New premium look for Freelander
23/08/12 12:13 Filed in: News
Perhaps in response to the huge success of the Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover is giving its sibling, the Land Rover Freelander a makeover which will be shown for the first time at the Moscow International Motor Show on August 29. The aim of the upgrade is to give the Freelander greater upmarket appeal and Land Rover say it is designed to deliver better comfort, more convenience and greater driving enjoyment.
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New Range Rover first pictures
15/08/12 09:07 Filed in: News
These are the first official pictures of the new Range Rover that Land Rover will show for the first time at the Paris Motor Show in September. Although it has so faithfully carried forward distinctive Range Rover design cues that it might look, at first glance, like a facelift, the new Range Rover is actually new from the ground up.
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Read More...Range Rover Evoque appeals
10/08/12 15:30 Filed in: Road tests
The significance of the Range Rover Evoque is greater than just the launch of a new model. In effect it marks the launch of a new sub brand.
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Read More...Bentley shows SUV concept at Geneva
06/03/12 10:44 Filed in: News
It has been a fairly open secret that Bentley has been looking at the SUV market as a possible extension to its range. Now, at the Geneva Motor Show, Bentley is testing the reaction of the public with the Bentley EXP9F concept.
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Read More...New small SUV to join Vauxhall range
10/01/12 15:17 Filed in: News
These are the first official pictures of the new Vauxhall Mokka, a small SUV that will take Vauxhall into a new market sector when it is officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
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Read More...New British car maker debuts at Frankfurt Motor Show
13/09/11 21:49 Filed in: News
It’s not often that a new car maker joins the motor industry elite, let alone a new British car maker. But, there’s a new British name over one of the stands at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
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Read More...Suzuki's small family "crossover"
26/05/11 18:21 Filed in: Road tests
A year ago I brought you my first impressions of the Suzuki SX4, which is probably best described as small hatchback/SUV/MPV crossover. The model I tested then was the front-wheel-drive 1.6-litre. This time I had a chance to try the four-wheel-drive version with the new two-litre DDiS engine.
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Read More...Mini Countryman the new 4x4 Mini
20/01/10 17:56 Filed in: News
The long-expected Mini 4x4 crossover has been announced today. The new Mini Countryman is not only the first MIni to offer four wheel drive, it is also the first with four passenger doors (the Clubman has three passenger doors, the third controversially being on the “wrong” side for the the UK).
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Read More...Volvo takes on the small SUV market
23/10/09 17:28 Filed in: Road tests
Motor manufacturers constantly have to scan the far horizon looking for signs as to what type of car the buyers of the future will want. It takes time to develop a new model, so you have to have a pretty good idea of what will be the expanding markets in the future.
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Read More...Vitara loses individuality
14/07/09 19:37 Filed in: Road tests
When the Suzuki Vitara first hit the UK market it quickly gathered an almost a cult following. Here was a small affordable off-roader with style and presence.
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Read More...GM ready to offload Hummer
02/06/09 21:29 Filed in: News
General Motors, which yesterday filed for bankruptcy protection, says it has reached an understanding with a buyer to sell its Hummer brand. The sale is not expected to take place until the third quarter of this year and is subject to a number of conditions.
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Read More...Qashquai grows up
25/05/09 20:04 Filed in: Road tests
In my first road test of the Nissan Qashqai I pointed out that – despite its off-roader-meets-MPV looks, it really was just a normal four or five-door hatchback with interesting packaging. Well, now the Qashqai has grown up. Meet the Qashqai +2.
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Read More...Audi's big off-roader
29/12/06 08:33 Filed in: Road tests
Almost everyone remarks about the Audi Q7’s size. So, if Audi’s intention was to make an impression with their first ever off-roader, they certainly succeeded with the new Audi Q7. Read More...
Renault finally joins 4x4 brigade
25/01/09 11:30 Filed in: Road tests
It has taken the French motor giants some time to take the plunge into the 4x4 market. Peugeot Citroen made the move with the help of Mitsubishi, using the Outlander as the basis for the Citroen C-Crosser and the Peugeot 4007. Now, finally Renault has taken the plunge.
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Read More...Mini Cross 4x4 to go into production
25/10/08 13:03 Filed in: News
Mini, riding a high currently as the fastest growing premium brand, especially in the USA, will put the Crossover concept unveiled at this month's Paris motor show into production "in the near future," says BMW sales and marketing boss Ian Robertson.
The company wants to take advantage of the current trend for downsizing.
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The company wants to take advantage of the current trend for downsizing.
Read More...New Tiguan is a great all-rounder
29/02/08 20:20 Filed in: Road tests
When Volkswagen set out to build their new off-roader, the Tiguan, their stated intention was to produce a smaller version of the Touareg. The newcomer certainly looks the part. Like its bigger sibling the lines are classy, perhaps even understated. Indeed, despite its newness, the Tiguan caused little stir. Read More...
Freelander grows up
24/01/08 19:26 Filed in: Road tests
The Land Rover Freelander, Britain's favourite small 4x4, has grown up. Not that it has grown much bigger, but Freelander 2 is a more sophisticated, more refined and more up-market vehicle to keep the Freelander at the forefront of this market. Read More...
Volkswagen Touareg - the discrete off-roader
11/01/08 12:21 Filed in: Road tests
Drive a big off-roader these days and you may invite some questioning about your need for such a large vehicle. That's a more likely line of questioning if your choice of off-roader carries a badge that presents an image of luxury.
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C-Crosser comes late to the party
14/11/07 13:23 Filed in: Road tests
Considering that Citroen has had a long involvement in events like the Dakar Rally, in the tough off-road conditions of the Sahara, it's perhaps surprising that it has taken until now for the famous chevrons to appear on the nose of an off-road vehicle. The new Citroen C-Crosser is the product of international collaboration between Citroen, its sister company Peugeot and Mitsubishi. Read More...
Mercedes' people-carrying semi SUV
11/09/07 14:28 Filed in: Road tests
The Mercedes-Benz R Class is what could probably be described as a crossover vehicle. That is, it crosses over accepted market segments. It's an estate car. It's a six-seater so it is part MPV. And it is a four-wheel-drive, so it is part SUV. The trouble is, this crossing of boundaries makes it difficult to pin-point who will want to buy one. Read More...
Lexus LS460 comes loaded with technology
23/08/07 16:40 Filed in: Road tests
It's an odd feeling sitting in the driver's seat doing nothing more than feathering the brake pedal while the car parks itself. The park assist system is probably the headline-grabbing technology on the car that has everything... or at least you can have everything if you pay for the right level of specification. Read More...
Tribeca opens new market for Subaru
04/08/07 11:24 Filed in: Road tests | Blog
When Subaru first appeared in the UK they were seen as workhorse vehicles for rural types. Pick ups and estate cars with some go-anywhere ability thanks to their four wheel drive system. Then, along came Colin McRae spearheading their high-profile world rally championship successes, Subaru suddenly became the sporty.
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