Small SUVs

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Chinese-Market SUV and Crossover Concepts – Acura vs. MG vs. Chery vs. Haval vs. Changan

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Concept cars are a helpful thermometer for showing the Chinese car market’s rapid progress recently. Sure, Chinese joint-ventures and domestic car brands can contract with the same European or American dream fabricators to make a stunning concept — and they have many times in the past. But as the home-grown industry evolves and matures, we are seeing much fresher local ideas than ever before. Local designs and local execution has been shown at the most recent Beijing and Guangzhou auto shows — with a heavy focus on SUVs and crossovers since 2013. That is the year when Chinese law changes …

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Best of Awards – 2015 Ford Transit Connect Cargo 1.6L EcoBoost – 4K Track Test Drive Video

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Proof that a turbo engine can make any car or van a hoot? The Ford Transit Connect Cargo with the optional 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine! Check out the brief autocross video to see a preview of every busy delivery driver near the end of his shift. The TCC (Transit Connect Cargo) is comfortable and sporty with a low center-of-gravity but an elevated view forward. It is a bit like a tall Focus or a slammed Escape — but hooning a cargo van makes it all the more enjoyable. With the MyFord Touch and Navigation, the TCC makes almost no sacrifices for …

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$23k 2015 Chevrolet City Express Small Cargo Van In The Flesh! Plus Pricing and Specs

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  The new Chevy City Express has been something of a myth since being announced last year about this time. A rebadged version of the Nissan NV200, the City Express plugs the low-price gap in the Chevy commercial lineup at a critical time. The Ram ProMaster City and the new Ford Transit Connect are both strong competitors in this small-van segment, so the City Express is a stopgap measure for Chevy. Pricing seems ambitious, with a base of $23,000 for the LS and about $25,000 for the LT model. The van is identical to the Nissan, but actually looks much, …

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2014 Peugeot Quartz and DKR Prototype Top Paris Concept Reveals

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  Updated 10.9.14 With Debut Video and 20 New Photos! Well here is an interesting surprise! This PHEV crossover concept leverages some of the sexy looks of the 2008 DKR race truck into a production-friendly shape. A 270-horsepower engine powers the front wheels, while the back wheels are driven by a powerful electric motor. The new plug-in setup even allows the Quartz crossover to have a 31-mile EV range when the batteries are fully charged. 2014 Peugeot 2008 DKR Prototype In terms of style, the defining elements of this cab-backward crossover are the long hood and ultra-low roofline. While not …

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4.3s, 400HP 2015 VENTURI America EV SUV Reaches Limited-Production!

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Exciting news from Venturi in Paris this week! The well-resolved America dune-buggy has a redesigned powertrain and will now grow past concept and prototype stages. Limited-production of the EV off-roader begins in early 2015 — but there is a catch. Only 25 initial copies of this innovative and stylish crossover will be made. Performance stats are looking very impressive, however, and the carbon-kevlar tub will make this thing unstoppable on the rough stuff. And likely a fun canyon-carver on hard surfaces or, gasp, tarmac! TECHNICAL MASTERPIECE   (Sorry for the watermark.) SPECIFICATIONS Like the Local Motors Rally Fighter and many …

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2016 Fiat 500X Makes Paris Debut With Optional AWD and 9-Speed Automatic

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Fiat has big plans for the 500X, a four-door off-roader sharing a name and styling themes with the popular 500 line of mini cars. This machine is a logical next move for Fiat as the 500 enters its third year on the US market. Under the skin, the 500X shares major platform and chassis pieces with the upcoming Jeep Renegade mini SUV, and benefits from the Jeep’s AWD and automatic transmission requirements. Both features are relatively critical to the 500X achieving sales volume in the US market when it arrives in Spring 2015 as a 2016 model. Perhaps even more …

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Update1 With 30 New Photos – 2014 Toyota C-HR Concept for Paris Previews Yaris Crossover

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Updated 10.3.14 This crossover concept shows some fascinating ideas for a next generation of small Toyota crossovers. While there are very interesting and sexy ideas in the layered and floating designs of the roof and taillamps, the nose is far less successful. But overall, the detailing in the surface lines makes it all worthwhile. We tinted the color purple just for fun, as shown on the first image below. PREVIOUS It is new Japanese crossover day today! The Toyota C-HR Concept has broken cover ahead of its Paris debut in Paris. This model is thought to be a Yaris-sized crossover, …

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2015 Hyundai Tucson COLORS Guide in 9 Animated Turntables and 295 Photos!

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Below, we established that the Hyundai Tucson is the objective car shopper’s dream. It really has it all, including available AWD and a modern design with LEDs front and back. Inside, try to find a feature this crossover does not have. Very good mini truck. Sure, it is not that speedy or sporty. But neither are most shoppers! So let’s dive into a colors guide, shall we? Sidebar: how do we do this amazing technical wizardry? How do we do any of this website stuff!? The better question is Why: and the answer is… to bring unique value and visuals …

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2015 Hyundai Tucson is Trendy Crossover With Loaded Pricing Under $30,000

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When it comes to model pricing, manufacturers seem to have a few strategies across brands and model lines. We’ve observed two concrete patterns: — at the low end, pricing pushes the limits of profitability to have that headline-grabbing base price — at the top end, things get seriously ambitious. Any chop in the margins of the base car is nearly doubled up top. This makes sense. A low base price can help people to jump a price bracket on the hope that they can afford a larger or better car for their limited cash. But with options and a good …

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2015 Honda CR-V Revealed With More Torque, More Tech and New Touring Trim!

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    The new CR-V is here and looks darn sexy, perhaps for the first time ever! The enhanced styling is really quite premium and desirable for an SUV with a base price in the $23,000 range. A new nose brings a slimmer grille and more premium headlights. Those LED accents are standard on EX trim and above, while the EX-L and new Touring trim actually pack projector-beam lamps inside for the low-beams for the first time. All good news, especially as the CR-V’s RAV4 arch-rival and Ford Escape chase car are looking mighty dull and cheap these days. It …

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2015 Volvo V40 XC Adds 245HP T5 Powertrain – USA Imports Coming Soon?

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  UPDATE: The fine print of Volvo’s release below actually invalidates much of the below editorializing — it looks like the V40 Cross Country may be coming to the States after all!!! Say a big thankyou to the new XC90’s strong initial sales if this does become the case… watch this space for all the updates.   PREVIOUS The V40 is Volvo’s smallest model range and is no longer imported to the US market. Is this a total letdown? It is a bit of a disappointment, that is sure. Especially because this platform has housed many of the latest Volvo …

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Part Two: 2013 Giugiaro PARCOUR ROADSTER in 50 High-Res Photos

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  PART TWO: The Roadster When off-roading, why not have the wind in your hair and a bit of breeze above your head? All the better to see the amazing terrain this XGT could sail through… This Roadster evolved from one of the best-received concepts of all time from ItalDesign Giugiaro: an off-road Gallardo called the Parcour. Very rarely is the crossover and SUV trend so elegantly bottled into a super-high-performance package like this. With a completely fresh design, the Parcour looks truly ready to bounce off rocks down any rally track tomorrow. In fact, the machine was so thoroughly …

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2013 Giugiaro PARCOUR in 100 Photos: V10 SUV Set Tone For Upcoming Lambo 4×4 and Audi Nanuk

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This beast was one of the best-received concepts of all time from ItalDesign Giugiaro: an off-road Gallardo called the Parcour. Very rarely is the crossover and SUV trend so elegantly bottled into a super-high-performance package like this. With a completely fresh design, the Parcour looks truly ready to bounce off rocks down any rally track tomorrow. In fact, the machine was so thoroughly engineered that the hardtop Parcour was sold at Pebble Beach last year by Giugiaro for about $600,000. Its mechanical package is rock-solid, primarily because it shares the mid-engine chassis, transmission and AWD system of the well-proven Gallardo …

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Lamborghini Paris Launch Rumored To Be All-New 2016 URUS Super-SUV

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Lamborghini’s SUV ambitions are well-documented. In addition to the LM002 ‘Lambo Rambo’ truck from the 1980s, the Urus SUV concept from 2012 let its intentions be shouted to the rooftops. The latest bit of news comes from the Lamborghini media preview invite for October 2: a profile showing a short and tall model unlike anything mid-engined. So what will it be? The production URUS is widely believed to be what is coming. A 600-horsepower four-seat crossover based on the Macan? Pricing from $120,000 and arrival in May 2015 as a 2016 model? Yes, that is our prediction — but time …

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Update2 New Photos – 2015 Peugeot 508 Facelifted With New LED DRLs, Box-Design Beams and Tweaked Cabin Tech

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My passion for great LED lighting is spiraling out of control. It seems, lately, that a new headlight design with some flashy LEDs is enough to win my favor. But am I alone? LED lighting and headlights are by far the easiest piece of a car for the manufacturers to update — no new sheetmetal is required at all in many cases. But the impact on the 30-percent of the time spent driving in the dark or dusk? A totally transformed car. This new 508 is more than an LED refresh – and includes various new shapes for the grille …

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Citroen C1 Urban Ride Concept Adds Crossover Height and Style Atop Supermini Chassis

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Crossover mania is sweeping France and the wider world this year! Citroen is joining the fun with a butched-up suupermini concept called the C1 Urban Ride concept. With a taller ride height and chunky bumpers and sills, it promises to be tougher than a standard C1 for light off-roading. It will also be unstoppable across any parking lot of pot-holes — with the extra ride height making speedbumps a non-event! The fabric roof rolls back to give those in back an al-fresco safari experience; all the better for going wild down the main streets of Paris! Citroen C1 Urban Ride …

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2013 Kia Niro Concept Packs Gullwing Doors, Brushed-Alloy Finishes and Quad-Beam LEDs

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The Kia Niro concept from 2013 uses almost every youthful design trick in the book — but falls flat to these eyes. Dark wheels, blushed-alloy surfaces, a coupe bodystyle, and quad-beam LEDs all say ‘hip’ and ‘sexy’ sub-Sportage crossover. But what is going on with the blob-like nose, obese hood bulges and minivan windshield angle? Ick! 2013 Kia Niro

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2014 Toyota C-HR Concept for Paris Previews Yaris Crossover

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It is new Japanese crossover day today! The Toyota C-HR Concept has broken cover ahead of its Paris debut in Paris. This model is thought to be a Yaris-sized crossover, which will slot in below the RAV4 and compete with the new Honda HR-V, Chevy Trax and Nissan Juke — among others. 2014 Toyota C-HR Concept  

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2015 Honda CR-V Refreshed Inside and Out – On Sale October 1st

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Just a first look at this one – but the launch timing is approaching fast! The new CR-V will go on sale in the US in just a week’s time, on October 1st, 2014. Full details are promised from Honda on September 30th. Overall, the new nose eliminates some of the grin from the current car, with an updated nose and LED lighting to bring a classier appearance to this best-selling crossover. The 2014 model carries a base price of $23,500 — which is the ballpark of the new model as well. Looking sharp! 2015 Honda CR-V     HONDA …

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2008 Mitsubishi Concept RA Previewed a 5th-Gen Eclipse GSR with Evo AWD and Turbo Tech

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In July, we expressed pure horror at Mitsubishi’s latest design direction, as shown by the alarmingly-hideous trio of Genever 2014 concepts at the bottom of this page. So when did it all go so strange in the Mitsubishi design department? We are afraid that the amazing 2008 Concept RA is another casualty from the global economic crisis between 2008 and 2013. One of many great ideas put of hold indefinitely, the Concept Ra was widely believed to be a preview of the fifth-generation Eclipse sportscar. No longer sharing a god-awful chassis with Chrysler, the Eclipse was set to return to …

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2011 Volkswagen Cross Coupe SUV Concept is Future MQB-Sized BMW X4 Competitor

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Volkswagen has been flirting with an expanded large SUV line for more than five years, with this 2011 Cross Coupe concept a sportier Touareg variant. Since then, we have seen the CrossBlue Concept and the CrossBlue Coupe Concept, but both are believed to carry underpinnings from the US-market Passat. This extra-wide machine is clearly from another family altogether — despite its quoted MQB (Golf) underpinnings. VW CrossBlue concept VW CrossBlue Coupe concept The look of the car shown here is quite interesting, but may or may not be en route to production. Volkswagen’s adventures in the Phaeton-land have established a …

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2014 Citroen C4 Cactus 2L AIRFLOW Brings 141-MPG Via Active Aero and Compressed Air Hybrid

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It must be aero concept day in Paris today, as the C4 2L AIRFLOW is also joined by the new Renault Eolab concept with an ultra-svelte EV design. This C4 2L Cactus AIRFLOW is a highly modified Hybrid Air concept cased on the new C4 Cactus production crossover. The most eye-catching tech is the active aero shutters up front and in the wheels, but the 141-mpg truth is more complicated. In fact, the active aero additions can, at most, drop the fuel consumption by perhaps 10 percent. The rest of the gain comes from the PSA compressed-air hybrid system that …

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2014 Peugeot Quartz Hybrid Crossover Concept Revealed Ahead of Paris Show

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Well here is an interesting surprise! This PHEV crossover concept leverages some of the sexy looks of the 2008 DKR race truck into a production-friendly shape. A 270-horsepower engine powers the front wheels, while the back wheels are driven by a powerful electric motor. The new plug-in setup even allows the Quartz crossover to have a 31-mile EV range when the batteries are fully charged. 2014 Peugeot 2008 DKR Prototype In terms of style, the defining elements of this cab-backward crossover are the long hood and ultra-low roofline. While not the most practical of shapes for an SUV, it is …

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2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4Matic Bases at $34k with Standard 6.9s Sprint Time

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 When it comes down to it, Mercedes-Benz has traditionally been very, very conservative about entering new market segments. That is going out the door with new entrants like the GL-Class or the CLS Shooting Brake. But in truth, a front-drive compact crossover is about as far from the Mercedes sweetspot as anything one can imagine — especially in the image-managed US market. We are not offered the nerdy and frumpy B-Class, nor the A-Class. We also generally receive the most-loaded models in every range. This is why the GLA-Class will be offered in Europe as the GLA200 and GLA220 CDI …

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2015 Citroen C4 Cactus Is Large-Cabin Crossover With Funky Design Details

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At first and second glance, there are many things bizarre about the C4 Cactus from Citroen. A production version of the Cactus show car, this funky little crossover packs conventional diesel engines and front-drive under those futuristic panels. This ditches the need for AWD and any off-road credibility, but the tradeoff for big cabin room at a low price is well worth it. Perhaps most importantly, the C4 Cactus can play to both the young hipster crowd as well as the young parent consumer segment. A big child seat or three will certainly fit inside — with Mom and Dad …

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2014 Toyota U2 Is CALTY Design Concept With Future-Tech Cabin, Nose and Van Functionality

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The Toyota CALTY U2 design concept for this year’s NY Maker’s Faire (gag) is at first a pretty lumpy and frumpy looking CUV/Van hybrid. The segment occupied by the current Nissan NV200, Chevy CityExpress and Ford Transit Connect is surprisingly untapped for Toyota. This omission is odd from a brand which has everything from the AWD Sienna to the Prius C hatchback in the stable. Who better to make a bread-and-butter utility van for cities than Toyota? Sure, the Prius V and the Scion xB and xD absorb some of these Earth-y crunch-y buyer demands, but not in an overt …

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2015 TRD Pro Series TOYOTA TUNDRA Priced from $41k with Black Pack, +2″ Lift and Dual Exhaust for 5.7L V8

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Pricing is out for the 2015 TRD Pro Series Tundra — and it is awesome from the word Go! $41,280 is the base for the Double Cab, with the Crew Max coming in just below $44,000. While official performance from the 381-horsepower, 401-pound-feet-packing V8 is unchanged, the new dual pipes out back are sure to liberate lots of deep rumble and a few extra midrange ponies. Updated 7.30.14 with 40 Photos and Official Pricing for the bad-ass TRD Pro Tacoma and 4Runner     Including the TRD Pro Tundra in here because it looks fantastic. Pricing for the biggest TRD …

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Update1 With 88 New Photos – 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport – Specs, Prices, Options and Colors

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Updates today from the very-finished 2015 Land Rover Discover Sport, an all-new design to replace the aging Freelander LR2 with a new seven-seat mid-size crossover. Okay, premium compact is more like it — the dimensions are similar to a $23,000 Nissan Rogue all around. But this model with one 240-horsepower turbo + 4WD + 9-speed automatic will definitely make buyers in the X3 and Q5 segment perk up their ears. The Discovery Sport is priced and all-set for USA arrivals en masse starting as soon as this January 2015. We are impressed by the speed of the launch rollout, and …

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2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport is All-New 5+2 Crossover from $38k in USA March 2015

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Building on the design momentum of the Discovery Vision Concept, today we have an all-new Discovery Sport production model on its way very soon. This eagerly-anticipated update to the LR2 is larger, more modern, vastly better-connected to new tech and sporting a low-slung Evoque-meets-RRS profile. Inside, a new rear jumpseat answers a clear buyer priority, while gasoline turbo engines will make up the launch line in the US during first shipments in Spring 2015, we estimate. Analysis? The cabin in these very fake pre-production renderings looks very Ford-ish, as does the exterior.     2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport   …

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2015 INFINITI QX70S Brings New Sport Package With Black Exterior and Cooled Front Seats

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Are we spotting some trends here? — Many hot new cars debuted at Pebble Beach this year — White over black is the sexiest style of 2014 and 2015, by far — Infiniti is keeping it fresh with new S packages for the Q60 coupe and QX70 crossovers Trned-spotting this latest convergence of car brand marketing also offers a bit of insight into how quickly car brands can take an idea to market. Lexus with the Crafted Line of five models in white/black definitely shows a rapid-fire way to get sexy machines into showrooms ASAP, while even staid old Lincoln …

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LARTE Design INFINITI QX70 Is Mad-Fast, Mad-Sexy SUV Upgrade Program

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As shown by the extremely yummy LARTE Design Infiniti QX60 and QX80 overhauls, Larte Design has a vision for the ideal muscle truck of the future. And that vision can be applied to any of today’s three largest Infiniti SUVs to create a Porsche Cayenne, Brabus Benz and BMW X5 M chasers from Japan. Perhaps the most striking upgrades of all come to the already-sporty QX70 crossover, which now wears the stance and footwear package of a true autobahn muscle truck. Like the QX80 upgrades, the LARTE Design program for the QX70 comes in three levels of madness: LR1, LR2 …

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Concept Flashback – 2003 RINSPEED Bedouin Explores Feasibility of a Modern, Rear-Engined Porsche Off-Roader

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The Rinspeed Bedoiun is interesting for a few reasons nearly 11 years since the concept’s first showing in 2003. At the time, the BMW X5 had just landed in many wealthy driveways and was instantly the biggest hit of any BMW car launch – ever. Porsche was mid-way through development of the first-gen Cayenne and RINSPEED had a few ideas of its own. “Why ditch all the greatness of the 911 in favor of a shared SUV chassis with VW?” one can imagine Rinspeed saying. Why not simply leverage the excellence of a rear-engine hero like the 911 in a …

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2015 Audi Q3 Is Arriving Now From $33k-$42k Packing Standard 200HP Turbo for U.S.

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The Audi Q3 looks so much better in the flesh than it did in Audi’s teaser sketches from last month – what a relief! While the car does show a bit less aggression in its proportions versus the long-hood Q7, there is enough family similarity for the Q3 to rub shoulders with BMW and Mercedes-Benz SUVs costing much, much more. The Q3 is part of a broad new 2015 Audi A3 family of models coming to the U.S. in the next six to eight months: — A3 four-door sedan — S3 four-door sedan — A3 Cabriolet — 2015 A3 e-tron …

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Concept Flashback – 2005 Volvo XC70 All Terrain and 2007 XC70 Surf Rescue are California Dreams

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Sure, the SEMA show may be physically located in Las Vegas, Nevada. But Volvo certainly had California Dreamin’ on repeat throughout that winter’s day in the Trollhaten design center. The potential of these amazing XC70 lift concepts is two-fold: — shows the potential of the platform to accept a much, much larger suspension, wheel and tire package. Makes Car-Revs-Daily.com Aston ELV8 concept rendering seem almost feasible… 2005 Volvo XC70 All Terrain Concept   2007 Volvo XC70 Surf Rescue Concept  

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Porsche Rally Stars – 2007 Cayenne S Transsyberia and 1978 911 SC Safari

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Porsche has always loved rallying in a way that sets them apart from Ferrari and other exotic sportscar makers. Something about the engineering challenges beforehand, the technical expertise needed out in Oman or Siberia, plus the driver skill required to win — are all just very alluring to the Stuttgart legend. Two manifestations of this hidden rally passion are the 2007 Cayenne S Transsyberia and the 1978 911 SC Safari. Amazing cars, both. We at Car-Revs-Daily.com would love to see a Cayman Safari or perhaps a full Macan Turbo decked out in Martini colors…. The 911 SC visited Goodwood recently… …

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Updated with Pricing + Equipment Specs – 2015 Toyota TRD PRO Tundra and TRD PRO Tacoma

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Updated 7.30.14 with 40 Photos and Official Pricing for the bad-ass TRD Pro Tacoma and 4Runner Including the TRD Pro Tundra in here because it looks fantastic. Pricing for the biggest TRD Pro truck is not yet available, however. Coolest part of the Tacoma TRD Pro is the price from $36,000 with a six-speed manual. The auto and both cab lengths are offered with the very cool TRD Pro pack. Original article: Chicago is feeling some big Toyota love with the all-new TRD Pro Series, a special option pack for 4×4 Tacomas, Tundras and 4Runners that will be available to …

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RM Motor City 2014 Highlights – 1976 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser is Flawless, Earns $70k

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“Icon” or “hall of fame” status for a new automobile is never a sure thing. Those first few hundred models roll out from an engineer’s blueprints, down the assembly line, and into global showrooms (relatively) untested and unproven. Will it sell? Will it break down? Time will tell. So nobody claims current cars are icons right away. Even fewer automakers would say: will this truck define the brand (and even ‘Made in Japan’) in the eyes of global car shoppers from this point forward? Will it be a good reputation? All of these are lofty goals, but ones the FJ40 …

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Update2 Debut Photos – 2015 BMW X4 Arriving Now to USA BMW Dealers – Pricing From $46,000

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Updated 7.28.14 with 74 real-life dynamic photos of the 2015 BMW X4 M Sport.     The production BMW X4 was a nice surprise when touring the BMW Spartanburg factory in late March. The car is very attractive in real life – especially in this M Sport trim level!           Much better than expected and a solid proposition for all AWD performance sedan shoppers. More thorough articles coming soon, plus all the full details from BMW below. The New BMW X4 Sports Activity Coupe A new dimension for the mid-sized premium Sports Activity Vehicle Woodcliff Lake, …

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2015 BMW X3 xLine vs M Sport, Pricing + Specs with 100 New Real-Life Photos

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Updated 7.28.14 with Pricing, Specs and 100 New Photos Hooray! The 2015 BMW X3 debuted last night in a sneak peak at the Chicago auto show – and all seems well for this glamorous new five-seat crossover. Why the elation? I hated was not a fan of the previous X3. Sometimes my own critiques are so scathing that the words echo and reverberate in my head after I type and publish them. What do I mean? Well, I called the previous X3’s LED and nose look a “zombie-like stare.” Accurate? Maybe, maybe not. Memorable? Perhaps too much so. The X3 …

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TECHART MACAN Upgrades for Wheels, Engine, Exhaust, Suspension and Cabin Revealed

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The Macan is the hottest thing to hit the Porsche books since the Panamera – and TechArt knows it. Their first set of upgrades is already well under way — with details promised for a styling overhaul in a month or so. Until then, we have the first four wheel styles available for any Macan Porsche, plus the well-regarded Engine and Suspension module upgrades from the TechArt Cayenne. Both of these plug-and-play mods keep all the mechanicals the same, but liberate a huge amount of extra power and earlier torque peaks. High recommended is the new exhaust as well. Stay …

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Subaru VIZIV 2 Concept From Geneva Is Fug of the Year Award Winner

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The nose and tail of the Viziv 2 concept from Subaru definitely go into the “What were they thinking” file. The design shown here is expected to preview the upcoming Tribeca replacement, which will be a jumbo Outback seating seven. But hopefully the production car looks… A.) nothing like the first B9 Tribeca B.) nothing like this. In fairness, the worst elements by far are the twin giant round light elements in the nose and tail. If you block those out, the car is not half bad. New lean surfaces and geometric shapes show a nice crispness. But the red …

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OP_ED: Latest Mitsubishi Exterior Designs Are Bizarre and Alarming

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Mitsubishi is doing great on a few fronts, and simply keeping its head above water on other fronts. In the realm of PHEV and battery-electric vehicles, the firm is on a great trajectory. The iMiEV has been a pretty large global seller over the last five years by EV standards, and the new Outlander is fully prepped for a PHEV drivetrain that is already on sale in Japan and the UK, along with a few other markets. The SUV and pickup truck model ranges are still relatively robust sellers, with modern diesel engines and a butch appeal in their style. …

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2015 Range Rover Evoque Gains 9-Speed Auto, Refreshed Info Tech and Boosted Engine HP

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The 2015 Range Rover Evoque’s updates are a bit deeper than first reported at Geneva with the loaded Autobiography trim level. It now appears that the full US range of Evoques will benefit from an exterior refresh as well as a tech suite update inside. The exterior changes are extremely subtle, and include new Range Rover Sport-style wheels and grille detailing. The Autobiography model shown here will offer gloss black for all these brightwork accents (orange car) or the normal satin silver shown on the grey model. The other changes include a new accent element for the foglamp surround up …

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2015 Chevrolet Trax USA Arrival In September To Battle Juke, Honda HR-V and Jeep Renegade Mini SUVs

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Can you blame Chevrolet for bringing the Trax to the US market? Of course not! There is no bigger growth segment in the car market than the mini SUV. This one shares most of its platform and running gear with the Sonic and other little guys in the Chevy portfolio, but will command a $3,000 premium just for sitting a bit higher up and having some SUV body cladding. This model is required to slot in below the ever-larger and very dated Equinox and very-old-indeed Captiva Sport that is a fleet-only model. Chevrolet and GM have been rightly lambasted for …

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New Mitsubishi Shogun SWB Barbarian for UK Will Make You Miss The Montero

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  New Mitsubishi Shogun SWB Barbarian for UK Will Make You Miss The Montero The Montero was always a quietly handsome and off-road-ready SUV, but was caught out by the global financial crisis combined with shifting buyer priorities. Its final flared-fender style was a big leap above the too-narrow look of the first few generations, but the Montero always seemed in the Toyota Land Cruiser’s shadow as far as consumer awareness. A steep price meant it was Mitsubishi Motors’ flagship model in the US – and the trucks tended to hand around showrooms for a bit too long. This clogged …

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Update1 – Land Rover Discovery Concept Previews 2016 LR4 Discovery and 2015 LR2 Disco Sport

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Update1 – Land Rover Discovery Concept Previews 2016 LR4 Discovery and 2015 LR2 Disco Sport The sternness of the original article here (below) seems like overkill in the face of perhaps the best-ever set of new Range Rovers from JLR in the past year. The firm is moving quickly and has eager buyers lining up for every new model it releases. This strategy is set to continue for at least the next three years, during which time we will see the replacement for the LR2 Freelander first. Renamed the Discovery Sport, the LR2 badge will go away and it will …

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2015 Lexus NX200t and NX300h Are Ultra-Modern Inside and Out

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The 2015 Lexus NX200t and NX300h instantly make all other compact crossovers look 1000 years old. This is a seriously new and innovative take on the design of Lexus SUVs – and we love it. The surfacing is the most-notable point, with interesting creases throughout that make light bounce around inside the door panels and fender flares. It is totally fresh in a way that a mainstream, or even luxury model, has not been in at least a decade. Overstating things a bit? Perhaps – but the NX200t is extremely good-looking. This is one car where the F Sport trim …

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PART TWO: 2016 Audi S Q3 Rendering – Future 4.9-second Sport Compact Crossover

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 2016 Audi S Q3 PART TWO… Mercedes-Benz seems relatively confident with the GLA45 AMG as the one engine upgrade to the GLA250 series, and the GLA45 AMG will make its way well past $55,000 with a few options packages. So what is the Audi of America counter-strategy? Not the full-blown RS Q3, but a car with nearly all the affordable performance and speed enhancements, but with the S Q3 label instead. This is a great alternative. Simply boosting the power levels of the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine in the top Q3 and adding standard quattro AWD will work wonders for the …

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PART ONE: 4.5-second 2015 Audi RS Q3 Priced Out of Compact SUV Market in USA

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2015 Audi RS Q3 The Audi RS Q3 is not coming abroad to the United States market – on what has been deemed cost grounds. This makes sense if you start adding up what the showroom sticker would be for Audi of America. With the new Q3 priced in the $35,000 to $45,000 range with options and the upgraded 2.0-liter turbo engine, there is little headroom for the price premium that Quattro GmbH models command. Based on the RS5 versus the S5, we are talking a full $10 to $15,000 price bump – which would lead the RS Q3 perilously …

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Goodwood 2014 Galleries – PORSCHE Macan Turbo, Panamera S E-Hybrid, RS Spyder, 962 and 917

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My huge crush on the Macan is an open secret. Great to see how wonderful it looks being pushed to the edge up the hill! Also including a cool photo I found recently of the 917 doing a jump test, plus that monster 16-cylinder 917 prototype from last week… 917 MACAN TURBO PANAMERA S E-HYBRID RS SPYDER GT1 LM Check out the tarts in the right of this photo testing the Lola Aston Martin… 962 and 935

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2015 Lincoln MKC Arriving in Showrooms Now – 2.0L EcoBoost from $34k, 2.3L WIth 285HP from $40k

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The new MKC is huge news for Lincoln – at a time when this is the exact product the company needs. Lincoln needs the MKC to really enjoy some of the sales gains being logged by Audi and even Cadillac. Speaking of Cadillac, the MKC hits a big hole in this cross-town rival’s product portfolio. A mid-size premium crossover is an exploding segment, and the MKC is right atop the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 on size and price. The pricing is a bit more ambitious than expected – with the $34,000 base price for the 2.0-liter EcoBoost climbing up …

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Off-Road Test Review – 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk On Some Tough and Rocky Trails!

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Update1 – Off-roading the Trailhawk! The Jeep Cherokee’s styling hit me like a kick from a horse when first glimpsed earlier this year.   I took to Twitter to say some less-than-encouraging things about its new appearance. Luckily, using Twitter is like throwing effort into a well – hopefully no one noticed… I’m actually very relieved to report four things about the 2014 Cherokee: – Optional 271-horsepower V6 engine with nine-speed auto and available 4WD promises a fun and powerful truck – Nose looks good on highways and in real life, LEDs visually widen car. The red trailhawk tow hooks …

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2015 SEAT Leon X-Perience Is Gravel-Ready 4×4 Estate Coming to European Dealers In November

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If car company product planners got their way, there might be a new SUV or all-wheel-drive model arriving fresh every year right as the weather turns cold and snowy. The same folks would love a cabrio for the showrooms every June — but that is not really how the car business works. Or is it!? SEAT today revealed the production-specification Leon X-PERIENCE — which is an Outback-type of upgrade to the normal Leon Estate. As a huge fan of the Leon 5-door as well as the Estate — this new model makes perfect sense! We estimate the arrival in SEAT …

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Cars & Coffee – 1949 Willys Overland Jeepster and 1994 YJ Wrangler Safari LWB 4-Door

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Only 3,000 Jeepsters were built by Willys-Overland in 1949, with the car a lightly-equipped Phaeton four-seat cabrio with little power and even fewer features. Refinished and restored to better-than-new condition, we estimate this Jeepster to be one of only 400 surviving examples worldwide. In concours condition like this Jeepster? One of perhaps 50. The Jeepster’s biggest threat to achieving big sales was in fact the ubiquitity of the original WWII Jeeps, which were still around in huge numbers after both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of the war drew to a close by the 1950s. During wartime, Willys made 363,000 …

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Update1 With Novak Djokovic- 2015 Peugeot 508 Facelifted With New LED DRLs, Box-Design Beams and Tweaked Cabin Tech

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My passion for great LED lighting is spiraling out of control. It seems, lately, that a new headlight design with some flashy LEDs is enough to win my favor. But am I alone? LED lighting and headlights are by far the easiest piece of a car for the manufacturers to update — no new sheetmetal is required at all in many cases. But the impact on the 30-percent of the time spent driving in the dark or dusk? A totally transformed car. This new 508 is more than an LED refresh – and includes various new shapes for the grille …

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2014 Toyota Venza Limited Is Like An Allroad Avalon Limousine

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For shoppers with back-seat room and all-weather traction top-of-mind, the Toyota Venza is a compelling luxury sedan alternative. With dimensions that make this much like an ‘all-road’ Avalon, the Venza is able to maintain a truly hushed cabin for five. Roominess in back is even better than the Avalon, courtesy of extra recline angle in the back seat and a higher seat base. Overall access is far easier in a car like the Venza, which is unique in delivering an ultra-low floor and step-in height versus many other crossovers. The huge doors make ingress much easier than even the longer …

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2015 Peugeot 508 Facelifted With New LED DRLs, Box-Design Beams and Tweaked Cabin Tech

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My passion for great LED lighting is spiraling out of control. It seems, lately, that a new headlight design with some flashy LEDs is enough to win my favor. But am I alone? LED lighting and headlights are by far the easiest piece of a car for the manufacturers to update — no new sheetmetal is required at all in many cases. But the impact on the 30-percent of the time spent driving in the dark or dusk? A totally transformed car. This new 508 is more than an LED refresh – and includes various new shapes for the grille …

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2014 Jeep Wrangler Visual Buyers Guide to Trims, Tops, Colors and Options

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The Jeep Wrangler lineup is larger and more inviting than ever for 2014. 2014 Jeep Wrangler Standard V6 power and a new six-speed manual start things off in the two-door trucks from about $23,000 — which is an excellent driver’s package versus previous entry-level Wranglers. The Wrangler with the four-cylinder and automatic in the 1990s (of my high school days) was a very fun truck to ride around town in. Truly one for those who want to see and be seen doing the coolest things with the coolest people.   But at anything over 50mph, the soft-top Wranglers of the …

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Track Test Review Video – 2013 BMW X1 sDrive28i M Sport + 77 Action Photos

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While I am on the naughty list in general – I cannot help but share this amazing video. Previously unpublished due to stern language – read too late – on the press car loan. As many readers will know, the videos of me so far are only “okay.”  They desperately need editing and better production values — but I am only one man. My best video so far was from the 2013 BMW X1 sDrive28i M Sport loaner from July 2013. I was in such a panic after spending perhaps 100 hours editing this video. Videos are hard to shoot, …

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Road Test Review – 2014 KIA Soul Exclaim is Funky/Practical – With A Dash Of Cool and Calm

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Written by Special Contributor Ken Glassman   When the Kia Soul first came out in 2010, I was fairly ambivalent about their boxy little Tonka Toy. It was an efficient use of interior space and a ho-hum performing little econobox. But for 2014 the Soul has been re-done and greatly improved. And model I tested was the Soul !. (the exclamation point after Soul is designated as the “Exclaim” trim level – the most upscale model they offer.) The Soul + (called the “Plus” trim level sits in the middle above the Base model) And this 2014 Exclaim model has …

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Euro Wagon Envy – 2014 Audi A6 Allroad – How To Convince Audi AG The USA Is Worthwhile

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2014 Audi A6 Allroad Quick reminder… These articles do not write themselves! =] But even after a long day, I still strive to create content for you, my cherished reader. The best thanks? Share stuff you like subscribe via https://www.facebook.com/carrevsdaily (or via RSS from http://www.car-revs-daily.com/feed and come back often.   Let’s dive in. What is the one wish most Americans have about the Volkswagen Group? Find a way to bring more cars here. The cool cars. The special cars. Cars like the A6 Allroad – which is not joining the US sales lists in this generation. Sure, the case for …

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2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Revamped with Cool LED Running Lights, Extra MPGs and Quieter Cabin

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 Quick! Name a mini crossover that is fun, cheap, sporty and reliable!? Did you get any? My immediate answer to those criteria would be the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. This chuck-able little crossover is just about the coolest way to enter the stylish AWD SUV segment on a compact-car budget. The tradeoffs are less than ever this year for the 2015 model, which adds miles-per-gallon stats to its roster via a new automatic transmission. The exterior is now offered in this shiny metallic blue paint, which goes well with the SE model’s new LED daytime running lights in the lower corners. …

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2014 Toyota Venza Limited Is Like An Allroad Avalon Limousine

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For shoppers with back-seat room and all-weather traction top-of-mind, the Toyota Venza is a compelling luxury sedan alternative. With dimensions that make this much like an ‘all-road’ Avalon, the Venza is able to maintain a truly hushed cabin for five. Roominess in back is even better than the Avalon, courtesy of extra recline angle in the back seat and a higher seat base. Overall access is far easier in a car like the Venza, which is unique in delivering an ultra-low floor and step-in height versus many other crossovers. The huge doors make ingress much easier than even the longer …

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