admin February 3rd, 2008
There is an interesting post over at the Motor Trend forums that sparked a good conversation - should Lincoln produce their own CUV based on the new Land Rover LRX?
There’s definitely a precedent for taking technology from Ford’s Premier Automotive Group and spreading it across the company in small amounts. However, with Land Rover up for sale, this would likely be a one-time partnership that would enable Lincoln to fill a gap in its current lineup (it has no Mercury Mariner or Ford Explorer sized SUV) while embedding some of the more expensive technology from Land Rover in a package that could be priced to justify much of the cost.
Lincoln would also get a vehicle that was more than just a re-badged version of another Ford product - something that has limited many of the vehicles in its lineup as of late.
What do you think? Comments welcome.
Tags: CUV, Land Rover, Lincoln, LRX, suv
admin December 28th, 2007
According to a recent Business Week article, SUV sales are quite strong in the U.S.. Apparently, light truck sales as well as SUV vehicles and crossover vehicles gained market share this year, reversing all losses accumulated during 2005 and 2006.
Luxury SUVs were particularly immune to sales drops, partially due to the insensitivity of the average buyer to gas prices. In addition, big discounts are also helping to move many of the big SUVs that were best sellers in 2007. One such incentive is what Cadillac is offering on leftover 2007 Escalades: zero-percent financing or $4,500 cash on Escalade EXTs, or $1,000 cash on 2008 models. The Escalade EXT is a full-size, four-door SUV with a pickup bed in the rear.
Tags: 2007 SUVs, Business Week, Cadillac, Escalade, suv, SUV Sales
admin December 19th, 2007
Motor Trend has released its first drive of the 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS and, despite being a mouthful of letters, it appears that GM has infused some much needed performance into its little SUV.
For starters, Chevy has shoehorned its turbo four cylnder engine from the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Red Line into the HHR, generating 260 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque! 0-60 is accomplished in 6.3 seconds while maintaining EPA fuel-economy numbers of 21 city / 29 highway.
Torque steer, generally an issue in these types of turbocharged, front-wheel drive setups, has been minimized thanks to some updated front-end parts and a new brushless electric power steering unit.
Best of all, the HHR SS starts at just $22,995. For that price, I’m guessing that GM will have plenty of takers…
Tags: Chevrolet, Chevrolet HHR SS, HHR, suv
admin December 15th, 2007
Kia’s latest SUV combines stylish looks and V8 power destined for U.S. shores in August 2008 as a 2009 model. Referred to as the Kia Mojave in Korea, the Borrego features classic body-on-frame construction and seating for seven. The powerplant is a 4.6 liter V8 cranking out 375 horsepower mated to a six-speed automatic. Size wise, the Borrego slots somewhere near the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota Highlander in size. Kia also reports that the vehicle will be available with a V6 (the Sorrento currently sports a 3.3 liter that generates 242 horsepower and is the likely powerplant) paired to a five-speed automatic transmission.
All-wheel-drive will be the same system in the Sorrento and features standard electronically switched part-time with low range or can be equipped with Kia’s Torque on Demand full-time 4WD system (also with a low range gear). Either system should provide the Kia with decent off-roading capability
KIA PRESS RELEASE FOLLOWS
Kia “Borrego” SUV
IRVINE, California - Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced it will give its new midsize SUV the moniker of “Borrego” when it debuts in January at the Detroit Auto Show. The Kia Borrego will be manufactured in Korea and go on sale in North America in late spring or early summer of 2008 as a 2009 model.
Built with body-on-frame construction incorporating the latest in NVH engineering philosophy, Borrego will be Kia’s newest addition to its well-rounded full-line of vehicles that continually provide value, safety and a steadfast 10-year/100,000-mile warranty to consumers. Borrego will be available with either a V6 engine or the company’s first V8 offering, which will also boast Kia’s largest towing capacity to date.
Tags: borrego, kia, Korean, suv, V8
admin December 14th, 2007
Looks like Land Rover is getting into the concept vehicle mix with its new LRX SUV.
This is the first new concept vehicle to show up from the Rover folks since Gerry McGovern signed on as design chief. A much more fluid, modern design than the current LR2, LR3, or Range Rover vehicles, the LRX embodies what the brand encompasses while “[carrying] those essentials into a segment where the brand has never been befor, and with a proposed level of efficiency that would make it one of the cleanest vehicles in it’s class”. By new segment, the Land Rover folks are referring to the “baby ute” class (below where the LR3 currently plays).
No real details exist on power or drivetrain for the LRX, but Land Rover did indicate that it would be a full-time 4WD vehicle and include many standard features such as hill descent control (referred to as the Terrain Response System by Land Rover) and a dash system featuring “floating LCDs” that give the appearance of three dimensions.
More details as they become available…
Tags: Concept, Detroit Auto Show, Land Rover, LRX, Range Rover, suv
