Owner: Car Freaks Blog URL:http://carfreaksblog.blogspot.com Join Date: Sat, 02 Feb 2008 12:48:09 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: A very stylish,sophisticated and frequently updated automative blog.The latest car news, spy photos and hottest rumors from automobile industry. Site statistics:Click here
Spy Shots: Latest Toyota Avensis Spy Photos 2008-02-28 13:25:00 Almost two months after the first spy shots, the new Toyota
Avensis caught by the photographers during winter testing. The third-generation Avensis is expected to be launched at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. Since its launch in 2003, the second-generation Avensis has won the European Car of the Year award in 2004 and 156,000 units sold in 2005 alone. The current Avensis received its mid-product life cycle facelift at the Madrid Motor Show in 2006.But because of the heating up competition that Avensis is facing in the up-market medium-sized car market from e.g. the Mazda 6, Toyota is in the process of updating the Avensis range, with reportedly a hybrid, all-wheel drive and diesel hybrid models being available by 2010.Gallery: Toyota Avensis Spy Shots
World Car Of The Year: Top Three Finalists Announced 2008-02-28 13:20:00 Three finalists of the World
Car Of The Year awards are announced. Last year the Lexus LS 460 took the award to home and this year judges have to select between the Ford Mondeo, Mazda2 (a.k.a. Mazda Demio), and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.The three were chosen from the initial list of top ten finalists, which includes the Audi A5/S5, Audi R8, Cadillac CTS, Ford S-Max, Infiniti G37 Coupe, Nissan Qashqai, and Volvo C30. The award is scheduled to be announced at the New York Auto Show on March 20th.There are also other minor-league awards such as the World Performance Car, World Green Car, and the World Car Design of the Year titles. The three finalists for the World Performance Car award are the Audi R8, Audi S5 Coupé, and BMW M3. The three finalists for the World Green Car award are the Read more:Three
, Top Three
Detroit 2009 Preview: Lexus To Unveil Lexus-Branded Prius 2008-02-28 13:14:00 We've previously reported that Lexus
is planning to unveil its first hybrid-only model at next year's NAIAS in Detroit
. Emerging reports now suggest that the Lexus hybrid will actually be a rebadged luxury version of the next-gen Prius
. While it would be a little weird that the lightweight Prius will be loaded with Lexus-grade luxury equipments, we think the Hollywood people will love this new car so much.
Read more:Preview
, Branded
Leaked: Opel Meriva Concept Pictures 2008-02-28 13:05:00 After the first sketch that surfaced and a leaked teaser image last week, more Opel Meriva concept pictures leaked to internet. These pictures are first unofficial images of the Meriva concept.The minivan doesn't have a ground breaking design with its regular profile and Corsa-like front end. The most important show piece of the concept is its FlexDoors; essentially rear-hinged suicide doors for back seat passengers.We've to wait just a week for the official unveiling of the concept in Geneva.Gallery: Opel Meriva Concept
Images Leaked
Read more:Pictures
Spy Shots: Porsche Panamera With Open Doors And Boot 2008-02-26 14:22:00 We've already seen aplenty of the PorschePanamera
. So its silhouette is a familiar sight now in picture. These new shots give us our first glimpse into Porsche’s new saloon and the interior door panels seem almost production ready. Porsche always waits until everything has been thoroughly tested, so don’t expect the super saloon to debut before 2009.One thing we're sure is is that it will come with a relatively practical hatchback rear compartment where most of its rivals offer the more traditional boot. The rear doors look a great size. Naturally aspirated and twin turbocharged versions of the Cayenne’s 4.8L V8 producing 400hp and 500+hp are expected to be offered. A 300hp V6 version is rumored along a hybrid model.Gallery: Porsche Panamera
Spy Shots
Read more:Doors
Sp Shots: Lexus IS Convertible 2008-02-26 14:14:00 Well it's hard to tell from the picture, but what you see in the picture, according to the sources, is a test mule of the Lexus
IS convertible. Information accompanying the spy shot suggests that the car is destined for production by the end of 2009 and will feature the full range of engines available in the Lexus IS sedan, from the 177-hp European diesel 220d to the 423-hp IS-F. If the information is correct, the IS cabrio would be the first body style variant of the Lexus sports sedan since the previous generation SportCross wagon model, and would slot in the Lexus line-up under the SC 430 convertible.As one forum member pointed out, by 2009 the IS sedan would be entering its fifth year of production and itself be due for replacement soon thereafter.
Read more:Convertible
Future Of The Car Freaks Blog 2008-02-25 14:39:00 Hi Friends,I wanted to let you know something about the future of my blog. Despite the fact that I really like writing about cars and posting the latest auto news for you, because of my education I have to stay away from the internet for a while.So, Car Freaks Blog will no longer be updated on a regular basis as of March 1 unless I found a Co-Author ( If interested look here). I will update the blog now and then and all old post will remain.Bye,CarFreak
Read more:Future
Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz GLK Production Version 2008-02-25 14:32:00 We've already seen Mercedes
' GLK Freeside and Townside concepts, so there's not much left to the imagination. Set to go on sale later this year, the GLK, caught here during winter testing, keeps design of the concepts.The differences are in the details. The tester displays a less ornate grille and foglight setup, and the roof rack is also less complex.Gallery: Mercedes-Benz GLK Production
Version Spy Shots
Geneva 2008 Preview: Alfa Romeo To Debut Updated Brera And Spider 2008-02-25 14:23:00 While Alfa Romeo has disappointed its fans with the push back of the possible Junior debut, the Italian automaker still has some gorgeous cars to show next week in Geneva
. Next week Alfa Romeo will be unveiling updated versions of the Brera
and Spider
models.These cars already look awesome, so Alfa hasn't messed with the award-winning design to any great extent. The wheels, brake calipers and suspension components have been replaced with lighter-weight aluminum versions, which should help address the cars' lamentably underwhelming performance relative to its design by taking a chunk out of its unsprung weight. The subtle changes continue inside, where redesigned seats offer a sportier and more ergonomic driving position. The dashboard has been updated as well to integrate a new dual Read more:Preview
VW Launches Scirocco Minisite 2008-02-25 14:14:00 Volkswagen has lunched a new teaser mini-site for the upcoming Scirocco sports coupe. You have to register to enter the site, but once in there isn’t much in terms of visual stimulation. Rumors has that we will see the productinon version of the car in Geneva next week and then the Europe launch towards the end of 2008.VW Group engine 2.0 TFSI looks like will be offered with the Scirocco.
Spy Shots: Toyota Urban Cruiser 2008-02-25 13:59:00 Toyota is currently testing the Urban
Cruiser, the small car that will be revealed in Geneva soon. Smaller than the RAV-4, the Urban Cruiser is more a Jeep Compass rival than a Cherokee competitor, sitting lower than RAV and smaller as well. These are the first live pictures of the Urban Cruiser yet .The spotted mule is a diesel version; the photographer saw it was filling up with diesel. Urban Cruiser will aim to attract the younger buyers with its technologies, such as the navigation screen which can be viewed via a curved transparent panel, which is integrated with the centre console.Gallery: Toyota Urban Cruiser Spy Shots
Read more:Toyota
Spy Shots: Jaguar XF-R 2008-02-24 11:55:00 The sporty XF-R spotted during testing by the spy photographers. Jaguar
's current XF line-up includes 2.7L V6 diesel, 3.0L V6 petrol, 4.2L V8 petrol and a 4.2L supercharged V8 petrol. The majority of these models have received much praise from the motoring press with Jaguar’s XF bettering many of its German rivals in test comparisons. Not bad for a manufacturer on the sale.It's still unknown what will power the premium XF although it can probably be narrowed down to two options. A rework of the current 4.2L supercharged engine is not out of the equation, in its current guise it is good for 416bhp and a prodigious 560Nm of torque. However the Germans are regularly pumping 500+hp now out of the super saloons. It must also be noted that the SV8 XF is equipped with this very engin
Rumored: Peugeot To Produce 308 RC-Z 2008-02-24 11:50:00 PSA is seriously considering putting the 308 RC-Z into series production, and will make a formal announcement at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. The roof and backlight are formed from polycarbonate and use a double bubble shape to increase headroom for occupants, while at the same time evoking racers by Zagato. The upkick in the doors where they meet the rear quarter windows also offers visual amusement, too. Underhood is a direct-injected, 218-horsepower 1.6L four-cylinder that's shared with the MINI.The 308 RC-Z could be a great and cheaper alternative to Audi's TT.
Read more:Peugeot
Lotus Annouces New Hybrid And Electric Vehicle Group 2008-02-24 11:47:00 Behind the scenes, Lotus
is much more than a low-volume manufacturer of sporty little roadsters. Along with Lotus Cars, Group
Lotus houses Lotus Engineering. With decades of motorsports experience, Lotus Engineering offers consulting expertise to automotive suppliers and OEM manufacturers. They've even made their mark in the world of cycling. More recently, their close work with Tesla as the supplier of the Roadster's chassis must have had some influence on the next direction of the firm, as they have now announced the creation of a new Hybrid
and ElectricVehicle
Group. Lotus hopes the move will further expand its consulting reach.The newly-anointed Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Group is already busy with project Low CO2. The initiative is a collaborative effort with automotive su
Geneva 2008 Preview: Mitsubishi Prototype S 2008-02-24 11:40:00 German magazine Auto Bild has revealed the first unmasked pictures of the MitsubishiPrototype
S. The "S" is for Sportback, and this show car forecasts a future production vehicle. Sportback is for the European market, where hatches account for the majority of car sales. Up front, you have the Lancer Ralliart's nose, which is dressed up with more ornate, concept-style headlamps and foglights.The sloping rear hatch is topped by a large, body-colored roof spoiler, and restyled rear lighting wraps from the lid onto the quarter panels. Dual exhaust tips poke through a diffuser insert on the rear bumper, and stylish split-spoke wheels in a gunmetal finish occupy the lightly-flared fender cutouts.Mechanically, it seems that the Prototype S is outfitted with the same running gear as the Read more:Preview
, Geneva
Geneva 2008 Preview: Renault Laguna GT And Sport Tourer 2008-02-24 11:35:00 At the 2008 Geneva
Motor Show in less than two weeks, Renault
will unveil the Laguna
GT Hatch and Sport Tourer. Both models can be had with one of two new engines making their world debut: a new 2.0 dCi diesel producing 180 hp and 295 pound feet of torque and a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine offering 205 hp and 221 pound feet of torque.In addition to the new motors, the Laguna GT also comes standard with what Renault calls its Active Drive chassis, which is basically a four-wheel steering system. Renault claims all sorts of performance and safety benefits for the Active Drive chassis.,The GT's exterior is specified with new vertical air intake slits up front, a new grille, black surrounds for the headlamps, gloss black side view mirrors and smoked taillights. There Read more:Preview
2009 Honda Fit To Debut At New York 2008-02-24 11:30:00 The 2009 Honda
Fit is ready to make its American debut at the upcoming New York
Show. The new car, which made its world debut last October at the Tokyo Motor Show gets a makeover that gives it interior space equal to that of a midsizer.While the Japanese version is available with 1.3L and 1.5L engines, the 1.5 i-VTEC will be the only engine in the US. In Japanese trim, it's good for 118 horsepower (120 PS) -- a 9-horse bump over what the engine in the current car delivers. The Japan-spec 1.5L Fit can achieve fuel economy of 46 mpg (19.6 km/l).
Chrysler Unveils Diesel 300C SRT 2008-02-24 11:15:00 Chrysler unveils the diesel powered 300C SRT in Europe. But not exactly what you think. Basically a trim package for the 300C in Europe, the SRT model gets visual enhancements such as a new rear taillight clusters and a deck lid spoiler, but the car still uses the same 3.0L V6 diesel producing 218 bhp and 376 pound feet of torque you can get in other models.While the wheels appear to be the same 10-spokers as the US spec 300C SRT8, the front fascia lacks the deeper chin spoiler and the grille is Chrysler's Euro-spec Bentley-like tight mesh.
Read more:Chrysler
Production Honda CR-Z Hybrid Coupe To Go On Sale In Europe First 2008-02-24 11:08:00 Honda CEO Takeo Fukui revealed in January that a production hybrid based on the CR-Z Concept shown in Tokyo last year was on its way. And now it's reported that the spiritual successor of the CR-X will go on sale in Europe
first, sometime around the end of the decade.Honda UK manager of product planning Mark Turner told Automotive News Europe that the production CR-Z hybrid would be priced around €25,000, with a high-end model costs €28,000. Since Europe will be the car's most important market, Honda UK will have a voice in the car's development, including its design. Engineering for the car is also being carried out at Honda's R&D facility in Germany. Turner added that a gasoline version of the CR-Z would be considered if there were demand for it. The CR-Z will join Honda's Read more:Production
, Hybrid
, Honda
, Coupe
, First
Renault Makes Alonso Highest Paid Driver 2008-02-24 10:58:00 Back in the 2005 and 2006 Formula One seasons, Fernando Alonso
thoroughly trounced Michael Schumacher for the title. Since then, Alonso hasn't beaten many of Schumacher's records, but the two-time champion can now rest easy knowing that he's finally earning more than Schumi.Although finances in F1 are secrets as closely guarded as technical breakthroughs, reports now indicate that Alonso's deal to return to Renault
has made him the most highly-paid driver in or out of F1. If the reports are to be believed, Alonso will make $46 million this season. That's only from his contract with Renault and does not include sponsorship deals and only stands if Alonso stays for a second year.The amount is $1 million more than Kimi Raikkonen reportedly makes at Ferrari and more than double what h Read more:Driver
Tata to Spin Off Jaguar, Buy Land Rover 2008-02-24 10:51:00 While the sale of the Jaguar
and Land Rover
has not been completed yet, Tata is preparing to make major changes at the companies. According to sources speaking with InsideLine, Tata purchased a 450-acre swath of land in Gurgaon, outside of New Delhi, for the explicit purpose of building Land Rovers. The source said that "... Jaguar will be spun off almost immediately." British labor unions supported Jaguar’s sale to Tata over rival bids from Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra and an American private equity firm. Both companies could eventually attempt to buy Jaguar from Tata should these reports become true.Ford announced Tata Motors was the preferred buyer of Jaguar and Land Rover back in January and the sale could be completed in the next few weeks.
Ssangyong Chairman Interior Revealed 2008-02-24 10:31:00 Ssangyong is heating up the Asian luxury car market with its Ssangyong Chairman
W, a V8-powered, RWD sedan. Some new exterior and interior pictures of the Chairman were revealed. While we have already saw the exterior, the interior appears quite advanced for the market.First of all, the car features a rear screen that pops out of the front center console, which appears to be able to control both front and rear entertainment systems. Taking this even further, the rear console features an integrated command knob.The car is expected to be in the $ 100K range when it officially debuts.Gallery: Ssangyong Chairman W
Read more:Interior
Rumored: Ford Taurus X To Be Cancelled 2008-02-24 10:24:00 Jalopnik is confirming that the Taurus
X will be cancelled after the 2009 model year. The original 2005 Five-Hundred and Freestyle debuted to a slow sales start and were around until 2007, when the Ford CEO Alan Mulally decided to resurrect the Taurus nameplate on the refreshened 2008 models. Along with their new names of Taurus and Taurus X, each got corporate faces with three-bar grilles as well as the automaker's new 3.5L V6. Ford must've thought sales would pick up in earnest as the 2008 models were both more interesting to look and more powerful than the vehicles they replaced. But sales didn't pick up and Mulally recently announced another major change for the Taurus: a completely new version for the next year that he calls, "the one we should have made originally." According Read more:Cancelled
, Ford Taurus
Officially Unveiled: Volvo XC60 2008-02-24 10:19:00 Before its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in early March, details have been released about the new Volvo XC60 crossover vehicle. Buyers will be able to choose between three engines, including the turbocharged T6, which produces 281 horsepower. Other options include two different D5 turbodiesels, rated at 163 and 185 horsepower. The 163 hp 2.4-liter diesel is the only Euro5 compliant of the three.Production of the compact premium SUV includes intelligent safety systems like City Safety, meant to assist the driver in avoiding low-speed impacts. The car automatically brakes if the driver does not react when closing in on a vehicle, at the very least reducing the effect of impact. This feature comes standard on the XC60, something Volvo claims is a first.Volvo expects to sel
Officially Unveiled: Lancia Delta 2008-02-24 10:08:00 After the release of first official images two weeks ago, Lancia released an extended press release which covers almost everything you need to know about the car.The Delta
is 4.5 metres long, 1.8 metres wide, 1.5 metres high, and has a wheelbase of 2.7 metres ( that means a spacious interior). The exterior appears very contemporary and particularly aggressive.At first, buyers can select between the 120 hp 1.4 litre and 150 hp TurboJet petrol engines, or the 1.6 litre 120 hp MultiJet turbodiesel engine. The engines are mated with a 6-speed manual or automatic gearbox. More engines will be added in the future, including the 2.0 litre 165 hp MultiJet, 1.9 litre 190 hp Twinturbo MultiJet, and the all new 1.8 litre 200 hp Di Turbojet (petrol).The car has some other features include clima
Video: Tata Nano Seen First Time In Motion 2008-06-15 10:31:00 Since its official debut at Delhi Autoexpo earlier this year, Tata Nano, the world's cheapest car, has never been photographed testing, until now. An Indian man who had a video camera, caught a base model Nano driving on the famous Pune-Mumbai express way performing a test run.
Read more:First
, Motion
Spy Shots: 2011 Acura RL 2008-06-15 10:01:00 It looks like Acura
is getting serious about entering the large-car luxury game with a new version of its flagship sedan, the RL. The latest spy shots of the 2011 RL appear to corroborate the rumors suggesting that Honda will use a rear-wheel-drive layout in a bid to compete with its peer class, which includes the BMW 5 series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.Tough much is hidden by the stretched-out TSX
Mahindra's Diesel Truck Comes Without Appalachian Name 2008-06-15 08:23:00 That's clear that Mahindra
's upcoming diesel pickup for the American market is not a heartbreaker. But this truck still can take some buyer's interest with its price tag. Although the new truck referred as Applachian by most of auto blogs some reports indicate that it is not going to called Applachian.The Indian company wants to highlight its own name in an effort to build some brand recognition Read more:Truck
First Official Camaro Convertible Pictures Released 2008-06-15 08:15:00 Thanks to those spy photographers we have already seen a lot of shots of the new Chevrolet Camaro. Last year GM released pre-production shots of the Camaro Coupe, now for the first time we get to see the first official shots of the Camaro Convertible
. The shots have only been released in low resolution so far. Chevrolet North America Vice President Ed Peper posted them on GM's Fastlane Blog.The Read more:First
, Official
, Pictures
, First Official
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