New Mazdas at double

It's not only Mitsubishi and Subaru which are expanding their sports car ranges... Mazda is, too. Confirming our story back in Issue 960, the company is targeting Vauxhall’s forthcoming Insignia VXR and even the BMW M3 with a Mazda Performance Series (MPS) version of its popular 6. And as you can see from our picture of the hatchback, the MPS will be a head-turner, with new spoilers, large air intakes, lowered side skirts and bigger alloy wheels. It’s believed that the model will use a turbocharged version of the 6’s all-new 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, pumping out around 280bhp, so it will have the punch to back up the looks.

Like the previous-generation 6 MPS, there will be four-wheel drive, stiffened and lowered suspension and uprated brakes. The car will cover 0-60mph in six seconds, with a top speed limited to 155mph. Mazda is expected to take the wraps off a concept version at October’s Paris Motor Show, where bosses will gauge public reaction. The production model should arrive in 2010. However, unlike its predecessor, which was available only as a saloon, the firm has plans for estate, coupé and cabriolet MPS variants, as well as the hatch.
And Mazda is also readying a hot hatch version of the 2 supermini. Complete with a sporty bodykit, the 2 MPS (in red) goes on sale in late 2009. There’s no word yet on what engine it will have, but it’s thought to be a turbo variation on the existing 1.5-litre petrol with more than 170bhp. Factor in sporty suspension, and it’s a real rival for the Vauxhall Corsa VXR.Source

Reborn Capri

It's the car every Ford fan has been waiting to see! Here’s the new Capri.The original was one of the most famous and best loved models in the firm’s history, and left the scene in the late Eighties. Now, the time has come to reinvent the classic.Affordable coupés are experiencing a real renaissance, and Ford has already proved its talent for building niche products with models such as the S-MAX compact MPV and Kuga 4x4. So the stage is set for the Capri to make its stunning comeback.One thing is for sure – it will not be short of competition. Audi has its A5 and Volkswagen has resurrected the Scirocco, while Toyota is planning a Celica replacement based on Subaru Impreza running gear.There’s also Hyundai’s forthcoming Coupé, plus news that Peugeot has at last given its 308 RC Z the green light for production.

But while there will be an army of rivals, the Capri will certainly have style in its favour. As you can see from our pictures, the new Ford is a real feast for the eyes. If it seems a little familiar, that’s because it takes some cues from the 2003 Visos concept.However, it mixes those with the company’s latest design themes. At the front there are the trademark twin grilles, with a large lower air intake incorporating neat spotlights. Bold Mondeo-style headlamps complete the Capri’s striking look.Its profile harks back to the original model, with a tail-heavy stance and familiar C-shaped rear windows and thick pillars. At the back, strong shoulder lines combine with distinctive tail-lights and a sloping tailgate to create a pert-looking rear. A neat roof spoiler and venturi-style lower bumper finish the design off.Inside, the Capri will offer a 2+2 seating layout, with a cabin inspired by the current-generation Mondeo’s. Under the skin, it’s likely that Ford will follow VW’s approach with the Scirocco, which sits on the Golf platform, and base the car around the Focus. That will mean a front-wheel-drive layout and a similar engine line-up to the family model, with the range topped by the 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged unit from the ST hot hatch.

An RS version, powered by a 3.2-litre six-cylinder motor and offering four-wheel drive, could also be on the cards.With the Focus as a starting point, things bode well for the Capri’s hand-ling. Engineers will give the new model a sporty suspension set-up to ensure excellent grip and agility. There’s even the possibility it will benefit from the Mondeo’s adaptive damping system. This would provide the car with sharp handling or refined cruising ability at the flick of a switch.
As Ford has yet to officially confirm its new Capri plans, we won’t see the car before the next decade. However, it has been reported that the blue oval is planning to reveal a concept version of the coupé at a major motor show in 2009.Source

Mercedes GLK

‘Baby’ M-Class hits the road

The Mercedes M-Class has got a baby brother! These are the first official pictures of the GLK, which was revealed at this week’s Beijing Motor Show in China. The firm’s first compact 4x4 was initially seen as the Freeride concept at the Detroit expo in January. It’s based on the platform of the C-Class compact executive car, and is designed to take on the Audi Q5 (see Page 8), plus the BMW X3 and Land Rover Freelander. The GLK is shorter, narrower and taller than the X3, and it’s slightly heavier – although it’s not lacking in performance.

The entry-level diesel powerplant is a new 2.1-litre four-cylinder common-rail unit, delivering 170bhp. This propels the GLK from 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 127mph, yet returns 40.9mpg and emits 183g/km of CO2. Topping the diesel line-up is a 224bhp 3.0-litre V6, while petrol options include 3.0-litre and 3.5-litre V6s offering 231bhp and 272bhp respectively. Later on, there could possibly be a V8-powered GLK63 AMG, and even a hybrid.
Buyers can specify a sports pack aimed at on-road driving. This brings 19-inch wheels, stiffer springs and a 20mm lower ride height. There’s also a mud-plugging option, comprising 17-inch alloys, more ground clearance and extra body cladding. All cars get 4Matic all-wheel-drive and a 7G-Tronic Touch-Shift automatic transmission. Sales of the GLK will start in Europe in October, but don’t expect to see the car in the UK soon. According to sources, the 4WD system complicates right-hand-drive production – so the GLK is unlikely to reach our shores until 2010 at the earliest.Source