Autoblog

Reader Spy: Nearly undisguised next-gen Hyundai Sonata snapped in Dubai!

Chris Paukert — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:28:00 EST

2011 Hyundai Sonata spy shots - Click above for image gallery

One of our loyal readers was vacationing in Dubai when he happened upon this nearly undisguised and totally unattended 2011 Hyundai Sonata mule. Sammy_R-Gti of assayarat.com explains that he was driving around on vacation and stopped to observe mid-day prayer at a mosque. When he emerged from said house of prayer, he spied the car parked outside of a neighboring spa resort (perhaps some engineers were taking a much-deserved break?), and our man was able to rattle off the photos seen here. Because Sammy_R-Gti (correctly) figured that whoever was with the car probably wouldn't want him photographing their quarry, our man didn't have time to take it all in, but he did gain perhaps the best look yet at Hyundai's pivotal new sedan.

As expected, the roofline and short rear deck indicates that the Korean automaker is going for a much more rakish look, adopting the 'four-door coupe' aesthetic that is so in vogue these days. Unlike earlier spy shots, Sammy has managed to score an almost completely undisguised look at the car's Lexus ES350-like headlamps and its simple three-bar front grille, as well as new details about the sheetmetal's contouring. Judging by the fact that this prototype was fitted with relatively high-profile tires and modestly sized steel wheels with covers, we're guessing that it is a base model.

Check out the gallery of images below. Thanks for the shots, Sammy!

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata - spy shots

[Source: Sammy_R-Gti of assayyarat.com]

Reader Spy: Nearly undisguised next-gen Hyundai Sonata snapped in Dubai! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: Honda set to release Acura coupe in 2010?

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:53:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Acura, Honda, Rendered Speculation, Rumormill

Rumor on two continents - Germany in Auto Motor und Sport and Japan in Holiday - has it that Acura is developing a sleek four-door to join the lexicologically questionable segment known as "four-door coupes." The various translations equate to a car built on the forthcoming ZDX crossover's architecture, with reports suggesting that the new model will slot in between the TSX and the TL. Longer than the TSX by a few inches, the coupe is expected to also be wider, lower, and have a longer wheelbase than the small sedan.

Although one of the outlets mentioned a V8 and a FR layout, the consensus on a proposed engine is the 3.7-liter V6 paired up with Acura's SH-AWD and Motion Adaptive EPS. When might one expect to see this latter-day CL, if such a thing really does exist? Next year's Detroit Auto Show, with U.S. sales perhaps at the end of 2010. Hat tip to Nick!

[Source: Temple of VTEC]

Rendered Speculation: Honda set to release Acura coupe in 2010? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 May 2009 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Rakish 2011 Hyundai Sonata draws closer

Chris Shunk — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Hyundai

2011 Hyundai Sonata spy photos: Click above to view a gallery

Hyundai has really upped its game with new entries like the Genesis Coupe and Sedan, but right now its high volume products like the midsize Sonata are simply "good enough." The Korean automaker has already committed to big plans for Sonata, as it has promised direct injection and turbocharging for improved efficiency. A quick look at some well camo'd photos of a 2011 Sonata mule shows that improvements could come in design as well.

The most eye-catching dimension of the spy photo pictured above is a sleek, Volkswagen CC-like greenhouse. Hyundai even seems smitten with the ten-spoke wheel design of the VW, as the two alloys look like fraternal twins. Beyond the four-door coupe look, the 2011 Sonata mule is very well camouflaged, although you can see what appears to be some interesting surfacing above the front wheel well that could give it a beefier-looking stance.

Up front, the front grille and headlamps are exposed. The grille doesn't appear to be dramatically different than what we we see on today's Sonata, but there is no hiding the dynamic new shape of the mule's headlamps. The high-tech lights sweep around the corners, giving the impression that the 2011 model will sport a more rounded front end than the 2009 model.

We likely have a bit longer to go before the 2011 Sonata begins its strip-tease act, but photos in the gallery below at least look promising. Whether the next-gen Sonata will be good enough to take on the well established midsized monsters from Toyota, Honda, and Nissan will clearly be a question for another day. Hat tip to James J.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Spy Pics

[Source: BOBAEDREAM]

Spy Shots: Rakish 2011 Hyundai Sonata draws closer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forget Playing it Safe: Meet the Volvo SC90 Concept

Noah Joseph — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Volvo

Click above to view the Volvo SC90 concept in high resolution

The four-door coupe segment has been sweeping across the industry, blurring the line between sportscar and sedan with such tantalizing examples as the Aston Martin Rapide, Mercedes CLS, BMW CS concept... and heck, why not, even the Porsche Panamera (somebody probably likes it). Volvo may not be the kind of company that easily jumps on bandwagons, preferring to stick to station wagons instead, but what if the Swedish automaker that made its reputation on safety were to go head-to-head with these super-sedans? One answer could be the S60 Concept the company just unveiled in Detroit, but as much attention as that show car garnered, what you see here is an even more convincing take on the theme: meet the Volvo SC90 design study.

Conceived by Volvo designer Nouphone J. Bansasine while undertaking an internship at the company in the summer of 2007, the SC90 concept cuts a striking silhouette that only gets "more complex and fresh [on the] second read." Far more aggressive and sharply-styled than anything we've seen from Volvo before, our only beef with the SC90 is that it exists only on paper. With the company's future in jeopardy and car sales down around the world, now may not be the time to introduce a car like this... but then again, considering that the upper end of the market continues to grow, may now's the perfect time. We'll run with that one. Check out the images in the gallery and the video after the jump to see all the angles.

Gallery: Volvo SC90 design study

[Source: Car Body Design]

Continue reading Forget Playing it Safe: Meet the Volvo SC90 Concept

Forget Playing it Safe: Meet the Volvo SC90 Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next Jaguar sedan looks like stretch XK, with four-door "coupe" overtones

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Jaguar, Rumormill

Is Jaguar planning a Panamera and Rapide challenger? Until now we've had speculation and spy pics, but Channel 4 is reporting that Jaguar officials have confirmed plans to "introduce a new saloon" later this year, that "takes the luxury saloon to new heights in terms of its technical enhancements." Although this new sedan will eventually replace the XJ in the company's lineup, it is said to be radically different from the traditional sedan. Imagine XF detailing on a four-door XK and you won't be far off from the vehicle that's due to show up later this year.

No official details have been reported, but Jaguar officials are apparently mentioning the Porsche Panamera, Maserati Quattroporte, Aston Martin Rapide and Mercedes-Benz CLS as competition. Engine options will likely include Jaguar's new 3.0L V6 diesel as well as the new direct-injection, 5.0L gas V8s in naturally aspirated or supercharged form. The car should be revealed later this year, making 2009 a very busy year for the company. Jaguar is already set to unveil the supercharged XF-R, as well as updated XJ, XK and XKR models, along with its new V8 and V6 diesel engines at the Detroit Auto Show next week. We can hardly wait.

[Source: Channel 4]

Next Jaguar sedan looks like stretch XK, with four-door "coupe" overtones originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche Panamera to officially debut at Shanghai show in April

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, China, Porsche, Misc. Auto Shows

Click above for a high-res image gallery of the Porsche Panamera

Underscoring the continued importance that automakers are placing on the Chinese market (especially in this difficult economic environment), Porsche has made it official that the new Panamera will debut in the Middle Kingdom in April. Porsche's new four door hatchback coupe/sedan gran turismo thingy will get its first public showing at the Shanghai Motor Show from April 20-28. In spite of its controversial looks, the Panamera should not be wanting for performance. Direct injected engines ranging from the Volkswagen 3.6-liter V6 up to 500 horsepower turbo V8 from the Cayenne will be available.

Backing up the engines will be a choice of 6-speed manual and 7-speed PDK dual clutch gearboxes, with power going to either the rear or both axles. At some point in the next couple of years, Porsche will add its hybrid system to the Panamera as well. Now, if they would just do something about the humpback looks, we might be able to get excited about its arrival. Click on the gallery below or hit the jump to view Porsche's official press release.

Gallery: 2010 Porsche Panamera

[Source: Porsche]

Continue reading Porsche Panamera to officially debut at Shanghai show in April

Porsche Panamera to officially debut at Shanghai show in April originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen CC

Chris Tutor — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Volkswagen, First Drive

2009 Volkswagen CC - Click above for high-res image gallery

Is "four-door coupe" an oxymoron or a clever twist on automotive design rules? That was a popular question among the 50 or so journalists invited to drive Volkswagen's new CC from Atlanta to Nashville last week.

The seemingly contradictory term was apparently first used to describe the Rover P5 Mark II in 1962, but was revived more recently when Mercedes introduced its CLS in 2004. In both cases the cars' low rooflines defied conventional saloon styling and needed a unique descriptor for marketing pizazz.

When rumors of the VW CC began to leak out, some speculated the CLS would be its main target. But Volkswagen learned from the disappointing U.S. acceptance of the Phaeton: Luxury buyers pay for brand cache as much as they do for supple leather and high-tech gadgets. This time around, says Brett Scott, VW's product planning manager, they expect many of their customers to be Camry and Accord shoppers attracted to the CC's stand-out styling.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen CC

Continue reading First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen CC

First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen CC originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi's version of the VW Passat CC, the A5 Sportback

Chris Shunk — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Europe, Audi

From the moment the first Mercedes-Benz CLS four-door "coupe" was introduced to the public, other German luxury automakers hit the drafting board. According to the German auto experts at AutoBild, Audi is just over a year away from unleashing its own cleverly packaged sedan. The A5 Sportback would be based off the A4/A5 platform, and takes a little of both models and melds them together. Audi parent company VW has already unveiled a four-door coupe version of the Passat destined for sale in the fall, so an A5 Sportback appears to be a safe bet. The A5 won't be the only four-door coupe in the Audi fleet either, as the A7 should arrive in 2010, and AutoBild mentions the arrival of a new A3 Sportback a year later.

If there is a Sportback edition of every odd-numbered Audi, an Avant version of the even numbered models, and an S and RS for all, it's easy to see how Audi plans to expand its product lineup by 18 models by 2015. The A5 is already handsome, but if the four-ringed automaker could add the practicality of four doors while keeping the coupe's good-looking lines, we foresee another hit for Audi. Click the read link below to view Auto Bild's CGI rendering of the A5 Sportback.

[Source: Auto Bild via German Car Blog]

Audi's version of the VW Passat CC, the A5 Sportback originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autobild's take on the BMW X6

John Neff — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 18:06:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Sedan, Crossover, BMW

The four-door coupe market is beginning to get crowded and the Mercedes-Benz CLS won't be alone for long. Both the Porsche Panamera and the Aston Martin Rapide will be bringing their coupe-like profiles to the party in the next few years. BMW's date to the dance will be the X6, a four-door coupe based on the X5 SUV that separates itself with four-wheel drive and a higher seating position than the competition. Power will be provided by either a V8 or a version of BMW's decorated V10 engine. The current cover of German car mag Autobild shows that publication's best guess as to what the X6 will look like when it debuts in 2009.

[Source: autoblog.it]

Autobild's take on the BMW X6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Jun 2006 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's official: Porsche Panamera to be built in Leipzig

Erin Mays — Sat, 20 May 2006 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Porsche

Porsche announced that it will invest $153 million in its plant in Leipzig, Germany, in order to build the automaker's four-door Panamera coupe. The size of the plant will quadruple with the investment, and staffing will more than double, rising to 1,000 from 400. Porsche recently halted production of the Porsche Carrera GT supercar in Leipzig, but the Cayenne will continue to be manufactured in the city. The body work and paint for the Panamera will be completed at Volkswagen's plant in Hanover, Germany.

[Source: AFX News Limited via Forbes]

It's official: Porsche Panamera to be built in Leipzig originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 May 2006 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi A7 coupe in the works

Erin Mays — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Coupe, Europe, Audi

You've heard about the skads of new cars coming out of Audi in the near future... the A2 shooting brake (MINI, here we come!), Q5 SUV, A3 and A5 verts, the Roadjet, and not to mention the next TT. Now Audi lovers can look forward to the brand's answer to the Mercedes CLS -- the Audi A7 coupe. The four-door coupe fits nicely in terms of size between the A6 and A8 (kinda like the number 7, dontchathink?), and should show its pretty little face in concept form this November when the Los Angeles Auto Show moves to the fall.

[Source: German Car Blog]

Audi A7 coupe in the works originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Mar 2006 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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