Autoblog

Ja, Bjorn, tink dat's de new Astra? Shoor looks like it, Jan. Lutz will be asking you to kiss this thing when it comes out from under that checkerboard camo. The current Astra is good, and the new one promises to be better, with looks that aren't revolutionary, but nicely done nonetheless. We'll see this world car version of the Astra sometime around 2011 with a variety of drivetrains, including hybrid power. The C-Pillar remains obscured, leaving our curiosity about the hatch's ultimate form unfulfilled. From what we can see, though, the new Astra will be like the current Astra - competitively styled and priced.

[Source: autoblog.nl]

Boy howdy does that camouflage make it difficult to suss out what's underneath! BMW's cooking up a new X3, expected to drop in 2011, and the changes don't look to be huge. The smallest SAV – BMW's acronym for Stupid Ass Sports Activity Vehicle – will get rhinoplasty to bring some Concept CS cues to the X3. The heavy camo on the rear windows suggest that BMW might be addressing some of the awkwardness that afflicts the current model, a definite plus. Word is that much sweat will be expended over an updated interior in order to keep up with competitors. A less-hideous X3 that retains its chassis moves while coddling you with a better interior? Sounds good to us, even though we'd still rather have an M3 wagon.

[Source: BMW blog, Photo: Priddy]

We saw the Chevy Beat concept unveiled a year ago, and now a camouflaged mule has been caught testing in China, fueling speculation that the Beat will succeed the Spark in that market. The Beat is certainly far less dowdy than the Spark, which is also sold, sometimes gratuitously, as the Matiz in other markets. When the Beat debuted as one in a trio of concepts, it was the sportiest of the three and described as a "tuner car" offering substantial levels of customization at the retail level, much like a Scion. That rhetoric may not be for world-wide consumption, however, and the Beat could wind up looking sharp on the outside and offering you roll-your-own windows and milk jug-quality plastics in the cabin. Of course, GM could pull a Ford and deliver a deliciously stylish small car everywhere but the United States, just as our fuel costs skyrocket ever further. Thanks for the tip, Kevin!

[Source: China Car Times]

If Michael Man were to do a film about spy photographers (of the automotive variety) from a script written by Mamet or Soderbergh, this would be it. Called The Illusive and brought to you by the folks at Mercedes, it's about spy photographer trying to get shots of Merc's wares and the Merc "agent" who's thwarting him. It's sultry, it's European, and there's an SLR Roadster in there, an inexplicably angry French waiter, as well as a few goats.

The film is part of Mercedes' branding efforts, in an attempt to draw a younger -- dare we say it -- slicker, crowd. It's a fun watch, and only about a dozen minutes long. Based on what we've heard of spy photography, though, it's not a documentary. We imagine that the folks at KGP, Priddy, Doane and co. wish they retired every evening to swank French restaurants for Chateaubriand and chianti

[Source: Floaded via Motor Authority]

This is a pretty bad shot of a heavily camo'd 2008 Ford Focus taken with a camera phone. It's damn near impossible to see any changes, but we'd bet our last gallon of gas that there's a shiny three-bar chrome grille hiding under that covering. The 2008 MY Focus will likely see the last tweak before we (FINALLY) get a Focus based on the company's C1 platform around 2010. Until then Ford will graft the Fusion's three-bar grin onto the Focus and apparently refresh the rear, as well.

Rumor on the Focaljet forum where this and more pics were posted is that the Focus three-door hatchback, five-door hatchback and possibly wagon will be deleted from the lineup next year. As far as we know that's just speculation, although it wouldn't surprise us if Ford trims down the number of Focus models being offered in the last couple of years before it's replaced. Perhaps if we're lucky part of Ford's accelerated Way Forward plan will be to sell the C1-based Focus here ahead of schedule.

Thanks focaljet-1 for the tip!

[Source: Focaljet]