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.
About a week ago, we teased you with a review on the upcoming 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel and its incredible 7.2-second 0-to-60 time. That was just the very tip of the iceberg, as now it is time to get into what makes this SUV a Porsche, the GTS model.
The GTS is slated to be the middle ground between the S model and the Turbo model, but remains based on the S model. However, don’t start thinking you are just getting a glorified Cayenne S when you buy the GTS, as it has some significant performance upgrades over the Cayenne S model. These upgrades include minor tweaks to the engine to squeeze out some more power and suspension modifications.
In addition to performance mods, the Cayenne GTS also features some visual and interior upgrades to make it well worth the extra money it will run.
As we said, there is only a little bit of information to release at this time, but we will definitely keep you up to date on any addition information that Porsche releases at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show and in the days leading up to the show, which starts on April 24th.
Updated 04/27/2012: Porsche has unveiled a new promo video for their latest Cayenne GTS presenting the new SUV in action. Enjoy!
Even though car manufacturers try to conceal names of future models, possible options always manage to leak onto the net, with the latest name trademarked by Lamborghini already finding its way into our hands.
Car and Driver recently broke the news and it seems pretty genuine to us. "Deimos" was trademarked by Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. on March 5, 2012, and the name has left us scratching our heads just a tad. First and foremost, almost all Lamborghini’s ever produced (with the exception of the LM002) have been named after famous fighting bulls both Italian and Spanish, but ‘Demois’ doesn’t refer to any bull we’re aware of.
In fact, according to Greek mythology, ‘Deimos’ is a son of Aphrodite and represents terror and dread which seems a little bit strange to name a car after. The terror part does make some sense as this is a Lamborghini and their cars are famous for promoting fear and terror in their competitors, but the term dread seems less appealing.
After all, who would want to buy a car which name literally means ‘dread’?
Nevertheless, this trademark by Lamborghini may not actually relate to a future model or concept car as it could instead refer to a new line of merchandise or even a new system which could be fitted to future Lamborghini’s. However, with the new Lamborghini SUV (rendered above) expected to be released at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show in just a few weeks, rumors suggest that the successor to the LM002 may be dubbed the Lamborghini Deimos.
Another possibility could be the Gallardo replacement which is currently under development, and with the highly circulated ‘Cabrera’ name being nothing more than the work of an unnamed source, perhaps this future model could be the Deimos.
The current Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has been out for just three years and has already scored impressive results including the coveted "Top Safety Pick" designation by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2012 model year. And now, Mitsubishi has prepared a facelift version for the company’s best-selling vehicle, which it unveiled at the 2012 New York Auto Show.
Changes for the 2013 model year include a host of design and equipment improvements: new-look front and rear fascias and side sills; interior design upgrades; revamped rear suspension; and Continuously-Variable Transmission (CVT), plus much more.
No changes have been made under the hood, which means the new model will keep its 2.0 liter inline-4 engine that delivers a total of 148 HP and a peak torque of 145 lbs-ft. The engine is combined with an Enhanced Continuously-Variable Transmission (CVT) calibration for improved acceleration performance and smoother shift feeling.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.
After showing off the Vesuvius edition, Kahn Design is offering up a new tuning package based on the Porsche Cayenne. As usual, Kahn didn’t provide any changes under the hood, but made some aesthetically pleasing changes on the exterior and the interior.
The exterior package includes new vented front and rear wide wheel arches, integrated LED daylight running lights for front wheel arch vents, lower boot lid spoiler, liquid red brake calipers, full colour coded bumpers with matte pearl gray inserts, carbon fibre detailing on front bumper sections.
The tuner is also offering new sport suspensions springs and a new Kahn stainless steel quad exhaust system. The car sits on a new set of 22" Kahn RS600 wheels.
For the interior, the tuner is offering a blend of quilted claret and perforated leather with the speedo and rev counter fascia in red and cream. The tuner is also offering their customers the possibility to express their own personality when customizing the car’s interior.
If you want to buy this car, expect to pay £77,875 - or about $125,000 at the current exchange rates.
The concept version of the upcoming Lamborghini SUV will be unveiled at the end of April at the Beijing Auto Show, but some lucky guests - aka select Lamborghini clientele - at the 2012 New York Auto Show were able to get a sneak peek at the concept. Lamborghini tried to keep everything secret until the concept’s official debut in China, but there were some people at the event who decided to share some information.
Those specific event goers reported that the car will have a silhouette similar to the BMW X6 and will be the same size as the Audi Q7. The concept will feature a carbon fiber body kit and LED headlights similar to the ones seen in the Estoque. At the rear, the SUV will feature four trapezoidal exhaust tips integrated in the rear bumper diffuser. The concept sits on a new set of 24" wheels with a carbon fiber design similar to the Aventador J combined with naturally carbon-ceramic brakes.
More details about the Lamborghini SUV Concept will be revealed during the car’s official debut in Beijing, so stay tuned!
When considering motorcycles, Suzuki is likely a brand that comes to mind. Their cars, on the other hand, nearly go unnoticed unless you are looking for specifically cheap transportation. They typically only account for a fraction of a percent of U.S. auto sales, but that fraction is a tight and very loyal market. Well, it looks like they are trying to dig themselves out of obscurity by adding high-end features to their vehicles.
Starting in the 2013 model year, nearly every Suzuki car, truck, and SUV will include a Garmin stereo system that will also include Pandora radio. With the internet taking over everything nowadays, it’s only expected that internet radio would make its way into more cars – heck, some cars now have a hard drive bigger than my desktop PC, seriously…
Pandora works a lot like satellite radio, as it is not broadcasted from terrestrial towers, but rather streamed through the internet. You can personalize your own station too, so there is no need to swap the station every time something you can’t stand comes blasting through the speakers.
There is no receiver or anything like that for Pandora radio, so this is really not costing Suzuki much, meaning the cost to you would be minimal, if anything. The Garmin radio connects to an iPhone, per Pandora, and the iPhone in turn receives the Pandora signal, broadcasting it through the radio. It makes us curious because Pandora radio also has an Android app, which means nearly any phone on the market can receive its signal. However, Pandora specifically mentions just the iPhone in its press release.
We are starting to wonder if iPhone and Garmin are maybe up to something, or did the Pandora rep just misspeak. For the sake of all Suzuki buyers that choose to use this service, we hope the latter is the truth. From our research, it looks like Garmin and Suzuki have apps for both Android and iPhone, so it was likely a mistake to just say “iPhone.”
Regardless of its connectivity, this is a step in the right direction towards Suzuki reeling in its direct competitors, Hyundai and Kia.
Hit the jump to read Pandora’s official press release.
Land Rover is continuing its series of DC100 concepts with a new Expedition version. The new concept was built to celebrate Land Rover’s 25 year presence on the North American market and is equipped for expedition use. The concept also explores possible design directions for the future of the iconic Land Rover Defender.
The new DC100 Expedition features an air-intake snorkel for wading and a roof mounted equipment rack. The list of design cues that will be used for the upcoming Defender include extreme approach and departure angles, vertical panels, an upright windscreen, and strong shoulder line for visibility and ease of positioning. The honest Defender ’face’ with its signature round lamps and prominent grille is featured, and a winch is incorporated to the fascia.
The DC100 Expedition Concept will also be equipped with a new Terrain Response system which will optimize the car for various conditions without driver pre-selection. A new Terrain-i system creates an intelligent map of the topography in front of the car and displays it as a 3D visualization. The concept also comes with a new Wade Aid system that utilizes sonar sensors mounted in the bumpers and side mirrors to measure water depth.
South Korean company, Hyundai, brought out the Santa Fe SUV in 2001 and after twelve years on the market, it’s more than ready for its third generation. In the past few weeks, there have been plenty of spy shots of the new Santa Fe, but it’s time now to see it in real life. The new Santa Fe has made its debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show.
For the 2013 model year, the Santa Fe will be offered in three versions: Santa Fe, Santa Fe Sport, and Santa Fe LWB. Customers will also get to choose between three different engines: a 190 HP direct-injection 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a 264 HP turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder, and a 290 HP 3.3-liter direct-injection V6. The three engines can be combined with a six-speed automatic transmission and an optional all-wheel drive system.
UPDATE 04/05/2012: This review has been updated with the official details and images of the Hyundai Sante Fe.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe.
Anytime they attend a major auto show, the fine chaps over at Land Rover are always looking to make a splash. Look no further for all the evidence than the 2012 New York Auto Show where, to the surprise of no one, the British automaker has revealed a pair of special edition models.
Joining the LR4 HSE Luxury Limited Edition in waving to the New York crowd is the Range Rover Sport Supercharged Limited Edition. While it doesn’t carry all the luxury bells and whistles of its co-debutante, the Range Rover Sport Supercharged Limited Edition is still cool enough to justify its limited edition billing.
For starters, the model will only come in a choice of two exterior paint finishes - Fuji White and Santorini Black - while also receiving a slew decorative trim pieces tacked in various parts of the SUV. Inside, there’s not as much leather, but there is plenty of bespoke carbon fiber trim to go with contrast leather in red and black with contrast stitching.
As far as power goes, the Range Rover Sport Supercharged Limited Edition will make use of a supercharged V8 that delivers a tidy 510 horsepower. And just in case you’re wondering how "limited" this limited edition Range Rover is, Land Rover will only be building 500 units of this bad boy, exclusively for the US market.
UPDATE 05/18/2012: Landrover has just revealed that the US market will get 500 units of the new Range Rover Sport Supercharged Limited Edition, only 300 units in Santorini Black and 200 units in Fuji White.
There’s no shortage of auto debuts going on at the 2012 New York Auto Show and Land Rover is joining in on the fun with the premier of two special edition models that are set to be made available later in 2012.
One of these models is based on the Land Rover LR4 and it’s called the LR4 HSE Luxury Limited Edition. As its name will obviously tell you, the LR4 HSE Luxury Limited Edition has been touched up with plenty of high-class accessories.
On the outside, the SUV was finished in an exclusive Santorini Black paint finish to go with silver touches on the front grille surround, the full-length roof rails, the mirror housing, the bonnet script, and the tailgate badge. In addition, Land Rover decided to give the LR4 HSE Luxury Limited Edition’s wheels some spunk, courtesy of a new set of 20" 10-spoke alloy rims.
Moving to the interior, you’ll find a leather explosion, courtesy of an expanded leather treatment dressed in an Arabica color. The SUV’s door tops, door pulls, arm rests, and dashboard fascia all carry the same leather material that’s complemented by a contrast stitched detailing and a Dark Zebrano wood veener. And if all that leather isn’t enough to tickle your fancy, the LR4 HSE Luxury Limited Edition also has plenty of the standard features, including an 825 watt, 17-speaker Harman/Kardon LOGIC7 Premium Audio System, 8" screens, wireless headphones, and last but certainly not least, a Center Console Cooler Box.
The LR4 HSE Luxury Limited Edition will be made available worldwide with the UK understandably getting first dibs at the car. The price tag for the limited edition SUV on the other side of the pond starts at £56,995, which is around $90,500 based on current exchange rates.
