2008 Infiniti EX35: ready to get one?

Nissan's luxurious brand has officially confirmed that the 2008 Infiniti EX35 crossover SUV is now on sale in the United States. The vehicle is available for order in four trims, namely RWD ($31,300), RWD Journey ($34,850), AWD ($32,700) and AWD Journey ($36,250).


The choice of engines is limited to only one 297 hp 3.5-liter DOHC V6, which is mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox. The automatic may work in both Manual Shift Mode and Drive Sport Mode but the low number of gear ratios is rather disappointing now, when you can get a vehicle with seven- or even eight-speed gearboxes.



Top of the line 2008 Infiniti EX35 Journey trim comes with standard power moonroof, leather-appointed seats, automatic second row seat, auto dimming mirror, HomeLink garage doors and home security systems control system, front and rear sonar, and automatic headlights.



The list of options, company is reporting in its press release, includes the Around Vehicle Monitor (AVM) parking assistance technology, Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system.








See also: Audi Q7 Hybrid SUV: more info

Technorati tags: Infiniti, EX35, AWD, RWD, Journey, price, SUV

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Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line SUV is in the works

Volkswagen's "special engineering" department VW Individual is reportedly working on an "R-Line" trim for the yet to start selling VW Tiguan compact SUV. Although officially called a design "study", the trim will possibly be available for the SUV's prospective buyers. At least, it would be nice to see the tuning kit installed on otherwise dull and uninspiring Tiguan.



The kit, as you can see on the photos, consists of new front and rear bumpers, 19-inch multispoke wheels, naturally-looking wheel arch extensions and a new grille with chrome parts.



Inside the VW Tiguan R-Line you'll find a multifunction steering wheel and a pair of sport seats for the driver and front passenger.



See also: Toyota RAV4 Cross Sport to be unveiled in Frankfurt

Technorati tags: VW, Volkswagen, Tiguan, R-Line, tuning, SUV

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2009 Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid is a go

General Motors is planning to start selling an electric plug-in version of its 2008 Saturn Vue compact SUV sometime "in 2009," Detroit Free Press is reporting citing Saturn's general manager Jill Lajdziak.




Having a powertrain combining lithium-ion batteries and GM's two-mode hybrid system, the electric-powered Vue will be capable of traveling up to 10 miles on a single charge before switching to an internal-combustion engine.



The batteries will possibly be recharged on the go with the help of regenerative braking technologies. There will also be a less convenient option of plugging-in the car to the electric grid via a standard 110-volt household outlet; although the company says nothing about how long will it take to recharge the batteries to full capacity.

There is still no info about the vehicle's price.

See also: Audi Q7 Hybrid SUV: more info

Technorati tags: Saturn, Vue, plug-in, hybrid, GM, SUV

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2007 Mazda CX7 is available in the U.K.

British customers are now able to buy the brand new Mazda CX7 crossover SUV. Formerly available only in Japan and the United States, the sporty crossover has finally come to Europe. The car, it follows from Mazda's press release, will available only in one basic trim and will start at £23,960.




For the money, you'll get a car-based SUV equipped with a noisy 2.3-liter turbocharged engine we've come to know from Mazdaspeed6 and Mazda MPS. It is capable of delivering 260 ps and 380 Nm.



The list of standard equipment includes leather seats, Xenon headlights, 18-inch alloys, air-conditioning, cruise control, parking sensors in front and rear, and a BOSE surround audio system.



See also: Mazda CX-7 is dressing up for Europe

Technorati tags: Mazda, CX7, crossover, engine, Bose, SUV

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Toyota RAV4 Cross Sport to be unveiled in Frankfurt

At the upcoming motor show in Frankfurt, Toyota will present its new Toyota RAV4 Cross Sport vehicle. Well, it takes a lot of guts to envision a cross-country version of a car that was supposed to be an off-roader for starters.




The last generation of Toyota RAV4 was essentially a city-dweller that only looked like a small SUV. Unfortunately, current model doesn't even sport a SUV-like appearance, looking more like a station wagon with slightly increased ground clearance. No wonder that Toyota's marketing department has eventually decided to introduce a trim with more muscular and SUV-like looks.



The Toyota RAV4 Cross Sport will be powered by a choice of three engines, including a 2.0 liter 152 hp VVT-I and a 2.2 liter D-4D diesel.

The list of equipment includes 17-inch alloys, LED tail-lamps, a DVD navigation system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, parking assistance and anthracite colored seats.

The car is expected to arrive in European dealerships by the middle of this month.

See also: 2008 Toyota Highlander starts at $27,300

Technorati tags: Toyota, RAV4, Cross Sport, DVD, LED, SUV

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Ford Escape Hybrid flex-fuel vehicles go to Illinois

Ford has delivered first seven out of twenty hybrid-powered Ford Escape SUVs capable of working on E85 flex-fuel. The vehicles have gone to the State of Illinois, Illinois Corn Growers and Commonwealth Edison.




There are more than 140 E85 refueling stations in Illinois so Ford has a good opportunity to field-test its flex-fuel hybrids in real conditions.

First introduced in January at the Washington, D.C. auto show, the Ford E85 Escape Hybrid produces about 25 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a gasoline-fueled Escape Hybrid. Another advantage of the car is that it runs on a completely renewable fuel, helping reroute some money from the Middle East to the Middle West.

See also: Twenty Ford Escape Hybrid E85 SUVs go to six states

Technorati tags: Ford, Escape, hybrid, E85, Illinois, SUV

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Audi Q7 Hybrid SUV: more info

Audi has finally provided some more information on the hybrid version of its Audi Q7 SUV currently in the works. Although sharing its 7L platform with Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg, the Q7 will probably not get the upcoming hybrid drive from the Cayenne and will have to use Audi's own job.




The Audi Q7's hybrid drive, Audi says in its press release, will possibly be combined of VW's current 280hp/375Nm 3.6-liter FSI V6 and a 50hp/285Nm electric motor. To ensure the maximum fuel efficiency, the electric device will be nested between the engine and the torque converter of the automatic gearbox.



Having about 660Nm of combined torque, the Audi Q7 Hybrid will propel itself from zero to 100km/h in just 7.6 seconds and sprint from 60 to 120km/h in 11.9 seconds. In EU combined cycle, the hybrid SUV will consume about 9.8 liters of gas per 100 km (it is around 29 mpg). That's really not bad, considering that the vehicle weighs 2,480 kg (5460 lb) and that the base model drinks has 23 percent worse mileage. And its level of CO2 emissions will also drop from 304 g/km to less frightening 231 g/km.



See also: Audi Q7 SUV may go hybrid

Technorati tags: Audi, Audi Q7, hybrid, VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, SUV

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2008 Dodge Journey to debut in Frankfurt

Chrysler will use the upcoming IAA motor show in Frankfurt to officially debut its 2008 Dodge Journey crossover SUV. Set to compete against such strong players as the new Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Forester, Opel Antara, and the recently introduced 2008 Toyota Highlander, the Journey will definitely have hard time getting to customers' wallets.




The 2008 Dodge Journey, company is reporting in its press release, will be based on the GS platform, used by the 2008 Dodge Avenger, as well as by the aforementioned Mitsubishi Outlander, Jeep Compass, and Dodge Caliber. The platform was stretched by 124 mm, though, to accommodate seven (or, actually, 5 + 2) passengers.



The vehicle will be available in both front- and all-wheel-drive and will be equipped with a choice of at least three engines. The most powerful 3.5-liter V6 powerplant will generate up to 325 hp and 232 lb-ft (314 Nm) of torque. Another engine, a 2.4-liter inline four-pot, will produce only 173 hp and 166ft-lb (224Nm) of torque, while the last powerplant, a 2.7-liter V6, will squeeze out 186 hp and 191ft-lb (259Nm).



There is no info on pricing and general availability yet.



See also: Dodge Nitro UK pricing announced

Technorati tags: Dodge, Journey, Mitsubishi Outlander, Toyota Highlander, crossover, SUV

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Phoenix electric SUV to be delayed?

It seems that Phoenix Motorcars company will not be able to start shipping its long-awaited SUVs and SUTs by this fall as it was promised. The company still struggles to work through certification process with ARB, solve problems with financing and set their own production facility. The first vehicles will be shipped to customers in early 2008. So far the company has received 500 orders for the vehicle.



The vehicle in question is based on the Chinese-owned and Korea-produced Ssangyong Actyon SUV and Ssangyong Actyon Sport SUT. The Actyon's internal combustion engine is replaced with an electric motor, which is powered by lithium titanate batteries. Currently, the EV SUV may run about 130 miles on a single charge reaching a top speed of 100 mph.



Produced by Altair Nanotechnologies, lithium titanate batteries have significant advantage over the other types of electric accumulators -- once exhausted, they may be recharged in about half an hour.

See also: 150 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cells in the Project Driveway giveaway

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150 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cells in the Project Driveway giveaway

Well, it's not exactly a giveaway. General Motors plans to have "up to" 150 experimental Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell crossover SUVs to be delivered to a group of select drivers both in the U.S. and Europe. Those lucky ones chosen to participate in the program, will be used as guinea pigs beta-testers of the hydrogen-fueled vehicles. They will also get their H2 fuel for free.




It is reported that the first parties of Equinoxes will be delivered to California, New York and the Washington, DC areas. Another lot of the Chevies will cross the Pond with the HydroGen 4 nameplate installed.







See also: 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV will start at $26,620

Technorati tags: Chevrolet, Equinox, fuel cell, H2, SUV, CO2, price

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