Daily Archives: April 19, 2013
2014 Mercedes Benz GLK – The New Luxury Crossover!
We usually come across affordable SUVs meant for families when we wander around in the crossover sections. However, if you thought that the high end companies would not take their shots in the crossover market, then you were wrong. We are talking about the gorgeous new SUV that Mercedes has launched in the market – 2014 Mercedes Benz GLK. The new Mercedes Benz GLK is a complete yet small package. Although it is small in size, it can deliver almost every kind of performance under any kind of circumstances that you might want to test the vehicle on!
The new GLK crossover SUV will undoubtedly be a darling as a performer when considered under on-road conditions. However, the question is that will the GLK be able to perform as amazingly off-road? Well, with the stock fittings, no. But if you consider switching to the Offroad Engineering Package, which can be installed on the chassis, then you might even beat off-road oriented SUVs that companies like Jeep produce without putting in any effort at all!
Whether you are a diesel user or a gasoline one, Mercedes has made the GLK available in both options. The diesel model, also known as the GLK 250 features a 2100cc engine which produces a net output of over 190 horsepower. It is capable of sending a torque 0f 369 lb. ft. to the wheels. On the other hand, the gasoline version is named the Mercedes Benz GLK 350, which boasts of a 3500cc V6 engine. The V6 is capable of producing a power output of 302 horsepower and a torque of 273 lb. ft. What makes the GLK 250 (diesel version) a much sought after beast is that it will feature the company’s highly famous and successful 4MATIC all-wheel drive, which will further be combined with a seven-speed automatic gearbox. Believe us when we say it, you will absolutely be mesmerised how quiet the cabin is, as Benz themselves stated that the drivetrain is much softer and quieter. Talking about the GLK 350, you will be getting a seven-speed automatic gearbox as well. Choice between the types of wheel drive system is on you. Mercedes will also incorporate the new engine stop/start system in the GLK 350, which is to stay exclusive to the company’s forthcoming new AMG vehicles and hybrid concepts.
Mercedes suffered a huge downfall in reputation regarding the last model of the GLK as the gasoline version of the SUV could manage to deliver a fuel economy of just 16 miles per gallon in city to 22 miles per gallon on highway. The diesel version wasn’t very impressive other. The 2014 version tackled this problem by incorporating the amazing Blue TEC engine in the GLK 250. The new engine manages to pull off a fuel economy of over 45 miles per gallon on highway. Expect a rise of a few thousand dollars if you want the BlueTEC engine though. Also, the petrol version’s efficiency has been increased by many folds. Among many other changes are the changed looks. While the previous GLK was quite sturdy looking, the 2014 version looks much more sporty and elegant. Headlights and tail lamps have been redesigned as well.
Image thanks to www.autoblog.com
Land Rover Plans of a Baby SUV, Discards Convertible Plans
Have you been a hard core Land Rover fan all your life but just couldn’t afford buying one of those amazing yet highly expensive babies all along? Well, we have just the perfect news for you. Let the shine of hope get to you, as Land Rover is ruined to have been planning of introducing an all-new SUV, which will be placed below all of the company’s products, right at the entry level. If Land Rover does give a nod to the production of the entry level ‘Baby SUV’, then it will be the next one to join other automobile giants like Porsche and BMW in the small entry level SUV race. These companies already have their respective products, Porsche Macan and BMW X1 competing in the same segment.
Mr John Edwards, global brand director for Land Rover, has confirmed that the product planning time at Land Rover is currently thinking about the feasibility of a baby SUV, and the members are presently fighting mixed reactions. According to Edwards, a baby SUV from the entry level would certainly compete well and would cater a very large fraction of population. However, the company needs to evaluate estimate profits and other factors before allowing the new SUV to see the light of the day.
Officials at Autocar also confirmed the news, and believe that the baby SUV would most likely take up design patterns from the Land Rover DC100 concept. They also estimated that the SUV would come with a price tag of around $27500 USD in the United States of America (roughly 18000 pounds in the United Kingdom) which is fairly low than the company’s current popular models.
While the company is thinking of adding up new SUVs to the current line-up, contrarily to the rumours that surfaced some time back, Land Rover is giving no green signal to the production of a convertible Range Rover Evoque.
Many of the company’s fans had turned ecstatic as the rumours of a convertible Range Rover spread up recently. Further, as the much desired darling flaunted itself at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, many were found with dumb founded looks on their faces. Everyone associated with the SUV world might have asked, “Is the convertible Range Rover really happening?” It isn’t. The company’s recent actions and proceedings have made it quite clear that we are not to be blessed with such a gorgeous beauty and the convenience and fun of driving a Range Rover while enjoying a clear blue sky anytime soon.
Land Rover has been making quite a number of changes to its fleet of SUVs that it sells under the Range Rover segment. Expecting a full and opening panoramic roof is okay, but the company is not venturing into the possibilities of a convertible SUV anytime soon. It might be worthy to mention the fact here that among the more prestigious SUV makers, only the Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet is the only convertible that comes close to a convertible SUV. However, the possibility of a convertible Range Rover causes a mouth-watering reaction that no other SUV possibly can!
Image thanks to: www.autoblog.com
Citroën Flaunts Off the New Wild Rubis Hybrid SUV Concept
French car maker Citroën has a new jewel in its pocket to show off to the world, and it is not stepping back from doing so already! The company is all set to unveil a beautiful new concept, the Wild Rubis at the Shanghai Motor Show, which is to be hosted on the 20th of April. However, the officials at Citroën apparently cannot seem to sit back and wait, as the car was spotted near a famous wine growing estate located in Saint-Emillion, France. The company’s official photographers were seen shooting videos and pictures. Citroën went ahead posted the pictures right before the Shanghai Motor Show.
From what appears from the pictures, the Wild Rubis seems to have taken its name from the very colour that it was pictured in. ‘Rubis’ is the French of ‘Ruby’. A purplish-red colour makes the resemblance to the colours of rubies more than just clear. A very interesting thing about this colour is that it seems to change drastically with the amount and intensity of light falling on the vehicle’s body.
Although Citroën didn’t hesitate in posting pictures showing the beautiful vehicle, they have kept all other information close to their chest and haven’t allowed it to leak at all. To further enhance the curiosity that they have induced, Citroën went ahed and released a statement that says that the Wild Rubis is a “subtle combination of power and refinement, packed with technological innovations.” As far as we know, the Wild Rubis will be featuring a pug-in hybrid system. It will be quite worthy to mention here that the company used a plug-in hybrid system in the Numero 9 concept that it unveiled last year. If the Wild Rubis is to feature a similar system, then be prepared to ride in a SUV which runs on a 300 horsepower combustion engine, hybridised with an electric motor. It must also be noted that the system was capable of thrusting the Numero 9 concept from rest to 62 miles per hour in a time interval of just 5.4 seconds. Also, it featured a beautiful all-wheel drive system. If the Wild Rubis Concept is to feature similar specifications, then we surely hope that it goes under production as soon as possible!
The Wild Rubis appears to be very close to the BMW X5 in size, and there is something about the SUV that might remind you of the Infiniti FX50. Further, you get full LED headlamps, which are known to be more than just stylish. Also, the rear tail lamps are fully enclosed by a hard chrome enclosure. Also, a very interesting thing to note here is that instead of featuring a “Citroën” logo in the front, the SUV features a beautiful “DS” logo. Sitting right in the centre of the aggressive front grill, the logo looks pretty stylish! We must say from what the pictures show us, the designing team at Citroën has indeed done a great job! Companies like Porsche, BMW and Audi must seriously be considering the Wild Rubis a great competition! And, they actually should!
Image thanks to www.autotribute.com