Spy Photos - Thursday, April 17, 2008 10:18 - 0 Comments

Audi Q5 Final Testing Spy Photos

Several magazines, including ourselves were given a drop kick to the head by Audi as we previously reported the A5 debut at Los Angeles last year. Then the mid-size BMW X3, Land Rover Freelander and Mercedes GLK competitor was reported to debut at Geneva last month, but much to our disappointment, it was held back by Audi in favor of the Q7 V12 TDI. Then, it was reported last month that the elusive Q5 would finally make its global introduction in Beijing. With the Beijing show starting in just three days, spy photographers in Germany have caught the most revealing prototype yet. With the front and rear ends still subtly covered with plastic cladding, design details in the hood and side body are in clear view.
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Spy Photos - Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:51 - 0 Comments

Mercedes SL 65 Black Series First Details Emerge

Over the past year we have seen numerous spy photos and videos of the SL 65 AMG Black Series, but besides an Autoweek story last month, nothing concrete in terms of specifications has emerged, until now. After a select group of journalists were given a sneak peek at the New York Auto Show last month with specific embargo restrictions, MotorTrend online edition is one of the first to come forth. In an effort to put the SL 65 AMG Black Series into perspective for their American audience, MotorTrend makes a laughable analogy, which compares a road going hyper sports car to a professional race car that can barely get out of it’s own way, “the SL65 AMG Black Series is roughly akin to the SL65 AMG what a Dodge Charger Nextel Cup car is to a Dodge Charger SRT-8.” Surely, taken out of context, but the comparison is somewhat out of place.

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Spy Photos - Tuesday, April 15, 2008 7:35 - 0 Comments

2009 Cadillac XLR Facelift Spy Photos

Today we have laid our hands on some of the first pictures of the upcoming 2009 Cadillac XLR Facelift. It took some effort though from our spy photographer who was eventually shadowed by a Mazda RX-8 so that the new XLR could get away.The facelifted Cadillac XLR will receive a new grille, restyled fog lamps and will sport a fair amount of chrome vents on the fenders. The new front fascia has definitely been inspired by the Cadillac Provoq concept, and with good reason.
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Spy Photos - Friday, April 11, 2008 9:55 - 0 Comments

2009 Opel Insignia: New Image Gallery Released

After releasing pictures of the taillight - headlight treatment and an initial set of camouflaged shots, Opel has followed up with a new image gallery of its upcoming Insignia sedan that will replace the Vectra in Europe, and most possibly, the Saturn Aura in the States. While the Insignia shown in these pictures is once again covered with that annoying black adhesive tape, the new images give us a clearer view of the mid-size sedan’s exterior styling which is heavily inspired from the 2007 GTC Concept. The Insignia which is based on GM’s Epsilon-2 platform, is to be unveiled at the London motor show in 2008 with sales beginning in Europe shortly after.

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Spy Photos - Thursday, April 10, 2008 8:11 - 0 Comments

Next Generation Opel Astra In Germany

First reported early last month undergoing cold weather testing in Northern Finland, the third generation Opel Astra, which is badge engineered as a Saturn in the states, is expected to Debut in Geneva next year. Seen here testing in Germany, some design details such as the vehicle’s overall silhouette, front bumper and tailamps can be seen. But one feature that caught our attention is the jagged edged liftgate shape just above the taillamp. Looking like something inspired from the Lockheed F-117 stealth fighter, surely, Opel is not interested in a radar deflecting Astra, although that would be interesting. Reminds of another vehicle.
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Spy Photos - Thursday, April 10, 2008 8:07 - 0 Comments

Rendered Speculation: Alfa MiTo GTA

When Alfa Romeo revealed the engine line-up for the new MiTo hatchback, at the top of the list sat a turbocharged 1.8-liter four producing 230 horsepower. The notion of the punchy turbo sitting in the sumptuous little package set of a rash of speculation that the range-topper would warrant the application of Alfa’s stoic GTA badge. Those rumors have now been rendered by Projetto955 into the image you see above, portraying what an Alfa MiTo GTA might look like. It’s boiling over with go-fast features including jumbo wheels housed in bulging arches and connected by contoured side sills, with a big black lip spoiler jutting out the front and fender vents fore and aft to provide extra cooling for the added goin’ and stoppin’ power.
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Spy Photos - Wednesday, April 9, 2008 7:55 - 0 Comments

Nissan GT-R V-Spec Spotted in Germany

The new Nissan GT-R is already a modern day classic, a statement proven by the fact that Nissan UK received 700 orders in just 48 hours when they opened their order books. Nissan UK is trying to convince Nissan HQ to allocate more units to the British Isles, but since Nissan can only (hand) build 1,000 engines per month it seems unlikely that the request will be granted. In the meantime, Nissan has quietly shipped a light-weight and heavy hitting GT-R V-Spec to the Nurburgring for testing. Where the regular GT-R boasts 480 hp, this turbocharged V-Spec should see at least 550 hp and is capable of a 7:25 Nurburgring laptime, 18 seconds faster than the GT-R.

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Spy Photos - Tuesday, April 8, 2008 9:02 - 0 Comments

Chevrolet Camaro Testing in Europe

Today the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro was spotted in Germany without any camouflage. But, and there always is one, these headlights will not be on the production car. The new Camaro will be a traditional American muscle car with rear-wheel-drive with some modern twists, including the possibility of a independent rear suspension. Even though there have been some rumours about a 4-cylinder engine, it seems certain now that a huge 400+ hp 6.0 liter V8 (with cylinder shut down capability to improve fuel economy) will be the power source. An alternative will most likely be a 3.6 liter V6.
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Spy Photos - Monday, April 7, 2008 11:26 - 0 Comments

Spy Shots: Nissan GT-R Spec-V

The Nissan GT-R has already proven it can more than hold its own against competition like the Porsche 911 Turbo and Chevy Corvette Z06, but don’t forget that Nissan still plans on revealing a victory specification, i.e. V-Spec, model of the car. Spy photogs from KGP Photography recently caught what they believe is the GT-R V-Spec being unloaded from a transport truck at the Nurburgring in Germany for testing. While the car doesn’t outwardly appear as different from the base GT-R as we expected, some differences are noticeable including more air intakes in the revised front splitter, new wheels and a different brake package (carbon ceramic perhaps?), and what could be a carbon fiber rear spoiler.
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Spy Photos - Monday, March 31, 2008 3:27 - 0 Comments

Rendered Speculation: 2010 Acura NSX

We’ve known for quite some time now that the Acura NSX replacement would feature a V10 engine likely at the front of the vehicle and possibly powering all four wheels via a version of the brand’s SH-AWD. Now that Nissan’s amazing new GT-R has set a new standard for what a Japanese supercar can be, the next NSX had better be something impressive indeed, and rumors are that it will be just that. What we still don’t know is what this car will look like, so we’re very interested in what Japanese car-buff-mag Best Car claims is a rendering of the new NSX.
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