Exclusive Spy Shots: New Civic stork in Japan in 2012

Our correspondent exclusively in Japan, John Paul Vizioli, just catch the first units of vacating the premises Civic 2012 Honda at Suzuka. He said the car should be going to the U.S., since there are some units of the Fit Insight and also in their North American versions in the cart.

The New Civic 2012 will come to Brazil, but it is believed here that he will have some visual differences, becoming more like the City, seeking toconquer the more conservative buyer who is a fan of the Corolla .

Source: Noticiasautomotivas. (Language Translation in Portuguese to English) Google Translation

Spy Shots: Bugatti plans to reveal its new car.

As expected, Bugatti plans to reveal its new car at the Frankfurt Motor Show, coincidentally coinciding with the company's centennial celebration. Here's the first teaser of the new exclusive super car from an invitation to the super-party.

As we mentioned back in March, details are slim if not downright non-existent, but the rumors have been flying recklessly regarding what niche market the next Bugatti model will fall under. Having already accomplished their goal of creating the world's fastest, highest powered super car, it would only make sense for the VW-owned company to venture out into the ultra luxury market. The competition is becoming fierce, with an ever growing range of Rolls Royce Phantom models and with Bentley dropping their new 'Grand Bentley' upon the world in August at the Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance, it seems like a likely guess that this is the route Bugatti will follow. Will Bugatti lean on Bentley, borrowing resources from the new 'Grand Bentley' or will they produce their own bespoke chassis?

Turning our attention to the dark, scanned teaser above, we see what appears to be the rear view of the new Bugatti showing off high-tech LED tail lamps and a vertically mounted LED CHMSL. The height of the CHMSL makes us believe our initial thoughts are correct; that this is indeed a sedan and we wonder whether it will be an evolution of the 1999 EB218 concept in design.

As September draws closer, so will the teasers and details and we'll be following along closely. Stay tuned. (Hat Tip To Wanda!)

Source: jalopnik

Spy Shots: 2011 MINI 4X4 Crossover

In the cat and mouse game of automotive spy photography, while it's always important to be first with getting a particular car out in the wild first, sometimes it's almost as important to capture a significant detail as well. That's what happened yesterday when we captured MINI's upcoming 4X4 crossover in BMW's trademark psychedelic camouflage. Although the car has been extensively scooped earlier--in both hot and cold weather test sessions--we were lucky enough to confirm that while the camouflage wants you to think that the MINI crossover will have the Clubman's side-hinged, rear barn doors, since this engineer needed to get something out of the tightly packed rear compartment, we were able to confirm that the car will have a conventional top-hinged hatch. (Just a day ago LeftLaneNews.com reported that the MINI Crossover would have side-hinged doors.) This confirms this highly significant detail of the design, which is expected to premiere in full production trim possibly as early as this September at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

The MINI 4X4 has evolved through a long gestation process since its first reveal in concept form as a concept at the 2008 Paris Auto Show when it was thought that it would be produced for the 2010 model year. Obviously that timetable has been pushed back at least six months given that it's now undergoing its final stage of testing before entering production. It is expected that the MINI Crossover will share its 4X4 underpinnings with BMW’s upcoming X1 crossover but unlike the X1, which will be built in South Carolina, the MINI Crossover will be assembled by Austria’s Magna Steyr. When it goes on sale here in the US next spring, expect a starting price of just under $30,000.

The first thing that apparent when looking at the near-production-spec MINI 4X4 is the thicker body section, from the rocker panels to the window line that while unmistakably MINI, is much more butch than the non-4X4 versions. Clearly BMW's designers wanted to make a statement that the form and function of their first crossover would separate it from its expected rivals in the small, soft-roader segment populated by the like of the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV-4, and Jeep's own Patriot, probably the most off-road capable vehicle in the category.

Again, it's the little details that one looks for when closely examining new spy photos. In this case, when the test engineer opened the door, you can clearly see a panel concealing the door trim, indicating that the MINI 4X4 will get new interior trim, a move that is likely to be expanded across the entire MINI lineup in order to keep it fresh as newer competitors enter the marketplace, like Alfa Romeo's MiTo. (This level of concealment is designed to protect important new details from prying eyes, especially at fuel stops when some alert reader might have a high-res camera phone handy when the engineering team needs to top off the tank in plain view of the public.) What's also apparent from this angle is that the design of the C-pillar area has clearly evolved from the original concept version.

It's actually quite rare to get this close to a test vehicle, and while we hate shooting through the windshield--in this case it was of our Challenger RT which will be profiled next week on Automotive Traveler--its possible to make out additional details on the hatch. Notice the decals that attempt to confuse the uninitiated; the line running through the rear window or backlight, and fake barn door handles from the Clubman. They went through all that trouble yet opened the hatch when they could easily see that we were photographing the car. Whatever they needed to get out of the rear compartment must to have been very important or that they thought that we were a couple of local yokels and not someone of consequence. Sorry about that guys.

Finally, here's an additional close-up of the C-pillar and hatch, this time a tight, three-quarter view through the eye of our 300mm lens. The first thing you realize when looking at the MINI 4X4 is that it's no longer mini; it's big but not quite as big as its main competitors. Based on the information from the press kit from the Paris reveal of the concept we know that the MINI 4X4 will stretch to about four meters, 4050 mm to be exact, or about 160 inches long. This will make it the shortest of the vehicles in the compact crossover category, most of which range in length from 169 inches (Honda Element) to 182 inches (Nissan Rogue). For reference, that's six inches wider and taller than the MINI Clubman.

Source: automotivetraveler

Spy Shot: Cayman Mule

Here it is folks!!! Er, uh... I guess we'll need your help defining what it is.

What we do know is that we love the beautifully poised Cayman and we're suckers for a hatch. The TG.com office features a Volvo P1800ES wagon pic on the corkboard-- so, needless to say, we had to "recycle" our undergarments when a TopGear.com fan sent us this (cameraphone?) clip. After viewing it several dozen times, we surmise that Porsche is tinkering with the classic shooting-brake frame for a next-gen Cayman variant. Or could this be the much whispered about Turbo? Or a one-off?

It sounds to us like they're speaking Italian in the clip, and looks like the front-left tire could be flat. What think ye?

Source: TopGear

Spy Shots: 2011 Hyundai Tucson and 2011 Kia Sportage

Spy Shots: 2011 BMW 5-Series 4-door Sedan

New Honda V4 sports : Spy Photos

Honda’s new V4 – the beginning of a ‘new breed of bike’ according to the firm – is today revealed in MCN as a 1200cc sports-tourer closely related to the concept revealed in Autumn.

The firm is still surveying potential buyers about the concept, but MCN’s scoop reveals at least one iteration of the bike is finalised and ready to roll. While it’s lost the hubless wheels and frameless look of the concept, the bike – thought at this stage to be called the VFR1200 – retains at least one revolutionary feature to justify Honda’s ‘new breed’ claims.

That’s it’s variable-cylinder engine, which enables the rear bank of cylinders to shut down completely, leaving the bike effectively a parallel twin on light loads, which should dramatically boost fuel economy and emissions performance.

But what of the sports side of the sports-tourer equation? A truly massive beam frame – reminiscent of the first ZZR1100’s vast girders – hints at what must be approaching 200bhp potential.

• Every angle of the bike’s ground-breaking appearance

• Its extraordinary V5-derived engine

• What it means for the VFR800, Blackbird & Pan-European

Source: MCN

2010 Honda VFR1200: Spy Photos

Here's all the leaked shots of the 2010 Honda VFR1200, initially obtained by MCN. Since there's been a lot of speculation about this bike and these shots are fairly low-res (click to enlarge them), we understand that many of you are skeptical, but check out the 2010 Honda VFR1200 spy photos for definitive proof that this exists. Expect Honda to officially launch the bike this fall, with sales following early in 2010.

MCN goes on to report that the new VFR uses Honda's Variable Cylinder Management system, which can shut down the fuel supply to some of the cylinders under low engine load conditions, such as cruising at a steady speed on the highway. We've used that technology in cars like the 2009 Honda Pilot and there found it to be virtually undetectable in action, but have saw real improvements in fuel economy. It's thought that the VFR system will shut down the rear bank of cylinders, effectively turning it into a 600cc parallel-twin to save fuel.

Speaking in 2007, Honda President Takeo Fukui said such an engine could improve fuel efficiency in a motorcycle by 30%.

That's not to say that this isn't a performance bike, just that it offers the best of bother worlds; fuel economy and performance. MCN, which has seen leaked specifications, says to expect close to 200bhp, making this a rival for bikes like the Suzuki Hayabusa, but here with shaft drive and a fairly upright riding position.

Source: MCN - hellforleathermagazine

BMW X1 Spy Photos

BMW X1 compact crossover was first filmed by spy-photographers without camouflage. This happened during the shooting for the official promotional materials.

Crossover built on the E90 3-Series platform.

X1 will go on sale in the European market this autumn.

Source-carspyphots