2011 Honda Civic

Work on the new Civic has begun! Our spies caught a prototype of the next-generation Honda hatchback out testing in the Italian mountains.

The current model made its debut back in 2005 but has continued to look fresh thanks to its radical design touches, a feature the new car promises to carry on when it arrives early in the spring of 2012.

Because it's such a long way off, the prototype snapped here looks very similar to the old car, and the wheelbase is unchanged, but it does have a slightly wider track overall dimensions won’t differ much from today’s model.

The test car was disguised with a fake front suggesting we’re looking at the old Civic, but one closer look reveals the front bumper is actually mounted yet in front of the real piece that is therefore hidden underneath.

Power will continue to come from four-cylinder petrol and turbodiesel units delivering between 80 and 140 hp. The current 1.3-litre, 115-hp hybrid motor will be carried over for the new model, too.

Citroen C4 2010

The transformer C4 has changed shape! The successor to Citroen’s robot-advertised hatch is out in the open, as the firm throws off the covers ahead of its debut at October’s Paris Motor Show.

The rounded shape of the current car has been ditched in favour of a more conventional look, with sculpted body panels that echo the C5 large family car and latest C3 supermini.

Interlocking creases along the doors and bold fluting in the bonnet combine with chrome accents and a sporty rear spoiler to add a dash of excitement.

The exterior’s precise, chiselled appearance is matched by the interior. Gone is the fixed-hub steering wheel in favour of a conventional four-spoke design, while heavily bolstered seats and asymmetrical air vents add a touch of class.

Although the dashboard is very much driver-oriented, Citroen claims that it has concentrated on delivering a comfortable and refined experience on the move, rather than sporty handling.

A wide range of efficient engines will be offered, including turbocharged petrols and HDi diesels. These will be headed by a new line-up of ‘micro-hybrid’ 1.6-litre e-HDi powertrains, which use regenerative braking to feed power back into the battery to avoid drain from the alternator. Along with stop-start and low rolling resistance tyres, these will ensure emissions start from 109g/km initially, and will dropto 99g/km on future variants.

A three-door version is expected soon after launch next year, but a full hybrid drivetrain will be restricted to the DS4 Highrider, the forthcoming crossover based on this car.

There will be plenty of scope for driver personalisation inside the C4. The colour of the instrument display can be altered, a range of different polyphonic sound alerts are available to choose from, and some models will have massage front seats – a feature until now only seen on top-spec executive limousines. The C4 won’t be short on the latest Citroen technologies, either, led by the new eTouch system. Aiming to improve awareness of fuel consumption, this device monitors driving patterns and economy.

The clever system also allows you to check the car’s state of health, providing notification when it is due a trip to the garage. Other hi-tech highlights comprise a blind-spot monitoring system, cornering headlights and a speed limiter which is fitted with memory settings.

2010 Mercedes CLS

Get a load of this! Mercedes is pulling the wraps off this stunning new Shooting Break at the Beijing Motor Show this week. The dramatic-looking machine follows in the footsteps of the two-door Concept Fascination and bold F800 – signalling a new dawn for the firm’s design.

From the B-pillar forwards, the Shooting Break reveals Mercedes’ next CLS – due to make its debut at this October’s Paris Motor Show. The ornate LED headlights, which contain 71 individual diodes, will be toned down for production. But the elegantly sculpted bumper and striking creases, which run down each flank, are all likely to be included on the final car. Also making the cut is the stylish ‘soft nose’, which not only looks great, but also conforms to the latest pedestrian impact crash test regulations.

From the B-pillar back, the show car reveals an altogether different insight into Mercedes’ plan for the CLS – with the model line-up’s first estate. The concept is the work of the brand’s president of design, Gorden Wagener. Since moving from his post as head of Mercedes Advanced Design in America in 2008, the German has made his presence felt. The new SLS AMG and E-Class set the tone for his work, which is focused on creating streamlined and aerodynamic cars.

The Shooting Break follows this format, particularly with the tailgate, which has an integrated spoiler to cut drag. However, while the side glass features a smooth coupé-style curve, the roofline is more similar to that of an estate than a car like rival BMW’s 5-Series GT – so rear luggage room is less compromised.

Wagener says that his favourite period in design is Art Deco, and that is evident from the newcomer’s retro interior. In particular, the front and rear air vent grilles, which are overlaid with aluminium, and the ornate Mercedes script on the door sills, make functional parts of the cabin decorative.

Luxury is paramount – the concept is a strict four-seater, with a large panoramic roof helping to bathe the interior with light. Everywhere you look is lavish chocolate brown and cream leather. There are some clever details, too, especiallyin the load space, which incorporates secure storage for items ranging in size from laptops to golf balls.

Mercedes hasn’t shied away from the striking design themes which were so well received in the original CLS. The pronounced curve that runs around the dash top and blends into the front doors is retained. But the car is being taken upmarket, as the quality of the switchgear on the centre console is very similar to that in the latest S-Class – even the analogue clock is carried over.

Under the bonnet, the concept previews Mercedes’ new family of direct-injection V6 engines, which will debut in the facelifted CL in the summer. Called V-generation, the 3.5-litre unit produces 302bhp and 370Nm, and features Mercedes’ fuel-saving BlueEfficiency technology.

The rear end may be more concept than reality, but company bosses are eager to build it. As BMW has done with the 5-Series GT, Mercedes is keen to increase the number of niche models it spins off each platform.

Confusingly, the E-Class Coupé and Cabrio are based on the underpinnings from the latest C-Class. The new CLS saloon will use mechanicals from the E-Class, and the Shooting Break version would extend the reach of the platform – and aim to offer the same experience as the 5 GT.