2008 Mercedes A-Class Facelift & 2011 Mercedes A & B-Class?

The current Mercedes A-Class has been on the market since 2005 but German car magazine, Autobild said a facelift model could be planned for 2008 with a smiley face. The next model should arrive onto the European market by 2011 or 2012 this time round the A-Class will be less MPV like and more coupe like as it will rival with the upcoming Audi A1. Both 3 door and 5 door are likely. The magazine also reported a diesel-hybrid co-developed with Citroen & Peugeot PSA or Honda. This should give the upcoming A-Class excellent fuel economy and ultra low emissions.

Sources say the next A-Class could underpin the next Dodge Caliber. Despite the B-Class being based on a extended platform of the A-Class this could also be based on the next Cailber. Mercedes is currently test mules now but they are related to Chrysler.

The following things are considered by DamilerChrysler:

This project may be cancelled because Chrysler's technique is not highly sophisticated enough for Mercedes and developed with a low budget- At a volume of 600,000 cars per year (current: lower than 300,000), a 3 and 5-door A-class, a 5-door B-class and a B-class Sportcoupé (replacing the C-class Sportcoupé) is being considered.

Mercedes and Chrysler have quite different ideas about the engines to be built in, which is one reason Mercedes is looking for a different Partner.

There are three possible partners: PSA, Honda and VW- PSA would profit from lower costs, a higher volume, access to Mercedese's quality managment, all-wheel drive and double-clutch gear.

Honda could be interesting because of their far developed hybrid technology.

A partnership with VW could be difficult since Porsche took over a big part of VW.

A second facelift (model year 2012) is possible to gain more time until a suitable partner has been found.

Mercedes C-Class Wagon Spied

Mercedes is starting to shed some disguise on the new C-Class station wagon. Don't be fooled by the fake light clusters implanted on the bootlid, they are there to confuse spy photographers and car enthusiasts. Recent prototypes have been caught in Germany wearing wafer thin disguise over the side rear window, tail lamps, bootlid and rear windscreen. Engines will be taken from the recently launched C-Class sedan.

Mercedes is even planning a C63 AMG station wagon to rival with the upcoming BMW M3 wagon but UK prices are likely to start around £55,000 or $110,000 US dollars.

The new C-Class wagon will be revealed at this year's Frankfurt Motorshow in September with sales starting in early 2008.

The first photo shows a C-Class wagon wearing AMG alloys wheels, please note that this is NOT a C63 AMG but just the regular C-Class wagon.

2008 Citroen C5 Undisguised

This is the first photo showing what the next C5 will look like. A French magazine got their spy photographer into Citroen's plant where the next C5 will be made.

The photographer took 5 photos showing most angles. French car manufactures have been well known for the poor security.

The diesel engines will be kept but there will be new petrol ones. Hopefully Citroen will unveil the new C5 at this years Frankfurt Motorshow in September.

Prices are expected to be competitive in the European market. A price tag of £15,000 should be ideal for the basic model. Production is starting late 2007 and sales should start in early 2008 across Europe.

The new C5 will go up aganist the recently launched Ford Mondeo, Toyota Avensis, Volkswagen Passat, Renault Laguna, Peugeot 407, Honda Accord, Mazda6, Vauxhall/Opel Vectra, Seat Toledo, Skoda Superb, Dodge Avenger, Chrysler Sebring, Chevrolet Epica etc.

The car shown here is a hatchback.

More Fiat 500

This is the only photo of the new Fiat 500 city-car which looks just like the car from the official Fiat 500 pictures.

The car looks great in Pearl White and the panoramic glass roof (SkyDome) looks great too but these will be optional in the UK when it arrives in 2008.

Fiat is still testing the ordinary 500 in Italy. Numerous cars have been sighted wearing tape.

Next Nissan 350Z?

When Nissan showed up at the Nürburgring test track in Germany with a new prototype coupe earlier this week, we thought it could have been the Urge but since then, we've dug into the details and it's now looking more like the next-generation 350Z.

Although the prototype is clearly shorter than a standard Z coupe, it's not dramatic enough to signal a completely new vehicle. Our information indicates that the reworked chassis is nothing more than Nissan's attempt to shave some weight from the Z. At roughly 3,900 lbs, the current model is on the heavy side compared to its competitors. Instead of employing exotic materials to get the weight down, however, Nissan is simply carving down the chassis a little. With a current wheelbase of 104.3 inches, the next Z isn't likely to go as small as the 95.1-inch-wheelbase Porsche Cayman.

We're guessing something in between the two numbers is a safe bet. Another clear sign of this prototype's intentions were the cars on hand as benchmarks. According to spy photographers in the area, Nissan was testing the Z prototype alongside a BMW Z Coupe and a Cayman.

As lofty as Nissan's goals are, it's not realistic to think it's benchmarking an entry-level $20K coupe against that kind of European iron. Also consider that the current 350Z is at the end of its lifecycle. The 2008 model will mark six years on the market, so it's clearly due for a heavy redesign. Look for a name change, too, as we fully expect to see the 3.7 litre V6 from the Infiniti G37 under the hood of this new Z.

Other sources suggest the car will be named "400Z" because of a 4.0 litre V8 but also rumoured is the production of the Nissan Urge to rival with the Mazda MX-5, Opel GT* and Fiat Barchetta**.

* The Opel GT is sold in Europe but could come into the UK

** Theres a possibility of this sports-car being axed from production

Peugeot 308 Hatchback

Here are some more pictures of the new 308 which will be in the UK around autumn time. The car has already gone on sale in France. numerous 308's have been sighted and now we have another in black

In the pipeline will be coupe, diesel hybrid co-developed with Citroen, coupe-cabriolet, wagon, MPV and SUV/crossover.

Mercedes C-SportsCoupe Goes Under The Knife

The Mercedes C-SportsCoupe has been on the market since 2004 and now we have fresh spy photos of the new model undergoing testing in Germany, Stuttgart.

The car is pretty much like the current model but with a new face. This specific prototype has parking sensors and a panoramic glass roof which will be optional when the car is released in 2008.

Its not certain whether the car will be keeping its current name but the name "CLC" is rumoured to replace the current "C-SportsCoupe".

Prices aren't expected to change and expect to see the car at the Frankfurt Motorshow in March 2008.