Something interesting was running laps around the Nurburgring this past week, despite looking like a Land Rover Freelander going through an identity crisis; this is actually a test mule for the upcoming 2011 Range Rover LRX. The new compact go anywhere 4x4 made its debut as the Land Rover LRX concept car at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, however, the automaker feels that an upscale compact SUV fits better in line with the needs of the up market Range Rover brand. So it looks like the little LRX will be sold as the baby Range, and being a premium compact SUV means that the now Indian automaker will be able to charge whatever they want for the LRX, and most likely get away with it too.
Despite jumping ship for a more luxurious market, the LRX will still be built alongside the equally compact Land Rover Freelander. Expect for the upcoming LRX to feature the same transversely mounted 2.0 Liter gas burning engine as the Freelander, with a hybrid power train to come out at an undetermined future and will most likely feature electric motors connected to the truck’s rear axle like in the Land Rover Land_e Concept.
You can expect to see more about the upcoming LRX in the near future as more information becomes available about the premium compact crossover. Although we must say that it would not be a coincidence if the production Range Rover LRX is out in time to coincide with the automaker’s 40th anniversary next summer, bringing the 4x4 brand into a greener future.
As it comes from the factory, the Infiniti FX50 is a sports car trapped in the body of a much larger sport utility vehicle, so when the tuning specialists from Car Research & Design decided to have a go at modifying the Japanese luxury SUV we were eager to see what they had come up with to dress up the FX at the Frankfurt Motor Show last week.
The Car Research & Design upgraded appearance package is available in either black or white and focuses around a set of special turbine inspired 21 inch light weight alloy wheels, a new front grill, fender vents and roof rail all painted in a more subtle matte gray color than the factory’s highly polished pieces to make the Infiniti FX stand out from the rest of the high performance luxury SUV crowd. On the inside, the Car Research & Design FX’s upholstered panels were all rewrapped with the finest leather available while the headliner was recovered in Alcantara and headliner. Another cue to the FX’s hidden agenda is that the team from Car Research & Design replaced every piece of wood trim with some very sporty carbon fiber pieces.
Car Research & Design is offering the concept FX in both FX37S and FX50S trim levels. The first is powered by a 3.7 Liter V6 that produces 320 HP and the larger moves like a sports car thanks to a 390 HP 5.0 Liter V8. This "Limited Edition" interpretation of the Infiniti FX is a pleasant surprise for those enthusiast drivers who want their high performance SUV to look as good as it goes.
Of all the props that were used at the Frankfurt Motor Show, we can’t think of anything that has served a bigger purpose than the BMW track. Since the show opened, we’ve seen car after car take a lap on the track and we figure that it’s only bound to get busier as the days go by.
One of the vehicles that made its intro on the said track is BMW’s new SUV, the X1. We’ve heard so much about the car – from its Facebook page to a bunch of commercials – but seeing it up close certainly brought our excitement up a few notches.
Of course, the X1 does cater to a younger – and more dynamic – market so it was expected that the SUV came with a more aggressive design compared to the X3 and the X5. If you look closer at the vehicle, you’ll actually notice that the car took some design cues from another BMW new release, the 5 GT.
But judging from the responses we gathered, the X1 looks to be a real winner, and not just to the market it aims to conquer, but to the more traditional BMW market. As it stands, the X1 is set to be released in Europe sometime in 2010 while the US would have to wait longer – in 2011 – to see the X1 out on their local BMW dealerships.
The now Indian owned Land Rover brand will unveil the limited edition Range Rover Sport Autobiography at the Frankfurt Motor Show. With a scheduled production of only 500 units, the new limited edition Land Rover will feature interior upgrades like a two tone premium leather as well as a few unique exterior design cues like the mesh grill and matching fender vents and a set of 20 inch diamond finished alloy wheels to complete the exterior.
The Autobiography edition Land Rover is based on the 3.6 liter TDV8 and Supercharged versions of the go anywhere all terrain vehicles and will be available with the world class Logic 7 1200W Harman Kardon High Dynamics audio system that features up to 15 independent channels of clean crisp sound being delivered through 19 premium quality speakers.
The aftermarket tuning firm Hofele has revealed a special edition Volkswagen Touareg which will be used at the Silk Way Rally 2009. The tuners have added a few off road specialty items like a front ram and stainless steel side steps as well as some stylish "Reverso" wheels. Aside from the body modifications, Hofele has added an electronic lowering module and bumped the output up to 380 HP for the 4.2 Liter V8 powered Touareg.
With a tradition of more than 60 years, Toyota Land Cruiser is entering today its new generation. The new Land Cruiser will make its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in both three and five door versions.
The all-new Toyota Land Cruiser will be available with a choice of two engines: a 249 hp 4.0 liter Dual VVT-i V6 petrol engine or a 173 hp 3.0 liter four-cylinder turbodiesel. The new SUV will come equipped with Multi-terrain Select, Multi-terrain Monitor, Steering Angle Display and Crawl Control.
The rigidity of the all-new Land Cruiser’s highly durable body-onframe construction has been increased by 11%, and insulating frame-to-body mounts both absorb engine, drivetrain and road noise, while enhancing road comfort.
The 2010 Land Cruiser will make the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 11,7 seconds, while top speed will be of 108 mph.
The 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser will go on sale at the end of this year.
Honda revealed details on the 2010 CR-V SUV, a model that for 2010 adds refinements and upgrades to the exterior and interior, new features, better fuel economy, and more power. prices for the new model will range from $21,545 for the CR-V LX 2WD version and will go up to $29,745 for the CR-V EX-L 4WD with Navigation package.
For 2010 the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine improve power output to 180 hp, a 14 hp increase. City/highway EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings increase to 21/28 mpg on 2WD models and 21/27 mpg on models equipped with Real Time™ 4WD - an increase of 1 mpg in both city and highway driving on all models.
On the exterior Honda added a freshened front fascia with a new grille and bumper design, a re-sculpted hood, and a new rear bumper shape. A 10-spoke alloy wheel design, standard on CR-V EX and EX-L, replaces the previous 7-spoke alloy wheel design. Interior improvements focus on new features and functionality. Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® is now included on models equipped with the available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™. Auto on/off headlights have been added to the CR-V EX-L and the front seats have wider center armrests on all models.
The tuners at Sportservice Lorinser have gotten their hands on Mercedes Benz’s compact crossover, the GLK and transformed it from a mundane luxury utility vehicle into a bold expression of performance and style. Starting out with the briliant fiery opal color to the two tone 22 inch Lorinser RS 9 rims, the German tuning firm has successfully transformed the character of the Mercedes Benz GLK.
The French automaker Renault has just unveiled a new special edition Koleos SUV. Called White Edition, the new edition is based on the Dynamique equipment level and prices range from €29,350 (dCi 150 DPF) to €32,850 (dCi 150 DPF 4x4 automatic).
The Koleos White Edition is based on the Dynamique equipment level, this special run features two-tone leather upholstery as standard, as well as Carminat Bluetooth® DVD navigation, the Bose® Sound System, new aluminium alloy 18-inch wheels and a specific Mineral Beige body colour, plus chrome skid plates, extra-tinted rear glass and a rear lip spoiler.
The interior features two-tone upholstery and gloss black dashboard trimming details, while the chrome air-vent controls and instrument surrounds add a further touch of elegance to the already chic, refined ambiance.
Tuning kits based on the Porsche Caynne SUV are quite a hit among tuners. A new one will be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show by Mansory. Based on the Cayenne S, the Chopster tuning package comes with breathtaking car body styling, precisely adjusted aerodynamics components, a vigorous 710 hp turbo engine and a unprecedented abundance of interior refinements.
Carbon is the word that defines the new Chopster: front- or rear apron, doors, bonnet or the wings which broaden the cars by 80 millimetres - all components are formed out of carbon and hardened under strong pressure and high temperatures in the autoclave.
The V8 engine has also been tuned to deliver 710 hp and a maximum torque of 900 Nm. With the new upgrades the new Cayenne can hit a top speed of 187 mph.
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