This year’s Camp Jeep will take place in Austria, in Spielberg Arena at the Red Bull Ring.
For members of the Jeep Owners Group, the European event will allow attendees the opportunity to traverse challenging courses in their own vehicles.
The new Wrangler will be the start of the show, and visitors will be able to test the vehicle out themselves both on and off-road. Other Jeep vehicles will be available to drive in Austria as well, including the 700bhp Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.
Toyota have revealed the all-new RAV4 ahead of its debut at the New York International Auto Show, sporting a more angular body with a contrasting roof.
The newly designed fifth-generation SUV is on Toyota’s latest TNGA platform, giving it a wider stance and more ground clearance than the predecessor. Overall length is slightly up on the current model, meaning a longer wheelbase, too. Front and rear overhang has been reduced, giving the new RAV4 better approach and departure angles.
Two new powertrains will be available in the new RAV4, with a 2.5-litre hybrid system and a 2.0-litre petrol unit with both manual and automatic transmissions. A new electric all-wheel drive system has been developed for the electrified power unit, using one of two electric motors on the rear axle to offer extra torque and also aid fuel efficiency. The mechanical system for the petrol unit has been improved, featuring twin couplings and rear disconnect with the automatic transmission.
There’s no news yet on pricing or specifications, but these are expected after the reveal in New York with the new RAV4 expected in the UK early in 2019.
It wasn’t long after Merc revealed the new G-Class that their pals at AMG had their way with it.
The G-63 has a 4-litre V8 under the bonnet, kicking out 585bhp and 626lbf.ft. This means that the Goliath wagon has a new top speed of 137mph – or 149mph with the optional AMG Driver’s package. It also means an incredibly impressive 4.5 seconds to sixty for a truck that weighs around 2.5 tonnes.
The iconic design of the G-Class was tweaked for the new model, and a host of new tech has been utilised to retain its off-road prowess in this latest form. It comes with a nine-speed automatic box, three locking diffs, a nine-speed automatic transmission and AMG have added ride control suspension, a sports exhaust and performance brakes.
As expected, the prices for an AMG fettled G are higher than the £90k for a boggo one. The G-63 starts at £143,305, with a special Edition 1 available for £164,495.
The Edition 1 comes with matte black alloys with red rims, exclusive upholstery and Edition 1 badging.
UK pricing for the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio has been announced. The hot Stelvio is the fastest SUV around the Nurburgring comes with a twin turbo 2.9-litre V6 that makes 510bhp and 442lbf.ft.
Standard spec includes 20-inch alloys, alcantara seats, a leather dash and steering wheel with carbon fibre trim plus stainless-steel pedals. The 8.8-inch infotainments system is standard, too, and has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Safety tech includes autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, integrated braking system, and a reversing camera as standard.
There’s also electronic chassis control, active torque vectoring and an active suspension system, plus a Race Mode, that helped the SUV tame the infamous German track.
Prices for the Stelvio Quadrifoglio will start at £69,500 in the UK.
You may have noticed that China has gone car crazy. The country is frequently appearing as the biggest market for many manufacturers, and they’re also producing an ever-increasing number of start-up brands themselves.
The latest SUV financed from China is the Karlmann King, and like the others it doesn’t pose clean, electric transportation and innovative ride sharing, or anything like it. It’s being dubbed the worlds most expensive SUV, which is justified given the fact that the rumoured price is well over £1million.
Underneath the unique bodywork, believe it or not you’d find the frame of a Ford F550, and a slightly fettled version of it’s 6.8-litre engine – but it still only has 398bhp. That isn’t a horrific figure, until you read that it’s top speed is 87mph because it weighs 6 tonnes in bulletproofed guise. It’s only four and a half without, but it was still brave to shoot the promo on sand at that weight.
But, outright speed isn’t what this exclusive SUV is all about. The party starts inside (not just because you don’t have to look at it any more). Diamond encrusted clocks, champagne fridges and, if you watch the touchscreen in the video below, there appears to be a coffee function, and that’s just half of it. The interior looks like something out of a video game or a movie, and is littered with touchscreens and tech. Laptops are integrated into the cabin that also houses a 40″ TV and a PlayStation. It’s essentially a vehicle for the oil-rich martians among us.
The production run will barely reach double figures, with only a dozen being made. That means only 12 people will be splashing out £1.52million on Karlmann Kings.
This morning saw the launch of the third-generation Volkswagen Touareg, at a global reveal held in China.
It’s the first model from the German marque to feature the new Innovision cockpit – the latest generation of infotainment that consists of 12″and 15″ digital screens. The footer is a digital cockpit behind the steering wheel, combining sat-nav and driving data, whilst the bigger screen sits centrally on the dash and on the whole removes the necessity of buttons. The touchscreen controls everything from on-board entertainment to the comfort settings and makes personalisation easy.
With a wide breadth of driver assistance and safety features, the new Touareg pushes the boat out. One of the new additions is a night vision system that detects people, animals and obstacles in the dark using thermal imaging. More conventional inclusions are lane assist, front cross traffic assist and four-wheel steering. Electronically manned anti-roll bars add stability to the ride, whilst it has VW’s signature windscreen head-up display and also gets automatic LED headlights. All of these features can be controlled via the central touchscreen.
The new Touareg is bigger than its predecessor – in both width and length – affording for more interior space – rear storage capacity is increased by 113-litres when the rear seats are upright. But despite it’s bigger size the new SUV is lighter thanks to construction consisting of 48% aluminium.
V6 engines accompany the new Touareg from launch – diesels with 231bhp or 286bhp. In certain markets these will be followed by a petrol version (340bhp) and a powerful diesel V8 good for 421bhp. A plug-in hybrid will be released in China, with a European launch date for the green option still undecided.
The Touareg was launched alongside a trio of SUVs exclusive to China – VW’s biggest global market – and as yet there are no specifics on pricing or general release.
Many manufacturers have their traditions, most of which are waiting a decade or so and sticking a birthday badge on an otherwise unchanged model. But, being a brand that oozes off-road smarts, Jeep do things a bit differently.
They host an annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari, where off-road nuts congregate for a week of technical driving, breath-taking views and endless ‘my Jeep is bigger than yours’ banter.
And to celebrate this, Jeep produces a batch of concepts each year that, with the help of Mopar, usually include badass, retro, or hard-core versions of the current line-up. This year is no different. And without further ado, here is a run through of the offering for 2018:
Jeep 4SPEED
Light – bonnet, fender flares and rear tub all made of lightweight carbon fibre, whilst other bodywork is light and minimal.
Higher ride height – the 4SPEED sits two inches higher than a stock Wrangler.
Better angles – overall length has been shortened by 22-inches(!), without changing the wheelbase, which means vastly improved approach and departure angles!
New engine – the 4SPEED showcases the latest 2.0-litre turbocharged straight-four unit from the Wrangler range, alongside an eight-speed auto ‘box.
Custom interior – the instrument panel has been revamped for the concept, rear seats removed and the floor bedlined and floor is aluminium plated.
Jeep Sandstorm
Baja inspired – vented carbon fibre hood, high clearance arches all round, chopped rear doors, plus the lay-down spare among the roll cage gives the Sandstorm that Baja image. It also has a race-style fuel filler, race lights and an on-board air compressor. There’s also low bucket seats, a 7-inch GPS system and switches for an air-compressor and axle lockers.
Baja ready – an extreme-duty suspension system is prepared for dune bashing and highway cruising; custom coilovers and bypass shocks means 14-inches of front travel and 18-inches at the back. High clearance front and rear tube bumpers and modified rock rails mean it’s tough.
Longer wheelbase – the front axle has been moved forward four-inches with a heavy-duty long arm four-link suspension and track bar, whilst the rear has been moved back half as much and utilises a triangulated trailing arm four-link setup.
Keep on rolling – heavy duty Dynatrac 60 axles with a 5.68 gear ratio, plus 17-inch beadlock wheels and 39.5-inch BFG Krawler tyres mean the Sandstorm should be unstoppable.
Powerful engine – the concept gets a Mopar tuned 6.4-litre V8, with a six-speed manual transmission.
Jeep B-Ute
Customised for adventure – bonnet has heat extractors, wider flares are in place alongside a custom grille and individual front and rear fascias.
Jeep Performance Parts – a 1.5-inch lift kit, roof rack and rock rails are added from the JPP catalogue. 17-inch wheels are offset by 30mm and wrapped in BFG Baja Champions.
Cool interior – customised seats, with ‘mineral’ inserts, join a carbonite finished shifter and dash trimmings, plus a Molle system on the back of the front seats and Mopar all-weather floor mats.
B-rUte of an engine – the 2.4-litre Tigershark engine from the Jeep line-up joins a nine-speed automatic gearbox.
Jeep Wagoneer Roadtrip
Nostalgic – the Wagoneer Roadtrip concept is inspired by the 1965 Jeep Wagoneer
Mechanically modern –A five-inch increase in the wheelbase comes alongside wider track. The boxed frame has been strengthened, and Dana 44 front and rear axles with lockers, four-link suspension with coilover springs means the Wagoneer can go further than its looks would suggest. It’s 17-inch wheels are graced with BFG Mud-Terrains.
Original interiors – the front and rear bench seats, door panels, kick and rear panels are all original and trimmed in oxblood leather. A wicker headline keeps the interior light, and a custom cooler styled on period luggage and a tool box created from the original engine add practicality that oozes cool.
Obviously, a V8 – 5.7-litres worth, too. And being the first 4×4 fitted with an auto box, this concept gets a four-speed.
Nacho Jeep
The Nacho Jeep is a ‘rolling catalogue’. It shows people what they could get if they pillaged the JPP range from Mopar and stuck it all to a Wrangler Rubicon. So, despite any tortilla-themed jokes, it could be yours. Here’s what’s on it:
Hood with standard JPP graphic, that accommodates cold-air intake.
Satin black Mopar grille.
Rubicon bumpers with Warn winch kit.
Magnetti Marelli LEDs situated on A-pillar and brush guard, plus Automotive Lighting LED header lights on wind shield.
Rear LED off-road scouting lights (red -stop; amber – 1-3mph; green -3-25mph) and floodlight.
2-inch lift kit.
5-inch diameter aluminium body shocks.
37-inch tyres wrapped around 17-inch beadlock rims.
Fortified rock rails.
Jeep embossed grab handles.
Spare tyre tailgate reinforced hinge.
Black fuel door.
Black Katzkin leather seats, with embossed Jeep grille.
Satin finish on the wheel is the ONLY feature of the Nacho that isn’t available on production Wrangler.
Jeep Jeepster
Two-tone – a JPP enhanced concept that evokes the image of the 1966 Jeepster through a Wrangler Rubicon. It’s also got two-tone paint like the classic.
New meets old – styling may mirror a past hero, but the bonnet, snorkel, bumpers, LED lights and fog lamps are all a mix of JPP stock and production options.
Modern capability – a 2-inch lift kit and 2.5-inch diameter coil body shocks, plus the 37-inch BFG KO2 tyres ensure contemporary off-road ability.
Concept roll cage – non-production tubular roll cage replaces the sports bar, and has an integrated spare tyre carrier on board, too. The interior isn’t all utilitarian, with Katzin leather seating adorned in matching red trim.
Storage packs – with the spare tyre inside, Jeep saw the opportunity for concept exterior storage. The split design allows for a rear-view camera, and rear mounted storage racks, and the rock step is a combination of rock rails and side steps.
Jeep J-Wagon
‘Premium-styled’ – again utilising the extensive JPP range, the J-Wagon is a luxurious take on a customised Wrangler Sahara.
Urban vibe – the non-production paint is called ‘Warm Neutral Grey’ (…), tinted windows and Brass Monkey touches across the exterior add to the street appeal, as do the black accents from the JPP vault.
Still capable – 5-inch LED lights will illuminate any trail, plus black concept rock rails and roof racks add to practicality and the image. The tailgate mounted spare tyre hinge is reinforced and is equipped with a high mounted stop light.
Luxury interior – camel-coloured Katzkin seats feature dark brown piping, whilst the interior trimmings are given the Brass Monkey treatment to match the exterior.
Mitsubishi have added a new special edition to the L200 line-up – the SVP Barbarian II.
The L200 gets the Special Vehicle Projects makeover for the second time, with a duo of two-tone colourways. The SVP Barbarian II will come in pearlescent Diamond Black or Atlantic Grey, with details on both picked out in a metallic orange. Only 250 will enter production, with half of them in each base colour. Custom black and orange 17″ alloys and extended wheel arches and SVP grille further differentiate the Barbarian from other L200s.
The dark interior also features striking orange detailing, with each of the SVPs getting their production number etched into the headrests. Standard equipment includes the SDA infotainment system, rain-sensing wipers, bluetooth connectivity, xenon headlights with LED running lights, cruise control and reversing camera.
Barbarians will get the 2.4-litre, all-aluminium turbodiesel unit with 4WD and the choice of a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic gearbox.
The L200 SVP Barbarian II is available to order now, in both colours, with prices starting at £29,830.
Kia’s Sportage has reached five million global sales.
The first generation Sportage went on sale 25 years ago, and over it’s production sold over half a million units. Following that the second-gen SUV went on to sell over 1.2million units, and after another revision the Sportage reached a similar figure in just four years.
The current fourth-generation Sportage has reached the million milestone after being on sale for less than two and a half years, and in January tipped the lifetime global figures over five million.
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