Our spies have snagged the first photos of the 2009 Mercedes E-class wagon, caught testing in Germany. The new E-class' overall styling takes cues from the C-class, the CLS, and the S-class, but promises to look a bit more chiseled and angular than those models, thanks to new squarish headlamps.

The new E — codenamed W212 — looks particularly elegant in wagon guise, as the car's long angular hood line and sharp windshield rake leads into a long and sleek silhouette.

It appears to capture some of the R-class' panache without its unfortunate minivan overtones. Mercedes engineers are reportedly still reeling from quality glitches and electronic gremlins that have plagued the current-gen E-class since its inception, so we expect some simplification of the W212's component-set.

Problematic items such as the current car's SBC electronic braking system will reportedly be ditched in favor of more conventional components.

The sedan version of the 2009 E-Class was spotted earlier this year.

Source: Spied: 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon

Toyota chose to focus on its budget Scion brand at this year’s SEMA, which makes sense since the label is more orientated towards the youth market and the tuner scene than its parent. For this year’s showcase developers called upon both established tuners like Greddy and Five Axis Design as well as relative newcomers Team Koshak and Scion of Des Moines to create the field of varied show cars. They also hired artist Ron English to create a special version of the tC.

For the Scion xB professional tuner Greddy added its own prototype turbocharger and intercooler kit, installed a Type-RS blow-off-valve and Airinx high-flow intake system. To ensure the high-strung 2.4L engine runs smoothly, engineers modified the ECU, added a PRofec B-Spec.2 boost controller, Pro Iridium spark plugs and a cat-back exhaust system.

Five Axis Design was called upon to add a wide-bodykit to the Scion xD. In addition to the body work, the tuners also added 20in alloy wheels, Yokohama rubber and a Tein suspension kit.

The Ron English car was based on the sporty Scion tC coupe and was modified with the help of Franks Autobody. Some of the additions to the car include custom billet wheels by Coddington Wheels, Eibach springs and Ron English’s ying-yang artwork by Lit Media Group.

Other cars on display were another Scion tC by Scion of Des Moines, the Dalek xD, Cartel Rockstar Scion xB, the Team Koshak and Ridemakerz xB and the Auto Concept Elite xD, which you can see in our full gallery below.

Source: Scion’s full range at SEMA 2007

Jennifer

The beginning of the partnership between Ferrari and A1GP draws ever nearer : -

After the historic announcement last month that Ferrari will supply engines and consult on the design of the new car from next season, A1GP executives took time out to get a taste of Ferrari racing action last weekend in Italy.
 
Ferrari annually holds a celebration of its past season’s sporting activities at the International Mugello Circuit, and this year had special cause for celebration, with recently crowned Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen demonstrating his title-winning F1 machine to the large crowd, alongside team-mate Felipe Massa and the test drivers Luca Badoer and Marc Gene.
 
A1GP’s partnership with Ferrari only begins in 2008, but that didn’t stop A1GP chairman Tony Teixeira and A1 Team Brazil boss Emerson Fittipaldi visiting the circuit and watching the marque’s other racing interests. More than 30,000 partisan fans turned out in force to watch the displays, which also included the final rounds of the F430 Ferrari Challenge.
 
Teixeira and Fittipaldi watched as an array of Ferrari machinery from the past 60 years was displayed on track, as well as the F430 GT cars that took Ferrari to victory in the 2007 FIA GT2 and ALMS GT2 Constructors’ Cup.
 
While there, Teixera and Fittipaldi met with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, vice-president Piero Ferrari, CEO Jean Todt and managing director Amedeo Felisa. They also attended Ferrari’s glittering gala dinner on Saturday night of the event.
 
A1GP’s partnership with Ferrari officially begins on 1 January 2008.

DFW Elite Auto Rental rents out the F430 and Spyder by the day.  Visit them at www.dfweliteautorental.com.

Source: A1GP and Ferrari