris Doane for Brenda Priddy & Co.

Video: Ferrari ‘Dino’ Mule Caught at Fiorano

Seyth Miersma — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:00:00 -0500

Honda Planning an Eight Passenger Fit Variant?

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:08:53 -0500

While we’re fans of the sporting practicality that Honda’s five-passenger Fit has been offering to Americans for the last few years, we’re not sure that we’d be quite so happy with the package if we had to share it with three additional friends.
That’s what Honda seems to be proposing, if French web site Le Blog Auto can be believed, with these scans of a new Fit variant called the Freed, stretched to accommodate as many as eight passengers. The Freed will apparently be powered by a 1.5-liter four making 118 horsepower and hooked up to a CVT transmission.

+ Le Blog Auto

If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com

Spied! New Global General Motors MPV

Seyth Miersma — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:00:01 -0500

General Motors tipped its hand about an upcoming seven-passenger MPV in the labor agreement it drew up with the United Auto Workers in 2007. Now the spy shooters of Brenda Priddy & Company have come across the first fruit of that agreement with these images of a new MPV mule out and testing.

The vehicle appears to be built on GM’s global Delta chassis, which is an excellent indication that the MPV will be offered in many markets, and under the umbrella of several of GM’s brands worldwide. Priddy expects that the vehicle will be built domestically at the Hamtramck, Michigan plant, though much of the R&D work was likely done at the facility in South Korea.

The new hauler will most likely end up in the hands of Chevrolet, with Opel and Daewoo also being logical recipients.

GM's all new, global, 7 passenger MPV spied
When the UAW came to an agreement with GM in late 2007, documents detailing the terms were released that indicated GM would be building a global, 7 passenger MPV vehicle at the Hamtramck (MI.) plant starting in 2009.
Today we have the first photos of this global vehicle. Built on GM's global Delta chassis, production should start in the summer of 2009. While this MPV will be built in Detroit, GMDAT actually has the engineering lead in this program. We suspect R&D on this vehicle has been underway for some time in Bupyeong, South Korea.
Exactly how many of GM's brands will get this vehicle is still a bit of a mystery. According to the UAW documents, a Chevy MPV is certain. A Daewoo model, as well as an Opel model, are also good bets. In fact, this new MPV may very well be the replacement for the current Opel Zafira.
It's hard for us to say which model we have in our pictures as the prototype is testing without any front clip at all! However the absence of a front clip does allow us to glimpse the presence of an intercooler.
In person, our shooters say this vehicle is similar in size to the Mazda5.
Brenda Priddy

Ford’s New 4.4-Liter Diesel Spotted in Las Vegas

Seyth Miersma — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:00:50 -0500

While most of the spy photographs we publish are pictures of entire automobiles, this leaked photo happens to show one very important new engine…all on its own.

Set up for display at a recent dealer show in Las Vegas, the picture above shows Ford’s all-new 4.4-liter V-8 diesel engine, which is slated to be available in 2010 as part of the Super Duty pickup range. An attendant placard tells us that the power output will be around 340 horsepower with 430 pound-feet of torque. Ford tells us that those numbers represent substantial gains over a 5.4-liter gas engine, including a nine percent boost in power, fifteen percent in torque, and twenty percent in fuel economy.
In addition to the F-150 lineup the new diesel should make its way into the Expedition, Navigator, and new E-Series vans.

+ PickupTruck.com: Unofficial Pictures: Ford's Upcoming 4.4-Liter V8 Diesel

If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com

Spied! Tiny Tough Dacia Logan 4x4

Seyth Miersma — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:00:30 -0500

Romanian Renault subsidiary Dacia has long been known for building cars and trucks that sell well primarily because they are supremely inexpensive, without being terrible to drive. Now Dacia seems ready to enter the playground of small SUVs, with a jacked up version of the Logan. Though this particular mule isn’t representative of what the final product will look like, we can’t help but wishing that it was. The Logan 4x4 has got everything we’ve ever loved about cars like the AMC Eagle or Fiat’s 4x4 Panda, that is to say a silly high ride height, ready-to-pounce stance, and stripper steel wheels. The spy shooter seems to think that the finished Dacia will be a hot commodity in its own right. Read the shooter’s notes below.

You think that a SUV needs to be big and expensive? Well, think again. Automaker Dacia, known for making cheap Renault based cars like the Logan, are planning a smaller SUV model to join the war of small SUVs. And as we know, Dacia sells a lot of cars because they are cheap and relatively good too. This mule at least gives us a hint about the size of this new car. Don’t take so much notice about the design, it’s just a chopped up Logan. The real car will be much nicer looking, just look at the new hatchback model that Dacia brought out on the market, the Sandero. It’s not going be the safest and best looking SUV out there, but it will sure be the cheapest.

2009 Opel Insignia Spy Pics Courtesy of Opel

Seyth Miersma — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:00:01 -0500

Opel seems to be following the new automaker trend of taking an ownership roll in its own “spy shots,

Toyota/Subaru Coupe Tipped in Early Sketch

Seyth Miersma — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:00:12 -0500

The coupe depicted in the sketch above is said to come from a source inside of Subaru’s design department, and is meant to depict the upcoming rear-wheel-drive offering from the company.

It’s no secret that Subaru has been working with Toyota, which owns a four percent stake in the smaller company, on a shared coupe project that will be underpinned by Impreza gear. The two versions will differ in appearance, but will both offer Subaru’s 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter boxer fours in standard and turbocharged trim.

The source of the image also suggests that despite the planned RWD layout of the shared coupe, an AWD version hasn’t been ruled out for the top of the range. Subaru’s iteration of the car should be fully realized by this summer, with production slated to begin in 2010.

+ CarScoop: Rear-Wheel Drive Subaru Impreza Coupe – Official Sketch!

If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com

Spied! 2010 Ford Taurus in the Studio

Seyth Miersma — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:00:52 -0500

Ford has spent the better part of this week trying to keep the image you see above from cropping up on automotive websites just like ours. The automaker was able to stem the tide for a few days, but with gold like this spy photo of a possible 2010 Taurus, and the no-holds-barred sprit of the internet, it was bound to come out.

Said to be snapped inside Ford’s own design studio this prototype would seem to represent a kind of quantum leap visually for the Taurus, with chiseled headlamps, jutting front air dam, and a more subtle application of the three-bar grille.

Give us your opinion of the potential new Taurus, in comments.

+ Autoblog: Spy Shots: 2010 Ford Taurus... finally

+ Edmunds Inside Line: Spy Photo: 2010 Ford Taurus Caught

If you’ve got an idea for Question of the Day, a funny photo for Caption It, or just want to share a news tip, let us know at windingroadtips@gmail.com