A Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) is a type of passenger vehicle which combines the load-hauling and passenger-carrying capacity of a large station wagon or minivan with features designed for off-road driving. They have been the hot car to own for the past 10 years, but lately they are regarded as gas guzzler and substantially dangerous because of high potential to roll over.
Land Rover has been testing the next generation Range Rover for awhile, but these latest photos suggest the official debut is getting close. As you can see, the SUV is wearing less camouflage than ever and looks more like a pre-production car that went out for a quick spin than some of the earlier prototypes we’ve seen testing.
The drop of some camouflage allowed us to uncover some of the secrets Land Rover has been hiding about its future Range Rover. The prototype caught testing is wearing light stickers that serve as an attempt to hide details such as the new head lights, air intakes, and more. We can also see that the engine hood is more rounded than before and that the grille is more upright.
As reported earlier, the next Range Rover will be both lighter and more fuel efficient than the current model due to the use of more lightweight material and the new aluminum platform. It is rumored that the car will be about 660-880 lbs lighter than the current generation.
The official debut for the 2013 Landrover Range Rover will be made in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show. Sales will begin early in 2013.
It goes without saying that in its very short life, the Bentley EXP 9 F has already faced its fair share of criticism, largely revolving around its controversial styling. However, Bentley is not going to let the haters get in the way of its ambitious plans for the new SUV and if a report by CAR turns out to be correct, the British marque may enter next year’s Dakar Rally to help drum up support for the SUV and preview its off-road capabilities.
Rather than developing a handful of custom racers from scratch, Bentley is said to be considering purchasing VW Touareg’s from the various private teams which race the cars in the Dakar Rally and converting them into off-road machines which will resemble the concept version of the EXP 9 F, even if they only share minimal components.
Despite a company spokeswoman quickly confirming that no decisions have been made in regards to this possible entry into the world’s most grueling rally event, we won’t let that stop us from reporting on what could be an extraordinary racer if Bentley borrows enough components from the VW Touareg racers. VW’s entry actually won the event in its category in 2009, 2010, and 2011, before the factory team pulled out to instead focus on its upcoming World Rally Championship entry next WRC season.
If Bentley does decide to do what is being reported, they would strip the interior bare and simply fit it with a couple of bucket seats, while also installing the necessary fuel and water storage for the long and hot stages of the Dakar. Next, they would likely ditch the large 6.0-liter W12 engine which the top of the range EXP 9 F SUV is expected to feature and replace it with a lighter, more efficient and less powerful engine similar to 296HP units fitted to the Touareg’s.
Already refreshed once back in 2011, the Range Rover Sport is entering the 2013 model year with fresh new colors and a greater choice of interior trim and alloy wheel designs. Land Rover is also offering two new special editions - the Sport Supercharged Limited Edition and the Sport GT Limited Edition - both of which will be built in limited numbers.
We’ve already provided details on the new 2013 Range Rover Sport Supercharged Limited Edition, so we’ll focus on the Sport GT Limited. It will be offered with an extended rear roof spoiler, unique rear chrome exhaust treatments, 20" black five spoke alloy wheels, steering wheel mounted shift paddles, and a premium LOGIC7 audio system with SAT and HD radio. The GT Sport will be offered in a limited run of 750 units for the U.S., 450 of which will be in Santorini Black and 300 units in Fuji White.
When Aston Martin unveiled the Lagonda SUV back in 2009, it was thought to be the beginning of the Lagonda revival, previewing the company’s first SUV. That idea crumbled about a year later when Aston Martin announced that a production version would never be built. Instead, the company wanted to focus on a Lagonda version of the Rapide sedan.
To make it even more confusing, Aston Martin is now reconsidering its decision because it’s trying to enter markets like China where large models are a must. That, and because of the market’s positive reaction to Bentley’s EXP 9 F concept.
According to Autocar, Aston Martin boss Ulrich Bez already confirmed that an updated Lagonda concept is being developed and that it will be unveiled next year. The new Lagonda SUV has been confirmed as a super-luxury 4x4 and will target the future SUV from Lamborghini. Next to it, Aston Martin will also bring out a second Lagonda model, a saloon.
Russian tuner, Armortech, and its German contemporary, Atelier Valdeig have joined forces to introduce a new luxury SUV.
The vehicle is called the Tresor, which in French translates to "treasure." It’s based on the Audi Q7 and comes with plenty of styling cues from two of the most high-end brands on the planet: Rolls-Royce and Bentley. The front end of the Tresor actually looks a lot like a Bentley and if you really think about it, you could make a case that this is what the Bentley EXP 9 F should have looked like in the first place.
Whereas the exterior doesn’t do a whole lot to stir anyone’s imagination, the interior of the Tresor is a different picture altogether. With the help of Bentley, Armortech and Atelier Valdeig gave the Tresor’s interior plenty of elegantly appointed high-end components, including a full-on leather upholstery, premium wood trim, and plenty of metallic accents. If all these aren’t enough, the builders are offering bespoke options to customers, which include a number of additions, highlighted by interior partitions - for privacy’s sake - and high-tech entertainment systems.
Since the car is based on the Q7, the powertrain options follow as such. With a choice of a variety of engines, including an Audi-sourced V12 TDI that produces 500 horsepower and 737 lb/ft of torque, customers will have plenty of say on how their Tresor SUV performs and looks.
No word yet on when the Armortech & Atelier Valdeig Tresor will hit the market, but you can expect to hear more about it in the coming months.
Usually when someone says Kahn Design, we automatically think about updated Land Rover models. This time, however, the British tuner is changing things up a bit with a new package based on the BMW X5. This particular model is priced at £23,875 ($38,300 at the current exchange rates), but any customer who owns a 2007+ X5 can order the Kahn package for £2,150 ($3,450 at the current rates).
On the exterior, the most impressive changes are the new Kahn Design RSL wheels in Silver Palladium Finish. Next to the new wheels, the package also includes new front and rear bumpers, wider wheel arches, a sports lowering suspension, and Liquid Red brake calipers.
The interior includes stunning quilted perforated leather interior seats and a Kahn glove box complete with carbon effect inserts. Customers will also get a black Alcantara steering wheel and of course, plenty of "Kahn" badges.
When Lamborghini unveiled the Urus Concept at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, it came with the announcement that a production version would arrive sometime in 2017. And now, in an interview with Automotive News, Maurizio Reggiani has stated that the company hopes the Urus will become its top-selling model with an annual volume of 3,000 because of strong demand in China, the United States, Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. That’s almost double compared to the 1,600 vehicles Lamborghini sold last year.
The future Urus will be built on the Volkswagen new PL73 platform that will be used for the next-generation Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, and Volkswagen Touareg, as well as the production version of Bentley’s new SUV. Lamborghini also hopes that their future SUV will weigh as much as 4400 lbs - or about 440 lbs lighter than any of the models in its segment. And because the new platform will be made of steel, Lamborghini will need to use innovative technologies to hit their target weight. One of these solutions is a T-shaped, forged-carbon composite structure that extends from the central tunnel to the rear suspension hinging points.
Reggiani also confirmed that a twin-turbo, gasoline-direction-injection V-8 is a strong possibility because it "improves weight distribution without forcing an increase to the SUV’s wheelbase and overall length." This engine will be coupled to a permanent four-wheel-drive system and most likely a dual-clutch transmission.
The Q7 is one of the most impressive models Audi has ever offered, and the V12 TDI is the most powerful version offered. These two facts about this SUV is why German tuner, Fostla, decided this would be the car to receive one of their tuning kits. Their latest package jumps the Q7’s output to an amazing 600 HP, as well as tweaks its look to match.
For 3500 euro ($4,500 at the current rates), Fostla will cover a customer’s Q7 in a cool PWF foil in diamond black matte, tint the front and back lights, and tone the discs to between 55% and 85%. For an extra 6000 euro ($7700 at the current rates), customers will get a new set of 11x23 inch matte powder coated side Mansory C5 wheels with 315/25R23 tires in combination with 15 mm front and 30 mm back track plates.
To take care of the Audi Q7’s standard 500 HP, Fostla tricked out the 6.0-liter V12 engine with an ECU upgrade to allow it to push out 600 HP and 737 lb-ft of torque. The 0-60 mph sprint will now be made in 5.5 seconds. This added bonus will set customers back an additional $4,500.
Chevrolet has announced it will unveil a new global SUV in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show. The new model, called Trax, will be offered in more than 140 markets, with Mexico and Canada being the first ones privy to it. As of right now, there are no plans to introduce it in the U.S. market.
The future Trax will feature the same pioneering spirit and expressive design that defines each new Chevrolet, but it will be distinguished by a muscular exterior design and wide athletic stance. Chevrolet states that the interior will come with standards usually found in more expensive vehicles.
"The Trax provides Chevrolet an entry into a growing small SUV segment and delivers the flexibility, great fuel economy and car-like handling that urban explorers around the world require," said Mary Barra, GM senior vice president of Product Development. "After a record sales year in 2011 and a record first quarter, Chevrolet continues to meet customer needs by expanding its portfolio with strong new entries."
Taken from its name, the Q3 Red Track Concept has been finished with a fiery piece of Energy Red color, an ironic color choice considering that the concept SUV is being pegged as a winter vehicle. How else do you explain the carbon fiber skis on its roof?
But more than just its supposed purpose, the Q3 Red Track Concept actually looks a whole lot like the Q3 Vail Concept, except that the former has some added aesthetic touches. Either way, the SUV looks all sorts of spicy in that aforementioned Energy Red color.
Too bad there’s been no official indication as to whether the Q3 Red Track Concept is bound for production. Whatever the case may be, expect to see the concept at the 2012 Wörthersee Tour, where it is expected to be one of the front and center models in Audi’s booth.
Find out more about the Audi Q3 Red Track Concept after the jump.
