SUVs
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Two new Touaregs made their debut in Qatar today, with a special take on the Race Touareg 3 and, for the driver that can't get enough of anything, the Touareg Gold Edition. Yes, that's real 24-karat gold. Bling is not a worn-out term in Qatar, it appears--or at least not a worn-out concept. Starting with a regular Touareg, VW added custom 22-inch wheels, roof rails, rub strips, and other details--all plated in gold. Inside, there's more. Switches and other details get the precious metal treatment, while the dashboard is trimmed in brown leather with contrasting seams. Walnut Burr wood trim...
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Audi Boss Rules Out Sub-A1 Model, Hints At Q1 CrossoverDespite numerous reports to the contrary, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has ruled out plans to launch a minicar model positioned below the current A1, though that doesn’t mean Audi isn’t looking at other compact models. Audi has long been rumored to be developing its own minicar based on...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2011 Volvo XC60 earns top safety scores from NHTSA and IIHSNo matter how many electronic accident avoidance measures a manufacturer invents, they're worthless if the basic structure of the vehicle doesn't hold up in a crash. Volvo built its reputation on crashworthiness, and the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance...
Keith Buglewicz -
Porsche Mulling Diesel Cayenne And Panamera For U.S.Despite its non-sporty image, sales of the Cayenne Diesel in markets where it’s sold are relatively strong. In fact, the model has proven so successful that Porsche is considering launching a diesel powered version of its Panamera sedan as well. According to a new report, Porsche is working...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Leaked Mazda Minagi Concept Previews New CX-5 CrossoverThe aging Mazda Tribute is long overdue for an update and reports of a sharper and more dynamic compact crossover from Mazda date back to early 2007, so it’s not at all surprising to see that the Japanese automaker is working on just such a model. Previewed here today in concept form, the new...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Volkswagen Wins 2011 Dakar Rally, Achieves Hat TrickVolkswagen has managed to win the Dakar Rally for the third time in succession, with drivers Nasser AlAttiyah and Timo Gottschalk taking the top honors. They were joined by two other Volkswagen teams in second and third place, with all three teams competing with latest Race Touareg 3. The 2011...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
It looks as if the 2011 Ford Explorer may have won its spot at the top of the 2011 North American Truck of the Year awards by maxing out the points in a category none of the other trucks were ready for: Snowsports Preparedness. How much more fun would this be (to watch, at least) if the Explorer were moving? [Ford via Facebook]
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Video: Ford Vertrek Concept Live Unveiling At 2011 Detroit Auto ShowTo all our American readers, you’re looking at a preview of the next-generation Ford Escape, and to all our European readers, this is likely to be your next Kuga. Whether either of these vehicles will carry over their current names is still up in the air but if they look just half as good as...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Report: Audi Registers SQ5 And RS Q5 NamesThe Audi RS line of cars are a range of high performance models built completely in-house by the automaker’s quattro division. Designed to compete with BMW’s M Division and Mercedes-Benz AMG, Audi RS models have a reputation for being consistently more extreme than their Teutonic rivals...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Maserati SUV Will Get Ferrari Designed EngineFirst he told us a new Maserati SUV based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee platform was in the works and destined for launch late next year or in early 2013. Then he revealed that the prized platform would also spawn an upscale seven-seater SUV for the Jeep brand, one that would revive the Grand Wagoneer...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2011 Detroit Auto Show: 2011 Jeep Compass Live PhotosEarning the nickname of Grand Cherokee’s little brother, for good reason, the new 2011 Jeep Compass comes with new styling and several new standard features to better position itself in the fuel-efficient crossover segment. While the previous model looked downright frumpy, the new 2011 Jeep...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Jeep Grand Wagoneer nameplate returning on upscale SUV in 2013The Wagoneer name dates back to the 1960s and was used over the years on a line of SUVs from various marques, with many pundits describing the vehicles as some of the first upscale off-roaders. While most other automakers, including luxury SUV stalwart Land Rover, were building relatively...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
While the South is being slowly buried beneath snow this week, the Motor City is alive with the machinations of the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. Key among Ford's unveilings at the show is the new Vertrek Concept, intended as a preview of Ford's next-gen global compact SUV. Building on the heritage of both the Escape and European-market Kuga, the Vertrek pairs a sleeker, more modern shape with a slightly larger size. Power from the company's four-cylinder EcoBoost lineup promises strong fuel efficiency, and recently-announced tech like automatic start-stop boosts that goal further. Ford calls the...
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2011 Land Rover LR4: DrivenTo anyone who's driven a Land Rover in the past—or a Mercedes-Benz Gelaendewagen, or even an old Isuzu Trooper—the LR4's appearance can be misleading. The LR4 looks tall and tough—and yes, maybe tipsy—but it's really more graceful and coordinated than you'd guess. And...
Bengt Halvorson -
Dodge, Mopar Offer 'No-Cost' Maintenance For Top-Trim Durango, JourneyIf you're plunking down something north of $30,000 for a well-trimmed crossover or SUV, $50-100 for an oil change every few months probably isn't going to put your family out on the street. Nevertheless, it's nice to get things included in the purchase price, and that's just what Dodge and Mopar...
Nelson Ireson -
Land Rover Launches Bullet-Proof LR4 ArmoredPresidents, world dignitaries and the rich and powerful in general now have a new choice when it comes to protective vehicles, with Land Rover launching a new ‘Armored’ edition of its LR4 SUV (Discovery in other markets). Coming in for the 2011 model year, the latest armored SUV offers...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Aussie Ford Territory SUV Previews Styling For U.S. Escape ReplacementFord’s Australian division is working on its second-generation Territory SUV, which is set to be released next year, and we now have the first spy shots of it in prototype form. While this particular model won’t be sold in the U.S., its styling may very well feature on models arriving...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Martha Stewart Designs Her Dream 2011 BMW X3Updated: The video segment from The Martha Stewart Show showing the new BMW X3 has been added to the story. Original: Last month we reported on a new online tool developed by BMW to help promote the arrival of the all-new X3 SUV and featuring a special built-to-order program that allows customers...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
We’ve already known BMW was planning to launch a new range of performance accessories under its BMW Performance label for the X5 SUV since March’s 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Now, BMW has announced the availability of the new kit for the U.S. market, with the kit set to go on sale this month. Directly from the automaker’s Munich wind tunnel comes the comprehensive new BMW Performance kit designed specifically for the 2011 BMW X5. It’s comprised of aerodynamic components, aluminum pedals, special kidney grilles, and a new flat-bottom sports steering wheel. The body...
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Audi To Engineer Porsche SUVs, Including Cajun And Next-Gen CayenneLast week it was revealed that Porsche will head the development of new modular sports car and luxury sedan platforms for the entire Volkswagen Group, with the guys from Stuttgart destined to be responsible for a range of new models including a possible entry-level sedan from Bentley and a...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Jaguar Working On Crossover SUV? Why?!A Jaguar crossover/SUV? Isn't that what Land Rover is for? Apparently not, according to a new report out today. Instead, Jaguar may go its own way into the crossover market and "stop being a saloon-based company," according to Jag's global brand director Adrian Hallmark. Hallmark, recently poached...
Nelson Ireson -
Project Kahn Previews Cosworth-Powered Range Rover Sport RS600 Super SportIt wasn’t that long ago that we first reported on Project Kahn’s RS600 package for the supercharged Range Rover Sport from Land Rover. Starting with a custom exhaust system tuned for a powerful yet refined sound, the RS600 treatment tweaks the SUV's engine to deliver a supercar-like 600...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Video: BMW Shows Importance Of Using Correct Tires This WinterWith the winter months now upon us it’s now more important than ever to ensure that your vehicle is properly equipped to handle the harsher climates. If you happen to live in areas where winter usually means driving in thick snow, not having winter tires may mean the difference between life...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid Eligible For $1,800 Federal Tax CreditSo you're keen on going green, but can't be seen in some rinky-dink sedan or quirky hybrid hatch? Porsche has your answer in the form of the 2011 Cayenne S Hybrid, today announced to qualify for a $1,800 tax credit from the federal government under its Alternative Motor Vehicle Tax Credit program...
Nelson Ireson