More Fiat 500

This is the only photo of the new Fiat 500 city-car which looks just like the car from the official Fiat 500 pictures.

The car looks great in Pearl White and the panoramic glass roof (SkyDome) looks great too but these will be optional in the UK when it arrives in 2008.

Fiat is still testing the ordinary 500 in Italy. Numerous cars have been sighted wearing tape.

Next Nissan 350Z?

When Nissan showed up at the Nürburgring test track in Germany with a new prototype coupe earlier this week, we thought it could have been the Urge but since then, we've dug into the details and it's now looking more like the next-generation 350Z.

Although the prototype is clearly shorter than a standard Z coupe, it's not dramatic enough to signal a completely new vehicle. Our information indicates that the reworked chassis is nothing more than Nissan's attempt to shave some weight from the Z. At roughly 3,900 lbs, the current model is on the heavy side compared to its competitors. Instead of employing exotic materials to get the weight down, however, Nissan is simply carving down the chassis a little. With a current wheelbase of 104.3 inches, the next Z isn't likely to go as small as the 95.1-inch-wheelbase Porsche Cayman.

We're guessing something in between the two numbers is a safe bet. Another clear sign of this prototype's intentions were the cars on hand as benchmarks. According to spy photographers in the area, Nissan was testing the Z prototype alongside a BMW Z Coupe and a Cayman.

As lofty as Nissan's goals are, it's not realistic to think it's benchmarking an entry-level $20K coupe against that kind of European iron. Also consider that the current 350Z is at the end of its lifecycle. The 2008 model will mark six years on the market, so it's clearly due for a heavy redesign. Look for a name change, too, as we fully expect to see the 3.7 litre V6 from the Infiniti G37 under the hood of this new Z.

Other sources suggest the car will be named "400Z" because of a 4.0 litre V8 but also rumoured is the production of the Nissan Urge to rival with the Mazda MX-5, Opel GT* and Fiat Barchetta**.

* The Opel GT is sold in Europe but could come into the UK

** Theres a possibility of this sports-car being axed from production

Peugeot 308 Hatchback

Here are some more pictures of the new 308 which will be in the UK around autumn time. The car has already gone on sale in France. numerous 308's have been sighted and now we have another in black

In the pipeline will be coupe, diesel hybrid co-developed with Citroen, coupe-cabriolet, wagon, MPV and SUV/crossover.

Mercedes C-SportsCoupe Goes Under The Knife

The Mercedes C-SportsCoupe has been on the market since 2004 and now we have fresh spy photos of the new model undergoing testing in Germany, Stuttgart.

The car is pretty much like the current model but with a new face. This specific prototype has parking sensors and a panoramic glass roof which will be optional when the car is released in 2008.

Its not certain whether the car will be keeping its current name but the name "CLC" is rumoured to replace the current "C-SportsCoupe".

Prices aren't expected to change and expect to see the car at the Frankfurt Motorshow in March 2008.

Top secret Nissan/Renault caught!

The Japanese car maker, Nissan, is preparing an all new replacement for the very successful Murano crossover SUV. The Murano has been on the market since 2003 in the United States and also in Europe since 2004.

These photos are showing for the first time a prototype of its successor, caught during secret testing in Southern Europe/Spain. It is a right hand drive car and was accompanied by the recently launched Nissan Qashqai.

Despite the prototype’s disguise, one can recognize the new styling of the front engined SUV, which will again be available with front* or four-wheel-drive. Judging by the advanced stage of this test car, one can expect the new Murano’s launch by the end of next year.

Other people are saying this may not be the next Murano but the Renault Koleos/Samsung QMX. As most people know Renault & Nissan have been working closely together to produces engines and vehicles.

Rumors have suggested that Renault will produce a Nissan Qashqai rival. One thing that makes me think this is the Renault Koleos/Samsung QMX is the curved bootlid but the rear lights are on the bootlid just like the Qashqai so what is it exactly?

At the moment we don't know what it is but we'll keep you posted right up to date when we do!

UPDATE:

The car has a Renault badge on steering wheel and rear door and will be the French brother to the Nissan Qashqai.

Renault had chosen to unveil the Koleos Concept at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. This show car foreshadowed a 4WD vehicle that Renault is due to market in the first half of 2008. The production vehicle, shown here for the very first time while undergoing heat testing in Spain, will assert its claim to the rugged and sporty world of 4WDs while featuring the roominess and comfort of a crossover. It will boast a wide range of practical functions for both everyday use and leisure. To ensure maximum off- and on-road comfort, the Koleos will be built on a new four­wheel drive chassis and will be powered by a 2.0 dCi engine, both of which have been developed within the framework of the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

Penned by Renault designers working in collaboration with the Renault Samsung Motors Design Centre in Korea, the Koleos will feature dynamic proportions. The glazed roof panel will be topped by profiled aluminium roof bars, while the chunky wheel arches will house 19 inch alloy wheels. The 200mm ground clearance shall confirm that this will be a car built for adventure. Obviously not taken over to production will be the design of the concept car’s rear which asserted its identity in a long sweep that ran from the base of the rear screen and through to the centre of the hatch.

The Koleos will boast a wide range of driver aids. Some are designed for day to day motoring, like ABS, Emergency Brake Assist and ESP, while others are valuable all-terrain functions such as Hill Down Control (HDC) and Hill Start Assist (HSA). To minimize polluting emissions, the 2.0 dCi will be equipped with a periodic regeneration particulate filter, which operates without additives. It will drive through a six-speed manual gearbox that will give the Koleos touring car level driving pleasure.

Fiat Grande Punto Gets Even Hotter

If you were excited about the 2008 Fiat 500 Abarth then wait till the end of this year to get you hands on the Grande Punto Abarth. Could 2007 be the year of the scorpion? Fiat hopes so, as the famous logo of its Abarth in-house tuning division will make a long-awaited comeback

Prices for the aggressive-looking model have yet to be confirmed, but expect the Abarth version to undercut its direct rivals.

It will return on a powerful new Grande Punto, inspired by the firm's Rally Super competition car. The most muscular model in the current line-up is the 130bhp Sporting, but its 1.9-litre Multijet diesel motor will be outgunned by the hot hatch.

According to our sources, the Abarth is expected to boast more than 200bhp thanks to a twin-turbo engine. That should guarantee a 0-60mph sprint of around 7.0 seconds - enough to compete with established rivals such as the Renaultsport Clio 197. The look of the newcomer will be heavily influenced by the rally car, which won this year's European Championship.

Competition-style features include a roof-mounted air intake and a wider track for im-proved handling. Smart alloy wheels and a menacing black grille - the same as the one fitted to the 100bhp Panda - are also set to join dark-tinted projector-style headlamps. Along with a discreet rear spoiler and lower side skirts, they will set the sporty newcomer apart from the standard car.

Prices for the aggressive-looking model have yet to be confirmed, but expect the Abarth version to undercut its direct rivals - just like the rest of Fiat's supermini line-up. That should see the hot Grande Punto costing around £15,000 when it finally hits showrooms in late 2007.

A few prototypes have been caught running around parts of Italy wearing plastic wheelarch surrounds etc.

Article has been extracted from Autoexpress UK.

Mini AWD?

According to the Dutch publication Autoweek.nl MINI is developing an AWD system for MINI range. Spy photographers captured a Cooper S in heavy disguise testing out the all new AWD system in Arizona.

Getrag supplies MINI with manual transmissions.

While the prototype was created solely by Getrag, execs at BMW appear to be following development closely. Here's an excerpt from the article (loosely translated from Dutch)

The power of the all-wheel drive MINI is not divided evenly over all wheels. Most of the power is sent initially to the rear wheels. However once the system senses a loss of traction, the power is distributed more evenly to the front wheels . On the test track the all-wheel drive MINI appeared 10 per cent faster than the standard front wheel drive car.

When we can expect an all-wheel drive MINI in showrooms is yet unclear. BMW development leader Burkhard Goschel has ridden already in the prototype and, according to Getrag, was “impressed”.