Daily Archives: September 23, 2013
Renewed Dacia Duster Unveiled
Dacia, the Romanian carmaker has unveiled a refreshed and made-over Duster soft-roader preceding to its public debut at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show next month. Revised to encompass more “emphatic 4×4 design cues” is what the firm claims about the face lifted Dacia Duster. The more rugged look said to be the key to the facelift the new Duster has got is its redesigned front fascia with a new front grille with chrome plating that hides a new air intake and larger light clusters. However, the rear is almost the same as the outgoing model with some subtle styling tweaks that give the refreshed Dacia Duster a more SUV like appearance.
The fact prevails – the current Duster is a stylish and compact SUV, interestingly, with a spacious interior. And it can be parked outside your house for not much money. The real game changer in the UK market, Duster comes with its enter-level model costs less than some superminis and is sets new stature for value for money. The face lifted Duster which features all new equipments is to continue customer satisfaction at the classic Duster prices.
While the current Dacia Duster sitting on Renault-Nissan B0 platform that mandates the use of traverse engines sports a 1.6 liter petrol or 1.4 liter diesel engine the revised Duster boasts an all new engine. One of the biggest innovations that the newer Dacia presents is the 1.2 liter TCe developing 125 horsepower or 92 kilo watts. The engine is mated to a six speed manual gearbox. The six speed manual transmission makes driving the new Dacia Duster a delight for the driver, having control over the little SUV at every turn and contour. Fuel economy is great with only 6 liters per 100 kilometers. Upgraded Dacia Duster is fully equipped with multimedia technology and even more practical customer features. Dacia MEDIA NAV that is a complete multimedia system with Bluetooth connectivity along with SAT NAV are available on the improved Duster according to what trim level you go for. The essential multimedia system called the Dacia Plug&Radio in the new SUV from the firm features a radio, an MP3 compatible CD player, Bluetooth connectivity and an integrated jack and USB sockets which combine to form a simple yet effective technology.
The new Dacia Duster also sports a cruise control, rear parking sensors (again depending on the trim level), motion auto-lock and an exterior temperature display. The door on the driver’s side now contains the electric window controls with one-touch mode. Also boasting larger cabin and trunk volume, the Renault owned Dacia’s Duster now comes with as much as 3.3 liters of extra interior storage space.
With such classy interiors, a stand-out grille, a lower intake as well as the revised “double optic” headlights the new Dacia Duster looks high class with its new facelift considering the fact that it’s from Renault’s budget Romanian sub-brand. As the Head of Styling for the Entry Range, David Durand said, “New Duster gets and even stronger character while retaining its initial DNA.”
Maserati Levante – “Made in Italy”
Heavily anticipated new Maserati Levante is going to be a “Latin blend” of fashion, a blend of what else but the amazing BMW X6 and the luxurious Porsche Cayenne. Albeit originally planned to built in a Chrysler US factory in Detroit, the muscularly styled SUV is now expected to be produced in Italy due to the strong and growing demand for Jeep products and hence a need for a stronger factory to support its production. Along with what is said about the new Maserati Levante having mixed influences from the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X6, the 2011 Maserati Kubang concept could also provide a clue for the new SUV’s visual character. However, this is just a clue not the actual styling! The key to what the new Maserati actually is road-based dynamics, deft athletic styling, room for five and a plush cabin.
What powers the Maserati’s luxury sports SUV is the company’s new twin turbocharged 3.0 liter petrol V6 engine generating 410 brake horsepower and a twin turbocharged 3.8 liter V8 producing a massive 530 brake horsepower. With twin turbos, direct injection, variable valve timing and an intercooler for each turbo, Levante’s would be a fully modern mill. A 271 bhp 3.0 liter V6 turbodiesel will be the key powerplant for Europe. All engine options will be linked to an eight speed automatic transmission making the on road dynamics of the SUV a delight to experience. Along with prancing horsepower, amazing transmission, a version of the ‘Q4’ all wheel drive system is adapted in the new Levante from its application in the new Ghilbi and Quattroporte models from the firm.
This all wheel drive system which already makes the Ghilbi a horse with some real giddy-up, will be modified to be used in the Maserati’s sports ute for its dual purpose role for the all new Levante is expected to follow the footsteps of sister brand Jeep’s on its expertise in rough terrain capabilities. Simply means that the levanter will be equally good an off-roader as it’s going to be an amazing on-road luxury ute. While the structure for Levante will draw on Quattroporte and Ghilbi, its electronics will come from Chrysler and Jeep. Since the Levante gets part of its powertrain and outfit from Ghilbi and Quattroporte, it won’t be surprising if the luxurious yet athletic SUV contains a high level of weight-saving aluminum in its body and suspension.
Maserati boss Herald Wester says the Levante is likely to be Italian built although not at the new Grugliasco plant which is home to the Ghilbi and Quattroporte since the beast is way too big for the body-framing equipment and paint plant to handle. The very fact that Maserati’s new SUV is somewhat a blend of Cayenne and BMW X6 makes it a worthy opponent for the two. X5 is also a sports ute that stands against the Levante. With its defined looks that come from the competitors and its sashaying drive that comes with the tag “Maserati”, this SUV is one to look forward to!
Jaguar CX 17 Concept Unveiled
The new Jaguar crossover concept is out! What seems to be is that the dubbed CX-17 looks like an XJ’s brother that has been hanging out at the local gym too much. What firms calls a way to “introduce Jaguar’s new, high-advanced, modular architecture” and also a design to illustrate “the diversity of vehicles that could be produces using this architecture, which underpins he innovative future of the Jaguar brand”, is the first crossover from the company. Jaguar’s design director Ian Callum, who admitted that he has been reluctant to produce such cars and is doing it for the love of SUVs and SUV lovers all over the world also told that the new Jaguar CX-17 is targeted to the young generation who aspire to own an SUV! The luxury British manufacturer claims that this is going to be one driver’s car. Essentially Jaguar!
Upcoming Jaguar takes a whole lot of design cues from Jaguar’s road car range. Front façade that features a large single frame grille and slim headlights is a take on the current XJ’s face. However, two gigantic nostrils lit by diffused LEDs make the new CX-17 look like a beast ready to roll. When it comes to what the rear of the upcoming SUV looks like, it screams Jaguar F-type out loud. Pronounced rear launches and the horizontal tail lights mark the influence of the same. The originality bit comes from a twin exhaust, a roof spoiler and 23-inch alloys which also emphasize the SUVs sporty intentions. Focused, chic and minimalist, the interior of the car firstly features four individual bucket seats each of which is embossed with a laser cut dog-toothed pattern.
There are “leisure” seats, two of them that pop up from the boot floor which are a treat to your tired body to perch when you park up in the middle of a long drive. The dashboard is simplistic and houses a central screen and a touch sensitive control panel. The center console is one large touchscreen in itself that stretches back to the rear passengers and is called the Interactive Surface Control. Jaguar intends to offer both super-efficient diesel models that emit less than 100g/km of CO2 as well as the high performance supercharged petrol V6 engines also used by the F-type, capable of achieving 186 mph. The CX-17 sports a rear-biased intelligent all-wheel drive system. Fine and tidy handling that comes with the all-aluminum suspension is what is to be expected.
The sinister-looking LED flashlights on the face of the monster with a prominent upright black mesh grille, a muscular contoured bonnet and grey plastic skirting beneath the bumper all of it gives the new Jaguar just the right brawn it needs to step into the premium market of SUVs. 4.7 meter long, 1.6 meter high and 1.9 meter wide, the CX-17 targets the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 right away! And it’s not a surprise why Jaguar took aim at these cars for this is the fastest growing and largest market sector for luxury SUVs.