New Citroën DS5

Prepare for impending teasing over the next few days as Citroën has released the first in a likely series of preview images of the third member in its distinctive line of DS models, the DS5, which will receive its world premiere on 18 April at the Shanghai International Motor Show.

Aside from the image pictured above, the French carmaker is keeping mum on all the details simply stating that the “DS5 is set to bring distinctive new elegance and panache to the executive class”.

It is believed that the new DS5 will be based on the architecture of Citroën’s C5 mid-size model with engine options including the PSA Citroën-Peugeot group’s Hybrid4 diesel-electric hybrid powertrain.

The DS lineup was inaugurated in 2009 with the launch of the DS3 supermini, while Citroën expanded the range with the introduction of the DS4, a high-stance five-door hatchback, at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

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Audi 2012 Q3 SUV

If you’re done looking over the official gallery of the new Audi Q3 compact SUV, we have some good news as the Ingolstadt-based automaker has released the first video of the smallest Q series model yet. The new promotional clip shows the Q3 testing on an oval circuit while also offering us a quick walkaround of the exterior and interior.
The 2012 Audi Q3 will be one of many new production and concept models to be introduced in a world premiere at next week’s Shanghai International Auto Show in China. It will first go on sale in Germany this June, and shortly after to the rest of Europe. Audi has not yet decided if it will bring the Q3 to North America.
In European guise, Audi’s answer to the BMW X1 will offer buyers a choice of two gasoline and two diesel engines, all of which are four-cylinder units with a 2.0-liter displacement and turbocharging technology.

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Chevrolet Camaro 2012

For the 2012 model year, Chevrolet offers theCamaro with a host of improvements to celebrate the iconic pony car's 45th anniversary. The 3.6-liter V6 engine has been upgraded to develop 323 horsepower at 6,800 rpm, an increase of 11 horsepower over the 2011 engine while fuel consumption remains at 30 mpg (7.84 l/100 km) on the highway.
The revised engine is 20.5 pounds (9.3 kg) lighter and benefits from a thorough rework, including new cylinder head design, larger intake valves, new fuel pump and optimized-flow fuel injectors, among other changes.
2012MY Camaro SS coupes will be available with a new FE4 sport suspension, which improves handling. “We applied lessons learned from extensive track testing to better refine the suspension geometry for flatter cornering, a more neutral balance during hard turns, and minimized understeer at the limit,” says Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer.
The new suspension package includes retuned front and rear dampers, new solid front (23 mm) and rear (24 mm) stabilizer bars and 20-inch aluminum wheels.
The interior revisions for the 2012 model year Camaro concern the revamped instrument panel with different graphics and trim, a new steering wheel design (which looks exactly like the one found in the Sonic…) and a power lift feature for the passenger seat.


A new added feature is the Rear Vision Package, which consists of a rearview camera system. On the outside, the 2012 Camaro gets a new rear spoiler and the RS appearance taillamps as standard.
Chevrolet will also launch a 45th Anniversary Special Edition Camaro, set to be unveiled on April 15 in Arizona at the Camaro5 Fest II. The anniversary package will be offered on the top two trim levels (2LT and 2SS), for both coupe and convertible models. Special edition Camaros carry over all the 2012 upgrades and feature a unique rally stripe in red and silver painted over the Carbon Flash Metallic paint.
Model-specific exterior details include 45th Anniversary badges on the front fenders, new 20-inch dark silver wheels, RS-style taillamp lenses, fog lamp and taillamp bezels finished in dark silver, standard rear spoiler and HID headlamps and body-color roof molding.
On the inside, the 45th anniversary Camaro features a Jet Black interior with leather upholstery, a white instrument panel and door trim inserts, red, white and blue stitching on the seats, steering wheel, shift knob, door armrests and console lid. The 45th Anniversary logo can be found on the seats, steering wheel and sill plates.

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2012 Cadillac SRX

Less than two years after the market introduction of the new Cadillac SRX in North America in the summer of 2009, and General Motors has gone ahead and improved its premium crossover for the 2012 model year with a more powerful six-cylinder engine and additional equipment features.
The highlight for the 2012 Cadillac SRX is of course the new 3.6-liter direct-injected V6 engine with 300HP and 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) of torque, which replaces the current 3.0-liter direct-injected V6 engine with 265HP and 223 lb.-ft (302 Nm).
In addition to the higher output, GM says the new engine has a wider rpm range for its maximum torque while it also adds FlexFuel capability, meaning it can use either gasoline, E85 ethanol or any combination of the two. Performance figures and fuel economy ratings have not yet been finalized.
Other improvements on the 2012 model year SRX include standard Bluetooth phone connectivity on all models, a heated steering wheel on the luxury, performance and premium trim levels and door lock switches on the driver and passenger door panels. In addition, the 2012 SRX gains a new machined-face finish on the 20-inch wheels, which are standard on performance and premium trim levels.
The new SRX, which will be offered in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions, will arrive at Cadillac dealerships in late summer with pricing to be announced closer to the start of production.

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New Opel Astra GTC Sport

The production version of Opel’s stunning Astra GTC Concept from last year’s Paris Motor Show is scheduled to appear this summer with its public debut to take place at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show in September. However, thanks to Carscoop reader Javier who has a knack for finding future Opel models, we can give you a sneak peak of the production GTC. Javier discovered the picture of the completely undisguised Astra GTC on Opel’s official Facebook page earlier today.

As far as we can tell, the only visible changes over the Paris Concept are the lack of aero parts and the slightly different tail lamp design. However, the aggressive body kit and the larger alloy wheels of the concept study should make their way on the OPC version of the Astra GTC that will follow after the presentation of the standard models.

The sporty looking three-door version will be available with a similar engine lineup to the rest of the Astra models, offering buyers a variety of turbocharged gasoline and diesel units.

BMW 6-Series 2012

Given that the first examples of BMW’s new 6-Series Convertible will begin arriving in dealerships this spring followed by the Coupe model in the fall, it doesn't come to much of a surprise that tuners have started working on their packages for the Bavarian GT. After the announcements from AC Schnitzer and Hamann Motorsports, it’s time for Prior Design to preview its tune for new 6er.

The German tuner is keeping mum on the details but the teaser images reveal a new bodykit that includes an M-style front bumper with a spoiler lip, hood scoops, front fender air vents, side skirts and a rear bumper that incorporates a diffuser. The blacked out grille kidneys and alloy wheels plus the bespoke exhaust tail pipes round of the visible changes.

There’s no word yet if Prior Design’s tune includes any performance upgrades but the German firm said it will come out with more details soon.

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2011 Ford Escape

It’s a wonder how the Ford Escape has been running for the better part of the decade now and yet there hasn’t been a whole lot to talk about as far as dramatic changes on the SUV are concerned. And, the 2011 model looks to be no different, either. Sure, it’s had a some changes here and there over the years, but for the better part of its lifetime, the escape seems to have been a vehicle that Ford continuously pays little attention to. The growing concern that the Escape is already showing its age must be one reason why Ford has bared plans of releasing the next-generation Escape in 2012.

For now, the 2011 Escape hasn’t changed much from the previous years’ models, although it does come with some new technological features, including a new HD Radio that syncs in fantastically with the brand’s SYNC entertainment system. It’s hard not to dismiss the Escape, but given the fact that not a whole has changed, we’re thinking that we’ll all be better off to just wait for the next-gen model coming out next year.

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