Tag Archives: New Cars

Land Rover Classic Unveils Limited-Run $270,000 Defender Works V8 Trophy

Land Rover Classic has just unveiled the Defender Works V8 Trophy and in addition to being limited to just 25 units, it has a unique appeal to it that not even the current generation Defender can match.

The vehicle is based around the 2012-2016 Defender Works V8 that Land Rover Classic developed but comes with a host of improvements and upgrades. These upgrades start with the 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V8 that has been massaged to produce 399 hp and 380 lb-ft (515 Nm) of torque. Mated to the engine is an eight-speed automatic transmission with a pistol shifter, all-wheel drive, and a two-speed transfer box. The Defender Works V8 Trophy also includes heavy-duty front and rear differentials and a torque-biasing center differential.

Land Rover Classic will offer the vehicle in both 90 and 110 forms but all will be finished in a unique shade of Eastnor Yellow with contrasting Narvik Black accents on the wheel arches, bonnet, and rear door. Matching 16-inch steel wheels also come standard.

Other modifications made to the vehicle from the ‘standard’ Defender Works V8 include an all-terrain kit with a front winch, multi-point expedition cage, roof rack, underbody protection, A-bar, raised air intake, LED spotlights, and mud-terrain tires.

Found within the Defender Works V8 Trophy is black Windor leather upholstery with Recaro sports seats, contrasting yellow stitching, and a bespoke Land Rover Trophy clock face. The vehicle also features Land Rover Classic’s own Classic Infotainment System that includes navigation and mobile device connectivity.

Watch Also: Land Rover Defender Tows A Massive Car Transporter On Ice With Ease

“The Land Rover Defender has always been more than just a vehicle, its engineering capability and suitability for overland expedition and all-terrain competition means it’s renowned with getting away from it all. The new Land Rover Trophy will bring this to life for a new generation of adventurers,” Land Rover Classic director Dan Pink said. “Experiences are a key part of Land Rover Classic’s DNA and this whole concept comes directly from feedback we’ve received. Our customers want to create their own stories, battle scars and patina with their Works V8 Trophy vehicles from day one, fuelling campfire chats with like-minded enthusiasts.”

Buyers of the limited-run model will be invited to a three-day adventure with their vehicles at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire. Prices for the Defender Works V8 Trophy start from £195,000 (~$270,000) in the UK.

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BMW Racing Driver Takes New M5 CS For A Spin

BMW race car driver Connor DiPhillippi was heading to Daytona to drive an M8 GTE in the 24-hour race – and on his way, he stopped at the BMW performance center in South Carolina.

And there’s a very good reason for that, as DiPhillippi is among the first people outside of Munich to drive the recently unveiled M5 CS. That’s a pretty good opportunity, because BMW’s new, light-weight M5 is the most powerful production M car ever.

Not only is it more powerful than any other M car, with an output of 626 hp, but it also weighs a pretty impressive 104 kg (229 pounds) less than the M5 Competition on which it is based. BMW achieved that by removing some of the car’s sound deadening and adding a carbon-fiber roof, hood, front splitter, and mirror caps.

Also Read: 2022 BMW M5 CS Debuts With 627 HP, Hits 60 MPH In Less Than 3 Seconds

It also benefits from an improved Dynamic Damper Control system and springs, optimized for the lightened package. It also gets a RWD mode in case you’re in the mood for some spirited driving.

BMW claims that the M5 CS is capable of hitting 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds, but Car and Driver clocked the heavier, less powerful M5 Competition in the 2s even though BMW claimed a 3.1-second sprint. We would not, therefore, be surprised if optimal conditions led to lower times.

And what does DiPhillippi think of it all?

“I would say that the first thing I’m impressed with is,” he says, taking a beat to let a whoaa out, “the power. The torque. The agility of this car, I mean the M5 and the M5 Competition were already remarkable machines, and all the details that they’ve put into this CS is insane.”

“The boys in Munich,” he concludes, “have outdone themselves.”

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Fully-Spec 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Is One Seriously Expensive Plug-in Hybrid SUV

Jeep has launched the online configurator for the 2021 Wrangler 4xe, which lets users build their ideal model.

The first step is to select the exterior color of the vehicle, although if you want anything other than white, you will have to pay a $245 premium. Then you will have to decide if Mopar’s grille and the integrated off-road camera are something that you really need, as the first one costs $325, while the second one is a $595 option.

The body-colored fender flares are another $695, while the Sky One-Touch Power-Top will set you back $4,095. The 17-inch wheels shod in the chunky off-road tires from BFGoodrich are standard though.

Read Also: Jeep Throws A 470HP Hemi V8 In The 2021 Wrangler Rubicon 392 That Does 0-60 In Just 4.5 sec

The leather-trimmed seats, all-weather floor mats, Mopar’s grab handle kit and others are also options, so you may want to pay attention to how many boxes you check, because the Wrangler 4xe specified by us has a net price of $67,630. That’s a $15,935 premium over the MSRP of the Wrangler Rubicon 4xe, and it makes the SUV just $1,780 cheaper than a base Grand Cherokee SRT and $2,465 cheaper than a Ram 1500 TRX.

Built at Jeep’s Ohio facility, which is where the rest of the Wrangler lineup also comes to life, the plug-in hybrid variant of the SUV has a 17 kWh lithium-ion battery that gives it a maximum electric range of 25 miles (40 km). Power is supplied by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and two electric motors, for a total of 375 HP (380 PS / 280 kW) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque.

You can access the online configurator here.

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2021 BMW 4-Series Convertible Will Be An AU$90k Affair Down Under

The new generation BMW 4-Series Convertible will launch in Australia early next year with three powertrain options and a recommended starting price of AU$89,900 (US$68,437) for the base model, which is equipped with the M Sport Package as standard.

The range will kick off with the 420i, which uses a 135 kW (184 PS / 181 HP) and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder. Standard gear includes 19-inch wheels, front sports seats with heating, leather upholstery, three-zone climate control, head-up display, smartphone integration, wireless charging pad and digital radio.

Starting at AU$107,900 (US$82,140), the 430i Convertible also packs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine, but with 190 kW (258 PS / 255 HP) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. It sprints from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 6.2 seconds (420i: 8.2 seconds) and comes with features like Adaptive M Suspension, M Sport Brakes, Comfort Access, Driving Assistant Professional and Parking Assistant Plus, including the Surround View with Top View and Side View.

Watch Also: Is The 2021 BMW M440i A Bit Too Soft For A Sports Coupe?

The range-topper is the M440i xDrive, which is powered by a 285 kW (387 PS / 382 HP) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) 3.0-liter straight-six TwinPower Turbo engine that enables it to hit the 100 km/h (62 mph) mark in 4.9 seconds. This variant features all-wheel drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Pricing starts at AU$135,900 (US$103,455) and it is equipped with grippy tires, M Sport differential, Cerium Grey accents for the grille, side mirror caps and tailpipes, ambient lighting, Air Collar and a Harman Kardon premium audio.

The Visibility Package, which is available for the 420i and 430i versions of the new 4-Series Convertible, adds ambient lighting and BMW Laserlight and costs AU$4,300 (US$3,273) when configured with the standard metallic paintwork or AU$5,900 (US$4,491) with the optional BMW Individual paint finish. The Comfort Package brings the Air Collar, Comfort Access and heated steering wheel for the 420i and is priced at AU$2,600 (US$1,979), while for the 430i it costs AU$1,700 (US$1,294). Exclusive to the entry-level model, the Driver’s Assistant Package costs AU$3,770 (US$2,870) and consists of Parking Assistant Plus, Driving Assistant Professional and tire pressure monitoring.

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Euro-spec model pictured

2021 BMW 128ti Announced For Australia With Less Power From AU$56,900

BMW has released the official specs and pricing for the 128ti in Australia ahead of its official launch in the first quarter of 2021.

The front-wheel drive hot hatch packs the 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo engine that puts out 180 kW (245 PS / 241 HP) and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque.

That’s 15 kW (20 PS / 20 HP) and 20 Nm (15 lb-ft) less than the Euro-spec, which translates in it being 1.2 seconds slower in the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint (6.3 vs 5.1 seconds), while top speed has also dropped from 250 to 243 km/h (155-151 mph). The engine still drives the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the limited-slip differential from the M135i xDrive comes as standard.

Watch Also: This 750 HP BMW 1-Series Will Scare You To Death

Available in six exterior colors, the 128ti rides on 18-inch M light alloy wheels and features an M Sport suspension and brakes, adaptive LED headlights, M rear spoiler and a few upgrades inside. Inside, standard equipment includes cloth/sensatec upholstery with red stitching, sporty seatbelts, velour floor mats with red accents, two-zone climate control, 9.2-inch head-up display and an infotainment system.

Customers can further spec it with the two large displays that have a diagonal of up to 10.25 inches, gesture control, electric tailgate, two Enhancement packages and the Convenience and Comfort packages. The latter add features such as the metallic paint, panoramic glass roof, heated front seats with lumbar support and heated steering wheel.

Pricing for the the 128ti starts from AU$56,900 (equal to US$41,951).

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Euro-spec variant pictured

2021 VW Golf Alltrack Costs More Than The Tiguan Allspace In The UK

Volkswagen has opened the order books for the all-new Golf Alltrack and Golf Estate in Great Britain.

The jacked-up station wagon is available in a single trim level, from £35,560 ($47,518), or £3,365 ($4,497) more than the Tiguan Allspace, while the regular Estate starts at £24,575 ($32,839), £1,275 ($1,704) more than the five-door hatchback.

Powering the Golf Alltrack is a 200 PS (197 HP / 147 kW) 2.0-liter TDI turbodiesel four that’s mated to a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission and VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive. The 0 to 62 mph (0-100 km/h) acceleration takes 7.1 seconds and the car averages 49.6 mpg UK (5.7 l/100 km / 41.3 mpg US) in the WLTP cycle and emits between 148 and 151 g/km of CO2.

Read Also: 2022 VW Golf R Debuts With 315 HP, Torque Vectoring AWD, A Manual Gearbox And Drift Mode

In addition to the higher ground clearance and plastic cladding on the lower parts of the body, the Golf Alltrack features a honeycomb design for the fog lamp clusters, illuminated front grille, silver roof rails and 17-inch ‘Ronda’ alloy wheels. It also gets a three-zone climate control, Lane Change Assist, Emergency Assist, Side Assist and Travel Assist as standard.

The Golf Estate is available with three petrol engines: a 110 PS (108 HP / 81 kW) 1.0-liter TSI, a 130 PS (128 HP / 96 kW) 1.5-liter TSI and a 150 PS (148 HP / 110 kW) 1.5-liter TSI, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. These units are also available with a mild-hybrid system and a 7-speed DSG transmission. Moreover, customers can also choose between two diesels, a 2.0-litre 115 PS (113 HP / 84 kW) TDI and a 2.0-litre 150 PS (148 HP / 110 kW) TDI.

The lineup comprises of three trim levels, named Life, Style and R-Line, with the entry-level getting LED lights at both ends, 16-inch alloy wheels, interior ambient lighting, a 10-inch infotainment system, digital radio, 10.25-inch digital dials and Lane Assist, Front Assist, Dynamic Road Sign Display and Adaptive Cruise Control.

The Style adds 17-inch alloy wheels, uprated headlights, ambient lighting with more colors, three-zone climate control, Lane Change Assist, Side Assist and Traffic Jam Assist. Finally, the R-Line brings sportier bumpers, tinted rear windows, 17-inch wheels with different pattern, sports suspension, progressive steering, three-spoke heated steering wheel wrapped in leather and Driving Profile Selection.

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2022 VW Taos Arrives Next Summer To Battle The Chevy Trailblazer And Kia Seltos

Consumers have an insatiable appetite for crossovers and Volkswagen is responding by introducing the 2022 Taos.

Designed to slot beneath the Tiguan, the Taos is a compact crossover that is “small in stature, but big on value.”

While the model looks a little plain, it features a wide grille and sweptback headlights. Higher end variants go a step further as they feature LED lights which extend into the grille via an illuminated light bar.

Also Read: 2021 VW ID.4 Debuts With $39,995 Price Tag And 250 Mile Range

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Elsewhere, designers installed sporty skid plates and plastic body cladding. The Taos also has squared off wheel arches and a greenhouse which closely resembles the Tiguan.

Out back, there’s an angled liftgate with an integrated spoiler. We can also see wraparound taillights and faux dual exhaust system. Eight different colors will be available and wheels range in sizes from 17- to 19-inches.

In terms of size, the Taos measures 175.8 inches (4,465 mm) long, 72.5 inches (1,842 mm) wide and 64.4 inches (1,636 mm) tall with a wheelbase that spans 105.9 inches (2,690 mm). That makes the model slightly larger than the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Kia Seltos.

Moving into the cabin, the Taos has a minimalist interior with clean lines and straightforward controls. Volkswagen didn’t go into specifics, but confirmed the model will come standard with a digital instrument cluster and two-tone cloth seats.

Higher end variants feature an 8-inch infotainment system, a wireless smartphone charger and a ten color ambient lighting system. Other options include a heated steering wheel, an eight-way power driver’s seat and an 8-speaker premium audio system. Buyers can also get heated / ventilated front seats, a dual-zone climate control system and leather or leatherette upholstery.

Thanks to the crossover’s sizeable dimensions, the Taos has a roomy interior with 37.9 inches (963 mm) of rear seat legroom. The luggage compartment holds 28.1 cubic feet (796 liters) of cargo, but that can be expanded to 66.3 cubic feet (1,877 liters) by folding the rear seats down.

Motivation is provided by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 158 hp (118 kW / 160 PS) and 184 lb-ft (249 Nm) of torque. It is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission which sends power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is optional and it sees the eight-speed automatic replaced by a seven-speed DSG gearbox.

On the safety front, there’s a multitude of driver assistance systems including Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, and an Active Blind Spot Monitor. There’s also Travel Assist, Emergency Assist, High Beam Control and a Lane Keeping System.

The 2022 Taos will be launched in the United States next summer and available in three different trims. Full details will be announced closer to launch, but the model should cost thousands less than the Tiguan which begins at $24,945.

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