Ford Vertrek Concept Previews Next Escape and Kuga SUVs

These are the first recognized images of Ford's Detroit Show-bound Vertrek strategy research, which previews a common replace the Western industry Kuga cross-over and the South United states Avoid SUV.

The compact-sized style is based on the underpinnings of the Aim hatch out and is power by Ford's 1.6-liter turbocharged EcoBoost gas website offering start and stop engineering for enhanced energy proficiency.

The development style, which could hit industry place as early as 2012, will most likely lose many of the concept's awesome features such as the spectacular cup top, as well as fibre aero-pack and of course, the simply conceptual internal, but will keep the primary appearance of the strategy.

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Report: Next Mini to undergo major styling overhaul

The minds at Mini may be itching to stretch their design legs with the next generation Cooper. According toAutocar, BMW design guru Adrian van Hooydonk said that the third-generation hatchback will be a bigger design leap than the current generation, though he wasn’t exactly willing to dive into more detail on the look of the vehicle. Hooydonk did say that his army of artists is approaching the car with a clean sheet of paper, with a special focus on the interior and its central-mounted speedo. Still, we’d be surprised if the company decided to walk too far away from the brand’s core image.

The original Cooper soldiered on with nary a design change for 40 years before finally getting the axe. To some degree, Mini has chained itself to that legacy, and while the addition of new models like the Clubmanand Countryman have helped the brand distance itself from the Mini mold, we’re guessing that future iterations of the Cooper will still be easily identifiable as members of the pint-sized family.

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Report: Next Chrysler Sebring to be built in Italy?

If ever there was a model in the Chrysler line up that needs updating, it’s the Sebring. While the car was a perfectly capable competitor when it debuted way back in 1995, subsequent generations have left it as nothing more than rental-fleet fodder. But if a report from Automotive News is to be believed, that may change significantly when the next iteration of the sedan debuts in 2013. According to AN, Fiat has its eyes on producing a new mid-sized four-door in Turin, Italy just for the Chrysler brand, with the new sedan being sold exclusively in the U.S.

While it may no longer carry the Sebring name once it hits our shores, the car will likely be a spiritual successor to the company’s Camry-fighter. Beyond that, details are scarce as to what will be under the hood, what gearboxes will be offered or how much it will cost.

Fiat also made mention of the fact that starting in 2012, the company will build a new small sedan here in the Land of the Free that will be sold under the Chrysler banner. That may mean the company is looking toward sending the near unlovable Dodge Avenger out to pasture or eying a replacement for the Dodge Caliber. Either way, Chrysler is getting a much needed infusion of new metal sooner rather than later.

From autoblog

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