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While the CLA concept will only be announced during IAA Munich Auto Show (5 - 10 Sep), prototype with production ready parts has been caught testing on the road in Europe. The upcoming sedan will be part of the newly founded Entry Luxury category. The smallest sedan to carry the three-pointed star will ride on the Mercedes Modular Architecture. The next-gen CLA won't have a bigger brother anymore since Mercedes is pulling the plug on the CLS at the end of this month. Stay tuned for more info.

Kudos to Lotus for going against all odds to come out with this proper sedan of its own, no longer just a badge engineered Proton. Lotus Electric Sedan Shows Its Sleek Production Body For First Time Following the unveiling of the Eletre electric performance SUV, Lotus Cars is applying the finishing touches to another all-electric product that takes the sleek shape of a fastback sedan. Internally codenamed Type 133, the Lotus electric sedan may be named Envya or Etude based on earlier trademark filings from China. A prototype has been spotted by one of our photographers undergoing cold weather testing in northern Scandinavia, near the Arctic Circle. Previously shown in shadowy teasers, the Lotus electric sedan makes its first appearance in the wild without bulky disguise in the form of this test prototype, giving us the best look so far at the brand's future Porsche Taycan rival. Despite the livery that pays tribute to Lotus Cars' 75th anniversary, we can draw some conclusions about its styling. The sedan features several common cues with the Lotus Eletre. Those include the split headlights and rear light bar – though the prototype has placeholder lights at the moment – diamond-pattern active lower grille, rising belt line, rearview cameras instead of side mirrors, and pop-out door handles. Other details worth a mention include a roof-mounted LiDAR and massive ventilated brake discs hugged by chunky calipers. Overall, the low-slung fastback sedan looks aggressive and will certainly provide more surprises once the camouflage tape gets removed. Inside, the new Lotus EV is expected to share the seats and steering wheel with the Eletre, as well as other components. It will be a four-seater with a full-length center console, and it will likely offer a full glass roof. Not much else is known about the new model, and that includes the powertrain. However, the automaker doesn't have too look too far for a high-performance dual-motor AWD powertrain as it can borrow the dual-motor AWD setup from the Eletre R that makes 905 horsepower (675 kilowatts) and 985 Newton-meters (726 pound-feet) of torque. The Lotus Eletre R does 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 2.95 seconds and hits a top speed of 165 mph (265 km/h), so you can imagine this powertrain can achieve even superior performance when paired with a more aerodynamic (and possibly lighter) bodywork. Whatever powertrain this Lotus electric sedan prototype has under the skin, it wasn't working properly on that particular day as one of the photos shows it on the back of a tow truck. This is quite common for test prototypes, especially in early development stages. Lotus will reportedly unveil the Type 133 later this year, with sales expected to follow sometime in 2024.

Honey, I shrunk the Avante...

Hyundai has quietly published the first images of its mildly updated Elantra on its website in South Korea where the compact sedan is sold as the Avante. The styling revisions come quite early in the life cycle considering the seventh generation was unveiled in March 2020 before going on sale later that year. The bulk of the changes is noticeable at the front where the 2024 Avante gets flatter headlights flanking a newly added metallic bar stretching across the entire width of the grille. Speaking of which, Hyundai has decided to split the grille into two by adding a body-colored element in the center. It makes the grille less in your face, and we'd argue that’s for the better. Faux air intakes at the corners of the bumper lend the front fascia a sportier appearance. There's not much going on at the rear where the Elantra's taillights have been seemingly carried over. We do notice the bumper has a different look with a pseudo diffuser and a wide U-shaped silver element extending from one corner to the other. We're getting the impression there are more glossy black surfaces than before while the red horizontal reflectors appear to be slightly wider. With this being only a facelift, the side profile has been carried over nearly unchanged, although those two-tone wheels seem to be a new variation of an existing set. In addition, the plastic panel at the C-pillar has a more intricate pattern now while the chrome beltline is slightly thicker at the end. Inside, a new Sage Green theme with eco-friendly material is the only novelty announced thus far.

Will it see the daylight on our sunny island soon? I seriously doubt so given the unreasonably high cat A COE premium. The new Vios was launched on 9 August 2022 in Thailand as the Yaris Ativ. It is developed by Daihatsu through a joint Toyota-Daihatsu internal company known as Emerging Market Compact Car Company (EMCC) under the lead of executive chief engineer Hideyuki Kamino. It is based on the DNGA-B platform shared with the Raize and the W100 series Avanza. The model is introduced with a 70 mm longer wheelbase at 2,620 mm (103.1 in). Compared to its predecessor, the car features a fastback-like sloping rear roof section which stretched the window line further back. Following the foot steps of Mitsubishi Attrage, it will be equipped with the 3NR-VE 1.2-litre engine with Dual VVT-iE technology producing 93 horsepower / 110 Nm torque, and paired with a Toyota-made CVT gearbox marketed as Super CVT-i. No words if it will be followed by the regular 1.5L engine.

Patent images from Brazil registry. The front bonnet is exceptionally and unnecessarily long. Total waste of space (and material) in my opinion since the engine option is unlikely to be anything larger than an IL4 2.0 sump which will be transversely mount as usual. These spy shots give us a glimpse of how the actual car sis going to look like.

Please hold tight to your chair before you scroll down for the images. ... Are you ready? ... Ok, be prepared, OK? Sadly, this is how the new Japanese Rojak will look like... Patent images obtained by Japanese magazines from the local trademark bureau show a new take on the Crown. It doesn’t seem to be wearing its distinctive badge, but we're being told this high-riding fastback will indeed be sold as a Crown. The somewhat odd shape should be familiar as the Citroën C5 X and China's Ford Evos have a similar body. Going back in time, we're getting hints of the defunct Honda Crosstour. The car featured here will reportedly go by the name of Crown Cross and should have the following dimensions: 4,930 mm long, 1,840 mm wide, and 1,540 mm tall, with a wheelbase measuring 2,850 mm. That would make it bigger in every dimension compared to the outgoing sedan, but with a slightly shorter wheelbase. Sources from the Land of the Rising Sun claim Toyota wants to sell the reinvented Crown with a four-cylinder 2.5-liter hybrid engine hooked out to a CVT. There also might be a turbocharged 2.4-liter with an electric motor and a six-speed automatic. It will sit on the TNGA-K platform and come with a choice between front- and all-wheel drive, with a plug-in hybrid option in the works. The official premiere is allegedly locked in for July 15. And I forgot to add, when I first saw its face, it is >90% like the Civic.

Gotta admit, I'm not a huge SUV fan. Been there, done that https://carbuzz.com/features/7-reasons-you-should-buy-a-sedan-over-an-suv

Am thinking of changing to a sedan from a crossover, due to itchy backside, excuses are unsatisfactory fc and poor acceleration, before my legs are too weak to squat getting into car. What's your preference and what you think of each choice ? Hope to get some pointers from fellow forumers. Thanks.

Hi all, I'm new here with a recent purchase of the avante S model. Since the purchase, there has been a creaking sound from the under carriage on the driver side. Only can be heard at 100km/h or above. I sent it in for a check and the mechanic said he tightened some bolt at the under carriage and asked me to monitor. Even after this, the sound is still there. Anyone encountered this? Apologies if this has been raised before as I have not read through the entire thread yet. Thanks 🙏

A long overdue model in Subaru lineup. Still as good as before? Subaru of America introduced the all-new 2022 WRX with the most advanced features, design, and performance in its nearly 20-year history. The fifth-generation rally icon is powered by a new 271 hp 2.4-liter turbocharged Subaru BOXER® engine that is paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or new automatic transmission. With available high-definition tablet-style 11.6-inch SUBARU STARLINK® Multimedia system and latest generation EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology, the 2022 WRX delivers greater performance, technology, and safety than ever before. Also new for 2022, the Subaru WRX adds a new top-of-the-line GT trim with a new automatic transmission, the Subaru Performance Transmission, as standard. The new WRX GT offers a first-ever for WRX, new electronically controlled dampers that can tailor the dynamic performance to the driver's preferences with Comfort, Normal, and Sport settings. The Drive Mode Select also offers additional options to configure steering feel, damper settings, SI-Drive settings, and more, with up to 430 different customization options. For the first time, the WRX is built on the Subaru Global Platform, which offers increased safety, improved dynamics, and reductions in noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). The 2022 WRX will be available at Subaru retailers in early 2022. But before fan boy rejoice, as usual, the press photos will typically shown the top spec trim. For entry level WRX, you will get this screen instead... You have been warned.

Look very sleek and just like a mini 7 series, minus the controversial monster size grille.. The car's shark-like front nose appears to be sitting lower compared to the current model to lend the 5 Series an angrier look without the odd split headlights of the next 7 Series, X7 facelift, and X8 / XM. A subtle spoiler integrated into the trunk lid can be seen as well, while the dashboard appears to be fully camouflaged. It's likely a sign the cabin will be completely revamped, possibly by adopting the dual-screen setup with a 12.3-inch driver's display and a 14.9-inch infotainment as seen in the iX and i4 electric models running on iDrive 8.

Another odd design luxurious sedan in the making? At a quick glance, it shout Peugeot, to me. The next-generation BMW 7 Series has been caught once more, hinting at a completely redesigned exterior concealed under many layers of camouflage. Those simple headlights are likely provisional as they seem to have a basic look, but the original 8 Series-esque placement and shape is likely the final one. Tiny rivets on many parts of the body indicate the 7 Series prototype has more than just one layer of disguise, so it's best not to jump to any conclusions about the car's exterior appearance. As for the interior, the first thing you will notice are those side-by-side screens akin to the setup you'll find in the iX SUV and i4 Gran Coupe. In those two fully electric vehicles, the instrument cluster measures 12.3 inches and is accompanied by a larger 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment running on iDrive 8. Much like in the EVs, the screens are housed within a massive piece of curved glass slightly tilted towards the driver. It’s going to be a long wait before the next 7 Series will hit the streets as production reportedly won't start until July next year.

About 160

Audi claimed that this concept is 95% representative of the final model, and the production model is expected to be unveiled in the 2nd half of 2022. Anyone noticed something familiar? Audi is resolutely pushing ahead with its "e-volution" towards electric mobility and have just unveiled the forerunner of an innovative family of fully electric, production cars - the four-door Audi A6 e-tron concept - at the Auto Shanghai 2021 show. A completely new technology architecture, the "Premium Platform Electric," or PPE for short, will serve as the technology platform for these vehicles in the future. For its part, the PPE technology will ensure that what the car's lines imply is actually translated into dynamic driving performance and everyday suitability befitting use as a primary vehicle. Specifically, this means that depending on the selected drive system and model version, an Audi A6 e-tron is expected to boast a range of more than 700 kilometers (based on the WLTP standard) in the future - and the most powerful members of the family will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than four seconds. The combination of safety features and aesthetic design has always been of particular importance to Audi. That's why the small, high-resolution projectors also display warning symbols on the ground - to warn a bike rider that the car door is about to open, for example. Another four high-resolution LED projectors - inconspicuously integrated into the corners of the vehicle - generate turn signal projections. The design of these projections can be modified to address different markets and approval regions as required. The Digital Matrix LED front headlights achieve almost cinematic quality. If, for example, the Audi A6 e-tron concept is parked in front of a wall during a break to recharge the battery, the driver and passengers can pass the time playing a video game projected onto it. Instead of on a small screen in the cockpit, they'll see their respective game's virtual landscapes projected onto the wall in XXL format - and all this via the Digital Matrix LED headlights. Players can stand next to or directly in front of the vehicle for a particularly good view of the game, which is several meters wide. OK, back to my question at the start of the post...

Nope, nothing wrong with my title, you are looking at a brand new Hyundai look-alike model... Still, it is a very handsome car! Kudos to the Korean for the continual improvement in design and quality.

The Audi A4 has received a major update! So much so in fact, that our reviewers seem to be a bit confused as to if it actually is an all new model! Why is that so? Join us as we look through the significant changes all throughout the exterior of the new Audi A4! Oh, and bid a warm welcome to Jeremy from Torque magazine, now also joining us for these video reviews! And what about the cabin? I think Julian sums up the interior of the Audi A4 quite well with this one statement. The rotary knob is now gone and there's also a new infotainment system. See what we think about it in the video review! But here's the important part: Just how does the new mild-hybrid tech work? I'll just leave you with this little teaser courtesy of Jeremy... You'll just have to watch the full video review of the Audi A4 to find out!

10 Generations Of Honda Accord Show The Family Sedan's Evolution source: https://www.motor1.com/news/446925/honda-accord-evolution/ It all started back in 1976. About two years ago, a nifty set of renderings refreshed our memory about the Honda Civic’s timeline by revisiting all ten generations to show the remarkable evolution of the compact car. Fast forward to 2020, the same folks at Budget Direct Car Insurance have sent us a new batch depicting the Civic’s bigger brother – the Accord. First Generation (1976-1981) Much like the Civic, the larger Accord has also spawned a total of ten generations, with the original launched back in 1976. It initially came out as a three-door hatchback before the four-door sedan was introduced in 1979. Power came from a 1.6-liter with a respectable 68-hp output sent to the wheels via a five-speed manual. The sedan arrived with a beefier 1.8-liter and was also equipped with power steering. Second Generation (1981-1985) The first Japanese car assembled in the United States, the second-generation Accord was larger than its predecessor and had a substantially different look with boxy styling. It gained an optional four-speed automatic gearbox in 1983 and got its engine bumped in displacement from 1751cc to 1830cc to unlock 86 hp. More oomph was added in 1985 with the arrival of the Accord SEi and its fuel-injected engine pumping out 101 hp. Third Generation (1985-1989) Once again, the Accord received an increased footprint for its third iteration, which came along with a third body style in the form of a sleek coupe. It was mechanically superior to its predecessor, featuring a Honda-first double-wishbone suspension at both axles as well as a more aerodynamically friendly body. Honda increased the engine’s size furthermore, to a 2.0-liter unit with 98 hp on tap when carbureted or an optional 110 hp with fuel injection. Oh, did we mention it had pop-out headlights? Fourth Generation (1989-1993) With the risk of sounding like a broken record, the fourth-gen Accord was enlarged once more, fully qualifying for the midsize sedan status. Honda boosted the car’s practicality with the addition of a wagon that replaced the hatchback. A newly developed 2.2-liter engine was rated at a healthy 130 hp for the flagship EX model. There was even a sport mode for the four-speed automatic transmission, allowing the driver to choose gears manually. Sadly, it lost the nifty pop-out headlights. Fifth Generation (1993-1997) The fifth-gen Accord saw the addition of VTEC for the 2.2-liter engine and the sedan’s first V6, a 2.7-liter unit making 170 hp and 165 lb-ft (224 Nm). The versions equipped with the bigger engine had some design tweaks at the front to distinguish them from the four-pot models. Honda stretched the wheelbase for extra rear legroom and proposed a sportier design. Sixth Generation (1998-2002) No more wagon body style with the sixth-gen model, with only the coupe and sedan surviving. The two-door model was developed in North America and had a slightly shorter wheelbase than its four-door counterpart. Front airbags came as standard, with side airbags available at an additional cost. The base engine was a 2.3-liter with 135 hp, while an optional 3.0-liter V6 had 200 hp. Seventh Generation (2002-2008) For its seventh iteration, the Accord got more powerful engines across the range. Even the base four-cylinder unit now made 160 hp, while the 3.0-liter VTEC V6 pumped out 240 hp. Both got a little bit more power later in the life cycle when an electrified V6 was added with a combined output of 253 hp. The coupe allowed customers to order the V6 engine with a manual gearbox for the first time. Eighth Generation (2008-2012) Creating a greater visual differentiation between the sedan and coupe, Honda increased the Accord’s size yet again for the eighth generation. The V6 engine – now making 268 hp – was once again offered with a three-pedal setup. It was bumped to the fullsize car class by EPA, and spawned a hunchbacked Crosstour fastback for the 2010 model year for added practicality. The oddly shaped version was two inches wider than the sedan and added about 300 pounds (136 kilograms) of weight. Ninth Generation (2013-2017) Not necessarily a fully fledged next-generation car, the Accord Mk9 was more of a thorough refresh of its predecessor. The sedan gained a Sport variant with a standard six-speed manual and a little bit more power than the regular four-cylinder models, along with dual exhaust tips as well as bespoke wheels. Honda went back and forth with the hybrid version, which managed to get an EPA rating of 48 mpg thanks to its electrified four-cylinder engine. Tenth Generation (2017-Present) As for the current-generation Accord, the coupe has gone the way of the dodo together with the V6. The base 1.5-liter turbo engine is good for 192 hp while the larger 2.0-liter unit develops 252 hp, with a hybrid version also available with 212 hp. The electrified model does 48 mpg in the combined cycle. Even though it’s larger than the model it replaced, the tenth-generation model has shaved off 110 to 176 pounds (50 to 80 kilograms) depending on trim by making greater use of aluminum and ultra-high-strength steel.

Do you prefer Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid Sedan or Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid Hatchback?

Somehow the A-Class taillight design is a better fit in the new C-Class...

Car Shape 101

Acura’s New Sport Sedan Should Make the NSX Proud source: https://gearpatrol.com/2020/04/13/acura-new-tlx-type-s-sport-sedan-2021/ Like much of the automotive world these days, Acura is doing well on the strength of its SUVs. The MDX and RDX are reliable, stylish, luxurious, and even fun to drive, depending on whether you snag one with the torque vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive. The company’s cars, however…well, they could use a shot in arm. The NSX is spectacular, but nobody seems interested in spending six figures on a high-tech Japanese hybrid sports car right now. The ILX isn’t just a Civic-based pseudo-luxury compact — it’s a pseudo-luxury compact based on the last-generation Civic that debuted nine years ago. The RLX has gone all but unnoticed for years. And the TLX has been hanging around since 2014, with little innovation to show except a handmade limited edition. Things are apparently about to look a lot brighter for the car side of Honda’s luxury brand, though. According to Car and Driver, not only is a new TLX sedan around the bend, but it’ll arrive along with a true sport sedan version packing a potent twin-turbo V6. The next-gen TLX will boast its own platform, according to C/D, though the base powertrain of a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and a 10-speed automatic transmission will be the same one found in the RDX and top-shelf Honda Accords. Front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive will be up for grabs, also like the RDX. That entry-level car, reportedly, was expected to go on sale this summer at a base price of around $35,000, though the coronavirus pandemic and economic uncertainty it brought seem likely to have pushed that back. More exciting — and hopefully not delayed — is the TLX Type S model that C/D reports will arrive in 2021, in an effort to close some of the distance between Honda’s fancy-but-not-very-fast four-door sedans and the wild NSX. C/D says the twin-turbo V6 — likely a new 3.0-liter unit — will provide a big boost in power over the current top TLX, which uses a naturally-aspirated V6 to make 290 horses. Assuming the Type S really wants to cover the spread between the regular TLX and the NSX, we’re guessing it’ll pack around 400 horsepower at the bare minimum. As for what that new TLX will look like, odds are very good it’ll resemble the Type S Concept car that Acura debuted at Pebble Beach last year (seen above) — or at least, a mildly toned-down version of that concept.

2021 Hyundai Elantra About to Get Dramatic Redesign Like Sonata Stay tune for more info.

Finally, a respite from the SUV assault. And what a break! In our latest video review, we test the latest G20 BMW 3 series! As it turns out, the car comes with BMW's latest Comfort Access 2.0, and, as you can clearly see from the pictures, it leaves both out hosts mighty pleased! (What kids 🤪) On the interior, the car also sports Julian's favorite feature... a remote charging point! We test boot space with our patented aunty trolly... and it seems like something has Julian troubled? But of course, the whole point of the 3 series is its sporty and engaging drive. Those with keen eyes will note that the car is already wet from the rain, so guess what happens when we take the BMW out! Watch the full video here to see what shenanigans our presenters get up to!