2012 Ford escape

2012 Ford escape

2012 Ford escape

2012 Ford escape

2012 Ford escape

2012 Ford escape

2012 Ford escape

Ford is currently engineering its global C-platform to spawn a trio of crossovers that will include a new Lincoln model, as well as the replacements for the popular Escape SUV and European-market Kuga. As we all know, the C-platform is the modular small car architecture underpinning the 2012 Ford Focus and U.S.-bound C-Max MPV, and soon we will get to see it underpinning these new crossover models.
Today we have spy shots of the 2012 Ford Escape, the next-generation of the Blue Oval’s compact soft-roader, which is expected to hit showrooms early next year.
We got a preview of the styling direction Ford is taking for its new crossover with the unveiling of the attractive Vertrek Concept at January’s 2011 Detroit Auto Show. Building on the heritage of both the Escape and Kuga, the Vertrek pairs a sleeker, more modern shape with a slightly larger size.
The concept also gave us a preview of the powerplant destined for the 2012 Escape, namely, an EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder mill. That will be one of two engines offered, and may replace the optional 3.0-liter V-6 found in the current model. The other engine is likely to be an evolution of the current Escape's 2.5-liter four.

2012 Ford escape

2012 Ford escape

2012 Ford escape

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2012 BMW M5

2012 BMW M5

2012 BMW M5

2012 BMW M5

2012 BMW M5

2012 BMW M5

As you probably already know by now, BMW is preparing the next M5 sports sedan and they promised it would be "a brilliant car." The first concept version will be unveiled at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show, with a production version to follow at the Frankfurt Motor Show a few months later.
With the new M5, BMW will focus on improving all the aspects of the car. First, the car will be built on an all-new aluminum chassis and will feature the intense use of carbon fiber. This will help reduce the car’s weight considerably. It will also produce 25% less CO2 and the new V8 engine will require less fuel.
Under the hood is where it may get a bit tricky. Originally, the new M5 was to carry the same twin-turbocharged 4.4 liter V8 engine that can be found in the BMW X6 M. This is still the case, but instead of the 555 hp found in the X6 M, the engine is said to deliver an impressive 578 HP in the M5.
UPDATE 03/30/2011: BMW has unveiled a 30 minute video of the M5 sports car and has also confirmed that we will have the first details for the sports car on April 1st. No , this isn’t an April Fool’s joke - at least as far as we know. The official release of details will be followed by its public debut at the Shanghai Motor Show a few weeks later. Video after the jump.
UPDATE 04/04/2011: The BMW M5 will make its first appearance in just a few days, but already the first images of the interior of the car have been leaked revealing the M5 in all its glory. Enjoy!
Hit the jump to find out more on the future BMW M5.

2012 BMW M5

2012 BMW M5

2012 BMW M5

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2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

Four new versions of the Golf R at the Geneva International Motor Show
* Exclusive paints, two-tone leather and carbon for the Golf R
Wolfsburg / Geneva, 01 March 2011 – The Golf R – the top model of the Golf series, is on display in four special versions in Geneva. Especially high-end: the Golf R concept cars in exclusive exterior colours and two-tone leather combinations. Especially sporty: the Golf R in sophisticated motorsport look with carbon accents.
In Geneva, Volkswagen R GmbH is exhibiting four special interpretations of its successful Golf R model. The concept cars showcase the competence of Volkswagen R GmbH in generating contemporary sports appeal. “Based on the high demand and success of the Golf R, we decided to develop four high-end versions of this vehicle,” says Ulrich Richter, Managing Director of Volkswagen R GmbH.
Golf R in exclusive paints and two-tone leather
The Golf R versions in the exclusive “Oryx White” and “Carbon Steel Grey” exterior colours – with coordinated high-end Nappa leather interiors – interpret the top model in an especially exclusive way.
“Oryx White” is a sophisticated, pearl-effect paint. The vehicle rides on 19-inch Talladega wheels, a visual branding symbol of the most powerful production Golf ever. Inside, an elaborately upgraded seat system gives the Golf R its unique flair – this seat system was derived from Volkswagen R’s Exclusive programme. Volkswagen R GmbH has colour-coordinated the centre panels of the front sport seats and the rear bench seat with the car’s exterior by using a light-coloured “St. Tropez” Nappa leather; this colour is also used in the door inserts. Lateral seat supports in perforated leather give the seat and seatback an especially sporty elegance. The Nappa leather surface is black, and the perforation creates an exciting contrast to the underlying “St. Tropez” colour. This light colour is also applied to the seams of the door inserts, shift lever and parking brake lever boots and borders of the black floor mats. The car has brushed aluminium trim inserts and displays the R logo on the passenger’s side.
The second version of the Golf R is painted in the exclusive exterior colour “Carbon Steel Grey.” All interior detailing in “St. Tropez” colour in the white version is now executed in the sophisticated dark “Almandine Red” colour here. This creates an especially attractive interplay of colours around the perforated Nappa leather. This version also has 19-inch wheels and aluminium trim strips.
Golf R in motorsport look with carbon accents
The Golf R being presented in a separate lounge sports an exterior that captivates with its special “Space Grey” (mid-tone grey) colour, polished 19-inch “Talladega” alloy wheels, orange brake callipers and carbon mirror caps.
Inside is where this Golf R really picks up speed: the driver and front passenger are treated to motorsport shell seats with ideal ergonomics. They are upholstered in black Nappa leather; around the lateral seat supports toward the inside, as well as in the head section, the seating surfaces consist of anthracite-coloured Nappa leather (“Light Anthracite”). The cross-stitched centre panels of the seats and seatbacks are an even lighter grey (Nappa leather in “Pure Grey”). The back shell glistens in black piano paint. A refined contrast is formed by the piping on the side panels of the seat surface and the head section: the orange of the brake callipers is repeated here.
The car’s interior accents match the look of the door mirror shells: carbon. The same material is also used for the steering wheel, gear shift lever, inserts of the leather-trimmed sport steering wheel and the door sill plates. Black piano paint, on the other hand, is used on door panels behind the interior door handles, on electric window switch panels and the panel around the shift lever.
The second vehicle is painted in the high-end “Aplomb Blue.” Its 19-inch “Glendale” wheels are “Brilliant Silver.” As on the Golf R “Space Grey”, the door mirror caps, various interior accents and door sill plates are produced in carbon fibre. The shell seatbacks of the newly sculpted motorsport seats also utilise this extremely lightweight and high-strength material in certain areas. Elegant, black Nappa leather adorns the outer sections of the seat surfaces and backs. The crest of the seats – a wrap-around stripe on the lateral seat supports and seatbacks – is designed in blue leather. Meanwhile, the leather-trimmed sport steering wheel has inner segments and hand grips consisting of what is referred to as carbon leather; it has a characteristic webbed structure of lightweight and precious carbon material. Even the floor mats have a carbon look. Their decorative seams are blue as are the seams around the parking brake lever.

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

2011 Volkswagen Study Golf R

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2011 honda civic interior

2011 honda civic interior

2011 honda civic interior

2011 honda civic interior

2011 honda civic interior

2011 honda civic interior

2011 honda civic interior

Of note we now not only know the engine’s power, but at what rpm. The new 2.4-liter makes just 4 hp more than the old 2.0 but does so at 800 lower rpm. More significantly, the torque jump of 31 ft-lbs comes on at almost 2000 rpm earlier.

2011 honda civic interior

2011 honda civic interior

2011 honda civic interior

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2011 BMW X1

2011 BMW X1

2011 BMW X1

2011 BMW X1

2011 BMW X1

BMW is an expert at filling niches that buyers probably never even thought existed. Witness vehicles such as the 5-series Gran Turismo, the upcoming Mini SUV, and the smallest member of the X family, the X1.
This new BMW baby ute is 175.4 inches long, 70.8 inches wide, and 60.8 inches high. That makes it 2.8 inches shorter than a 3-series wagon and 4.5 inches shorter than an X3. Although this may suggest it’s based on the 1-series, the X1 is actually closely related to the 3-series wagon, down to axles, powertrains, and identical all-wheel-drive systems.
The X1 is not a serious off-roader—there are no differential locks, for instance. It’s more of an on-road driving machine with forest-exploration capability. In everyday driving, the AWD system delivers 60 percent of the engine torque to the rear axle and 40 percent to the front, but the multidisc clutch pack is able to apportion torque to whichever axle needs it for traction.
At a glance, the X1 looks very similar to the bigger X3. The main differentiation is its giant BMW kidney grille and more steeply raked windshield and liftgate. Inside, the X1’s décor and layout mimic those of the 3-series. Surprisingly, in view of the vehicle’s compact dimensions, there’s plenty of room out back for a couple of adults. The fifth passenger’s space is compromised by the way the center console runs back into that rider’s seating area. The cargo area varies between 15 cubic feet with the rear seats slid all the way back—there’s another 3 cubic feet available if they’re slid forward—to 48 cubic feet with the seats folded flat.
When the car goes on sale in the U.S. in early 2011, the initial model offering will be the X1 xDrive30i, powered by a 260-hp version of BMW’s familiar 3.0-liter inline-six also found in the X3 and the X5. A 2.0-liter, four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel may or may not make it to these shores. In Europe, the inline-six is mated only to a six-speed automatic transmission.
The X1 definitely wants to be the sports car in the compact-SUV segment. The Servo­tronic steering system is tuned comparably to the 3-series’ helm and feels much more responsive than the X3’s. The optional Sport package lowers the ride height by 0.8 inch and comes with 18-inch wheels and tires in place of the standard 17-inchers. Despite this, it’s more comfortable than the X3 and exhibits better body control in taking corners. Harsh impacts cause fewer tremors than in the X3.
Exactly what the X1’s niche is, though, we’re not quite sure: the sporty member of the really small and expensive cute-ute category, perhaps? When it goes on sale, it will be in a class of three, joined by the Land Rover LRX and the Audi Q3, and it will likely start at about $36,000.

2011 BMW X1

2011 BMW X1

2011 BMW X1

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