2015 Audi R8 Spy Shots

This is the next generation Audi R8 being tested at the Nurburgring.

Audi seems to be going down the Porsche 911 route of evolutionary design with its flagship R8.  These spy shots, captured by Chris Doane Automotive for Car And Driver show the next generation R8 at the Nurburgring, and it doesn't look a great deal different from the current one.

Even though the R8 still looks pretty fresh it's been around since 2006 so is overdue a refresh, particularly with regard drivetrains and interior.

The 2015 (or 2016 if you're American) R8 shares a platform with the Lamborghini Huracan and will be four wheel drive with a mid-mounted engine.  The car will use the 5.2 litre V10 from the current R8 (Speedmonkey review here) as well as a V8.  The gearbox will be a 7-speed S tronic unit and manual will be offered some time after launch.

As well as petrol engines the R8 will be available with an electric drivetrain, said to have a 280 mile range.

The next gen Audi R8 should launch in early 2015.

By Matt Hubbard

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Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake Spy Shots

Here's a surprise.  Mercedes is currently testing a CLA Shooting Brake and Autoblog has captured these spy shots.

The front end and flanks are standard CLA but the rear end has sprouted a hatchback and extended roof line.

The rear of the window tapers as it does in the CLS and the hatch is more a case of style over substance, but the CLS Shooting Brake seems to be a resolutely practical proposition for UK buyers.  We do like our estates.

Unfortunately the standard CLA is front wheel drive which means the Shooting Brake will be too.

However, Autoblog has failed to spot a couple of features which make the CLA Shooting Brake in the photos a rather special one.

One is the extra section under the front bumper.  The other is the huge brake discs.  This CLA is a CLA45 AMG Shooting Brake, which means it'll get 4 wheel drive and 355bhp.

Oh yes.  The CLA Shooting Brake suddenly grabbed our attention.

Take a look at the standard CLA220 CDI here, and take a look at the CLA45 AMG here to spot the differences.

Also, you can read our review of the A45 AMG here.

Images: Autoblog

Article by Matt Hubbard

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Jaguar F-Type Coupe Leaked Photos

On the eve of its unveiling here are leaked images of the Jaguar F-Type Coupe.

The F-Type convertible looks fantastic.  The F-Type Coupe manages to up the ante.  Jaguar is on a roll.

Jaguar F-Type Coupe review
Exclusive F-Type coupe spy shots

Article by Matt Hubbard

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2016 BMW 5-Series Spy Shots

These are some of the first spy shots of the 2016 BMW 5-Series, as captured by Bild.de

Bild has captured the 2016 BMW 5-Series Touring in all its camouflaged finery.  The chassis is all new and apparently much lighter than the current 5-Series, although the exposed sills appear to be steel.  Jaguar may be stealing a march on it's competitors by using exclusively aluminium chassis'.

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Jaguar F-Type Coupe Spy Shot With Spoiler Open

Here's another spy shot of the Jaguar F-Type Coupe but this time the car is moving and the spoiler is up.  

We can see that the spoiler is integrated into the hatchback which means the hatch will open up rather than sideways as in the C-X16 concept below.

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Jaguar F-Type Coupe Production Ready Spy Shots - Exclusive

Exclusive Jaguar F-Type Coupe spy shots show the car up close and in detail

These Jaguar F-Type Coupe spy shots are a Speedmonkey exclusive having been spotted by Tash French and photographed by Leah Rebeccah Sadler.

The F-Type Coupe is due to launch on 20 November and so far only a single image has been issued - which you can see here.

This car is a supercharged 5-litre V8 and is registered as being orange, which in Jaguar-speak is Firesand; just like the F-Type convertible we recently tested.

You can see from the rear shots how the waistline of the F-Type looks slimmer due to way the narrowing rear hatch meets the boot.

Stay tuned for the official photos on 20 November.

Article by Matt Hubbard

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Jaguar F-Type Coupe - First Official Photo And Reveal Date

Jaguar will reveal the F-Type Coupe at 3am GMT on 20 November 2013 at a secret location in Los Angeles.

We've been talking about the Jaguar F-Type Coupe ever since the F-Type was launched as a convertible and now the date for its reveal is set.

When I visited the Jaguar factory back in Castle Bromwich back in March to see the F-Type being made I asked about an F-Type coupe. "Let's get the convertible out of the way first," was the answer.

Well, now the convertible is out of the way.  It's launched, the order books are full and Castle Bromwich is working at full steam.  The time is now for the Coupe and judging by this photo, and the spy shots below, it looks fantastic.

Jaguar's fast-becoming-legendary-designer Ian Callum says of the Coupe:

“The excitement generated when we revealed the C-X16 concept was terrific; so to now be on the cusp of what I can assure you will be a drama-filled reveal event in Los Angeles for F-TYPE Coupé is a very significant moment.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to F-TYPE Convertible, but for me the purity of creating a sports Coupé is a uniquely satisfying process - and I know that both visually and dynamically, F-TYPE Coupé raises the bar yet again.”

Stay tuned.  Speedmonkey will bring you a full set of photos as soon as they are available.

See also:

Jaguar F-Type V6 S review
Jaguar C-X17 SUV Concept
Jaguar F-Type Coupe video - testing at the Nurburgring

Article by Matt Hubbard

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Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake spy shots

Jaguar are working on an XFR-S Sportbrake, but it might not make series production.  The test car, spied by Autocar at the Nurburgring, is so thinly disguised it's got an R badge on the boot.

The XF Sportbrake is only available as a diesel at the moment, which is a pity.  That car might have lots of oomph and reasonable economy but it's still a diesel.  With private car sales increasing (private sales now account for more than 50% of the UK market) surely it's time for Jaguar to introduce their superb, supercharged 3 litre V6 and 5 litre V8 petrol engines to the Sportbrake.

The XFR-S Sportbrake is thought to be being developed by Jaguar's 'Engineered To Order' division.  In other words they are working on making the engine fit and the suspension set-up just right so the car can be released quickly if enough positive publicity comes in as a result of these spy shots.

Given the saloon already comes with both petrol engines it won't be an expensive job - but Jaguar have to be happy they will sell enough to make it a worthwhile exercise.  Audi, Mercedes and BMW have deeper pockets and can put out fast estates with confidence that they can take a hit if the market drops.

But Jaguar's rising status and increasing confidence, under their Tata ownership, surely mean we'll see petrol engined S, R, R-S Sportbrakes in the near future.

Here's hoping.

Here's a reminder of what the saloon XFR-S sounds like.  Crank the volume up LOUD

All images: Autocar

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Jaguar F-Type Coupé - more and better spy shots

Two weeks ago we brought you Jaguar F-Type coupé spy shots.  These latest spy shots of the F-Type coupé were taken at the Nurburgring and show in better clarity and more detail the transition from convertible to hard top.

The integration of the roof into the rear of the car has been executed nicely.  The F-Type looks similar to the XK at the rear quarters, with a hatchbook boot lid.

The F-Type coupé looks like it'll be a sensationally pretty as the convertible.

Images: www.automotorsport.se

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Mercedes SLC spy shots - 911 rival spotted at the Nurburgring

Mercedes SLC spotted at the Nurburgring

This is a new Mercedes-Benz mid-sized coupe, internal designation C190, testing at the Nurburgring.  The most likely name is SLC and its intended targets are the Porsche 911 and forthcoming Jaguar F-Type coupe.

The Mercedes SL is more a grand tourer and Jaguar XK rival, whilst the SLS costs £170k.  The new SLC start at £70k, which will plug a 911 sized gap in Mercedes line-up.

For the SLC to succeed it needs to look great, and from the photos it does, and handle magnificently.  We'll find out if that is the case in 2014 when the SLC is slated to be launched.

Thanks to @BuddaPSL for the tip

Images: www.automotorsport.se

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Jaguar F-Type Coupé spyshots

These spyshots confirm the existence of a Jaguar F-Type coupé.  It makes sense for Jaguar to produce a hard top version of the F-Type, after all the XK comes in convertible and coupé forms.

It's not going to be too difficult for Jaguar to slap a roof on the F-Type, but it does make sense for them to take their time before launching it.  And driving a barely disguised coupé like this one round the streets of Gaydon won't exactly hurt its prospects.  The rumour mill can be a good thing in driving up interest.

When I visited the Jaguar factory back in Castle Bromwich back in March to see the F-Type being made I asked about an F-Type coupe.  "Let's get the convertible out of the way first," was the answer.  Ian Callum, on Twitter, keeps letting out little nuggets of information when asked about a coupé F-Type.  His latest, when asked if the coupé will be better looking than the convertible: "Could be..."

So, it's on its way and we should see more prototype photos before the launch.  Expect the Jaguar F-Type coupe to be on sale in late 2014/early 2015.

All photos: www.autofans.be

Matt

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New Range Rover Sport spyshots

With the latest iteration Range Rover hitting showrooms just about now, Land Rover's attention turns to the Range Rover Sport, which should be with us at the end of 2013.

The 2013 Sport will be built on the same platform used by the latest Range Rover, and the Jaguar XJ.  Like the Range Rover it is expected to shed up to 350kg of mass by using lightweight aluminium and advanced composites in it's structure and bodywork.

External design changes are expected to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary with a deeper clamshell bonnet, smoothed flanks and Evoque-esque lights and grille - and more closely aligned in style to the Range Rover than the previous Sport.

Whilst the previous generation Range Rover was a luxurious offroader with masses of style the Sport offered bling by the bucketload, and was bought more by urban types than rural dwellers who actually needed the offroad ability of a Land Rover.  The interior desperately needed a tidy, with buttons and dials scattered about the cabin like buckshot.  The latest Range Rover offers a simpler, cleaner interior, and the Sport is expected to follow this more restrained ethos.

Thanks to Stephen Foggon for the photos.

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