Unofficial Picture: 2012 Kia Pro Cee'd

We won't see it in Australia anytime soon (in fact, probably never) but this is Kia's facelifted Pro Ceed, of which these images have been leaked (deliberately?) onto the internet ahead of the car's public unveiling at March's Geneva motor show.

As evident from these pics, the updated three-door hatch is fronted by the now-trademark H-pattern grille already seen on the likes of the new Sportage and Optima.

The Pro Cee'd also scores new headlights and a revised bumper/spoiler assembly with foglights nestled within a trapezoidal black surround. However, it's impossible to glean from these images if the car's derriere has been altered.

According to the Kia World website, the new model also benefits from an uprated 1.6-litre diesel engine that ekes out 94kW and 255Nm.

Sadly, the business case doesn't stack up for the Slovakian-built Pro Cee'd and five-door Cee'd to be offered in Australia as they would end up costing substantially more than the lauded i30, with which they share their underpinnings.

The original Pro Cee'd debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt motor show and was pitched at the Euro market from January 2008 onwards.

Thanks to: Car Point

Unofficial Picture: 2012 Smart ForTwo

The Crossblade is back! Introduced at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show, Smart’s quirkiest model did without doors, a roof and a proper windscreen – and these grainy design drawings prove that a spiritual successor is on the way.

Filed by Mercedes, Smart’s parent company, in mid-November last year these revealing images were leaked onto the web this week, and show the newcomer from a variety of angles.

Precious few details have emerged, but the outrageous styling tells you everything you need to know. Unlike the Crossblade which ditched conventional doors in favour of shoulder-height safety bars that swung upwards on gas struts, this new roadster keeps a conventional set of doors.

A chopped-down windscreen is designed to channel airflow over the occupant’s head, while maintaining the dramatic open-top looks. Smart’s distinctive Tridion Safety Cell keeps the structural rigidity in tact, and now forms two oversize roll hoops behind the driver and passenger’s head.

No details have emerged about if and when we’ll see the new roadster in the flesh, but a debut, initially in concept form, seems likely at the Geneva show in March. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Unofficial Picture: 2012 Kia Pro Cee'd

We won't see it in Australia anytime soon (in fact, probably never) but this is Kia's facelifted Pro Ceed, of which these images have been leaked (deliberately?) onto the internet ahead of the car's public unveiling at March's Geneva motor show.

As evident from these pics, the updated three-door hatch is fronted by the now-trademark H-pattern grille already seen on the likes of the new Sportage and Optima.

The Pro Cee'd also scores new headlights and a revised bumper/spoiler assembly with foglights nestled within a trapezoidal black surround. However, it's impossible to glean from these images if the car's derriere has been altered.

According to the Kia World website, the new model also benefits from an uprated 1.6-litre diesel engine that ekes out 94kW and 255Nm.

Sadly, the business case doesn't stack up for the Slovakian-built Pro Cee'd and five-door Cee'd to be offered in Australia as they would end up costing substantially more than the lauded i30, with which they share their underpinnings.

The original Pro Cee'd debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt motor show and was pitched at the Euro market from January 2008 onwards.

Thanks to: Car Point

Unofficial Picture: 2012 Suzuki SX-4 Sedan

These are some recent pictures of the face-lifted Suzuki SX4, recently surfaced on a Chinese website.

The images show an overall refresh to the current SX4 styling; there is a new chromed-lined grill on the front. The headlamps are slightly re-styled which makes the front gives a little more shaper stance. The front bumper is also all new. On the rear, there are extensive changes to the boot lid, restyled tail-lamps which now look similar to the newly-launched Kizashi saloon.

There is not much information on engines but we can expect an inclusion of a diesel motor in future.

Thanks to: Autocar India

Unofficial Picture: Nissan Compact Saloon

Nissan’s all-new Micra-based ‘New Global Sedan’ (codenamed L02B) has been revealed. Nissan will officially unveil the saloon at the Guangzhou Show this month, but we already have some accurate illustrations and information to give you a heads up.

Known as the Sunny internationally, but probably not in India, you can see no trace of the Micra in the design of this car. The sedan gets a new nose, a new rear and even the roof looks totally different. The lines are long and flowing and there is plenty of Nissan DNA in the styling as well; the Teana-like kink in the ‘C’ pillar, the vertical orientation of the headlights, the strong shoulder line and especially the rake of the tail-lights.

Nissan will use a lot of the Micra’s interior bits for this car though. The round central console pod will be carried over, the vents are similar, and the steering is the same too. Nissan will also use the Micra’s very comfortable front seats for the saloon. The rear bench, however, will be all new. The wheelbase has been extended slightly to 2500mm from the Micra’s 2450mm to give passengers more room in the rear.

Nissan’s V-platform focuses on reductions in both weight and in the number of components, and we expect there will be a considerable advantage reaped here. The light weight will allow for greater performance, better efficiency and lower stress on the suspension. And as with the Micra, efficiency could be better than or match the best in class.

Powering the car will be a 1498cc four-cylinder petrol engine churning out a healthy 100bhp. The motor doesn’t make too much torque though, at 13.8kgm, but the light weight of the car should help it compete with cars like the VW Vento on an equal footing. An 83bhp diesel engine will also be available and here torque is a very healthy 20.3kgm. Famous for its incredible frugality and robustness, this motor will be Nissan’s ace, fine-tuned to give even more economy and power.

The ‘New Global Sedan’ is expected to make its Indian debut in September 2011, and will be rolled out from Nissan’s plant at Oragadam, Chennai. You can expect on- road prices to start at Rs 7.5lakh for the base petrol, going up to Rs 10lakh for the top-of-the-line diesel. And there’s even the likelihood of a CVT automatic-equipped version being sold as a range topper.

Thanks to: Autocar India

Unofficial Picture: 2012 Mercedes SLK

Meet the new SLK! Thanks to a leak from a French site, the newcomer has been revealed, along with many of the car’s new features, ahead of the launch at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

The newcomer is clearly inspired by the SLS AMG supercar, and features a prominent grille, swept back headlights and angular exhausts.

The new headlights feature Mercedes’ intelligent light system, which uses a number of LEDs which illuminate depending on ambient light and whether the car is turning a corner.

The car in the video, which has now been removed from YouTube, is fitted with the AMG Sports Package, which includes a deeper front bumper, rear spoiler and larger alloys. Mercedes has also worked hard to make the SLK a sharper drive, adding the Dynamic Handling Package, which includes adaptive dampers.

The two-piece folding metal hardtop is once again present and correct, and now features an electrochromatic MAGIC SKY CONTROL sunroof which goes opaque or clears at the touch of a button.

When the top’s down, Mercedes has added the AIRGUIDE draft stop, which is a piece of plastic which flips out from behind each headrest, stopping drafts getting into the cabin. This works in conjunction with the AIRSCARF neck warmer.

On the inside, the cabin has taken a big step forward in quality, with improved materials, like sun-reflective leather used on the seats, and new tech, including COMAND online sat-nav, which has internet access.

The entry level SLK200 will get the 201bhp 1.8-litre CGI petrol, while the convertible gets diesel power for the first time, courtesy of the 201bhp 2.4-litre CDI unit from the E-Class.

The 300 V6 model is discontinued, but the SLK350 gains the revised 302bhp direct injection V-Series 3.5-litre V6. A performance version is likely to be offered, which may be powered by AMG's hotly anticipated twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 which produces around 465bhp.

All units feature direct injection, start-stop and are connected to the firm’s slick 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic gearbox. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express