MINI Coupe Concept Revealed

Mini is 50 years old now. In order to celebrate this great event, Mini has introduced the Mini Coupe Concept which will also be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

According to the carmaker, the Mine Coupe Concept is the “expression of MINI design and the great ability of the brand’s designers to fill the elementary values of the brand with new life, using the options of modern drivetrain and suspension technology, and developing fascinating perspectives for the future of the brand on this basis”.

The model will carry the most powerful engine available at Mini, the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine that produces 211 hp and 260Nm (192 lb-ft) of torque. Considering that the JCW Mini runs from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds, the Coupe should be able to do the same task in less than 6 seconds. Like every current Mini, the Coupe Concept is front-wheel drive.

Strictly a two-seater, 3.7 metres long and 1.4 metres high, it's a little longer but lower than the regular Mini hatchback. However, the Coupe is claimed to be 'the most dynamic and agile Mini ever built'.

On the outside, the Coupe features typical Mini styling, such as the large round headlights and hexagonal grille, but unique to this model are its rear spoiler and bonnet stripes that run over the front grille. The angle of the windscreen and gentle slope of the roof to the rear of the car are designed to give it a distinctly wedge-like and sporty shape. Other exterior instruments include massive wheels, a sporty rear bumper, and dual center-mounted exhaust pipes.

Inside, the Coupe features two individual front seats and an open rear compartment which accommodates 250 liters (8.8 cu ft) of luggage. The cabin is outfitted with leather upholstery, carbon fiber trim, and two Chronoswiss clocks (one is a traditional clock, while the other is a dedicated lap timer). A three-spoke leather steering wheel is also included.

However, it’s still in the stage of Concept car, we expect it to be added in the Mini range in near future.

Alfa Romeo Milano (149) coming to Frankfurt Motor Show

Fans of Italian styling are anxiously awaiting Fiat and Alfa Romeo's return to the U.S., now that the alliance deal between the Italian auto giant and Chrysler has been signed. One of Alfa Romeo’s upcoming models is particularly important as it will form the basis of a new Chrysler sedan planned for U.S. production. The car is the 2010 Alfa Romeo Milano and it's scheduled to make its debut at this September's Frankfurt Motor Show. European sales begin in late 2009 - early 2010
Late last year at the Bologna Motor Show, Alfa Romeo CEO Luca de Meo confirmed that the car was in the works, and that it would arrive in the fourth quarter of 2009. Previous spy photos show that it is progressing well toward that deadline, though camouflage does hide the details of its form. The five-door layout and sharing of the new 8C-inspired design theme are evident, however.

It is expected to share Fiat’s C-Evo platform with the Lancia Delta and Alfa Romeo Bravo, contrary to earlier reports of the car getting an all-new platform. The same core engine range is expected, including a smallish 120hp (90kW) four-cylinder and ranging up to a 3.2L V6 good for 265hp (198kW). It will also share much of the same running gear. Sometime after the car's debut, a GTA model, like the MiTo's recently unveiled version, is also expected.

The new Alfa will come despite a planned halt in production to bring stock in line with demand. By splitting the existing 147 line into the MiTo and Milano, it allows the company to retain existing customers of the range while targeting new ones at both ends of the spectrum. The smaller and more efficient MiTo can play toward the younger and more urban crowds, while the Milano should scale well with the more affluent and suburban lifestyles. Adding to the Milano's more upscale direction is the inclusion of the four-wheel drive Q4 system, though the Q2 front-wheel drive will remain standard.

Maserati GranTurismo Spyder coming early next year with $130,000 price tag

Fans of open air cruising have something new to look forward to. The long awaited Maserati Granturismo Spider will make its official debut this upcoming September at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new convertible from FIAT was designed by Pininfarina and uses the same basic architecture as Maserati’s other sportscars, the Granturismo and the Quattroporte.

Maserati is yet to reveal if the car will sport a traditional canvas roof or a new hard-top, but according to Car and Driver it will come with a conventional cloth top and a price tag of $130,000. This puts it in perfect competition with cars like the Mercedes Benz SL, Aston Martin Vantage Roadster, BMW M6 Cabrio, and Jaguar XKR Convertible.

In keeping with its premium status the Spyder will likely come standard with the new 434hp 4.7L V8 engine from the more recent GranTurismo S. This means it will likely get Maserati’s new automatic gearbox (as opposed to the previous automated manual) and a Brembo brake package as standard.

Performance will likely be down on its hard-top sibling, however, as the Spyder will require extra reinforcements due to its missing roof. Remember, the regular GranTurismo already weighs in excess of 1,800kg so the extra weight of this reinforcement plus the automated folding roof system could easily push the drop-top past the two ton barrier.

Audi A5 Sportback headed to Frankfurt Motor Show

Audi will be releasing a host of models in the coming years to expand into new segments as it attempts to topple BMW and Mercedes in the quest to sell more than a 1.5 million vehicles by 2015. Some of the cars in the pipeline include the A1 premium hatch, A7 four-door coupe and a Sportback version of the current A5.

While we’ve seen concept versions of the A1 and A7 before, this September’s Frankfurt Motor Show will reportedly play host to the unveiling of the all-new A5 Sportback. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the new A5 Sportback will go on sale by the end of the year, alongside the high-performance RS version of the regular A5 Coupe.

A prototype of the A5 Sportback model has been spied previously, and while there is only one image we could clearly see that the car will feature a high waistline and low roof. The front-end should be identical to the A5 Coupe on which it’s based. The design appears almost like a four-door coupe but the roomy cabin, tall profile, and sloping hatchback style rear-door ensures the Sportback sits in its own niche.

The base model will remain FWD but AWD variants will feature the latest quattro torque vectoring systems, which distribute drive individually between each axle and between the rear wheels for improved traction and stability. Power will come from the same engines used in the regular A5 lineup, with a 4.2L FSI V8 expected to appear in the range-topping RS5 model.