THERE’S some shady business going on at VW. It has released official images of this new special-edition Eos White Night. As the name suggests, the coupé-cabriolet is finished in white, but it gets a contrasting black roof, door mirrors and front grille surround. Even the 18-inch alloy wheels are partially painted black, before being polished to a shine. The light and dark theme continues inside, with black Nappa leather seats, trim and steering wheel. Each is detailed with contrasting white stitching, while the White Night name is embossed on the door sills. The special is one of a range of variants produced as part of the Volkswagen Individual programme – but the bad news for fans of the brand is that it won’t be offered in the UK. Nevertheless, Eos buyers here will be able to buy the Azuro wheels as an accessory from their local main dealer. They’re priced at £200 each.Also soon to be sold in showrooms is a new aerodynamic enhancement kit for the Eos. A spokesman for VW told Auto Express: “We plan to release this in the UK, although it’s likely to be a special order item from our retailers. “No prices have been released yet, but we would expect the complete kit to cost around £1,500.” For more details click here.

BMW has Mercedes' monstrously powerful S63 AMG in its sights! These are the pictures that prove BMW is ready to launch a incredible M7 version of its flagship luxury saloon.
As you can clearly see in our close-up images, the front spoiler has been completely reworked for a more dynamic look, and to provide better cooling to the engine and brakes. An M3-style bonnet bulge has also been added in order to accomodate the larger engine. The hood will also be made from alumimium to take some weight away from the nose and help to ensure perfect 50-50 weight distribution.
The most likely candiadate for providing the M7's power is the 550bhp 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 fitted to the X6M and X5M - that's more horsepower than the S63 AMG and the most powerful Porsche Panamera. A 0-60mph time of under 4.5 seconds means performance should be well within the supercar bracket, too. For more details click here.

BMW has dropped a limited-run version of its smoking M3 Coupe. Known as the 'Edition Models', the fettled Coupes are available in a choice of four exterior colours with colour coded design cues inside and out, as well as a lower chassis.
Buyers can choose between Alpine White (pictured), Black, Dakar Yellow or a Monte Carlo Blue paint job, while exterior features such as dark-chrome side gills and quad exhaust pipes mark the Edition Models out. The 19-inch M-light alloys can be also ordered in Black, silver or white depending on individual taste. On the inside, black leather seats are lifted by contrast stitching to match the exterior colour scheme.
But it's the new suspension with 10 millimetre lower spring settings, for even flater cornering, that will have M3 fans licking their lips. Elsewhere, the M3's 414bhp 4.0-litre V8 remains untouched.The M3 Edition goes on sale in July and will only be in production for a strict period of six months. Prices are yet to be confirmed. For more details click here.

Hyundai has unveiled the latest revisions to its Korean-market Verna, better known here as the Accent. The freshened looks, clearly derived from the new Genesis Coupe, are expected to reach our shores for the 2010 model year.

For now, all the big updates appear to be cosmetic, with the most notable changes coming to the front and rear. Up front, the Verna Transform/2010 Accent sports a new grille reminiscent of the snout found on the Genesis Coupe, which could become something of a corporate grille, at least in shape. Sleeker headlights and a more aggressive lower fascia turn the rather plain-looking accent into a much more stylish and aggressive vehicle, even if it is slightly odd by U.S. standards. A new bumper, chrome exhaust and new taillights liven things up out back.

Inside, the new Verna/Accent will get new gauges, a stylish new center stack, Aux and USB jacks for the stereo, a standard subwoofer and an "ECO Assist" system that will show a green light on the dash when driving efficiently and a red lamp when driving inefficiently.The new Verna Transform will hit Korean showrooms later this month and while international distribution hasn't been finalized yet, we expect to see the revised Accent visit our shores within the next year as a 2010 model. What do you think? Would you buy one?

Lincoln is in the midst of a styling renaissance, of which the Ford Edge–based Lincoln MKX was one of the forefathers. Now that Lincoln’s corporate style is galvanizing around the split-waterfall grille, our spy photographers have captured evidence that the company will wrap the MKX’s nose with the now-familiar look for 2010.
While the family schnoz is the most immediately recognizable element of the redesigned MKX, perhaps the more important updates will take place inside, where the Lincoln’s somewhat stodgy interior gets a needed injection of pizzazz. As Ford and Lincoln try to spin themselves as technology leaders (witness the equipment list available on the new MKS and MKT), both the style and substance of their technologically advanced offerings become increasingly important.
To that end, the MKX gets a new stitched-leather dash that cascades around a wildly edgy new center-console design. The touch-screen nav system is nestled in a sculpted console that appears to sport tactile sensors—rather than traditional buttons—for the HVAC and audio controls. The smoothing of interior shapes also will reach to the new steering wheel, which loses a spoke and the previous blocky styling for a more upscale shape reminiscent of an Acura wheel, but without the button overload.
While nothing is confirmed yet, the new EcoBoost twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 is proliferating through Lincoln’s lineup and could endow this crossover with a serious performance edge. We wouldn’t be surprised to see the 355-hp mill powering the MKX somewhere down the line.
Regardless of powerplant, the interior of the upcoming MKX looks like it will take on a more space-age look in line with Lincoln’s new, high-tech image. Although the jury is still out on the brand’s new corporate grille, the inside of the 2010 MKX is shaping up to be a pleasant place to pass the miles.

If the Ghost is the new 'Baby Rolls', here's the MINI version! Spied in the workshop receiving its finishing touches, this is definitely one small car with big ideas.
Featuring a Royal Blue paint-job, bodykit and new alloy wheel design, it certainly appears upmarket from the outside. Inside the cabin, swathes of cream leather cover everything up to and including the air-vents, while high-quality walnut veneer finishes off the Rolls Royce ambience perfectly.
But before you start beating down the door of your local dealership, there's no conformation that the special edition will make into production. However, a spokesman for the brand told Auto Express recently that a limited-run MINI based on one the other brands under BMW's umbrella was not out of the question.

The Rolls Royce Ghost is almost finished – and we've caught it tooling around southern Germany practically undisguised!The 5.4 metre long ‘baby’ Rolls can be seen here with a stainless steel bonnet and windscreen surround, a feature that was only previously seen on the 200EX concept car. The only attempts made at keeping the true identity of the Ghost under wraps are the blacked out badges on the front and back, a lack of ‘RR’ badging on the wheel hubs and the Spirit of Ecstasy bonnet mascot is notably absent. Power nuts will be pleased to know that the Ghost has an all-new turbocharged 6.6-litre V12 under its shiny bonnet, which should be good for over 500bhp. While it looks like the Phantom, and apes its ‘suicide doors’, the Ghost actually shares a platform with the BMW 7-Series. Though it will be priced neatly inbetween them both at around £180,000 (before options).We’ll find out more about it in September, where it’ll be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Peugeot engineers have been caught final testing the Audi TT-rivalling 308 RC Z, which will be fitted with a Mini Cooper JCW 1.6 turbo, possibly tuned to 218bhp.
As you can see from our spy pictures the production car is almost identical to the concept unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt show.
The headlights have been toned down slightly and the kink along the bottom of the side windows is not so exaggerated, but the overall proportions are the same.
The production car is even likely to retain the classic Zagato-style roof bulges and multi-spoke wheel design of the concept, although the centre exit exhaust is likely to be lost.
Peugeot believes the front-drive only RC Z will challenge non-quattro TTs but will undercut the Audi on price.
A Peugeot insider said the car has an almost identical footprint to the German coupe and prices will start below £20,000.
While the flagship gets the Mini JCW engine, the base model gets the 150bhp 1.6 THP (Turbo High Pressure) 16v engine that is currently found in the 207 150 GT.
The new generation 2.0-litre HDI in either 150bhp or 163bhp form will also be available, all mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. A six-cylinder engine is likely to be ruled out.
The name of the production car is yet to be decided and will be revealed at the car’s Frankfurt show debut this year. Expect UK sales to start in May 2010.

Last month we showed you the first photos of the AMG version of Mercedes-Benz' updated CL - the car that will be renamed S-Class Coupe to coincide with the refresh (not unlike the CLK's renaming as E-Class Coupe). Now, our intrepid spy shooters have caught up with the standard S-Class Coupe which appear to love playing in the snow just as much as its sportier brother.

The standard S-Class Coupe receives many of the same changes we've already seen, still remaining a subtle refresh of the current CL design. The headlamps are reshaped and the modified front bumper is given LED daytime driving lights. The grille is slightly reworked and more upright than its predecessor, while out back, full LED taillights have been added. The rear bumper also receives a once-over (though it's heavily camouflaged) and new exhaust pipes round out the external cosmetic changes.

Following Mercedes' current philosophy, it's safe to say that the S-Class Coupe will receive a few mechanical enhancements to boost power while lowering emissions and increasing economy. Along these lines, could we see an S-Coupe 400 BlueHybrid in the near future? Wait and see...

A few details and a look at the next-generation Chrysler 300 full-size sedan—as well as the 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee—have seeped out via Chrysler’s viability plan recently submitted to the U.S. government.

As did Audi when redesigning the TT, Chrysler faced the difficult challenge of reinventing an icon when it went to the drawing board for the next 300. The new 300 possesses a shape similar to that of its predecessor, but looks more elegant. Up front, Chrysler moves to a new corporate grille, first previewed on the Imperial concept and most recently, the 200C EV concept shown at the 2009 Detroit auto show. The thin horizontal chrome bars are sleeker than the eggcrate worn by the current car, and they give the new 300 less of a boxy, road-barge look. Headlight clusters are squared and smoothed, while the front bumper is much more integrated, tightening up the chin.
The 300 will again feature fender flares, but the lower part of the arches is much less prominent. The upper body crease creates a gently arching shoulder in place of the straight and sharp line of the current model, and the new 300 also loses the side molding, giving the upper crease more definition. Expect visibility to be improved though slimmer A-pillars, more glass, and a much smaller C-pillar created through the use of a small A-frame window at the rear.
Although there is no view of the rear, expect to see a significant change from the current car. We anticipate the rear will mimic the clean front styling of the car, better integrating the exhaust tips in the lower valance. LED taillights are nearly a certainty.

With the latest Dodge Ram demonstrating Chrysler’s renewed interest in interior quality, we expect the new 300 to use similarly improved materials. Sticking with the clean theme of the exterior, the new cabin appears simple and refined. The instrument panel houses two large circular gauges—similar to those in the Ram—while a large display operating Chrysler’s UConnect infotainment system tops the center console. The climate controls reside below the screen.

Hemi fans can relax, as the V-8 featuring cylinder deactivation will carry over from the existing model, and it should boast increases in both power and fuel economy. Chrysler says that the new 300 will also be available with an all-new “fuel-efficient” six-cylinder engine—likely the Phoenix line the company has been promising—which we think will produce at least 260 hp. New safety features will include rear cross-path and blind-spot monitoring systems. Most, if not all, of these features will likely carry over to a similarly redesigned 2010 Dodge Charger.
No word yet on when the new 300 will be officially revealed, but you can expect to see it and the next Dodge Charger on dealer lots in 2010.

The 1 Series sure doesn't feel old, but, come 2012, the coupe turns four. That's when you can expect the new version, shown above and to the left, to appear. BMW is preparing the new version already, and our spy photographers caught a mule undergoing testing

According to our photographers, the mule here is wider and longer than the current version, indicating that the new model has grown a bit. You can expect an increase in interior volume, too. Also, the nose will feature prominent "kidneys" akin to those of the 5 Series Gran Turismo.Drivetrains remain a mystery at this point, but if the M Division's plans are any indication, expect a slew of turbocharged engines ranging in displacement from 1.4L to 3.0L. An M version -- not named "M1" -- is on the way in 2014, as we've reported, with a turbocharged inline-four and hopes of evoking the fan-favorite E30 M3.
BMW is likely to reveal the five-door hatch above first, followed by a three-door version. No word on either hatch coming to the U.S., but you can safely expect the coupe and convertible to return.

Copa load of this ‘super’ Leon – it’s the most powerful car SEAT has ever made!

Under the striped bonnet lies a highly tuned version of the 2.0-litre TFSI engine from the standard Cupra, which pumps out 281bhp. As a result, the Copa completes the sprint from 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds, and goes on to a top speed of 157mph.

To cope with this pace, engineers have revised the Leon’s suspension and uprated the brakes. So as well as being faster than the standard Cupra, the Copa should handle better.

SEAT has developed the model to mark the seventh year of its one-make race series, the Supercopa, which supports the DTM German touring car championship.

And with its bold stripes and aggressive bodykit, it looks like a racer for the road. A pair of leather bucket seats features inside, while the unique paintwork is echoed on the centre console with two vertical white racing stripes in direct contrast to the black-on-white exterior. Other details include Copa-badged floor mats and alloy pedals on the inside, with black-painted 18-inch alloys and twin tailpipes outside.

Here are the first spy shots of the newly facelifted Porsche 911 Turbo convertible, which launches next year.
The drop-top 997 Turbo will get a direct injection engine like the recently updated standard 997. It'll also benefit from Porsche¹s excellent PDK dual-clutch gearbox, which offers rapid, seamless shifts.
It's likely that the 997 Turbo's new breed direct injection engine will offer 20-30bhp more than before, pushing peak power beyond 500bhp. But direct injection also means that the Turbo will be around 15 percent more economical than before.
Like the facelifted 911 we've already driven, the Turbo will be marked out with LED tail lights and cosmetic changes to the front and rear spoiler. These subtle changes are most noticeable at the front, where the air intakes in the spoiler are different

Spied here, heavily disguised under stretched and widened Jetta bodywork, is a mule housing prototype components for two cars: Volkswagen's New Compact Sedan and New Mid-Size Sedan. Both will spearhead the company's attack on Japanese and Korean dominance of the import sector in the U.S. market.
It is VW's ambition to become the number-one global carmaker, surpassing even the Toyota juggernaut. To reach that goal, obstacles need to be overcome, a major one being the brand's lackluster performance in the U.S. Due to misguided product policies and the occasional severe quality problem, VW has dropped off the radar screen for many customers—if it was even there in the first place.
Both the NCS and NMS sedans are variations of the ubiquitous PQ35/PQ46 platform, which hosts a multitude of cars stretching from Golf/Rabbit to CC. The NCS will be developed mainly for the U.S. market, and it may retain the well-established Jetta moniker. The larger NMS is intended to simultaneously satisfy U.S. and Chinese tastes, so beware of chrome and ostentation. It won't go to Europe, where the next Passat will be aiming to make life difficult for the BMW 3-series and Mercedes-Benz C-class.
Why is VW walking away from global cars, especially at a time when other automakers are globalizing? The company feels that American and Asian customers don't appreciate the refinement of its current offerings. "U.S. customers look at car size and engine displacement. They won't pay a dollar extra for a Passat over the Camry just because of its finesse and attention to detail," a company executive told us in Wolfsburg. And he was concerned the NCS and NMS might still be too costly to produce compared to their Asian competition.
Indeed, the Passat, despite its merits, doesn't come close to the sales success of the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, but the Jetta has consistently done well in the U.S. Europeans find it hard to believe, but the Jetta enjoys an aura of coolness here, a reputation enhanced by performance versions such as the GLI, which was never available in the Old World. In Europe, the Jetta has always been viewed as an old folks' car; it hasn't sold well and was renamed twice as the Vento and the Bora before VW ruefully (and without much effect) reverted to the original moniker.
While the NCS and NMS are developed with strict cost-cutting targets, there is no reason to be concerned about a lack of capability on the road. The rather agricultural but still competent 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine is expected to carry on; for real fun, look for different variations of VW's turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI engine and the 2.0-liter TDI turbo-diesel. VW could also bring the highly efficient 1.4-liter TSI to the U.S. Dual-clutch transmissions will replace the current automatic gearbox, and all-wheel drive is a possibility.
The New Mid-Size Sedan will be built at VW's Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant. The New Compact Sedan, which shares its platform, could be made there as well. Both vehicles will be available in 2010 as 2011 models.

2010 Lexus GX470 Facelift

We wouldn't blame you if you forgot about the Lexus GX470's existence, but come next fall, a new version of the midsize luxury SUV is on its way, Ward's Auto reports.

The GX470, which is based on the European Toyota Land Cruiser shown at left, arrived in the U.S. in 2003 and has only been mildly updated since. With the larger LX570 (Lexus' U.S.-market Land Cruiser) now powered by a 5.7L V-8 producing 383 hp, the GX's powerplant will be upgraded as well.A 310-hp 4.6L V-8 -- the same one in the 2010 Toyota Tundra -- will power the new GX, replacing the 263-hp 4.7L V-8 currently under the hood. This means the new SUV's moniker probably will become the GX460.Lexus GX sales have fallen from a 2004 peak of 35,420 units annually -- about 2950 a month on average -- to just 2210 last month. Still, the segment is an important one for Lexus to fill. The RX only seats five, compared to the current GX's maximum of eight. There's also towing capacity to consider: An AWD RX350 can tow 3500 lbs with the tow package, but the GX can tow 6500 lbs. Let's not forget that you could buy two RXs and still not equal the base price of the LX570 SUV.The 2010 GX will sport different sheetmetal, an updated interior and, perhaps most importantly, a different rear door than the side-opening version presently on the SUV.The 2009 Lexus GX470 (pictured at top) currently lists for $48,490, including the destination fee. Expect that figure to move closer to $50,000 for the next-generation model.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

2011 Kia Amanti

After years of fighting for recognition, Kia has been on a roll over the past few months with several hit product introductions and appears poised to keep up the pace through 2009. Today, we've received a fresh batch of spy shots, this time of the Kia Amanti replacement.

Currently known only by its "VG" internal designation, our spy photographers tell us that the Amanti replacement you see here is both longer and wider than the current car. Word is that it will be a luxury sedan with a premium interior aimed at the Volkswagen Passat CC and other luxury and premium European sedans. The VG is reportedly built on Kia's new FWD platform that also underpins the Azera/Grandeur. Reports indicate that a prototype 3.5L V-6 mated to an automatic transmission is lurking under the heavily-camouflaged hood and that it may be paired to an all wheel-drive system. Rumor has it Haldex provided just such a system to Kia for study, and it may well have found its way into this prototype.
Not much can be seen under the camouflage, but the projector headlamps and LED taillights are easy to spot. The wide stance, tall hood line and low roofline give the VG an aggressive look, but much of that could be attributed to the disguise. The massive vent-shaped accoutrements on the hood obviously will not make it to production, so the finished car's look could be substantially different.The Amanti replacement is expected to debut in September, likely at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany

2009 Ford Fiesta ST

The sensational new Ford Fiesta ST has broken cover – and I have the first pictures. With the performance, pace and personality to leave its rivals trailing, the all-new hot hatch promises to raise the bar in the supermini sector. The blue oval faces stiff competition from models such as the Abarth Grande Punto and Vauxhall’s Corsa VXR, but bosses are aiming to put the Fiesta back at the top of the class.Our spies have already caught prototypes for the hot Fiesta being put through their paces, and as our exclusive pictures show, it will certainly look the part. The new ST will bring a range of cosmetic additions, including handsome alloy wheels and a spoiler above the rear windscreen. The revised front bumper includes a purposeful air intake and a pair of foglamps, while a diffuser-style back bumper incorporates racy twin tailpipes. Pronounced side sills and lowered suspension also help to provide a more aggressive stance.Inside, buyers can expect a much more luxurious cabin than offered in the current model, with high-quality soft-touch plastics as well as vastly improved switchgear. The ST will also benefit from supportive sports seats. Top-spec cars even get a pano­ramic glass sunroof and Blue­tooth phone connectivity, using Ford’s new Sync in-car entertainment set-up. The go-faster model also promises to be more practical than ever, thanks to the new Fiesta’s spacious interior. Officially, Ford isn’t announcing plans for a hot version of the next generation, but Auto Express can reveal it will take the wraps off a new range of hi-tech turbocharged direct-injection EcoBoost petrol powerplants at the Detroit Motor Show next week. The line-up will appear across the model range, and includes a 2.0-litre engine producing 275bhp. But the ST is likely to get a smaller 1.6-litre unit, making around 180-190bhp. This will put the newcomer on a par with the likes of the 189bhp Corsa VXR. With the supermini’s lightweight construction, the engine should be powerful enough to take the range-topper from 0-60mph in around seven seconds. Buyers will also be able to boost their model’s performance using officially sanctioned upgrade packages available from Essex-based engineering firm Mountune. It has developed similar parts for the outgoing ST and the hot Focus. In addition, the flagship Fiesta is set to feature economy-enhancing stop-start technology, while a punchy TDCi diesel version is on the cards, too.Ford’s chassis experts have been hard at work fine-tuning the hot sup­ermini to ensure it’s entertaining to drive. The brand has a reputation for producing sharp-handling cars, and the lightweight ST is expected to deli­ver unrivalled cornering agility, thanks to its bespoke suspension set-up.The all-new Fiesta will make its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and hit dealerships here in October. But fans of the ST will have to wait. It isn’t expected in UK showrooms before 2009. When it does arrive, though, expect a price tag in the region of £15,500.

2010 Lincoln Navigator V8 Diesel

The only sign that this mule isn't a run-of-the-mill Lincoln Navigator is dual exhaust coming out the passenger side of the Ford SUV, a fairly clear indication that Ford's new 4.4-liter diesel engine is lurking under the Navigator's hood. Eariler today an F-150 mule was also caught prowling around, also with the diesel on board.

Details of the 4.4-liter V-8, which will also appear in many of the expected places such as the F-150, Super Duty, and E-Series large vans, were leaked earlier this month after a recent Ford dealer meeeting. The engine is closely related to the 3.6-liter turbodiesel installed in European Jaguars and Land Rovers and is being designed in-house to be built at the automaker's Chihuahua, Mexico engine plant.

Compared to the current 5.4-liter V-8 found in many of Ford's larger vehicles, the new diesel is said to achieve nine percent more horsepower, 15 percent more lb-ft. of torque, and 20 percent better fuel economy, respectively. The automaker says 0 to 60 times in the two engines will be about the same. In addition, Ford is developing a urea injection system along the lines of Mercedes' Bluetec diesels to keep the new 4.4-liter running clean.

The diesel variant of the Navigator should arrive shortly after its expected freshening for 2010, either as a late-introduction 2010 model or as a 2011. It should also make its way into its Expedition sibling about the same time.

BMW's Electric Car

BMW is poised to give the go-ahead to a tiny Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) that will help to revolutionise city-centre driving. The rear-engined city car could be called Isetta and will first arrive in American showrooms in 2012.
The project was created because of new Californian regulations (soon to be copied by 12 other US states) which require big car makers to sell between a few hundred and a few thousand ZEVs every year from 2012.
However, global sales of the new model are also likely, because BMW has decided that the concept will be ideal for sale in cities all around the world. Indeed, many European cities have already established low-emissions zones.
BMW chief Norbert Reithofer recently said the company “would be obliged to sell a Zero Emissions Vehicle under the US regulations and that a battery car was “the most likely answer”.
Reithofer also said that BMW could have built just a few hundred cars to meet the US regulations but admitted that the company was also wondering if it could use the basic concept “not just for an electric car but also for a range of city cars”. These cars would use petrol and diesel motors, and could even feature BMW motorcycle engines.
The Californian regulations state that ZEVs can either be a fuel cell or battery-powered vehicle with a range of over 200 miles, or an Advanced Technology, Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) powered by a hybrid powertrain, by compressed natural gas (CNG) or by a methanol fuel cell.
BMW has yet to decide what badge the new Isetta will wear. “It could be BMW, Mini or another name,” Reithofer said. He also said that “co-operation [with another car maker] is possible” but stated that BMW would decide by the end of 2008 “whether to go it alone”.
Because the volumes are relatively low and the potential investment is high, sources in Germany say that BMW could also team up with Mercedes’ Smart division to work on a new vehicle.
BMW is said to be looking seriously at basing the new Isetta on a small zero-emissions concept developed by Austrian engineering powerhouse Magna Steyr. Magna already builds the BMW X3 and will build the Aston Martin Rapide.

2010 Fiat Doblo

It’s not the most exciting of vehicles, but our spy photographers have snapped the next-generation Fiat Doblo being put through its paces ahead of its launch next year.
As with the current model, both commercial and passenger versions will be available.
The new Doblo will be the bigger sister to the recently unveiled Fiorino Qubo and will compete against the Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Partner and Renault Kangoo.
The engine range will be familiar from other Fiat offerings, with most versions likely to ship with MultiJet diesels.
The current Doblo was introduced in 2001 and, although it has sold steadily rather than spectacularly in Europe, it’s turned into something of a ‘world car’ in other developing automotive markets through localised production. Fiat currently builds it in Brazil, Turkey (with Tofas), Russia (with Severstal-Auto) and Vietnam (with Mekong).

2011 Ford Focus Coupe

If the 2011 Ford Focus Coupe is to look anything like these renderings, supplied to us by a knowledgeable source, then sign us up. The images shown are the closest thus far to showing what the new three-door Focus will look like when it eventually hits U.S. soil, likely sometime in either late 2010 or early 2011.

Sporty and aggressive, these renderings show how mean the three-door coupe version of the new Focus could look. A chopped-down roofline, large trapezoidal front grille, swept-back headlamps, and large-diameter wheels conspire to show that this grocery-getter means business. Looking at the new car from the front, there are even some Volvo C30 cues, especially towards the rear roofline and quarter panel.Of course, that shouldn't be surprising. Ford's C346 architecture -- an evolution of the current European Focus platform shared with the Mazda3 and Volvo C30 -- is the basis for the 2011 Focus. As the new platform will be global, the U.S. will no longer get a different version of the Focus than the rest of the world. Three- (pictured), four-, and five-door versions will be available (though not all will be sold in every market) and a range of engines will be offered -- from small diesels, to direct-injection gas engines, and ultimately EcoBoost turbo engines. A six-speed dual-clutch gearbox is also being developed for the car by Borg-Warner.The current European Focus is vastly refined over relative to its U.S. counterpart. With a single platform for 2011, we could even see the coveted ST and RS coupe performance versions hit our shores, although the standard four-door sedan is still expected to be the volume leader. Regardless, it's fairly clear at this point that U.S. consumers can expect to be surprised by this future Focus -- a car that should be miles ahead of its contemporary counterpart.

2010 Renault Espace

Renault is planning to replace today’s soon-to-be-axed Espace MPV with a lower and more luxurious six-seater, company design boss Patrick Le Quemen has said.
The new car will ditch many of the compromises of modern people-carriers, and follows recent research conducted by Renault that suggested modern buyers no longer appreciate the ‘exposed’ high seating positions and low window sills of traditional MPVs.
The new car is likely to have three rows of two seats and should be launched before the end of 2010.
Renault insiders insist that the Renault Espace name, first used 25-years ago on the original Matra-developed car, is “too valuable to lose”, and will probably be applied to the forthcoming six-seater. The new car is also likely to depart from the current Renault Espace’s simple, steeply-raked nose and windscreen for a more complex design.
Renault’s design team has decided that an odd number of seats, employed in most MPVs, are relatively uncomfortable for most passengers. Hence the decision to go for a ‘2+2+2’ configuration similar to that employed by the Mercedes R-class.

2010 SEAT Altea & 2010 SEAT Leon

Here's what the future holds for SEAT. These are the first official pictures of the revised Leon hatchback, ahead of its world debut at Geneva, as well as the updated Altea and Altea XL MPV.Styling changes on all three cars are based on SEAT’s new trademark Arrow design, championed by the latest Ibiza.
Notable modifications to the Leon/Altea family include smoother exterior lines, a new grille, larger headlights and fresh wheel designs. On the inside revised instrument panels, refreshed centre consoles and new door panels give the cabins a new lease of life. Improvements haven’t stopped there either - updates have been made to the car's mechanics, too. The traction control system and therefore handling have been enhanced, plus the engine line-up for all three models has grown to a choice of ten - five petrol and five diesels.Standout performers in the new range are the 2.0-litre TSI and 2.0-litre TDI units. But all the engines deliver improved performance as well as reduced fuel consumption and emissions.UK pricing and full specification details for SEAT's revised Leon and Altea line-ups will be released closer to the models' showroom debut here this summer.