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More 2010 Kia Sorento shots hit the web

Kia World has once again scored a series of spy shots of the upcoming 2010 Kia Sorento. Unlike the first generation of Kia's midsize 'ute, the new Sorento will eschew the body-on-frame underpinnings of traditional sport utility vehicles in favor of the unibody architecture that's currently all the rage. Engine choices should include a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a 3.8-liter V6 borrowed from parent company Hyundai with over 270 horsepower. Automatic and manual transmissions will reportedly be available, both with six speeds. Markets outside the U.S. will also get diesel and LPG variants.

Styling is vastly different from the current Sorento, which is a pretty good looking vehicle in its own right. We detect at least a hint of Ford's current Kinetic design language, which is no bad thing. The 2010 Sorento is scheduled to make its formal debut at the Seoul Motor Show in early April, followed by its U.S. introduction at the New York Auto Show a few weeks later.

Gallery: 2010 Kia Sorento

New York: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee - First Live Shots!

One of the most significant debuts at the 2009 New York Auto Show is undoubtedly the next-generation 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. We've just had the chance to see Jeep's new SUV in person ahead of its official unveiling later today, and we're even more impressed with the design in person than in pictures. The clean styling is a departure for the brand, which has lately adhered a bit too closely to its traditional utilitarian box design language. The Wrangler look doesn't work on every vehicle, and thankfully Jeep has softened the Grand Cherokee just enough to look sophisticated, but not so much that it appears incapable of traversing trails. We'll bring you more on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee from its formal debut later in the day, but for now you can peruse our new live shots and the official images from Jeep in the galleries below.

Gallery: New York: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Gallery: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid, Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Coming to America: Volkswagen GTI R-Series

As good as the Volkswagen GTI is, an infusion of extra power couldn't possibly hurt. VW's GTI R32 was a highly refined car, but buyers quickly realized that the 3.2L VR6's 250 horsepower was barely enough to compensate for the engine's added weight over the standard GTI's 2.0L turbo four and the R32's heavy all-wheel drive system. What's more, the R32 was short-lived; it's no longer available for the 2009 model year. Enter the GTI R-Series.

According to Car and Driver, VW will bring the R-Series to the United States, possibly to be named R20, featuring the powerplant from the Audi S3. Expect around 270 horsepower from a high-pressure 2.0L turbo engine - a 70-horsepower improvement over the standard GTI. That power will be funneled through either a standard 6-speed stick or dual clutch DSG transmission to the front wheels. Like some other high-power front-wheel drive cars, an electronic differential will try and cope with the inevitable torque steer.

As much as we'd love to see the big 3.6L V6 engine from the Passat stuffed under the GTI's hood, a small turbo four will likely make for a better handling package along with reasonably good fuel economy - definitely something to look forward to later this year as a 2010 model. Thanks for the tip, other man!

Gallery: 2009 Volkswagen GTI LIVE

Ford talks tough on quality, promises best-built small cars

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford Fiesta

Not wanting to take second place to anyone, especially Toyota, Ford is vowing that its new line of Euro small cars, including the new Fiesta and next-gen Focus, will launch in the U.S. with the best quality in the industry. That's the official word from Bennie Fowler, Ford's VP of Global Quality. To accomplish this goal for the 2010 model year, Ford will send a handful of UAW workers to Wayne State University where they will become certified "Six Sigma Black Belts" (a.k.a. quality experts with the coolest certification ever) and take their learned expertise back to the assembly plants. The industry average right now is about 1,300 problems per 1,000 vehicles. Ford is promising that its new line of small cars from Europe will have just 800 things gone wrong per 1,000 vehicles. It is a target that bests their Japanese rival, but it still leaves us wondering why they wouldn't just aim for zero problems?

Gallery: 2009 Ford Fiesta

Officially Official: Mercedes-Benz unveils S63 and S65 AMG at Shanghai show

2010 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG - Click above for high-res gallery

After accidentally leaking a preview on its home-market configuration website last week, Mercedes-Benz has officially unveiled its revised flagship luxo-muscle sedans, the S63 AMG and S65 AMG, at the 2009 Shanghai Motor Show today. Both are treated to the same updates given to the entire S-Class range, but these two big beasts pack one seriously mean punch.

Engines carry over largely unchanged from the outgoing models, which is good news because they're some of the most powerful units on the market. The S63 packs AMG's 6.2-liter V8 offering up 525 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, while the top-of-the-line, have-to-have-the-best S65 AMG (above) features an enormous 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 pumping out 612 horsepower and a gravity-altering 738 lb-ft of torque. That's a lot of power, but at nearly $200k, the $130k S63 seems like a relative bargain, especially when you consider that the bi-turbo V12 model only gains 0.2 seconds off the V8's 0-60 time.

Although the engines are ostensibly the same, they've been tweaked to improve fuel consumption and carbon emissions by about 3%. They're also both mated to a new Torque Vectoring system that brakes the inside rear wheel in a corner to assist handling, plus a crosswind compensation system. Visually the AMG sedans get a new chromed-up angular grille, LED daytime running lights in the air intakes, full LED tail-lights incorporating 52 LEDs apiece, and a redesigned rear bumper with an integrated diffuser, plus all the requisite special badging and wheels. The interior has also been upgraded with bells and whistles, all of which you can read in the press release after the jump and view in the galleries below.

Gallery: 2009 Shanghai Auto Show: M-Benz S65 AMG

Gallery: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG

Gallery: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG

Continue reading Officially Official: Mercedes-Benz unveils S63 and S65 AMG at Shanghai show

Officially Official: BMW reveals 2011 X1, confirms sales in the States [w/VIDEO]

As expected after this morning's initial leakage, BMW has released a staggering amount of images of the 2011 BMW X1 showing the brand's new soft-roader in every conceivable environment before it's officially revealed at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

Along with the pics, BMW put out a brief statement (below the fold) confirming the X1's arrival in the U.S. sometime in 2011 and its plans to offer both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive (xDrive) versions, along with "a wide variety of gasoline and diesel powertrain choices." BMW won't officially confirm what mils will make the trip across the Atlantic, but the automaker says the X1 will use its EfficientDynamics system and that one gasoline engine and three diesels will be available when the X1 launches in Europe this fall. Check out all 183 high-res images in the gallery below and expect official U.S. market information to be released closer to the X1's launch in the States.

Gallery: 2011 BMW X1

Continue reading Officially Official: BMW reveals 2011 X1, confirms sales in the States [w/VIDEO]

BMW X6M leaks out ahead of New York unveiling

The official details on the BMW X6M and X5M aren't due to be released until tomorrow, but Carscoop decided to drop the first batch of photos of the new uber-utes from BMW a day early. Early reports indicate both M-modified sleds will be powered by a tweaked variant of the twin-turbocharged V8 currently fitted to the X6, with output increasing from 400 hp to 550 hp. The suspension, brakes and transmission will all be modified for duty in the Ms, but that's all we have for now. Check back tomorrow for the official details.

Gallery: BMW X6M Leakage

Frankfurt 2007: BRABUS Bullit, live and brutally insane

Click the pic above for more high-res shots of the BRABUS Bullit.

The term "sleeper" isn't quite accurate when referring to the BRABUS Bullit. It has presence, with an air of understated brutality. The aero mods speak volumes about its predilection for sinister speed, and the V12 emblems flanking the sides only tell half the story. Housed within the engine bay is BRABUS' own SV12 Biturbo mill, producing 720 HP and an electronically governed 811 lb.-ft. of torque (974 lb.-ft. of twist would be available if it wouldn't tear apart the rear diff and liquify the tires). On your way up to the 224 MPH top speed, you'll pass 62 MPH in just under four seconds, and if you want all the details, you can read through our initial post here and check out our high-res pics in the gallery below.

Gallery: BRABUS Bullit

Callaway hints at show car for V16 Cyclone engine

Perhaps best known for his customized Corvettes, Reeves Callaway is also the brains behind a technical and engineering consulting company. A few years ago, he showed the world a V16 motor he built using four Yamaha 1,000 cc motorcycle engines mounted on a unique block. Dubbed the Cyclone, this 4.0L mill was good for 550 hp @ 10,000 rpm. While it is undeniably long at just over 36 inches, the aluminum block helps keep its dry weight down at just 334 lbs. Callaway used the Yamaha motors because his company helped develop their 5-valve heads and Reeves believes they are still among the best-built engines he has ever seen.

While the Cyclone project was started for little more than shits and giggles, Reeves and his son Peter dragged it out to Cars & Coffee in Irvine, CA yesterday morning and hinted that we might be seeing this engine again soon, in the engine bay of a new Callaway show car. Alluding to such great automotive designs as the legendary Auto Union Type D, Callaway said we shouldn't be surprised to see this engine in something that marries that type of design ethos with a modern sensibility. No date was given for the car's debut, but Reeves said it will be completed eventually. Whatever it ends up looking like, we think we might like a ride in it. In current tune, the redline has been lifted to 11,500 rpm, allowing horsepower to swell to 640. it will certainly be entertaining.

Gallery: Callaway Cyclone V16

Photos copyright (C)2008 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.

Chinese Buick Regal caught dressed in red

Click above for more images of the 2010 Buick Regal

Two weeks ago we showed you spy shots of a 2010 Buick Regal caught testing in China that appeared to be nothing more than a rebadged Opel Insignia. (As you may recall, we'll be getting the 2010 Buick LaCrosse in the States.) All three of those cars are based on GM's Epsilon II platform, which we will also likely see under future vehicles from Saab, Saturn and Chevrolet. The Buick brand, and the popular Regal, are doing very well in China. As such, it's no surprise to see these latest spy shots of the barely disguised four-door Regal dipped in red, and it looks great despite being a badge job. The production version is expected to debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November. Thanks for the tip, Jason!

Gallery: 2010 Buick Regal - Spy Shots in Red