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6 Important Things To Know About The 2018 Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Jaguar’s first SUV is getting a special treatment from JLR’s performance and customization division, the Special Vehicle Operations (SVO). The Jaguar F-Pace SVR debuted at the New York International Auto Show last week and showed tremendous potential as a sports car performance in a practical SUV design.
1. Exterior
The F-Pace grabbed both the World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year awards in 2017, which proved that Ian Callum is the “king” in SUV design. Callum is the same person behind the designs of the Aston Martin Vanquish, Jaguar C-X75, and the Jaguar F-Type.
The SVR model adds aggression and power to its looks, thanks to an aero package, a unique bumper, a new hood, larger fender vents, and a unique set of lightweight forged alloy wheels measuring 21 inches.
2. Interior
The F-Pace SVR has a sleek but simple interior. It starts with a quilted upholstery with the embossed SVR logo on the heavily bolstered sport seats. Top-shelf materials are used in every inch of the cabin, including the new pistol-style shifter knob, an SVR-specific steering wheel with soft-touch upholstery wrappings and aluminum paddle shifters.
3. Drivetrain
The F-Pace SVR received a huge power boost because of its supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 that can now produce 550 ponies and 502 pound-feet of torque. It has an active and lightweight exhaust system that helps power the car to 176 mph top speed. It can go 0 to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. The F-Pace SVR is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
4. Chassis And Handling
The F-Pace SVR used the same iQ-Al modular platform as the regular F-Pace. This is the same one used on the Jaguar XE, the second-generation Jaguar XF, and the next-generation Jaguar XJ, not to mention the Range Robert Velar SUV. Thanks to this platform, the F-Pace SVR has a lightweight aluminum body that makes it easier for driver to handle it.
5. Prices
The SVR variant will start at $79,990 and orders will start this summer.
6. Competition
The main competitor of the F-Pace SVR is the Porsche Macan Turbo, which is rocking a twin-turbo V-6 that produces a whopping 400 horsepower after it has been paired with a 7-speed transmission and high-performance AWD system. The price for the Porsche starts at $77,200.
Ford And Mahindra To Come Out With New Crossover And EV
Something is finally coming out of the partnership between Ford and Mahindra that was inked way back in September 2017.
According to reports, the two brands are partnering to come up with a crossover and an electric vehicle. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that the planned crossover has anything to do with Ford’s plans in the same segment. Simply put, Ford wants to put its mark in the Indian auto market.
What we now understand about the agreement on the SUV is that Ford will be doing majority of the work using Mahindra’s equipment, which interestingly included the platform on which the SUV will be built on. This means that Mahindra, even as a partner to Ford, will stay out of the plans in producing the 2020 Bronco.
Aside from the SUV crossover, the two companies are also producing an electric vehicle to compete with the likes of Tesla. Although details are still unknown, this could be a huge stepping stone for Mahindra to finally sink its teeth on the US market, either under its own name or the sub-brand Pininfarina. Mahindra already has headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, so the first step has already been casted.
Mahinda previously reiterated its plan to make its presence known in the US market. An EV made in collaboration with a beloved American company, Ford, could be the linchpin that will make that happen.
Ford and Mahindra are working on a lot more than a crossover and EV. Those two are just part of the grand scheme of things, which include developing new initiatives and technologies that could open the door for future projects in the US and in India.
Jim Farley, Ford’s executive vice president and president of Global Markets, said that his company’s aim is to offer the best vehicles that will fit the lifestyles of the Indian market.
Limited Models For Infiniti QX60 And QX80 Released
Nissan’s premium brand is giving a fancy retouch to its aging Infiniti QX60 and the QX80. The Limited models will bring a host of features that include revamp of the exterior and some new tech for the cabin. This only proves that Infiniti is purely invested in carving a niche in the SUV department, seeing as it just released its new 2019 QX50 crossover.
QX60 Limited
Those who want to get their hands on a QX60 better wait for the Limited model. This new model boasts of its dark chrome grille, door moldings, and fog-lamp surrounds. The overall look is darker, thanks largely to the darkened roof rails, the new gloss-black paint on the lower bumper, and the all-new 20-inch dark-finished aluminum wheels.
Inside, it’s as classy as ever with a few changes here and there. It’s a mix and match of black and gray, which is headed by the quilted and perforated gray semi-aniline leather seats on all three rows and the all-black dashboard. There’s dark stitching and piping on the seats, as well as on the door panels that creates a contrast with the dark silver wood trim and floor mats with contrast piping and metal logos.
QX80 Limited
The dark theme continues in the QX80 Limited. The front and rear lower bumpers have been upgraded and the fenders house the 22-inch dark machine-finished wheels. Satin chrome polishes the exterior trim, roof rails, and stainless-steel running boards. The Infiniti logo shines through the welcome lighting displays. There’s also an added Anthracite Gray option for the exterior color.
Inside, the same theme in the QX60 Limited has been applied. There’s a two-tone semi-aniline leather and faux suede with contrast stitching and piping in a quilted pattern. Smooth leather wraps the steering wheel, shift knob, and grab handles. The center stack and center console use matte-silver open-pore ash wood. The headliner and pillars are made of black microfiber suede. Other features include the illuminated kick plates, Limited branding on the shifter surround, and floor mats with metal logo.
The QX60 Limited and the QX80 Limited will be available later this spring. Prices are expected to be announced anytime soon.
More Photos of the Infiniti QX60 and QX80
6 Revelations About The 2018 Volkswagen Touareg
During a special ceremony in Beijing on Friday, Volkswagen released a redesigned Touareg, marking the very special relationship the European company has with China, which it considers its second home.
1. New Flagship Of The VW Brand
This third-generation Touareg is being put in the upmarket level seeing as it recently became the new flagship of the VW brand. Previously, that role was with the Phaeton but the full-size sedan was already discontinued in 2016. An electric successor is being planned, but that won’t come into fruition until the next decade.
2. Wider And More Dynamic Look
Compared to its predecessor, the outgoing model, the new Touareg has a wider look and it’s also bigger. It’s three inches longer than before, now standing at 192 inches. It’s also 1.7 inches wider at 78 inches and 0.3 inches shorter at only 67 inches.
3. MLB Platform
The curb weight has been reduced by as much as 233 pounds in some variants, thanks to VW’s version of the MLB platform, which features multi-material construction and used by Audi Q7, Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and Porsche Cayenne. The main benefits are air suspension, roll stabilization, and rear-wheel steering.
4. Plush Interior
The cabin of the new Touareg is as luxurious as others in the game. It has a digital dash with a 12.0-inch screen that is now the instrument cluster. There’s also a 15-inch infotainment hub. For safety features, there’s the automatic emergency braking, driver fatigue warning, and a night vision camera. Overall, VW calls the cabin design “Innovision Cockpit.”
5. Drivetrain Options
The Touareg will go on sale this summer in Europe. Depending on the market, there will be choices of two 3.0-liter V-6 diesels, producing 228 and 282 horsepower, respectively, and a 3.0-liter V-6 gasoline delivering 335 horsepower. There will also be a plug-in hybrid setup with 362 horsepower for the Chinese market. There are also news that a 4.0-liter V-8 diesel producing 415 horsepower will come as another option.
Standard to these engines are an 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive with a center differential lock. Some extras are available, care of a special off-road pack that adds extra driving modes, a larger fuel tank, and under body protection.
6. Release Dates And Locations
The new Touareg won’t be coming to the United States. The local division of VW in the US dropped the model at the end of the 2017 model year because of low sales and the decision to focus on the Atlas.
Jeep Adds $750 To The Price of The 2018 Wrangler JL
Like a thief in the night, Jeep quietly raised the price for its all-new 2018 Wrangler JL by $750. The news came out just after Jeep released its February sales report, which showed a 17 percent increase on the sale of the Wrangler compared to the same period last year.
The report said that Jeep was able to sell 15,936 units of the off-road-oriented midsize SUV for the month of February. This boosted, of course, the moral of Jeep to actually increase the price of the Wrangler JL. There will be a $500 add-on to the price of every Wrangler model with the $250 being charged as the SUV’s destination fee.
Because of this, the cheapest Wrangler JL that customers can get their hands on will be priced $28,940. If you want a Jeep Wrangler, but don’t exactly want to shell out for the prices of the current generation, you can still get your hands on the 2018 Wrangler JL’s predecessor. Jeep is still selling the Wrangler JK at $25,440 after Jeep, same with the JL, added a $250 destination charge.
Even before Jeep decided to cash in on the rising popularity of the Wrangler JL, people already found the model too pricey for their liking. Still, that didn’t stop fans and enthusiasts of the model to dip into their pockets and place their money for GMC to swipe.
You can’t really blame GMC to wanting to rise the prices for the JL. Both Mercedes-Benz and Toyota are selling similar off-road vehicles for more than double the price of the Wrangler JL. Does that mean the JL has cheaper specs and materials? Definitely, no. But, it does show you just how much these vehicles really cost. The luxury vehicles, G-Class and Land Cruiser, are both doing well in sales, so the $750 price increase may not affect Wrangler’s sales, after all.
Europe’s New Honda CR-V Will Get Third Row Seats
The European version of Honda’s latest iteration of its popular CR-V will have the option of third-row seating, the Japanese automaker announced days before the Geneva Motor Show. The American version, with its turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder, has been available in the US for months. This version, though, offers no option for third-row seating.
This is the very first time that Honda is offering its most popular compact SUV with third-row seats, considering the past few years have seen the automaker’s contemporaries going into this route. The move will place Honda on the run again as the best in its segment, competing well with the long-wheelbase VW Tiguan and the Nissan X-Trail (known in the use as Rogue). Both have available third rows.
The third-row seating option for the new European CR-V will only be available on the gas-powered variant, so we can expect that it will soon arrive in US shores. However, Honda refused to give any details if and when will that happen. All these are purely speculations and we hope we’re right thinking a third-row CR-V is in the worls for American showrooms, too.
Hybrid CR-V Powertrain
Honda also took the time to announce that there’s another new CR-V option—a hybrid powertrain. Honda just announced that it will go on sale in Europe in early 2019. Since last year’s Shanghai Auto Show, the Japanese maker has been hinting a hybrid version of the CR-V.
We’re not sure if this will be available in the United States, though reports point out that it will be. The hybrid version of the CR-V uses Accord Hybrid’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain, an engine that has already passed US regulations for emissions. In the US, it could very well compete with the Nissan Rogue Hybrid, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
A Look at the Major Changes in the 2020 Hyundai Tucson
Spy shots of the prototype of the 2020 Hyundai Tucson revealed major changes are in the works for this next-generation compact SUV from the South Korean brand. The prototype showed that there are a number of updates on the exterior and the cabin of the popular SUV.
The changes are quite significant, according to a report on Motor Authority, as there will be new lights and a new grille even. Based on the hints we’re getting, we won’t be surprised if we get a Tucson that follows some of the details and changes on the new 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. We all know there was a huge positive reception to the Santa Fe, so what’s stopping the South Korean automaker from making similar changes to the Tucson?
Inside the cabin, the center stack was completely redesigned by foregoing the integrated infotainment screen on the current Tucson and replacing it with a tacked-on screen. This is a design that Hyundai has been introducing on its latest models.
There’s no word yet on whether there will be upgrades on the powertrains but what’s on the current Tucson model might be carried over to the 2020 model. They’re all pretty okay, so far. This means that buyers will have the option to choose between a 2.0 liter inline-4 that can produce 164 horsepower or a 1.6-liter turbo inline-4 with 174 horsepower on tap.
Admittedly, there are still a lot of missing information here. But hopefully, we get more details as the plans for Tucson emerge. It is, after all, due for a release next year as a 2020 model.
Like many automakers, Hyundai is heavily investing on its line of SUVs and compact SUVs. The Kona was recently launched and the new Santa Fe will soon be available in showrooms. Another update from Hyundai is that it’s currently working on a three-row SUV.
3 Things We Learned From The 2020 Audi Q3 Spy Shots
Audi is working on its next-generation Q3 crossover, we all know that, but these spy shots revealed where in the development process is Audi right now. Well, it looks like everything is on schedule and we’ll see the next-generation Q3 as a 2020 model this 2019 in distributors’ showrooms.
1. No Surprises In Q3’s Exterior
There are no surprises in the design of Audi’s compact crossover SUV, the spy shots revealed. Based on the images, the next-generation Q3 will resemble a scaled-down version of the latest Q5, though this one will have a more dynamically proportioned body. To further highlight the difference, the current-generation Q3 was seen on the road together with the upcoming Q3.
The crossover SUV will use the same and familiar MQB platform design used by the VW Group in almost all of its compact cars and non-premium midsize models.
2. Plug-in Hybrid A Possibility
The new-generation Q3 will be powered by turbocharged inline-4 engines, but there is also a possibility of seeing a plug-in hybrid option. Expectations are high, too, that Audi will have the same RS Q3 in the works. With 400 horsepower from a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-5, there should be no question that this one would be a favorite.
The good news? Audi Sport might offer the RQ3 in the United States market this time around. Remember, the US market has been adamant it wants the same preference that Audi has for the European market.
3. Electric-Powered Cars In The Pipeline
The redesigned Q3 is just one of the five new SUVs that Audi is working on. There are others in the horizon, such as the electronic e-tron and e-tron Sportback models, as well as the coupe-like Q4 and Q8. There are also rumors that Audi is working on a Q1 subcompact SUV based on the next-generation A1.
This Is What The 2019 Jeep Renegade Spy Shots Tell Us
Now that it’s in its midway point of life, the Jeep Renegade is about to receive some minor upgrades. The spy shots recently shown revealed two things: there are no major changes on the Renegade’s exterior but its interior might receive some upgrades.
The prototype for the Renegade was recently seen camouflaged and all. It is slated to be revealed later this year and will be produced as a 2019 model.
The Renegade’s cute exterior is something we all loved about it and thankfully, Jeep won’t be making any huge adjustments on that part, except for some minor tweaks on the front and rear fascias. But with all the camouflage gear we’ve seen the Renegade in, it’s hard to tell what changes are we talking about exactly.
Inside, the changes are more interesting. The new Renegade’s center stack will be redesigned with a larger infotainment screen. You’ll also find the climate control dials on the center stack, similar to the ones recently revealed in the 2019 Jeep Cherokee.
There are no exact details yet on the powertrains, though we’re hoping there could be some upgrades in this front. It’s possible that we’ll get to see the 2.0-liter turbo, same as with the Cherokee and the Wrangler. That would be a good replacement for the Renegade’s current 2.4-liter mill. The only problem is that the turbo might be too powerful for the Jeep’s pint-sized Renegade.
We’ll have more details about the new Renegade hopefully in the coming weeks.
Check out the spy shots of the new Jeep Renegade taken by Motor1 in the gallery below:
Chrysler Has A New Pacifica-Based Crossover SUV Coming
It looks like Chrysler is adding up to its lineup with a crossover SUV based on the Pacifica minivan. That is quite ironic since the brand repurposed the old Chrysler Pacifica crossover’s name for a minivan and then later on, that very same van yielded another crossover.
The information that FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne revealed in his interview with MotorTrend is an exciting development from Chryler. That’s because nothing much is going on with the brand in the past months, except for the departure of the 200.
With only the 300 and the Pacifica currently in its lineup, Chrysler is looking to market its brand to another market—specifically, people who doesn’t want either a large sedan or a minivan. Both these segments are giving up their share of the market for the crossover, which will have three rows and will reportedly in 18 months.
This is the right step for Chrysler since companies like Subaru and Volkswagen have also expanded their market to that of the crossover segment. The decision, of course, to use a Pacifica-based crossover will be beneficial to the crossover’s market. After all, a Pacifica platform offers more advantages than spewing just another model.
There are some “unique opportunities” in store for the new crossover since it will be using the Pacifica platform. Finally, we could have a crossover that has a spacious cargo and passenger space. There is also the possibility of adapting the PHEV powertrain to the new crossover.
Plug-in crossovers haven’t been tried by “ordinary” brands, except for Mitsubishi, though the Japanese automaker only tried the plug-in variant with its luxurious Outlander PHEV. That being said, the Chrysler has a chance to offer a larger PHEV than the Outlander.