There is no doubt that the official release of the next generation Jaguar XF-R is sooner than later, but it seems that the XF-R right now is not the best kept secret in the auto world. The sizzling red hot car with vents on the hood, large bumper air intakes and quad exhaust has been snapped pretty extensively in spy shots with Jaguar having a problem keeping it under the mask. The XF-R follows the thread marks of the highly successful Jaguar SV8 XF and is slated to sport a 5.0 liter, direct-injection power plant supplying more that 500 hp. While the SV8 XF sports a 4.2 liter, 420 hp engine, the new XH-R could way beyond that while still keeping in line with the Jaguar class and royalty. – via WCF

If you remember the BMW X6 model I told you some time ago, then it’s time to see it in flash. Apparently a guy living in the Upstate are of South Carolina, where is the BMW Manufacturing, managed to spy (probably the first) production version, a black xDrive35i model. The car is supposed to be a tester, and was taken back home by a BMW manager.

Here is what the guy had to say about it:

From a distance the car appears to be smaller, almost sedan sized, until you get close to the car.I’m about 5’10” tall and the top of the X6′s rear hatch hits me about mid chest. Then you realize this is a fairly large car and related to the X5.This car looks much,much better in person.The photos just don’t do it justice. The car has an awesome street stance and presence.

via Jalopink

During Detroit 2008, Volvo presented their latest idea of a SUV. XC60 was still a concept but I can tell you that it’s going to materialize into something that you can touch. At Geneva this year, in March, Volvo is going to make it official. This is going to be the most popular Volvo SUV from what I’ve heard, and by the time we can put our hands on it, here are the first spy shots of the new Volvo XC60.

The car will come with a DOHC 3.2 liter inline-6 derived engine, comes with standard front wheel drive but gives the option of all wheel drive, goes on sale late fall this year in Europe and early 2009 in the US.

The main competitors are BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLK and Acura RDX. Here are two more pictures.

AutoExpress

When Audi released the new TT they were pretty happy with their two coupe and covertible models. However, the market demanded for something better, and they had to schedule Audi TT-S and TT-RS to be released soon.

I managed to get my eyes on some Audi TT-S Roadster spy shots to see that it now looks much more aggressive thanks to a beautiful front grille, LEDs under the headlamps or the four exhaust pipes in the rear. It’s supposed to have 270hp from a 3.2 quatro engine (350Nm torque) with S-Tronic, a stiffer suspension and should sell for $42,900. The RS however, will be powered by a 5-cylinder engine that sports 308hp and should cost $45,900.

via MotorAuthority

Take a good look at Car Online’s scoop pictures of the next-gen Sports Coupe. Looks far too similar with the current C-Class Sport Coupe doesn’t it? Of course it does since Mercedes-Benz decided to save heap loads of money by adding the front end of the new C-Class (see here) in order to support the latest engines and dashboard to the “old” Sports Coupe chassis. We were never fans of the Sports Coupe’s appearance and we doubt if the new front end will make us change our mind.

Good news is that the new (or maybe shall we call it, facelifted?) Sports Coupe will get the 2008 C-Class’ engine range from the supercharged 156 Hp 1.8-litre up to the 272 Hp 3.5-litre V6 while Merc’s diesel line-up will start with a 136 Hp 2.2-litre unit and rise to a 224 Hp 3.0-litre engine. The 2008 Sports Coupe will most probably make its first appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2008 with sales starting shortly after.

I originally posted this on my Thought Leader blog

I just got word that Car magazine has obtained the first official sketches of the so-called Mini-killer, the Audi A1. They write that these sketches have been “smuggled out of Audi’s design HQ”. The sketches show Audi’s tiny hatch in three-door trim, though a five-door, coupé and convertible are also planned.

After jealously eyeing five years of BMW success with the pricey Mini, Audi is undoubtedly interested in entering the B-premium segment (or super-Mini), a segment that has grown in appeal since the reincarnation of the Mini. The A1 aims to be a classy hatchback, with Audi’s typical design style and all of the “vorsprung durch technik” rhetoric.

Besides the A1 featuring the all-new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the sporty hatch will also be all-wheel drive, which was also engineered for an offroad version (the Q1) and for use by the S1 (in the first sketch), which could be a rival for the Cooper-S.

Audi has set very ambitious sales objectives, starting at 100 000 units in 2010 and ramping up to 190 000 units once the open-top and Q1 versions are in production. Reason for this is the price is a tad lower than a comparably equipped Mini, with the Audi retailing for $22 000 (about R160 000). No word on the official South African price or when it will hit our shores.

The next Mercedes SL-Class looks to have some big changes on the way. In addition to a radically redesigned front-end — comprised of a big ol’ new grille and CLS-style boomerang headlights–the new SL’s AMG package will get what the folks at KGP are calling the “increasingly prolific” 6.2-liter V8 engine. The engine, when packaged with Mercedes’ 7G-TRONIC seven-speed transmission, generates 465 lb-ft. or torque and 525-horsepower in the S63 AMG and in the C63 AMG, the same set-up provides 457-hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The KGP spy shooters expect the new AMG “Sport Leicht” to be endowed with power ratings closer to the S-class, although their sources report “packaging restrictions” might limit those power numbers a wee bit.

[via Jalopnik]

It is not a secret anymore – BMW is in the middle of developing a 4×4 Coupe named X 6 based on its big off roader X 5.

Now here is another prototype mule suggesting what is up next. Since BMW has been very successful with the current X model line- up consisting of X 5 and X 3, it is very likely that now the smaller 4×4 model X 3 could become the base for another crossover coupe, the X 4.

As can be seen on the photos, the test car is an X 3 but is longer and wider, and it runs on sporty wheels. For the time being nothing has leaked through about the styling , but it can be expected that this model will bear some resemblance to the upcoming X 6.

While the next generation X 3 is scheduled for release in 2010, a matching SUV Coupe X 4 could be due at about the same time.