SCOOP: 2012 BMW M6 Spied in Convertible Trim

The engineering teams over at the BMW Group have their hands full these days as they rush to complete testing of a number of future vehicles.

These include but are not limited to, MINI’s Roadster and BMW’s i3 hatch, i8 hybrid sports car, M6 Coupe, the next generation 3-Series sedan and GT liftback, the 7-Series facelift, the four-door 6-Series GT which we showed you earlier today, and case in point, the convertible version of the M6.

As with the 2012 M6 Coupe, BMW is slowly stripping away the disguise from the rag-top model which will feature the same M Division-tuned drivetrain found in the latest M5 sports sedan.

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New BMW 6-Series Four-Door GT Spied in Black

Here are some fresh spy shots of BMW’s new Mercedes CLS and Audi A7 Sportback adversary, the four-door version of the latest 6-Series, which was spotted testing in Europe.

The third iteration of the 6-Series after the two-door Coupe and Convertible models will most likely be called the 6-Series GT or the 6-Series Gran Coupé and will reach showrooms in the first half of 2012. BMW believes the four door model will overshadow the rest of the range and predicts that it will account for around half of all 6-Series sales.

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SCOOP: Seat Caught Testing Sportier Ibiza ST FR with 150HP

For being Volkswagen’s answer to Alfa Romeo (in theory at least), the Germans are sure taking their time to enhance Seat’s lineup with the most potent engines currently available in the group.

Take the Ibiza Sports Tourer (ST) for instance. In Germany, the small station wagon is offered with three petrol units: a 70HP 1.2-liter three-pot, an 85HP 1.4L and a 105HP 1.2-liter TSI, and three diesels: a 75HP 1.2 TDI, a 90HP 1.6 TDI and a 105HP 1.6 TDI.

But better late than never as Seat is preparing an FR version of the Ibiza ST fitted with the same 1.4-liter TSI turbocharged petrol engine with 150-horsepower found in the hatchback model.

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Sportier MINI Countryman JCW Edition Spied Working out at the Nurburgring

Carscoop’s spy photographers have snapped some of the first images of the sportiest edition yet of the Mini Countryman bearing the John Cooper Works logo. The…high-hoon version of Mini’s urban crossover model will come with all the usual styling upgrades and performance modifications we’re used to seeing in the other JCW models.

First and foremost, the Countryman JCW will get a juiced up version of the Cooper S’ 1.6-liter twin-scroll turbo engine. Being that the Countryman is much heavier than the other Mini JCW variants, engineers may further hone the four-cylinder powerplant to deliver more than 211-ponies it normally produces, possibly approaching the 230HP mark.

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SPIED: 2012 BMW 3-Series Sedan Starts Taking Shape

The new, sixth generation of BMW’s 3-Series sedan, codenamed F30 is almost upon us and as a result, we’re seeing more and more prototype models with less camouflage making their appearance on the road or in this case, testing on the Nürburgring circuit in Germany.

Being that the 3-Series has been the backbone of BMW’s success over the years, it doesn’t come to much of a surprise that the F30 remains close to the current model in terms of design.

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SCOOP: Renault Preparing Low-Cost Dacia 7-Seat Minivan

It turns out that the rumors surrounding Renault’s plans to expand the range of its budget brand Dacia with a 7-seat MPV that we told you about earlier this year were true. Our man with the long lens caught a prototype of the Dacia MPV codenamed J92 in heavy camouflage while on test on European roads.

The compact minivan, which some say may carry the Popster nameplate, is believed to ride on an extended version of the Logan’s platform architecture measuring around 4.5-meters in length with power coming from Dacia’s existing range of Renault-sourced gasoline and turbo diesel engines.

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New MINI Roadster in John Cooper Works Guise Scooped

With the new Coupe out in the open, MINI is now turning its focus on the soft-top roadster version of its two-seater model, which was snagged here by our scoop photographers in John Cooper Works [JCW] guise while testing on the Nurburgring.

Thanks to the prototype’s minimal camouflage, we see that, like the Coupe, the Roadster model remains rather faithful to the original concept that debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

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SPIED: New 2013 Porsche Cayman Shows its Face on the ‘Ring

The new 911, code-named 991, isn’t the only new model that Porsche is working on these days. The second generation Cayman is getting ready for its debut.

We’ve ve already seen the first camouflaged prototypes of the 2013 Cayman, but now it seems that Porsche is gearing up its development program and testing the car in Nurburgring in view of the anticipated 2012 launch, which will coincide with that of its open-top sibling, the Boxster.

Even though the shape is familiar and closely follows the lines of the current model, every panel in the bodywork is, in fact, new. The second-gen Cayman will bigger in all dimensions, including the wheelbase, to provide more ample space for the driver and his or her passenger.

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SCOOP: Peugeot Trying Out New High-Riding 508 Outdoor

It has only been a few months since Peugeot spun out its newly designed 508 mid-size model in both saloon and Station Wagon formats, but the French acarmaker is already working on a new derivative inspired by its high-riding 207 Outdoor model.

Our spy photographers snagged a prototype version of the 508 Outdoor testing on European roads. Even though Peugeot’s full-body plastic wraps leave much to the imagination, it is obvious that the car rides on a jacked up suspension.

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Video: Audi Q3 RS Prototype Fitted with RS3’s 2.5-liter Turbocharged Inline-Five

What more proof that Audi is seriously considering the introduction of a high-performance S or RS version of its newly launched Q3 compact SUV than the creation of a prototype model shown at a media event?

According to the folks over at Sweden’s Sportbilen, the prototype was uncovered during the European press launch of the new Audi Q3 in Zurich, Switzerland. And mind you, this wasn’t a static presentation as the media had the chance to drive the pre-production model on the road.

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2012 Toyota Camry Revealed in Leaked Presentation Video?

Last week, we told you about Toyota’s national dealer meeting in Las Vegas where the company briefed its associates on the firm’s current and future plans which include the launch of the all-new 2012 Camry sedan.

It appears though that the Japanese company did a bit more than simply brief its dealers on its plans as a video allegedly showing the presentation of the new Camry has made its way on the internet.

While we can’t be 100 percent sure that what we’re seeing in this amateur footage is the new Camry but given that the color of one of the vehicles depicted in the clip as well as the background seem to match the official video showing Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) President Akio Toyoda standing next to the 2012MY mid-size sedan, we wouldn’t be surprised if it is the real thing.

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2012 Bentley Continental GTC Speed Scooped in the Alps

Back in May, we saw Bentley trying out the drop-top version of its subtly evolved 2011 Continental GT, the GTC, at the Nurburgring racetrack. Now, our spies have spotted Bentley’s people working on the more athletic GTC Speed in the Alps.

Like the standard Continental GTC, the Speed shares the sharper styling cues of the coupe model launched last year adding a more aggressively designed front bumper with new openings, hood air vents and a discreet boot lid spoiler along with larger alloy wheels to the mix.

The GTC Speed will benefit from the revisions we saw on the coupe and which include a redesigned dashboard with an updated instrument panel and a new touch-screen interface plus new seats and trim materials.

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New BMW 6-Series GT Four-Door Coupe Spied in the Wild

Not too long ago, we brought you official design sketches of the production version of last year’s BMW Gran Coupé Concept. Now, our man with the long lens has captured an actual prototype that is production ready with only a few splashes of BMW’s traditional swirly camouflage covering its sides and rear end.

BMW’s first ever attempt to rival the Mercedes CLS in the so-called four-door coupe segment will most likely carry either the 6-Series GT or 6-Series Gran Coupé moniker.

Whatever the name, the sporty looking sedan model will share its underpinnings with the new 6-Series and of course the latest 5-Series, which forms the basis for BMW’s flagship coupe and convertible models.

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2013 VW Golf GTI and Golf R Mk7 Test Mules Scooped in Germany

Never mind the body of the current, 6th generation Golf featured on these test two Volkswagen prototypes snagged by our scoop photographers in Germany; these are test mules for the upcoming Mk7 Golf GTI and its more powerful sibling, the Golf R.

Despite the fact that both vehicles look alike at first, a closer glance shows that the GTI is the one with the twin tailpipes while the R features a quad exhaust outlets. Another important detail worth mentioning are the rear wheel arch extensions that suggest a wider rear track for both models.

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Could this be the New Cadillac ATS Small Sports Sedan?

A bare-shell of an unidentified model shown in a introduction video on GM’s corporate site caught the attention of a forum member of GMInsidenews. The team over the website believes that this could be an early prototype of the upcoming 2014 Cadillac ATS sports sedan, with which GM wants to compete against the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class saloons. Read more »

U-Spy: New MINI Coupe and BMW 1-Series Hatchback Spotted on the Road

Eagle-eyed Carscoop reader Michael from Germany is always on the lookout for any new cars and prototypes on the road. His latest catch is the freshly revealed MINI Coupe in a blue suit with silver stripes, while he also seized a couple of shots of the new BMW 1-Series hatchback, both of which were spotted in Munich.

The new MINI Coupe was only just unveiled online a couple of days ago, so we assume the car pictured is most likely an early production version used for testing.

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2012 BMW M6 Spied Testing, gets New M5’s Twin-Turbo V8

These are some of the clearest spy shots of BMW’s next M-branded model, the M6 Coupe, which will take its place as the flagship version of the new F13 6-Series.

The recent unveiling of the new M5 sports saloon gives us an idea of what to expect in terms of performance as the M6 will be powered by the same twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine.

The force-fed V8 brings an end to a line of naturally aspirated engines for the M6 that started with the iconic straight six of the first generation and continued with the V10 of the outgoing model.

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SCOOP: BMW Attempts to Spiff up 5-Series GT with M Sport Package

What do you do to improve the image of a vehicle that looks like the BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo? Well, the painful answer to that question would be to head back to the drawing board. However, given that this is not an option for a model launched less than two years ago, BMW thought of spicing it up with the always welcome M Sports package.

Spied here in Germany, the prototype model of the 5-Series GT with the M Sports treatment gains new, lower front and rear bumpers, deeper side skirts and larger alloy wheels in a different design.

As is the case with all M Sports Packages, we can expect minor tweaks in the interior with a three-spoke steering wheel, sports seats, aluminum pedals and door sills, plus bespoke upholstery and headlining.

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SCOOP: 2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class MPV Caught…White-Handed

Our team of spy photographers have snagged the production version of the upcoming 2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class dressed in a see-through plastic wrap as the car was being loaded off the transportation truck.

Clearly descended from the current-generation of Stuttgart’s mini-MPV model, the new B-Class follows a more conservative styling language than its smaller sibling, the 2012 A-Class, official patent images of which we showed you in May (see here).

The five-seat 2012 B-Class is based on a new front-wheel drive platform which brings an increase in dimensions and consequently, improved interior space for both passengers and the luggage area.

The new B-class, dubbed W246, will benefit from an updated lineup of turbocharged four-cylinder engines with direct-injection and start/stop technologies in both diesel and petrol flavors.

It is believed that Mercedes-Benz will lift the covers off the new B-Class at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show this September with sales to follow next year. Mercedes-Benz officials have not revealed any plans to bring the B-Class to the USA.

Stay tuned for more spy shots as well as the actual production versions of both the 2012 A- and B-Class models as we’re nearing closer to their launch.

PHOTO GALLERY

SCOOP: Early Prototype of 2013 BMW 7-Series Facelift

With the fifth-generation of the BMW 7-Series limousine codenamed F01 entering its third year in production, it’s time for the Bavarian company to begin readying a mid-life facelift for its flagship model.

Our spies snagged a lightly camouflaged prototype of the 7-Series bearing the ActiveHybrid 7 badges while testing in Germany. Judging by the parts of the car hidden under masking tape, there should be some minor styling changes to the front and rear bumpers as well as to the headlamps and tail light graphics.

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