Archive for the ‘suv’ Category
September 5th, 2010 | 
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We’re curious to know if at any point before the driver of this BMW X5 decided to turn his SUV into a Dukes of Hazzard stunt car did he honestly think that he could successfully complete an airborne barrel roll without doing his car – and himself – any harm.
We’re wondering that because we can’t, for the life of us, comprehend how he could honestly think of pulling it off given the girth of the SUV he was driving. Then again, crazy nut jobs do crazy things and this guy certainly qualifies for somebody who’s got a few loose bolts in his head that certainly need a lot of tightening.
That being said, we still enjoyed watching the video – we do hope the driver didn’t suffer any injuries – only because idiotic stunts like this remind us that performing stunts with your own car usually doesn’t end well for all parties involved.
Video: BMW X5 falls on its head after unsuccessful barrel-roll stunt originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 5 September 2010 12:00 EST.
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Who said SUVs are dead? Mercedes’ future line-up will include no less than four new models: a new generation GLK, a new G-Class, a new ML-Class and totally new model for the line-up, the BLK. Yeah, it’s a little extreme considering the onslaught of electric and hybrid vehicles scattering throughout the automotive world, but we know the SUV-loving Americans will just eat it up!
The next generation GLK will come with a more sportier and distinctive design and will be built on the next Mercedes-Benz C-Class wagon platform with more room in the back. This new platform will also increase the interior comfort, will come with a larger trunk, and a longer wheelbase. Mercedes will also offer more engine options for the next GLK.
The new generation G-Class will be unveiled in 2012 with new V6 and V8 engines. The performance of the GL 350 CDI has been increased to 252 HP and the V8 diesel has been deleted. The 3.0 petrol engine in the GL 300 will deliver 252 HP, and the 3.5 engine will go up to 306 HP. The Gl500 will come with a 435 HP bi-turbo engine and the GL63 AMG will deliver 544 HP.
A new generation ML-Class will be revealed in 2013. The engine line-up will include an ML 250 Bluetec 4Matic with 204 HP, as well as a hybrid version, the ML400 Hybrid. This hybrid will combine a V6 with a 15KW electric motor.
And finally, the new model in the line-up: the BLK – a small crossover based on the future generation B-Class. It will be offered with all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The engine line-up will include engines starting with a 1.2 turbo petrol engine with 109 HP, the 1.4 liter with 136 HP, and a 1.6 diesel with 122 HP. The AMG version will deliver a total of 272 HP. Mercedes has said that this is a model for every day use for people who need more interior space.
New SUVs in Mercedes’ future line-up originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 17:30 EST.
Who said SUVs are dead? Mercedes’ future line-up will include no less than four new models: a new generation GLK, a new G-Class, a new ML-Class and totally new model for the line-up, the BLK. Yeah, it’s a little extreme considering the onslaught of electric and hybrid vehicles scattering throughout the automotive world, but we know the SUV-loving Americans will just eat it up!
The next generation GLK will come with a more sportier and distinctive design and will be built on the next Mercedes-Benz C-Class wagon platform with more room in the back. This new platform will also increase the interior comfort, will come with a larger trunk, and a longer wheelbase. Mercedes will also offer more engine options for the next GLK.
The new generation G-Class will be unveiled in 2012 with new V6 and V8 engines. The performance of the GL 350 CDI has been increased to 252 HP and the V8 diesel has been deleted. The 3.0 petrol engine in the GL 300 will deliver 252 HP, and the 3.5 engine will go up to 306 HP. The Gl500 will come with a 435 HP bi-turbo engine and the GL63 AMG will deliver 544 HP.
A new generation ML-Class will be revealed in 2013. The engine line-up will include an ML 250 Bluetec 4Matic with 204 HP, as well as a hybrid version, the ML400 Hybrid. This hybrid will combine a V6 with a 15KW electric motor.
And finally, the new model in the line-up: the BLK – a small crossover based on the future generation B-Class. It will be offered with all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The engine line-up will include engines starting with a 1.2 turbo petrol engine with 109 HP, the 1.4 liter with 136 HP, and a 1.6 diesel with 122 HP. The AMG version will deliver a total of 272 HP. Mercedes has said that this is a model for every day use for people who need more interior space.
New SUVs in Mercedes’ future line-up originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 17:30 EST.
The recall bug has hit Kia anew, with the Korean manufacturer announcing that there will be a recall of 24,000 2010 models of the Soul and around 11,200 2011 models of the Sorento because of a problematic electrical system discovered in both vehicles.
The models that are included in the recall are those built between September 7, 2009 and July 30, 2010. Yep, a little over a month ago.
The quick recall is a response Kia is doing after finding out that a number of the wiring harnesses that are being used in the Soul’s lighting speaker system and the Sorento’s interior accent illumination shouldn’t have passed the automaker’s quality control because they may not have been soldered properly.
Kia is making a pre-emptive strike on the matter because of the potential of a short-circuit that could eventually lead to the vehicles catching fire. And while no accidents have been reported, Kia is making sure that they nip the problem in the bud before it takes a turn for the worse.
According to Kia, dealerships will begin replacing the defective harnesses at no cost to the customer with the recall expected to commence no later than October.
Kia to issue recall on 2010 Soul and 2011 Sorento over electrical problems originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 10:30 EST.
“Land Rover!” What is the first model coming to your head? We bet is not the Freelander, and not even the Range Rover. But for sure is the old, traditional Defender! After all this is a model older than many of us, most likely having the same age of your grandpa, and it is unlikely that at some point in your childhood you didn’t take a short trip in your grandpa’s Ninety (this was Defender’s first name).
Tata Motors decided that a car with 62 years of history needs to go on, and will come with a new generation Defender in 2014. However, the “Defender” name will be dropped, but many of the original car’s looks and values could be used in the final production model. And while the original model has been built on the T5 steel platform chassis, this is much to heavier and it will also be dropped. Instead Land Rover will use the same Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) technology used in the Freelander. According to Land Rover managing director Phil Popham, the new Defender will be adopt a more SUV look and will deliver more off-road power: “We’ll be really tuning up the versatility side and practicality side. That for me is the core of the Defender’s identity.”
Land Rover works on new Defender originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 3 September 2010 09:30 EST.
In 2008, there was a little concept by the name of the Saab 9-4X BioPower that was introduced at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. Two years later, Saab has finished polishing off the production version and will be revealing the second all-new model to be launched under the Spyker ownership at the Los Angeles Motor Show in mid-November.
The 9-4X will be built on an all new platform called the Theta Premium that mixes components from GM’s Theta and Epsilon 2 platforms. It will find itself with its own exterior and interior stylings, but will have a dashboard design that will be similar to the new 9-5. The 9-4X will be offered with a 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 petrol engine as the sole engine, but Saab is working on a diesel option for the future. The concept was powered by a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter BioPower turbo engine that delivered 300 HP and strong torque of 295 lb.-ft. With this engine, Saab wanted to demonstrate its commitment to “rightsizing” – achieving sufficient levels of performance with a smaller, more efficient engine.
Sales in the USA will begin in late 2011.
Saab 9-4X confirmed for L.A. Auto Show originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 22:00 EST.
After a year of having its share of ups and downs – more on the latter, actually – Chrysler is in the middle of reinventing itself with the hopes of returning to its former place as a competitor in the auto industry. As part of their efforts, the US brand is aggressively marketing both its Jeep and Dodge brands with a series of carefully-planned commercials to ensure consumers that the rough patches have passed, and that the company has come back better and stronger than ever before.
As part of this campaign, Chrysler has released a number of commercials featuring the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the latest one being appropriately called, “Stronger”.
In the ad, Chrysler details the painstaking lengths that go in building Jeep’s new flagship SUV while carefully pointing out the importance of the vehicle in the company’s attempt to restore the brand’s image and reputation. As the ad ever-so poignantly says, Chrysler isn’t “building just a car, it’s building a company.”
Video: Crysler’s reinvention continues with new Jeep commercial originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 29 August 2010 23:00 EST.
If you’re trying to make some sense of BMW, you’re going to be at it for awhile. The German automaker has been creating cars that are a bit puzzling to the common person, like the X6 or the 5-Series GT. Yet, nothing quite says insane like the new X3 M and pretty soon, there will be a new version based on the F25 X3.
When we take a closer look at the line of BMW SUVs, it makes the most sense to use the X3, rather than the X5. The small SUV only weighs 3971 pounds, far less than the much larger X5. That means that the X3 should stop, corner, and accelerate much better, not to mention it should get better fuel economy as well. In the world of the power to weight ratio, the X3 M takes the cake.
Powering the newest M machine will likely be the N55 turbocharged six-cylinder. If you’ve been paying attention to the automotive world as of late, you will have realized that the N55 is the same motor that is being used for the new M3. Not to mention that motor is already being used in the X3. The motor will be attached to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Once the X3 M is on the road, we would expect it to be able to hit 60 miles per hour in just five or six seconds. The motor will likely produce around 420 horsepower, which is good enough. After all, BMW can’t give the X3 M more power than the X5. The corners will be where the car outperforms its bigger rivals though. It’s lower to the ground, smaller, and will have fat tires.
Some might say that this sort of machine makes no sense whatsoever. We say that BMW can make whatever they want, and a high-performance X3 sounds good to us.
BMW X3 M Renderings originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 27 August 2010 14:00 EST.
The Range Rover Evoque won’t be released out on the market until next year, but it’s already catching a lot of attention from anyone who’s ever caught the car making test rounds on the streets.
This particular white beauty was caught doing the rounds in London a few days ago, and, by goodness, the Evoque is gorgeous. From what we’ve heard, this particular Evoque was out on the road filming a commercial, although if you ask us, we don’t think that releasing an advert for Range Rover’s new pride and joy would be all that needed, especially considering that its launch back in July already drew it a ton of positive feedback.
Then again, there’s nothing wrong with covering your bases, either. And knowing how the brand is trying be aggressive in promoting not only the Evoque, but their entire brand portfolio, we’re not surprised that the fellas over at Land Rover are doing all they can to aggressively bring the Evoque into the public consciousness.
But since this video of still shots is what we have at this point, we’re going to play it as often as we can and wait for the day when the SUV officially goes on sale, at which time, our bank accounts would be ready enough to support the financial blow of scooping one up for ourselves.
Photo credit: sssshaun
Range Rover Evoque spotted in London during commercial filming originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 23 August 2010 15:00 EST.
Chrysler is preparing the launch of their brand new Durango SUV with the help of the usual car-maker games: teaser images and videos. In this video, images of the Durango filter through the screen with just enough lighting to get a taste of the car’s body. They are not exactly full figure revealing, but they are a lot better than the boring and slightly ridiculous images laid before us for the Ford Explorer. These few sneak peeks were revealed to highlight the design characteristics of the 2011 Dodge Durango, but we should see some more of the all-new three-row performance SUV in the coming weeks.
As previously reported, the 2011 Durango will be built on a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee platform which is also shared with the 2011 Mercedes ML-Class. It will be powered by the same engine as the Jeep model, meaning a Pentastar 280 HP 3.6-liter V6 and the 390 HP 5.7-liter Hemi V8 for the top version. Rumors say that the new Durango will also get a Fiat diesel engine.
For those who are interested in staying in touch with the car’s launch, you can go to www.dodge.com/2011Durango.
Video: 2011 Dodge Durango teaser originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 16 August 2010 17:00 EST.
Everyone expects the new Q1comact crossover SUV from Audi considering it’s been talked about for a couple of years now. What we didn’t expect was that the future model would, in fact, be the allroad version of the current A1 hatchback. The new A1 will drop the suffix “allroad” and simply adopt the Q1 name. The future Audi Q1 will be available with a 5-door body and in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive versions. The debut is expected to be made in the first quarter of 2013.
The Audi Q1 will be defined by a sober, similar look to the one of the Q3, Q5, and Q7. It will be available with engines from a 160 hp 1.4 TSI to a 2.0 TDI 140 bhp. Diesel will also play a strong role in the Q1’s future with a 1.2 Liter TDI cranking out 80 HP and a 1.6 Liter motor with outputs ranging from 100 to 120 HP. Prices will be higher than 22,000 euros for the two-wheel drive and 27,000 euros for the AWD version.
Next Audi A1 allroad will in fact be the Q1 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 11 August 2010 17:00 EST.
The Toyota Highlander was first unveiled in 2000 and it wasn’t until 2008 that the second generation went on sale. Now, in apparent record time for the Highlander, the crossover will be receiving its first major facelift. The new 2011 Highlander will make its debut later this month at the Moscow Motor Show and will go on sale later this year.
The model will come with a redesigned front fascia that includes new headlights, a new grille with two horizontal lines instead of three, and the front bumper. While there are no details on the car’s specifications we expect to see a 273 HP 3.5 liter V6 engine under the hood and a 2.7 liter four-cylinder unit for the American market. A hybrid version will also be unveiled.
We have to inform you that even if you are looking at the European version, the exact same model will also be offered for the North American market. So what you see, is what you get!
First official image of the 2011 Toyota Highlander originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 August 2010 21:00 EST.
In just a few days Infiniti will unveil two new special editions at the Pebble Beach Concours. However, this is not the only surprise coming from the Japanese luxury maker. According to Car And Driver, the company has filed for trademarks for cars named JX20, JX25, JX25h, and JX30.
While we have no idea what this new model will be, we are sure that the number indicates engine displacements: 25 might indicate a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a 2.5-liter VQ-based V-6, while “h” clearly indicates a hybrid model. The big question comes for the 20 and 30 as Nissan has no 2.0 liter or 3.0 liter engine in its line-up and it’s been years since the company developed a 3.0 liter V6 engine.
Going even further with the speculation, we presume we are talking about a crossover/ SUV model (taking under consideration that all of Infiniti’s SUVs have an X in their nomenclature). So, are we talking about an Infiniti version for the recently launched Nissan Juke? We don’t know for sure, but we do know one thing; this will definitely be another competitor for the German models.
Infiniti trademarks JX name originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 August 2010 13:00 EST.
In what can only be described as an aggressive growth strategy by the Jaguar Land Rover Group, Range Rover is rumored to be working hard on introducing another vehicle into an already growing line-up of models for the brand.
It wasn’t that long ago when Range Rover unveiled the new Evoque SUV to the public, joining the Range Rover Sport and signaling a turning point in the company’s direction. Turns out, according to sources, Range Rover may not be done expanding its growing portfolio.
There’s no word yet on what exactly this model is going to be, but from what we’ve heard, it looks like it’s going to be slotted somewhere between the new Evoque SUV and the Range Rover Sport. Earlier this month, we caught wind of a new premium sedan that will be priced between $40,000 and $60,000 that was currently in the works from Tata and Jaguar, but we can only hope that this second rumor is about yet another model to add to their lineup. The more the merrier!
The rapid expansion of the brand is a stark difference from the problems it was facing last year when Tata Motors scooped up the then-beleaguered brand which, at that time, was experiencing plummeting sales and was in dire need of some serious resuscitation.
Now, they’re introducing new models left and right. What a difference a year – and a change in ownership – makes, right?
Range Rover looking at introducing another model following the Evoque originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 August 2010 12:00 EST.
We’ve all been there. You’re standing in the line at a gas station and you look up to see that the lottery has been bumped up to some unimaginable number. As the clerk slowly rings up the customer in front of you, you think of all of the things you would be able to buy and accomplish if you were lucky enough to strike it rich. It’s your turn now and you’re feeling a little froggy, so you jump. One lotto ticket please.
Like we said, we’ve all been there. Unfortunately, some of us have been there a lot more times than others and the amount of money that is literally slipping right off your fingertips stacks up as your chances get trimmed down. This is the exact idea that designers Lauren Was and Adam Eckstrom from the Rhode Island School of Design wanted to convey when they took $39,000 worth of lotto tickets and built a Hummer H3. They wanted everyone to see that with the money people have spent on lotto tickets, they could have just saved it up and bought something cool with it.
Their designs don’t just stop at Hummers either. Check out the gallery to see what other things were built using the useless pieces of paper that people paid for. We’re glad they built a Hummer because no one else is going to anymore.
A Hummer H3 made out of Lotto tickets? originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 6 August 2010 22:00 EST.
There have been numerous reports that the Toyota Sequoia will be exterminated, but those appear to be false. The Japanese automaker’s SUV – which is built in Indiana – has seen a massive sales drop, down 36 percent from last year’s numbers.
Despite these horrid sales numbers, Toyota still feels confident in the big SUV.
“Sequoia continues to be a profitable, high-quality vehicle for Toyota and several years remain in the life of the current generation,” the automaker said in a release sent out to the media.
While the Sequoia is suffering, the 4Runner is flourishing. The three-row SUV has seen its sales double, to 21,953, in the first six months of the year.
The massive Sequoia will likely continue the way it is for a few more years and after that, it seems like that will be it for the SUV. We would expect the 2012 would be its last year.
Toyota Sequoia To Live…For Now originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 30 July 2010 17:00 EST.
The Nissan Rogue might have flown below the radar, but that hasn’t stopped Nissan from giving the SUV a refresh for 2011. On the exterior, the Nissan gets the unusual egg crate grille, similar to what we find on the Murano. The foglamps get new surroundings that help the front get a more stylistic look.
On the SL and S Krom Edition, you can choose 18-inch wheels for the first time. With those massive wheels and the chrome grille, this is one shiny machine. Not to mention it looks far better than the old models.
There are also other changes that nobody will likely notice. There are new spats in front of the wheels and a new underbody tray that will cut aerodynamic drag and give a 1-mile per gallon fuel increase. That increase helps the front-wheel drive Rogue get 22/28 mpg, while the all-wheel drive version will manage 22/26.
We will get our first glimpse of the new 2011 Rogue at the Z Car Convention in Nashville, TN which started on the 28th and will continue until August 1.
Nissan Rogue Gets Host Of Changes For 2011 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 30 July 2010 12:00 EST.
We first heard about the CX-5 back in 2008 when Mazda began discussing its plans to expand their line and create a more well-rounded line-up. Two years later and those plans are finally being put to work as AutoCar reports that the new CX-5 is just about ready to be launched.
The new CX-5 is being designed after the Kazamai Concept that was unveiled at the Moscow Motor Show in 2008. The concept looked like a cross between a sports car and an SUV and highlighted the direction Mazda was taking when producing their next small compact crossover. Straight out of Star Trek, the Kazamai Concept’s design language was all, but ordinary.
Not only will the Mazda CX-5 boast an extravagant design concept, but it will also be doing its part for the environment, being the first production Mazda to be powered by the Sky engine. The SKY-G engine is a next-generation direct injection gasoline engine with greatly improved fuel economy and output due to enhanced thermal efficiency. The engine will work with i-stop, regenerative braking, and lighter vehicles to provide the owner with a 30-percent increase in fuel economy. The Mazda CX-5 will be at least 100kg lighter than its competitors.
Mazda will also be shadowing the new Land Rover Evoque by creating both three- and five-door versions.
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width="180"Mazda CX-5 in the works originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 27 July 2010 10:00 EST.
After many teaser photos – many, many teaser photos – Ford is finally unveiling the 2011 Ford Explorer to the world today. However, in true Ford style, the unveiling will come in many videos and photos released throughout the day. They have already released two videos, one at 12:01am and another at 7:40am, and there will be plenty more as the day drags on.
The first video showed Mike Rowe, host of Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs” and Ford celebrity spokesman as he interviewed Ford CEO Alan Mullaly the last night. The second video was the one that everyone wants to see. Yes, we were able to witness the official unveiling of the 2011 Ford Explorer. Of course, you’ll have to sit through about three minutes and 15 seconds of Ford’s staff discuss their jobs and experiences at Ford before the tarp gets thrown off of the Explorer. Ford does seem to have a theatrical vein running through them, don’t they?
We’ll keep you posted on the videos they decide to throw out at us throughout the day. Of course, we’ll try to lump them all together so you won’t have to set your alarm for each piece of information as Ford dishes it out sparingly.
Hit the jump for the second already released video.
The 2011 Ford Explorer’s reveal begins originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 26 July 2010 10:00 EST.
The good news is that the unveiling of the 2011 Ford Explorer is just one day away. The bad news is, with one day before the unveiling, we don’t know how many more teasers of the new SUV we can stomach from these guys.
Okay, it’s not that we don’t appreciate the effort they give out, but at some point, the whole definition of ‘teasing’ a vehicle loses its meaning when you come out with one every other day – or so it seems.
We can only be teased for so long without the whole thing becoming ridiculous and in the case of the 2011 Explorer, we’ve seen just about enough teasing of it – and, unwittingly, the front office execs and their smiling faces on some of the photos – that it’s becoming a little, shall we say, repetitive.
Thankfully, we’ll all be spared from anymore of this on the 26th of July, at which time Ford will officially take the covers off of the SUV on their Facebook page. Now, here’s to hoping that July 26 comes fast enough, or we might be treated to yet another ho-hum teaser photo.
Ford has one more teaser of the 2011 Explorer to show us originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 25 July 2010 21:00 EST.
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