The first would be, just how poorly are the patent office guys paid if they can’t keep these things secret and we get a leak of them about once a month?

Volvo Universe patent drawings

And the second is this; are the Swedish at Volvo seriously going for this big a bite by trying to bring a new luxury sedan to the market, something that would be an S Class rival?

Mercedes certainly isn’t shaking in their boots and by the looks of things nor is BMW’s 7 Series, Audi’s A8 or the Jaguar XJ. But that doesn’t tell the full story.

It was about a year ago that Volvo introduced a very unexpected concept for the company, the Universe. Featuring more than generous proportions and quite conservative styling, it seemed to follow the recipe.

Volvo Universe patent drawings

But since Volvo kept pretty quiet about it, the rumors that came in its wake quickly faded and most of us forgot about it.

Now though, with these leaked patent drawings we could be looking at a production version.

It’s a stretch, and most likely we’re looking at the making of an actual concept than a car but seeing Volvo get back into the luxury game would be interesting.

Volvo Universe patent drawings

Plenty of enthusiasts still remember the days when Volvos were enormous, boxy, comfortable and offered safety for the entire family. Some of those would certainly buy a car like that today.

Before all that happens they needed to rethink their approach and created a whole new version of their Prius in the form of the Prius C. Ok, it may not be that different, but it’s got something youthful about it.

2012 Toyota Prius C One

What the Japanese really hope will make the 2012 Toyota Prius C more appealing to the tree hugging hip youngsters is the price. For a while it had been missing from the picture but it’s now officially out there.

Like they’ve originally claimed, you can get a brand new Toyota Prius C for under 19.000 dollars in the United States but as you’d imagine, that only applies for the base model and is subject to a condition.

A Prius C One, as the base model is called, costs the average American youngster 18.950 USD.

2012 Toyota Prius C One

So far, so good, but that has no mention of the destination charges which will take that price up by $760.

For all the fluff, the pricing is still pretty good and if you consider how going up the model range you can’t end up bankrupt, the Toyota Prius C pricing seems decent.

A fully loaded Prius C Four will cost $23.230 and the Two and Three levels that are in between come in at $19.900, respectively $21.635.

2012 Toyota Prius C One

Decent value for money and though it may be spicy for a student budget, it seems just right for anybody else. That’s before mentioning the 53/46/50 mpg (city/highway/combined) the Prius C can manage.

At the top of that very small pile we find the Audi R8, the company’s flagship supercar, one of the most fun vehicles ever to come from Germany.

Audi R8 eTron Concept

It still looks great and it still is an exciting car but if we’re honest, it’s starting to show its age and it’s about time we looked forward to the next generation of this supercar.

Thankfully, more and more reports have started to come in about the sort of details we can expect to see on the 2014-2015 version of the Audi R8.

By then you can say goodbye to the simple facelifts or engine remaps and welcome a completely new version of the mid engined Audi. The first such detail is clearly about the fun factor.

Audi R8 eTron Concept

Apparently, to make it that much more fun, it’s being developed along side the next generation of the Lamborghini Gallardo. If the Italians have a say in the building, then we approve.

The main changes on the spec sheet however come in at less weight and more power. As it stands, the target weight of the 2014-15 Audi R8 is to come under the 3.300 mark.

Engine reshapes should come in at anywhere between 20 and 70 horsepower boosts depending on the model while still maintaining some concerns over fuel economy.

Audi R8 eTron Concept

The first we’re going to see of the next gen Audi R8 will be at the Moscow Motor Show this August. It will be under a concept designation but you’ll know what it is.

It’s during the currently ongoing Chicago Motor Show that the Koreans unveiled the 2013 Hyundai Elentra GT. Basically the same car only this time it’s available with a hatchback body.

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT

In switching bodies, the Hyundai Elantra GT presents itself with certain minuses but there’s a considerable amount of plus points to balance everything out.

Starting out from the negative side, the Elantra GT misses out on some space considerations and loses one of the forty miles per gallon from the highway figure.

As you can see, not exactly game changing setups but even so, for a hatchback, the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT gets the biggest interior in the class and is also the lightest.

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT

Differences like 151 pounds compared to the Mazda 2, 175 if comparing with the Ford Focus and a meaty 222 with the Volkswagen Golf will certainly not go unnoticed.

The engine carries over from the Hyundai Elantra sedan so it’s the same 1.8 liter four banger with 148 horsepower and 131 lb-ft of torque and you can team it with a six speed manual or automatic.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT delivers the same levels of value for money as all of the equipment you got in the sedan is still there.

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT on paper

Checking out the spec sheet of the rivals seems to produce as clinical results as possible; the Hyundai Elantra’s new GT version is a winner on paper.

In light of that association, when Hyundai came up with a with the Genesis luxury sedan and the idea of making it the flagship within a new sub-brand, something happened.

Hyundai Equus

People saw the paving of the way for another Lexus, Infiniti or Acura. Maybe that’s what Hyundai saw as well since they aren’t ready to let go of that idea.

After the initial buzz, the Koreans seemed to cool of on the idea and no longer make a push for the new luxury sub-brand.

The company’s sales are awfully on the rise and dealing with expansion is becoming an ever more pressing matter so Hyundai still has a decision to make about the Genesis.

Hyundai Equus

Sales of the Hyundai Equus were genuinely expected to tank by many analysts but that simply did not happen. Not only did the Korean car maker meet their predictions, they’ve managed to sell nearly 1000 units more.

Final figures for the Hyundai Equus sedan last year came in at 3.193 units. It sounds like a small market but for a newbie in the luxury segment that’s quite spectacular.

You can imagine why the decision is getting to be so though. The Hyundai Equus buyers have chosen the special winged badge instead of the Hyundai one but the Genesis Coupe didn’t go the same route.

Hyundai Equus

We don’t know anything official on what Hyundai would do with the sub-brand but it certainly doesn’t sound like a bad idea to go along.

Over the years it got better and better but somehow, it never really managed to match up to its original purpose of delivering a supercar and a luxury sedan both at the same time.

Maserati Quattroporte S

Despite this, anybody who saw one, heard one or got the chance to speed around in one wanted one. It was just that simple elemental appeal that seemingly only the Italians understand.

For the next generation of the Maserati Quattroporte, the one slated for a 2015 modelyear, rumor has it the plans are pretty big.

The whole car is about to get considerably bigger as it gains six inches of width and two inches of length, making the Maserati Quattroporte a rival in terms of size for the BMW 7 Series.

Maserati Quattroporte S

Benefits of the steroid urges would be seen in how passengers would get considerably more space in the back and a properly large boot capacity.

Despite the added bulk, the 2015 Maserati Quattroporte is expected to get considerably lighter as it should shed some 220 lbs from the current setup.

All in all it’s not shaping up to be a recipe for disaster, is it now?

Maserati Quattroporte S

Anyway, those concerned about the new size need not worry.

Apparently, Maserati has a plan to make a baby Quattroporte that will be roughly the size of the current generation and similarly good fun.

For those of you unfamiliar with the name, the Mercedes SLC would be what’s been referred to over the past several months as the “baby SLS” and is quite the model to look forward to.

Mercedes SLS AMG

As Autocar reports, the upcoming Mercedes SLC would be built primarily to rival the Porsche 911.

This means that the typical AMG fun and craziness are going to be washed down just enough to make the baby SLS feel and drive like a proper sports car.

Handling wise, the Mercedes SLC is nothing but a sketch in our minds but performance wise things stand a little different. Since the three pointed star will try to keep costs down, the engine won’t be new.

Mercedes SLS AMG

It will instead be very likely a familiar twin-turbo 5.5 liter V8 engine which should develop somewhere in the 500 horsepower range. Weight is supposed to fall a couple hundred pounds short of the AMG versions of the C Class.

Factoring these ideas in, a decent set of figures for the Mercedes SLC come in at around 4.5 seconds to hit 62 from standstill and a predicted top speed on the exciting side of 180 mph.

Pricing for the Mercedes SLC should stick neatly around the 120.000-130.000 dollar mark if its to be competitive with its sports car benchmark, the Porsche 911.

Mercedes SLS AMG

Stand by on this one, it’s going to be a very interesting situation to watch as no matter how serious they try to be, Mercedes AMG products have a certain charm.

When Jaguar told us they might actually send it into production several giggles were heard from the crowds as the revolutionary drivetrain is far from market ready.

Jaguar C-X75 Concept

Well, it seems like Jaguar will have the last laugh as they actually plan to keep their word and carry on with the C-X75 as they’ve just announced a new plan.

This new plan is to start production of the turbines needed by their anniversary supercar as soon as possible. Oh and we’re not talking a drawing board sketch, the wheels are actually turning.

Having reassigned a factory, Jaguar have set up Bladon Jets Engineering Center in Conventry. It’s near the company headquarters and they’ll be in charge of making the turbines with as much British pluck as ever.

Jaguar C-X75 Concept

Only 15 people are going to be employed at the company and they’ll be taking charge of the entire production. Each of the turbines develops some 95 horsepower.

The Jaguar C-X75 is powered by two of these small turbines but their real power comes from four electric engines which can push as much as 780 horsepower and 1.180 lb ft of torque to the wheels.

Impressive stuff, but not all Jaguar C-X75 will be powered by this setup.

Jaguar C-X75 Concept

Some of them will get a specially developed four cylinder turbo engine that’s delivered by the Williams F1 team.

Whatever the power, the Jaguar C-X75′s production version should be an incredible machine when it hits the market.

In trying to keep things as simple as possible, the average North American buyer can get a 2013 Mazda CX-5 for as little as $20.695.

2013 Mazda CX-5

Actually, there’s still the matter of a $795 destination and handling charge. Or a charge of $840 if you happen to live in Alaska.

Even without these charges however the 2013 Mazda CX-5 is a little bit more expensive than its main crossover rivals from Japan or Korea.

The Hyundai Tuscon, Kia Sportage and Subaru Forester all fall under the 20.000 dollar mark for the entry level version.

2013 Mazda CX-5

They may not be far under that mark, but it’s a bad start for the CX-5.

Things don’t change too much once the 2013 Mazda CX-5 gets spec’d up as you can end up spending as much as $29.620 on the all wheel drive version with all the bells and whistles.

So what does the 2013 Mazda CX-5 have to offer when considering this competition comes in with a lower price and similar equipment?

2013 Mazda CX-5

Well, two things actually; the 2013 Mazda CX-5 offers up the best driving dynamics in this class and then there’s a crucial matter of fuel economy.

Again, the Mazda crossover has the best in class sticker in its window here with up to 32 mpg being achievable under certain conditions.

At the end of the day you could say it’s all about paying more money for “the same car” but the 2013 Mazda CX-5 is well worth the extra cash.

If so, then German tuner Edo Competition has just the right setup for you and your “underpowered” super sports saloon.

Edo Competition Porsche Panamera

Edo Competition focused on bringing you the power benefits so they didn’t bother too much with the visual presence of the Porsche Panamera.

They must have realized that it’s so bad it’s not really worth attempting to save it.

Some stuff is offered for the interior, but you’ll have to talk it out over some cash with them directly.

Edo Competition Porsche Panamera

What is on the table to begin with is a revamping of the powertrain. Porsche 4.8 liter twin-turbo V8 engine is still used in it with just about everything else being replaced.

We’re talking about upgraded turbochargers, exhaust manifold, catalytic converters, air filters and an ECU remap to take it all in.

The end result is that the Edo Competition Porsche Panamera Turbo that develops 700 horsepower and 649 lb-ft of torque.

That’s 150 horsepower more than the hottest factory Panamera and the results in specs are quite spectacular for any four door vehicle.

Edo Competition Porsche Panamera

0 to 62 acceleration happens in just 3.5 seconds and there’s an achievable top speed of 211 mph. This is just the sort of stuff the high end supercars brag about.

Finally a set of 22 inch alloy wheels are available and are wrapped in sticky tires and the suspension was dropped by 30 mm.

Price, fuel consumption, comfort? Who cares you get the speed to finally outrun the Porsche Panamera’s ugly side.