Monthly Archives: October 2013
Volkswagen CrossBlue Concept
Right after Chevrolet gave to the market the C7 Corvette, Volkswagen is ready to offer SUV lovers, or rather the American SUV lovers the most American vehicle of the year. Volkswagen CrossBlue concept was revealed at the Detroit auto show this year. Officially a concept, the CrossBlue while sporting the plug-in diesel-electric powertrain as a token to carry on the legacy of the classic auto-show fare, the concept is quite a foretaste to the three-row SUV Volkswagen is about to offer in the coming two years.
As the brand tells about the Volkswagen CrossBlue and the production version that will step into the light with a different name, the crossovers are claimed as being “made for America”. It’s a two way deal. While the CrossBlue concept is a stunning treat to the American taste buds, the CrossBlue will be a trump card for VW quest for American sales growth. Anticipated to be a six or seven seater, the three-row crossover takes straight aims at the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder. The design of the concept perfectly displays the key characteristics of American SUVs. Marc Lichte, exterior designer for the Volkswagen CrossBlue concept skillfully incorporated giant wheel arches, a broad stance and the general brawn and masculinity into the design for the Americans to indulge into their rides. The successful attempt to style the CrossBlue for the Americans is testified by the fact that it is virtually a doppelganger to the Jeep’s Grand Cherokee and the styling is to remain mostly the same for the production model as well.
The Volkswagen CrossBlue concept’s powertrain is a diesel hybrid setup combining the latest EA288 2.0 liter turbo diesel four-cylinder engine, a six-speed DSG dual clutch automatic transmission and two electric motors, one at each axle. On its own, the diesel is capable of producing 190 horsepower and 280 pound feet of torque while the front mounted motor delivers 54 horses and 133 pound feet of twist along with the rear mounted one that is good for 114 and 119. Overall, the system is one big machine successfully producing 305 horsepower and a phenomenal torque of 516 pound feet. The brand claims that CrossBlue can cruise at a theoretical top speed of 127 mph and can achieve 60 mph from rest (o mph) in an impressive 7.0 seconds.
It is not yet decided where the CrossBlue will get its final North American assembly. Reports are the various VW plants are to bid for the right to build the stunning crossover. However, it is strongly anticipated that the crossover will unite with the Passat in Chattanooga, Tennessee. There is expected to be a long wait between the idea and the implementation. The concept is not yet to be headed for production and there have been no official announcements made. For a German company to pursue such a considerable wait for a behind schedule model, it comes with a bit of the surprise, but maybe it is just another aspect among many of the Volkswagen’s Americanization.
Redone 2014 Nissan Rogue
It has been almost seven years since Nissan last staked a claim to be the newest pursuing suburban dead ends. To boast the tag for once again, 2014 Nissan Rogue is getting a makeover. Arriving in November, 2014 Nissan Rogue will be priced just above $23,000 and will be welcomed part of a new global family of Renault and Nissan vehicles. Globally, Rogue will be displaying glimpses of the Nissan X-Trail and in further iterations the design of the stylish SUV will spawn some more Renault and Nissan vehicles. The new features boasted by the 2014 Nissan Rogue include a first-time three row seat with a more flexible seating system and a cargo organizing setup with 18 possible configurations.
Flaunting a completely new styling theme, the Rogue now has dressed up its familiar size with more appealing surfaces. Just like Honda, Nissan has evolved positively taking baby steps to remove the odder add-ons of the past. For instance, the last Rogue’s skewed grilles have been replaced by a more conventional grille option with vertical bars braced by LED running lamps. The sculpting on the sides makes it easy to mote the striking influence from the wild Juke. The recent Nissan Resonance concept doesn’t mark much of its presence but the shape still manages to push the Rogue’s corners in more reminiscent directions as compared to the blander first generation crossover.
The Rogue makes its comeback with a 2.5 liter four cylinder engine and Nissan’s signature continuously variable transmission that was also seen in the first generation crossover. Still producing 170 horsepower, the compact crossover is claimed to be, by the brand, at the top of the niche with 175 pound feet of torque. The efficiency is going to improve by 10 percent. The 2014 Rogue will feature all-independent suspension and electric power steering assisting in controlling the funky ride. What’s more new is the Active Ride Control that directs the CVT and the engine responses to smoothen the ride in case you encounter a bumpy road. The standard Rogue is set to sport 17 inch wheels while 18 inchers are an option on the top Rogue.
Just like Nissan Altima, the Rogue is promised to offer its passengers with better seating comforts with especially dense seat foams and more room for the backseat passengers all due to the sliding and reclining second row seats. The most unusual addition is the third row seat since there is not much of an increment in the passenger space. But because of the fact that the second row can be adjusted on a 9-inch long track, the third row seat could be a bit of a surprise, potent with some fine amount of leg room.
Nissan Rogue 2014 is a straight competition to the 2014 Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Chevrolet Equinox and Toyota Rav4. With a completely new and striking design, the promising Nissan engine and transmission and the new promised interior comfort, 2014 Nissan Rogue has quite some capability to stir up trouble in the market and keep the honor of having the oldest model in a hot vehicle segment like compact crossovers for the brand by being Essentially Nissan.
Kia Cross GT Concept
Strengthening the brand-exceeding standard set by the Kia GT which was unveiled in 2011 at Frankfurt, the brand raised the curtains from the Cross GT crossover concept in Chicago. The earlier GT concept made a strong hint about the brand offering a full sized luxury car in near future. Now, the Cross GT concept is a clear indicator that Kia is making up its mind to step into the big and bold premium-crossover market.
Kia’s Design Center America takes pride in their group of California-based designers who presented the market with the 2014 Forte sedan along with the Track’ster and Soul’ster concept. The same group of designers has designed the Kia Cross GT and it looks a little bit like an Infiniti at the first sight. But that ought to be a great thing since Infiniti managed to capture sights and hearts at its revelation. As is the GT sedan’s armature, the Cross GT sports a similar 122 inch long wheelbase. 192.8 inches long and 79.1 inches wide clubbed with a 65.3 inch overall height makes Cross GT look fun and chunky. With comparatively shorter rear and front overhangs, the ride still manages to show off the brands familial resemblance especially though the C-pillar and the nose.
While the brand strictly claimed that the hybrid powertrain Cross GT concept boasts is “strictly a concept”, the probability of the crossover to actually go hybrid when it reaches production is close to one. A 3.8 liter V6 powerful engine mated to an eight speed automatic transmission will be seen working in conjunction with an evolution of Kia’s parallel hybrid system. This translates to a system providing torque-vectoring all-wheel drive that, the brand claims, will be able to produce a whopping 500 pound feet of torque and massive 400 horsepower with an all-electric range of 20 miles.
The four-passenger vehicle sports rear hinged suicide doors that allow easy access to the rear buckets. The interior materials exude harmony with nature. Selected from re-harvested stock, the American walnut stunningly compliments the instrument panel while the Almond-Terra colored leather seats are tanned with chemical free dyes. A fun element to the interiors is the saddle-inspired seats affixed to a central tunnel that almost appear to be floating within the cabin.
A touch screen and central mouse control help access the entertainment functions, climate controls and the telematics. The infotainment and the internet are not denied from the rear passengers for the head-rests of the front seat feature flat-panel screens to allow the access. The flat load floor in the cargo area efficiently hides beneath it, a large storage compartment.
Kia’s executive vice president of marketing and communications, Michael Sprague said, “Our customers are looking to the Kia brand to offer relevant vehicle in the premium segment that take value to new levels of sophistication. The Cross GT is the next logical step in that evolution. And while only a concept today, it signals one possible design direction we may explore for the future.” It is easy to read between the lines and make out what the Kia Cross GT will be if/when it sees the production lights.
Jaguar’s first crossover – The Jaguar C-X16
Jaguar SUV and Land Rover no longer remain synonyms to each other. What marks the Jaguar’s brave new future is the revelation of the C-X17 crossover concept car at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show. The Jaguar branded crossover is a stunning display of the Jaguar’s new ‘iQ Al’ modular aluminum platform. While the luxury crossover market is in overdrive and armed with some amazing vehicles, Jaguar’s C-X17 crossover concept is a contender that looks emphatic and sharp enough to make a statement.
Jaguar is a British brand that has been a purist and is known well for its traditional sporting vehicles. The very fact has been a big reason to create blasphemy among many since the brand has taken a brave step to launch a posh-roader. However, potential rewards are many. For instance, Cayenne worked wonders for Porsche and the upcoming super-SUVs from the brands Lamborghini, Bentley and Rolls-Royce have already made much news and anticipators for them. This makes the new C-X17 concept from Jaguar an equally potential idea to anticipate for. And the sensational looks of the car only strengthen the point! Jaguar’s acclaimed designer Ian Callum, who also admitted that at first he was reluctant to design such car and is only doing it for the love of SUVs people are mad about these days, told, that though his team already knew what a great success was the sister brand Land Rover’s Range Rover SDV8 and its little sister Evoque was, they still carried their pursuit to give the C-x17 its own personality, intending to create a silhouette that emphasize on the sporty design of the vehicle.
With slim glasshouse and 23 inch alloy wheel that were added as a necessity to boost the C-X17s ability to make heads turn around while it rolls, Ian Callum also claims that none of the features, the bodywork is so out of the box that it hampers the production feasibility. The car has even got proper door and mirrors. However, the car’s cabin looks a wee bit outlandish but on a closer take it comes out to be a minimalist tae on the current Jaguar interior design. What makes the C-X17 look like a sporty beast ready to roll is a large single frame grille and two gigantic nostrils lit by diffused LEDs. And these sinister looking LED flashlights with a prominent upright black mesh grille mated with grey plastic skirting beneath the bumper while a muscular contoured bonnet stands above all, give the Jaguar c-X17 all the brawn it needs to take over the market of SUVs.
The jaguar C-X17 crossover concept is 4.7 meter long, 1.6 meter high and 1.9 meter wide. What the brand calls as a way to “introduce Jaguar’s new, high advanced, modular architecture” is a straight target to the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. The cars have been great newsmakers in the premium market of SUVs and it’s not much to think why Jaguar took aim at these cars. The first crossover from the company is highly awaited and has enough reasons to be waited for.
Infiniti Q30 Concept
The new Infiniti Q30 debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month. Nissan’s luxury subdivision, Infiniti is amidst a crucial re-branding effort that concentrates on elevating the brand’s image to the level that is pleasured by German luxury competitors such as BMW, Mercedes Benz and Audi. Henceforth, the Infiniti Q30 prefigures an upcoming design from the brand that targets on the Mercedes Benz CLA- Class sedan (A-class Hatch in Europe) and the Audi A3. The brand has not yet revealed much about the car but based on how the concept looks it won’t be wrong to say that it resembles the Infiniti’s 2011 Etherea concept, just more production feasible and more attractive.
This car is to be loved at the very first sight, and at the first sight it looks like a crossover. Infiniti says that the new Q30 is only one third of a crossover. The other two thirds of the design inspiration are a hatchback and a coupe. That’s like a treat of three car designs at the price of one, cheering up a lot of contemporary SUV lovers. The design brief of the car might create ambiguity about the Q30’s vehicle type but the name clears the fact that the Infiniti Q30 is follows the Q-based convention that the brand recently switched all of its line over to. The Q30 is anticipated to be smaller than the three series sized Q50 sedan by the brand. A more certain fact is the Infiniti Q30 will be a front-wheel drive. The Infiniti Q30 amazingly resembles the Mazda 3 five door. But working more corporeally, Infiniti parent firms Nissan/Renault announced a partnership recently with Daimler, which is parent conglomerate to Mercedes – Benz. The front drive based Mercedes A-Class which also serves as the basis for the CLA Class sedan. With the partnership in hand, and the Q30’s taller stance, it won’t be a surprise if the new model from Infiniti also offers four driven wheels.
The powertrain choices offered by the Infiniti Q30 might put a question in front of the buyers. Reason being that the Q30 comes with style in droves, mixing the aggressive front end of the Q50 with a stunning pair of straight sculpted body creases running down the each side of the body that are flowing and complex. As said earlier that this car hints about being a more practical version of the Etherea concept but interestingly the Q30, unlike the next generation supercharged four cylinder/electric motor hybrid system powered Etherea, is likely to be powered by a less exotic gas-only setup. Probably a turbocharged four-cylinder engine! Borrowing for the lower-output Q50, the car is guessed to be running with 210-240 horsepower.
The brand hopes the Q30 will prove to be a magnet for young buyers in global markets including China and Europe, while firming its roots in the U.S. After the slight success in the niche of luxury compacts with the Sentra related G20 sedan of the 1990s and early 2000s, the half-car half-crossover compact Q30 is believed by the firm to be a game changer.
Mitsubishi’s Car Trio at Tokyo Motor Show
Mitsubishi, the Japanese automaker has left all in awe with its big and bold step of announcing the revelation of its new green SUVs at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. Yes! SUV’s’! Though the company didn’t make any appearance at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show, Mitsubishi is to reveal a new series of three green and hybrid SUV concepts at the much awaited Tokyo Motor Show. The brand still owns an amazing line of SUVs with models like the 2014 Outlander and Mirage in its bag, yet hasn’t been much of a newsmaker recently. However, the revelation of the trio concept of the green SUV’s in the Tokyo Motor Show, which has already made much news, has surely created a great deal of possibility to spark things up for the automaker.
First up in the new series is the Mitsubishi Concept AR or “Active Runabout”. The SUV concept suggests a future generation vehicle that is compact yet doesn’t limit its usability to one purpose. The multipurpose vehicle is a potent preview of an all new Grandis. The Mitsubishi AR is to be powered by a turbocharged small-capacity direct injection engine. Next is the Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV or the Cross (X) over runner which is again a next generation compact utility vehicle and will be powered by a “lightweight and super efficient” plug-in hybrid powertrain.
The brand claims that this cross runner will present the driver with “agile driving dynamics and sport-coupe like styling” and might be a preview to the second generation ASX crossover that is expected soon. And finally, the Mitsubishi Concept GC-PHEV or the “Grand Cruiser” is a next generation SUV which is big or rather grand, as the name suggests. This SUV concept sports a plug-in hybrid electric system. Also, the Mitsubishi GC-PHEV concept will be a foretaste to the all new Mitsubishi Pajero that is all set to release next year which would be almost 15 years after the current Pajero debuted in 1999.
There hasn’t been any official or complete disclosure of the three vehicles but the teaser images that were released reveal a new design approach of the brand. The new SUV concepts from Mitsubishi boast bold emphatic grilles and sweeping lines. Also, the new designs are to feature Mitsubishi’s newest safety features and driver support technologies that operate on mobile network connectivity. Mitsubishi adds that the new trio series concept emphasizes on the brands pursuit of “environmental responsibility, driving pleasure, off road performance and safety” for its coming generation of passenger vehicles.
Mitsubishi has come up with an impressive series of concepts for its new hybrid and green SUVs. Be it the full sized Grand Cruiser with all terrain driving capabilities or the Crossover Runner with amazing fuel efficiency and dexterous driving skills or the Active Runabout concept which combines the practicality of an SUV with the interior space and mobility of an MPV, the brand has left no stones unturned to offer a line of SUVs to please all kinds of car lovers and can prove to be a total game changer in the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show.
All New 2015 Cadillac Escalade
This is the all new fourth generation of Cadillac’s default flagship. The fully redesigned Cadillac Escalade, which looks to reclaim some ground for the signature SUV that was once a leading vehicle in its segment. The 2015 Cadillac Escalade defines new level of luxury to the fourth generation of the brand’s largest and most daunting vehicle. Holding its roots firm to the old school Cadillac grounds the new Cadillac Escalade is massive and without any compromises. The new SUV from Cadillac is less a truck and more a caddy with a V8 and has been dramatically transformed in design and quality and will be much differentiated from the related Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon models.
The 2015 Escalade is offered both as a conventional sport utility vehicle and the plush, extra long eight-seat Escalade ESV version. On the outside, the new Cadillac Escalade retains what the Escalade has always been about. A humungous sport utility vehicle that shares quite some amount of its basic structure and running gear with its Chevy and GMC siblings! However, what completely transforms the new Escalade is the strikingly new and improved technology and material. The 2015 Cadillac Escalade is big and it is bold. The luxury SUV sports clear and classy lines and a full LED lighting rear and front façade. With aluminum hood and tailgate, the Escalade uses active grille shutters to significantly reduce the drag and effectively increase the fuel efficiency for the massive sports ute. Coming standard with 20 inch wheels, the Escalade also gives an option of 22 inch. While the extended ESV Escalade is 224 inches long the standard 2015 Cadillac Escalade is a modest 204 inches. The beasts can tow from 7,700 to 8,200 pounds, depending upon the configuration.
Talking about the power, the standard 2015 Escalade is powered by a 6.2 liter V-8 engine generating massive 420 horsepower. The engine produces a whopping 460 pond feet of torque and is mated with a six-speed automatic transmission. A new addition is the direct fuel injection and cylinder shut-off that translated to better fuel efficiency. Just like its predecessors, 2015 Cadillac Escalade comes in rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive versions. On the inside, the new Cadillac Escalade looks amazingly classy and sophisticated an impressive choice among various accents.
The 2015 Cadillac Escalade will debut this fall and is expected to be priced at about $65,000 and above. The masculine and gigantic luxury SUV will be a direct competition to the GMC Yukon Denali, Infiniti QX80 and the Mercedes Benz GL-Class.
Lamborghini’s SUV to be Produced Earlier Than Previously Stated!
Earlier we reported how the Lamborghini’s gorgeous compact SUV, Urus saw some hindrances in its pre-production life. It’s production itself was in jeopardy for some time. The company’s CEO, Stephan Winkelman later stated that the Urus will go under production by 2017. Lamborghini fans and those who are waiting for the Urus hold your breath, for the SUV is all set to go under production very soon!
After all the problems that the Urus faced regarding its production, the SUV has finally received the final green light. The CEO disclosed that the SUV will be out in the markets pretty soon. However, he did not disclose the exact date. “We’re going low profile now,” Winkelmann declared. “I can’t tell you much on details now, but when we get close to the launch, we will have more.” It seems as if the company might have introduced even more amazing changes in the already gorgeous SUV! Time will tell!
The production of the SUV was delayed last year due to the economic conditions of the European markets. The company developed the SUV further during this phase. Now the Urus is all set to be manufactured. Winkelman also declared that although the Chinese mrket has been a huge boon for Lamborghini, the nation has cut low on the purchases of end trim luxury items. Hence, the best markets for the Urus shall be Japan, the gulf countries and the United States of America.
Besides the fact that it is a Lambo SUV, there are a number of enthralling things about the Urus which ensure that the SUV is capable of being better than all others in the market! Urus will be much lighter than its competitors as its body is to be made up of carbon fibre. The main competitors like the Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, etc. all will be at least a hundred kilograms heavier than the Urus. An interesting thing to note here is that all these three SUVs share the same platform with the Urus, the MQB platform. Also, Lamborghini’s being eco-friendly with this one as the engine has been paired with a hybrid system using an electric motor for developing the torque. The engine that we speak of here is not a small one. We are referring to an insane 4000cc V8 engine here! This hybrid system is further coupled with an all-wheel drive drivetrain. We are hoping for a six speed automatic transmission on this one. The SUV will definitely blow any speed freak’s mind off high up into the air!
Now that the company’s CEO has himself stated that the vehicle will be out for production really soon, a spark has risen among buyers and lovers. Lamborghini now hopes to keep it low with the news as it plans on making the hopes and anticipations insane until the launching dates come up. We hope of seeing no more hindrances in the production of the beautiful vehicle. However, we will keep you updated!
2014 Mercedes Benz M-Class – IIHS’s Top Safety Pick
The 2014 Mercedes Benz M-Class is one of the most perfect SUVs in the market. This stunningly stylish super utility vehicle is one hell of an off-roader and yet is a favorite and strong status symbol for the high end families in the up-class suburbs. What’s newer with the already new SUV is that it has recently been awarded with the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ honor by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The accolade translates to an impressive rating for performance in various evaluations that are conducted by the IIHS. Small front overlap, moderate front overlap, side/roof strength and seat/head restraints club together to form the IIHS evaluations.
The tricky and one of the major adjustments that has to be faced by all the automakers was the small front overlap test. The new evaluation test was started just a year back by the IIHS. The 2014 Mercedes Benz M-Class was reinforced with newer and stronger door sills to increase the SUV’s protection in small overlap front crashes like running into a tree or a lamp post while driving. The Institute’s reports reveal that the new 2014 Mercedes Benz M-Class takes pride in the driver’s space that has been “maintained reasonably well”. The crash test on a dummy resulted in a possibility of a few lower left leg injuries; however, a significantly lower risk of injuries to the rest of the body was an impressive outcome. Moreover, as the reports say, the crash tested dummy head “made good contact with the front airbag” which didn’t run and move from its position during the crash.
Also, deployment of the side curtain airbag was quick and efficient and “had sufficient forward coverage”. This implies that the SUV completes protects the drivers head from frond as well as from any contact with the vehicle’s side structures and any outside objects.
The 2014 Mercedes Benz M-Class boasts nine standard airbags and the brands very own Mercedes’ Attention Assist system. The safety feature keeps a check on the monitor for drowsiness, dramatically reducing the risks for accidents. Another striking safety feature in the new Mercedes Benz M-Class is the Collision Prevention assist that comes standard with all the models. And it does not stop there. The brand offers some optional safety features as well. Further safety options include a rear view camera, a blind-spot monitoring system, and the Parktronic system that is a great when it comes to parallel parking assistance.
The 2014 Mercedes Benz M-Class is a luxury SUV with masculine deftness and aggressive features on its outside and soft sophisticated curves, smooth lines and a sedan-like appeal on the inside. And the luxury SUV also drives like a posh sedan even while exuding its off-roadness from its appearance. The new additions to the safety features in the new Mercedes Benz M-Class and then the acknowledgement of the changes with the IIHS Top safety Pick+ award surely makes the stylish luxury SUV one of the best picks in the booming market of big and beautiful SUVs.
2014 Kia Sorento Is The Safest SUV!
Among the vast number of compact SUVs that have been coming out in the market since crossovers gaining support over their truck based fathers, the 2014 Kia Sorento has stepped up and made a mark which might help in making the model a huge success in the SUV world. With the help of its brilliant safety features, the Sorento joined the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage and Subaru Forester in the category of five star winners from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Also, the 2014 Sorento gained a Top Safety Pick Rating from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).
Orth Hedrick, the director of product planning in the US was quoted as saying, “Already a compelling entry in the compact SUV category, earning a five-Star rating from NHTSA makes the Sorento an even stronger contender within its segment while underscoring Kia’s overall commitment to delivering safety and exceptional value to our customers.” Officials at KIA stated that the vehicle showed great results in all the three categories of frontal crash, side crash as well as rollover crash.
The trend of making changes to an existing model so as to keep them on the top continues to breed within companies and the 2014 Sorento is the result of the same. Although the changes that Kia has made to the Sorento can barely be seen directly, there are still a number of structural changes which led to the five stars that the SUV now flaunts. If the company is to be believed, then the Sorento now sits on a new platform. Further, you might find a few changes in the exterior looks as well!
The new 2014 Kia Sorento features a mighty 3300cc V6 engine which is capable of providing a massive torque of 252 lb.-ft. (290HP). Paired with a highly efficient 6 speed automatic transmission system, this engine provides as much or even more thrust to the vehicle that any average user would want. The vehicle comes with an all-wheel drive drivetrain. A peculiar thing to note about the Sorento is that even though it is a compact SUV, it features a third row of seats. Yes, it is a seven seater! We like to say that the Sorento is hence, a bit larger than compact SUVs but way smaller than the large truck based ones. A nice new technology equipped in the 2014 model makes the SUV’s ride a lot more fun. We’re speaking of the FlexSteer option. The driver can choose between three modes of steering control as per his needs – Comfort Mode, Normal Mode and Sport Mode.
The conclusion that one can draw is that the 2014 Sorento is absolutely worth investing in. Being a perfect choice for families on account of the third row of seats, the Sorento just earned a factor which places it above most of the vehicles of the same category. Featuring such a good number of safety features, the SUV definitely earned the amazing ratings!