More Reader Spy Shots: Kia's Small MPV Snapped in the Czech Republic

Carscoop readers Vladimir Pekulas and Jan Mlejnek bagged these shots of Kia's forthcoming mini-MPV on the highway near Mlada Boleslav in the Czech Republic. If you take a closer look at the pics after the jump, you'll see that the man sitting in the passenger's seat of the Kia test car retaliated against our readers by taking or pretending to take, photos of them also... But anyways, let's refresh our memory on Kia's new model which has yet to be named.

The five-seater MPV is in effect the production version of Kia's No3 Concept study that was shown for the first time in Geneva earlier this year. The Korean automaker's retort to the likes of the Honda Jazz, Opel Meriva and Citroen C3 Picasso uses the same architecture as the Kia Soul and Hyundai i20.

It is anticipated that the small MPV's engine range will comprise of 1.6-liter petrol and diesel units, both producing an output of 126HP, while certain markets may also receive a 115HP 1.6-liter diesel along with a range-topping 2.0-liter gasoline engine making 142HP.

Kia will most probably swoop the covers off the mini-MPV at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September with European sales set to start before the end of the year. Like the European market Cee'd, the MPV will be produced at the Hyundai Group's new plant in the Czech Republic.

"Děkuji" Vladimir Pekulas & Jan Mlejnek for the pics!

New Dacia SUV Model Scooped without any Camouflage!

A member of a Dacia enthusiast forum has just posted these photographs of what appears to be the Romanian automaker's forthcoming all-wheel drive SUV model that is said to be named after the Duster concept study which was previewed at this year's Geneva Show. However, given that the vehicle pictured here and the concept study share nothing in common in terms of styling, we're not going to draw any definite conclusions as there is the possibility that this crossover may be an entirely different SUV model altogether. Until we find out more, hit the jump for more pics.

Source: Daciaclub , Via: Promotor - Thanks for the tip Silviu!

2010 Land Cruiser Facelift Photos Appear on Arabic Site

While Toyota has already revealed an updated version of its larger Land Cruiser V8 (also known with the 200 moniker) in 2007, the smaller, latest generation Land Cruiser 3- and 5-door models that are sold in some markets as the Land Cruiser Prado, haven't changed much since their initial introduction. But today, a set of photographs, supposedly showing the facelifted 2010 Land Cruiser Prado, appeared on an Arabic Toyota enthusiast forum.

We only have the front and back ends to go by, but chances are there won't be any changes to the Land Cruiser's profile. Compared to the current model (pictured on the right), the SUV featured here gets a reworked fascia that appears to adopt styling cues from Toyota's latest European models like the Avensis. At the back, the Land Cruiser Prado boasts a new set of tail lights plus a revised tail gate design.

It remains to be seen if the vehicle featured in these photos is indeed the facelfited 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser.

In Europe, the current Land Cruiser is offered with two engine options, a 4.0-liter V6 petrol with 249 horsepower and a 3.0-liter turbo diesel that makes 173 horsepower.

Source: Toyota4arab , Via: es.Autoblog

New Suzuki Kizashi Sedan Spied Inside and Out by Carscoop Reader

Looks like Carscoop's readers are on a roll lately as only a week after Peter Mcabe spotted the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi in Virginia, Michael Kalkofen picked up these shots of the mid-size sedan at a hotel somewhere in Kansas. Michael told us that he found three lightly camouflaged Kizashi prototypes, two in dark silver and one in a red, parked right outside the hotel. Wasting no time, Michael managed to bag some excellent interior shots of the Kizashi prototype models that you can check out in detail below.

The photos reveal that Suzuki's Honda Accord challenger gets an Alfa Romeo-like instrument panel with two deeply set gauges. The dashboard is uncluttered with all controls neatly concentrated on the center stack.

The prototype models seen here have their front and back ends covered, but it doesn't take a pro to see that the production version will be less aggressively styled than the Kizashi 3 concept car that was shown in New York last year.

Official details on the range of engines remain scarce but look for a detuned version of the concept-car's 300HP 3.6-liter V6 that will power all four wheels and an entry-level four-banger that will most probably be offered in front-wheel drive form only.

Suzuki is expected to officially unveil the Kizashi before the end of the year.

Hat tip to Michael Kalkofen for the pics!

2011 BMW M5: Twin Turbocharged Uber Sports Sedan Spied

Just as we revealed the first official photos of the all-new BMW X1, our email box was flooded with a plethora of spy shots of the next-generation BMW M5 sports sedan that is due for release in early 2011. But wait, how can we be certain that the prototype seen here is actually an M5 and not any other mainstream version of the 5-Series sedan, codenamed F10, that's expected to arrive in 2010?

Well, first of all, the test mule is equipped with the M-division's trademark four tail pipes. Then there's the wider fenders, the massive disc brakes, the 'extra-large' alloy wheels shod in beefy tires and finally, the lowered ride height. Need any more proof?

The current M5 that is powered by a 507HP 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V10 engine is one of the most high acclaimed sports sedans in the market providing supercar-like performance and handling along with daily driver comfort and livability, and BMW intends to keep it that way with the M5's replacement.

According to Carscoop sources, BMW's engineers will ditch the current model's 5.0-liter V10 and replace it with a tweaked version of the more powerful, yet lighter, twin-turbo V8 that was introduced on the X5M and X6M crossovers.

In those two models, the compact 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 makes 555 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 680Nm or 501-lbs/ft of peak torque available from 1,500 to 5,650 rpm. In the M5, the turbocharged V8 could flirt closer to the 600 horsepower barrier. In comparison, today's V10 churns out 507HP and 520Nm or 383-lbs/ft of torque.

We must note though that some recent reports sourced from the UK suggest that BMW may go for for a twin-turbocharged V10 engine generating around 600 ponies.

Either way, power will be sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed twin-clutch transmission, and if we're lucky, BMW may offer a manual gearbox option as it does with the current M5 here in the U.S.

And for those that want a bit more practicality, BMW will also develop a Touring variant of the M5 that should arrive after the sedan model sometime in late 2011.