Nik J Miles

Posts Tagged ‘SUV’

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.

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“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.

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“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.

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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.

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            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 »

Imagine an SUV that accelerates from 0 to 60 in 6.1 seconds, has a top speed of 150 mph and handles like a Porsche.  In addition, it has excellent off-road capabilities, if someone has the heart to take it there, and did we mention it could get up to 24 mpg?

Any way you look at it, the Porsche Cayenne is an entirely different kind of SUV and this one just happens to be a Hybrid, too.

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Greenough, Mont. – It seems like just last year that I was attending the introduction of the original Mercedes-Benz M-Class in Alabama.  We drove through the beautiful countryside, lunched at the NASA Space Camp and wallowed through the slickest mucky mud I’ve ever seen. 

That was 1997, now 14 years later; I’m in Greenough, Montana for the introduction of the third generation Mercedes Luxury SUV. Read the rest of this entry »

“Cadillac’s new SRX: More power, new features”

Headlining the list of significant updates for the new 2012 Cadillac SRX , 5-passenger, 5-door SUV is what will now be the sole engine offering in the U.S. marketplace. The new engine – code-named “LFX” delivers 16 percent more horsepower while also providing more low-rpm torque. This latest engine replaces the former two choices offered on our shores – a 3.0-liter naturally aspirated V6 and a 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 that provided 265 and 300 horses respectively. It is a 3.6-liter, DOHC, 24-valve VVT V6 with direct high pressure fuel injection that cranks out 308 horsepower at 6,800 rpm while generating 265 pound feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The new 3.6-liter engine will meter power to either the front wheels or to all four via a 6T70 Hydra-Matic six-speed transverse, electronically controlled, automatic with overdrive, which provides a driver-selectable Eco feature that alters the shift points and throttle progression, helping to optimize fuel economy. The engine is mounted up front in an East/West orientation and offers E-85 Flex-fuel capability.

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Leader of the Compact Utility Movement

Santa Fe, NM – One vehicle category we’ve come to enjoy for travel is the group of compact to mid-size SUVs, crossovers and similar vehicles.  In general, this group offers roomy interiors, comfortable rides, reasonable fuel economy and on occasion, the advantage of having all-wheel drive for occasional adverse weather or for exploring back roads.

On a recent trip to one of our favorite vacation locations, Santa Fe, NM we borrowed the compact Kia Sportage SUV. Read the rest of this entry »