BMW has released information and photos on the all-new 2008 1-Series coupe, which will go on sale in Spring 2008. Photos and full information are available after the jump.

The 1-Series Coupe will be available to the United States in two 3.0 liter versions: the naturally aspirated 128i and the twin-turbocharged 135i. Powered by a 3.0-liter, 230 horsepower inline 6-cyinder engine that generates 200 lb-ft of torque, the 128i Coupe will feature Valvetronic valvetrain management and aluminum/magnesium contruction–core elements of BMW’s EfficientDynamics. The 135i Coupe features BMW’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque from as low as 1,400 rpm. With its direct piezo gasoline injectors, twin low-mass turbochargers and air-to-air intercooling, the 135i Coupe accelerates to 62 mph in 5.3 seconds. Both engines feature on-demand engine coolant pumps that improve fuel economy and reduce parasitic losses for increased output. BMW hasn’t released acceleration figures for the base 128i.

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Say hello to the first naked shots of the 2008 Honda Accord. Although HoMoCo is still doing long-lead press reviews of the 15-year leader in US sales, Brenda Priddy’s spies captured the 2008 Accord just as it stepped out of its fascia-obscuring sports bra and into a photo shoot for a Canadian brochure. Here’s what we know. Obviously, expect the new model to sport some serious frontal design changes. That new look’s being eclipsed in the marketing materials only by the Honda’s comments about the Accord’s higher horsepower, better fuel economy and lower emissions for the V6-powered model. Although there’s no word from Honda, we’re anticipating a 3.5-liter V6 with about 270-horsepower, as well as the base 180-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder version.

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Right as the filming for Star Wars drew to a close, Mark Hamill–he played Luke Skywalker, for you heathen non-SW fans–found himself involved in a serious car crash that left the famous Jedi with a busted and broken face. His injuries were serious enough to require a number of reconstructive surgeries. Although the procedures repaired the damage, and he did look familiar, something was unmistakably different. The youthful giddiness and raw excitement that characterized Luke Skywalker in that first film were lost in Hamill’s subsequently more serious visage, and Skywalker’s character was more mature and more reasoned in the next two films.

I bring up this bit of geekery because a similar fate has befallen the latest Infiniti G coupe, the G37. Like Hamill, this car resembles its former self–the G35 coupe–and it, too, has lost its youthful giddiness, its raw excitement. This latest Infiniti is more mature, more reasoned, and, yes, more grown-up than the outgoing G35.

But Wait! It’s Still Good!

This is not to imply that the new G is bad–far from it. It’s a wonderfully capable, fast, drop-dead gorgeous, and luxurious machine that anyone shopping for a sports coupe would be certifiably nuts to ignore. It appeals to a far wider audience of folks than the old car, and the G37 will likely sell many more copies per year, too. The G37 turns out to have a bit more sports tourer in its blood than did the G35, that’s all.

An Air of Refinement

The biggest culprits in the personality shift are the steering and driveline. Some of us thought the steering, for example, feels best and most confidence-inspiring in a straight line, grand touring-style. Even though the rack talks loudly enough in corners, there’s more feel and precision on-center than in the ensuing 40 degrees to either direction. The outgoing G35 coupe’s steering was lighter and a bit more precise, which lent a bit more of a twinkle-toed, light-on-its-feet-type feel to the overall package. (The G35 was also more than 200 pounds lighter than the G37.)

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Japanese automaker Mitsubishi will produce its a five-door hatchback version of its 2008 Lancer, based on the Lancer Sportback concept car, shown nearly two years ago at the Frankfurt auto show.

The company confirmed plans to produce the car in an announcement this week detailing the launch of the new Lancer sedan.

“With its coupe-like profile — modeled upon the exciting 2005 Frankfurt concept car of the same name — it will specifically target hatchback-minded European customers,” the company said.

The hatchback will follow shortly after the new Lancer Sedan and Lancer Evolution arrive at dealers. It will likely be sold as a 2009 model.

Expect the car’s overall shape to be similar to the concept (pictured), with a face and taillights very similar the production Lancer sedan.

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Jiangling Motor’s Landwind X6 SUV made headlines in 2005 when it received a score of zero in a German crash test. If the results of crash tests conducted this week by Germany’s ADAC are any indication, Chinese automakers haven’t made much progress when it comes to safety.

The Brilliance BS6 sedan scored one out of a possible five stars. “The BS6 sedan performed almost as badly as the Landwind,” ADAC spokesman Maximilian Maurer told the AFP.

“After Landwind’s 2005 test result, it stopped being sold in Europe,” he said. The BS6 could face the same fate.

The ADAC said a person would probably not survive a crash in the BS6 at 64 km/h.

 

 

 

The Cadillac Escalade might be a symbol of excess among wealthy American consumers, but spy photographers have found proof the big SUV is about to show its greener side.

Cadillac engineers have been caught testing an Escalade Hybrid prototype in the Nevada desert. Unlike the Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids, the Escalade Hybrid won’t feature any unique styling cues to set it apart. Instead, its driver will have to rely on the relatively subtle badging to announce their eco-consciousness to their friends.

Those Hybrid badges were covered with electrical tape on the desert-bound test models. Despite the tape, it was easy to read the raised “Hybrid” lettering when viewed from the right angle. A peek inside the cockpit revealed a large green Hybrid insignia on the Escalade’s tachometer.

Two electric motors will assist the Escalade’s V8 engine, resulting in a 25 percent increase in fuel economy. Cadillac is expected to get the Escalade Hybrid to showrooms this fall.

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Over the past few months, rumors have intensified about the sale of Ford’s three remaining premier automotive brands — Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo. With BMW out of the running for Volvo, Renault has emerged as a leading candidate, Swedish daily Dagens Industri has reported.

The report did not elaborate on the talks between Ford and Renault, but indicated Volvo was the only brand the French automaker was interested in. Shortly after rumors recirculated about the sale of Ford’s three PAG brands, Renault-Nissan denied an interest in buying Jaguar and Land Rover, but did not mention Volvo.

Earlier this year, BMW is believed to have considered acquiring Volvo in order to share front-wheel-drive technology and production facilities with its Mini brand, thus increasing profitability. The German luxury maker ultimately decided against the idea, however.

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New prototypes for the Audi RS6 have been spotted in Germany, this time with much less disguise. Eleven new photos show the car free from the annoying black-and-white checkered camouflage. The extent of the changes over the Audi S6 are now clearly visible.

The LED light strips on the S6’s front bumper have been removed on this RS6. New front air-intakes are larger, and they wrap around the front bumper allowing for some integrated brake cooling ducts up front. The front intakes are highlighted by low flares which continue along the side, between the wheels, making for a more aggressive stance.

The rear bumper has been reworked significantly. Large single exhaust pipes replace the S6’s dual-tip design, and an aggressive rear diffuser dominates the rear bumper.

Visual differences aside, the real story is in the RS6’s performance potential. Sources predict the addition of a turbocharger to the S6’s 5.2-liter V10 engine, which should generate something between 550 and 600 horsepower. Given this RS6’s nearly production finish, a debut this Fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show seems likely.

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BMW’s already given away the preamble to its plan for the refigured M3. That is, the coupe, which sports a new 4.0-liter V8 engine based on the 5.0-liter V10, producing 420 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque at 3,900 rpm. It debuted at the Geneva auto show this past March, followed by a quick reveal of the production model in April, sans a full slate of details.

The sedan version, yet to be revealed, will be the first four-door M3 in a decade, and should provide ample amusement opportunities for Audi RS4 pilots and their ashen passengers on canyon roads. A new set of shots, taken on the Nurburgring, hint at a similar frontal design as the coupe, though the lack of a carbon-fiber roof, which may be a pricey option on the coupe. Frankfurt, ho!

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More Spy shots on the M3 here.