2013 BMW X1

If you're reading this from the U.S., the first thing you'll need to know about the facelifted X1 is that BMW has confirmed that it will be available in showrooms across the country this summer, with prices to be announced soon.

For the new model year, the X1 receives some subtle visual tweaks. On the outside, you'll find a redesigned front bumper, a larger double-kidney grille, revised headlamps and more sleeker mirror housings.

There are no photos of the rear end, but previous spy shots suggest that the changes will be limited to the re-sculptured bumper and tail light graphics.

Inside, we didn't notice any differences, but BMW may have added new colors and trim options.

For the U.S. market, the Bavarian company has confirmed the availability of its new 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder gasoline engine.

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2013 Lincoln MKZ Sedan

The production model doesn't seem to have changed much from the concept MKZ we saw at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show in January, as the only visible differences we spotted in these pictures are the bigger headlamps, the door handles, the larger exterior mirrors and of course, the smaller alloy wheels.

We don’t get any photos of the rear end, but we assume that the 2013 MKZ will keep the concept vehicle's full-width tail lamps.

The same appears to hold true for the interior with only modest changes here are and there such as the less extravagant but probably more practical and useful air vent designs.

We already know that the 2013 MKZ shares its running gear and platform architecture with the new Ford Fusion (Mondeo in Europe). This means it will certainly get the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost petrol unit with 240-horses as well as a hybrid version powered by a 2.0-liter four pot, but we're not sure yet what other engines will be on offer.

A couple of days ago, Lincoln also confirmed the availability of an optional glass roof measuring 15.2 square feet or 1.41 square meters.

Photo Credits: Lincoln via Autoforum

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2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Official images popped up on the internet today affording us our first view of the German firm's next generation full-size SUV.

The luxury crossover model is based on the latest M-Class featuring a longer wheelbase to create enough space to place seven seats arranged in three rows.

The interior and exterior styling is similar to the ML, though like its predecessor, the GL gets a boxier shaped rear-end, this time with a small kink making its appearance on the side window while also sporting larger and more pronounced tail lamps.

We're still waiting for Mercedes to come out with an official release, but it’s most likely that the 2013 GL will be offered with the same 3.0-liter turbo diesel producing 302HP and 273 lb.-ft. as the ML350 BlueTec 4Matic plus one or more V8 gasoline engine options.

Photo Credits: Mercedes via Autoblog.nl

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BMW i8 Spyder Concept

The i8 Spyder will receive the green light for production as well with a possible market launch to follow within the next two to three years. The i8 Spyder will make its world premiere at the Auto China Show 2012 in Beijing in late April.

While it shares its basic platform architecture and plug-in hybrid powertrain with the coupe, the Spyder is a strictly two seater model and has a slightly shorter wheelbase and overall length.

Other changes include the solid doors, which keep the 'butterfly' design swiveling upwards, the new colors and materials inside, and the redesigned rear-end that now features a transparent engine cover.

BMW doesn’t say or show if and what kind of top is provided to keep passengers protected from the elements of nature.

Like the coupe, the Spyder is based around a lightweight carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic structure with the same material used for the outer panels.

The i8 employs a plug-in hybrid powertrain combining two different power sources. The primary unit is a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine with 220HP (223PS) and 300 Nm (221 lb.ft) positioned behind the passenger cabin that's linked to a dual clutch transmission driving the rear wheels. The second power source is an electric motor delivering 129HP (132PS) that turns the front wheels.

The two power sources can work independently to drive the vehicle or in tandem, in which case, they generate an aggregate system output of 349HP (35PS) and peak torque of 550Nm (405.6 lb.ft).

BMW says that the i8 Spyder passes the 100km/h (62mph) yardstick in 5.0 seconds after take-off (i8 Coupe: 4.6 seconds), on its way to an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

The two-seater model is claimed to return a combined fuel consumption of just 3.0lt/100km, equivalent to fuel economy of 94.2mpg UK or 78.4mpg US, in the European test cycle.

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