Autoblog

When we see things like this, we feel like Bruce Banner... having to contain our anger... at not getting... the Euro Focus. But hopefully tomorrow our fortunes will change, and if they do, here' s a look at the Focus we could get in 2011.

We were happy enough about the second-gen Focus, and this is even better. With a massive front maw, revised panels throughout, and a well executed sportback rear, the Focus Mk. 3 is, as the English would say, a bit of all right. The highlight show continues inside with better materials and an HMI-like control system. The UK will get the car later this year.

Although this Focus isn't slated (yet) for an RS version, it will put on an ST badge and mods at some point, and will come in three-, four-, and five-door variants, plus a wagon and a convertible. And if you're in Spain, you'll get a special edition diesel Focus WRC-S, with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder pumping 134 bhp. Each one of 666 samples will be signed by Ford WRC driver Marcus Gronholm. Prices have not been announced for any of the new Focus models.

[Source: Auto Express]

Spies have caught a sleek new sedan doing the rounds in Korea. Word is that it's codenamed VG, will be arriving in '09, and will be "closely related to" the Hyundai Azera. While there is no word on engines yet, the car is expected to be front-wheel-drive. That doesn't exactly bode well for Kia's brief of being the sporty brand -- so sayeth Hyundai -- but the car is supposed to be "near luxury" and appears to have some all right lines, even under the camo. We look forward to seeing more.

[Source: Kia World]

With sales of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class down 23 percent in the United States, and off nearly 12 percent worldwide, Daimler officials are showing concern. The luxurious S-Class is the most profitable model in the lineup, contributing up to an estimated 25 percent of Daimler's pre-tax profits, the drop is getting painful. With the exception of the new C-Class (up 38 percent), overall sales for the German automaker have fallen in the first six months of the year. In response, Daimler is diverting shipments of vehicles to China and Russia as those emerging markets have yet to see a slowdown.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

Click above for 40 hi-res images of the freshened 3 series

BMW has unveiled photos and details pertaining to the facelifted, Euro-spec 2009 3 Series sedan and wagon. We touched on the visual updates yesterday, but to recap, the car sports a revised front fascia, a new hood, restyled mirrors, and reshaped taillamps. The changes are subtle, but good. Inside, the new iDrive trickles down to the 3, which also gets BMW ConnectedDrive in-car internet, as well as an 80-gig hard drive. The 3 Series sedans and wagons are available with 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The 7-speed DCT doesn't make it into the four- and five-doors at this time, but it becomes available on the 335i coupe and convertible. Read on after the jump as we run down the model variants and engine offerings.


[Source: BMW | Photos: BMW via BMW Blog]

Behind the man finishing his follow through (he didn't keep his head down) is a glimpse of the new BMW 7-Series front end. Freed from the matte black paint on the mules and with the right bit of studio lighting, the car has the kind of bada** mien that we should expect from the top dog BMW. And we finally see what the tape has been covering over the headlights: chrome eyelids that are straight off the CS concept. Also taking cues from the CS are that wider, Joker-grin grille and the angel eyes composed of individual LEDs. The full monty is supposed to be revealed on July 7, so stay tuned. But so far, we likey. Thanks for the tip, Josh!

[Source: 7 Post]

We recently gave you details and showed you spy shots of Audi's forthcoming A7 four-door "coupe". Not much could be gleaned from the photos though, with the car looking much more like a sport camel than a sport sedan. A year ago, CAR magazine was passing out renderings of the A7 based on information it was getting from insiders. Their images were of an impossibly sleek -- and quite good looking -- stealthmobile that substituted a huge hatch for a trunk. Auto Express has new renderings of the car, and it maintains all the spirit of the CAR originals. It's still red and impossibly sleek, with a reptilian, evil eye front end treatment that says "Yeah, I'm lookin' at you..." We've been examining the wheel wells on the spy shots to see if they could really fit wheels as big as those on the rendering -- and we can't say for sure either way. If the 600-hp RS7 variant comes on feet that big, it'll be a serious looking car indeed. However, unless that rear end is hiding a hatch, you won't able to fit anything in the trunk except two-by-fours.


[Source: Auto Express via German Car Blog]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Holden W427

They are having a different conversation in Australia than we are having up here, and we want in on it. Holden has just announced that the limited-edition Holden W427 will have 500 hp and 471 ft-lb of twisty motion. Sure, we have the Corvette Z06 -- which donated its engine for the W427 -- but Australia's only got 20 million peeps. And a bunch of them don't live in places where you could give this Holden a proper whipping.

The car will be held to just 427 units, and these units and their screaming red interiors will be arriving at dealerships with an MSRP of $AUD 150,000... plus taxes. Dealer allocation will be based on sales figures from last year. The W427's limited run will help it, to be sure, but the price is more than double the price of the Ford FPV F6, which goes for $AUD 65,990. The Falcon is down about 80 horsepower vs. the Holden, but it's also down on weight. We think it might be time for Holden to invite Autoblog Down Under to settle this once and for all.


[Source: Car Advice]

A forum member at Motive has (supposedly) obtained Infiniti's 2009 ordering guide, and with it comes (supposed) word that the 2009 G-series sedan will be upgraded with the 3.7-liter VQ37VHR V6. Exact output has yet to be confirmed, but the document rates the 3.7-liter V6 at 320+ hp, with power sent to a seven-speed automatic transmission.

The model and package list (posted after the jump) goes on to say that the 2009 Infiniti G37 will include four-piston front brakes equipped with 14-inch rotors, five-spoke 18-inch wheels, re-designed side view mirrors and the Scratch Shield paint found on the new FX line of CUVs. Two new exterior colors will also be made available: Moonlight White and Sahara Sandstone.

We've got a call in to Infiniti's PR people to confirm the information. Watch this space for an update.

UPDATE: Infiniti got back to us, saying that more information about the 2009 Infiniti Gs will be available in August, but it wouldn't confirm the G37 sedan. As we already know, the retractable hardtop G37 coupe is on the way and sales are expected to begin in February next year. That means we should see the G37 convertible at an auto show later this year -- our money is on LA.

[Source: Motive]

We've known about the Porsche Panamera for more than two years, and it appears we've still got another year to go before the sedan hits dealer showrooms. AutoTelegraaf is reporting that the Panamera will begin production next April, with the goal of producing 20,000 four-doors per year. The 4,000-pound Porsche will be available with a choice of 300 hp 3.6L V6, a 4.8L V8 packing 405 ponies, or 520 hp with forced induction, and prices are rumored to be between €80,000 and €125,000. Word on the street is that the V6 won't be available until 2010 and a hybrid will follow for 2011.

The Panamera has been in the headlines for a long time, and hopefully the talented designers in Stuttgart have been taking their time making the beefy sedan look better than the preproduction model above. We find it hard to believe that Porsche will make an ugly vehicle, though. The Cayenne doesn't count.

[Source: AutoTelegraaf via Motor Authority]

Click the image above for a hi-res gallery of the 2009 Hyundai Genesis Sedan.

Autoblog recently spent time in Korea driving pre-production versions of the new Hyundai Genesis. This is the car that, according to Hyundai, will usher in a new era of luxury. Them's big words, and we only got a limited amount of time to figure out how true -- or not -- they were. But the main thing you need to know about the Genesis is this: unless they pull a bait and switch on the price range they mentioned, the car will be worth every penny Hyundai charges. Follow the jump to find out why.