Daily Archives: February 18, 2016
Volvo V90 Station Wagon Announced for Geneva Motor Show
The Volvo V90 Station Wagon might be a little on the domestic side compared to its siblings, the Volvo XC90 SUV and the Volvo S90 sedan, but it doesn’t mean it won’t be a thing of beauty once it hits the Geneva Motor Show 2016.
Although Volvo’s recent success came from the stunning XC90 SUV, we cannot deny the fact that the Swedish carmaker’s legacy had always been the station wagon. With the release of the V90, it looks like Volvo is once again inching to be at the top in that segment.
The problem, of course, lies in the fact that this segment has been dominated by crossovers and SUVs in the past years. But for certain folks, the station wagon is still the best way to transport their kids to and from school. This especially holds true to those living in Vermont, Colorado and Washington State. A family car such as the station wagon is still the best way to go for these old folks.
The V90 is the station wagon version of the S90 sedan, which is the sedan version of the SUV. The sedan and SUV were both welcomed to warm receptions last year, so the expectations for the station wagon are up to the roof. No pressure, though, as it looks like the V90 will exceed all of these.
The V90 will come with a powertrain that can deliver more than 400 horsepower if you would prefer the T8 plug-in hybrid package. This is more than enough power for a station wagon, mind you.
The interiors and exteriors are both impressive, and even the rear is surprisingly better than the sedan version, which has been heavily criticized in the past.
As of now, there are still no pricing and availability details aside from the fact that it might come to the market late this year.
Source: Verge
Hyundai i20 Active Has a Nice Mix of Features
The Hyundai i20 Active is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get crossover. You cannot expect it to be packed with a powerful engine when it’s clearly made for practicality, although the Korean company packed it with enough innovative technology to impress even the most discerning buyer.
The i20 Active has a little 1.0-liter, three-cylinder turbo engine, and it is a front-wheel drive. Power is distributed through a five-speed gearbox. There is no 4×4 here, unfortunately. It’s not even an option, truth be told.
However, the Hyundai i20 Active does enjoy an additional 20mm of ride height over the i20’s five doors. The driver’s seat has a little bit of hike, too, for better visibility, and the exterior’s panels have more rugged alternatives.
If you’re into hiking and other outdoor adventures, you can make use of the included skid plates on the front and rear, as well as the roof rails on top. Make sure to double check, however, the i20 Active’s capacity to climb mountains and drive through rough roads. Remember, this is not 4×4 drive.
But that’s not to say you won’t enjoy driving the i20 Active. It’s actually pretty good, and the suspension is the stiffest of the i20 family. It was designed as such to counter the body roll that might be triggered by the extra height, as well as to please the younger market.
Hyundai has fitted the auto a development shift while going around Nürburgring. It results to a better grip and nicely weighted steering, just like the Ford Fiesta and the Mini. Overall, the car is very easy to drive, and has a nice flexibility to it.
We cannot say it’s better than its rivals, unfortunately, as the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Fiat 500X have many personalization options, as well as aesthetics and dynamics features.
Suzuki Vitara, Fiat Panda 4xt and Dacia Duster also offers something the i20 Active doesn’t—a 4×4 option.
But at £15,225, the Hyundai i20 Active will give all these rivals a run for their money. There’s definitely competition if we look at the affordability and practicality of the current options in the market. Also, the five-year warranty could be an attraction that some cannot resist.
Source: TopGear
Turbo Fast Jaguar F-Type SVR Launched
Boasting a speed of 567 bhp, 200 mph, the all-wheel drive Jaguar F-Type SVR can get your from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. That, in a nutshell, is how to sell this new monster machine, the first Jag to carry the SVR badge—named after the Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations group.
But if you want to really get into the final specifications of the SVR coupe and convertible, then here they are: it has a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with a top speed of 200 mph, a more aerodynamically effective front bumper and splitter, a flat underfloor, carbon fiber active rear wing and rear venture, and an exhaust made of lightweight titanium and Inconel.
The Jaguar’s supercharged 5.0-liter V8 proves this is more than a coupe and convertible version of the Project 7 limited-run F-Type, which required a delicate throttle foot or a massive tire budget.
The chassis also had an upgrade to make sure this one’s going to compete well with other of its kind in the market. It has a new set of dampers and anti-roll bars, as well as stiffer suspension knuckles, wider tyres and lightweight wheels. You can also expect a standard Adaptive Dynamics, Torque Vectoring and stability control and “bespoke calibrations” for the 8-speed auto and all-wheel drive.
Outside, it looks meaner than ever, although the company hasn’t gone full rock-on weird yet with the styling. Ian Callum’s penmanship can be seen on the aesthetic designs of one of the most beautiful sports cars on the road today.
Jaguar said the pricing would begin around $126,000 (£110,000 for the Coupé and £115,485 for the Convertible), firmly putting this on the 911 Carrera GTS level. The company has released full specifications, features and photos for this machine.
Anyone wanting to get their hands on the Jaguar F-Type SVR will have to wait until this year’s summer.
Source: Top Gear