The first V8 Suzuki will show its face in New York

Hyundai already proved that V8 engines are no longer a mistery for the low-end Asian manufacturers.And the word is that Suzuki wants to give it a shot.The Kizashi concept revealed in Frankfurt and Tokyo last year received a great response from the public so plans are made for its mass production in 2009-2010.

Another rumor says that the designers can’t decide on the form the production version will take so a 3rd version will be shown at the New York Auto Show in March.And here comes the big surprise:the V6 turbodiesel engine has been replaced by a monster V8 that poweres all 4 wheels.

I guess that we’ll have to wait and see if the rumors will become a reality.Let’s just hope they will….

At last the Q1!

And there it is:the Audi Q1,the ultimate crossover.

Or so says the German manufacturer.Based on the VW Tiguan,the new car aims for the subcompact premium SUV market.Q1 borrows from the Tiguan only the mechanical platform.The looks come from the Steppenwolf concept revealed 7 years ago at the Paris Auto Show.The German designers also have in mind a 5 door version.

By 2015 Audi intends to manufacture no less than 40 models,an unseen offensive in the company’s history.

In the future the engineers from Ingolstadt will introduce an electric motor to replace the diesel one.

Ford wants in on the action!

Ford seems to want o piece of the premium hatch rising profits.The Detroit guys want a car that screems LIFESTYLE!Even though these images are computer generated we can make a good idea of Ford’s intentions.

The designers try to dethrone the Opel Astra GTC,the current king.But I have to say that it won’t be easy.The new Focus,that is due in 2010,will have the same 2,5 litre 260 HP engine from Volvo but it will also have a stop-start system to reduce pollution.

Ford Focus has always been a landmark for handling and reliability and I really hope that the next generation won’t dissapoint.Designers have done their job and all that’s left is for the engineers to come up with a competitive car.

Spy work:BMW 135i

The tii series,not long ago just a promise for the future,materialised now a new car:the 135i.BMW made a true „sporty” car.Most of the components have been borrowed from the concept,including the front portion,wich had been aggressively redesigned,the lowered side skirts,the carbon fibre difusor and the spoiler.