A leaked photo purporting to show the Jaguar XFR-S SportBrake has surfaced, melding the performance of the XFR-S and the utility of an XF wagon.

Following the same formula of its sedan sibling, the XFR-S SportBrake drops a supercharged 5.0-liter V8, good for 542 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque, into the standard longroof XF. It’s backed by an 8-speed automatic transmission and according to Autocar, who leaked the stories, will hit 60 mph from a dead stop in 4.6 seconds and will reach top speeds around 180 mph.

Though no official word has come from Jaguar, it’s expected that the XFR-S SportBrake will also receive a sport suspension and a slew of aero bits dipped in bright blue. The front fascia matches almost exactly that of the XFR-S, with larger, more angular lower air intakes and a blacked out grille. A fender vent aft of the front wheel and side skirts further set the sport version apart.

Production figures are unknown at this time, but the XFR-S sedan saw limited production with only 100 examples slated for US shores. Sadly, the expected number of XFR-S SportBrakes sold in America will likely be zero, as the standard XF wagon is not offered here at all.

The 2015 Ford Focus was supposed to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show next month but a the French Ford site has leaked the photos in advance of the showing.

The main difference between it the 2014 model is a mid-cycle facelift, and what a face it’s gained. The front end is now dominated by Ford’s five-sided “Aston Martin” style grille, and the rest of the nose has been redesigned to follow suit with the Blue Oval’s corporate look.

Thanks to the larger grille, its lower air intakes are much smaller now, and new fog light openings with a touch of silver trim lend an upscale look to the compact. Headlights, too, have been reshaped for a more aggressive look with sharper corners and crisper edges. Moreover, the hood also gets some sporty contours with a center ridge that looks like something you’d find on a mid-sizer or better.

The side and rear looks largely the same, although the taillights do seem to have received a nice smoked-out coating. On the inside, the center console appears to have been improved with dark finish materials for an ritzier look, and a new three-spoke steering wheel looks mighty sporty indeed. Also leaked were photos of the facelifted Focus wagon, a version that is sadly not expected to arrive on US shores.

No specs were revealed, and in fact these images appear to have emerged as more of a slip-up than anything official from Ford itself. We’ll have all the details when the Geneva Motor Show opens March 4.

A leaked image has revealed the limited-edition Renault Clio RS Monaco GP ahead of its official debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.

Based on the regular-production Clio RS hot hatch, the Monaco GP edition gains a bespoke White Frost Pearl paint job with contrasting gloss black trim on the grille, the lower bumper, the door mirrors and the trim around the window. Five-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels with a gloss black finish round out the exterior updates.

Interior pictures were not leaked but Renault says the cockpit has been upgraded with white trim on the door panels and the dashboard. The Clio Monaco GP is equipped with Renault’s RS Monitor, a function that lets the driver record lap times and other performance-related data.

Renault has not made any changes under the hood, meaning the Monaco GP is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that sends 200 horsepower and 177 lb-ft. of torque to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The hot hatch sprints from zero to 62 mph in 6.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 143 mph.

The Clio RS Monaco GP will arrive in showrooms across Europe shortly after its official unveiling in Switzerland. Pricing information and availability will be published closer to the car’s on-sale date.

In addition to the limited-edition Clio RS, the Renault stand in Geneva will showcase the all-new, rear-engined 2014 Twingo and a plug-in hybrid concept car being kept under wraps until the show begins.

Fiat has announced it will unveil a rugged version of the Dodge-based Freemont crossover at the Geneva Motor Show that will open its doors in a little over a week.

Called Freemont Cross, the crossover is essentially identical to the Dodge Journey Crossroad that debuted in Chicago last month. The Fiat-badged version gains new bumpers with faux chrome trim on both ends, a mesh radiator grille with a gloss black frame, side skirts and model-specific roof rails. 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels wrap up the exterior updates.

Inside, Fiat has fitted the Freemont Cross with black leather seats, bespoke trim pieces on the dashboard and a leather-upholstered multi-function steering wheel. An 8.4-inch touch screen that runs a market-specific version of Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment system comes standard.

Fiat will offer the Freemont Cross with a 140-horsepower 2.0-liter MultiJet II four-cylinder engine linked to a six-speed manual transmission that spins the front wheels. Buyers after more power can order a 170-horsepower version of the mill that can be linked to either the aforementioned six-speed manual or to a six-speed automatic that transfers power to all four wheels.

After debuting in Geneva, the Fiat Freemont Cross will go on sale across Europe next fall. Pricing information will be published closer to the crossover’s on-sale date.

In addition to the Freemont Cross, Fiat’s display in Geneva will showcase the equally-rugged Panda Cross and a small crossover tentatively called 500X. The 500X is expected to spawn a Jeep-badged entry-level crossover designed to replace both the Compass and the Patriot.

Toyota has released a teaser image of its new European-market Aygo city car, scheduled for its official debut on March 4 at the Geneva Motor Show.

Though only a dim shot of the Aygo’s front with its running lights aglow, we can surmise that the rest of the car will look fairly similar to the recently unveiled Peugeot 108 with which the Aygo shares a platform. Major visual differences will likely be confined to the grille and headlight shape, which on the Toyota are dominated by an X-shaped grille and large ToMoCo emblem. Where the 108 looks upscale and refined, the Aygo looks sporty and aggressive.

Similarities will likely extend to powertrain options as well, with either a 1.0-liter 68hp unit or 1.2-liter 82hp mill, both three-cylinders mated to a 5-speed manual. Like the 108, curb weight is expected to come in at a feathery 1,850 pounds, about 100 less than the outgoing model. Both three- and five-door hatchback models will be available.

The Aygo, 108 and upcoming Citroen variant are part of a joint venture between Toyota and PSA Peugeot Citroen that began nearly a decade ago when the first Aygo debuted at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. The cars are clearly long in the tooth now and the successor will be a welcome competitor to cars like the Renault Twingo.

At the upcoming Geneva Motor Show Hyundai will show a stunning new design study created in conjunction with students at one of Italy’s top industrial design universities.

The IED PassoCorto is a joint project between Hyundai’s European design center and Turin’s Istituto Europeo di Design (hence the initials in its name). The collab employed the efforts of 16 students working towards their transportation design Master’s degrees, guided by Luca Borgogno, lead designer at Pininfarina.

The IED PassoCorto, which means “short wheelbase” in Italian, would theoretically sport a mid-engine layout with a bi-turbo, 266hp 1.6-liter four nestled behind the driver. Overall length measures 161 inches with a 96.5-inch wheelbase. That splits the lengthwise difference between a current-generation Mazda MX-5 and Scion FR-S, but the Hyundai is both wider at 74 inches and shorter at 45.7 inches than the larger Scion.

The result is a stunning compact performance car in the vein of the departed Toyota MR2 Turbo but with supercar looks. The nose is dominated by a wide grille and diffuser while three large scoops — one on each side and a third behind the canopy — channel air towards the engine bay. The rear is dominated by a jutting tail light element, and there is notable no rear windshield.

Hyundai says that the students were instructed to design a car for young customers constantly wired to the internet. However, there’s no mention of touch screens, connectivity or infotainment. If a mid-engined twin-turbo sports car is what IED students believe Generation Y 2.0 wants, then perhaps the state of automotive enthusiasm isn’t quite as dismal as naysayers would claim.

Of course, Hyundai has not said whether production of the IED PassoCorto is even a passing consideration. The live unveiling will take place at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

German BMW tuner Alpina has published the first official image of the 2014 B4 Bi-Turbo Cabrio, a performance-focused convertible based on the recently-introduced BMW 4-Series Convertible. The B4 Bi-Turbo Cabrio will debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show.

Like its hardtop counterpart, the B4 Bi-Turbo is powered by a twin-turbocharged version of the 435i’s 3.0-liter straight-six engine that sends 410 horsepower and 443 lb-ft. of torque to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. The coupe sprints from zero to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds – half a second faster than a regular-production 435i – and reaches an Autobahn-worthy top speed of 189 mph.

When driven conservatively, Alpina’s latest coupe is capable of returning nearly 30 mpg in a mixed European cycle thanks in part to a standard start / stop system. A sport-tuned adaptive suspension helps improve handling, while upgraded brakes with aluminum calipers on all four corners and Michelin Pilot tires keep the extra power in check.

Drivers who want extra grip can order the car with a modified version of BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system.

Outside, Alpina’s latest coupe receives an aggressive front bumper characterized by a big air dam and a lip spoiler adorned with Alpina-specific decals. Wide multi-spoke alloy wheels help give the car a race-bred appearance.

Alpina lets buyers customize their car’s interior by choosing from a long list of fabrics and colors. All B4s regardless of configuration come standard with leather upholstery, electric seats, xenon headlights, automatic climate control and rain-sensing wipers.

The Alpina B4 Bi-Turbo Cabrio will go on sale in select European countries next summer. Pricing information will be available closer to its launch.

Citroën has unveiled the C5 CrossTourer ahead of its public debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show. The C5 CrossTourer is billed as a more affordable alternative to premium wagons like the Audi A4 allroad.

The CrossTourer stands out from the regular-production C5 Tourer station wagon thanks to plastic cladding on the wheel arches, faux brushed aluminum trim on both bumpers, flat gray roof rails, a slightly raised ground clearance and model-specific 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the C5 CrossTourer gains power-adjustable leather-upholstered seats with a massage function on the driver’s side, dual-zone climate control, a rear-view camera and touch screen-based navigation system. Imitation brushed aluminum trim on the steering wheel, the dashboard and the shift lever creates a premium ambiance.

Buyers are asked to choose from a wide array of diesel-burning four-cylinder engines ranging from 115 to 200 horsepower. The four-bangers send power to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual or a semi-automatic gearbox.

All-wheel drive isn’t offered, but the wagon can get over rough terrain with ease thanks to an optional Hydractive III+ hydraulic suspension that makes it possible to raise the ground clearance by about 2.3 inches while driving at up to 6 mph and by roughly 1.5 inches at up to 25 mph.

The 2014 Citroën C5 CrossTourer will go on sale across Europe next summer with a base price of €31,950 (approximately $43,900), positioning it near the bottom of the C5 Tourer lineup.

In addition to the C5 CrossTourer, Citroën will present the production-bound C4 Cactus crossover, the one-off C4 Cactus Adventure concept and the all-new C1 city car at the Swiss trade show.

Arguably BMW’s biggest debut in recent memory, the i3 inaugurates the Blue Roundel’s electrified “i” sub-brand, a project that’s been many years and billions of dollars in the making.

Wearing sheetmetal that’s as unique as the technology that lies beneath, the i3 features the industry’s first mass-produced Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic passenger cell. This advanced weight-saving measure helps to maximize the efficiency of the i3′s powertrain, an electric motor that draws power from a lithium-ion battery and sends 170 horsepower along with 184 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels.

In addition to enabling a zero-to-60 mph sprint of 7.2 seconds, the setup is good for a claimed range of 80-100 miles. Those needing to go further can spec a motorcycle-derived 650cc range extender gasoline engine, which, instead of driving the wheels, recharges the battery to stretch the EV’s range to about 185 miles.

With a starting price of $42,275, does the i3 deliver a strong value? More importantly, does it offer the driving experience expected of a BMW? Join our Ron Duron as he tackles these questions, and for more information, be sure to check out our First Drive review of the i3.

Just six months after starting Fusion production at a second North American plant, Ford is raising incentives on its mid-size sedan to help clear out mounting inventories.

Around many parts of the country Ford is now offering 0 percent financing and $1,000 offer its stylish Fusion sedan. The Dearborn-based automaker is also offering 0 down lease deals on the Fusion, as well as $3,000 cash back for buyers that decline the financing deals but are trading in another vehicle.

The discounts are the deepest Ford has offered since the redesigned Fusion went on sale in 2012.

“The car is selling, but not as fast as they’re building them,” Larry Taylor, the owner of Beau Townsend Ford in Vandalia, Ohio, and a former member of the Ford dealer council, told Automotive News. “They’ve buried us.”

Fusion inventories have ballooned to a 97-day supply, up from 84 days a month earlier. Fusion sales dipped by 8 percent in January, but that decline was partly to blame on harsh winter condition across much of the U.S.

Ford is now spending about $2,900 to sell each Fusion, up from $2,200 during 2013. However, Ford is still putting less cash on the hood of the Fusion than the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima.

Ford began building the Fusion at its Flat Rock, Michigan, plant in August 2013, but has already had to halt production to keep a lid on growing supplies. The sedan is also built at the automaker’s factory in Hermosillo, Mexico.