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Monthly Archives: August 2019

After debuting at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, the new SsangYong Korando has officially been launched, with a totally new look, typical SsangYong value, a heftily updated interior, more safety tech, a choice of two powertrains and SsangYong’s 7-year 150,000-mile warranty.

The all-new C-segment SUV does everything it can to maximise interior space (1,350mm x 815mm x 899mm) , but it’s the redesign inside that is the biggest step forward. The wrap-around dashboard design – inspired by a classical string instrument, apparently – and at the top of the range it includes the Blaze Cockpit. This gives the driver the benefit of a 10.25-inch digital cluster along with a nine-inch touchscreen, too. Around the technology, the dash is all soft touch materials, with the seats either coming in quality cloth, a faux leather and cloth combination or premium leather that is heated, ventilated and electronically controlled. The air conditioning also features an air filter to keep pollen and other tiny matter from entering through the vents, whilst it has dual-zone capabilities. other benefits for the driver include paddle shifters (auto only, obvs) and a heated steering wheel with tilt, rake and reach adjustments.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will come with mid and top-spec Korandos, with all models getting DAB radio and Bluetooth and MP3 connectivity. Mid-speccers get an eight-inch screen, but the top dog gets the bigger display, and also a remote powered tailgate.

Driving the new Korando from launch is a 1.6-litre diesel unit. It offers up 136bhp with 239lbf.ft, whilst also achieving 48.7mpg on the WLTP cycle.

Coming in December there will also be a Euro 6d-T compliant petrol unit. The 15.-litre GDI-turbo will be more powerful with 163bhp, but being a petrol the torque is lower at 207lbf.ft.

Using the Aisin 3rd generation automatic transmission, the new Korando has Sport mode for a more reactive throttle, but also a Winter mode which sets off in 2nd gear to avoid wheel spin in slippery conditions. The option of manual is expected to arrive in early 2020.

New Korando models are available with all-wheel drive, which uses Automatic Drive Control to maintain appropriate speed for each of the wheels and distributes torque accordingly. It has Lock-Mode Function, too, which fixes the rate of torque and priorities the rear axle. The system switches modes itself, with Auto-Mode above 40kph and Lock-Mode below it. Off-road angles comprise of 18 degrees approach and 24.5 departure – not a hardcore rock crawler, obviously, but it’s nice to know.

Packed into the new Korando is a whole bunch of safety tech which helped it attain a five-star safety rating from NCAP. Each model has six airbags, plus electronic stability control, rollover protection, forward collision warning, ABS, emergency autonomous braking, lane keep and departure assist, safety distance alerts, driver attention warning and emergency stop signals. There’s also an emergency call system, a reversing camera, automatic wipers and headlights and front and rear parking sensors.

The range will consist of 2WD entry model in ELX trim and the petrol engine, whilst the mid-spec will be known as Ventura. The Pioneer is aimed at caravanning customers and comes in either two or four-wheel drive the the Aisin auto and diesel power. Topping the range off is the Ultimate, which is available with the the petrol in two or four-wheel drive, or the all-wheel drive diesel unit and the auto transmission.

Pricing starts at £19,995 for the ELX, whilst 4WD models start at £28,295 for the Pioneer and top out at £31,995 for the Ultimate.

When Ford made the Ranger Raptor, they had hardcore off-roading in mind – and when you’re off-roading it’s easy to get carried away. If this happens you can easily get lost.

To stop Ranger Raptor customers getting lost in the desert, Ford have integrated a breadcrumb feature where when it’s off-road, it drops a pin in the map every second, enabling you to retrace your steps accurately when the time comes to take to the tarmac once again.

Pretty cool, eh?

Forty years after the first model, the Mitsubishi L200 Series 6 is now on sale in the UK, with a bold new look, a new engine, handling and chassis tweaks and active safety technology.

The new truck has been engineered with a reinforced chassis and suspension tweaks to offer improved on-road handling. The whole model, in fact, is geared towards making it more enticing for new pick-up owners.

Whilst the new and aggressive styling gives the truck a substantial presence on the road, the bonnet has been raised by 40mm for practical reasons – to make positioning the truck, which is already the narrowest in the segment, even easier on the road.

Under said bonnet is a new 2.3-litre diesel engine, which is Euro 6d compliant, offering up 150bhp and 295lbf.ft with the peak of both figures coming 500rpm sooner than in the old, bigger unit. It also has a 21-litre adBlue tank, which will last between scheduled services. There are also a couple of new features to the off-road tech, with the system now having a dedicated Off Road Mode and Hill descent control on board.

Safety kit now included as standard on the L200 betters that of any single pick-up in the current sector. Blind Spot Warning, Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Forward Collision Mitigation, Ultrasonic Missaccelleration Mitigation, Lane Deoarture Warning, Active Stability and Traction Control, Hill Start Assist, Emergency Stop Signal and Trailer Stability Assist are all available in the new L200 package.

The Series 6 also features an improved interior, with a revised seat design that features sturdier bolstering. The steering wheel is now chunkier and heated whilst the instrumentation has been updated and the driver now benefitting from a full-colour LCD display.

Pricing for the new L200 kicks off at £21,525 for the 4Life Club Cab (as a CV) and rises up to the new Barbarian X trim, which starts at £32,200.

The iconic Volkswagen California has been updated, with the home-from-home benefitting from newly digitised controls, a subtle facelift, an updated interior and new electro-mechanical power steering.

With these updates, the 6.1 California now has access to driver assistance in the form of Lane Assist, Park Assist and Trailer Assist. Also helping modernise the van is the optionally digital instruments, with the introduction of the VW Digital Cockpit now on the cards. Up to a 9.2-inch touchscreen is available for the infotainment system, which in cases includes Apple Music and Tidal streaming services.

It is still an option to upgrade to all-wheel drive, but the 2.0-litre TDi engines will all meet Euro 6d Temp Evap emissions standards.

Inside, the beds have been made more comfortable, as the high bed is now equipped with a sprung base, whilst the grey canvas sides of the pop-up roof have been darkened to let less light in. A new sunrise feature utilises selectable LEDs in the roof and living space to dim the lights to a set level over a chosen period of time, to ease occupants into the day ahead.

Details of the compact kitchen have been re-thought, with an additional double-USB socket, aluminium handles on every door have been installed, whilst the kitchen space is now opened with a simple push button.

The updated California will debut at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf later in August.