At the Beijing show the Chinese brand Geely will present the NL Concept, a smaller-sized SUV, which as seen in these sketches, brings back a little the Ford Kuga (on the sides and the rear) and also the Opel Antara (in the front). We’re waiting to see the photos but otherwise it appears that Chinese manufacturers these days are fast arriving at “passable” designs for European tastes.

Via | Autoblog.com

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Rumours regarding a possible M version of the X5 have been doing the rounds for some time, but it appears that the “nastier” versions photographed are nothing more than vehicles equipped with the twin-turbo V8 4,400cc power of the X6 50i.

According to expectations from BimmerFile, the rear camouflage shows off new bumpers, destined to look very similar to the rear of the X6. The quad exhaust terminals demonstrate a tangibile sporty nature, rather than relying on other aesthetic aspects to confirm this.

Continue reading: Bmw X5: no "M", "just" a twin-turbo V8

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Curioser and curioser: Range Rover has been more talked about in the last week than in the entire month of March, and we mean to exclusion of the financial manouvres. In any case, after the first spy shots of the Discovery’s restyling, and Defender SVX’s performance, news reported by Leftlane appears improbable. According to the site’s photography sources, Range Rover is apparently gearing-up to equip its vehicles with a V12.

Continue reading: Range Rover: V12 or V8?

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Three new SUV’s from Renault are on the way. The first, available next June, will be the Koleos, the French-Korean SUV developed in conjunction with Samsung and presented recently.

Renault design manager Patrick Le Quement, stated on Autocar that the company would be looking to expand its offering with another two new SUVs and that the Koleos will remain at the centre of the range. One of these cars will be an addition to the Renault range, one will be a big brother to the Koleos and will likely use a similar platform to the future Nissan Murano. This will also be produced by Renault-Samsung in South Korea.

Via | Autocar

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The Franco-Japanese alliance is proceeding, giving fruit to new projects: after cooking up a SUV family of medium-big size, Mitsubishi and Citroen/Peugeot are reported to be in negotiations to expand their collaboration.

The new product, based on the more compact dimensions and showy personality of the Concept cX, would be different in order to create aesthetically diverse cars. The cleaner 1.8 diesel (with 134 and 280 Nm) seen on the prototype would most likely be used on the series, perhaps together with the SST shift and double clutch.

Continue reading: Mitsubishi, Citroen-Peugeot alliance working on new SUV

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The official “mini-site” of the Audi Q5, next generation SUV, has officially arrived online. The important German off-road will be revealed in a world preview on the 19th of April.

With a superior graphic kaleidoscope on the site, it’s possible to register and win a preview test drive. According to Ingolstadt the Q5 will be “efficient but fun”, “sporty but not irrational” and will combine new technology with traditional company values.

All this will be needed: it’s useless to underline that in this sector, it will be given a run for its money…

Via | GermanCarBlog

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Given the success encountered at both Detroit and Geneva, the news that Land Rover will produce the LRX was a given, although there are plenty of differences to the concept car. The first macroscopic difference is the presence of the rear doors - this is a five-door version not seen on the prototype.

The second regards market position. Given what AutoExpress has written, we can expect an up-market version of the Freelander more adapted to competition with the Mercedes GLK, the Audi Q5 and the BMW X3. A big focus will be placed on reducing emissions with a stop-start system and a possible future hybrid version.

Aesthetically the car will keep the nice LRX nose although it will be slightly higher to allow for the rear passengers. But the overall effect will be that the car sits lower than the Freelander. The interior will change notably from the concept car: gone is the extravangant cabin to be replaced by a carryover from the Freelander.

Continue reading: Land Rover: the LRX will be manufactured

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It is by now almost certain that the debut of the new Audi Q5 will be in Beijing, in about a month from now. The German company’s new medium SUV, ready to challenge the BMW X3 and the Mercedes GLK, should debut with a hybrid version and new S-Tronic trasmission, double-clutch and seven speeds, which will manage an engine of 550Nm of torque and 8500 rpm . Expectations of the final physical aspects of the Q5 have been reduced, given that spy photos have been circulating for some time.

Via | Worldcarfans.com

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The Porsche Cayenne GTS represents in some ways the provocative last front in the world of SUVs. With the Cayenne we’ve seen the entry of a paradox, an oxymoron, an open contradiction in the roots of this category of off-road (remember the first ML?) and the extravagance of feeling like you’re on the track.

In one corner of the ring of the Fifth Gear Shootout there is the Cayenne: steel spring technology, PASM, electronic suspension-checks, V8 with direct injection, but with a body lowered by 24mm (to the face of the lightest dirt road). It confronts a more “canonic” BMW X5 4.8i which, despite having 50 bhp less, does 0-100 km/hr in 6.5s - only four-tenths more than the Porsche, thanks to weighing a good 195kg less!! Who would have thought it would prevail on the track?

The BMW can count on excellent traction, guaranteeing road grip on the exit of corners. The example sampled by Vicky was also equipped with electronic suspension and 19″ alloys that did the rest. But the Cayenne, especially in sports mode, when you feel 50bhp extra and the more rigid body structure, it’s a true sports car in disguise.

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Who knows whether Porsche will have the “courage” to ornate the back of the Cayenne with the word ‘diesel’? Probably, given that the choice to adopt a diesel motor has not been considered by the German manufacturer as an embarrassment from which to hide, but as a first and necessary step in the process of beating emissions (and increasing sales).

A shame though, to listen to Emg, that the Cayenne diesel will not count on the monstruous V12 6.0 of Audi origin, but will be sacrificed in favour of the greater lightness of the V6 3.2 biturbo at 300 horsepower. Notable is the single terminal exhaust encased in pipes too large for their relatively smaller size.

Continue reading: Spy photo: Porsche Cayenne diesel

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