It is always interesting to know what car manufacturers have stockpiled for us in future. We bring you an assortment of top five vehicles spotted undergoing tests from around the globe in the month of July.
BMW 1 series
The spied 1 series wears a heavy camouflage. However, the fascia of the car is expected to be restyled completely. The car will carry the iconic kidney grille and the design of the grille is expected to be larger than the current car on sale. The new 1 series will be based on the same UKL platform as its elder sibling, the BMW X1 and the Mini Cooper. The new chassis of the third generation car is expected to house a new transversely mounted front wheel drive engine which is expected to be more powerful and efficient than the current car. The third generation 1 series is speculated to be showcased in the 2018 Geneva Motor Show held early next year.
Kia C’eed
The current generation C’eed has been around since 2012 and is set to be replaced next year with the third generation. Carrying the same camouflage as before, the C’eed seems to be slightly bigger than the model currently on sale. Even with the increase in dimension, the new generation version of the Kia’s highest selling model will be lighter owing to the new and revised underpinnings. The new 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine will join the roost which comes with 138bhp and 242Nm torque. The 1.6-litre engine will be available in three states of tune - 95, 110, and 133bhp. Transmission options would include a six-speed manual gearbox and an optional seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox. Expect the C’eed to go on sale sometime later next year.
Opel Insignia GSi station wagon
Opel unveiled the Insignia GSi hatchback a a few days ago, and there was no hint about a sports tourer being in the pipeline. Its true GSi identity was given away due to it being completely undisguised and its similarity to the recently unveiled car. Thanks to the extra length of this version, expect the station wagon model to accommodate an additional 50 litres of boot space. This version will also be powered by the same 2.0-litre turbocharged motor that produces a rather sprightly 260bhp and 400Nm of torque. Expect the Insignia GSi station wagon to also be showcased beside the Insignia GSi hatch at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2017.
Kia Sedona
Kia Sedona is the minivan in the Korean manufacturer’s scheme of things and is currently into its third generation now. The heavily camouflaged prototype suggests that the minivan will undergo a major upliftment rather than minor cosmetic tweaks. The design element from the recently updated Sportage and Sorento is expected to be a part of the update for the Sedona. The newly developed eight-speed automatic transmission will replace the currently offered six-speed unit. The infotainment system will get an upgrade as well. Kia is expected to introduce the mid-life update for the Sedona sometime next year as a 2019 model.
Ford Focus Wagon
The first sighting of the new Ford Focus wagon prototype, and reports suggest that the new model is significantly larger than its predecessor. This effectively means that Ford has sorted-out the lack of rear knee-room and boot space that the current-gen Focus struggles with. The next generation Ford Focus will be based on a new platform that will incorporate a longer wheelbase and a wider track. It is expected that Ford will push the next-gen Focus’ with only the brand’s award-winning EcoBoost series of motors. Ford could choose the 2018 Geneva Motor Show to unveil the Focus wagon.
