Autoblog

Autobild is hardly a bastion of integrity on newsstands in Germany, so its cover story proclaiming it has "Exclusive Photos" of the new Mercedes-Benz E-class "without camouflage" needs to be taken with the appropriate grains of salt. However, based on the various reports we've seen over the past year, these images of the E-class are spot on, if not official pics from M-B.

The new front fascia is an interesting amalgamation of the C- and S-class' front ends, with an upright grille framed by two-piece headlamps, a sculpted front bumper and LED indicators. The sides of the new E incorporate a C-class-inspired swage line, while the rear taillights wrap half-way around the fenders.

Autobild reports that the new E-class will be unveiled in March, so expect to get all the details from Geneva next year. Sales will likely begin in Europe next summer, with the U.S. model arriving shortly thereafter.

[Source: Autoblog.nl via BenzInsider]

After more than a year of speculation, and even a leaked sketch, we finally have our first spy shots confirming that Audi is developing an open-air version of its R8 supercar. And just to sweeten the deal, the test mule spied is all but completely undisguised.

While nomenclature has yet to be confirmed – possibly using the Targa, Convertible, Cabrio, Roadster or Spider tags – the shots confirm that the convertible supercar will employ a fabric roof. Power is expected to carry over from the 420-hp FSI V8 coupe, but the presence of wider tailpipes on this test mule indicate that the highly-anticipated V10 is likely to appear in the roadster, as well. The car is expected to make its debut next March at the Geneva Motor Show show in Switzerland.

[Source: NextAutos]

Click above to view sketches of the upcoming RR4

After having maxed-out the Phantom range with sedan, coupe and convertible variants, Rolls-Royce has been hard at work preparing its second range. Known tentatively as the RR4 (following in succession after the three Phantoms), the new "baby Rolls" will be anything but, and is expected to be unveiled next March at the Geneva show.

Based on a heavily-modified version of the BMW 7-series, the RR4 will offer direct competition to the Bentley Continental. And not just the four-door Flying Spur, either. Although the RR4 will initially appear – in concept form – as a sedan, the platform is expected to spawn additional coupe and convertible body-styles just like its big brother and its targeted competitor. Although many details still remain big question marks for the luxury sedan – including whether it will bear the "suicide" rear doors of the Phantom and what engines (including potential diesel and hybrid powertrains) will appear underhood – the RR4 is anticipated to double the output of the stoic British marque from its production of 1000 Phantoms last year to 2000 once production gears up on the as-yet-unnamed baby Roller.

[Source: CAR magazine]

Click for a hi-res gallery of the JCW MINI

Step into a MINI dealership as of next spring and ask for "the works", and there'll be a new option at your disposal: the John Cooper Works MINI convertible, which Inside Line reports will be unveiled in March at the Geneva Motor Show.

The drop-top Works will, by and large, share the same mechanics as the Cooper cabrio (for bodystyle) and the 208hp JCW hatchback (for go-fast bits), with the possible addition of the optional front sway bar as standard to keep the body rigid. An extra 220 pounds of weight is tipped to make the run to sixty 0.3 seconds slower than the hard-top; at about 6.5 seconds, tied with the bigger JCW Clubman. Price is anticipated to begin at $33,000 – pretty steep for a MINI, but a tantalizing choice – with a vast catalog of accessories and options available on top of that. Of the 240,000 MINIs built each year, only 12,000 of those will be earmarked for "the works", only 4,000 of those as JCW cabrios, with just 1200 anticipated to make it stateside, so if you want one, better call your MINI store now.

[Source: Inside Line]

Originally predicted to be shown at the Paris Motor Show in October of this year, the 2010 Saab 9-5 won't actually debut until the 2009 Geneva Motor Show in March of next year.

While details of the new car are vague, we do know that it is based on GM's Epsilon II platform (unlike the new 9-3, now rumored to be downsized) and that the styling is expected to follow cues from the Saab Aero-X. Back in November 2006, we called the current Saab 9-5 an octogenarian. In today's current automotive industry, the 9-5 has reached centenarian status. The replacement can't come soon enough.

[Source: Trollhattansaab]

The launch of the next Mercedes-Benz E-class is right around the corner and Car's spies were able to catch a mildly camo'd mule undergoing testing. The prototype is unmistakably M-B, with a new front fascia that appears to split the difference between the swoop CLS's headlamps and the more conservative eyes of the C- and S-class. Underneath the cloaked sheet metal is Mercedes' new W212 mid-size sedan platform, which ditches the electronic braking system of the last generation (Benz dealers rejoice!) in favor of conventional hydraulic stoppers, and utilizes a four-link front suspension and a multi-link rear arrangement coupled with M-B's Active Body Control (ABC) system. Naturally, there will be gizmos galore, including a new electronic road sign reading system, night-vision pulled from the S-class and a host of gasoline- and diesel-powered engines that will top out with the 6.2-liter V8 from AMG.

According to Car, the new E will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next March, with sales beginning later that summer.

[Source: Car]

Click above for more high-res images of the Toyota iQ

Toyota has been working on an affordable small car that will be cost-competitive in emerging markets, and Autocar is reporting that India is being considered as a destination for production. India makes sense due to its low-cost labor, and with competitors like the Tata Nano going for as little as $2,500, the world's biggest automaker will need to cut cost everywhere it can. There is no word as to exactly what vehicle would be produced in India, but one option is Toyota's production iQ from Geneva, which is scheduled to begin production later in 2008. Toyota is looking for initial sales of the iQ to crest 100,000 units.


[Source: Autocar via Winding Road]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Peugeot 308 RC Z Coupe Concept

Originally expected to be announced a while back at the Geneva Motor Show, Peugeot has finally officially announced today at the Lisbon Motor Show that the attractive RC Z concept will go into production. Using styling cues from the Audi TT and the classic Karmann Ghia, we think that Peugeot could have a winner on its hands with its new sporty coupe. While Peugeot has not yet announced details on what will be offered underhood of the production machine, the concept used a version of the Mini's 1.6 liter turbo four. We'll be getting all of the details within time, as the official production version will be unveiled in 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. European buyers will have first crack at the RC Z when it goes on sale in the sprint of 2010.


[Source: Peugeot]

The Magna MILA Alpin concept car shown in Geneva has gotten the attention of both Mercedes and BMW. The button-cute 4-wheeler rode on a flexible platform, could utilize a variety of fuel sources, climb 45-degree angles, and get up to 120 mph. Those capabilities, and the ability to be easily rebodied and cost-effectively manufactured, have the two premium brands looking at ways to bolster their lineups and enviro-credentials.

Mercedes is known to be working on developing a 4-wheel-drive A-Class sedan. While the sandwich floors in the A-Class and B-Class cars were specifically created to allow flexible drivetrains, it is open to exploring options with BMW. Those other Bavarians in blue and white appear to be even more serious, having engaged Magna to discuss strategy and market demand. The MILA could provide a sound platform for BMW's electric car rumblings, as well as cost-effective, outsourced manufacturing.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via TTAC]

Wiesmann, the German manufacturers of the love-em-or-hate-em GT and Roadster, has plans to add V8 and V10 versions of its drop-top model that will be introduced at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. The current Roadster lineup includes only the MF3, which is powered by BMW's 3.2-liter flat-six found in the last generation M3. The new MF4 and MF5 Roadsters will be powered by BMW's 4.8-liter V8 and 5.0-liter V10 already found in the current Wiesmann Coupe models. Unfortunately, Wiesmann still has no plans to bring either the GT or the Roadster to the United States.

[Source: GTSpirit.com]