SUVs
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Recalls are almost as frequent as new model introductions these days, with everything from child seat anchor access to floor mat orientation to blame, but occasionally a serious threat to daily-driving safety arises, and the latest recall of 2010 and 2011 Land Rover LR2s definitely falls into the latter category, thanks to a connector problem that may disable the driver's front airbag from the factory. The problem lies in a shorting bar in the clock spring mechanism within the driver's airbag harness. During installation of the airbag module at the factory, the shorting bar may become...
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Italian Plant To Build New Alfa Romeo And Jeep SUVsHot on the heels of news that Maserati will be launching a new SUV based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee in 2013 comes confirmation that Alfa Romeo will also get its own Jeep-based SUV, a key model in the Italian brand’s return to the U.S. market. The confirmation comes from the highest source...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Marchionne: Jeep Grand Cherokee-Based Maserati SUV Coming 2013A Maserati SUV? Why? Considering Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW already have theirs, perhaps the better question is, why not? That's the way Sergio Marchionne looks at the matter, at any rate, according to an interview with the Wall Street Journal. Calling the Jeep Grand Cherokee "a great...
Nelson Ireson -
Mercedes-Benz GLK Bluetec Diesel Coming In 2012UPDATE: The 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK Class has been revealed. Click here for all the details. Hybrids and electric vehicles seem to be the flavor of the month but just a year or so back it was diesels that were leading the charge in boosting fuel economy across the auto industry. Lately, we’ve...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2010 Los Angeles Auto Show: 2012 Toyota RAV4 EVToyota has revealed the new Tesla-partnered RAV4 EV at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show today, the first of 35 demonstration vehicles that will lay the ground work for the eventual launch of a retail version in 2012. Developers of the RAV4 EV are hoping it will have range of 100 miles in actual road...
Nelson Ireson -
Chinese Demand Spurs BMW To Rethink X7 SUV PlansPrior to the start of the global financial crisis back in 2008 BMW was working on a new full-size SUV positioned above the X5 and X6 to take on rivals like the Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. However, plans for the new model, which was to be called the X7, were quickly dropped as BMW...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Apart from its extensive North American distribution network and production base, Chrysler doesn’t have much to offer its new strategic partner Fiat--especially when it comes to actual product. There is the new Pentastar V-6 engine as well as the Chrysler 300C’s LX rear-wheel drive platform, though with emissions and fuel economy regulations tightening both of these items have lost much of their shine. One bright star in Chrysler’s portfolio is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was developed with former partner Daimler and shares much in common with the next-generation...
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Elon Musk Details Tesla Model X Electric SUV PlansWe got our first hints that Tesla was already planning several new models after its Model S electric sedan following the release of some official slides in the company’s IPO presentation back in June and now Tesla CEO Elon Musk has spilled a few more beans. Speaking at the formal opening...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2010 SEMA: Kia Sportage Work & Play Live PhotosWork, Play, whatever you choose to fill your day, Kia has a Sportage for that. As we detailed yesterday, these decked-out Sportages are suitably SEMAfied, and the live images show just how much so in a more personal light. For the full description, including the press release, check out our preview...
Nelson Ireson -
2010 SEMA Preview: Kia Work And Play 2011 Sportage DuoThe 2011 Kia Sportage is positioned to do battle in the tough value crossover segment, but it packs a punch in features and safety according to The Car Connection's full review--and now it adds some "Work" and "Play" to the mix as well with a pair of custom CUVs for this year's SEMA show. Work...
Nelson Ireson -
2011 Dodge Lineup Priced: Charger From $25,170With Fiat helmsman Sergio Marchionne at the wheel, things are looking up for Chrysler, with the now-truckless Dodge brand offering up a refreshed Charger, a stronger SRT8 HEMI V-8, and a more luxurious and "sporty" Durango. Today pricing for the rejuvenated Dodge lineup is out, and it looks pretty...
Nelson Ireson -
Report: First Modern Aston Martin Lagonda Will Be An SUVAston Martin is hard at work figuring out just what to do with its Lagonda revival plans. The automaker first revealed back in 2008 plans to revive the Lagonda name for a new range of bespoke models, the first of which was originally slated to appear in 2012, but exactly what market segments to...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
The idea that hybrids and SUVs just don't fit with Porsche's image is, a this point, well-worn. But the 2011 Cayenne S Hybrid may serve to change some minds. On sale in November, the hybrid SUV sprints to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds--while delivering 21/25 mpg city/highway. Those are impressive figures for such a large vehicle, and perhaps indicates that Porsche has figured out how to make the SUV/hybrid filling fit the Porsche mold. Top speed of the Cayenne S Hybrid is 150 mph, but when you're not on the Autobahn or the race track, the hybrid's electric-drive system is good for all-electric...
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2011 Volkswagen Touareg Priced From $44,450Volkswagen’s second-generation Touareg SUV is coming onto the market later this year with a sleek new body, more upscale appearance and a range of fuel efficient engines including a hybrid for the first time. But with styling and luxury amenities that are more Audi than Volkswagen, it’s...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Spy Shots: 2012 Range Rover Evoque Five-DoorDynamically designed and arrestingly attractive, the 2012 Range Rover Evoque has won much praise on the auto show circuit and though the crossover is already headed to production, so far only the three-door version has been officially revealed. However, a leaked image of a five-door Evoque recently...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2011 Ford Explorer Playing Major Role At SEMAThe Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show; every year it stirs fans and non-fans alike with outrageously designed custom vehicles and the best that the multi-billion dollar aftermarket accessories industry has to offer. Held annually in Las Vegas, SEMA has grown to become one of the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Despite Rumors, Audi Q5 Hybrid Won't Be At 2010 Los Angeles Auto ShowAudi confirmed last December that it would eventually launch a new hybrid version of its Q5 SUV but since then we haven’t heard anything on the upcoming fuel miser apart from it having an early 2011 launch date. During that time however, Audi has unveiled the A8 Hybrid and a range of...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
New Cajun SUV Will Be Walter de' Silva's First Project At PorscheWith Porsche now officially the 10th brand of the ever-expanding Volkswagen Group, there are fears the ethos of the famous sports car company from Stuttgart will be diluted as focus shifts towards more upmarket performance brands like Lamborghini and Bugatti. We’ve already seen this with the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
This is the first glimpse of the new 2011 Dodge Durango's interior, released today by Dodge. The new Durango is being billed as Dodge's foray into the "performance" SUV realm, though it falls a step short of the SRT8 Grand Cherokee in the power department. Inside, the new Durango looks to have learned all of the lessons that make the Jeep so attractive: coherent design, pleasant color combos, and what appear to be touch-friendly materials. In fact, the layout and design are very nearly identical to the new Grand Cherokee, especially across the dash, the instrument panel, and the center stack...
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2011 BMW X3: First Look, U.S. VersionEarlier this summer, BMW gave us a first look at the 2011 X3 luxury crossover vehicle. Now that our first drive in the newest German ute is coming in a few weeks, BMW's released the U.S. specifications for the vehicle, in advance of its world premiere at the 2010 Paris Auto Show. The American...
Martin Padgett -
2011 Lincoln MKX: First DriveStretch your memories to go all the way back to the end of August, when Labor Day actually held the ironic promise of a few days off. Faked you out, didn't it? Us too. Still, we fondly recall those days of just three weeks ago with a touch of nostalgia. After all, it was the first time the wraps...
Martin Padgett -
Dodge Whips Covers Off 2011 Durango "Performance" SUVChrysler is on a roll with SUV designs, and though the Durango doesn't quite hit the sweet spot the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee does, it's not far off the mark. Sleek, smooth, and modern, the 2011 Durango's look wraps what Dodge is pitching as a "performance-tuned" setup, and does it with three rows...
Nelson Ireson -
2011 Ford Explorer Will Join Taurus On Police DutyThe last couple of months have seen three different police vehicle concepts unveiled by each of the domestic automakers: the Chevrolet Caprice Police Detective PPV from GM, the new Dodge Charger Pursuit from Chrysler and the Taurus Interceptor from Ford. Now, the Blue Oval has unveiled a second...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Sarah Michelle Gellar Is All Grown Up And Would Like Her Oscar NOWRemember Sarah Michelle Gellar? Of course you do. She was fighting vampires before it was cool. You know, after it was cool the first time? Anyway, we haven't heard much out of her, lo these past several years (except on Robot Chicken where her voiceovers are soothing, alto ear-balm), but now she...
Richard Read