Autoblog UK

The most open automotive secret of recent months was finally revealed. Recently, the first photos of the new and long-awaited Mercedes E-Class were already seen, so there was hardly any great surprise in all this. The media had after all gone to a great length in digitally decoding all the spy shots and looking back, it seems that they were quite successful in their efforts.

The LED daytime running lights that had been seen by many as an Audi exclusive have now also been adopted into the star cruiser and put an end to what Audi liked to see as a monopoly. But Audi was simply one of the first manufacturers to have used LED technology and it is certainly not a question of any copying or imitating on behalf of Mercedes. LED technology will in future be adopted into all vehicles classes, right down to the smallest cars.

Is this the end of 'hard-line Volvo design'? After the beefy back-end look of the current S60, the recently-presented XC60 showed the new design aspirations of the Swedes. And it is certainly ready to stand up and be counted! It's particularly because Volvo has succeeded in almost fully concealing the strong technical links to diverse Ford models and thus not letting the premium aspirations of the brand be put under question.

Photos are now being released of the S60 successor which will be available in 2010. A distinct and stylish radiator grille is of course one of the key components in contemporary car design (particularly in the premium segment). As much so as a roof that slopes downwards to the rear in coupé style, ending with a short and tidy tail end with just a hint of being stepped. The lateral characteristics are however a little reminiscent of the Audi A5.

Now BMW have got a 'sportback' all of their own. After Audi brought out several new versions of the Sportback all at the same time, BMW are hitting back with the GT suffix.

The premium segment Germans will be sporting a much bigger rear portal in future, thus occupying yet another niche and taking the concept even further. According to the German magazine 'AutoBild', the Munich-based outfit are already working on a GT version of the 3 and 5 series. A 5 series GT might look something like a sleeker version of the X6. At one time, it might have been called a fastback, but as a description, this now sounds rather passé, certainly not as modern as 'Sportback' or GT.