New Mercedes-Benz CLS PHOTO GALLERY

When Mercedes-Benz presented the first generation of the CLS in 2004, nobody expected that it would virtually reestablished the so-called four-door coupe segment and go on to sell some 170,000 examples throughout the world.

Now, the Stuttgart-based automaker is getting ready to bring the shooting brake category into the limelight with a new variant of the second generation of the CLS.

The company not only acknowledged the production of the Shooting Brake model a few months after the presentation of a concept study at the Auto China motorshow in 2010, but even announced that sales will start in 2012.

Our spy photographers caught up with a very thinly camouflaged prototype, in which only parts of the rear end were hidden.

The shape of the production CLS Shooting Brake remains more or less faithful to the concept with the only visible change being the slightly higher roofline that should improve interior space for both passengers and their luggage.

Don't expect any surprises under the hood as the powertrain lineup will be directly sourced from the sedan model and range from the entry-level 2.2-liter turbo diesel with 204HP (for Europe) to the ferocious 5.5-liter bi-turbocharged V8 with up to 557-horsepower and 800 Nm of torque in the CLS 63 AMG.

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DM 2012 Subaru Impreza G4 Sedan PHOTO GALLERY

The first pictures and details of the Japanese domestic market [JDM] 2012 Subaru Impreza have emerged online thanks to a set of brochure shots that were leaked before the official presentation on November 30.

As most of you probably expected, the JDM model is a carbon copy of the North American version of the new Impreza, which goes on sale in the States next month. In Japan, the hatchback model will carry the Sport designation while the sedan will be called G4.

However, in addition to Subaru's new 2.0-liter boxer engine, which in JDM-spec delivers 150HP and 196Nm, the domestic market Impreza will also be offered with a smaller displacement 1.6-liter unit producing 115HP and 148Nm. Both powerplants will be available with 2WD and 4WD layouts.

Hat tip to Tai!

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Range Rover Sport Prototype May be Testing Hybrid Powertrain

Automakers tend to use test mules that typically combine body parts of an existing model with chassis and/or mechanical components of a next generation vehicle in the early stages of development for testing purposes.

This seems to be the case with the Range Rover Sport prototype caught by our scoop photographers out on the road in Europe.

The test mule featured a modified front end and a strange arrangement for the exhaust system at the back, which leads us to believe that Land Rover engineers were trying out a different powerplant for the Range Rover Sport's successor, possibly a hybrid system.

Land Rover has already began testing camouflaged prototypes of the regular Range Rover while the company has confirmed that it is working on a more fuel-efficient and CO2 friendlier hybrid system based on the one featured on the Range_e concept, which was shown earlier this year.

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Personal with the Toyota FT-86 by Gazoo Racing

We are still a couple of months away from the world premiere of the series production Toyota FT-86 at the Tokyo Motor Show in December, but on Saturday, October 15, the rear-wheel drive coupe will make its racing debut at the VLN endurance racing championship on the Nürburgring track.

The race-prepped FT-86 has been developed by Toyota's motorsports partner Gazoo Racing and it is based on the actual production model that goes on sale next year.

After the first crop of pictures that we showed you on Thursday, our crafty spies were able to get very close to the racecar during testing at the pits and on the track, and even shot some photos if the FT-86's interior.

Leaving the safety- and motorsport-related goods on the side

Porsche Panamera was introduced in 2009 PHOTO GALLERY

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SPY SHOTS: Porsche Preparing Panamera for its First Facelift

Tuesday, September 20, 2011 |

The Porsche Panamera was introduced in 2009 as the Stuttgart-based brand's first attempt to break into the lucrative executive saloon segment (albeit with a rear hatch).

Even though many were quick to dismiss the design, sales proved otherwise with the German firm expecting to sell around 28,000 examples this year, far exceeding its initial target of 20,000 cars.

Now, Porsche has begun preparations for the Panamera's first facelift, which should arrive in the market within the next year or year-and-a-half.

These fresh spy pictures show an early development prototype with only the front end covered suggesting some minor changes to the bumper and the headlamps. It goes without saying that redesign will be in line with what we saw on the latest 911 that was introduced in Frankfurt last week.

Despite the fact that there are no alterations to the rear end on this test model, the final production version may features some subtle / evolutionary touches to the tail lamps and the bumper designs.

The current model's engine lineup will probably carry over unchanged for the most part.

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Audi RS5 Cabriolet PHOTO GALLERY

While Audi never officially talked about the possibility of presenting a convertible version of its RS5 sports car, the idea has been circulating around the internet ever since the debut of the coupe.

But now we have concrete evidence that Audi will most likely go ahead and very soon introduce an RS5 Cabriolet to its lineup thanks to these official trademark fillings obtained by Carscoop.

The images provide us with a 360-degree view of the roofless RS5 (in facelift form, as you may have noticed) that will feature seating for four and the same electrically operated fabric top as the A5 and S5 convertibles, the refreshed versions of which made their world premiere in Frankfurt last week.

There are no prizes for anyone guessing what's hiding under the bonnet as the BMW M3 Convertible-rivaling model will get the same 4.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 with 450-horses and 430 Nm (317.15 lb-ft), matched to Audi's seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission and quattro all-wheel drive system, as the RS5 Coupe.

We'll update the story on the RS5 Cabriolet as soon as we find out more.

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VW Golf GTI and Golf R Mk7 Photos

Never mind the body of the current, 6th generation Golf featured on these test two Volkswagen prototypes snagged by our scoop photographers in Germany; these are test mules for the upcoming Mk7 Golf GTI and its more powerful sibling, the Golf R.

Despite the fact that both vehicles look alike at first, a closer glance shows that the GTI is the one with the twin tailpipes while the R features a quad exhaust outlets. Another important detail worth mentioning are the rear wheel arch extensions that suggest a wider rear track for both models.

The next generation of the VW Golf which if not further delayed, will arrive towards the end of 2012 or early 2013, will be based on German firm’s cost-saving modular transverse architecture, more commonly known by its German abbreviation "MQB”.

The range-topping Golf models will use a new 2.0-liter TSI force-fed gasoline engine with more oomph producing somewhere around 220 to 230 horsepower on the GTI and close to 300-horses in the Golf R which will be equipped with VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system.

As for what the new Golf will look like, VW accidentally gave us our first look at a very early clay prototype of the Mk7 Golf featuring a sharper snout and more steeply raked windscreen through an official video back in 2009. The company had then quickly erased the scene with the clay prototype but not before we saved the original clip.

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