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.
The 2011 Kia Sorento made its North American debut at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. The new Sorento will be the first vehicle to roll off the new assembly line at Kia Motors’ state of the art manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia and will start to arrive in dealer’s showrooms starting in January of 2010.
For 2011, the Sorento CUV will be offered with a choice of two power plants, the first is a 2.4 Liter four cylinder that delivers 175 HP and 169 lb-ft of torque while a more powerful 3.5 Liter V6 making 276 HP and 248 lb-ft of torque, both coupled to Kia’s new six speed automatic transmission that provide the driver with effortless shifts.
The new car will be both longer and roomier than the previous generation Sorento, with an overall length of 184.4 inches and overall width of 74.2 inches.
A first for Kia, the 2011 Sorento comes with a panoramic sunroof. While standard equipment includes an AM/FM/CD/MP3/SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities complete with three months of complimentary service. Your iPod can be hooked up via auxiliary and USB inputs and Bluetooth connectivity with steering wheel mounted voice activation controls that allow you to safely communicate with loved ones while driving down the road.
At the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show Kia revealed the 2011 Sorento SUV. Now the Korean maker announced sales will begin in early next year, with prices starting from $19,995 for the entry level version which is powered by a 175-hp 2.4L 4-cylinder engine. Prices will go up to $27,195 for the top of the line V6 version.
Customers will be able to chose between three additional packages: Limited Package, priced at $2000 (navigation system with real-time traffic, Infinity sound system, 18-inch chrome wheels, interior accent lighting and high-style interior color theme), Premium Package priced at $1500 (roof-rails, leather-seats, heated front seats and a rear-view backup camera) and Third Row Package priced at $700.
BMW unveiled today the new X5 SUV, a model that comes with entirely revised range of engines and concise design modifications. At the exterior the new X5 gets larger side air intakes at the front and an increased proportion of surfaces painted in body color, reshaped rear bumper and the tailpipe surrounds, dual round headlamps with optional Xenon lights, fitted with LED corona.
The biggest changes are made under the hood: a choice of V8 and a straight six-cylinder, all featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and direct fuel injection and and equipped with an eight-speedautomatic transmission as standard.
The model line-up include: BMW X5 xDrive50i powered by a V8 petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo and direct injection that delivers a total of 407 bhp at 5,500 – 6,400 rpm. It makes the sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, while top speed is limited to 155 mph. The next model in the line-up is BMW X5 xDrive35i powered by a Straight six-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo and direct injection and a total output of 306 bhp at 5,800 rpm. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph in this version is made in 6.8 seconds, and top speed is 146 mph.
The first diesel model is BMW X5 xDrive40d powered by a Straight six-cylinder diesel engine with aluminium crankcase, BMW TwinPower Turbo and Common Rail direct injection that delivers a total of 306 bhp at 4,400 rpm. It makes the sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, while top speed is also 146 mph.
And finally there is the X5 xDrive30d powered by a straight six-cylinder diesel engine with aluminium crankcase, turbocharger with variable turbine geometry and Common Rail direct injection with a total output of 245 bhp at 4,000 rpm and a sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds; top speed in this case is 137 mph.
In today’s day and age of sophisticated car tuning, there aren’t a lot of tuners that can proudly say that they were able to turn a Hummer H2 into a high-tech, horse-drawn carriage.
For the record, Jeremy Dean prefers to be called an ‘artist’ rather than a ‘car tuner’. But whatever title he wants to take, there’s no denying the painstaking labor he and a group of his buddies went through to make this highly unusual ride.
For starters, Dean bought a second-hand H2 for a relatively cheap tag of $15,000. Then, he decided to use up all of his life savings to convert the H2 – which he describes as a ‘monument to America’s consumption, greed, and arrogance’ – into, of all things, a horse cart.
To fully understand the rationale behind Dean’s thinking, he explains that there will come a time when the world’s resources will all but dry up rendering all the extravagant and gas-guzzling vehicles roaming the world today useless - unless it is being pulled by a horse. To illustrate his point, he went ahead and converted the H2 into what can only be described as the glitziest and most glamorous horse-drawn cart in the history of the world.
Check out the video and watch how a full-fledged Hummer H2 ended up becoming a pretty razzle-dazzle of a horse cart.
For those of you who thought that all you had to look out for was a Crown Vic, Chevrolet has just given the fuzz something new to consider for their fleets. The American automaker has just announced that the 2010 Tahoe Police has the lowest life cycle cost of any vehicle in the law enforcement market. The cost efficiency analysis evaluated seven different factors including: depreciation expense, fuel costs, finance costs, opportunity costs, maintenance costs, repair costs, and cost to insure. After all the numbers were laid out between the Chevrolet Tahoe 2WD, Chevrolet Impala, Ford Crown Victoria, and Dodge Charger; it was the Chevrolet Tahoe that came out on top due to its strong residual value.
You know when people say that they have good news and bad news?
Well, we have one for you loyal followers of the Nissan Patrol. The good news is that the next generation Patrol has been earmarked to have its world debut on February 14 in the United Arab Emirates and that six lucky people will get a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to see the event.
The bad news is that the competition is only eligible for a select number of countries in the Middle East (U.A.E., Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait). Now, if you’re a TopSpeed reader from these areas, all you need to do is answer a simple survey at the Welcome the Hero website to have a chance at getting a front-row seat to the world premier of the Patrol luxury SUV.
Incidentally, Nissan is building up the Patrol as ‘The Hero of All Terrain’, complete with its own website and a detailed history of the intrinsic communion between the luxury SUV and the Middle East dating back to the 50’s. Like we said, we all have to take the good news with the bad and while us folks here in the US won’t have a chance to enter this contest, we’ll settle for knowing that the next-generation Patrol has finally arrived.
Aside from the German tuning firm Hamann, the fellow Bavarian automotive restyling experts at Lumma Design are the second tuners scheduled to unveil an appearance package for the high horsepower BMW X6 M. Called CLR X650 M, the kitted sport activity vehicle will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show wearing a set of bold bumpers, aggressive side skirts and a more pronounced rear spoiler while riding on a set of oversized alloys measuring 23 inches in diameter.
The twin turbocharged 4.4 Liter V8 engine has been tweaked to produce a total of 650 HP and can now sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in 4.5 seconds and reach a ridiculous 194 MPH top speed.
The Korean automaker Kia has officially released details about the next generation Sportage SUV, the 2011 Kia Sportage.
Sharing the same platform with its compatriot, the Hyundai Tucson, the 2011 Sportage looks to have the leg-up on the Tucson in terms of being a little bigger and wider, which should translate into having a roomier interior.
The design for the 2011 Sportage also seems to have benefitted from the supervision of Peter Schreyer, whose previous design work with Audi has seemingly translated into some of the aesthetic design cues that can be noticed in the new Sportage, including sharper curves, and a completely revamped front end that previous Sportage models didn’t come in.
Featuring a fresh, bold, athletic and sporty design; longer, lower and wider than the previous generation model, the new Sportage will offer more space for people and cargo, with improved ride quality thanks to the longer wheelbase; the new Sportage will go on sale later this year, with a choice of both diesel and gasoline engines following its debut in March at the Geneva Motor Show.
The Japanese luxury automaker Infiniti has just release details about the 2010 EX35 luxury crossover, and it is still selling for the same price as it did in 2009, but with a long list of available features, including standard leather appointed seating and Around View Monitor, as well as a coat hanger integrated into the back of the driver’s seat, advanced audio systems and a power folding 2nd row seat. The 2010 Infiniti EX35 will start from just $33,800 for the rear wheel drive version and go all the way up to $37,400 for the top of the line all wheel drive EX35 Journey.
Just like the previous model year, the 2010 EX35 is powered by a 3.5 Liter VQ35 V6 engine that produces a maximum of 297 HP and is mated to a 5 speed automatic transmission and is available the automaker’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system.
Some of the more attractive features of the EX35 are the new Bose Audi system and Around View Monitor Package that includes an Advanced Climate Control System (ACCS) with Plasmacluster air purification. The Navigation Package adds hands free Bluetooth Streaming Audio, XM NavWeather (XM subscription required, sold separately) and Zagat Restaurant Guide. The Navigation Package is offered at no additional charge when you choose the Bose and AVM Package.
The Infiniti FX luxury SUV is entering its second year of production with the addition of few more technological advances. The 2010 FX is on sale, with prices starting at around $42,400 for the entry level FX35 RWD, $43,850 for the V6 powered FX35 AWD and goes all the way up to $58,400 for the top of the line AWD FX50.
The 2010 Infiniti FX is available with a choice of two engines. The first is a 390 HP 5.0 Liter 32 valve DOHC V8 for the FX50 wile the more affordable option is a 303 HP 3.5 Liter 24 valve DOHC V6 in the FX35. Either engine can be configured to work with the automaker’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, a unit that comes standard on the FX50. All models are equipped with a standard 7-speed automatic transmission, double-wishbone front/multi-link rear suspension and large 4-wheel disc brakes.
For 2010, changes to FX include standard Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System on all models, the addition of a standard USB Connection Port for iPod and other compatible devices, the addition of a 2.0GB Music Box hard drive to feed tunes to the Bose Premium Audio system for vehicles without a navigation system as well as a simplified choice of color combination. FX’s available Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System has been enhanced for 2010 with the addition of an in-dash single disc DVD audio/video drive, streaming audio via Bluetooth, Zagat Restaurant Guide and XM NavWeather all in the hopes of making your sporty SUV experience even more luxurious.
A high-speed police chase on the Slovenian highway near the city of Maribor ended up with an exotic car crashing into a truck. The sad part is, the driver of the TechArt Magnum wasn’t even its owner.
As it turns out, the police chase stemmed from reports that the TechArt Magnum was stolen a couple of weeks ago in Switzerland and after being identified driving along in Slovenia, local authorities went out and took the criminal for a nice – and fast – thrill ride along the Slovenian highways.
It’s bad enough to crash an expensive exotic car through the fault of the owner. But we do feel terrible for the poor chap that owns this TechArt Magnum. Not only was his car stolen from him, but he ended up with quite a hefty insurance bill to pay.
As far as the Serbian who stole the car, he was – thankfully - apprehended with a little assistance from an unsuspecting truck that just so happened to be in the criminal’s way.
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