Land Rover turns sixty in style with one of its most thrilling SUVs ever

When we enter our sixth decade, retirement, a bungalow in Eastbourne and plenty of time for hobbies loom large – but try telling that to Land Rover Defender SVX.

The Land Rover Defender SVX is celebrating it and the firm’s 60th birthday by refusing to grow old gracefully. In fact, the firm is hitting back at suggestions that it should pension off the Defender by revealing the most thrilling version yet!

The SVX is essentially a standard Defender 90 with some cosmetic updates. It’ll be offered as both a station wagon and the soft-top version seen here in prototype guise. This is the first time the roofless model has been sold in the UK for 20 years, and Land Rover has come up with an all-new hood that’s made from the sort of cloth you’d expect to see on a drop-top Jaguar, and stows in a solid box beneath the boot floor.

But the most obvious difference between the SVX and a regular Def­en­der is the metallic black paint. Combined with a silver rollcage, tub­ular side steps and unique five-spoke alloy wheels, it gives the 4x4 a tougher look. Arguably the best bit of the makeover is saved for the front, where there’s a restyled grille with clear light lenses.

Inside, Land Rover has given the SVX new seats in an effort to address the Defender’s perennial problem of limited elbow room. It’s a minor improvement and the one-piece Recaro chairs are certainly supportive, although taller drivers will still feel too squeezed for comfort in the utilitarian cabin.

This anniversary model also comes with Garmin sat-nav and an iPod connection, while there’s a new audio system with a subwoofer in the centre console. It’s a nice touch, but a little redundant once you’re under way, because road, wind and engine noise will drown out the sound system.

On-road, the SVX is like other new Defenders. It’s noisy compared to modern SUVs and vibrates like a car from another era. The new six-speed manual is easy to use, and other controls, particularly the clutch, require less effort than previous models – only the high/low ratio transfer box remains awkward to use. And let’s face it, if you’ve bought a Defender you’ll be using it, because this car is at its best off-road, and effortlessly covers terrain that would defeat most modern vehicles.

A £30,495 price tag ensures the SVX will appeal to a rarefied group of customers, but Land Rover shouldn’t find it difficult to sell the 300 cars
it’s planning to build.


[source:AutoExpress]

Audi S3 Sportback and A3 facelift

Audi has facelifted the A3 and while the tweaks can at best be described as mild, a new S3 Sportback has joined the line-up. The hot five-door runs the same 261bhp 2.0-litre TFSI engine found in the three-door S3, and of course the quattro four-wheel drive system is standard.

The exterior cosmetic surgery brings the looks of the A3 Cabriolet to the rest of the range. Tweaks include new headlights with standard daytime running lights and a new grille. The optional bi-xenons feature LEDs while the rear end of the A3 also gets new tail lights and a revised rear bumper that lengthens the car.
What about proper engineering tweaks for the facelifted Audi A3 and S3?

The VW Group’s new seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox will be available with the 1.6, 1.4 TSFI and 1.8 TFSI engines, while others engines will have the option of the six-speed S-tronic box. The semi-auto system is standard on the 3.2 quattro. Audi’s magnetic ride system also becomes an option on higher-end models, while tweaks to petrol engines cut consumption by as much as 15 percent.

Audi was the first premium manufacturer to offer a small hatch back way back in 1996, and the changes to the A3 should keep it fresh while Ingolstadt launches a whole raft of niche products over the next few years.

© Source: carmagazine
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Toyota Announces Mid-Year Pricing on Certain Toyota and Lexus Vehicles

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., announced new manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles, effective mid- to late May 2008.

Land Rover turns sixty in style with one of its most thrilling SUVs ever

When we enter our sixth decade, retirement, a bungalow in Eastbourne and plenty of time for hobbies loom large – but try telling that to Land Rover Defender SVX.

The Land Rover Defender SVX is celebrating it and the firm’s 60th birthday by refusing to grow old gracefully. In fact, the firm is hitting back at suggestions that it should pension off the Defender by revealing the most thrilling version yet!

The SVX is essentially a standard Defender 90 with some cosmetic updates. It’ll be offered as both a station wagon and the soft-top version seen here in prototype guise. This is the first time the roofless model has been sold in the UK for 20 years, and Land Rover has come up with an all-new hood that’s made from the sort of cloth you’d expect to see on a drop-top Jaguar, and stows in a solid box beneath the boot floor.

But the most obvious difference between the SVX and a regular Def­en­der is the metallic black paint. Combined with a silver rollcage, tub­ular side steps and unique five-spoke alloy wheels, it gives the 4x4 a tougher look. Arguably the best bit of the makeover is saved for the front, where there’s a restyled grille with clear light lenses.

Inside, Land Rover has given the SVX new seats in an effort to address the Defender’s perennial problem of limited elbow room. It’s a minor improvement and the one-piece Recaro chairs are certainly supportive, although taller drivers will still feel too squeezed for comfort in the utilitarian cabin.

This anniversary model also comes with Garmin sat-nav and an iPod connection, while there’s a new audio system with a subwoofer in the centre console. It’s a nice touch, but a little redundant once you’re under way, because road, wind and engine noise will drown out the sound system.

On-road, the SVX is like other new Defenders. It’s noisy compared to modern SUVs and vibrates like a car from another era. The new six-speed manual is easy to use, and other controls, particularly the clutch, require less effort than previous models – only the high/low ratio transfer box remains awkward to use. And let’s face it, if you’ve bought a Defender you’ll be using it, because this car is at its best off-road, and effortlessly covers terrain that would defeat most modern vehicles.

A £30,495 price tag ensures the SVX will appeal to a rarefied group of customers, but Land Rover shouldn’t find it difficult to sell the 300 cars
it’s planning to build.


[source:AutoExpress]

New smart TV advertising campaign reinforces safety credentials

smart will be the subject of a new television advertising campaign starting on Sunday 4 May. The three adverts dramatise some amazing facts about smart and show how safe, practical and economical the smart fortwo is.

Land Rover turns sixty in style with one of its most thrilling SUVs ever

When we enter our sixth decade, retirement, a bungalow in Eastbourne and plenty of time for hobbies loom large – but try telling that to Land Rover Defender SVX.

The Land Rover Defender SVX is celebrating it and the firm’s 60th birthday by refusing to grow old gracefully. In fact, the firm is hitting back at suggestions that it should pension off the Defender by revealing the most thrilling version yet!

The SVX is essentially a standard Defender 90 with some cosmetic updates. It’ll be offered as both a station wagon and the soft-top version seen here in prototype guise. This is the first time the roofless model has been sold in the UK for 20 years, and Land Rover has come up with an all-new hood that’s made from the sort of cloth you’d expect to see on a drop-top Jaguar, and stows in a solid box beneath the boot floor.

But the most obvious difference between the SVX and a regular Def­en­der is the metallic black paint. Combined with a silver rollcage, tub­ular side steps and unique five-spoke alloy wheels, it gives the 4x4 a tougher look. Arguably the best bit of the makeover is saved for the front, where there’s a restyled grille with clear light lenses.

Inside, Land Rover has given the SVX new seats in an effort to address the Defender’s perennial problem of limited elbow room. It’s a minor improvement and the one-piece Recaro chairs are certainly supportive, although taller drivers will still feel too squeezed for comfort in the utilitarian cabin.

This anniversary model also comes with Garmin sat-nav and an iPod connection, while there’s a new audio system with a subwoofer in the centre console. It’s a nice touch, but a little redundant once you’re under way, because road, wind and engine noise will drown out the sound system.

On-road, the SVX is like other new Defenders. It’s noisy compared to modern SUVs and vibrates like a car from another era. The new six-speed manual is easy to use, and other controls, particularly the clutch, require less effort than previous models – only the high/low ratio transfer box remains awkward to use. And let’s face it, if you’ve bought a Defender you’ll be using it, because this car is at its best off-road, and effortlessly covers terrain that would defeat most modern vehicles.

A £30,495 price tag ensures the SVX will appeal to a rarefied group of customers, but Land Rover shouldn’t find it difficult to sell the 300 cars
it’s planning to build.


[source:AutoExpress]

BRABUS S V12 S Tuning Package For The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL - First Look

It's no secret that eMercedesBenz are fans of the fine work perpetually turned out by German tuning powerhouse BRABUS, and the latest addition to their tuning portfolio - a styling package for the new-generation Mercedes SL - is no exception to the rule. With a range of upgrades including a new front apron, side skirts, rear apron and 20-inch wheels, BRABUS has managed to successfully infuse a slightly more assertive character into the redesigned model without sacrificing its original, overall feel.

Of course, if you opt for one of the BRABUS performance packages - such as the S V12 S package for one of the V12 SL variants - the incredible amount of power at your disposal will speak for itself. Although BRABUS has yet to release the official details for the 2009 variants, for the previous SL, the S V12 S package increased output to 730 hp / 537 kW and and 1,350 Nm or torque, enough to propel the model from 0-62 mph in 4.0 seconds and reach a top speed of 217 mph.

If that's not Mercedes tuning at its finest, I don't know what is.

© Source: emercedesbenz
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