These are the first images of the Volvo S60 Concept car which will be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in early January 2009. According to the Swedish automaker, the concept gives an indication of what the all-new Volvo S60 will look like when it’s launched in 2010. Even though the production model will be less dramatic than the prototype, it is clear that the S60 will be a distinct proposition in the compact executive sedan segment. The Swedes wisely opted for a four-door coupe look for the S60 as it differentiates their proposal from established rivals such as the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes C-Class.

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The car that was supposed to offer BMW a worthy rival to the Mercedes-Benz CLS, Porsche Panamera and Maserati Quattroporte sports sedans, the production version of last year’s CS Concept has fallen victim to the economic downturn and will not be produced after all. The announcement was made during a conference call on the Bavarian automaker’s third quarter report. “The sharper focus on profitability will result, amongst other things, in product decisions being revisited. As a result, the BMW Group will no longer produce a series version of the Concept CS since this vehicle does not meet the internal requirements for rates of return,” said BMW in a statement.

Fortunately, other future products of the BMW Group will not be affected by the firm’s cost cutting strategy. This means that the launch of the production versions of the BMW Concept X1 SUV, BMW Concept 7 Series Active Hybrid, BMW X6 Active Hybrid and the MINI Crossover Concept will proceed ahead as planned.

Renault has thankfully brought more to the Sao Paulo Auto Show than just an F1 edition of its inexpensive Dacia Sandero with racy decals and a bodykit. The other car in its display is another Sandero, but this one is much cooler. Called the Sandero Sand’up concept, it’s a 2+2 beach runabout that can go from a closed hard-top coupe to a convertible pickup thanks to its modular design. While not the freshest idea to appear on a concept, the Sand’up is charming enough with its big wheel arches, satin nickel roof rail arches and see-through doors. The first concept by Renault to be designed entirely in South America, the Sand’up is not surprisingly powered by a 1.6L Hi-Flex engine that produces 107 hp on gasoline and 112 hp on ethanol, the latter of which is a more popular fuel below the equator than above at the moment.

Some concepts are purely design exercises, while others serve as previews of upcoming production models. It’s rare for one show car to serve as both, but then MINI is unique in the business. The Crossover concept that the BMW subsidiary unveiled here at the Paris Motor Show has a bit of a Dark Knight villain thing going for it. On one side it’s got an unusual door configuration, big show-car wheels and a decidedly conceptual turquoise-highlighted paint scheme. On the other it’s more staid, with conventional doors, a more conventional color palette and an altogether more production-feasible appearance. Up top and inside everything’s all fantasy, however, with the cloth roof and trick glass infotainment system we reported on earlier. Click the thumbnails below to see the MINI Crossover Concept live from the Paris show floor, and the gallery below that for the factory studio shots, and let us know what you think of the two-faced concept car in our comments section.

After Lamborghini’s endless string of frustrating teaser shots, here, finally, are the full pictures of the Aston Rapide-rivalling four-seat Lamborghini supersaloon, the Estoque.

The Lamborghini Estoque? Named after a bull, perhaps?

No, it’s actually the name of a bullfighter’s sword, as was Espada, the company’s front-engined GT of 40 years ago.

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