Spy Shots: Saab 9-4X Interior Photo

Saab's new 9-4X SUV spotted entering the Nurburgring circuit in Germany. The 9-4X shares the same platform with Saturn Vue and Opel Antara but will be revised to fit the premium segment.

Sources have claimed this prototype has a 284 horsepower V6 engine under the hood mated to an automatic gear box. The dimensions of the model stand at a length 495cm and 192cm wide bringing an estimated weight to around 2180kg.

The car carries some similar design cues to the 9-4X BioPower Concept with the aggressive half oval grille. But the overall profile of the vehicle had to be heavily toned down for production.

The car is expected to make its world debut at next year's Detroit Motor Show before production commences at the GM factory in Mexico. - More pictures after the jump...

Skoda Yeti Heading For Production

Skoda's Yeti concept, which has been showed a few years ago, is heading for production. It will be introduced either at the London show or the next Geneva show.

With the new Yeti, Skoda will compete with small crossovers like Fiat Sedici, Suzuki SX4 and the forthcoming Toyota Urban Cruiser.

The Dodge Hornet To Be Built By Nissan

The Dodge Hornet was a compact car concept which had shown a few years ago. Now it's announced that the car getting closer to production.

Chrysler and Nissan haven't officially announced yet the details of the upcoming Nissan Versa-based vehicle they'll develop together. They only said that it'd be available as a 2010 model, but guesses are on a production Hornet. Chrysler vice president of international sales Thomas Hausch recently said that the Pentastar is working hard on a Hornet Study, and that Chrysler would "announce something" in the near future.

The Automotive News' article is further evidence that Nissan will build the production Hornet. Not the Chinese Automaker Chery like rumored before.

Honda FCX Clarity Production Begins

Honda has announced today the start of production for their next-generation, hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicle, FCX Clarity. The FCX Clarity is the first fuel cell car to be certified for regular commercial use in the U.S. Honda CEO Takeo Fukui and American Honda EVP John Mendel were also there to watch as the first production FCX Clarity was completed and driven off the line. The first customers of the new car were also there. Through a special three-year lease term at $600 per month which includes maintenance and collision insurance, film producer, Ron Yerxa of Bona Fide Productions, will receive the very first FCX Clarity in July, followed by actress Jamie Lee Curtis and actress Laura Harris, amongst others.

With a new dedicated fuel cell vehicle assembly line, which includes processes unique to fuel cell and hydrogen tank installation, the FCX Clarity is projected to produce a few dozen units within the next year, and approximately 200 units within three years. The FCX Clarity represents Honda's next-generation hydrogen powered fuel cell which produces electricity for an electric motor powering the drive wheels. With a range of up to 280 miles and combined fuel economy to 72 miles/kg-H2 (74 mpg GGE - miles per gallon gasoline gallon equivalent energy), the FCX Clarity produces only clean water vapor as emissions.

Additionally, American Honda has announced three dealerships, Power Honda Costa Mesa, Honda of Santa Monica and Scott Robinson Honda, each within close proximity of hydrogen fueling stations, will act as customer service points while American Honda will actually perform the required service at their specialized fuel cell service facility, in the greater Los Angeles area.

Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz GLK Production Version

We've already seen Mercedes' GLK Freeside and Townside concepts, so there's not much left to the imagination. Set to go on sale later this year, the GLK, caught here during winter testing, keeps design of the concepts.

The differences are in the details. The tester displays a less ornate grille and foglight setup, and the roof rack is also less complex.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz GLK Production Version Spy Shots

Rumored: Peugeot To Produce 308 RC-Z

PSA is seriously considering putting the 308 RC-Z into series production, and will make a formal announcement at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. The roof and backlight are formed from polycarbonate and use a double bubble shape to increase headroom for occupants, while at the same time evoking racers by Zagato. The upkick in the doors where they meet the rear quarter windows also offers visual amusement, too. Underhood is a direct-injected, 218-horsepower 1.6L four-cylinder that's shared with the MINI.

The 308 RC-Z could be a great and cheaper alternative to Audi's TT.

Geneva 2008 Preview: Alfa Romeo 8C Spider

We've already seen enough the Alfa 8C in both coupe and roadster bodystyles. At this year's Geneva show, Alfa will finally be showing the production version of the 8C Spider. Technical details carry over from the coupe version of the 8C Competizione.

The production version is expected to have just a little changed from the concept spider unveiled at Pebble Beach in 2005. As with the initial run of the coupe, only 500 spiders will be produced.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo 8C Spider

Geneva 2008 Preview: Production Toyota iQ Revealed

Two Toyota cars will be making their world debuts at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. One of these two cars is the Toyota iQ. Toyota will be showing the production-spec version of the iQ microcar, which was debuted as a concept last year in Frankfurt will be available in European market soon.

The microcar measures just under 3 meters in length, and it should be as wide and tall as a Yaris, if the iQ concept is an indication. For comparison, the Smart Fortwo is 2.5 m long. Unlike the Smart, the iQ has seating for three adults plus a child or additional cargo. It's reported that the iQ would get a 1.0L engine with stop/start functionality. The iQ will go into production at the end of this year.

Toyota Is Seriously Considering A-BAT

The US marke is ready for small trucks which fill th blank between full-sizers and compact pickups. While there are many suspicions about whether such a vehicle could be a sales success, Toyota is seriously considering the A-BAT concept, which debuted in Detroit as a vehicle that could slot in below the Tacoma.

Toyota execs are looking curiously how the public responds to the hybrid truck while it makes the rounds of the national show circuit. They hope that it garners the same amount of interest that the FJ Cruiser concept did.

Despite it is suspicious that a hybrid truck sporting some high-tech features like this is a viable product, Toyota wants to be at the forefront of the small truck revolution.

First Look: Chevrolet Volt Production Model

The Chevy Volt concept was certainly the star of the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. Most people who saw the concept car said it have to be built. I didn't take long for Bob Lutz and other GM officials to make it clear that a production version would have to change.

At the LA Auto Show last month Lutz said again that the production version would be different but still recognizable as a Volt. And now GM is giving the world its first glimpse of the production Volt. It looks like the Volt will be keeping the concept's main design elements.

If all goes as planned, the car will start rolling down the assembly line of the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly line in November 2010.

Production Ford Kuga Spied

The production version of Ford Kuga spied in Europe. We have seen the Ford Kuga in concept form at September's Frankfurt Motor Show.

The production model doesn't look very different from the concept. The Kuga will be in European Ford dealerships in spring 2008 powered by a variety of engines, including Ford's latest 2.0L turbodiesel.

The Kuga will probably debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March alongside the Fiesta/Verve.

Spy Shots: Hyundai Genesis Sedan

Some unmasked photos of Hyundai's RWD Genesis Sedan hit the web. And what you see is a cross between a Lexus LS and a BMW 5-Series sedan.

The front end looks very similar to the most expensive Lexus,

with a similar set of headlights, a spot-on grille, and similar bright

work. Out back, it appears that Hyundai took a pass on the classic Lexus C-pillar and used BMW 5-Series taillights too.

The big difference between the Genesis sedan and the vehicles it borrows from is that Hyundai's RWD V8 sedan priced in the $30,000 range.

[Make sure to make a little review/comment on post comments]