Insider: New Porsche 911 Speedster to Debut in Paris

The recently introduced 408HP 911 GTS (read more here) in Coupe and Cabriolet forms won't be the only newcomers at Porsche's Paris Motor Show stand. According to our insiders, the Stuttgart-based sports car maker will also stage the world premiere of the long-rumored 911 Speedster based on the current 997 series.

The last time Porsche offered a Speedster variant of the 911 was back in the early Nineties with the 964-based model (see photos below). Like its predecessor, the new Speedster will pay homage to the 356 Speedster of the 1950s, featuring a chopped windscreen and the classic twin hump behind the front passengers.

Other highlights will include the nostalgic Fuchs-style alloy wheels from the 911 Sport Classic and the wider rear end from Carrera 4 models.

The new two seater 911 Speedster will be built in a limited number of units. We'll update this story as soon as Porsche comes out with an official release, so stay tuned...

READ MORE - Insider: New Porsche 911 Speedster to Debut in Paris

Insider: Ford to Reveal New Focus ST Paris Show Car this Week

According to Carscoop sources, we won't have to wait until the grand opening of the Paris Motor Show on September 30 to catch our first glimpse of the next generation Focus ST as Ford will release photos and preliminary specs on the hot hatch before the end of the week. The almost production-ready show car is based on the new five-door Focus (the three door version has not yet been revealed).

Now here's what else we found out about the hot hatch: the outgoing Focus ST's Volvo-sourced 225HP 2.5-liter turbocharged five is replaced by Ford's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost unit, which is already available on the refreshed S-MAX and Galaxy MPVs with 203HP, as well as on the facelifted Mondeo with 203HP and 240HP.

Our source told us that on the new Focus ST, the tweaked four-cylinder unit will produce around 250 ponies. The car will also feature upgraded suspension, steering and brake system components, as well as bigger wheels and a unique bodykit.

The final production version of Ford's spicy hatch will be unwrapped next year and go on sale in Europe towards the end of 2011 or in early 2012. We still don't know when or if the ST will be offered in North America.

*All photos are of the standard 2011 Ford Focus undergoing high altitude testing in Europe

READ MORE - Insider: Ford to Reveal New Focus ST Paris Show Car this Week

All-New 2010 Ford C-MAX Revealed: Based on Next-Gen Focus, Offered in Two Body Styles

All-New 2010 Ford C-MAX Revealed: Based on Next-Gen Focus, Offered in Two Body Styles

UPDATE: Ford just came out with official photos of the five-seater version of the 2010 C-MAX minivan confirming that it will indeed be offered with the firm's new 1.6-liter EcoBoost direct injection four-cylinder petrol engine. Full details will be released during the Frankfurt Show press days.

We've just been tipped off that Ford will swipe the covers off the all-new 2010 C-MAX minivan by the end of this week as the automaker seeks to get some additional publicity before the world premiere of the model at the forthcoming Frankfurt show. The new compact-sized MPV is based on the next-generation Focus platform with its styling loosely inspired from the Iosis MAX concept car that was displayed at the 2009 Geneva Salon in March.

Ford has followed in the footsteps of Renault and Citroen with their respective Scenic / Grande Scenic and C4 Picasso models by developing two different body styles for the C-MAX, one for the five seater version and another one for the larger and more practical, seven seater model.

While we're patiently waiting for Ford to green light the release of the first official images, we've added a full set of spy shots of the seven-seater model. Unlike the base C-MAX with five seats and conventional rear-doors, the seven-seater version features a pair of sliding rear doors that promise to improve access to the rear seats.

It is believed that Ford will premiere its newly developed 1.6-liter Ecoboost turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine on the new C-MAX that will also be available with numerous other normally aspirated petrol and turbo diesel units.

The new Ecooboost engine will eventually make its way on other Ford models in Europe such as the Mondeo and the next-generation Focus range.

Sales of the new C-MAX models are expected to start in Europe in mid-2010.

As for North America, even though Ford has confirmed that the U.S. will get the all-new, next-gen Focus model in 2010, there's no word if the range will also include the C-MAX.

Official Photos of 5-Seater 2010 Ford C-MAX

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Spy Shots of 7-Seater 2010 Ford C-MAX

READ MORE - All-New 2010 Ford C-MAX Revealed: Based on Next-Gen Focus, Offered in Two Body Styles

All-New 2010 Ford C-MAX Revealed: Based on Next-Gen Focus, Offered in Two Body Styles

All-New 2010 Ford C-MAX Revealed: Based on Next-Gen Focus, Offered in Two Body Styles

UPDATE: Ford just came out with official photos of the five-seater version of the 2010 C-MAX minivan confirming that it will indeed be offered with the firm's new 1.6-liter EcoBoost direct injection four-cylinder petrol engine. Full details will be released during the Frankfurt Show press days.

We've just been tipped off that Ford will swipe the covers off the all-new 2010 C-MAX minivan by the end of this week as the automaker seeks to get some additional publicity before the world premiere of the model at the forthcoming Frankfurt show. The new compact-sized MPV is based on the next-generation Focus platform with its styling loosely inspired from the Iosis MAX concept car that was displayed at the 2009 Geneva Salon in March.

According to Carscoop sources, Ford has followed in the footsteps of Renault and Citroen with their respective Scenic / Grande Scenic and C4 Picasso models by developing two different body styles for the C-MAX, one for the five seater version and another one for the larger and more practical, seven seater model.

While we're patiently waiting for Ford to green light the release of the first official images, we've added a full set of spy shots of the seven-seater model. Unlike the base C-MAX with five seats and conventional rear-doors, the seven-seater version features a pair of sliding rear doors that promise to improve access to the rear seats.

It is believed that Ford will premiere its newly developed 1.6-liter Ecoboost turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine on the new C-MAX that will also be available with numerous other normally aspirated petrol and turbo diesel units.

The new Ecooboost engine will eventually make its way on other Ford models in Europe such as the Mondeo and the next-generation Focus range.

Sales of the new C-MAX models are expected to start in Europe in mid-2010.

As for North America, even though Ford has confirmed that the U.S. will get the all-new, next-gen Focus model in 2010, there's no word if the range will also include the C-MAX.

Official Photos of 5-Seater 2010 Ford C-MAX

____________________________________________________________________

Spy Shots of 7-Seater 2010 Ford C-MAX

READ MORE - All-New 2010 Ford C-MAX Revealed: Based on Next-Gen Focus, Offered in Two Body Styles