SEMA News - December 2009
Spy Shots: Toyota FT-86, BMW M5, Lexus LF-A, Mitsubishi cX
The images and information provided in “Spy Photos” are supplied by the spy shooters at Brenda Priddy & Co. “Spy Photos” are included each week in SEMA eNews, the association’s electronic newsletter. To receive your copy of SEMA eNews, e-mail enews@sema.org.
Toyota FT-86
When It Hits: Production of the FT-86 in Japan is expected near the end of 2011.
What Priddy Says: While the Toyota FT-86 concept won’t officially debut for a couple of weeks at the Tokyo Motor Show, testing for the production model has already begun. Priddy’s shooters caught this bizarre-looking mule—one part Cadillac CTS, one part Volkswagen Corrado—lapping the Nürburgring. “Identified by our European spies as a FT-86 mule, this development car appears to be one car in the front and a totally different car from the B-pillar rearward,” Priddy says. “The air diffuser that looks to be made from tape and cardboard sitting atop the trunk lid is our favorite part!” When this car starts production, it will likely have its rear wheel powered by a 2.0L Subaru Boxer engine. The overall size of the car should be slightly bigger than a Pontiac Solstice.
BMW M5
When It Hits: Production is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2010 as a 2011 model.
What Priddy Says: BMW’s M division has started testing of its seriously fast M5 sedan, and Priddy has some revealing photos of a Nürburgring shakedown. Up front, expect an M-style front fascia with larger, more aggressive intakes along with “M” fender vents. Out back is the traditional M quad-exhaust setup. This photo also shows larger brakes with cross-drilled rotors and sportier wheels and tires. The current M5 is powered by a 5.0L V10, but this latest M5 may receive the twin-turbo, direct-injected 4.4L V8 used in the X5 and X6 “M” models.
Lexus LF-A
When It Hits: The Lexus LF-A is expected to go on sale in 2010.
What Priddy Says: With cameras mounted inside and even a camera car ahead, Priddy’s photographers caught the upcoming Lexus LF-A supercar in Hollywood mode with nearly zero camouflage. The most ambitious effort yet from Lexus, the LF-A is expected to arrive with a 4.8L front-/mid-mounted V10 making more than 550 hp. It’s also expected to carry an appropriately powerful price when it goes on sale—around $400,000.
Mitsubishi cX
When It Hits: This five-passenger CUV will be a global product and will go on sale first in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2010. European sales will start shortly after in early 2011.
What Priddy Says: Mitsubishi first showed off its cX crossover concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, and the sub-Outlander CUV has now hit the roads in Europe. Priddy’s photographers captured these snaps of a near-production-ready cX.
“The overall shape of the cX concept seems intact, although it looks as if the production model has grown a bit, especially behind the rear doors,” Priddy said. “It comes as no surprise that Mitsubishi’s ‘fighter-jet’ nose—along with aggressive headlights and taillights—appear on this test car. We can also see that the character lines on the doors of the cX concept have translated to the production model.”
It’s still unclear whether this new car will ride on Mitsubishi’s Colt or GS platform (the latter underpinning the Lancer). Power is expected from a line of naturally aspirated four cylinders, the top-line model possibly offering a turbocharged powerplant.
Photos Copyright Brenda Priddy & Company. Reuse or reproduction without the copyright holder’s consent is prohibited.
