CaravanAnd4WD.com

LAND Rover has given its super-successful Range Rover Sport a thorough pull-through
for the 2010 model year, with an expanded and more expensive 10MY range set for
release in Australia early next month – just weeks after its European launch.
The upgraded Rangie Sport line-up benefi ts from a range of technical and
equipment improvements also seen on the 10MY Discovery and Range Rover Vogue,
but it is the only SUV of the improved trio to score all three bristling new petrol and
diesel engines from Jaguar’s XF sedan.
Opening the sportiest Range Rover’s account is the 3.0 TDV6, which at $99,900
costs $9000 more than the 2.7 TDV6 it replaces. Its 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel V6
is a development of the 2.7-litre single turbo engine that carries
on in Australia’s 10MY Discovery.
And what a development it is. While the 2.7 offered up a
respectable 140kW of power and 440Nm of
torque, the 3.0 pumps out 29 per cent more peak power (180kW at 4000rpm) and some
36 per cent more torque, with a class-leading 600Nm at 2000rpm.
So while 0-100km/h acceleration tumbles from 12.7 to 9.3 seconds, so too does fuel
consumption – from a combined average of 10.0 to 9.2L/100km (down 8.9 per cent) – and
CO2 emissions, by 8.3 per cent to 243g/km.
There is no doubting the claims, either, with fuel economy numbers hovering around
the 10s during the combined global and Australian 10MY launch drive in Scotland
last week, despite plenty of spirited driving.
But the biggest surprise from the new diesel V6, which also powers some top-end
Citroen and Peugeot models, is the way it delivers more performance than the 2.7 more
quietly and more smoothly right across the rev range.
It truly is a signifi cant step forward from its already-satisfying predecessor and,
with 83 per cent of peak torque (500Nm) available in a claimed 500 milliseconds,
its considerable response arrives virtually without delay.
While Land Rover’s even more impressive 200kW/640Nm TDV8
diesel carries over unchanged in the 10MY
range (in which it still returns 11.1L/100km and 294g/km), two versions
are now available, meaning it should continue to be the most popular variant within the fi veseat
Discovery-based Rangie Sport range.
The base TDV8 now costs $120,500 (up from $118,900), while a new TDV8 Luxury
grade hikes the price by $15,000 to $135,500.
Similarly, two petrol V8 variants are now also on offer – for $125,900, which is
$7000 more than the price of the outgoing Rangie Sport 4.4 V8, and $138,900. Like
the V6 diesel, however, the V8 petrol Sport is worlds ahead of the model it replaces.
Also from the XF is an all-new directinjection 5.0-litre petrol V8 featuring an
industry-fi rst centrally mounted multi-hole spray-guided fuel-injection system to deliver
25 per cent more power than the 4.4 (276kW at 6500rpm – up from 220kW) and 16 per
cent more torque (510Nm at 3500rpm – up from 427Nm).
The result is 6.8 per cent lower fuel consumption (13.9L/100km) and 7.1 per
cent lower CO2 emissions (326g/km), while the 0-100km/h acceleration time plummets
to just 7.6 seconds, making the Rangie Sport V8 more than 1.5 seconds quicker than both
the TDV6 (9.3 seconds) and TDV8 (9.2).
Eclipsing even this performance, however, is the muscle of Jaguar Land Rover’s new
supercharged 5.0-litre V8, which knocks out a cracking 375kW at 6000rpm (29 per cent
more than the blown 4.2-litre V8 it succeeds)
and no less than 625Nm of torque between 2500 and 5500rpm – up 12 per cent.
Courtesy of a sixth-generation twin-vortex blower, the performance is enough to rocket
the 2590kg Rangie Sport Supercharged to 100km/h in a sportscar-like 6.2 seconds (18
per cent quicker than before), but at the same time average fuel consumption reduces by
6.2 per cent to 15.0L/100km, while CO2 emissions fall by seven per cent to 353g/km.
The top-shelf Rangie Sport is priced at $159,900, which is precisely $15,000 more
than the price of the superseded Range Rover Sport 4.2 Super ($144,900).

They all look like really posh ride in Lawn Mowers to me

I would love one but would never buy one simply due to the depreciation. Beautiful tow vehicle tho' ...

Scolers wrote:I would love one but would never buy one simply due to the depreciation. Beautiful tow vehicle tho' ...

I want one, l might just stop looking at the Mighty Sun Rise's, get a second Mortgage, buy myself one of those funny looking Smoker's Jackets with the Padded Elbows & even get myself one of those funny Pipes like Shemrock Homes the Supa Sluth:oops:



Hang on one Gawd Dam second there
I dont like the Idea of talkin' all Posh like.
Pip - Pip,
Wotcha,
Nout,
Bolllacks,
& bugger the Thought of drinking Warm Beer,

I'll stick with the Might of the Sun Rise

My105R wrote:The result is 6.8 per cent lower fuel consumption (13.9L/100km)

Not bad .. but the petrol cruiser get's that ... even my V8 100 series ... mind you it hasn't got a zillion Nm's of torque ...

BTW ... I couldn't pic the accent ...

Scolly.

How would I be if I didn't allow a second chance for the Crout's SUV to give a bit of a Kicking to the Pommy Cruiser



Enter the VW's Contender





VOLKSWAGEN has wrapped up the development of its all-new Touareg Hybrid
SUV, which will go on sale in selected markets next year.
Final fuel consumption testing results are yet to be revealed, but engineers had
been given the task of achieving 8.5 litres per 100km – an impressive number for
such a large vehicle. This represents a fuel economy gain of more than 25 per cent, but
the Touareg Hybrid also promises improved acceleration and the ability to tow loads of
up to 3500kg.
However, Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) is yet to decide if the high-end vehicle
will make it to Australia any time soon.
We spent time with Touareg Hybrid development engineers at Volkswagen’s
Wolfsburg headquarters last week and was briefed on the vehicle before a test drive in
early prototype vehicles. While details of the upcoming Touareg remain undisclosed,
the team painted a detailed picture of how the petrol-electric SUV would function.
The petrol component of the vehicle is a supercharged 3.0-litre direct-injection TSI
V6 engine from the Audi S4 sports sedan.
It produces a healthy 245kW of power and 440Nm of torque. An ‘E-motor’ electric
motor sits between the engine and the gearbox, delivering 30kW and 110Nm.
The hybrid components add 175kg to the Touareg’s weight. However, the new
Touareg’s body will be significantly lighter than the current version, meaning
that the Touareg Hybrid is expected to weigh about 2250kg when it enters
production.
Despite its heft, the Touareg Hybrid prototype is still capable of surging from
0-100km/h in just 6.8 seconds. Insiders suggest the production vehicle will be
another 0.3 seconds faster.
While Toyota and Lexus hybrids use a continuously variable transmission (CVT),
the Touareg Hybrid uses a regular Aisen torque converter automatic transmission with
eight gears. It does not receive the lockable centre differential and low-range transfer case
of the regular model, but does have constant all-wheel drive.
Volkswagen said the car was still extremely capable off-road, even without low-range
gearing, thanks to its low-end torque.
As long as the driver is easy on the accelerator, the SUV can run in pure electric
mode up to 50km/h before the combustion engine takes over. The combustion engine
stops when the driver backs off the throttle, up to 160km/h. If the driver reapplies the
throttle gently, the vehicle can continue at some speed before the petrol engine starts up
again. An idle-stop feature is also built in.
Ancillary systems such as headlights, stereo, heating and air-conditioning can draw
energy from the electric motor, although after a while the combustion engine will need to
kick in to keep the energy levels high.
The hybrid SUV has a 79kg 240-cell nickel-metal hydride battery pack below the
rear cargo fl oor. It uses the same technology as the Toyota Prius and its competitors. It
generates 288 volts and stores 1.7 kilowatt hours of electricity.

The battery is housed in an aluminium case that is cooled by an air vent that sucks
in air from below the car. Although it sits in the spare wheel well, the luggage fl oor has
still had to be raised 50mm.
At this stage there is no plan for a spare wheel of any kind, just a tyre repair kit,
but Volkswagen could end up offering a mounting to make sure owners do not get
stuck in the outback.
The vehicle runs low-rolling-resistance tyres for maximum efficiency.
The battery gets a top-up charge from regenerative braking, in which the
electric motor reverses the current under deceleration while helping to slow the car.
The Touareg Hybrid initially accelerates in electric-only mode before switching to
combustion engine-only mode, but if the driver fl oors the accelerator or pre-selects
a special S mode, both powerplants go to work at the same time.
Healthy performance and the ability of the Touareg Hybrid to tow heavy loads was
central to the vehicle’s development. “We wanted this to replicate the Touareg
driving experience,” said VW's project manager.
“Customers like the Touareg. We couldn’t allow any compromises.”
he said Volkswagen did not want the Touareg Hybrid to be like the
Lexus RX450h, which is not designed to go off-road and had a reduced towing load.
“It (the Lexus) looks like an SUV, but it isn’t an SUV,” he said.
This is one of the reasons why VW refused to use a CVT and instead developed
the regular automatic. It claims a CVT would not have been able to cope with the
necessary extreme towing loads and uphill driving.
When the Touareg Hybrid goes into electric mode, it freewheels, without
engine braking. This could be a problem for extreme off-road work when drivers rely
on engine braking to slow their descent.
Volkswagen would not discuss the details but said it had a solution for this problem.
Elements of the Touareg Hybrid system including the E-motor unit – developed with
Bosch – will be used for other Volkswagen Group vehicles. It will be suitable for
small-car platforms and can be adapted to double-clutch DSG automatics.
Volkswagen said it was already looking at next-generation lithium-ion batteries,
but said it was not yet convinced they were ready for cars. The company is yet to reveal
a price for the hybrid model, but the VW PM
said it would be “one of the top-end models in the Touareg range”.
The Touareg Hybrid will look largely the same as the regular combustion-engined
models, although there will be some small design touches to help the vehicle stand out.
It is not yet clear when the Touareg Hybrid will touch down in Australia.
VGA said the car was not on its short-term model plan and would have to be carefully
considered given its premium price and relatively low volume.

A hybrid SUV that can tow 3500kg's ...

They're excellent stats too ... damn ... must be time to get the wife back to work ... I promised her a Hybrid Prius or the Honda ... now I can have one too!

*insert dancing banana*

Scol.

Revhead Kev wrote:

Thank you ..

You snooze you loose Bit-sa-miss





TOYOTA Australia has released images and details of its first-ever three-door LandCruiser Prado 4WD ahead of its Australian launch alongside the new-generation five-door wagon in November.

Part of the new 150 Series Prado range presented in five-door form ahead of the Frankfurt motor show last month,
the three-door model – which broke cover for the first time this morning in an Australian world-first – will be offered only with diesel power.

It will also come with a comparably high level of standard equipment including seven airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), traction control and ABS brakes.

Toyota Australia has also confirmed that alloy wheels and keyless entry/start will be standard on the three-door Prado, which has the same front-end as the five-door but unique sheetmetal for the roof and rear three-quarter panels.

Pricing and final specifications are still to be announced, but the 150 Series three-door should be priced below the
current 120 Series five-door, which starts at $48,600 for the stripped-out Standard model variant.

Although a Toyota Australia spokesman had advised that both diesel and petrol engines would be offered on the three-door, the company now says only the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine will be offered.

Built from same basic underpinnings as the larger model, the smaller, lighter and shorter-wheelbase three-door Prado will offer a braked towing capacity of three tonnes – 500kg more than the five-door – while the SWB model will also offer a higher break-over angle, handing it an advantage over the longer-wheelbase five-door in off-road situations.

The lower weight is also expected to translate into small improvements in official fuel consumption and emissions figures, although these are still to be divulged.

Toyota Australia’s senior executive director of sales and marketing David Buttner told our reporters at the recent Prius III hybrid launch
in July that the discontinuation of Mitsubishi’s three-door Pajero – currently Australia’s only mainstream mid-sized three-door 4WD – played a part in Toyota Australia’s decision to import the three-door Prado for the first time.

However, Mitsubishi Australia is still to confirm whether the three-door will in fact be removed from sale here.

Toyota has offered a three-door Prado in overseas markets in previous generations, but this will be the first time it has made it to Australia.

In a statement released today, Mr Buttner said the three-door would be aimed at a younger buyer seeking “recreational off-road fun”.

“Prado three-door will be the ideal vehicle for couples who want a vehicle for its sporty styling, as well as Prado’s legendary towing and off-road abilities,” said Mr Buttner. “Even more than new five-door Prado, the three-door will definitely attract buyers who previously have not considered a sports utility vehicle.

“Specification levels will be high across three- and five-door ranges, with several flow-down technologies from Lexus and from LandCruiser 200 Series.

“New electronic features will take Prado’s off-road ability to new levels for Toyota, catering even for those new to off-road motoring. Handling, stability and ride comfort have been raised to new heights.”

Prado remains the biggest-selling medium-sized SUV in Australia, holding on to its 2008 crown this year with 9422 sales YTD, with its nearest competitor Toyota’s own Kluger crossover (9162 YTD).




Oh yeh Baby