A crossover SUV or XUV is an automobile with a sport utility vehicle appearance but is built upon a more economical and fuel-efficient car-based platform.
With the debut of the new Takeri Concept, Mazda has revealed the design language for their future Mazda6 sedan, but that isn’t the only new model the Japanese company has in their future plans. In a recent interview with Automotive News, Robert Davis - Mazda’s Senior Vice President of U.S. operations has announced that the company plans to unveil four redesigned models by 2014.
The first to arrive will be a major update for the CX-5 in the spring of 2012. It will be followed by a redesigned Mazda6 and redesigns of the Mazda3, MX-5 Miata, and CX-9 in 2013.
The big news is that these redesigned models will not only receive exterior and interior updates, but new lightweight platforms and new gasoline and diesel powertrains that boost power and fuel economy. By 2016, Mazda also plans to add stop-start, regenerative braking, and hybrid technologies.
The new platform developed for the four new models will be the first one developed solely by Mazda. The company has been using platforms shared with Ford Motor Co. for most of its vehicles, but since Ford sold its stake in Mazda in 2006, the Japanese company has announced it has no plans to share its new platforms and powertrain technologies for U.S. vehicles with Ford.
Since its official debut back in 2007, the Volkswagen Tiguan has become the most successful SUV on the German market. So the fact that Volkswagen has already decided to offer a facelift for most of the line and as many accessories as possible shouldn’t surprise anyone. Joining the bunch is the availability of a new R-Line Package offered exclusively for the ‘Sport & Style’ equipment version.
For the exterior of the Tiguan, the R-Line package adds a black textured rear diffuser, aluminum door sill plates with R-Line logo, and another R-Line logo on the radiator grille. R-Design bumpers will also be painted in the body color, while the R-Line roof spoiler will receive matte chrome insertions. The final touch was given by a new set of 19" Mallory alloy wheels painted in"Sterling silver." For the exterior color, customers will get to choose between "Candy white," "Reflex silver metallic," "Deep Black pearl effect," "Night blue metallic," and "Pepper grey metallic."
For the interior, the R-Line package adds front sport seats, head restraints with integrated R-Line logo, and a multifunction steering wheel with aluminum accents and R-Line badge.
We know that snowboarders are the kind of free-spirited people that enjoy the simple thrills of life, but even they would probably rather be caught dead than ride this piece of work of a Scion.
As with many cars that are headed to the SEMA Auto Show, some are there to impress and some are there to, well, "attract attention." Guess which category we think this Scion xB belongs in?
To be fair, Scion claims that the xB Numeric is a car that has been "re-created, re-invigorated, and re-developed in such a unique manner." To that, you’ll find no qualms from us.
Among the many eye-popping features of this very interesting ride begins with a 686 Breathable Fabric Wrap, a roof that was inspired by a Bern protective carbon fiber helmet, complete with the company’s patented brim technology and ’frameless’ windows that took its design cues from Dragon’s APX frameless goggle, offering a full peripheral view inside the car. Other exterior modifications include a new 686 Vader Vent Mesh Grille and set of 18" Motegi Rally Wheels wrapped in New Balance Wet Race Tires.
Inside the Scion xB Numeric, it gets a little more interesting. The first item of note are the new Sparco race seats that were inspired from Union team snowboard bindings. The car also has visual racing mirrors from GoPro, custom built time gauges from Vestal watches, heated floormats from Freewaters sandals, a heating and cooling system from BOA technologies, radar technology from Recco Rescue Systems, a comprehensive audio set-up courtesy of Skullcandy, and Spin Imaging’s interior vehicle wrap technology, which was responsible for successfully wrapping the xB Numeric, complete with laser-welded seams, stitched panels, mesh venting, and even a waterproof zipper.
The attendance of SR Auto Group’s Scion xB "Project Anarchy" to the 2011 SEMA Auto Show was guaranteed after the tuning company won the 2011 Scion Canadian Tuning Challenge.
And if you have a car that comes packed with so many modifications, then it becomes pretty obvious why this car was sent to SEMA. Exterior enhancements abound and SR Auto Group didn’t waste any space in modifying the xB. Tho begin with, the crossover was given a Military Grey paint finish. Then, there are bumper and headlight conversions from OEM, a carbon fiber hood, trunk, and spoiler from Seibon, racing lips (front and rear) and side skirts from Molded A/T, a Monarch Puddle Lamp System, an Alumina Xenon HID system, and a new set of 19" matte-brushed, aluminum face, chrome lip Modulare Bespokre M23 wheels wrapped in Nitto tires.
Meanwhile, the Project Anarchy’s interior was also given a comprehensive overhaul, highlighted by a Reventon-inspired suede seat inserts, leather seat bolsters, and tri-stitched door panel inserts. There’s also a gloss black interior trim, a TRD Racing carbon fiber shift knob, white ambient interior lights, and Blue LED foot well lights. The completely modified interior also received a Kenwood audio system with speakers and a 12" subwoofer, courtesy of Hertz, as well as a Kenwood amplifier and a 32" LED television on the rear end of the car.
Updated 11/09/2011: Check the picture gallery to see new images of the Scion xB "Project Anarchy" by SR Auto Group from the SEMA Show.
Kia’s burgeoning quirky reputation is about to be taken to a whole new level at the coming SEMA Auto Show next month after announcing that they’re bringing six "sports-themed" projects to the world’s biggest aftermarket auto event.
We sincerely hope that we don’t see any rapping hamsters and from what we’ve been told, there won’t be any. Instead, the Korean automaker will be fielding a couple of custom-modded 2012 Kia Souls inspired by some of the world’s best athletes, including golf star Michelle Wie and NBA dynamo Blake Griffin.
In the case of the hotshot golfer, Kia dressed up the Soul - with the help of West Coast Customs - using a funky "So Blue" exterior paint scheme, the same colorful artwork she uses on her golf bags. In addition to that, the
Soul also carries a new set of 20" five-spoke wheels that incorporate her original artwork. Inside, the modifications include the golfer’s artwork and personal logo also that have been integrated into the Soul’s "Snow White" leather headrests. There’s also a baby blue painted dash and pink headliner and seating accents, completing the interior’s whimsical look. There’s also an artificial glass flooring and at the back, you’ll find a 26" LED TV monitor mounted into the rear hatch with a Microsoft X-Box 360 console and Microsoft Kinect system to play golf out of the back of the vehicle. Two of Wie’s tournament-used golf bags are also mounted behind the TV, which conceals the car’s eight-inch speakers and subwoofer.
UPDATE: 11/01/11: This review has been updated with official photos from Kia
Just like skirts getting blown up by the wind, teaser images like these just leaves a whole lot to the imagination. Can’t you guys raise the covers up a little bit more?
In any case, what you see is the second Ford model that Tjin Edition is set to bring at the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas in two weeks time. We already showed you the Ford Mustang, so this time around, you can get your speculations on as to what the aftermarket company did to the Ford Explorer.
The image doesn’t shed a whole lot apart from that custom 24" iForged Concave wheel that appears to be part of Tjin Edition’s package for the Explorer.
In any case, the company did reveal a slew of other options added on to the Ford Explorer, including a custom Dupont paint finish, a lowered Einbach suspension set-up, large Baer brakes, a Thule bike rack, a black leather interior by LR Auto Body, and a pair of Recaro child seats, among other things.
No word yet on whether the Explorer will carry a similar performance upgrade as the Mustang, but hey, that’s what teasing is all about. The good news is that we won’t have to wait long before the unveiling as SEMA is only two weeks away from opening.
After years of testing and development, the MINI Countryman WRC is finally strutting its stuff on the world rally scene with an eye towards a full WRC schedule for next year.
We’re saying this because it appears that Prodrive, the very same outfit that runs MINI’s WRC outfit, is in the process of developing a completely modded Countryman that includes an extensive body kit that features, among other things, a a large fixed carbon fiber wing and a new set of alloy wheels.
According to Autocar, the Prodrive-tuned Countryman also features an comprehensive performance upgrade, one that includes a Prodrive Militek exhaust system and an engine upgrade courtesy of Superchips. The latter took the crossover’s 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and improved its output from the standard 184 horsepower to an more impressive 230-horsepower output.
Even better is that Superchips is still confident in churning out more ponies than it already has in their dyno tests, so that 230-pony figure could still rise up after more testing. No word yet on when MINI will be unveiling a high-performance Countryman, so it could very well be that this is the one that we’ve all been waiting for.
The Cayenne’s long-awaited little brother, the Cajun, has finally been given the ’go-signal’ for production by Porsche, officially confirming what we’ve all known for quite some time.
The confirmation was made through a press release that announced the company’s new multi-million dollar investment towards its production facility in Liepzig, Germany. While that was the main onus of the release, news that the Cajun will be produced in the site beginning in late 2013 is what’s gotten the industry’s attention.
For all of the Cayenne’s popularity, there were still some people that thought that the Porsche SUV needed a smaller version, a crossover that would appeal to people who thought of the Cayenne as to big and bulky for their liking.
The Cajun will answer all of that, as it is being prepared to be an agile crossover that will challenge the likes of the BMW X3, the Mercedes GLK-Class, and the Range Rover Evoque in the crossover market.
Details behind the Cajun were not announced, but the popular consensus is that it will carry a wide range of powerplants that will include a 2.0-liter TFSI engine with 223 horsepower, a supercharged V6 that will carry an output north of 300 horsepower, a 2.0-liter TDI (diesel) engine that will see 200 horsepower, a 3.0-liter V6 TDI that will have 314 horsepower, and a hybrid TFSI engine with 211 horsepower to go with an electric motor that produces 44 horsepower.
For those that have long wished for a smaller version of the Cayenne, your prayers have been answered. Production for the Porsche Cajun will begin in 2013.
There’s something about the Nissan Juke that just stirs up animated discussions. Whether its the funkier-than-usual design or its rather impressive performance capabilities, a lot of us in the industry have strong opinions about Nissan’s quirky crossover.
If you’re Nissan, all these discussions can only be good press for the Juke and if you want to stoke the proverbial flames, why not up the ante by building a one-off creation that places the powertrain of Nissan’s Godzilla sports car - the GT-R - inside the Juke.
You read that right, folks. A GT-R-powered Juke. Let the discussion begin.
The car is going to be called the Juke-R, which took its name from the GT-R-sourced twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 powertrain it’s set to have. The Juke-R is expected to produce the same 520-horsepower output as that of the GT-R. Based on the sketches Nissan has released of the one-off car, it appears that the Juke-R will also feature some aerodynamic modifications, including sport flared fenders, a new front splitter, a new rear diffuser, and a new set of wheels, tires, and brakes.
Paul Willcox, Nissan Europe’s Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing said that the Nissan Juke lends itself perfectly to a sports derivative and Juke-R explores that territory. "The Juke-R showcases two of the most exciting cars in our range and highlights the technical innovation that drives Nissan," he said.
"This car will more than live up to the dynamic driving experience we engineer into all our cars."
There doesn’t appear to be a timeline as to when the Juke-R will break cover, but considering it’s nature, we’re crossing our fingers that it makes an appearance at SEMA this coming November 2011.
UPDATE 01/11/12: The latest update to come out of Nissan regarding the Juke-R has something to do with performance numbers, and we’re really blown away by what it’s capable of doing. After running a series of tests, the Japanese automaker was able to pick up the Juke-R’s output with a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 171 mph. Check out the figures being drawn out in the latest video, which you can see by clicking on the photo above.
UPDATE 05/24/12: Nissan has unveiled a new video featuring the Juke-R in action on the Losna Isbane Ice Track in Norway. Check it out!
The 2012 Honda CR-V has already been seen, more or less, with the official unveiling of the Honda CR-V Concept, so the car unveiled today at the Los Angeles Auto Show brings no surprise for us. For 2012, major enhancements include improved car-like interior comfort, a smoother and quieter ride, and more innovative features.
Th exterior design of the CR-V is a bit more aggressive than the previous model illustrating Honda’s attempt to appeal to a higher end market. Also, the list of standard equipments has been increased quite significantly, while the interior gets new comfort features, convenient integration with personal technology, versatile cargo storage and high-quality materials. Customers will receive Multi-Information Display (i-MID), Pandora internet radio interface, SMS text messaging function, and available DVD Rear Entertainment System and FM Traffic.
Under the hood Honda has placed a 2.4-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine with 185 horsepower and 163 lb-ft. of torque mated to a standard 5-speed automatic transmission.
UPDATE12/16/2011: Honda has unveiled pricing for the new CR-V, set to debut in U.S. dealers nationwide today. The CR-V prices will range from $22,295 for the CR-V LX 2WD to $28,295 for the luxurious CR-V EX-L AW.
