Nik J Miles

Archive for the ‘SUV’ Category

Los Angeles –  There’s a good reason the black Chevy Tahoe, GMC Denali and Cadillac Escalade are the cars of choice of so many of the good guys and bad guys on television and we would presume in real life, or at least in Washington D.C. …they are spacious comfortable and remarkably utilitarian.  Tint the windows dark, and these vehicles take on a look that ranges from prominence to sinister, stirring the imagination of anyone on the outside.

For a recent getaway on the Southern California coast, we borrowed a Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum edition to see what it’s like to tool around in one of these colossal SUVs.  Ours was the new radiant silver metallic paint instead of the attention compelling black so we lacked the aura of being sinister or important, but we still experienced all the luxurious room and power. Read the rest of this entry »

“Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG: Most powerful production SUV”

Exclusivity with a bi-turbo V8

The true luxury SUV market segment was actually created by Mercedes-Benz, when the German automaker debuted the first generation M-Class in the fall of 1997, breaking new ground. Now, 14 years later, the new 2012  M-Class rolls into dealer showrooms adding new standard features and options loaded with state-of-the-art safety technology. Starring at the top of the model lineup is the ML63 AMG which is scheduled to go on sale in early March.

Read the rest of this entry »

Inevitably, when we are asked what our occupation is, we can count on the next question being something like, ‘what’s the best car?’ or some similar question.  Of course, there is no right answer, because it depends on the individual that’s using the car.

When someone puts themselves in the equation and tells us what they want to spend, and how they use the vehicle, our answer becomes a little more subjective and we find most people are interested in a typical entry- to mid-level car. Read the rest of this entry »

“Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE: Enhanced for 2012”

Mitsubishi’s second generation Outlander bowed as a 2007 model, growing in stature, based on a performance-engineered global platform that also served as the foundation for the next-generation Lancer and Lancer Evolution models. Originally, all second generation Outlander versions drew their motive power exclusively from a new 3.0-liter, SOHC, 24-valve, aluminum MIVEC V-6 engine, connected to a six-speed Sportronic® automatic transmission. The engine delivered 220 horsepower along with 204 pound feet of torque. A new engine option, which became available in 2010 – a 2.4-liter MIVEC in-line four cylinder DOHC, develops168 horsepower engine that also delivers 167 pound feet of torque. The updated and refined 3.0-liter MIVEC V6 now delivers 230 horses at 6,250 rpm, along with 215 pound feet of torque at 3,750 rpm.

Read the rest of this entry »

“Jeep Wrangler’s lineup was just fine before”

2012 icon is now RE-FINED

First of all, what is a Jeep®? The jury is still out on where the name Jeep® actually came from – some say that the name was derived from slurring “GP”, which was the military abbreviation for “General Purpose”, while others claim that the vehicle was named after a popular Popeye cartoon strip character, “Eugene the Jeep”. However it got its name or wherever it actually came from, the iconic vehicle that has come to be known as the Jeep, began its life in military service.

Read the rest of this entry »

The X3 is BMW’s leading Crossover SUV and one of the most popular choices in the luxury SUV market. The X3 was redesigned for the 2010 model year, and the general consensus is that the new design is a winner.  Now in its second year of production, the 2011 X3 can safely be said to be the best X3 yet. This year, readers of the German magazine “Auto Bild Allrad” voted the 2011 X3 “Four-Wheel Drive Car of the Year” and here in America, “Off Road” magazine readers voted the X3 “Off-road Vehicle of the Year.” The German vote might be dismissed as predictable, but when an American offroading magazine’s subscriber base likes the BMW, that’s significant.

Compared to the prior generation, this X3 offers more interior space and generally improved usability. But the real advantage to the new X3 is in the drivetrain. You can get your new X3 with your choice of the normally aspirated 3-liter BMW inline 6-cylinder engine at 240 horsepower, or upgrade to a turbocharged engine at 306 horses. In either case, you get a new 8-speed automatic transmission designed for both performance and fuel economy.  One standout feature of this new drivetrain is start-stop technology, which actually kills the engine when you’re waiting at a stoplight and then instantly refires it when it’s time to move.

Read the rest of this entry »

Sea to Sky Adventure tests mettle of new compact Range Rover

Vancouver, B.C., Canada – Land Rover just launched its newest Range Rover model – the 2012 Evoque. The Evoque is based on the futuristic and stylish LRX concept vehicle, which recently made the rounds of several International auto shows, drawing high praise and wide acclaim from both automotive journalists and the public. Unlike many concept-based production vehicles, the compact Evoque remains remarkably true to its original concept design.

Read the rest of this entry »

Probably more suited for the autobahn than the Rubicon, the Jeep® Grand Cherokee SRT8 is rumbling into Jeep dealerships with a combination of Jeep’s legendary capability and utility, merged with the top-level performance courtesy of Chrysler Group LLC’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team.

“The all-new 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8 is the ultimate performance SUV, delivering a combination of Jeep capability and utility, world-class performance, luxury and refinement, and advanced innovative technology,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO — Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “Jeep vehicles have long been known for their off-road capability.  In addition to Jeep four-wheel-drive traction and utility, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 takes capability to a new level by giving driving enthusiasts extreme performance for the street and track. Read the rest of this entry »

            The compact SUV market is tough, especially with the proliferation of new models, from nearly every manufacturer.  In the segment, BMW has had good success since 2004 with the X3, selling more than 600,000 worldwide and 150,000 in the U.S.

Now in its second generation the X3 is being built in BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina plant and exported around the world.  The X5 and X6 Sports Activity Vehicles are also built in Spartanburg. Read the rest of this entry »

The future of crossovers.

Automotive journalists and consumers alike have great disdain for the Crosstour. Not only do they knock its looks, they’re also not sure what to other vehicles on the market to compare it to. While I can’t change people’s minds on its outward appearance (personally, I have grown accustom to its looks and find it rather cheeky) I can influence the way the see it in the market. To do so, we need to travel back 31 years to 1980. Read the rest of this entry »