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Sarah Kidd

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Fiat raised an eyebrow or two in the pick-up world when it decided to launch a badge-engineered version of the Mitsubishi L200. The Fullback could be described as a me-too model – or, more sensibly, as an expedient way of allowing fleet customers to address all their light commercial vehicle needs in one deal. Either way, though, the new Fullback Cross is more than just someone else’s truck with a Fiat badge on it.

Sitting at the top of the Fullback range, the Cross model is based on the already well-equipped LX, meaning it has full-tim four-wheel drive and a 180bhp version of the now-familiar 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine.

What it also has is a locking rear differential. Typically these make all the difference to a pick-up’s performance off-road. By nature they’re light at the tail, and lift wheels very easily – especially when unladen, and being able to lock the rear diff to prevent drive being lost this way is an important weapon in the driver’s arsenal. Many manufacturers use traction control as an alternative to this – some systems work better than others, but in our experience none at all as are effective as the traditional tech.

The L200 is available with a locking rear diff – but only with part-time four-wheel drive. Higher-spec models gain the full-time system that’s also used on the Fullback Cross – but lose the locker. This was frustrating when Mitsubishi first launched the full-time system in 2005, so it feels rather as if this new Fullback is a case of Fiat making the L200 into the vehicle we’ve always wished it would be.

To go with the off-road potential this offers, the Cross is lightly ruggedized, if that’s not a contradiction in terms. It gains toughened wheelarches and side steps with a matt black finish, as well as a satin-effect skid plate, and its 245/65R17 tyres are wrapped around black alloys.

If prepping vehicles for off-road work is your thing, you’ll immediately write all this off as mere styling, all of which would be unbolted and replaced with proper heavy-duty stuff from the aftermarket the moment you got your hands on it. That would be rather a harsh verdict, all the same, as Fiat is honest about the Cross being pitched as an eye-catching lifestyle truck fit for work and play alike, but there is indeed an element of show-not-go to its spec. In particular, the design of the six-spoke alloys means their faces are close to being flush with the tyres’ sidewall, which is a recipe for scratches when you’re churning your way through ruts.

Nonetheless, the Fullback Cross proves very competent off-road. Even on standard tyres, it deals well with the wet, sloppy conditions many will encounter frequently in day-to-day working life, following the ground confidently without any sign of wanting to go sideways. With 317lbf.ft, there’s plenty of torque for slugging away through mud or heaving itself up hills, though with this version of the engine you pay for the higher output by needing to rev it to 2500rpm before it’ll give you all it’s got – but despite this, it’ll scale very decent climbs at little more than tickover, and the gearing in the six-speed manual box never feels high.

You’d need more aggressive tyres for the diff-lock to make an appreciable difference in muddy conditions. However, at a crawl over uneven terrain, it comes into its own. The ground does need to be very rough – much more so than most owners will attempt to tackle in their expensive new trucks – but where two wheels lighten up at once, the locker allows you to keep on taking it gently rather than using extra speed to get through. And that’s good for the vehicle, its passengers, its load and the ground beneath it.

On the road, the Fullback is a fine performer, with a smooth, quiet ride on the motorway which makes it very agreeable indeed. The engine hauls it up to speed without any problem at all and feels as if it has plenty more to give, even when you’re keeping up with the traffic in the fast lane, and with the cruise control set it’ll rumble along all day without skipping a beat. You don’t need to fidget with the steering to keep it in its lane, either.

On A and B-roads, the steering is engaging, with plenty of feel and response as you chuck it into corners. Of course, there’s body roll, but it’s well controlled and doesn’t prevent you from enjoying yourself. As always with off-road vehicles, the trick is to drive with its foibles, not against them – accept it for what it is, and it’s a big, cheerful bundle of laughs.

Ride-wise, poorer road surfaces do set up a bit of fuss at the back, at least when there’s not a load of pea shingle in there to damp it down. But even when running unladen you can clobber it into an alloy-trasher of a pot-hole without feeling like the world’s coming to an end. Refinement is perfectly good by general pick-up standards, though the gearchange from the six-speed manual box is a bit mechanical.

Last time we drove a Fullback, we noted that the clutch had an oddly high biting point. No such trouble this time, however – it’s as easy to drive as you want it to be, with the option of full-time four-wheel drive adding an extra element of stability in wet conditions – and one which no other pick-up currently offers in combination with a rear locker.

Something else we grumbled about last time we drove a Fullback was its multimedia system, which defeated our every attempt to pair it with an iPhone and struggled to hold on to a DAB signal. This time, again no problem. We’d still like to know who it was that decided digital radio had to be so complicated to operate, but the sound and reception in the Cross were just fine – and having plugged our iPhone in to the USB port, it registered within seconds.

Elsewhere inside there’s heated leather seats and so on giving you the full luxury treatment. The leather feels tough rather than sumptuous – as always, we’d sooner see good fabric than so-so hide – but the seats are perfectly supportive and despite no adjustable lumbar support are comfortable over longer distances.

Similarly, the dash and floor console, though they’re finished in a hard plastic that is scratchy, are extremely well made – there’s almost no creaking from any part of them. It’s tough and rugged rather than luxurious, but all the top-spec kit does add something. It can’t work magic on the amount of space in the back, of course, but so long as you’re not carrying tall adults or bulky car seats, there’s enough space there to get by.

One other complaint we’d have relates to the pick-up bed. This is dominated by a model-unique textured sports bar, which looks cool and, we found, is capable of protecting the cab roof if you’re carrying very long items, but the bed itself is protected by a liner which, tough though it may be, offers nowhere to lash down your load. We had to run ratchet straps around the sports bar itself, which we’re pretty sure is not the idea.

The Fullback Cross isn’t unique in having full-time four-wheel drive, nor in having a rear diff-lock. But no other truck currently offers both in tandem, which gives it genuine off-road potential. It’s a good all-rounder, clearly the best option in the Fullback range, and its styling accessories certainly stand out – though in places we’d like to see a little more practicality to go with the eyeball-pleasing design.

No, you didn’t mis-read that headline.

Honda have revealed a concept this morning of a Civic Type R with a pick-up bed instead of rear seats and a boot.

Codenamed ‘Project P’, the Civic was worked on by Honda’s Product Engineering department at their factory in Swindon, with an eye on creating what is possibly the fastest pick-up in the UK.

A standard Type R from the C-pillar forwards, Project P is only front-wheel drive, which sadly rules out much off-roading. However, it drives the production 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol unit that gives out 316bhp and 295lbf.ft – so it still packs a punch. Behind the C-Pillar, the Civic has been cut, stripped and then lined to transform it into a pick-up.

It retains the spoiler from the road car, and the boot still opens and closes. To be honest, little description is needed – a picture speaks a thousand words. And what a picture…

There are – shockingly – no plans to take the vehicle into production, but an attempt at a Nurburgring lap record for a front-wheel drive pick-up is potentially on the cards…

Ford will be appearing at the 4×4 & Pick-Up Show on 15th and 16th of June.

The ever-popular Ranger Wildtrak and the Kuga ST Line X will be present on their stand at the show, plus Ford will be offering test drives of two vehicles – the EcoSport Titanium and Edge Vignale – around the grounds at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, on both the trade day on Friday and the public day on Saturday.

4×4 Magazine will be at the show, as will headline sponsors Terrafirma, plus show partners Subaru, Isuzu and BFGoodrich. SsangYong – winners of our 4×4 of The Year award – will be at the show, as will bespoke manufacturers Deranged and DV8 Works, and there will be a wide variety of aftermarket specialists in attendance, too.

Whether your interest in pick-ups and 4x4s is for professional or recreational purposes, the 4×4 and Pick-up Show will have something for you with dedicated days for both the trade and public.

With headline sponsor Terrafirma and show partners Isuzu, Subaru and BFGoodrich, the show boasts expertise and quality in the off-road and pick-up field.

The show offers a complete showroom experience, bringing together leading manufacturers – like SsangYong, Subaru, Ford and Isuzu – and bespoke builders – such as Deranged, Arctic Trucks and DV8 Works – all in the same place, presenting the opportunity to browse the newest and most exciting vehicles on the market.

Ford, Subaru, Isuzu, SsangYong, Deranged and DV8 will run test drives on the day, plus suspension specialists SuperPro, making the most of the road network on the Stoneleigh grounds, giving you the chance to get to know the vehicles on show. For those who like to get dirty, Isuzu are taking over the on-site off-road course to showcase the abilities of their D-Max pick-up.

Not just about new vehicles, the 4x4and Pick-up Show will also bring you a diverse aftermarket offering, with two halls filled with everything from headlights to caravans. Brands such as Rhino Linings and Speedliner offer linings that protect your truck bed and ready it for work; Dynamat offer soundproofing expertise; tyres courtesy of Davanti and 4site 4×4 Tyres; OTS Truck Systems and Gearmate offer organisation solutions for pick-up beds and Terrafirma, Ironman 4×4 and Superpro offer serious hardware to ensure your suspension is up to standard.

It won’t be all work and no play, however, as a breadth of exhibitors offer lifestyle accessories and means to customise your vehicle. Ruskin bring bespoke interiors; 4x4overlander specialise in everything for vehicle-dependent adventures; Raptor 4×4, Front Runner and APB Trading Ltd stock off-roading accessories and equipment and Apollo Motorhomes, K2 Off-Road Caravans and Northstar have off-road accommodation covered.

For those working in farming, agriculture, the building industry that use a 4×4 or pick-up as a working vehicle – or even a buyer of vehicles for the trade – the 4×4 and Pick-Up Show is an ideal and easy way to take in the current market.

Whether you’re looking for a new vehicle, are looking to upgrade your own or simply want to see what the market has to offer then the show has you covered.

With the trade day on Friday 15th and public day Saturday 16th June, tickets can be pre-booked at £10 in advance with prices more on the day and under 14s going free.

In the June issue of 4×4 Magazine – out today – we put the Fiat Fullback Cross to the test, feature a jaw-dropping Land Rover-Suzuki hybrid, drive the hybrid Range Rover P400e and peer into the Ford Ranger aftermarket.

We also have first drives of the Jaguar E-Pace, the brand-new SsangYong Musso pick-up and have a preview for the upcoming 4×4 and Pick-Up Show. There’s a recap of the flurry of pick-ups released at the CV Show from Toyota, Arctic Trucks, Isuzu, Nissan and Ford. Plus we tell the tale of two Series Land Rovers that had a remarkable adventure, and we experience the new rubber on the block – Davanti’s Terratoura all-terrains.

We have an update on our long-term Skoda Kodiaq Scout, our Project 90 gets a thorough once-over in the workshop and there’s the usual Trail Guides – this month for Cambridgeshire, Wales and East Yorkshire.

You can pick up your copy from WHSmiths, independent news agents and in selected Sainsburys, order it online with free P&P or subscribe and get the next twelve issues for £12.

After three years of rumours, camo’d prototypes and being battered by the slogan Effortless, Everywhere, Rolls Royce have revealed their entrant into the SUV sector.

The Cullinan – named after the famous diamond, of course – comes with plenty of plush furnishing, pampering tech and tagline enforcing all-wheel drive.

As was clear from the first time we saw a prototype, the front end is unmistakably Roller. The grille, the lights and the bonnet ornament are textbook. The rear is unusual to see, as there’s no design language for a Rolls Royce of this shape, i.e. a wagon or an estate. The Cullinan incorporates the hips of it’s siblings and similar rectangular tail lights into a tidy rear end with a two-part tailgate entitled ‘The Clasp’.

When someone reaches for the door handle, the vehicle drops by 40mm to ensure they embark smoothly, and  it readjusts itself back to usual height upon ignition.

Needless to say the interior has wooden inserts, leather upholstery, champagne flute holders and everything else you’d expect in a Rolls Royce. Rear Pavilion seating, in both four and five seat variants, sits passengers in the back higher up to enjoy the views and make the most of the massive panoramic sunroof, and almost every surface of the interior is heated – seats, armrests, door sills and even the lower C-pillar. The infotainment is the first touch-screen system to be installed by the marque, and it isn’t the only new addition.

Unsurprisingly, the Cullinan is the first Rolls to feature an off-road mode and hill descent control, whilst the air suspension can be raised and lowered from the centre console. Presumably the development of these was when the vehicle was ‘tested to destruction’.

Powering the 2.6-tonne luxury SUV is a 6.75-litre, twin turbo V12 petrol unit, redeveloped to produce 563bhp and, most importantly, 627lbf.ft of torque at just 1,600rpm – making it easily accessible off-road. This gives a top speed of 155mph.

Electronic sensors adjust the shock absorbers, to push wheels short of traction into the ground, and the suspension set-up consists of a double-wishbone arrangement at the front and a five-link rear axle and the Cullinan has a wading depth of 540mm in the tallest suspension setting, plus four-wheel steering.

Possibly the least surprising stat here is that the Rolls Royce Cullinan is big. From nose to tail is 5.34m, it stands 1.83m tall and 2.16m wide, with a wheelbase marginally shy of 3.3m. This results in a 13-metre turning circle, so maybe nothing too technical. It won’t be cheap either, duh, with prices expected to rival the Bentley Bentayga at over £200,000.

The Cullinan certainly enters the luxury SUV sector with a dignified stroll, but whether it gets Rolls Royce customers down their local green lanes remains to be seen. Not that there are many in Mayfair…

Volvo began a partnership with Google last year, with the announcement that the next Sensus infotainment system would be the first to be run on the Android platform.

Now, news has been added that the next-gen Sensus will involve the voice-controlled Google Assistant. The system – the Android equivalent of Apple’s Siri – will be accompanied in the new suite by Google Maps and other apps from the Google Play Store along with features developed by the two companies in collaboration.

The inclusion of Google Assistant means you can simply tell your car what setting you want the air conditioning to be on, or you can dictate text messages and choose what music you want to listen to. Whilst the involvement of Google Maps will keep up to date with traffic levels and offer responsive alternative routes.

The system is due in 2020, and could make travelling much simpler and easier, but do you like the sound of it? Let us know in the comments section.

At the Electric Vehicle Expo, in Jeju, Korea, Kia has taken the covers off the all-electric version of its Niro crossover for the first time. Taking inspiration from the brand’s Niro EV Concept that appeared at the CES show in Las Vegas this year, the production vehicle will make it’s global debut at the Paris Motor Show in September.

The Niro EV will come with two lithium-polymer battery options – a 64kWh source with a claimed 380km and a smaller 39.2kWh system with a range of 240km.

Kia’s first electric vehicle will go on sale in Korea in the second half of 2018, with the Niro EV making it’s way to other markets after the global launch in September.

The Range Rover Velar arsenal has been broadened with the addition of a new engine and more safety tech.

A new 3.0-litre V6 D275 diesel unit joins the line-up, offering 271bhp and 461lbf.ft. Other additions see steering assist join the adaptive cruise control, culminating in lane-keeping abilities as standard equipment. More safety tech has been added to the stock list, with emergency braking, a rear camera, parking sensors and driver condition monitoring now fitted across the board.

Some of the petrol models have received slight changes too, with the P250 and P300 models boasting 82-litre fuel tanks – growth of 19-litres. Particulate filters will also feature in petrol Velars.

The model line tweaks will come into play on 2019 year models, with pricing for 19MY Velars starting at £44,735 and the new D275 available for £49,740.

Porsche are continuing their electrification charge with the latest Cayenne E-Hybrid.

The third-generation of the big Porsche comes with a 3.0-litre V6 paired with an electric motor – with a combined output of 456bhp and 516lbf.ft. That’s a 7bhp increase in petrol power and an extra 43% from the new battery over the predecessor. This give a top speed of 157mph and a 5 second run to 62mph.

A boost system from the 918 Spyder joins the influx of power and facilitates the electric motors functionality in all of the Cayenne’s driving modes. Economy figures have improved too, with new mpg stats of 69.2, and emissions of 72g/km.

With the increased power of the battery, there is also more overall performance. The capacity has increased from 10.8kWh to 14.1kWh. Stored beneath the floor, the fluid-cooled battery can be charged to full capacity from a 230 volt connection in 7.8 hours – aka 7hours and 48 minutes – but with the optional 7.2kW on-board charger it is possible to fully charge the battery in 2hours twenty minutes, sorry, 2.3 hours. Charging can be managed via the Porsche Connect app, as can the air conditioning and heating when the power is off.

Traction control system comes as standard as is active suspension management. Chassis control is optional, as is a trailer connection that comes with a load rating of 3.5-tonnes.

The model is the first Porsche to feature a heads-up display and also comes with adaptive cruise, massage seats and heated windscreen.

Pricing for the Cayenne E-Hybrid starts at £67,128 and the order books are open now.