Daily Archives: August 12, 2018
Range Rover Sport P400E Plug-In Hybrid Can Go 31 Miles Using Electricity
Even Land Rover is going hybrid now. The British automaker just revealed the 2019 Range Rover Sport Plug-in Hybrid that can go 31 miles on electric power alone.
JLR is responsible for producing the hybrid system that can power the heaviest Range Rover vehicle. It carries the same engine found in the Jaguar F-Type, which is based on a 2.0-liter turbocharged unit with an output of 296 hp. The engine is assisted by a powerful 141 hp electric motor that receives power from its 13.1 kWh battery.
The hybrid system produces 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque that allows the Range Rover to go from 0 to 60 mph in mere 6.3 seconds. That is 0.1 second quicker compared with the Range Rover P400e.
However, what we’re actually looking for is just how many miles can the P400e go without using gasoline, which is 31 miles on electric power with a fully-charged 13.1 kWh battery. It takes only 2 hours and 45 minutes to fully charge the SUV’s battery using a 220V/32 Amp charger.
Even if the power is only coming from its electric source, the Range Rover Sport P400e plug-in hybrid can handle serious off-road situations. The auto receives the same off-road gear as the other Range Rover Sport models.
The new feature for the 2019 model includes the wade sensing feature, which can detect the depth of water and can assess if the Range Rover is moving deeper or shallower into the water. It notifies the driver if the car is getting too deep. The system is also available across all other 2019 Range Rover Sport models.
2020 Mercedes-Benz EQ C Electric Crossover Is Nearly Production-Ready
Mercedes-Benz has been very open about its plans to produce an electric vehicle and we might be seeing that in the upcoming EQ C electric crossover SUV. Spy photos showed that the electric crossover SUV has a glitzy concept, thanks in part to the interesting front fascia.
Until now, we haven’t seen a clear picture of the vehicle, but the latest spy shots showed the crossover SUV with less camouflage and body-hugging vinyl wrap.
The most interesting part about the vehicle is the front fascia, which is very different from the current styling that Mercedes-Benz does on its SUVs. The grille is upswept, unlike the frown-like shape of other recent Mercedes cars. The grille also extends all the way to the headlights, eliminating the need for a body-color section between them.
Speaking of the headlights, they are now reshaped and starts thin at the edges and sweeps downward toward the inside. It looks like the body panel will wrap around the bottom of the grille and will match the unique shape of the headlights. They will come with a contrasting color, possibly black, to put a rather unique spin to the car.
Interestingly, these are the same details shown during the unveiling of the car’s concept in 2016.
The rest of the EQ C electric crossover looks conventional and traditional. It has a profile that speaks of an internal-combustion, rear-drive car with a long nose and plenty of space between the front axle and the A-pillar. The lines on the car are smooth and curvy while the windows and the taillights would not be out of place on any other Mercedes vehicles.
The back end is quite rounded, though, almost looking like a bulbous Land Rover Velar tail. Capping the exterior design is the wheels, the design of which is based on the 2016 concept (but this one is simpler).
Inside, you’ll find the cabin wrapped in premium materials with elegance written all over it. The interior has giant dual screens for instruments and infotainment.
The Mercedes-Benz EQ C is scheduled to be on sale in 2020. Details about the powertrains remain vague for now, but it looks like it would have dual motors that produce 402 horsepower from all four wheels.
Does The 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro Deserve The $3,340 Price Bump?
Since Japanese automaker, Toyota, just upgraded its 2019 TRD Pro family, we’re all expecting for quite a bump in the price tag. Still, we are shocked to see that the increase was a whopping $3,340 over the $44,120 being collected from the 2018 model year Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro.
The price jumped to $47,460 for the 2019 edition (both the 2018 and 2019 prices include the destination charge), but the increase is a good indication of what new features we will find in the 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. They are great, by the way. All the other trims in the lineup will get their prices bumper by $100, Toyota itself confirmed.
What we are getting for all that extra moolah are these: a completely reworked suspension in the TRD Pro lineup, a set of matte black 17-inch alloy wheels, an upgraded skid plate, and beefy Nitto tires that will help complete the overall look and performance of the new TRD Pro.
Let’s back up and take a closer look at the reworked suspension Toyota is proud of. Gone are the Bilstein units and in its place is a Fox suspension that comes with 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks paired with TRD front springs up front. At the back, the setup is similar with 2.0-inch reservoirs and loads of damping.
The 2019 model year TRD Pro can be had in three colors: the Super White, the Midnight Black Metallic, and the Voodoo Blue. The last one is only available for the TRD Pro version.
The price increase should not put buyers of the 4Runner TRD Pro off. They know that in order to make this truck as gorgeous and powerful as they need it to be, they would have to spend a few more thousand bucks. The price bump should not hurt Toyota’s sales in any way.
Everything We Know About The 2019 Ford Territory That’s Made For China
Ford is finding it difficult to infiltrate the Chinese market, and for an automaker, that’s bad news. China has become the biggest market for automakers, and without a clear presence there, the business could suffer. For this year, Ford has prepared a grand plan to capture the Chinese market. They will introduce 50 new models until 2025, starting off with an affordable crossover SUV since we can’t seem to get enough of them.
Called Ford Territory, this is no way the same as the one in Australia with the same name. While that one is based on the Ford Falcon, the Chinese-market crossover SUV is very different and will be developed with Chinese automaker JMC.
No mechanical details have been revealed yet, except that it will be offered with three engine options: a conventional gas-powered engine, a Miller-cycle-style engine with a 48V mild-hybrid assist, and a plug-in hybrid.
Don’t worry if this will be manufactured with a Chinese automaker partner. It would still very much look like a Ford since it will still be the one responsible for the Territory’s overall design, engineering, and testing. JMC will provide advice and feedback on what sells in the Chinese market. The car will also be built in a JMC factory.
Other reports from China, however, noted that the Territory may be similar to one of JMC’s brands, the Yusheng. The S330 model, however, features a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that can make 163 horsepower.
From initial reports, the Territory looks handsome enough to have a shot at the Asian market. It may not be outstanding, but its exterior and interior are both aimed at functionality and at appealing to other Asian cities.
The Territory will go on sale in China early next year, but it won’t probably be available in the US because it wasn’t manufactured to meet North America’s safety and emission standards.