February 6, 2013

VW CrossBlue Concept Takes Caring For The Environment Off-Road

Over in the United States there is a huge following for the “mini van.” Across the pond in Europe we would call such a thing a people carrier and there is a very good reason for their existence. When you have three children or more things become a bit of a squeeze in most cars and so a van with windows is a logical solution. VW want to be a part of this market but rather than become a part of the dull “mini van” following they intend to blend having 7 seats with the ever popular SUV market.

Designed specifically with America in mind, this is the VW crossBlue Concept. A seven seat SUV is far from revolutionary but this car packs some rather nifty environmental tech. Capable of 134MPG, the CrossBlue is powered by a conventional TDI that powers the front wheels as well as two electric motors that individually power the rear wheels. There are various modes that allow for combined or solitary uses of each unit dependent upon the circumstances. In all-electric mode this SUV can cover 20 miles.

With looks inspired by the VW Amarok, we hope to see something like this from VW in Europe.

Honda Urban SUV Takes To The Stage

Honda’s recent CR-V has again, just like its predecessors, captivated the segment as sales boom. Looking to capitalise on their crossover knowhow, the Japanese are planning a smaller car that will rival such machines as the Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008. We have all seen the teaser images but now Honda have revealed the Urban SUV Concept in full.

This baby SUV will likely become a reality sometime in 2014 alongside the all-new Honda Jazz on which it will be based. The design architecture echo’s that of the much anticipated NSX. Bold body lines dominate its curved shape and piercing LED headlights give it real character. The Urban SUV will help Honda in their bid to produce 400,000 cars a year and with the crossover segment booming, this concept is very logical.

Mini Paceman JCW Sets The Pace

Mini’s range is expanding at an exponential rate. Purists will tell that it is not right for the brand and that they should go back to building just the one car. The fact of the matter is that vast amounts of people want a Mini and since the explosion of models began the brand has seen bigger successes than since it began. The Mini Paceman JCW looks to continue this.

Effectively a coupe variation of the not so mini Mini Countryman, the Paceman JCW adds a little spice to the mix. The 218HP turbocharged engine will get this car from 0-62MPH in a brisk 6.9 seconds and onto a top speed of 140MPH. Lowered suspension and all-wheel-drive come as standard. The JCW is also capable of 35.8 MPG. Available in manual or automatic, the package includes all the usual Works spoilers, stickers and sporty rims. Passengers are held in place by four individual sports seats.

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Over here in Europe there is one brand that everyone turns to when it is time to run off of the tarmac and onto the rough stuff. That brand is Land Rover. Over in the United States, however, their first choice of mud pluggers has always been Jeep. Finding its roots during the war, the company has suffered some tough times, as have many other manufacturers, but despite this they are still in the mood to celebrate.

As a 10th anniversary gift Jeep has produced what they are calling the “most off-road capable Wrangler in history.” Named the Rubicon, this American alternative to the Defender clearly means business. Equipped with huge BF Goodrich tyres and a removable front bumper to expose more of them, this machine is quite the rock-crawler. Winch and hardcore suspension are all included in the package as you would expect. Available in three colours and in two or four-door variations come spring 2013, it is a shame that the Wrangler Rubicon is not to set foot in Europe.

Mercedes-Benz Reveals G-Class of the Future

The Mercedes G-Class or “G-wagon”, as it has become known, is pretty much the German alter ego to our British Land Rover Defender. Since 1979 the G-Class hasn’t really changed apart from the addition of a few creature comforts.The rugged 4X4 sticks to its formula of brute strength over refinement. Much like the Defender, these two in a world where the crossover seems to rule the roost, finds it hard to fit into todays market. Mercedes-Benz’ latest concept asked the question “could the G-Class still exist in 2025?”

The Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force Concept imagines the G-Class within the Germans future portfolio. Though clearly still designed to be as rugged as its fore father, the concept car bears little resemblance visually. Gone are the sharp angles that produced a boxy shape, and in their place are bold curves. Mercedes say that the car is design to cover terrain “quickly and reliably.” Powered by hydrogen and with a range of 800KM, the Enger-G-Force is not only looks mean but is green also.

Honda Fourtrax AT 2/4wd

I make it very public that I’m not a fan of motorbikes. Oh, I can see their appeal, don’t get me wrong! They are relatively inexpensive, rather entertaining to use and are also cheap to run. However, their pros for recreational use do not outweigh the cons of day to day living that include dressing up to ride it, living in fear that it will fall over and treating the common event of rain as a potential death sentence. They are just not for me. So if I wanted the same sort of kicks that a bike offers, but would rather not fall victim to the UK’s often miserable weather, what is left for me? The quad bike may just be the answer.

Honda don’t like people calling their product a quad bike as I guess it makes it sound too much like a child’s toy as opposed to a capable piece of equipment, but to us laymen this Japanese ATV is indeed a quad bike. It is called the Fourtrax and I took it into Scotland’s wilderness to find out exactly how much rough and tumble it could take.

This specific Fourtrax is the AT 2/4wd and for those who don’t speak Honda that means it has an automatic transmission with the ability to switch between rear wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The engine is a 420cc unit with direct injection. The gearbox holds five cogs and when combined this little tank will do just over 50MPH… ON ANY TERRAIN! The argument of whether it is more of a car or bike and the placement of this review on a predominantly car orientated site can wait. Between deep icy lochs and imposing mountains the Fourtrax is quite an experience.

Operated by a lever throttle, the Fourtrax’ performance is unleashed at the mere twitch of your thumb. Acceleration is brisk and in tandem with its heavy-duty suspension it will literally fly over anything you lay down before it. The seating position feels very natural as the quad moves around beneath you and makes it very easy to shift body weight to counter unwanted roll. The vast amount of torque at your disposal makes this little machine as versatile as a mountain goat. It will climb steep slopes, rocks, wade through deep water and mud, as well as wrestle with ruts. Its off-roading capabilities are undeniable and there is no doubt that these machines are truly the ultimate tool for going off of the beaten track.

In two wheel drive mode in an open space the Fourtrax is a riot! It is possible to get the rear end to kick out in spectacular fashion, potentially coating innocent bystanders with mud. It is at its most agile in this state and the rider/machine relationship grows with every mile of admiration. However, in this mode you can find yourself getting quite stuck with the rear wheels spinning hopelessly in a desperate bid to find traction. Yet clicking it into all-wheel drive and being gentle with the throttle seems to get the bike out of almost any difficult situation. The steering does become a lot heavier when all four wheels are engaged with power delivery and so whilst at its most capable like this, it does require a surprising amount of upper body strength.

On tarmac the Fourtrax bumbles along quite nicely, obviously it isn’t the last word in refinement being a working vehicle, but with the abilities to scale mountains a pot hole is not match. The digital display is clear with a functional layout and the thick padding on the saddle is more than adequate for the period of time you are likely to be riding. The gearbox will merrily clicks away in a well-mannered fashion whilst left in auto, but it is equally happy with you taking control to pick an appropriate cog.

At £7,800 this Fourtrax ATV is a costly toy to obtain, but let’s not forget, it is so much more than a rich man’s play thing. It is the greatest off-roader man has ever made.

Porsche Unleash Cayenne Turbo S

The Porsche Cayenne is much like automotive Marmite, you either love it or you hate it. The vast majority of people who hate it lack time behind the wheel of this super SUV as its capabilities mechanically are astonishing. It can handle a good amount of the rough stuff too! Today the Germans bring us the most potent incarnation of the Cayenne in the form of the Turbo S.

The thing to remember here is that this is a big, particle 4X4 and not a sports car. Baring that in mind whilst hearing that the new Turbo S can crack 0-62MPH in just 4.5 seconds is enough to boggle the mind. This rapid acceleration is thanks to a 550BHP 4.8 litre turbocharged V8 that lives under the bonnet. Add a top speed of 176MPH into the mix and what you have is something explosive. Despite this fantastic performance fuel economy sites at a reasonable 24.6MPG. The Turbo S also gets its own set of unique 21 inch rims as well as a few other exterior tweaks.

Set to cost £107,460 it is not cheap, but then there are very few cars that can boast the same credentials.

Mini Paceman Unveiled

Sales are king in the automotive world, especially when less people are willing to splash out on a brand new car. Continuously seeking to increase the figure that represents cars sold, manufacturers are getting creative with new models. We have 4X4’s that are small, hatchbacks that are huge, saloons pretending to be sports cars and now Mini getting its Countryman to act like a coupe.

Mini’s long awaited Paceman is a coupe variation of the successful Countryman. The high riding three door does appear rather handsome, but that steeply raked roofline equates to a 20 litre drop in boot capacity. As with every Mini there will be many different flavors of the Paceman starting with the Cooper 1.6 petrol and progressing to the Cooper S with 181BHP. The Cooper S is available with all wheel drive and can hit 62MPH in a brisk 7.5 seconds. On the diesel front there is the Cooper D offering 64.2MPG and the SD that boasts 141BHP along with 225lb-ft of torque. As with all Mini’s on sale today it is all about image and so I think this new car will play nice with the fashion conscious.

This lower more sculpted Mini starts at £18,970.

Porsche Cayenne Gets Audi Power

A few years ago it was the case that Porsche were just about to acquire Volkswagen. How? Through some very sneaky tactics, however, this all fell through. The end result is now evident with VW completing their acquisition of Porsche last month. How long until parts sharing begins between the two? It has already started…

This is the new Porsche Cayenne S diesel. The motor is a slightly tuned version of Audi’s twin-turbo 4.2 litre unit. Crammed into the front of the latest generation Porsche 4X4 it produces 377BHP as well as an astonishing 626lb-ft of torque. From a standing start to 62MPH it only takes this diesel V8 model 5.7 seconds. Top speed is pegged at 157MPH. We have no doubt that this is simply the beginning of VW sharing its parts bin with Porsche, but the bigger question is, what will VW take from Porsche?

Range Rover Can Justify Higher Price

Decade after decade Range Rover is still the very best in the world at transporting people over and through just about anything in comfort. Tarmac, sand, mud, ice, snow, water, rocks. It doesn’t matter what it is, this living legend is more than capable of dealing with it. The 2013 Range Rover has an awful lot to boast about, but maybe not its price…

The new cars top specification “Autobiography” that is power by our favorite 5.0 litre supercharged engine asks for £11,500 more for the privilege. The total for the fully loaded car now starts at a dizzying £98,395! For that money you can purchase some very serious pieces of kit from the luxury sector, but who’s to say that the king hasn’t upped its game? The loss of 420KG as well as all of the additional engineering makes this the best off-roading package the road has ever seen. The interior quality could rival a Rolls-Royce with the word premium not seeming adequate. This product is so much better that its already great forefather that it can justify the price jump. Also the vast majority of Range Rover owners tend to tick enough optional extras to make this princely sum quite common.