Spy Shots: Ford Focus Hatch and Station Wagon Undergo a Facelift

Ford is applying a makeover to the entire range of its Focus series, which our spies seized in five-door and hatchback forms on separate occasions while undergoing tests in Europe.

The front of the car will take the brunt of the cosmetic touchup, likely adopting Ford's familiar gaping grille that brings to mind Aston Martin models.

The cover-up of the hatchback's other side suggests changes to the rear as well, though, we don't know if they'll be as extensive as the front. Whether Ford will do the same to the tail of the station wagon model remains to be seen, as this prototype did not sport any updates.

Previous spy pictures of the interior indicate a refreshed center console and new buttons on the dashboard.

We've also heard rumors about the return of the high-performance RS model to the range after the presentation of the facelift wearing a tuned version of the 2015 Mustang's 2.3-liter turbocharged engine with somewhere around 350hp.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS

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Spy Shots: New BMW X1 Switches to FWD Platform and Gains 3-Cylinder Engines

The closer BMW edges to being a…Volkswagen brand of this world instead of an exclusively premium manufacturer, the more mainstream some of its products become, and you can see this from the designs to the expansion into popular segments and the adoption of front-wheel drive platforms for models like the X1.

Truth to be told, from a mainstream buyer's perspective, it makes a lot of sense for smaller SUVs and crossovers that won't necessarily be ordered with all-wheel drive to come with a front-wheel drive layout as this solution offers reduced costs, increased fuel economy, less weight and more driver-friendly handling.

As such, the second generation X1, expected to be revealed at next year's Frankfurt Motor Show, will abandon the current model's older (E91) 3-Series Touring's platform with RWD and AWD, switching to the BMW Group's UKL1 architecture shared with the new Mini models like the hatch, which utilizes transversely mounted engines powering the front- or optionally, all-four wheels.

For its motivation, the X1 will also share the same engine lineup with the new Mini range, comprising 1.5-liter three-cylinder and 2.0-liter four-cylinder mills, all turbocharged. Unlike the current model, the new X1 will not be available with six-cylinder engines.

The competition for the X1 when it hits the market in 2016 will include the Mercedes-Benz GLA and Audi Q3, both of which will be offered in the States this year. 

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS

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A Digital Interpretation of What a Dacia Coupe Could Look Like

While the rumors of a possible sporty two-door built by Renault’s Romanian arm, Dacia, have died down, being dismissed and criticized almost as soon as they were launched, that has absolutely no relevance in the world of PhotoShop.

Digital manipulator of automotive photos X-Tomi has taken it seriously and has created a stylish if slightly exaggerated interpretation of the idea.

Starting off with the plain Logan Sedan, he removed the doors, changed the flanks, bumpers and side skirts, before finishing it off with a set of rims (the over-the-top part of the proposal). Those familiar with the shape will also spot the shorter and wider tail lights and more pronounced boot lid spoiler too.

It does kind-of work looking at these renderings, but do you think this would ever sell? It would surely be a hit in its home market, but I don’t think it would not be particularly sought-after elsewhere…

By Andrei Nedelea

Story References: X-Tomi

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Spy Shots: Audi Gives 2015 TT Coupe the Winter Exam

After showing the next TT's interior at the CES show in Las Vegas last week and a conceptual crossover version of the car with the Allroad Shooting Brake moniker at this week's Detroit Auto Show, Audi officials also confirmed the venue and date for the unveiling of the coupe: the Geneva Motor Show this March.

That doesn't mean the new TT is completely ready, as Ingolstadt engineers continue to test prototypes on a variety of roads, conditions and countries.

There's a lot going on with the camouflage on this tester spied in Northern Europe, but combined with the knowledge we obtained from the Allroad Shooting Brake, we can safely say that the new TT will evolve the current model's styling theme adding more aggressive and manlier, if you will, lines and details to the familiar shape.

We've already seen the pre-production interior of the TT, so there's no questions there, with Audi's more minimalistic and futuristic approach to ergonomics and the gigantic 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster that also incorporates the MMI infotainment display making up the highlights.

As a vehicle based on the VW Group's (lighter) MQB platform, the powertrain lineup will be similar to other brand models, with the exception of the five-cylinder RS version that will follow later on.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS

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Spied: New BMW 7-Series Sedan Coming Next Year

Before we get into details about the new G11-codenamed BMW 7-Series, allow us to make a correction noting that, as some of you rightfully pointed out, the prototype model we scooped last November and mistakenly believed to be the 5-Series replacement, was indeed the new 7-Series with the regular wheelbase. The Touring model, however, was the 5-Series.

What can we say; without a tape measure, it’s not always easy these days to separate same body-style offerings from German luxury brands and being on a trailer doesn’t help either…

With that out of the way, let's see what BMW's new breed of luxury is bringing on to the table. From these photos, the new 7-Series appears to continue the much welcome downward trend in bulkiness that began with the current F01.

The G11 will not only be slimmer to the eye, but to the scales as well, since it will be the first regular BMW after the i3 hatchback and i8 hybrid sports coupe to adopt the use of carbon fiber along with aluminum and steel in its construction, dramatically cutting down in weight over the current version.

Combine that with a new suit of technologies and revised powertrains, and the 7-Series will offer significant reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emission figures.

Besides the usual array of turbocharged straight-six, V8 and V12 engines, we hear that BMW may follow Mercedes' and Audi's lead offering a force-fed 4-cylinder unit at the bottom of the range – possibly a hybrid powertrain. BMW officials are also warming up to an M7, which if realized, will be the first in the model's four-decade long history.

The new G11 7-Series should break cover at the 2015 Frankfurt motor show in Germany.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS

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Scoop: Renault Warms Up Rear-Wheel Drive 2015 Twingo on the Snow

It's that time of the year that auto manufacturers send engineers to Sweden to trial future models under harsh winter conditions. Renault brought along the upcoming 2015 Twingo that marks an interesting departure from its two predecessors, partly thanks to a newly found collaboration with Daimler and Mercedes-Benz.

The two automotive groups are co-developing the successors to the Smart ForTwo / ForFour and Renault Twingo using a common platform with a rear-engine and rear-wheel drive layout, instead of the traditional front-engine and front-wheel drive solution seen on most modern city cars.

These spy shots outline the design story of the new Twingo that will carry over the Renault 5-inspired styling theme of the insane 320HP Twin'Run Concept in a more down-to-earth interpretation that does away with the sporting elements while adding two more doors to the recipe.

It has been reported that Renault doesn’t plan to offer a three-door body style, but this could change in the future.

There's very little information about the rear-mounted drivetrains, though, it is believed that both the Renault and Smart models will be offered with three-cylinder mills paired to manual or dual-clutch transmissions, and later on, with a pure electric drive.

Expect the new Twingo to make its premiere at the Paris motor show in October this year.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS

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Spied: New BMW M4 Convertible Chilling Out in Sweden

If you prefer an open top experience with an M4, BMW will soon have just the thing for you with the hardtop convertible version of the high-performance series, which was spied here while taking a rest from cold weather testing in Sweden.

You may lose the carbon-fiber roof and gain more than 200kg (440 pounds) in the process (FYI the 435i Coupe weighs 1,585 kg / 3,494 lbs while the 435i Convertible 1,815 kg / 4,001 lbs), but look at it from the bright side; you'll be able to enjoy the summer sun at a touch of a button in just 22 seconds.

Other than that, the M4 Convertible will benefit from the same mechanical and styling revisions as the M4 Coupe, including, of course, BMW's new 3.0-liter straight-six turbo that delivers 425hp (431PS) and 550Nm (406 lb-ft).

Channeling drive to the rear wheels will be a standard six-speed manual gearbox, but more tech-orientated buyers will be able to pick an optional seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission (DCT) with remote paddle shifters.

Prices for the M4 Convertible should command a premium over the Coupe edition.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS

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