Autoblog

Our ever-vigilant readers have struck, proving yet again that in the age of the camera phone, almost anyone with a mobile device can emulate Jim Dunne, Brenda Priddy or Hans Lehmann. The latest capture we've received comes from reader Charlie Hung, who recently spotted this black roadster on a Southern California freeway. A quick inspection of the images reveals it to be the next-generation BMW Z4 that's been spotted periodically for some time now. The bodywork on BMW's latest offerings would suggest that the current Z4's flame surfacing will probably be radically toned down. Much of the contouring we see on this prototype is likely just camouflage. Underhood, we'll probably get the same powertrain lineup as the 3 Series, with the next M Roadster getting the M3's V8. Judging from the size of the rear window, the Z4 will probably pick up a retractable hard top as well. When the new Z4 debuts, BMW will move production from its current home Spartanburg, SC to Germany. Spartanburg will take over production of the X3 crossover.


[Source: Charlie Hung]

Not due to go on sale until next year, the 2010 Kia Sorento has been spied and photographed, by an Autoweek.nl reader. While the two pics don't reveal much, the front end bears more than a striking resemblance to the Kia KND-4 concept from the 2007 Seoul Motor Show. Unlike the current Kia Sorento, currently built on a body-on-frame platform, the next Sorento will share a unibody platform with the Hyundai Santa Fe. Engine choices are only speculative, but we're betting the Sorento will receive either 3.3-liter or 3.8-liter V6 powerplant options. The next-gen Sorento is scheduled to start production in Kia's new plant in West Point, Georgia, in 2009.

[Source: TheCarBlogger]

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]

For those complaining that the Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson introduced yesterday wasn't suited for real truck duty, here you go. It's the F-250/450 Super Duty version of Ford's cobranding enterprise with Harley-Davidson, and can surely tow a few more bikes behind its bed than the half-ton version. Since this big bruiser from Milwaukee via Dearbon hasn't been officially unveiled yet, we can't tell you any details beyond what the spy pics show. Expect a set of nice chrome wheels, a catchy paint job, and badging, lots of badging. The grille up front gets the same slim bars seen on the F-150 version, as well.

Man, how embarassed would you be rolling up to Sturgis behind the wheel of your 2007 F-150 Harley-Davidson and seeing some Hell's Angels fella bombing around in the Super Duty version? At least the F-150 Harley-Davison can be ordered with a $6,500 SALEEN supercharger/intercooler set up so you can smoke the other guy off the line.

Every so often we hear a tale of an engineer driving a development mule in public who just goes nuts. Most of the time it's triggered by a photographer taking pictures of the Top Secret car he's driving, at which point the engineer freaks and attempts to kill the offending snapper via vehicular homicide. It happened to our buddy Chris Doane last summer when a Ford engineer tried to flatten him with an F-250 mule. This time a group of Toyota engineers driving an IS 350 chase vehicle, RX hybrid development mule and an unidentified car covered entirely in camo (next-gen Prius?) reportedly began messing with some guys from GTChannel.com who were taking pics of the cars on their camera phone.

As far as we know, taking a picture of a vehicle that's driving around on public roads is not illegal, but legality aside, attempting to cause an accident is not an appropriate and measured response. Reading the account on GTChannel.com seriously makes our blood boil, since this cat and mouse game we call spy photography is something we all enjoy that ultimately helps automakers more than it hurts. Any driver acting this way on behalf of an automaker should be fired on the spot, and if this behaviour is actually sanctioned by automakers, then these companies need to reevaluate their priorities pronto. Certainly the public exposure of a development mule is not more important than the life and well being of a human being. Right?

Click the Read link to view the rest of GTChannel.com's pics.

[Source: GT Channel]

Swade over at Trollhattansaab.net, the mecca of Saab sites on the web, has again come through with a tantalizing shot of the 2008 Saab 9-3. Shown winter testing someplace where it's really cold and snowy, this 9-3 SportCombi test mule is sporting a new grille design that evokes the longish snout of the Aero X that was so well received at last year's Geneva Motor Show. Swade notes the new nose isn't a total transfer of the Aero X's look, probably because this refreshening will be a transition face for the 9-3 that bridges the current model and an all-new model that's still a few years out. Nevertheless, this grille is much taller than the current model's, and therefore the smallish intakes anchored to the headlights stretch farther down towards the center now to meet the main grille. Also noted is black tape at the top of each headlamp that could be covering a strip of LED daytime running lights.

[Source: Trollhattan.net]

Pictures of future BMWs tend to get the attention of people like you and I. Maybe it's conditioning from all of those cover shots and glowing comments about BMWs over the years on Car and Driver and Motor Trend. It could be that we all know BMWs are just a hoot to drive, with laser-sharp steering and teriffic acceleration. They get a lot of looks too, which can be a good or bad thing.

The BMW in question is reported to be the 2010 5-Series. It looks darn good, with some Mercedes Benz CLS from the side and some 3 Series up front. It amazes us exactly how professional these renderings look. There is even the reflection of a tree in the passenger side window. It may be just a clever rendering, but we think it's worth looking at either way.

Thanks goes out to JP for the tip.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport]

Much has been said about how "nice" the Ford Five-Hundred and Mercury Montego are. They're good cars, people say, once you get to know them. Well, cars are largely sold on first impressions, and the 500 and Montego are both getting a second chance to make a good first impression with buyers. We saw the updated 2008 Ford Five-Hundred at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month, and here's our first look at the updated Mercury Montego that will likely be debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in early February.

The front end is clearly inspired by the more fashionable Milan with headlights that sweep back up into the hood. The new grille is placed within a recessed part of the front end that dips down into the bumper and gives the Montego's face a lot more character. Out back are new white taillights and a new rear bumper that now houses the Montego's license plate. It's certainly not a full redesign, but we'd call it a sorely needed refreshening that ensures you won't lose your Montego in a crowded parking lot anymore.

[Source: World Car Fans]

The MINI Traveller, or as it should now be officially called, the Clubman, has been revealed to us in concept form as well as heavily camouflaged spy pics, but these new spy shots found on The Car Connection reveal a completely undisguised mule undergoing testing. Sporting a wheelbase probably longer than the original MINI itself, the Traveller adds at least a foot to the length of the standard MINI. Rear passengers will be able to access their seats through a rear-hinged suicide door on the passenger side, but as you can see from the pic, the driver's side sports a side window that's one long expanse of uninterrupted glass. No suicide door on that side, thank you very much. The benefit of the Traveller's extra inches seem relegated solely to additional space behind the rear bench, effectively making a MINI with a big trunk. While the look is all MINI, hopefully BMW engineers can maintain the same sharp handling and go-kart steering that makes the swb MINI so fun to drive.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Related posts:
Spy Photos: 2008 MINI Traveller
MINI Traveller redubbed Clubman
MINI to show special version of Traveller concept in Detroit
MINI Clubman opens its doors