Mercedes CLS facelift snapped

The current Mercedes CLS has been on the market since 2004 and is due for a facelift. Earlier on today, our spy photographers caught a glimpse of the redesigned four door coupe on the streets of Stuttgart, Germany.

The new front grille is clearly visible through the black paint and shows us two chrome bars similar to the current model which had 4 chrome bars. The rear end seems to be receiving new taillights and a new bumper but more on that when some of the covers are shed. The exhaust tips receive a minor styling change too with a less oval shape and more rectangular.

The facelifted CLS will be marketed as a 2008 model year.

The biggest CLS market is the U.S accounting for 40% of the overall sales followed by Australia which accounts for 20% along with Germany. The best selling CLS model in Australia was the CLS 350 follwed by CLS500 then CLS 55 AMG.

Hyundai iX55 coming to Europe (aka Hyundai VeraCruz)

Going along with Hyundai's "i" prefix, the VeraCruz as it is known in certain markets could be named iX55 in Europe.

Hyundai is thinking of selling around 5000 units a year but if there is a strong demand for it, sales figure will rise. To power this SUV will be a 3.0 litre V6 diesel that will produce 240bhp.

Size wise, the new iX55 will be longer than the Lexus RX by approximately 6 - 9 inches. The iX55 will replace the aging Terracan (which means "cockroach" in Russian)

Prices are expected to start around 45,000 euros. If it makes it to the UK, expect prices to start from £25,000 to £30,000.

Sticking with Hyundai and KIA, the Mesa (HM) SUV could make it into the UK providing there is a positive response to it. The 7 seat SUV will be powered by a 3.0 litre V6 that will be used in the iX55.

Diesel powered Civic Type-R?

According to our Japanese sources, Honda is scheming a diesel-powered Civic Type-R said the company's top powertrain engineer, Kenichi Nagahiro.

"As long as it is in keeping with the Type-R brand we will do it." he told us. "But high revving has to be part of it and that's what we're working on."

A Civic Type-R D is most likely to be powered by the most powerful version of next year's new 2.2-litre diesel which will be launched in the new Accord. It's likely to have at least 180bhp and 320lb ft of torque.

Concept Car: Volkswagen Space Up!

This long-wheelbase micro mini-van will go into production as part of a new three-model city car range from Volkswagen. Previewed as the Space Up! concept at this week’s Tokyo motor show, it’s taller and longer than the Up! The new micro mini-van will seat 4 people in comfort.

VW said that development work has already begun on the production models that will be resulting from the concept cars with the first vehicles due on sale in 2010. They will all use a rear-engined platform with petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains.

Measuring at 3680mm long, the Space Up! is 230mm longer than the two-door model and has a longer wheelbase but it’s still shorter than the Fox, the smallest car VW makes. VW describes it as a van but it has two rear seats, which fold, swivel and can be removed to create up to 1005 litres of luggage space.

It’s likely that the production Up! will use a seat foam that moulds itself to the occupant’s shape, while the car’s interior and touchscreen monitor will also make production. The rear hatch has been replaced by van-style split rear doors.

VW hasn’t finished with city car concepts just yet, the third and final concept will be at the Los Angeles motor show in November.

Volkswagen Up!

BMW sheds disguise on 2009 Z4

Fake plastic panels are still abundant on the car but the grille and front bumper are somewhat visible a thin layer of black tape. The new BMW Z4 will be to some extent larger than the current generation Z4 and will sit on the new 3 Series chassis with most of the additional size on this prototype still recognised to the false camouflage panels. It seems probable that the new 3.0 litre inline six will find its way into the Z4 since it is already in the new 3 Series.

Production of the current Z4 takes place in South Carolina in the Spartanburg plant but the new Z4 is expected to be built in Germany at the Regensburg plant starting in the end of 2009.BMW had us fooled earlier this year.

The first Z4 prototypes were caught on the streets of Munich wearing traditional soft tops that gave us no reason to suspect any major changes. Now, however it appears that those canvas-trimmed roofs were nothing but placeholders for a more complicated retractable roof system still in development. The latest prototypes spotted on the Nürburgring have tops that appear more robust. More important, these cars have cutlines in the rear deck that suggest a reconfigured trunk section similar to the 2007 BMW 3 Series hardtop convertible. Adding the new top would put the Z4 in more direct competition with the Mercedes-Benz SLK, which has featured a retractable hardtop since its introduction in 1998.

This Z4 will also benefit from a choice of more powerful engines, a new chassis and a slightly larger size. Although the prototypes appear significantly bigger than the current model, most of the extra bulk is part of the disguise. Our spies noted as much as 2-3 inches of dead space between the plastic panels and the actual bodywork.

Suzuki Alto makes a comeback

The Suzuki Alto is on the comeback path. The brand will preview a close to production-ready replace­ment for its city car at the Geneva Motor Show in March and the finished model is planned to arrive in the UK by the end of 2008.

Bosses have yet to confirm what it will be called but sources inside the Japanese firm say that it’s likely to keep the Alto badge.

It will be based on an all-new Suzuki platform and will feature six airbags as standard. Three engines will be offered, including the three-cylinder 1.0-litre from the Splash. It emits 124g/km of CO2 in the Splash but less than 120g/km in the Alto replacement. Other options include a more powerful 1.2-litre petrol unit and a small-capacity diesel.

The newcomer will firstly be offered as a five-door hatchback but a sporty three-door will join the line-up in 2009. Prices are likely to start from roughly £7,000