Jaguar XF Estate on the way

Jaguar XF Estate - Expected to show as a Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September Jaguar doesn’t have the best history on estate cars (the X-Type Estate, although a reasonable car – and 4WD – was just a Mondeo with smart clothes) but the Jaguar XF is such a triumph for Jaguar that I’m sure we’ll see the XF Estate taking the fight to the Germans in a big way. It’s reasonable to expect the standard engines and trim versions to carry over to the Estate, but apparently so will the mighty XFR trim. Which means we will see a Jaguar Estate car which will be able to take on the likes of the M5 Estate, the E63 AMG Estate and the RS6 Estate.

Toyota Auris Hybrid in the UK

Toyota are to produce a Hybrid version of the Auris Toyota are planning on building – in the UK – a Hybrid version of the Toyota Auris. This will feature the same Hybrid platform as the Prius, which will give it a 98bhp petrol engine together with an 80bhp electric motor. But because the Auris is smaller than the Prius, and less well equipped, the new Toyota Auris Hybrid will come in at a lower price, which will pitch it below the Honda Insight – a key marketing advantage.

Mercedes color and trim manager on the new SL-Class interior [w/video]

Mercedes has released a video as part of the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week, discussing interior design details of the new 2013 SL-Class. In the video Nicola Ehrenberg-Uhlig, manager of color and trim for Mercedes-Benz, explains the choices made when the vehicle was designed and how the design team wanted to convey the car's personality via special materials. Aviation is the theme for the new SL-Class, which in the designers' minds stood for clear design, functionality, speed and power.