Facelifted Sonata feels the heat

Spy photographers captured a restyled Hyundai Sonata during hot-weather testing in Death Valley earlier this week. Engineers got up nice and early to catch the test vehicle. While this prototype maintains the current Sonata's styling between the A- and C-pillars, the front and rear fascias have been modified.

Redesigned headlights flank a new grille with horizontal chrome bars, and the front bumper has a larger, trapezoidal-shaped lower intake that widens at the bottom for a more stout expression. The new grille brings the styling more in line with the upcoming Genesis luxury car.Heavily camouflaged, changes to the Sonata's rear are less obvious, but it appears that restyled tail lamps with prominent white strips are part of the plan. Judging from the quick drive-by shot of the interior, the Sonata will receive a revised center console and redesigned stereo akin to the Hyundai Veracruz.

New Lexus mid-sized SUV rumours

We have reports that the Toyota owned Lexus is planning a new mid-sized SUV dubbed as "JX". At the moment its not clear whether this will replace the RX Series but it is scheduled for a 2009 release. There are no pictures yet but a gasoline powered V8 is expected.

Lancia Musa Caught Undisguised!

Well nearly except from the cardboard which is covering the radiator grille and the few pieces of tape around the back otherwise its an undisguised prototype.

Because the mini-MPV is shedding the thick black disguise it could mean the Fiat Idea's sister could be unveiled soon. Numerous prototypes have been sighted in Turin and Torino in Italy.

Lancia is set to return to the UK later on this year or next year with the new Delta but Lancia says that they don't want the Delta to be the only car in the UK line-up which is why we could be getting the Musa, Ylipson and possibly the Phedra. Lancia is a well established premium brand in mainland Europe which is why the Delta could be rivalling with the Audi A3, Alfa Romeo 148, Lexus "BS", BMW 1 Series etc.

2008 Volvo V50 Sighted

Here we have in flesh is the new Volvo V50. It sedan brother has also been facelifted but that has yet to be sighted.

Obvious changes to the rear of the wagon are rectangular reversing/indictor lights and light reflectors which are on the lower part of the rear bumper. On the front the bloated cheeks is the main front feature.

These photos were taken in Spain in a car park.

New Car: 2008 BMW 6 Series Facelift

BMW is finally making a diesel-powered 6-series and, as you’d expect, it’s no 618d but a 282bhp, 155mph 635d.

The 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder diesel engine will be available in both the cabrio and coupe, where it promises 0-62mph in 6.3sec and 40.9mpg.

It’ll come with a six-speed auto ’box as standard, with steering wheel-mounted paddles for manual changes.

The 635d isn’t the only way to get a more fuel-efficient 6-series, either; the entire range is getting a makeover, with more equipment and more technology, including regenerative brake technology and, in the 630i, a more efficient engine.

BMW says that fuel economy is improved by 15 per cent in the 630i, and by five per cent in the 4.8-litre 650i.

The 6-series can also now be specified with even more electronic gizmos. Along with iDrive there’s the option of radar cruise control, a night vision camera and adaptive headlights. The latter can even automatically switch between high and low beam lights for you.
If radar cruise control isn’t enough to keep you on the straight and narrow, you can get a lane departure warning system that vibrates the steering wheel as you veer across white lines. Assuming you’re actually still holding the wheel at that point, of course, and not deep within a sub-menu in the iDrive system.

You see, you might be distracted by BMW Online’s Convertible Weather Service (we’re not making this up, honest), which lets you know weather or not it looks like rain. Never let it be said that the Germans don’t have a sense of humour.

Petrol engines will stay the same.

More Hyundai Genesis/BH

This is a fresh spy photo of the new Hyundai flagship. According to sources there will be two models; one for North America (pictured here) and another for South Korea but which one will Europe get?

Its still not clear whether it will come to Europe but if it does its likely to be badged as i80 but sources claim that the new Hyundai will be making a world debut at this years Frankfurt Motorshow in September.

The car has been sighted all over North America, South Korea and Northern Scandinavia.

Fabia Estate on the way...

Skoda is currently working on their Fabia estate. The mini load-lugger will rival against the Peugeot 207 SW.

Engines will be taken from the Fabia hatchback and prices could be the same as the hatchback.

Don't be fooled by the large tail lamps on the bootlid they are fake and its suppose to confuse car enthusiasts.

The vehicle should be launched next year along side with the Fabia sedan and maybe the cabriolet too.

Mini Clubman Caught Naked

Thats right, a spy photographer caught up with the new Clubman during a commercial shoot and caught it in full production trim. The C-pillars are the same colour as the roof but that seemed to surprise car fanatics.

There is a backwards opening door (suicide door) on the passengers side but this will affect British drivers as the steering wheel is on the right hand side. Apparently Mini wanted to lower costs of producing this vehicle.

The car should be revealed in a few weeks time.

Ford Flexes Some Muscle...

One of our spy photographers spotted a Ford Flex driving on public roads - with a license plate! Seen last a few months ago at the New York International Auto Show - as a concept - the production debut of the Flex is still some time away.

But from look of it, the production Flex will look very much like the New York concept. In fact, we're hard pressed to spot any changes, save for some minor badge relocating. This particular car doesn't have the show car's projector-beam headlights, body-colored bumpers or chrome trim, but the wheels match those seen on the show car, as do the body panels and trim pieces.

With the test mule seen in these pictures virtually undisguised and looking production-ready, chances are that what you see here is what will show up in Ford showrooms early next year when the Flex goes on sale as a 2009 model.

Honda Accord Exposed (US)

As the all-new 2008 Honda Accord nears its official launch as spy photographers stumble upon a group of 2008 Honda Accords in the middle of a brochure photo shoot in the forest of Canada.

As we've seen before, the Accord coupe gets a honeycomb grille, while the sedan's face is trimmed with horizontal bars. Based on the alloy wheels and dual exhaust pipes, both the coupe and sedan pictured are V6 models. Honda has publicly talked about increased horsepower, improved fuel economy, cylinder deactivation and lower emissions for the V6-powered Accord. Although official specifications have not yet been released, a 3.5-liter V6 with approximately 270 horsepower is expected, as well as the base 180-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.

Subaru Outbacking the Impreza?

This seems to be the first ever spy shot of what looks like the 2008 Subaru Impreza Outback "Sport". The current model didn't receive an Outback model in the Impreza line-up but the first generation did.


For the first time it looks like it will be available in a hatchback rather than the conventional station wagon.


Not much is actually known about this at the moment but the engines will be shared with the Subaru Impreza hatchback.

More Mercedes C63 AMG Sedan...

This will rival aganist the Lexus IS-F, Audi RS4 and BMW M3 sedan.



UK sedan prices could start from around £53,000.



Its now undergoing final shakedown testing on the Nurburgring in Germany.

Even More Hyundai Genesis....

No new information just yet but there will be 2 models; a regular sedan and a sporty version of the sedan. If the new Genesis comes to Europe its most likely to be called the i80.

More Renault Koleos

Its still unknown what this prototype is but spy photographers say the steering wheel had a Renault badge on it but the badge on the front radiator belongs to Samsung (Korean Renault's). We definitely know it will rival with the Nissan Qashqai (which sold 60,000 units since its launch in December 2006). These pictures were taken a day after the first batch were published onto the internet.

Whilst the UK is under water, South Europe has experienced a heatwave and thats why Renault are in South Spain testing the new hatchback cum SUV. For the first time we can see clearly there will be a split opening tailgate as this engineer reveals.

We published an article earlier on this month so check it out.

GT-R in the UK

Nissan is currently testing the new Skyline GT-R in the UK. The GT-R has been turning heads ever since its first sighting at a gas station in New Mexico and now it has made a sneak appearance in the UK at the Goodwood Festival of Speedwhich took place last saturday.

The test car is still wearing a bra and is expected to have a world debut at the Tokyo Motorshow in October.

Maserati Quattroporte Facelift Spied....

Maserati appears to be working on a facelift for the Quattroporte. The car has been on the market since 2004 and we spied this prototype in Germany as it tested on, and around the Nürburgring race circuit.

The changes appear to be focused on the front fascia with a small alteration to the rear bumper. The camouflage suggests that in addition to changes to the front bumper air-intakes, Maserati stylists may have made some changes to the Maserati’s overall grille shape, and to the headlights. The rear end will stay the same. The changes amount to the normal mid-cycle facelift, which should go public late this year, perhaps at either the LA or Detroit auto shows.

BMW Offers More "Six" Appeal

A new front bumper, revised taillights and a tiny spoiler lip at the rear edge of the boot lid – that’s what distances the facelifted BMW 6-series from today’s model. We gather that the interior will be refined, too!

Engines, on the other hand, will not change, and so customers will still have the choice between the 258-bhp 630i, the 367-bhp 4.8-litre V8 called 650i and the M6. We expect the facelifted model to debut at the Frankfurt Show later this year

The new 6 Series should be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motorshow in September.

New Car: 2008 Chevrolet Matiz Facelift

The Chevrolet Matiz has been among the most attractive and best-selling city cars on the European car market since its introduction in 2005. The exterior changes for MY 2008 will give the Matiz a fresh, sporty and more modern look. All modifications will be available for the SX and SE models.

The exterior changes are most noticeable at the front end. The new two-tone bumper (black and body color) integrates the air intake in a sporty, more aggressive fashion, compared to the current design. The upper part of the bumper, which is noticeably larger, includes the Chevrolet logo. The lower part features a honeycomb design and extends into the black area where the number plate is mounted.

The theme is continued by black rails that run across the doors and the entire side of the vehicle. The sharp edges of the rear bumper take up the design and the lower black portion of the bumper complements the sporty character of the new Matiz.

The three-tone interior will be available for all Matiz models. The small Chevrolet can now also be ordered with orange, green and blue interior trims. While the current trim is only available in grey with colored patterns, the new interior offers colorful fabrics with grey patterns, giving the car a fresh and young look.