2009 BMW 7-Series Pictures Leaked!

*Update - Click here for Official High Res Pics and details

Thanks to an anonymous tipster, we know have the first official images of the all-new BMW 7-Series! However, since we don’t have any official technical information whatsoever, we’ll stick to the car’s design. First of all, it’s much better looking than the current 7er, but then again, anything is prettier than that.

If you love clichés, the rear quarter of the new 7-Series does remind us of the Hyundai Genesis sedan, but bear in mind that the Koreans were the ones to copy BMW not the other way around. The new Bavarian flagship model’s exterior styling does share many elements from the CS Concept, especially in concern of the front-end design.

We also have the first photos of the interior which doesn’t seem as loaded and “heavy” in terms of styling compared to the current 7-Series. The design pretty much follows in the footsteps of the current bimmers, albeit the centre console does look to be more driver orientated –More pictures after the jump

Photos via: flickr

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/07/2009-bmw-7-series-pictures-leaked.html

Mitsubishi to Enter Korean Market in October 2008

Confirming earlier reports, Mitsubishi made it official today that it will enter the Korean market in October. The Japanese carmaker will sell its vehicles in Korea through the MMSK Corporation, a joint-venture recently set up by Daewoo Motor Sales and Mitsubishi. Starting in October 2008 MMSK plans to introduce the Lancer EVO X, the Outlander mid-size SUV, the Eclipse sports coupe, the Lancer sports sedan and the Pajero SUV models onto the Korean market. Mitsubishi’s goal is to sell 400 units in the first year and increase volume to 3,000 units by 2010.

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/07/mitsubishi-to-enter-korean-market-in.html

Skoda Fabia Super 2000 to Appear at Rally Bohemia

A prototype version of Skoda’s latest competition vehicle, the Fabia Super 2000 rally car will make its first appearance at the 35th Rally Bohemia on July 4 that will start from the Skoda Auto Museum in Mlada Boleslav in the Czech Republic. The Fabia Super 2000 is fitted with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine based on the standard 150Hp 2.0. FSI unit matted to a six-speed sequential transmission. The Czech carmaker's rally car also gets a four-wheel drive system and three passive differentials. -Continued

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/07/skoda-fabia-super-2000-to-appear-at.html

G-Power G4 3.0i EVO III: Supercharged BMW Z4 3.0i with 375Hp

German tuner G-Power has introduced a new performance kit for the BMW Z4 3.0i (231Hp) that adds an ASA T1-12 supercharger to the 3.0-liter straight-six engine. Along with the new ECU system and a complete exhaust system with racing-headers and catalysts, the result 375 hp at 6.450 rpm and 420 Nm torque at 4.650 rpm.

With a sprint time from rest to 100 km/h (62mph) of 4.9 sec and to 200 km/h (124mph) in 15.1 sec the G-POWER G4 is at par with the BMW Z4M. The roadster’s top speed is an impressive 300 km/h or 187mph. The conversion of the standard engine to the G-POWER EVO III configuration is €18,850 or $29,900 including installation. -Continued

In addition to the engine kit, G-Power offers a complete tuning program for the Bavarian roadster consisting of: aerodynamic body kit, 20-inch light-alloy wheels, suspension modifications, high-performance brake system with eight-piston fixed callipers and 380 x 34mm brake discs on the front axle and exclusive interior components.

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/07/g-power-g4-30i-evo-iii-supercharged-bmw.html

Seat Product Plan 2008-2010: Includes Ibiza Cupra & Sportback, and SUV

Our friends over at WFC hit the Spanish jackpot during a Seat press event this week as they managed to learn Seat's product plan for the next two years. 2009 will be a busy year for the Spaniards as they plan to unveil plenty of new models starting off with the Ibiza SportCoupe FR (Feb.'09) and the previous-generation Audi A4 based EXEO sedan and station wagon (Mar.'09 and Sep.'09 respectively). In April of the same year, Seat will debut the facelifted versions of the Altea, Altea XL, Toledo and Leon (same car, differfent body variants). -Continued

Last but not least for 2009, in September Seat will unleash the most powerful model in the Ibiza SportCoupe range dubbed Cupra while in November, VW's subsidiary will take the wraps off the new Alhambra minivan (MPV).

For 2010, Seat is planning to introduce the Ibiza Sportback (most probably a station wagon variant of the new Ibiza) along with the company's first ever SUV model that has yet to be named.

Via: Worldcarfans

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/07/seat-product-plan-2008-2010-includes.html

US June Sales: GM Drop 18.5%, Toyota Down 21.4%

We’ve already told you about Ford Motor Company’s and Chrysler LLC’s June sales (along with the top-20 best selling vehicles for the previous month), so its time to see the results for the two top contenders in the U.S. market. Despite an 18.5% decline in sales compared to June 2007 (326,300 units), GM easily maintained first place with 265,937 units. In second place we find Toyota (including Lexus and Scion) that saw its June sales drop 21.4% compare to the same month last year (193,234 vs 245,739 units).

For the first half of the year, GM sold a total of 1,604,942 vehicles (down 16.5%) while Toyota, 1,240,086 units representing a 6.8% decline compared to the same period in 2007.

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/07/us-june-sales-gm-drop-185-toyota-down.html

NAC MG TF Pricing Announced – More Expensive Than an MX-5!

Chinese carmaker NAC MG has announced UK pricing for its British built TF LE500. The mid-engined, rwd roadster that's due to arrive in dealerships across Britain this September has been priced at 16,399 GBP (that's $32,700 or EUR 20,600 with the current exchange rates). For that money you get a 136Hp 1.8-liter engine and several standard amenities like air-condition, ABS, leather seats, windstop, 16-inch alloy wheels, a body colored hardtop, parking sensors and a Pioneer MP3 compatible CD / radio.

But we ask; more than 16,000 pounds for a car that's practically a facelifted version of the original MG TF that was introduced in 1995? That's a lot for a car that was already outdated compared to its rivals when it went out of production in 2005, let alone in 2008. For example, prices for the Mazda MX-5 1.8 start from 15,750 pounds while you can get a nicely equipped MX-5 1.8 Icon for 16,825 pounds. We drove the last TF130 back in 2005, and while the MG had its fun side, even then, it showed its age in more ways than one.

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/07/nac-mg-tf-pricing-announced-more.html

Porsche 911 Targa Facelift Scooped Undisguised

It’s just a matter of weeks before Porsche unveils the third derivative of its recently facelifted 911 series, the 997 Targa. However, a reader of the Germancarscene website has provides us a sneak-preview of the car as he managed to snap some photos of a few undisguised 2009 Porsche 911 Targas fitted with the glass roof. -More pics after the jump

Via: Germancarscene

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/07/porsche-911-targa-facelift-scooped.html

Ferrari 360 Limousine for Sale on eBay

Remember the Ferrari 360 Limousine that created havoc a few months ago after the Italian supercar maker threatened to sue the British company that made it if it didn’t remove the Ferrari badges and logos (click here)? Well, that car is up for sale on eBay now by “StylishLimousines”. We’re not aware of what happened with Ferrari’s legal threats, but the 20 foot 360 Limo pictured on eBay has all its logos and badges intact. In case you’re wondering, the “Buy it Now” price on eBay is a staggering $250,000.

On a side note, as we visited “StylishLimousines” site to gather high res pics of the car, we discovered that our article on Ferrari’s threats was posted as is on the company’s site. To our surprise though, “StylishLimousines” referred a site called “dvorak” as the source. Nothing new, meaning that it’s not the first time that Carscoop’s articles have been stolen, but we did send “StylishLimousines” an email to correct the injustice. Let’s see if they respond… -More pics after the jump

Link: ebay & StylishLimousines

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/07/ferrari-360-limousine-for-sale-on-ebay.html

The Fonz Goes Hybrid in British Tour

Aaay “The Fonz” has left his leather jacket and bad boy motorcycle to rest in piece in the past as he’s touring schools across the U.K. in a Lexus RX 400h, in support of the Government’s 2008 National Year of Reading. You may not know this, but Henry Winkler, world famous for his role as “The Fonz” in the hit TV show Happy Days, is now the author of a best-selling series of children’s novels about a boy called Hank Zipzer, the World’s Greatest Underachiever. The novel is one of the widest read weekly children’s publications in Britain. Winkler says that he based Hank on his own experiences as a boy with dyslexia.

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/07/fonz-goes-hybrid-in-british-tour.html