Volvo has submitted trademark filings for the terms C40 and C60, igniting speculation of new coupes under development.

The applications, spotted by Motor1, suggest the company may finally be moving forward with plans to expand its lineup with new two-door models.

The Swedish marque revealed its futuristic Concept Coupe (pictured) at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. Inspired by the P1800 of the 1960s, the concept showcased a sporty design language and the flexibility of the company’s Scalable Product Architecture (SPA).

The Concept Coupe is motivated by a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, pairing an electric motor with a 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder engine. The hybrid configuration has now become a production reality, featured in the XC90 T8, however the company has not yet brought the coupe to market.

Rumors circulating in the wake of the concept’s debut suggested Volvo had been considering limited production. The Concept XC Coupe and Concept Estate coupe were unveiled last year, further fueling hopes of a two-door production model in some form.

Dousing cold water on the idea late last year, a Volvo design manager claimed development was “put on hold” while the company focused on the new XC90. As the crossover and SUV segment continues to quickly expand, Volvo rumors have been dominated by talk of a Polestar-tuned XC90 and a production-bound XC40.

Despite the current focus on crossovers, a coupe is still viewed as a potential production reality as Volvo continues to expand its lineup toward the end of the decade.

Live images by Ronan Glon.

Volkswagen has reportedly launched an amnesty program for workers involved in the emissions-cheating scandal.

Under pressure from government investigators in the US and abroad, the company implemented the program to entice employees to come forward with information relevant to the inquiries, according to a Reuters report that cites German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Any lower-level employees involved in the scandal will not be fired and have been promised immunity from damage claims if they contribute to the investigation, however higher-paid managers and executives cannot take advantage of the program.

Notably, VW is said to have set a deadline of November 30 for the program. The company has publicly called for patience, arguing that efforts to bring offending vehicles into compliance have taken highest priority.

A protracted investigation is viewed as a long-term threat to VW’s recovery from the scandal, potentially causing more damage to the brand’s public image. Until a full explanation is made public, the company also leaves itself open to accusations of intentional evasion.

A few engineers are said to have already admitted to participating in the emissions-cheating scheme. Talking to German press, several employees accused executives and managers of setting ‘unattainable’ goals that could only be accomplished by an emissions defeat system. The claims are corroborated by separate reports detailing a culture of “fear and intimidation” permeating the management structure, enforced from the top down by former chairman Ferdinand Piech.

Mazda has dropped a few more hints pointing to production plans for the RX-Vision concept.

The company did not disclose technical details when the concept was unveiled last month in Tokyo, however chief executive Masamichi Kogai recently suggested a production car could ride on an adaptation of the MX-5 Miata’s platform.

When asked for more details on the RX-Vision’s modernized SkyActiv-R rotary powerplant, an unnamed executive has told Motoring that “you’ll have to wait until 2017 … that’s our rotary’s 50th anniversary year.”

Citing other sources “close to Mazda,” the latest report claims engineers are currently focused on a hybrid turbocharger configuration for the ’16X’ rotary engine, powered by dual 800cc rotors and allegedly capable of producing around 450 horsepower.

The setup is expected to take advantage of an electrically-driven compressor capable of spooling up at low rpm, paired with a traditional exhaust-driven turbocharger that takes over as the tach climbs higher. The electric motor is said to be powered by Mazda’s i-ELoop capacitor technology, first introduced in the Mazda6.

The sources also suggest a production RX model will integrate its transmission on the rear axle, improving weight distribution. Lightweight construction materials, including aluminum and carbon-fiber, are expected to keep overall heft below 3,086 pounds.

Mazda is believed to have reassigned engineers from the MX-5 Miata project to the new RX model. The comments pointing to 2017 could represent the first public debut of the production car, rather than a production window. Other reports have suggested the new RX could arrive on the market by 2020, coinciding with the brand’s 100th birthday.

Live images by Ben Hsu.

Following an earlier teaser from Mercedes-Benz, a leaked set of photos has fully unveiled the 2017 SL Roadster. Mercedes’s updated SL will make its first public appearance at next week’s LA auto show.

Mercedes is keeping most of the SL’s new features under wraps, but the 2017 model will be a light refresh rather than a major overhaul. The current SL was totally revamped for 2012, so an all-new version of the iconic roadster is probably still a few years out.

The updated car will, however, feature a new front end with styling more in line with the rest of the Mercedes portfolio. That nip and tuck, which was fully revealed by World Car Fans, will include new headlights with an LED “brow,” a diamond grille similar to the unit found on the S-Class Coupe and a more aggressive-looking lower bumper. The rear of the car will be treated to a similar updated, with new-look LED taillights.

The interior of the SL carries over with minimal changes. A few more color choices could be added to the mix, however.

Powertrains should carryover as well. That means a 3.0L bi-turbo V6 as the base, with a 4.7L bi-turbo V8 standing as the optional motor. Fire-breathing AMG SL63 and SL65 models should make a return appearance.

Following its LA debut, look for the revised Mercedes-Benz SL to go on sale sometime next year as a 2017 model.

Ford has begun testing autonomous prototypes at the University of Michigan’s simulated city.

The facility is claimed to be the world’s first controlled environment specifically designed for developing autonomous and connected vehicle technologies. A wide range of simulated real-world obstacles are spread across the 32-acre site, including a network of roads and intersections with traffic signs and working signals.

Ford claims to be the first automaker to take advantage of the research center, known as Mcity, after testing autonomous vehicles at other facilities for more than a decade.

“Testing Ford’s autonomous vehicle fleet at Mcity provides another challenging, yet safe, urban environment to repeatedly check and hone these new technologies,” said Ford development head Raj Nair. “This is an important step in making millions of people’s lives better and improving their mobility.”

An accompanying video shows a Ford Fusion Hybrid traveling through the simulated urban streets. The sedan has been outfitted with an array of laser scanners, ultrasonic sensors and cameras to create a virtual map of the surroundings.

Ford suggests Mcity allows engineers to test certain scenarios, such as running a red light, that cannot be safely or consistently replicated on public roads.

“The goal of Mcity is that we get a scaling factor. Every mile driven there can represent 10, 100 or 1,000 miles of on-road driving in terms of our ability to pack in the occurrences of difficult events,” said UM associate professor Ryan Eustice.

Aside from Mcity, Ford is also testing its self-driving technology on public roads and at its own development facilities in Dearborn and Romeo, Michigan.