Looks like a plain old BMW 1 Series hatch, doesn't it? Take a closer look, especially on the rear side windows and just below the rear license plate. The car you see here is actually a prototype 1 Series hybrid.inline_mediumwraptextright27228853/future/spied_vehicles/hatchbacks/112_0911_bmw_1_series_hybrid_spycambmw-1-hybrid-ft-tq.jpgTrue

VW's engineers have been spotted in the frigid regions of Europe testing the latest addition to the next-generation Volkswagen Polo lineup. The VW Polo sedan will join the current Euro-spec three- and five-door versions and will reportedly be built in both India and Mexico.inline_mediumwraptextright27114130/future/spied_vehicles/sedans/112_0911_volkswagen_polo_sedan_spiedvw-polo-sedan-passenger_side.jpgTrue

It's been six long years since a major Audi A8 update and the quad-ring brand looks as though it's finally ready to deliver its new heavyweight. The new Audi A8 has been caught testing on multiple occasions and we've come across it again testing at where else but the Nurburgring ahead of the A8's 2010 Detroit auto show debut.inline_mediumwraptextright25717949/future/spied_vehicles/sedans/112_0910_spycam_audi_a8audi-a8-7.jpgTrue

Amid repeated promises from new president Akio Toyoda that it will start making exciting cars to pull itself out of its slump, Toyota officially unveiled the FT-86 concept edition of its 2012 “affordable” compact rear-drive sport coupe at the 2009 Tokyo show.inline_mediumwraptextright30819192/auto_news/112_0910_toyota_ft_86_could_get_celica_nametoyota-ft-86-concept-front-three-quarter.jpgTrue

BMW is seriously considering launching its new turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the Z4 sports car, Motor Trend has learned, even after M Division chief Ludwig Willisch said before retiring last summer that the engine was designed for a 1 Series M.inline_mediumwraptextright26606794/future/spied_vehicles/convertibles/112_0912_bmw_z4_turbo_enginebmw-z4-m-sport-front-three-quarter-2.jpgTrue

After years and years of development, testing and endless spy photos, the Lexus LF-A will finally make its production debut at the 2009 Tokyo show. Details are slim, but the first Lexus supercar is expected to carry a price as big as its performance.inline_mediumwraptextright30465258/future/spied_vehicles/coupes/112_0910_lexus_lf_alexus-LF-A-front-angled.jpgTrue

In addition to the Hybrid Tourer Concept, Subaru will have several other exhibits at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show. Here are the highlights straight from Subaru:

Packed with enough emotional content to satisfy fans of the departed Supra, MR-2 and Celica, the Toyota FT-86 Concept is set to make its world debut at the company's 2009 Tokyo auto show stand on October 21. It's got eye-catching looks, a 2+2 layout, rear-wheel-drive, a horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine, and a six-speed manual transmission. And a production version is due by late 2011.inline_mediumwraptextright30819063/auto_shows/tokyo/2009/112_0910_toyota_ft_86_concepttoyota-ft-86-concept-grille.jpgTrue

It's still a week before the unveiling of Toyota's much-anticipated FT-86 concept, and guess what just turned up at the Nurburgring in Germany? The FT-86 test mule. It seems Toyota's R&D team could not wait to get the mule on the road for some shakedown laps. And that's okay by us.inline_mediumwraptextright30948774/future/spied_vehicles/coupes/112_0910_toyota_ft_86_mule_at_nurburgringtoyota-ft-86-prototype-spy-shot-at-ring.jpgTrue

Less than a week after unveiling the gullwing SLS AMG to the world at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz trotted this prototype of the SLS AMG roadster onto the roads around the Nurburgring, though according to our spy photographer, it didn't go on the 'Ring itself.inline_mediumwraptextright26315017/future/spied_vehicles/convertibles/112_0909_mercedes_benz_sls_amg_roadster_spiedmercedes-benz-SLS-AMG-roadster-front.jpgTrue

The long-awaited Lexus LF-A has hit the Nurburgring again, this time wearing white for its special outing and barely any camouflage. When we last saw the LF-A back in May, most of the car was covered up, but this one appears to have camo only on the taillights, headlamps, side markers, and front and rear L badges while the rest of the bodywork seems to be ready for prime time.inline_mediumwraptextright30465255/future/spied_vehicles/coupes/112_0909_lexus_lf_a_spiedlexus-LF-A-front.jpgTrue

What was believed to be an all-wheel drive version of the next-generation BMW 1 Series was caught in late July and now our spy photographers have spotted what is possibly a high-performance version of the updated hatchback.inline_mediumwraptextright25722592/future/spied_vehicles/hatchbacks/112_0909_bmw_1_series_spiedBMW-1-series-spied-front-view.jpgTrue

First, the cockpit of the Vision features a 3-D heads-up display that not only projects information from the gauges but also includes information from the navigation system, vehicle alerts and information and warnings from BMW's Night Vision technology. Thanks to the 3-D projection, the system can move the various pieces of information around, putting, say, the navigation in the foreground and the gauges in the background. Even better, the system is customizable so you can tailor it to the information you access the most.

More than a decade ago, before the Mini brand made its triumphant return under BMW stewardship, the then Rover Group (also BMW-owned at the time) showed what was in essence the first new-generation Mini concept -- a bulging, retro-styled coupe called the Mini ACV30 which was created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Mini's win at the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally. Now, as Mini begins celebrating its 50th anniversary, it's taking another crack at the body style.inline_mediumwraptextright24893203/future/concept_vehicles/112_0908_mini_coupe_conceptmini-coupe-concept-passenger-side-motion.jpgTrue

Meanwhile, tandem seating keeps the L1 as narrow as possible and a Kamm-back rear end maximizes aerodynamic efficiency while minimizing overall length and weight. Covered rear wheels streamline airflow along the sides of the car while a smooth underbody does the same for airflow under the car. LED head- and taillights reduce weight and electrical draw and thus engine load while skinny Michelin Energy Saver tires, sized 95/60 R16 in front and 115/70 R16 in rear, minimize rolling resistance.inline_mediumwraptextright30402366/future/concept_vehicles/112_0909_volkswagen_l1_conceptvolkswagen-l1-concept-sketch.jpgTrue

As Volkswagen's Up! city car project inches ever closer to production, the company has debuted several concepts with various powerplants and has promised a range of gasoline and diesel engines for the production car. Now, the company is taking things a step further with the E-Up! powered by batteries and an electric motor.inline_mediumwraptextright25823443/future/concept_vehicles/112_0909_volkswagen_e_up_conceptvolkswagen-e-up-concept-passenger-side.jpgTrue

After what seems like an eternity, the launch of the 2010 Audi RS5 is almost upon us. A nearly-finished coupe version of the hot Audi was recently spotted testing its stopping power in the Alps ahead of a possible Frankfurt Motor Show debut.inline_mediumwraptextright29542344/future/spied_vehicles/coupes/112_0908_2010_audi_rs5_spied2010-audi-RS5-front-1.jpgTrue

Porsche has been hard at work developing the latest iteration of its money-making Cayenne SUV and the new version has been spotted by our spy photographers once again -- this time testing at the Nurburgring wearing barely any camouflage.inline_mediumwraptextright29399532/future/spied_vehicles/suvs/112_0908_2010_porsche_cayenne_spied2010-porsche-cayenne-front.jpgTrue

Kia's next-generation Amanti will switch from front-wheel-drive to parent company Hyundai's Genesis rear-wheel-drive platform, Motor Trend has learned. The car is expected to launch after the new front-drive Optima, which is scheduled for next summer. The moves will further advance Kia's aggressive makeover, which has been boosted lately by the Soul youth-market hatchback and the recently launched Forte and Forte Koup (coming later this summer) compacts.

Voltec MPV

Alfa Romeo has been looking for affordable rear-wheel-drive architecture to help relaunch the brand in North America. And now it has found the parts it needs in parent company Fiat's new acquisition, Chrysler Group. Parts from the LY architecture underpinning the 2011 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger, will form the basis for Alfa's next flagship sedan, the 169. It replaces the discontinued front-wheel-drive 166.

Much of General Motors’ future hopes rest on its Delta II small car platform. In Chevrolet Cruze guise, it’s a brand ambassador to the world and will serve as the company’s latest import fighting compact in the U.S. when it arrives sometime next year. The platform also underpins the endlessly hyped Chevrolet Volt and the coming Orlando compact crossover. Among the other models slated to be built on Delta II is a luxury-themed Buick iteration, which we’ll call for lack of a better name the Buick Cruze.inline_smallwraptextright16987805/future/spied_vehicles/sedans/112_0906_buick_cruze_sedan_spycambuick-delta-side-1.jpgTrue

If you're looking for sheetmetal differences between this barely-camouflaged pre-production example of the upcoming BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo and the concept that was shown in March at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, you'll only spot them when looking at the wheels. Other than the absence of the concept’s giant 21-inch rolling stock, the two are virtually identical on the outside barring minor changes in the rear covered up by the scant camo.

Timing on Jaguar's XE two-seat roadster may slip past its planned 2011 Geneva show introduction thanks to lean resources resulting from the global economic crisis. However, Motor Trend has learned that whenever it first appears, the sports car will get a 21st Century, green-economy boost in the form of a Chevrolet Volt-like powerplant. An electric motor with an extended-range three-cylinder gas engine is being engineered for the new-age E-Type, in addition (we hope) to Jaguar's conventional 5.0-liter and supercharged 5.0-liter V-8s. Whether the extended-range XE will make it beyond the concept stage is uncertain.

Seen here is Maserati’s upcoming cabriolet drop-top prototype based on the Trident’s venerable GranTurismo. Our trusty spy photographers spotted the convertible at the Nurburgring in Germany undergoing what was likely handling and performance fine tuning.