Next Generation Mercedes E-Class Spied

The next Mercedes E-Class is already underway with numerous prototypes been sighted all over Mainland & Northern Europe.

This is the latest spy photo of the new mid-sized sedan. The most obvious thing is the vehicle will grow in size. Its considerably wider and longer than the current model.

Despite the heavy disguise the next model caught feature twin headlamps on each side just like the current car but CGI's suggest they will be more boxier.

Just like the current generation there will be only 2 body styles; sedan and station wagon.

The new E-Class will be launched in 2009 along with the BMw 5 Series and Audi A6.

Engines are still unknown but diesel engines are expected to be cleaner and more fuel efficient.

Honda Ridgeline Facelift or Hybrid?

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Honda's Ridgeline pickup truck is due for an update, and spy photos prove that an overhaul is on the way. A new front-end design consists of a new grille and a revised front bumper, which looks similar to an early prototype of the next-generation Honda Pilot.

No major modifications are revealed yet for the Ridgeline's rear end, but that could change closer to production.

Technical details have not yet been released. Hybrid power was rumored as a possibility in 2009, but it's unlikely before the second-generation Ridgeline debuts in 2011.

What this means to you: The truck business is highly competitive, and Honda knows it needs to keep the Ridgeline fresh in order to play with the big boys.

Extracted from Edmunds Insideline

Driving Without A License

An 84-year-old Dutch driver astonished police this week when he admitted during a random check that not only was his car uninsured but he had been driving without a license for 67 years.
Dutch media said Wednesday the man had escaped detection because he had never got a speeding ticket or been involved in a crash.

The man promised police he would ditch his car, which had also never been put through a vehicle safety test, reports added

Citroen C-Crosser snapped in the wild

Who would have thought that car parks would be so interesting. Usually when people go into a car park, you're there to park your car and it can be boring but not for one person who captured the 2007 Citroen C-Crosser SUV in a public car park in France.

This is be the firms first SUV but there are more on the way.  The C-Crosser is built in Japan along with the Mitsubishi Outlander and Peugeot 4007 and is based of the Outlander.

Sales will start across Europe in Summer. Prices have been announced for the UK market ranging from £22,000 to £25,000.

The C-Crosser averages around 40mpg but a diesel-hybrid will be offered across Europe sometime in the near future and when it goes on sale and it will use 2WD to reduce emissions.

Getting Up Close & Personal...

With the new BMW M3 Coupe....well nearly. The car will go on sale in the UK in September with a price tag of £50,000 around $100,000 dollars. At the moment only the coupe has been revealed but there will be a M3 convertible, wagon and 4 door sedan/saloon.

Under the hood is a 5.0 litre V8 developing around 500bhp.

Production cars are going round in Germany but its not official if the sports car is only sale in Germany yet.

Even More Fiat 500

This time it was shot during a commercial shoot somewhere in Italy. Photos seem to come in every week of this car....

More pictures can be found at our forums:

http://forumcotf.proboards78.com/index.cgi

2008 Mercedes A-Class Facelift & 2011 Mercedes A & B-Class?

The current Mercedes A-Class has been on the market since 2005 but German car magazine, Autobild said a facelift model could be planned for 2008 with a smiley face. The next model should arrive onto the European market by 2011 or 2012 this time round the A-Class will be less MPV like and more coupe like as it will rival with the upcoming Audi A1. Both 3 door and 5 door are likely. The magazine also reported a diesel-hybrid co-developed with Citroen & Peugeot PSA or Honda. This should give the upcoming A-Class excellent fuel economy and ultra low emissions.

Sources say the next A-Class could underpin the next Dodge Caliber. Despite the B-Class being based on a extended platform of the A-Class this could also be based on the next Cailber. Mercedes is currently test mules now but they are related to Chrysler.

The following things are considered by DamilerChrysler:

This project may be cancelled because Chrysler's technique is not highly sophisticated enough for Mercedes and developed with a low budget- At a volume of 600,000 cars per year (current: lower than 300,000), a 3 and 5-door A-class, a 5-door B-class and a B-class Sportcoupé (replacing the C-class Sportcoupé) is being considered.

Mercedes and Chrysler have quite different ideas about the engines to be built in, which is one reason Mercedes is looking for a different Partner.

There are three possible partners: PSA, Honda and VW- PSA would profit from lower costs, a higher volume, access to Mercedese's quality managment, all-wheel drive and double-clutch gear.

Honda could be interesting because of their far developed hybrid technology.

A partnership with VW could be difficult since Porsche took over a big part of VW.

A second facelift (model year 2012) is possible to gain more time until a suitable partner has been found.

Mercedes C-Class Wagon Spied

Mercedes is starting to shed some disguise on the new C-Class station wagon. Don't be fooled by the fake light clusters implanted on the bootlid, they are there to confuse spy photographers and car enthusiasts. Recent prototypes have been caught in Germany wearing wafer thin disguise over the side rear window, tail lamps, bootlid and rear windscreen. Engines will be taken from the recently launched C-Class sedan.

Mercedes is even planning a C63 AMG station wagon to rival with the upcoming BMW M3 wagon but UK prices are likely to start around £55,000 or $110,000 US dollars.

The new C-Class wagon will be revealed at this year's Frankfurt Motorshow in September with sales starting in early 2008.

The first photo shows a C-Class wagon wearing AMG alloys wheels, please note that this is NOT a C63 AMG but just the regular C-Class wagon.