With GM facing well-publicized challenges -- along with just about everyone else who needs a little thing called money -- certain high-profile and expensive programs are crowding up on the back burner. Even America's sports car, the Corvette, is not exempt, with CAFE regulations clouding the view inside the 'Vette Nation's crystal ball.

Motor Trend, commenting on the C7 Corvette's delayed arrival, has said that the new coupe won't appear until the 2014 model year at the earliest. The mid-engined route has also been scrapped, since it would simply cost too much to re-engineer the entire car for the purpose of easier integration of fuel saving tech like cylinder deactivation.

That means a six-cylinder is still being talked about -- by GM outsiders only, at this point -- as an option for the C7. If we take the Camaro as an example, that 2014 introduction date could mean late 2012, but that still only gives you four years to mentally prepare for a budget- and economy-minded V6 Corvette. Get cracking.

[Source: Motor Trend]

No future for the mid-engine Corvette originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click on the image above for our high-res Concept CS gallery

With their scopes aimed squarely at the upcoming Porsche Panamera and Mercedes-Benz CLS, BMW's M performance division is rumored to be working on their own four-door luxury GT for a 2010 launch. With its styling based heavily on the BMW Concept CS (pictured above), the platform for the new flagship will be shared with the new 7 Series. Under the hood, most expect to see a 6.0-liter V12 based on the current M5's V10, or a twin-turbocharged V8 like the one rumored for the next-gen M5. Even though both of those engines promise prodigious amounts of power, and the lightened chassis will be tuned for performance, BMW insists the new car will not be badged an M8. Regardless, we seem to recall that the lack of an M badge on the mid-90's BMW 850CSi didn't seem to deter enthusiasts.

Gallery: BMW Concept CS

[Source: Drive.com]

Rumormill: BMW 8 Series on the way, no M-version planned originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rendered speculation: 2011 Passat originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 May 2008 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Spy Shots: Supercharged Audi S4 caught testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Although the Volkswagen Group brands that sell in the United States (namely Volkswagen and Audi) tend to keep their respective platforms to themselves - almost to a fault - in foreign markets the German automaker rebadges and rebodies the same cars under several different labels. Skoda is one such brand, and its flagship sedan, called Superb, is due for replacement. And that's just what the Czech carmaker is preparing to unveil at the Geneva show next March.

What you see above is the second-generation Skoda Superb, based on the current (fifth-generation) Volkswagen Passat and stretched some. Details and additional pictures haven't yet been released, but Skoda promises it'll incorporate many "smart solutions", including an anticipated creative approach to the hatchbach-trunk debate.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - subscription required]

2009 Skoda Superb flagship to bow at Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As long as BMW doesn't own Volvo, then the Swede is allowed to target the roundel's cars as competitors. Autocar reports that Volvo is shaking up the lowest two rungs on its sedan line to put more space between them, and to better compete with the 3 Series.

The smallest sedan, the S40, will be be made over from a 4-door sedan into a 5-door hatchback along the lines of the A3 and BMW 1-series. The very name S40 might also be sacrificed, changed instead to V40. The S60, instead of disappearing entirely, will get a longer wheelbase, a better interior, shared tech from the S80 and Mondeo, and a chassis that does a better job at challenging 3 Series dynamics. Part of that redesign, if the renderings are accurate, will be a flared three-section front bumper that is the new hotness in car design. Regarding the car's sporting aspirations, engineers are said to be battling accountants for funds to design a more sporting chassis. Engines for the S60 will include a 2-liter and 2.2-liter 4-cylinder diesels, the D5 5-cylinder diesels, as well as a 2-liter gas turbo.

It is claimed also that the Volvo logo will also be altered, losing the diagonal bar that spans the grill. Only the circle and arrow -- a stylization of the chemical symbol for iron -- will remain. All of these changes are slated to appear in 2009-10.

[Source: Autocar]

Volvo aims for BMW originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rumor Mill: Chrysler Pacifica being cancelled originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Nov 2006 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.