Motor News

High-speed side impacts were responsible for 23 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2019, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), so the nonprofit safety organization decided to update its 2003 side-impact test.IIHS now uses a heavier barrier moving at higher speeds to strike the vehicle being tested—an 82 percent increase in overall energy—to better represent common crashes today.Only one small SUV, the Mazda CX-5 (pictured above), earned the top Good rating, while the Honda HR-V and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross were rated Poor.The good news is that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently ran 20 small SUVs through a new series of more stringent crash tests that were designed to better model a high-speed side impact. The bad news is that none of the vehicles tested in one of the most popular vehicle segments in the U.S. scored a “good” rating, the highest possible, in all categories.

IIHS changed the way it tests side impact crashes by using a heavier barrier moving at a higher speed—it’s now 4180 pounds at 37 miles per hour, compared to 3300 pounds at 31 mph in the earlier test protocol, for an increase of 82 percent more energy overall. That change is to better simulate the not-that-uncommon incident of a mid-size SUV hitting a small SUV.
This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

IIHS said it also updated the honeycomb striking surface of the new barrier so that it “acts more like a real SUV or pickup when it hits another vehicle.” In the real world, IIHS discovered that a strong B-pillar, which was important for the old side-impact test, could bend the striking vehicle’s front end, and those bent areas could intrude into the passenger cabin. IIHS said automakers will probably have to improve the strength of the horizontal door beams to provide better occupant protection. That will also let them get better scores in the new IIHS test. The only small SUV to come close to a perfect score was the 2021 and 2022 Mazda CX-5, which aced all the categories except the chest category for driver injuries. There, the CX-5 was rated Acceptable, the second-highest score. Mazda’s Masaki Ueno, vice president of R&D, design, and quality assurance, said in a statement that the company studied real-world crashes and computer simulations as it designed the CX-5’s body structure and load paths.IIHS gave almost half of the vehicles tested, nine out of 20, an overall Acceptable rating: Audi Q3, Buick Encore, Chevrolet Trax, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Venza, and Volvo XC40. Two models, the Honda HR-V and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, scored Poor ratings overall. The other eight—Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, GMC Terrain, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass, Jeep Renegade, Kia Sportage, and Lincoln Corsair—were given Marginal ratings. Full test information, including for this new side-impact crash test, is shown for each vehicle on the IIHS website under “Side: New Test.”

2021 Volvo XC40, rated Acceptable in this test.
IIHS

IIHS claims high-speed side-impact crashes are behind 23 percent of passenger-vehicle occupant deaths in 2019, so it wanted to know which small SUVs provide the best protection in this situation.”We developed this new test because we suspected there was room for more progress, and these results confirm that,” IIHS president David Harkey said in a statement. “The good rating for the CX-5 shows that robust protection in a more severe side crash is achievable.”IIHS has a case to make that its tests can have an impact on how automakers design vehicles. The company introduced its first side-impact test in 2003, and rated only around 20 percent of the vehicles it tested as “good” that first year. Today, all 20 of the vehicles that were run through this new test earned “good” ratings on the original test, and IIHS said most new vehicles can earn a top score for this test.Car companies have a short amount of time to adapt to the new test. For now, IIHS will continue to use the original test when it hands out its Top Safety Pick awards, but the award criteria will be updated in 2023 to reflect the new side test.

Detailed test results available at IIHS.org.
IIHS

This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

Rolls Royce is adding the Black Badge treatment to the new Ghost sedan, and it gets an increase in power to 592 horsepower. It includes a deep black exterior and a detailed interior with unique Black Badge trim appointments.Customers can commission their Ghost Black Badge starting now, and we expect it to cost around $400,000. Rolls-Royce says that nearly a third of the cars it sells receive its Black Badge treatment, and it’s now adding the blacked-out trim to the new Ghost sedan. The latest Ghost now rides on the same platform as the Phantom sedan and Cullinan SUV and Rolls says it’s all about “post opulence.” This new Black Badge version follows suit.

Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce

To finish the Ghost Black Badge in the dark black paint job, Rolls-Royce uses 100 pounds of black paint, and the process takes up to five hours. Then the car receives two layers of clear coat and is hand polished. The Spirit of Ecstasy and grille are then coated with a special chrome electrolyte and also polished by hand to create a black chrome finish. Black Badge models ride on a set of unique 21-inch carbon fiber wheels, and Rolls lightly tints the wheels so the 44-layer carbon weave is still visible on the rims.

Rolls-Royce

The new Ghost has an updated interior with new digital instruments, and it places emphasis on materials such as metal, wood, and leather. The Black Badge model pictured here has a bright blue Turchese leather interior with an intricate diamond patterned carbon and metallic fiber weave in the trim and a black Bolivar wood veneer base layer. The Black Badge infinity logo is etched into the trim above the rear seat champagne cooler, and, of course, there’s the starlit headliner, a Rolls-Royce staple.

For 2021, standard Ghost models are powered by a 563-hp 6.7-liter V-12. The Black Badge increases output to 592 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. The ZF eight-speed transmission and throttle were also specifically tuned for the Black Badge models to enhance the increased power from the 12-cylinder engine, Rolls says. The new Ghosts have all-wheel drive, air springs, and rear-axle steering. Customers can order their own Ghost Black Badge now. Pricing is expect to start around $400,000, as the 2021 Rolls Royce Ghost starts at $314,400.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

Chevy just revealed the new C8 Corvette Z06, and a visualizer tool shows all of the color, wheel, and interior options. There are 11 exterior colors, eight wheel options, and seven interior choices. The 2023 Corvette Z06 will enter production in the summer of next year.

The Chevrolet C8 Corvette Z06 is finally here with a 670-hp naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V-8 with a flat-plane crankshaft. It’s the most powerful naturally aspirated engine ever installed in a road car, and it revs all the way up to 8600 rpm. It’s available with a Z07 performance package that adds aggressive aero, carbon ceramic brakes, carbon fiber wheels, and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Chevy has an online visualizer tool that lets you build a new Z06 with colors, roof options, wheels, and interior colors, which gives a look at how you can spec the high-performance ‘Vette. These are some of the options:

Chevrolet

There are eleven exterior color choices that include Caffeine, Hypersonic Grey, and Amplify Orange, some of which were recently added to the C8 Stingray’s color palette. Like the Stingray, the Z06 is available in coupe and convertible configurations, and both have three roof options. The coupe can have either a body color, visible carbon fiber, or transparent roof, while the droptop can have a body color or carbon fiber roof either visible or painted.

Chevrolet

Equip the track-focused Z07 performance package and you get carbon ceramic brakes and a set of five-spoke carbon fiber wheels, either visible carbon weave or painted black. Without the track package, the Z06 has one wheel style, but it’s available in six different finishes including black and satin graphite.

2023 Chevy Corvette Z06 Adrenaline Red interior with carbon fiber interior trim level 2.
Chevrolet

A full Adrenaline Red interior is new for the C8 Z06 and it can also be had with black trim. There are five other options including black, grey, two-tone blue, and tan. Z06 cars also have a carbon fiber steering wheel and carbon paddle shifters, and the carbon trim can be extended with two available levels with one that has carbon trim on the door armrests (pictured). A stealth interior trim package is also available. There will be plenty of configurations to choose from on the 2023 Chevy C8 Corvette Z06 when it goes on sale later next year, and pricing is expected to start around $90,000. We know our favorite specs so far, but share yours with us so we can see your dream Z06.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL will be offered in two models, SL55 and SL63.Among the notable changes, the SL switches to two-plus-two seating. It also has standard all-wheel drive, a first for the model.The new SL arrives in dealerships in early 2022. Pricing has not yet been released. The Mercedes SL is a car that used to loom large in the public consciousness, but that hasn’t been the case lately. Once widely recognized as a rolling symbol of success, the SL’s sheen faded with the R230 generation that debuted for 2002 and the follow-up R231 generation that was ushered offstage after 2020. Seeking to shake off the doldrums, the all-new 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL alters the formula with the most dramatic changes yet. The change in nomenclature is a tipoff that the development of the new SL was handed over to the AMG division. The new SL debuts a new AMG architecture, and Mercedes claims that nothing under the skin of the new R232 generation is carried over from its predecessor or shared with the AMG GT roadster.The car will be offered initially as the SL55 and the SL63, both using a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8. For the first time, though, the SL’s engine will be powering all four wheels, as AMG’s 4Matic+ all-wheel drive is standard on both models.

Mercedes-AMG

The SL’s new look is smoother and rounder, with a larger cabin, a less-exaggerated hood length, and a stubbier tail. The new SL adds nearly 5 inches between the axles, with the wheelbase growing from 101.7 to 106.3 inches. Overall length, by contrast, increases by just under three inches, to 185.2. Width is up by an inch and a half, to 75.4 inches. Cargo space is about the same as before at 8.5 cubic feet, or 7.5 with the roof stowed. Both models roll on 20-x-9-inch front and 20-x-11.5-inch rear wheels, with 21s available as an option.The SL55 can be dressed up with a chrome package or an AMG Night package, while the SL63 offers an AMG Exterior Carbon Fiber package and an AMG Aerodynamics package. The latter includes an active aero element in the underbody in front of the engine that extends to increase downforce. All SLs, however, feature active louvers on the front air intakes and a retractable rear spoiler.From the front, with its “Panamericana” vertical-bar grille, the new SL looks much like the current AMG GT roadster, but that model will be redesigned soon, and Mercedes design chief Gorden Wagener says that when it appears, “the difference [between the two cars] will be more.”Whereas the last two SL generations featured a retractable hard top, Mercedes has reverted to a classic soft top for the new car, marking another major departure. As Wagener notes, “If you start with a retractable hard top again, you will get what you have right now, which is not appealing in my view.”

Mercedes-AMG

The triple-layer canvas roof weighs 46 pounds less than the previous retractable hard top and can be raised or lowered in 15 seconds at speeds up to 37 mph. It also allowed Mercedes to enlarge the SL’s cabin without the need for a commensurately larger boot to house an outsize folding hard top. The stretched passenger compartment wedges in a pair of rear jump seats, a feature last offered in the R107 model of the 1980s.The cabin also features a digital instrument cluster and a large center touchscreen, but they’re not merged under a single piece of glass as in some Mercedes models. Instead, the SL uses separate screens as in the new S-class. In the roadster, however, the 11.9-inch portrait-oriented center display is adjustable in angle to be more easily seen with the top down. Of course, the infotainment runs the latest MBUX operating system including the “Hey, Mercedes” digital assistant. Active multicontour seats with massage are standard, as are Mercedes’s Airscarf neck-level heating and (in the SL63) a head-up display.Apart from the bonkers SL65 AMG Black Series, the last great SL was arguably the R129 generation, which for its time was a high-tech tour de force. The new one also ratchets up the technology quotient, bringing the full panoply of Mercedes driver-assistance features to the SL. These include augmented video navigation, Distonic Plus with stop-and-go, and active steering assist including automated lane changing, plus automated parking for perpendicular or parallel spaces. The active brake assist now also watches for oncoming traffic when turning, and a new exit warning system alerts occupants exiting the car to vehicles approaching from behind.

Mercedes-AMG

Under the hood, the SL skips the previously available twin-turbo V-6 in favor of two V-8s. The M117 V-8 in the SL55 makes 469 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The SL63 version makes 577 hp and 590 pound-feet and features active engine mounts. In either car, the hand-built engine is mated to a nine-speed AMG Speedshift MCT automatic transmission with a Race Start launch-control function. Mercedes is giving a factory-estimated zero-to-60-mph time of 3.8 seconds for the SL55 and 3.5 seconds for the SL63.Jochen Hermann, chief technical officer for Mercedes-AMG, confirms that the new SL is also slated to get AMG’s E Performance plug-in-hybrid system. That combines the 4.0-liter V-8 with an electric motor powering the rear wheels and could offer as much as 804 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque.Besides all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering appears on the SL for the first time and is also standard. The system cuts the turning circle by approximately two and a half feet, to 40.4 feet. An electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential is standard on the SL63 and optional on the SL55. Ceramic-composite brake rotors are optional. The SL includes adaptive dampers, with the suspension adding hydraulic roll stabilization in place of anti-roll bars on the SL63 (optional on the SL55). An available front-axle lift system can raise the front of the car by 1.2 inches, and it can be programmed to remember a location (such as a steep driveway) and activate automatically. With the addition of all-wheel drive and the switch to two-plus-two seating, curb weight climbs by approximately 220 pounds.Despite all these performance enhancements, the R232 SL does not regain its stature as the brand’s range-topping roadster, since it must fly below the AMG GT roadster. Instead, it needs to be more of a grand tourer—thus the rear seats and all-wheel drive—the better to scoop up any buyers who might have shopped the now-discontinued S-class convertible. Pricing for the 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL has not been released, but we estimate the SL55’s base sticker will come in just under $100,000 and the SL63 will be a good 20 percent more. The new SL arrives in dealerships in the first half of 2022. That’s when we’ll see whether it can regain its status as a rolling success symbol.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

After eight years at the helm, CEO Mike Flewitt (pictured with the 765LT) is leaving British supercar company McLaren.During his tenure, Flewitt was plain-spoken with media, and one of the things he made plain was that McLaren was not going to follow other elite carmakers such as Ferrari and Aston Martin in building a sport-utility vehicle. With the company’s financial challenges and amid disappointing results for the GT and Elva, Flewitt’s abrupt departure now seems to leave the door open for a super-SUV that could be a savior. The soap opera at the top of the auto industry is frequently fascinating, but we’re here for the cars. So you’ll rarely finding us reporting the details of executive arrivals and departures. But sometimes a change of leadership can indicate a much bigger switch, and although we only have half the story so far—British supercar maker McLaren confirming that CEO Mike Flewitt is leaving, but not who is set to permanently replace him—we suspect there’s likely something more happening in the background here.Journalists tended to like Flewitt, a no-nonsense Liverpudlian who spent most of his career at Ford before joining McLaren. He spoke his mind and was happy to venture further in interviews than his PR managers wanted him to; his confirmation to Car and Driver that there would be an LT version of the 720S on the same day the basic car made its debut was a fine example of this engaging enthusiasm. But he also made an oft-repeated promise that McLaren would never build an SUV, or anything like one. [editoriallinks id=’56231793-e286-4ba0-b6c5-1634446723a0′ align=’left’][/editoriallinks]That pledge won plenty of positive reaction. It seemed like a low-risk strategy in the era when sales of McLaren’s carbon supercars were riding high and the company was still expanding. But as rival luxury makers started to launch their super-utes, Flewitt’s promise started to look more like a hostage to fortune, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic struck and McLaren’s global sales collapsed. The company narrowly survived a cash-flow crisis, one that forced it to cut 1200 jobs and to raise cash against its space-age headquarters. McLaren’s crisis found a parallel in the one being suffered by another British luxury player, Aston Martin, which had also been suffering from falling sales and revenues. Aston had nearly run out of cash developing its first SUV, the DBX, and was also trying to raise the funds necessary to build a series of mid-engine supercars intended to take on McLaren, Ferrari, and Lamborghini. But Aston also had a relationship with a much bigger automaker in the form of Mercedes-Benz, one that has grown much closer in the last year with the arrival of former AMG boss Tobias Moers as Aston’s CEO.[image id=’cf6bc030-37b7-46a3-a95c-4fb99c5c6c65′ mediaId=’1b25cff5-eed3-4106-af93-04eca0867717′ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=’Aston Martin DBX.’ expand=” crop=’original’][/image]McLaren doesn’t have any such relationship. Company insiders have told C/D a technical alliance with a major German automaker, believed to be BMW, was being discussed some time ago—but this never happened. Meaning McLaren and the company’s suffering shareholders have had to bear the huge costs both of developing its next-generation models, which will use a new carbon-fiber architecture, and of the hybridized V-6 engine that will power the first of these, the Artura.[image id=’7c8a6e43-405c-4c35-82c2-caad8a675fde’ mediaId=’fb09edf2-95fb-47b0-bb09-7908cd11045d’ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=’McLaren Artura.’ expand=” crop=’18×11′][/image]The Artura was originally scheduled to arrive in 2020, but its launch has been pushed back into 2022 seemingly due to the engineering challenge of bringing such a complicated car to market. Sales have been disappointing for both the McLaren GT, a fine car which is categorically not the Bentley Continental rival it was originally described as, and the roofless, screenless Elva. These failures seem to have played a significant part in Flewitt’s abrupt departure from the company, with technical leadership passing to McLaren Group director Michael Macht, former Porsche CEO, and other functions to executive chairman Paul Walsh while a permanent full-time successor is sought. It seems likely the choice of new boss will signal a change of direction. Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin have all launched SUVs, all of which are currently their respective companies’ bestselling models. Even Ferrari is set to create something very similar in the form of the Ferrari Purosangue. We can respect Flewitt for holding out against this trend, but we would be very surprised if his successor doesn’t choose to reverse that decision, especially given the possibility of moving straight to a fully electric SUV using somebody else’s platform. (Lotus has explicitly said it wants to license its forthcoming “lightweight” EV platform, which will support 800-volt architecture and produce cars able to go from zero to 62 mph in under three seconds.) [image id=’492f3b32-202a-4996-924a-b895a84f991d’ mediaId=’c061b323-e8d5-4789-be9d-f94d193ab3c9′ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=’Matt Becker at Aston Martin. ‘ expand=” crop=’18×11′][/image]By happy coincidence, McLaren has recently poached Aston Martin’s chief chassis engineer, Matt Becker. The man who led development of the DBX would seem an ideal candidate to introduce another British luxury brand to a more sports-utilitarian future. [poll id=’5194d6f3-4d79-49dd-ba77-f7c8afcb1381_0f9934bb36c83′ type=’text’ question=’Should they or shouldn’t they?’ answer1=’A McLaren SUV would be awesome.’ answer2=’He was right. They shouldn’t.’][/poll]

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

The 2022 Toyota GR86 sports car will start at $28,725, with the Premium trim starting at $31,325.It comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission and a six-speed automatic is a $1500 option.The GR86 will arrive at U.S. Toyota dealerships in December, the company says.Toyota has revealed another small point of differentiation between the new 2022 GR86 sports car and its twin, the 2022 Subaru BRZ: the price. The 86 starts at $28,725 for the base trim, just barely undercutting the BRZ’s starting price of $28,955.

That starting price is for the base model, which comes with a six-speed manual transmission and a 2.4-liter boxer-four engine with 228 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. A more expensive Premium trim is available for $31,325 and swaps out the base car’s 17-inch wheels and all-season tires for 18-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires. The Premium also gains a larger rear spoiler, heated front seats, and leather and faux-suede upholstery.A six-speed automatic transmission is available for $1500 on either trim, but we don’t recommend choosing the two-pedal option in a fun-loving rear-wheel-drive sports car like this. The automatic-transmission car does come with a few extra driver-assistance systems—including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning—that the manual car does without.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

A new Range Rover is here, which is reason enough to head right to its online configurator tool to see all the possible combinations. The redesigned 2022 model’s starting price of $105,350 is really just a light suggestion, as there are numerous expensive upgrades available including a long-wheelbase configuration, a loaded Autobiography trim level, a First Edition with special visuals, and a wide range of exterior and interior colors. We gathered a few editors to choose their ideal specs and came up with these selections.

Joey Capparella’s $115,050 Standard Wheelbase P400

Land Rover

Land Rover

I’ve always felt that Range Rovers are the rare vehicles with six-figure price tags that are truly worth it, and I’m confident that will continue to be the case with new model. I chose a standard-wheelbase model in its P400 trim because I’m a fan of JLR’s inline-six engine. British Racing Green was a natural choice for the exterior color, despite a steep $4500 option price, and the $1000 black contrast roof adds a touch of modernity to the look. 23-inch wheels are available, but I chose a set of 22-inchers for $2300 in an attempt to preserve the ride quality somewhat. Few of the interior options appealed to me, as even the base cabin looks very plush, but I did opt for the $300 heated steering wheel and the $1200 sound-system upgrade. My spec comes out to a total price of $115,050Caleb Miller’s $161,700 Standard Wheelbase Autobiography P530

Land Rover

Land Rover

While I’m all in favor of frugality when buying an economy car, I believe in splurging when it comes to a high-end SUV like the new Range Rover. To that end, I chose a standard wheelbase model in the Autobiography trim, which starts at $152,000 and adds goodies such as 24-way heated and cooled front seats with massage, a heads-up display, SiriusXM satellite radio, a refrigerator compartment in the front console, and an upgraded sound system. Selecting the Autobiography locks in the V-8 engine, which I would’ve opted for anyway. I went for a subtle exterior look, with gloss Constellation Blue paint—a $4550 option—and the Shadow Exterior pack for an extra $1000 to channel my inner James Bond villain. To match the blacked-out trim, I upgraded to 23-inch gloss black wheels, an additional $1500. Inside I went for Deep Garnet, which surprisingly did not boost the price, but I did spend $1300 on the Natural Black Birch veneer, aiming to match the black exterior details while avoiding the fingerprint-attracting gloss black finish. Otherwise, I left the options list alone, since the Autobiography model is already decked out to the nines. My Range Rover came in at $161,700.Drew Dorian’s $158,250 Long Wheelbase Autobiography P530

Land Rover

Land Rover

I think the redesigned Range Rover looks good. Really good. I’d probably be happy with just about any spec, but in this fantasy I went for the long-wheelbase model and the Autobiography trim. This combination automatically adds the more powerful twin-turbo V-8 engine, and the extra space inside should make it even easier for rear seat passengers to ride in comfort. The Autobiography loads up the Range Rover with goodies including handsome 22-inch wheels, massaging front seats, rear captain’s chairs, an air purification system, a 35-speaker Meridian stereo system, a rear-seat entertainment system, and all the best driver-assistance tech. I’d resist the urge to try out one of the new satin paint finishes and stick with a standard metallic; the one that I like the best is Belgravia Green. I also really like the SV Bespoke 22-inch wheel option for $900. Inside, I’d swap the standard black leather upholstery out for the rich saddle-colored Caraway theme and I’d go with the SV Bespoke walnut wood trim. All in, I’m looking at a steep $158,250 for this beauty, which is why this will remain a fantasy.Connor Hoffman’s $131,350 Standard Wheelbase P530

Land Rover

Land Rover

I think the new Land Rover Range Rover looks like a concept car that should’ve never gone into production (especially in the rear), but if I had to buy one, I’d go for the standard wheelbase, not the new seven-seat model. I’m not going for the fancy Autobiography or First Edition model because why add excess to an already excessive SUV? Selecting the 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 is almost an instinct. Thank goodness Land Rover provides more color choices than Jeep, so I’m choosing Tourmaline Brown with a gloss finish, which costs $4,550, and adding the Shadow Exterior Pack for $1000. These standard 21-inch wheels look derpy, so this Range Rover is getting fitted with 23-inch gloss black wheels for $3000 and black black calipers for $550. The roof needs to be black too ($1000). I’m going with the Caraway interior, sticking with the base Windsor leather and Brown Walnut veneer trim to avoid racking up the price even more, which makes my 2022 Range Rover cost $131,350. That’s Porsche 911 money.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More

Kia has released U.S. specs for the 2023 Sportage compact SUV.It has the same base engine as the Hyundai Tucson and will offer LX, EX, SX, X-Line, and X-Pro trim levels.The Sportage will go on sale in the U.S. in early 2022, with a hybrid to follow.Kia is nearly ready to bring its redesigned 2023 Sportage to the U.S., and we now have a lot more details on the new model that’s set to arrive on our shores in the first quarter of 2022. Larger than before and with a wider array of trim levels, the new compact SUV features an interesting design inside and out and offers a new off-road variant called X-Pro. A gasoline version with a four-cylinder engine will arrive first, with a hybrid set to join the lineup later on.

The new Sportage has a 3.4-inch longer wheelbase than before, and its overall length has grown by 7.1 inches. This makes for a large cargo area measuring 40 cubic feet with the rear seats up, which beats its corporate cousin the Hyundai Tucson and the Honda CR-V. The U.S. version has the same distinctive headlight setup as the global model we saw earlier this year.
Like the Tucson, the base engine is a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four that will make 187 horsepower in the Sportage. An eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are standard, with all-wheel drive optional. A Sportage hybrid is coming later on, but Kia has yet to provide details on that powertrain. AWD models also feature a bit of extra ground clearance, and there are two available models—the X-Line and the X-Pro—that play up the Sportage’s off-road cred.The X-Line is an appearance package with different bumpers, wheels, a beefier roof rack, and black trim. The X-Pro features additional upgrades including 17-inch wheels with BF Goodrich all-terrain tires, a heated windshield, and LED fog lights. Other trim levels include LX, EX, and SX, and the SX, X-Line, and X-Pro models offer a Prestige package with additional niceties.
Higher trim levels have a modern-looking interior with two large screens: a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch central infotainment display. The base LX model has a smaller 8.0-inch touchscreen. There’s an interesting touch panel below the infotainment screen that controls the radio and the HVAC system, and the two physical knobs on either side can change function depending on what’s displayed, becoming either volume and tuning knobs for audio or temperature knobs for the climate control.Driver-assistance systems including lane-keep assist and forward collision warning are standard across the board, but blind-spot warning and adaptive cruise control are optional.Kia has yet to announce pricing for the 2023 Sportage, but we expect it to start a bit higher than the current model, which costs between $25,265 and $36,425. The nonhybrid is set to go on sale in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2022, with the hybrid likely to follow a few months later.
This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io More