Video: BMW X1 Concept SUV

Introduced ahead of its Paris Show world premier on October 2, the X1 Concept is essentially a lightly camouflaged version of the road-going model that will hit BMW’s dealerships in late 2009. Sitting right under the X3 in the Bavarian brand’s SUV/Crossover range, the X1 will be equipped with BMW’s ‘xDrive’ four-wheel drive system as standard. Under the hood expect to see a wide range of 4 and 6-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines, hooked up to six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. Click here for the official image gallery or follow the jump to watch the video. -Continued

Infiniti G37 Convertible: New Photo, European Sales Confirmed

As everyone suspected when Infiniti first announced that the new G37 Coupe-Cabriolet would go on sale in the U.S. early next year, the Japanese firm today officially confirmed that its forthcoming hardtop convertible will also be available in Europe from summer 2009. The news coincides with the release of a second image of the car that shows the rear end of the G37 Convertible which accommodates a three-piece automatic retracting hardtop. -Continued

Infiniti’s answer to the BMW 3-Series Convertible will be powered by the same 320PS 3.7-litre V6 engine combined to a standard six-speed manual transmission or optional seven-speed automatic with paddle shift, as its sister G37 Sedan and Coupe models. More pictures and details of the G37 Convertible will be issued at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show in November during the car’s global debut

2010 Ford Mustang Teaser Shot No9: The Headlight

Taking a break from our Paris Show reports, Ford just released the ninth consecutive teaser shot of the 2010 Mustang that's set to be revealed in November at the LA Auto Show. So what else is new? Well, this time FoMoCo decided to add a few blurbs giving us a short description of the changes featured in the Mustang’s front-end design. These include the slimmer headlamps with the integrated turn indicators that are incorporated in a larger grille and the large twin fog lamps fog lamps on the GT model which also features dark headlamp bezels and grille surrounds. Also on the GT, the revised pony badge is finished in dark chrome. -Continued

“We want people to unequivocally know this is a Mustang when they see it,” said Douglas Gaffka, Chief Designer, 2010 Mustang. “The stronger, more-muscular front end of the 2010 Mustang does just that.”

“The 2010 Mustang has a sculpted, crafted look,” said George Saridakis, Design Manager, 2010 Mustang. “The flowing lines are in keeping with Mustang’s heritage and DNA. It conveys the sense and attitude of power and performance.”

SEAT Exeo Update: Official High-Res Photos and Details

While SEAT would like us to believe that the Exeo is an all-new proposal in the mid-size sedan segment, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist with a microscope to clearly see the previous-gen Audi A4 lurking between the restyled fascia and tail lights. Don’t get us a wrong, even with today’s standards, the A4 is a great car and hopefully SEAT will retain the German sedan’s qualities. It’s just that we were expecting something more unique from the Spanish automaker and not a 'Cordoba-ized' Audi... -Continued

Commenting on the Exeo, SEAT’s president Erich Schmitt said: “With the Exeo we are offering a car for dynamic and sporty drivers of the B segment. Furthermore now we have a vehicle for our current customers who are ascending from the A segment. The Exeo is also an interesting alternative for quality aware company car drivers who are looking for driving fun but who are cost aware and pay attention to low fuel consumption and low emissions.”

The Exeo, which also be available as an Avant err station-wagon, will be launched with three 4-cylinder petrol-engines ranging from the –please let me die- 102 HP 1.6-liter unit to a more modern 2.0-liter TFSI with 200 HP and three common rail Diesel engines with outputs ranging 120 HP to 170 HP. SEAT said that five of these six engines are turbocharged meaning that the Exeo will also be offered either with a 1.4-liter TSI or a 1.8-liter TSI petrol engine as well.

Concerning the vehicle features the Exeo will be offered with a latest generation navigation system, a new infotainment system with multiple functions and connections (MP3, MPEG4, IPOD, USB, Bluetooth), as well as for the first time a sun roof with solar cells powering a ventilation system.

SEAT's Opel Insignia and Toyota Avensis rival will be manufactured in Martorell near Barcelona, Spain with sales set to start in Europe as of spring 2009. There will be three versions: Reference, Stylance and Sport with an entry price of around 22.000 Euros.

Lamborghini Estoque: New High-Res Photos & Details, Could be produced with Diesel or Hybrid Powertrains!

Here at Carscoop, we’re evenly split over the Lamborghini Estoque Concept’s appearance. Half of us find the four-door coupe’s styling absolutely awesome while the rest think that it looks like the work of an amateur photoshoper who turned a Murcielago into a sedan on his spare time. While we argue over the sport sedan’s design, let’s see what Lamborghini had to say about their latest creation that will make its world debut in Paris. The Italians describe the four door sedan whose name is derived from the sword used in bull fights by the Matador, as an “everyday sports car” with four seats and ample luggage space. -Continued

In other words, the Estoque is more of a Gran Turismo than a four-door variant of the Murcielago, and as such, Lamborghini’s answer to the Porsche Panamera and its ilk, is a very large car. To put it into figures, the concept is a whopping 5.15 meters (16.89 feet) long and 1.99 meters (6.53 feet) wide, with a height of only 1.35 metres (4.43 feet). The wheelbase is a grand 3.01 meters (9.88 feet).

Under the super long hood and right behind the front axle we find the Gallardo LP-560’s 10-cylinder engine. Since Lamborghini does not mention any changes, we gather that the 5.2-liter V10’s output remains the same at 560 Hp at 8,000 rpm. Like all contemporary Lamborghini models, the Estoque is also equipped with permanent all-wheel drive.

Interestingly, the Italian automaker supports in its press release that a complementary alternative could be a turbocharged eight-cylinder unit derived from the 5.2L V10 or even more fascinating, a particularly economical V8 petrol engine with a hybrid module or an extremely high-performance TDI turbo diesel. We’re pretty sure that the last two options aren’t going to be left uncommented by Lambo’s hardcore fans.

The million dollar question though isn’t the powertrain choices but whether or not the Estoque will find its way into production. Officially, Lamborghini says that the Estoque is a pure concept car, a design exercise that is based on a totally feasible technical concept. In other words, what Lamborghini is trying to say in a diplomatic way is that, if buyers like it, we can definitely build it.

Chevrolet Cruze Sedan: Live Pics from Paris Presentation

In a special European premiere event at the “Le Pavillon Dauphine”, located in the heart of Paris, GM showed off its new Chevrolet Cruze to the world press. If you follow the jump you’ll see that apart from the scenic pictures of the Cruze under the Eiffel Tower, we also have a detailed gallery of Chevy’s new global compact sedan’s interior which looks pretty good in terms of design. -Continued

In Europe, the Cruze will be initially offered with 112 HP 1.6-liter and 140 HP 1.8-liter gasoline engines and a new 2.0-liter turbo diesel, developing 150 HP and 320 Nm of torque. The gearbox menu will include a five-speed manual gearbox and an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission.

The 1.6L and 1.8L gasoline engines deliver zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration in 12.4 and 9.8 seconds, with combined cycle fuel consumption of 6.7lt and 6.8 lt/100 km (35.1 and 34.6 mpg US) respectively. The 2.0 diesel accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.4 seconds with a fuel consumption over the combined cycle of just 5.8 lt/100 km or 40.6 mpg US. After the Cruze’s launch, a 125 HP version of the 2.0 Diesel with 300 Nm of torque will also be offered.

Sales of the Chevy’s new compact sedan will start in Europe in March 2009, followed by other global regions including the U.S. in 2010.