What's The Alternatives?

[cabcurtains]

News time folks!

Oh my God! Someone has stolen a Volvo C30 pumped the suspension up and stretched the poor thing!

[cabcurtains]

Just read the Autocar first drive of the new Audi Q5..........damning with faint praise to put it mildly!

Read for for yourself here.

Shelling Peas for Audi Salesman, i wonder how many Championship Footballers wives will be queuing at the door for one of these!

[chatman]

All good school mums get your check book out the new X3 is here......

BMW has been busy with the X3, too. The compact SUV benefits from some subtle revisions inside, with upgraded materials and fresh switchgear.

There are also two new limited-edition versions, badged Lifestyle and Exclusive, which get fresh alloy wheels, interior trim options, new body

colours and storage boxes.

Engine options remain the same, so the 4x4 is still offered with a 3.0-litre petrol unit and 2.0 and 3.0-litre diesels.

The revisions aim to keep the X3 fresh ahead of the launch of an all-new model next year. But they won’t be offered on UK versions of the car – instead, great-value special editions are likely to arrive in showrooms here over the coming months.

And some photo's about the Tuscan and Nissan (cant spell it's name )

Link HERE

Link HERE

Edit: Oh how could I forget this....Hummer H3 Diesel.... :drool:

If you thought Hummer owners were skulking around in their super-sized off-road monsters, you’d be wrong.

While the rest of the motoring world is wearing its green conscience on its sleeve, trading in gas-guzzlers for low rent, eco-friendly city cars, H3 owners are sporting their giant 4x4s with pride. That’s if their choice of paintwork is anything to go by. A sign on the American firm’s stands warns potential buyers that it’s sold out of models finished in the maker’s garish bright yellow. “There are none left in our UK stocks,” its spokesman confirmed.

A new diesel variant due to arrive in showrooms next could offer the best of both worlds, however. The car will be powered by a V6 engine, likely to be from GM’s existing stable. Prices will be confirmed next June.

[local hero]

All good school mums get your check book out the new X3 is here......

And some photo's about the Tuscan and Nissan (cant spell it's name )

I can't really take the X3 seriously, not sure what its meant to be, looks like a slightly pumped up 3 series estate

fancy the Qash Qai. (Q.Q) but a bit concerned about the Renault/Nissan connection, had a couple of boring renaults :(

now! the Tuscon in the pic looks good, but i really like the santa-fe, stunning equipment spec, and is it 5 or 7 yrs warantee, drove a diesel auto, and although i seem to re-call performance figures were not far behind the rav it felt sluggish and a bit roly poly (a technical term) also a foot pedal instead of a hand brake

but IMO a great deal of presence on the road

[chatman]

The new Santa-Fe is a very nice vehicle....if I was to change the RAV I would consider one of those....Agree the X3 is Estate Agent company car material along with those silly minis with decals all over them... Neighbour still has his X5 (4.4 petrol ;) ) for sale... cant seem to shift it for some reason :rolleyes:

[Fujisan]

All good school mums get your check book out the new X3 is here......

I can't really take the X3 seriously, not sure what its meant to be, looks like a slightly pumped up 3 series estate

Quick defence of the X3

The X3 I had was a great car.....I just had the wrong engine :P

Got to go now work calls!

Agree the X3 is Estate Agent company car material

Unfortunately the car can't select who drives it.

[Fujisan]

Got to go now work calls!

Nightmare afternoon!

Never seen a sight so beautiful as my RAV at the end of the shift......just so I could get the H*ll out of there! :D

[chatman]

***Hot News*** TATA test next new Diesel engine for new Landrover Freelander...

The world’s cheapest car, the Tata Nano, is to get a diesel engine, according to a report in The Economic Times. An 800cc twin-cylinder turbocharged common-rail diesel engine has been developed by powertrain firm FEV, Bosch and Honeywell. The unit is designed primarily for the Indian market.

However, Autocar sources in India have revealed that Tata is also in talks with Fiat to use the Italian manufacturer’s twin-cylinder diesel engine in export-spec examples of the tiny car.

The only Nano shown to date is the 624cc 30bhp petrol version that was unveiled at the New Dehli auto show in January this year. It weighs just 600kg and has a top speed of 60mph.

Tata will produce 250,000 units of the diminutive car per year and the firm’s boss Ratan Tata claims that demand has already outstripped supply in India. Tata intends to satisfy the domestic market first, so Europe will only get the Nano by 2011 at the earliest.

There are no confirmed details yet on engine power output, fuel consumption or price for either Nano oil-burner.

It was cunningly hidden in the shape of the new Nano which uses the floorpan of the new Freelander... The engineers even manges to fit smaller wheels to disguise the fact it was really a Freelander under the skin... Crafty yes but after a few rounds of hot vindaloos and several tiger beers, the photographer swore it was a Freelander.... and we have no doubt to disagree.... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Fujisan]

Umm .....wonder what it looks like with a bling set of 22" alloy's!!

[Fujisan]

As this thread started with the Ford Kuga thought I give you a link to Clarkson's review of the Kuga in the Times.

Tell's you very little about the car but it is an entertaining read!

Click here.

[Fujisan]

"An all-new Jeep Cherokee will battle against the Nissan X-Trail and Kia Sorento in the bargain off-roader sector from this month.

The mid-sized 4x4 Cherokee retains the rugged perception of the old Jeep brand, but incorporates a little finesse into the new package with the addition of a leather interior, heated front memory seats, climate control, electric windows and cruise control all as standard.

The new Jeep Cherokee also boasts an entirely new steering and suspension set-up to refine handling and comfort. Permanent Selec-Trac four-wheel drive plus an active traction control system to anticipate and prevent wheel slip will be standard across the range.

UK Customers will have the choice of manual or automatic transmissions, mated to a 2.8-litre diesel engine. Prices start from £24,495."

Not sure just how much of a bargin it is at £24.5k :shutit:

[Manxrav]

As this thread started with the Ford Kuga thought I give you a link to Clarkson's review of the Kuga in the Times.

Tell's you very little about the car but it is an entertaining read!

Click here.

Fuji, fair comment!! and would you believe I can see his House from my back garden ( remember the one where he took Gorden Ramsey to), it,s a converted Light-house at Langness near Castletown (bottom of Island)

Clare

[chatman]

Compact SUV clash

Renault is venturing into new territory with its first compact SUV, the Koleos. We find out if it can hit the heights as we pitch it head-to-head with the excellent Ford Kuga.

You won’t find the latest generation of compact off-roaders up to their axles in mud very often. Modern 4x4s spend most of their time in the urban jungle or on motorways, rather than in the rough stuff.

Renault is the latest manufacturer to enter the compact SUV fray, with the Koleos. The company has a limited history in off-roaders, so it borrows much of its technology from sister firm Nissan’s X-Trail. However, when it comes to road-biased 4x4s, the Ford Kuga towers over the compact SUV landscape. Fresh from a great showing in its first group test (Issue 1,016), the Kuga has proved it has more mud-plugging ability than most buyers will ever need, and it reigns supreme on the open road. So does Renault’s newcomer face an uphill struggle?

Right now, Ford can do no wrong. After the success of the S-MAX and Mondeo, executives from Honda and Toyota must have feared the worst when the firm launched this small off-roader

Read rest HERE + other pictures

And the French 4X4 thingy :sick: (the ugly one has a twin) HERE

[anchorman]

They can't make a car successfully never mind a 4X4.

[Fujisan]

"Fiat has just announced that its off-road Panda Cross is going on sale in the UK.

Based on the existing Panda 4x4, the Cross has more rugged styling and a higher ride height. It is already on sale in mainland Europe, but Fiat has just taken the decision to bring the diminutive off-roader to UK showrooms, where prices will start from £11,995.

Power comes from Fiat’s frugal 70bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engine, making the Panda Cross one of the most economical all-wheel drive markets on sale. It’s claimed to be capable of returning 54mpg and emitting just 136g/km CO2.

The visual makeover includes chunky side protection strips, reworked bumpers, new front lights, roof rails and 15-inch alloy wheels. The Cross is the spiritual successor to the first-generation Panda Sisley, which found its niche as a cheap, economical off-roader."

Any guesses what that is on the roof, along the centre line!

Anyway look's quite cute

[Fujisan]

And at the other end of the scale!

"Porsche has rushed forward development of its next-generation Cayenne after recent market reports revealed that buyers are turning away from large, thirsty SUVs.

It’s now almost certain that the next Cayenne will arrive early in 2010 rather than 2011. Sources reveal that Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking is utilising his increasing influence over the VW Group to lobby hard for the premium SUV to be launched before VW’s cheaper second-generation Touareg hits the road in late 2010 or 2011.

These most recent spy shots reveal the 2010 Cayenne in more detail than ever. It’s a more compact car than its bulky predecessor, set lower and with a sleeker roofline. Sources suggest it will be lighter too, improving economy and CO2 emissions.

As the market demand for more fuel-efficient SUVs increases, Porsche has confirmed that its next-generation Cayenne will be offered with both diesel and hybrid powertrains as well as the more familiar range of high-powered petrol engines.

In fact, a diesel version of the current Cayenne will be launched in March 2009 using a version of Audi’s 3.0-litre V6 TDI with around 240bhp and 400lb ft torque. The same unit is likely to be available in the next Cayenne from its early 2010 launch date.

Some months after its launch, the next Cayenne will adopt a parallel hybrid system, which we’ll see for the first time on forthcoming 2009 Porsche Panamera saloon. A Battery pack will be located beneath Cayenne’s boot floor working in combination with an electric motor and petrol engine to offer 30mpg fuel economy.

It’s all part of Porsche’s pledge to cut its overall model emissions by 20 per cent for 2012."

It's still ugly!

[Fujisan]

A story for Chatman! ;)

"Hummer, the brand that has come to symbolise America’s military might, could end up being owned by a Russian oligarch.

GM recently admitted that it was considering the brand’s future following the collapse of sales as oil prices rise and the American economy falters. Now it seems that one of the potential bidders is billionaire Oleg Deripaska.

One of the world’s richest men, with assets reportedly worth around £15bn, Deripaska already controls Russian car-maker GAZ and the aluminium smelting company, RusAI.

GAZ is already in the military vehicle business, making a Hummer look-alike for the Russian military – the 2330 — and an eight-wheeled armoured car, the BTR-90.

GM bought rights to build civilian versions of Hummer trucks from AM General, which produced the original Humvee – a ‘backronym’ formed from its official title of High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle.

Civilian versions of the military-spec Hummer, branded the H1, kick-started interest in the brand, which GM capitalised on with the launch of smaller H2 and H3 versions, based on mechanical architecture shared with pick up trucks. The H2 is built in Indiana while the H3 is made in Louisiana.

The H3 is also assembled in South Africa and the H2 in limited numbers in Russia by Avtotor, an arrangement likely to end if the GAZ buyout goes through.

It’s unclear how well the bid will be received in the US, especially considering the tense situation between Russia and Georgia. But if it does go ahead, GAZ will only purchase rights to produce civilian versions of Hummer products – rights to the Humvee will remain with Am General."

Sorry mate! :D

[Hoovie]

Not sure if this has been added yet?

Peugeot 4007

Saw one for the first time yesterday - thought the rear end looked quite nice. Looking at pics on web, the car looks a lot better in the flesh, though.

[Fujisan]

Not sure if this has been added yet?

Peugeot 4007

Saw one for the first time yesterday - thought the rear end looked quite nice. Looking at pics on web, the car looks a lot better in the flesh, though.

Yes.....but have you seen the front! :sick:

Looks like a teenage with braces all over their teeth!

[anchorman]

I was going to say the same thing Fuj' - ugly. I like the Mitsi but that has a VW engine and these 2 froggie variants have PSA engines. That takes them out of the equation for me.

Fiat have made an otherwise cute car quite ugly on the 4X4 as well.

[Nightstalker]

Ey up...

Did the Peugeot score well on the euro ncap test when it came to the pedestrian friendly test... - at least its smiling at the poor pedestrian while running it over.... Surley thats got to give them an extra point or even 2....

regards

Rob

B)

[Hoovie]

Yes.....but have you seen the front!

Looks like a teenage with braces all over their teeth!

Oh yes - the front would stop any possibility (which was small enough) of getting one. I hate the 'family' front of the current piguits. Not sure who signed that design off? David Blunkett?

[Fujisan]

Ey up...

Did the Peugeot score well on the euro ncap test when it came to the pedestrian friendly test... - at least its smiling at the poor pedestrian while running it over.... Surley thats got to give them an extra point or even 2....

regards

Rob

B)

Sorry Rob, you're quite wrong..........the pedestrian's run away SCREAMING long before the Peugeot has a chance to hit them!

That's why it did well in the euro ncap tests!

[chatman]

BMW has announced a recall for 200,000 of its 3-Series, 5-Series and X3 models in America due to a problem with the front passenger airbag deployment.

The fault specifically affects vehicles fitted with optional M Sport seats, which develop cracks in their leather over time, damaging the airbag sensor under the seat. BMW says it’s possible that passengers will not be detected, and that the passenger airbag will therefore not be deployed.

A spokesman for BMW UK said, “The recall is only affecting the North American models as their airbag systems are different to those found on the UK and European spec BMWs.”

[Fujisan]

"Cadillac has shown the new SRX at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, a year before it goes on sale.

Like the current SRX, it's a mid-sized SUV that sits between the BMW X3 and X5 in terms of size. The new car is similar in styling and proportion to the Provoq concept car, which was shown at the Detroit show in January, and more recently was on the stand at the London motor show.

Described by Cadillac as a 'crossover', the SRX will be based on GM's new Theta platform, which will underpin a number of other mid-sized SUVs in the corporate range, including the forthcoming Saab 9-4X. Both cars will be built in Mexico.

Sales of the current SRX have been slow in the UK, but GM hopes that the new car will be able to broaden the brand's appeal thanks to modern styling and the future option of diesel engines. "