Lexus LF-Ch: Production Version of Five-Door Hatchback Rival to BMW 1-Series Scooped!

An anonymous julino billym reader dropped these scoop photos of what appears to be the production version of the Lexus LF-Ch hatch into our mailbox this morning. The LF-Ch concept model made its world debut at last year's Frankfurt motor show with Lexus making it more than clear that it would build the five-door hatchback.

"Let me stress that you are not looking at a market study … or hearing about vague intentions" Andy Pfeiffenberger, vice president of Lexus Europe, told journalists during the presentation of the car in Frankfurt.

"This LF-Ch concept is a clear indication of our entry plans for the compact premium segment in the near future, with the world's first ever premium compact, full hybrid."

The overall shape of the plastic wrapped model depicted in these spy photos is almost identical to the LF-Ch concept right down to the rear window, though the design does appear to have been toned down a notch.

For example, gone are the 'hidden' read door handles that have been replaced by conventional handles while the tail lights and rear bumper design are new.

If the car pictured here is indeed the LF-Ch, then there's a strong possibility that we may see the hatchback model in the flesh at the Geneva Salon next March.

Lexus plans to offer the premium hatch that will rival cars like the BMW 1-Series and Audi A3 with both conventional and hybrid powertrains.

Hat tip to our anonymous reader for the shots!

VIDEO: MINI Drops New Teaser for Crossover, Official Presentation on February 7

MINI's love affair with the psychedelic-looking swirly camouflage that it uses to wrap its prototype models during testing is so strong that the British firm decided to employ the same black and yellow design in its latest teaser video for the new Crossover model.

The film doesn't show anything that we haven't seen before, but MINI did announce that the official reveal of the crossover model will take place online on February 7. From what we gather, the automaker will most likely release the first official pics on that date.

The latest member of the MINI family is a small crossover measuring around four-meters in length that will be offered with an optional four-wheel drive system, both a first for the automaker. Sales are scheduled to start in Europe later this year and in the US in early 2011.

2011 BMW 3-Series Coupe and Convertible Facelift Brochure Pics Leaked, New 335is with 322HP

The refreshed 2011 BMW 3-Series Coupe and Convertible will be officially revealed on Sunday, but a German forum has scored a leaked brochure giving us an early preview of the facelift models. In typical BMW fashion, the cosmetic changes are modest and are limited on both models to subtly updated head lights and tail lamps, reworked double kidney grille and new bumpers.

The most important upgrades are hidden under the hood as according to julino billym sources, the 2011 model year 3-Series Coupe and Convertible models will be offered in Europe with revised four-cylinder and six-cylinder diesel engines.

BMW has also replaced the 335i's 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six N54 gasoline engine with the new twin-scroll single-turbo N55 unit with unchanged power and torque outputs but with better fuel economy and lower CO2 Emissions.

A previously leaked document from BMW Canada also makes word of the all-new 335is Coupe and Convertible that close the gap between the 300HP 335i (306HP in Euro spec) and the 414HP M3 (420HP for the Euro model).

According to the sales release, as was the case with the new Z4is roadster, the 335is will use a more powerful version of the N54 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline six of the outgoing 335i and not the single-turbo N55 engine of the facelift model.

The 335is' output is rated at 322HP (+22HP over the 335i) and 332 lb-ft of peak torque (369 lb-ft with the overboost function). Buyers will have the choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed double clutch transmission.

The new sporty variants of the 3-Series Coupe and Convertible range will be distinguished by the M Aerodynamics package that includes unique front and rear bumpers as well as 18-inch alloy wheels.

Via: Motor-Talk and E90post - Thanks for the tip Nikos!

2011 Kia Sportage Compact SUV Revealed in Official Patent Filings

The next generation of Kia's Sportage compact SUV has been given away through a series of designs that were made for the European Union's patent office. Note however that there's a small chance that the patent images could be depicting an almost production-ready study destined for either the Geneva Salon in March or the Seoul Motor Show in April.

The reason why we're saying this is the use of some specific styling features such as the chrome trim, the tail lamp arrangement, the alloy wheel designs and the styling of the lower part of the front bumper, all of which look suspiciously conceptual (see the spy shots here).

But even so, what you're looking at here is what you'll get more or less when the 2011 Sportage arrives at the Korean automakers dealers either towards the end of the year or early 2011.

Like all Kias penned under the guiding hand of former Audi designer Peter Schreyer, the new Sportage is a much more attractive proposition than the outgoing model.

Under the bodywork, the Sorento's smaller sibling shares its hardware with the new Hyundai Tucson (called iX35 in Europe and other markets).

That said, don't expect any surprises under the hood with the North American Sportage being offered with the same 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter four cylinder engines coupled to six-speed transmissions as the Tuscon.

Likewise, the European market Sportage will get three diesels including a 115HP 1.7-liter unit, and a 2.0-liter engine with 134HP and 184HP, and two gasoline units with a displacement of 1.6-liter and 2.0-liters producing 140HP and 166HP respectively.

Source: EU Patent Office , Via: RyanoKeefe

2010 Honda CR-Z Sales Brochure: The Full Monty in Pictures

From what we know, Honda will toss the covers off the production version of the CR-Z hybrid coupe at the Detroit Show on Monday afternoon. And even though we've shown you brochure images of both the standard and MUGEN variants, as well as still video shots of the CR-X's spiritual successor, julino billym reader S.Z. pointed us to a Japanese blog that just posted more than 30 scanned pictures of what is said to be the domestic market sales leaflet. Hit the jump to check out the complete set of photos.

Via: Gazoo G-blog - Hat tip to S.Z!