Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Kia Soul.

In April of 2009, the Scion xB will finally get some stiff competition from Kia in the form of the Soul. As reported previously, the new model will debut at the Paris Motor Show in October, measuring 161 inches long, 70 inches wide and 63 inches tall. According to Automotive News, the Soul will be packing either a 1.6- or 2.0-liter gasoline engine powering the front wheels when it arrives in the States, while European consumers get a choice of a 1.6-liter gasoline or diesel engine.

In addition to aping the xB's boxy shape, Kia will be offering a similar line of customization parts to make each Soul unique, so expect a variety of accessories, options and color combinations inspired by the Soul Burner, Diva and Searcher concepts that debuted in Geneva. Pricing has yet to be announced, but if Kia expects to compete with Scion, the Soul won't be knocking on the $20k ceiling.



[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

If you're in France, the phrase caveat emptor can probably be joined by caveat reporter after police raided the French magazine Auto Plus. The po-po were called last August to begin an investigation because the magazine published detailed photos of the coming Renault Megane, which Renault said wasn't supposed to hit showrooms for another three years. The raid was the next step in the Sherlock Holmes treatment.

Renault, of course, says that it is not after the press, it's simply trying to protect its intellectual property. The shots are so clear, and there are so many of them -- including the interior -- that it's obviously an inside job. The press, of course, feels that this is an attack on its freedom. The French press and the French government are engaged in a complicate dance, and this doesn't help things.

The police removed one reporter and a passel of computers. They don't want the reporter, though, they want the source. Auto Plus will have to wait to find out how much of that ever gets returned. But since the photos are out, we might as well take the time to say it's a nifty looking little car.

[Source: Reuters]

Click above for a high-res gallery of Honda's new hybrid.

Honda's oft-discussed, yet never spied Prius-fighter has been caught by the merry minions at KGP. A parade of three cars were shot in the desert, including the prototype you see above, a facelifted Civic Hybrid and the new model's arch rival, the Toyota Prius.

While the cloaked mule's shape could be easily mistaken as a Prius, the two-tier instrument cluster is a dead giveaway of the prototype's Honda origins. The nose is notably lower than its Toyota competition and although the hatch is an obvious rip on the Prius' aerodynamic rear, the fenders have a discernibly steeper angle, along with a trunk lid sporting a small spoiler.

The unnamed hybrid from Honda will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show later this year, and will adopt many of the design cues found on the big H's hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity sedan.

The 2009 BMW 3-series will be revealed in all its facelifted glory at the Paris Motor Show and sales will begin across North America this October. The only discernible differences up front are a new fascia that apes the recently unveiled 7-series, new headlamps with "altered graphics," a contoured hood and modified mirror housings. Out back, the subtle changes continue, with a new taillight design that integrates more cleanly into the trunk lid and a reworked bumper that will join a one-inch wider track on high end version of the 3-series.

Inside, you'll find a revised armrest on the driver's side door, an updated iDrive controller and software, a high-resolution 8.8-inch screen, with options for an 80-gig hard drive that can store MP3s and the sat nav software.

The 335i's (claimed) 300 hp, 3.0-liter twin-turbo six will remain, as will the 328i's 230 hp, 3.0-liter inline-six. The new addition to the family is the 335d, which is packing a 265 hp, twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six diesel, equipped with urea injection to keep the U.S.'s SMOG sniffers happy. However, if you were hoping for a 335d coupe, you're out of luck – the oil burner is only available in the sedan and fitted with a six-speed automatic transmission. Otherwise, the tranny choices will include the six-speed manual or six-speed auto 'box. However, Autoweek makes no mention of the DCT gearbox. Too bad.

Expect all the details to be revealed shortly.

[Source: Autoweek]

click above for high-res gallery of next-gen Chevy Cobalt spy shots

Workers at GM's Lordstown, OH plant just got another shot of good news from the General: the next-gen compact car from Chevrolet will be built there. The Chevy Cruze will replace the Cobalt, which recently had a third shift added to its production, and will make its initial debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. Europeans will get the first shot at the new car with sales beginning in April of 2009. The U.S. won't get the car until the following year, as the Lordstown plant begins phasing out the Cobalt and ramping up production of the Cruze in June of 2010. Both cars will be built simultaneously for a short time, according to UAW Local 1714 President Dave Green, who represents the workers at the Lordstown assembly plant.

A look at recent spy shots has our interest piqued over the new small sedan. Styling looks to be worlds better than the just decent Cobalt and the promised forty miles per gallon sounds like just what the doctor ordered in the face of ever-increasing gas prices. Thanks for the tip, Tony!


[Source: WKBN News]

Chevrolet has big... well... smallish plans for Paris, where the automaker will unveil an "all-new" compact vehicle dubbed the Cruze. Born from Chevy's global design and engineering team, the Cruze will sport many of the exterior elements we've seen on recent concepts, so expect lots of angular lines, a high belt-line and a squat greenhouse. The Cruze will supposedly be able to handle a parcel of five passengers, along with whatever junk they can fit in the trunk, and will measure in at 4.6 meters (181 inches) -- think of it as the next Cobalt.

After its world premier in the City of Lights this October, the Cruze will go on sale across Europe in the spring of 2009, and, according to the press release below the fold, will be available in "other global regions" afterwards.

The 2009 Jaguar XK-R has been spotted and shot doing the rounds in Europe. With so many other pots on the boil, like the XF-R and the new XJ, the XK-R is going the subtle route when it comes to changes. Up front, new intakes will be fitted under the headlights, while out back LED tail lights will be fitted in place of the standard units. One change we are most excited to hear about is the swap from a telescoping aerial to a shark fin on the deck lid. On the convertible, the raised aerial caused all kinds of wind noise, which, frankly, was unacceptable on a $100K car. Inside you'll find, ta-da, Jaguar Drive. The final version of Jaguar's hottest kitten will be revealed at the Paris Motor Show.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Click above for more spy shots of the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Sportback.

We're eagerly anticipating the debut of the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback and its Ralliart variant in Paris this September, and these recent shots of the five-door making the rounds in Barcelona are just enough to keep us interested. Judging by the German numberplates and a couple of shots that surfaced on Autoweek.nl, we'd guess that the Ralliart Sportback is in the hands of motoring journalists abroad or was on its way to a photoshoot ahead of its launch.

As we've seen previously, the Ralliart hatch takes the Evo-styled front end from its four-door counterpart, along with new side sills, darkened wheels and a subtle rear spoiler. In Europe, the Lancer Sportback will come equipped with either a 1.5- or 1.8-liter four, or a 2.0-liter turbodiesel, while those of us in the U.S. get to enjoy an Evolution experience on the cheap, with a de-tuned version of the 4B11T/C 2.0-liter four, producing 237 hp and 253 lb.-ft. of torque. We like it in red, white or slate grey would be our chosen hue when the Sportback goes on sale in the States early next year.



[Sources: The Auto Union, Autoweek.nl]

After nearly three years of rumors and speculation, the new jacked-up MINI SAV will finally make its debut, according to Autocar. The Brit pub is reporting that the MINI 'ute is bound for Paris, with an on-sale date sometime in 2010 and sporting a five-door design.

Questions still remain about what platform the new all-wheel-drive model will be based on, with sources suggesting it will either be based around the Clubman's architecture, making use of a new upper-body structure, or the current Cooper's chassis, using the front end and employing a new floorpan to accommodate the AWD system and new seating positions. Regardless of what's underpinning the SAV, MINI has to justify the R&D, so if the biggie-sized MINI proves successful, there's a possibility that a front-wheel-drive variant will be offered on the same chassis, oxymoronically dubbed the MINI "Maxi."

Production is expected to begin late next year at Magna's factory in Graz, which currently produces the X3. And with BMW shifting production of its entry-level SUV to the U.S. sometime next year, MINI will have the manufacturing capacity to bring its sales over the 340,000 mark.

[Source: Autocar]

Looking startlingly like a Vans shoe, preproduction versions of Kia's Soul will be doing their roadie routine with the Vans Warped Tour in the U.S. this summer. The front and rear of the car will be hidden under camo tape done up like Vans trademark checkerboard pattern, and dark windows will keep prying eyes out, but kids will still get a good look at what's on offer.

Taking what appears to be more than a few pages from the Scion playbook, the Warped Tour sponsorship will also include things like interactive Soul Lounges with live DJs, airbrush tattoo artists, and plenty of contests. There's even going to be a solar powered stage. Kids with custom Kia wristbands will get into Kia VIP sections near the main stages, and everyone can keep up with the action at Kia's concert blog site.

If what you want to do is actually see the car, Kia won't bare its Soul completely until the Paris Motor Show later this year.

[Source: Kia]