Here are photos of the Jaguar C-XF Concept leaked ahead of it’s unveiling at the upcoming North American International Auto Show, only two weeks away. The concept shown here looks like it has alot of square-ish hardedges unlike previous Jaguar design language which usually consists of smooth curves all round. It’s funny how car design has went from hard edges to smooth edges back to hard edges.

I can see a less busier version of this going into production as the Jaguar XF - it has got to lose those musclecar-like bulges on the hood, less complicated front and rear bumpers, as well as less bling-like alloy wheels.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Jaguar C-XF Concept: S-Type Replacement

Car manufacturers these days have the most amazing way to enhance their product range. Volkswagen has been slapping on slightly offroad-ish styling to their products and tagging the word Cross in front of their names, so often and with success that they’re saying Cross is now a brand, like the iconic GTI or R badge. I introduce you to the Volkswagen CrossTouran, an offroader-looking van?

To be launched in spring 2007, the 2007 Volkswagen CrossTouran will be available with three gasoline-powered engines and three turbodiesels with output ranging from 102 hp to 170 hp, With the 170hp option of course being the 1.4 liter TSI Twincharger with a DSG gearbox as standard.

On the exterior a few modifications distinguish the CrossTouran from the more road-going-ish Touran design - a silver anodized roof railing with a 100kg maximum load rating with black mount as well as a matte chrome front spoiler integrated into the front bumper. The central air inlet in the front spoiler was also given a border in matte chrome look. You also get offroad-like protection elements in the bumper lower sections, side running boards, wheel arches, which are made from black-grained carbon fiber. Wheels are a mixed arrangement with 6.5-inch wide and 17-inch diameter alloy wheels on 215/50/R17 tires in front and 8-inch wide alloy wheels wrapped with 235/45/R18 tires at the back. Suspension is a little higher, giving the Volkswagen CrossTouran an extra 12 millimeter of ground clearance over the normal Touran.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2007 Volkswagen CrossTouran

I know this is a long shot, but I am looking for a Perdana V6 front passenger leather seat to buy. Most half cut shops only stock fabric seats. So if you have one for sale, or you know anyone who wants to upgrade their Perdana’s front seats to semi-buckets or buckets or something, do let me know, I want your front passenger seat! Thanks.

DaimlerChrysler AG has released photos of the new 4-door cabriolet concept based on the Mercedes Benz S-class. Called the Concept Ocean Drive, DaimlerChrysler says it is an open invitation to go on a “topless” cruise along the world’s finest ocean promenades. I can really see where they’re coming from here, cruising by the seaside in a topless car would be truly a nice experience, but what makes the Concept Ocean Drive extra ocean friendly? Not sure really.

While based on an S-class, the car’s side profile has no B-pillar or window frames, ensuring seamless continuity between the exterior and the interior even when the top is up. The design study is based on the V12 Mercedes-Benz S600 with a long wheelbase chassis. The car also incorporates something Mercedes Benz calls AIRSCARF, a neck-level heating system, which is featured on all four seats, allowing occupants to enjoy top-down motoring even in the colder months of the year.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Mercedes Benz Concept Ocean Drive design study

A sneak peak into what we might be able to buy and drive on our local roads soon, this spyshot was taken by reader Prem. A heavily disguised car was making it rounds around the Segambut area near Edaran Tan Chong Motor’s assembly plant which assembles Nissan vehicles as well as the Renault Kangoo.

I did some research and was unable to identify the car from body shape and a peek at the rear lights showing from underneath the disguise, though even that might be a decoy. What could it be?

[UPDATE: Some possibilities after the jump...]

[UPDATE: More sightings after the jump...]

Click here to read the rest of Unidentified car on test

Here are more images and details of the Volvo XC60 Concept, set to be unveiled at the upcoming North American International Auto Show. The Volvo XC60 Concept kills two birds with one stone, for one, it showcases to us the next Volvo XC model, younger brother to the big Volvo XC90. It also reveals several design elements that will be part of future Volvos. More details after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Volvo XC60 Concept in detail

Under the weather, so no updates today, although there’s seriously too much news for me to update in time and I need to catch up. I’m afraid I’ve not been living up to the term “internet speed” these days, referring to the speed at which news is updated on the internet, which is usually instant, or very very fast.

Normal blogging to resume the next day. In the meanwhile, the title of this post will give you a hint of what’s to come in the year 2007 for this website. In the meanwhile, let’s hear your feedback, comments, or just any general thoughts about your experience with this site throughout 2006, as well as future suggestions.

Volvo will debut it’s new hydraulically controlled dual-clutch gearbox in diesel variants of it’s Volvo S40 sedan and Volvo V50 stationwagon models, coinciding with a mid-life facelift of the two cars. Parent company Ford also plans to introduce the dual-clutch gearbox to other models like the Ford Focus and the Ford Focus C-MAX, which currently also offer CVT gearboxes, as well as the Land Rover Freelander and some Mazda models. Ford Focus ST or MazdaSpeed 3 with a dual-clutch gearbox, anyone?

While Volkswagen’s extremely good Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) is supplied by BorgWarner, Ford gets it’s units from Getrag, and the system is called Powershift.

Honda is developing a new V6 turbodiesel engine equipped with it’s new NOx catalyst techology which will debut in the new 2nd generation 2.2 liter inline-4 i-CTDi engine. The V6 engine will follow shortly after the launch of the new new 2nd gen inline-4 in the year 2009, and both engines will meet tough new U.S. regulation which requires diesel engines to have emissions pretty much the same level as gasoline engines! The first vehicles that are set to get Honda’s new V6 turbodiesel are Honda’s Ridgeline, Pilot and Odyssey and Acura’s MDX - if you notice, mostly US market vehicles.

Honda Motor Company CEO Takeo Fukui also said that while the 2.3 liter i-VTEC Turbo engine is currently limited to usage in the Acura RDX, it could be possible that the turbocharged gasoline engine might be offered in a Honda vehicle soon, perhaps in a future high performance Accord sedan?

That would be yummy, as revving high to get power is not really a characteristic that goes well with a car that spells space and comfort like the Accord - it’s supposed to waft along really fast with massive torque, not scream along.

Hirohide Ikeno, president of Honda R&D Americas Inc., said the company is also considering V-8 engines. And Honda’s upcoming NSX replacement is said to feature a high performance V10 screamer.

Acura/Honda’s biggest engines right now are currently V6 engines, and this fact hampers US sales for the flagship Acura sedans like the Acura RL, because Americans are after all big fans of big displacements and the V8 growl.

Let’s take a blast to the past for once. The wedge-like car above with an orange colour scheme is the Mercedes Benz C111 Concept car, shown to the public ages ago at the 1969 Frankfurt International Motor Show. Having a futuristic shape at that time was one thing, but what’s unique about this concept car is what has hidden under it’s hood - a result of Mercedes Benz’s experimentation with the Wankel rotary engine design.

The fiberglass body Mercedes Benz C111 Concept was powered by a fuel injected normally aspirated 3-rotor Wankel engine. With 600cc per rotor, the engine made 280hp at 7,000rpm, giving the car a 0-100km/h time of 5 seconds and a top speed of 260km/h. A later version featured a 4-rotor rotary engine with 350hp at 7,000rpm and a top speed of 290km/h. Only 12 units of the engine, codenamed M950F, were ever built.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Rotary-powered Mercedes Benz C111 Concept