It will be a while before Land Rover unveils the new-generation Defender onto the market, and to be completely honest with you, we hope they won’t change much about it, because the Defender has that certain something special that makes it really cool.
It looks like the guys over Kahn Design understood agree with us and they have unveiled a sweet Military Edition that updates the look of the Defender in such a manner that it does not affect the spirit of this legendary off-road machine.
The aerodynamic kit includes lightweight wide wheel wings with integrated vents, side vents with mesh, bonnet vents with mesh and Kahn prototype wing blades. The tuner also installed vented headlight surrounds, clear taillight lenses, clear front light lenses, crosshair headlights and numerous Kahn badges. On customer’s demand, the tuner can also replace the standard windows with special bulletproof glass that will increase your protection.
For the interior, the tuner decided to add in comfortable bespoke seats, and colors and materials of your choosing.
The last piece of the puzzle is a set of 8-by16-inch wheels finished in matte black.
Just four days into the New Year, Kahn Design has announced a sweet CJ300 Matte Pearl Platinum Edition based on the Jeep Wrangler.
The exterior kit includes a new front grille, new headlamps, Kahn enamel wing shields, side and rear panels. The tuner is also offering an optional quad exhaust system and a new set of 9-by-20-inch wheels available in smoked black. Also added in are brake calipers finished in copper.
The interior has also received a bespoke touch and features front and rear seats in black leather with orange inserts and carbon-fiber center stripe, a new dashboard center console in body color, speedo and rev counter fascia in orange and gear shifters wrapped in orange.
As usual, the tuner is offering each customer the possibility to express his or her own desire by offering a wide choice of colors and materials for the interior.
The new Jeep Wrangler CJ300 Matte Pearl Platinum by Kahn Design will make its debut on January 10th, 2013 at the annual Auto Sport Show at the N.E.C arena in Birmingham, UK.
How many of you remember the old Renault Scenic RX? For those of you who don’t remember, it was an attempt – a rather unsuccessful one — made by Renault back in 2000 to give the Renault Scenic an off-road look.
Renault has decided to apply the same treatment to the new-generation Scenic, but slightly toned down. When compared to the old RX version, which had a spare wheel mounted at the back of the car and offered a four-wheel-drive system, the new version will just have robust-looking bumpers, wider wheel arches and a slightly raised suspension.
Since the "Cross" look is getting more and more fans and more manufactures than ever are expanding their lineups with "Cross" or Allroad versions, Renault is also jumping on that train and its new model will most likely carry the same name.
Expect to see the new Renault Scenic "Cross" launched in March 2013 at the Geneva Motor Show.
About a decade ago, Jeep came out with a pretty smart idea. With the Wrangler serving the purpose as the brand’s resident off-road warrior, the automaker decided to introduce a new variant of the Wrangler. Jeep called it the "Rubicon" model, an ode to the one of the most grueling off-road trails in the world.
A decade later and the Wrangler Rubicon is as popular as it was — maybe even more — than when it first came out. To pay tribute to the popular off-road vehicle, Jeep has decided to bestow it with the honor of having a 10th Anniversary model.
As such, the Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition is born.
Mike Manley, president and CEO of Jeep, knows the significance of the model to the brand’s most passionate enthusiasts. "This [special edition] Wrangler Rubicon is for them," Manley said.
"It is a unique vehicle that we expect will long be sought after; a Wrangler that offers an unprecedented level of capability once only attainable by long hours of custom aftermarket preparation crafted in the garages of the most avid Jeep enthusiasts in the world."
Find out more about the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition after the jump
X-raid Team’s Mini ALL4 Racing cars are preparing to defend their crown at the upcoming Dakar Rally set to begin on January 5, 2013. However, these are not the cars set to enter the competition, but the cars that will assist the team through the 5,000 miles of desert through Peru, Argentina and Chile.
These very special Countryman have been equipped with a full range of original Mini Accessories, including: 18-inch light-alloy wheels with run-flat tires, mud flaps for the front and rear wheel arches, auxiliary headlights, and all-weather floor mats plus a protective load compartment cover made from hard-wearing PVC.
They will feature matte black paint combined with red roofs and racing stripes, and, of course, those Monster Energy logos. The black paint has been combined with silver-colored add-on parts for the front and rear apron, and side skirts.
Each car will also feature an off-road package that will help it deliver the best driving experience on any kind of road, be it gravel, desert tracks or mountain passes.
With America celebrating Veterans Day over the weekend, Jeep decided to release a model dedicated to the U.S. military members by unveiling a special edition Patriot, dubbed the Freedom Edition. The model is priced at $21,445 and Jeep will donate $250 from each unit it sells to charities that benefit U.S. Military members.
This special edition is based on the 2013 Patriot Latitude and is available in two- or four-wheel-drive configurations. It is distinguished by a military-inspired star on the hood and the rear quarter panel, a bright lower front fascia and an "Oscar Mike" (military jargon for "on the move") badge on the lower part of the front door. It sits on a set of 17-inch high-gloss Mineral-Gray-painted aluminum wheels with bright lug nuts. Customers will have the possibility to choose between three exterior colors: Deep Cherry Red crystal pearl coat, Bright White clear coat or True Blue pearl coat. Also, as a unique feature for this model, Jeep is offering a Dark Gray "Cubic" cloth interior with vinyl bolsters and silver accent stitching, plus a black fabric "star" logo patch on the front seats.
As standard equipment the new Patriot Freedom Edition will offer a sunroof, Security and Cargo Group, all-season floor mats, and on four-wheel-drive models it gerts the All-weather Capability Group.
The Range Rover Evoque may be classified as a chic SUV, but that certainly doesn’t mean that it can’t be turned into an off-road monster that isn’t afraid to get down and dirty when the situation calls for it.
This is the Evoque Desert Warrior 3, an off-road race car that will be on hand for the yearly festivities of Bonfire Night. One look at the Desert Warrior 3 and you immediately understand why its named as such. The satin black paint finish and the corresponding aerodynamic modifications lend its part to distinguish this beast from the normally posh Evoque.
The Desert Warrior 3 was also fitted with a new set of 16-inch Comp.omotive Atacama Rally Raid wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich Desert Race G series tires, thus enhancing the SUV’s menacing look and improving its rideability when running roughshod on the off-road terrain. Improved handling was also taken care of by eight new Reiger coilovers.
Under the hood of the Desert Warrior 3 is a 3.0-liter diesel engine that carries 275 horsepower and an astounding 630 pound-feet of torque while mated to a six-speed sequential transmission. That power would probably be more had it not been for an FIA restrictor.
The real rub with the Desert Warrior 3 are the special features it carries. Find out what they are by clicking past the jump.
Jay Leno usually reviews some of the most extreme sports cars out there, but this time, he opted for something completely different. Jonathan More stopped by Jay Leno’s Garage to show Jay his re-imagined Toyota workhorse and together they shed some light on this bad boy.
The ICON FJ-44 is a replica of the traditional Toyota FJ-44 that ICON created in hopes of doing the original justice. The FJ-44 was designed and constructed from the ground up and features a powdercoated aluminum body powered by a General Motors sourced LS-Series V8 engine that delivers a total of 420 HP. For the lack of features, this car comes in at a whopping $160,000?
Check out Leno’s review and find out what he has to say of this Toyota FJ-44 replica, but keep in mind, Leno is certainly not an off-road type of guy.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a pretty unique - and paradoxical - car in its own right. It’s an off-roader that actually looks polished. It’s got great performance credentials yet you always feel that it could do much better.
The best part of the FJ Cruiser is that it always seems to be ripe for customization. At the 2012 SEMA Auto Show, that’s exactly what were going to get when Toyota and TRD present their latest FJ mash-up, called the FJ-S Cruiser Concept.
The folks from Toyota are all excited about TRD’s latest creation, particularly the company’s national manager of engagement marketing and motorsports, Keith Dahl, who said: "TRD’s work on high-performance off-road variants of Toyota vehicles goes back a number of years. The FJ-S is a great example of their off-road expertise."
It’s a little curious when you hear that TRD actually upgraded the FJ-S Cruiser Concept’s chassis and body structure by adding what they’re calling an "exoskeleton," especially when you consider how already imposing the stock model is. But with the upgrades, Toyota now has even more room to work on the off-roader’s suspension and wheel/tire set-ups.
Aesthetically, the FJ-S Cruised Concept received a boatload of new modifications, including a new front nudge bar, rock rails, and a cat-back exhaust. Inside, the FJ-S Cruiser Concept was create to a two-tone leather interior with matching FJ-S logos on the headrests.
Under its hood, the FJ-S Cruiser Concept’s 4.0-liter V6 engine was given a TRD supercharger system with a Twin Vortex System and a large air-to-water intercooler. All this nets the off-roader with an increased output of 345 horsepower and 345 lb/ft of torque, numbers that represent a 30% and 25% increase from the stock model.
UPDATE 11/01/12: More official photos of the Toyota FJ-S Cruiser Concept by TRD have been released by Toyota. Check them all out in the gallery below!
We were just getting used to the idea that Mercedes was preparing a crossover based on their new A-Class platform and we are already learning that there in fact be two different crossovers based on the new A-Class family. The first crossover will be called the GLA and the second one will be the GLG. The GLG will actually be a baby version of the current G-Class and an off-road version of the GLA.
The first details suggest that the next GLG will feature a taller, more upright stance and design elements inspired by the G-Class. The model will be offered in a front-wheel drive configuration, but a 4Matic version is also being rumored. The engine line-up will be identical to the one used in the A-Class and will range from a base 1.6-liter with 122 HP up to a 211 HP 2.0 liter engine. An AMG version will also be offered. It will deliver about 350 HP and will be offered with stronger brakes, a seven-speed automatic gearbox, quicker steering, and a re-engineered front axle.
The new Mercedes GLG will be unveiled sometime in mid 2015 and will be just one of the ten all-new models planned by 2020.
