Brenda Priddy's long-lens outfit has captured the first shots off the Devon Motor Works GTX supercar during aerodynamics testing.

The butterfly-doored coupe looks very promising in bare carbon fiber, as is word that the prototype was spotted at Willow Springs raceway with British Le Mans champion Justin Bell behind the wheel for testing duties.

This GTX mule certainly has some interesting details to it, including the aforementioned up-and-forward doors, as well as a U-shaped vented hood, center-exit exhaust, a big (and likely temporary) adjustable wing, and funky contrasting fender treatments which may or may not see production.

It isn't altogether clear what engine will be powering this beastie, but Priddy's people reportedly overheard the engineers talking of extracting 650 horsepower out of the drivetrain. California-based Devon, you may recall, was the sole bidder Chrysler reported for its Viper franchise, and it's certainly conceivable that despite the failed bid attempt, the car seen here would still feature a certain 8.4-liter V10 underhood. Indeed, given that Devon continues to tout its creation as "America's next great supercar," that scenario seems rather likely.

The GTX is slated to make its first appearance at next month's Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance (we'll be sure to grab some live photos), and the coupe is tipped to go on sale in the U.S. first in 2010, with other markets to follow. Check out the gallery of renderings below as well as a video of the teasers after the jump.



[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

With every iteration of the 911, Porsche makes incremental improvements to its iconic sports car and naturally, the next generation will be no exception.

This latest 911 prototype was caught at the Nurburgring sporting 997 sheetmetal, but it's what's on top and out back that deserves note. A double-bubble roof panel has been fitted, while underneath the rear camouflage is a sizeable wing and additional ducting. Look closely and you'll see a small sill at the base of the rear windscreen that's assumed to be feeding the rear-mounted flat-six – likely necessary keep the boxer cool while Porsche engineers figure out how the new contoured roof affects aerodynamics. If previous reports are to be believed, we can expect the next 911 to debut sometime in 2010, but we wouldn't rule out an appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.

Eagle-eyed spy shooters for Car Advice in Australia have managed to snap off a series of photos of a new entry-level Ford hatchback that's likely headed to emerging markets like India, Brazil and some areas in Europe. The car seen in these spy shots is clearly disguised as the previous-generation Ford Fiesta, but it's believed that this new machine may actually be a production version of the Ford Verve concept that was first introduced back in 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

If it ever reaches production, it's likely that the Verve will feature a range of gasoline and diesel engines varying in size from 1.2- to 1.5-liters. According to Car Advice, this new hatchback is expected to get a formal green-light from Ford sometime in mid-2010 en-route to production a few months later. For what it's worth, we don't expect to see this car come Stateside, as America will already have the new Fiesta subcompact followed by a new global Focus. Click here for the rest of the shots.



[Source: caradvice.com.au]

Bentleys may be as large and luxurious as yachts, but that doesn't mean the premium automaker's factory in Crewe is without leaks. Although Bentley is keen on metering out glimpses at a snail's pace, British auto mag CAR managed to get a hold of a batch of photos of the highly anticipated new "Grand Bentley".

Under development with the code-name Project Kimberley, the new Bentley is slated to replace the aging Arnage sedan at the top of the company's line-up and do battle with the Rolls-Royce Phantom. With technological input from its sister companies under the Volkswagen auto umbrella, the as-yet unnamed Grand Bentley promises to take a big step forward from the Arnage, which still carries its mechanicals and platform from the days when the automaker was under the same roof as Rolls -- not in direct competition. The spy shots reveal mesh grilles, LED lights, a retractable hood ornament (like the Phantom's) and a swooping roofline reminiscent of the classic 50's-era R-Type Continental. Looks pretty sweet, and we'll probably get an even better glimpse as the car's unveiling later this summer approaches with the pace of...well, a speeding Bentley.

[Source: CAR]

It may not be pretty – eye of the beholder and all that – but the Gumpert Apollo is one serious ride. But as hardcore as the Apollo is, the eponymous former Audi Sport director behind the niche German automaker apparently wasn't satisfied leaving fast enough alone, so the company unveiled the Apollo Speed at this year's Geneva auto show. But that was just about the last we heard of it, until now, as spy shots of the super-Gumpert lapping the Nurburgring have surfaced online.

The (ahem) stock Apollo already packs a range of Audi V8 engines producing 650, 700 or 800 horsepower depending on customer specification, so clearly there's nothing wrong there. The Apollo Speed spied, however, carries an adjustable rear wing, a more streamlined overhead induction system, revised front fenders and updated tail-lights. And while the focus is clearly on performance here, right down to the racing buckets and competition-spec removable steering wheel, the Apollo Speed is still tipped to carry air-con and DVD info-tainment system. The Stig will undoubtedly be pleased.

[Source: Motor Trend]

A year ago, we showed you pics of the next-generation BMW 5-Series doing some high-speed testing on the Nürburgring, but that was pretty much the last we heard about this midsize bahnstormer. Well, intrepid spy photographer Rich Truesdell spotted a similar mule out in the desert last week, and he has filled us in on some additional details. The car he spotted appears to be a 2011 BMW 540i sedan. Rich relates that the car was big enough to have him thinking 7-Series at first, but BMW helped out by having a clearly larger current 7 on hand for comparison purposes. How thoughtful of them.

While not a lot of final detail shows through, Truesdell points out that the heavy rear quarter cladding could be a tip that something is brewing in the recently revamped styling department in Munich. In particular, around the C-pillar, there was a lot of camo, indicating that perhaps there's something worth hiding. Beyond that, the sedan looks like a shortened 7-Series from most angles, and the dual exhausts suggest that this is likely the V8-powered 540i. Follow the source link to read what Rich thought of the vehicle and to see all of the photos in high-res.



All images © 2009 Rich Truesdell/Automotivetraveler.com

[Source: Automotive Traveler]

Although it is isn't slated to be officially revealed until this fall's Frankfurt Auto Show, it feels like we've been seeing the wraps come off BMW's X1 baby crossover for years now. Thanks to a steady stream of spy shots over the last 18 months or so, we feel like we ought to be able to tell you not only the shape and size of the glovebox, but the material its walls are made of. Regardless, these are the first official shots of the X1 that have leaked out on the web, apparently because of German magazine FOCUS online.

As we've already seen almost all elements of the X1 already, the final shape doesn't surprise us, which appears much like a shrunken X5 mixed with styling cues from the bull-nosed 7-Series, 5-Series Gran Turismo, and of course, last year's X1 Concept.

The inside is typical Bimmer fare as well, with a sober but handsome and well-screwed-together look. The usual accoutrements are present in the photo models' driver oriented instrument panels, including iDrive, USB ports, and thumb-shifters for the automatic.

We're already tired of BMW's awkward model naming conventions, but regardless, the CUV is expected to launch in Europe in xDrive18i and xDrive 18d configurations, along with an xDrive20d model whose 177 hp diesel is apparently good for 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, an xDrive23d model with a 204 hp oil-burner (0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds, top speed of 139 mph), as well as the xDrive28i, which is apparently good for 143 mph. No word yet on what models we'll see in the U.S. just yet, but we'd be surprised to see anything less powerful than the xDrive28i in Stateside dealers, and we'll keep our fingers crossed for a diesel variant.

According to current scuttlebutt, the X1 will launch in autumn exclusively paired with all-wheel drive, but rear-wheel drive versions are expected to come on line soon thereafter. Check out the gallery below and keep checking back with us for further details as they become available.

It shouldn't be entirely uncommon to run across a Ford Fiesta here in the United States now that the Blue Oval has handed the keys to a hundred of 'em to various "agents" all across the country as part of its Fiesta Movement program. What is unusual, though, is seeing a Fiesta sedan, but that's exactly what Domino Vitali, a spy shooter for our friends at WebRidesTV Blog, managed to snap a few shots of just north of the Motor City in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Though the Ford Fiesta Sedan is already available in China, the American version of the car will differ slightly to conform with U.S. regulations. We'll likely get revised fascias front and rear along with bumpers that offer a smidgen more protection in low-speed impacts. Fortunately for those of us who prefer the utmost in practicality, FoMoCo is also expected to send the hatchback (in both three- and five-door configurations) to America in addition to this new sedan when the Fiesta finally goes on sale as a 2011 model.

[Source: WebRidesTV Blog]

The engineers at Mercedes-Benz are working tirelessly to get the all-new E-Class cabrio ready for its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. So much so that they appear to be bringing dates along for a ride in the chop-topped mules.

These newest shots of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Convertible are the first we've seen with the cloth top stowed away, and they reveal an interesting detail: a retractable wind deflector mounted on the top of the windshield.

Like Audi, Mercedes has opted to forgo the folding hard-top treatment for the new E, allowing the automaker to retain the coupe's hard-edged style and keep the curb weight in check. When the E-Class Convertible arrives in dealerships early next year, expect a range of six- and eight-cylinder powerplants, including the range-topping E500.

The folks at Noticias Automotivas have scored shots of what looks to be the next-generation Daewoo Matiz, the subcompact hatch that we know better as the Chevrolet Spark.

The budget runabout is clearly very similar to General Motors' 2007 Beat concept and is in fact bang-on the Bowtie-badged production-intent model we saw displayed at this year's Geneva Motor Show, albeit with a Daewoo-specific upper and lower grilles, less stylized fog lamps and discount looking wheels.

Inside, the motorcycle-like gauge binnacle appears to have to have made the transition to production as expected, although as we were not permitted to touch the Geneva car, we can't tell if it's a tilt/telescope assembly.

Check out the gallery of images below.




[Source: Noticias Automotivas]