2012 NACTOY winners

The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque has been declared the 2012 North American Truck of the Year.



Awarded 254 points by the jury of fifty automotive journalists from across Canada and the United States, the Evoque achieved an emphatic victory over the other two finalists. The second-place Honda CR-V scored 142, while the BMW X3 managed a modest 94.

2012 North American Truck of the Year: Land Rover Range Rover Evoque.

It was a much closer contest for the 2012 North American Car of the Year title. The Ford Focus and Volkswagen Passat secured 155 and 161 points respectively, but the Hyundai Elantra emerged as the eventual winner with a score of 174.

2012 North American Car of the Year: Hyundai Elantra.

Related posts:
2012 Euro COTY nominees
2012 NACTOY finalists
2012 Euro COTY candidates
Volt is Car of the Year

2012 Euro COTY nominees

The original thirty-five candidates for the 2012 European Car of the Year award have been whittled down to a list of seven nominees, following a first round of voting.

2012 European Car of the Year Nominees
Manufacturer	Model
Citroën	DS5
Fiat	Panda
Ford	Focus
Range Rover	Evoque
Toyota	Yaris
Vauxhall / Opel / Chevrolet	Ampera / Volt
Volkswagen	Up!

Given that there have been some dubious winners in the past (the Simca / Chrysler Horizon in 1979 and Fiat Bravo / Brava in 1996 are obvious examples), it’s good to see that the jury has decided on a strong group of finalists.



Perhaps the one exception is the Toyota Yaris, which really doesn’t deserve to triumph over any of the other six contenders. Arguably, the Citroën DS4 or even the Porsche 911 ought to have taken the Toyota’s place instead.



A second ballot will now take place to determine the overall winner, and the result will be revealed on 5 March 2012 at the Geneva Motor Show.



And which model should be named 2012 European Car of the Year? Either the Citroën DS5 or Range Rover Evoque.

Citroën DS5: 2012 European Car of the Year nominee.

Related posts:
2012 Euro COTY candidates
World Car Awards winners
Volt is Car of the Year
Leaf is Car of the Year

2012 NACTOY finalists

A panel of fifty automotive journalists from across the United States and Canada has decided the finalists for the 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards.



In the North American Car of the Year category, the jurors selected the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Passat from a shortlist of seventeen models, all of which had to be new or substantially changed in the past twelve months.

Ford Focus: 2012 North American Car of the Year finalist.

Those contenders that didn’t make it through to the finals were the Audi A6, Audi A7, Buick Verano, Chevrolet Sonic, Chrysler 300 / SRT-8, Fiat 500, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Veloster, Kia Rio / Rio 5, Scion iQ, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius V and Volkswagen Beetle.



The 2012 North American Truck of the Year title will go to the BMW X3, Honda CR-V or Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. There were only seven vehicles to choose the three finalists from though, with the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Mini Countryman, Nissan Quest and Saab 9-4X being the unsuccessful nominees.

BMW X3: 2012 North American Truck of the Year finalist.

A second round of voting is now going to take place to determine the outright winners for each award. The results will be announced on 9 January 2012 in Detroit.



Related posts:
2012 Euro COTY candidates
Volt is Car of the Year

Defender DC100 concept

The current Land Rover Defender is due to be phased out by 2015, and replacing it will be “one of the biggest challenges in the automotive design world” according to the company’s Director of Design, Gerry McGovern. It’s a sentiment that’s hard to disagree with.



Starting off the process is the DC100 concept, which will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Very much a first attempt, Land Rover is keen to gauge feedback to ensure the right type of vehicle is going to be developed.

That approach is summed up by Global Brand Director John Edwards, who said: “Loved the world over for its simple, honest and distinctive design, we are determined that the new Defender will be true to its heritage, while meeting the requirements of a changing global market.



“We plan to engage with existing and potential customers to help us finalise the details of the new vehicle. One thing's for sure, it's going to be an exciting journey, and we can't wait to get going.”

Judging by the images, the DC100 certainly looks promising. Land Rover has avoided the retro trap, while keeping some trademark Defender styling cues like the roofline, large single headlights and rear-mounted spare wheel.



Appearance is only part of the story, though. For a utility product like the Defender form definitely has to follow function, because that ultimately is what users will assess it on.



Related post:

Defender gets new engine

Defender gets new engine

Land Rover is planning on displaying an all-new Defender concept at the forthcoming Frankfurt International Motor Show, but it’ll also be taking the opportunity to reveal important updates to the current production version.



The most significant of these is a change in engine. Out goes today’s 2.4 litre diesel, which is to be replaced by a 2.2 litre unit equipped with a diesel particulate filter to meet EU5 emissions standards. It will use the existing six-speed manual gearbox.

Despite the slightly smaller capacity, the new engine’s power output of 120 bhp (90 kW / 122 PS) and maximum torque of 360 Nm (265 lb/ft) are unchanged.



Likewise, economy and CO2 emissions remain the same, which means 28.3 mpg (10.0 l/100km) on the combined cycle and 266 g/km for Defender 90 models. For the longer wheelbase 110 and 130 types, the figures are 25.5 mpg (11.1 l/100km) and 295 g/km.



Performance meanwhile is said to be largely similar, although top speed has been increased from 82 mph (131 km/h) to 90 mph (144 km/h).

Two new option packs are also being introduced. The first of these is the Off-Road Pack, which will have a price tag of £1,500 in the UK and consists of anti-lock brakes, an under-ride protection bar, a tow ball and heavy-duty wheels with MTR tyres. Secondly, there’s the £1,650 Comfort Pack, which includes electric windows, remote central locking, air conditioning and a CD player with aux-in facility.



Among the other enhancements are a full acoustic engine cover to improve refinement, standard tinted glass across the range and the option of a plain black hood for pick-up variants.



The 2012 Land Rover Defender goes on sale in the UK this November. Prices will start from £20,995 on the road.



Related posts:

Electric Defender on safari

Special edition Defender

Electric Defender on safari

Land Rover may already be working on a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain, but the company’s South African subsidiary has gone one step further by producing an all-electric Defender in collaboration with lithium-ion battery pack specialists Axeon and Baker Performance Products.



Based on a 110 High Capacity Pick Up, the Electric Defender Game Viewer Concept Vehicle is designed for use in game parks where the ability to run quietly has obvious benefits.

The custom-made 300 volt 27 kW/hr battery pack fits entirely within the engine bay, so that ground clearance is unaffected and the electrical systems are kept dry when the Defender is wading. It powers an air-cooled AC induction motor that produces 79 bhp (59 kW / 80 PS), with a regenerative capacity of 13 bhp (10 kW / 14 PS), and 330 Nm (243 lb/ft) of torque.



It’s said that three typical game drives can be completed on a single charge, which equates to a range of around 50 miles (80 km) plus 12 miles (20 km) in reserve. Recharging is via the mains or a solar adapter.



For the moment the Electric Defender is just a one-off, although there could be other applications where the technology proves to be useful.



Related post:

Land Rover Range_e

Land Rover Range_e

It looks like this year’s Geneva International Motor Show is going to be crammed full of electric cars and hybrids. The latest manufacturer to announce that its stand will include such a vehicle is Land Rover.



The Range_e, which is based on the Range Rover Sport, is still at the prototype stage but promises much. It uses the existing 3.0 litre TDV6 diesel engine alongside a plug-in hybrid system, with drive going to all four wheels via an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.

Although only a few technical details have been released, Land Rover estimates that the Range_e will have CO2 emissions of just 89 g/km. That’ll mean no UK road tax and a 100% discount on the London Congestion Charge.



What’s more, the range when in electric vehicle mode is said to be 20 miles (about 30 kilometres). To put that into context, the Toyota Prius - which produces the same amount of CO2 as the Range_e - will only manage 1.2 miles (2 kilometres) using battery power alone.



Will the Range_e make it into production? Well, it’s unlikely that Land Rover would bother showing it unless there was a strong possibility and, if the prototype’s figures are anything to go by, frankly it’d be crazy not to.



There’s probably a vast number of potential SUV drivers who don’t yet own one because of extortionate fuel costs and the desire not to be labelled a planet-destroying pariah. For them, the Range_e could be a very welcome solution.



Related post:

2WD Freelander revealed

Ultimate Range Rover

Land Rover’s stand at this year’s Geneva International Motor Show will include the not very succinctly named Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition.

Promoted as being ‘the most luxurious Range Rover ever’, the specification suggests that it’s aimed at those who prefer to be driven, rather than drive themselves.



In the back, the usual bench is ditched in favour of two individual electric seats, between which is a centre console featuring a machined aluminium laptop table and drinks chiller. Land Rover even throws in a couple of Apple iPads as standard.



Naturally, the seats are covered in leather, as are the door casings and the dashboard top. The opulent effect is completed by Kalahari wood veneers. Not even the luggage compartment escapes the luxury treatment, with its floor getting a yacht-inspired teak covering.

On the outside, two unique paint colours - Roussillon Red and Otago Stone - are available, and exclusive 20” multi-spoke alloy wheels are fitted. The side vents and radiator grille have a dark atlas finish, but that still fails to mask their overly fussy design - a glitch shared with the rest of the current Land Rover line-up, Defender excepted.



Engine choice is either the 308 bhp (230 kW / 313 PS) 4.4 litre LR-TDV8 diesel, which boasts 700 Nm (516 lb/ft) of torque and is coupled to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, or the 503 bhp (375 kW / 510 PS) LR-V8 5.0 Supercharged petrol unit. Both come equipped with Land Rover’s Terrain Response system.



Buyers of the Autobiography Ultimate Edition certainly won’t have to worry about exclusivity, as only 500 examples are going to be built for sale in over twenty markets worldwide.



Pricing has yet to be confirmed, but in the UK it could break well into six figures.



If so, that’s quite a premium over the ‘normal’ £83,145 Range Rover Autobiography, and it’ll pitch the Ultimate Edition against competitors such as the Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG, BMW 760Li and Audi Q7 V12.

2011 What Car? Awards

UK publication What Car? has announced its 2011 Car of the Year winners.



During a ceremony held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, prizes were awarded across seventeen vehicle categories, with one model going on to be declared overall champion.



Supermini



Shortlist

Best buy less than £9,000: Hyundai i10 1.2 Comfort

Best buy £9,000 - £13,000: Ford Fiesta 1.25 82 Zetec 5dr

Best buy more than £13,000: Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Sport



Winner

Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Sport





Small family car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £15,000: Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI SE

Best buy £15,000 - £20,000: Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 122 Match 5dr

Best buy more than £20,000: Toyota Prius 1.8 VVT-i T3



Winner

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 122 Match 5dr





Family car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £18,000: Skoda Superb 1.4 TSI S

Best buy £18,000 - £21,000: Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec

Best buy more than £21,000: Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI 140 SE



Winner

Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec





Estate car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £16,500: Skoda Octavia Estate 1.4 TSI SE

Best buy £16,000 - £22,000: Ford Mondeo Estate 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec

Best buy more than £22,000: BMW 5 Series Touring 520d SE



Winner

Ford Mondeo Estate 2.0 TDCi 140 Zetec





MPV



Shortlist

Best buy less than £16,000: Citroën C3 Picasso 1.6 VTi VTR+

Best buy £16,000 - £22,000: Peugeot 5008 1.6 HDi 112 Sport

Best buy more than £22,000: Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI 140 Ecomotive S



Winner

Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI 140 Ecomotive S





Hot hatch



Shortlist

Best buy less than £15,000: Renault Twingo Renaultsport 133 Cup

Best buy £15,000 - £20,000: Renault Clio Renaultsport 200 Cup

Best buy more than £20,000: Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250 Cup



Winner

Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250 Cup





Coupé



Shortlist

Best buy less than £25,000: Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4 TSI 160

Best buy £25,000 - £40,000: Audi TT 2.0 TFSI 211 Sport

Best buy more than £40,000: Jaguar XKR



Winner

Audi TT 2.0 TFSI 211 Sport





Open-top



Shortlist

Best buy less than £25,000: Mazda MX-5 1.8i SE AC

Best buy £25,000 - £35,000: BMW Z4 sDrive23i

Best buy more than £35,000: Mercedes-Benz E350 CDI Cab Blue Efficiency SE



Winner

BMW Z4 sDrive23i





Performance car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £60,000: Lotus Evora 3.5 V6

Best buy £60,000 - £120,000: Audi R8 Spyder V10

Best buy more than £120,000: Ferrari 458 Italia



Winner

Ferrari 458 Italia





Crossover



Shortlist

Best buy less than £15,000: Nissan Juke 1.6 Visia

Best buy £15,000 - £20,000: Peugeot 3008 1.6 THP 156 Sport

Best buy more than £20,000: Volvo XC60 2.0 D3 DRIVe SE



Winner

Peugeot 3008 1.6 THP 156 Sport





4x4



Shortlist

Best buy less than £30,000: Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi Style 7 seats

Best buy £30,000 - £40,000: BMW X3 xDrive20d SE

Best buy more than £40,000: Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SDV6 XS



Winner

Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SDV6 XS





Compact executive



Shortlist

Best buy less than £25,000: BMW 3 Series 316d ES

Best buy £25,000 - £30,000: BMW 3 Series 320d ES

Best buy more than £30,000: BMW 3 Series 330d SE



Winner

BMW 3 Series 320d ES





Executive car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £30,000: BMW 5 Series 520d SE

Best buy £30,000 - £40,000: Jaguar XF 3.0D V6 Luxury

Best buy more than £40,000: Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI 245 quattro SE



Winner

Jaguar XF 3.0D V6 Luxury





Luxury car



Shortlist

Best buy less than £65,000: Mercedes-Benz S-Class S350 CDI BluTEC

Best buy £65,000 - £100,000: Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Vogue 

Best buy more than £100,000: Rolls-Royce Phantom



Winner

Mercedes-Benz S-Class S350 CDI BluTEC





Ultra-low carbon car



Winner

Nissan Leaf





Safety Award



Winner

Volvo for Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake





Security Award



Winner

Volkswagen





What Car? Car of the Year 2011



Winner

Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Sport

Special edition Defender

Land Rover has launched the Defender X-Tech Limited Edition.



Based on the 90 Hard Top, the bodywork is painted Zermatt Silver with the roof and wheel arches finished in Santorini Black. To complete the look, the Defender X-Tech gets unique gloss black 16” Saw Tooth alloy wheels. The interior comes in Ebony and, for a little bit of luxury, the seats have leather side bolsters.

As with all new UK civilian-spec Defenders, power comes from a 2.4 litre, four-cylinder diesel engine. Developing 120 bhp (90 kW / 122 PS), it’s the maximum torque of 360 Nm (265 lb/ft) that really impresses.



Consequently performance isn’t too bad, with the Defender 90 hitting 60 mph (96 km/h) from rest in 14.7 seconds. And although it might not be the greenest choice available - CO2 emissions are 266 g/km - fuel economy is surprisingly good given the Defender’s weight and aerodynamics. On the combined cycle, for example, it achieves 28.3 mpg (10.0 l/100km).



The Defender X-Tech will be available from March 2011, with prices starting at £24,995. That’s a considerable premium over the standard 90 Hard Top, which costs £20,995 on the road, and the colour scheme might not be to everyone’s taste. However, there can be absolutely no doubt about the vehicle’s underlying abilities.

Discovery 4 Armoured

Land Rover has unveiled the Discovery 4 Armoured. Visually, there’s not much to give away the different specification, but there are extensive modifications to help safeguard the vehicle’s occupants.



Ballistic steel armour is fitted which provides protection to European standard BS EN1522 level FB6. Similarly, the replacement glass complies with BS EN 1063 level BR6. The Discovery 4 Armoured is capable of withstanding the blast from 15kg of TNT (or equivalent explosive) when detonated close to the vehicle, while under-floor protection is sufficient to defend against two DM51 hand grenades. Consequently, the entire vehicle has been independently certified to B6 standards.

Unsurprisingly, the trade-off is a weight penalty. Whereas the standard car tips the scales at 2,583 kg, the Armoured version is a decidedly bulky 3,550 kg.



To compensate, the usual 3.0 litre diesel is ditched in favour of a 5.0 litre V8 direct injection petrol engine. Connected to a six-speed automatic transmission, its 369 bhp (276 kW / 375 PS) and 510 Nm (376 lb/ft) of torque are sufficient to propel the Land Rover from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in a brisk 10.6 seconds. No fuel consumption figures have been released, but they’re unlikely to be great.



The chassis has been beefed up, too. Modifications include heavy duty wheels with run-flat tyres, uprated air springs, retuned dampers and larger diameter anti-roll bars. To help the Discovery 4 Armoured to stop, 378 mm Alcon disc brakes are fitted front and rear, and they feature aluminium callipers.



Available options include a flag pole mount, covert blue light and siren system, LED headlight flash, intercom, anti-tamper exhaust and an under bonnet fire suppression.



Land Rover will discuss pricing on application, although it is saying that the Discovery 4 Armoured will come with a three-year, 80,000km factory warranty on both the base vehicle and its armour.

Tiguan has best residuals

Glass’s, publisher of the eponymous used car values guide, has revealed which three-year old models have best held their values in the UK market.



The study looked at ‘57’ plate cars (i.e. first registered between 1 September 2007 and 29 February 2008), which had covered 37,000 miles (59,545 kilometres). The results were ranked by residual value as a percentage of original list price, although low volume models and exotica were excluded.



Given the tough economic climate, it might be expected that used buyers would be flocking towards cheaper, more economical vehicles, so driving up their residual value percentages. Surprisingly, though, seven of the top ten are 4x4s or SUVs, with top spot taken by the Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion.

Glass’s Top Ten Residuals 2010
Position	Model	Residual %	Average Yearly Depreciation
1	Volkswagen Tiguan (168 bhp) SE 4Motion	68.0%	£2,394
2	MINI 1.6 Cooper Hatch	65.9%	£1,462
3	Honda CR-V 2.2 CTDi (138 bhp) SE	64.3%	£2,356
4=	Land Rover Freelander 2 GS Td4 auto	63.8%	£2,965
4=	Audi Q7 3.0TDI (237 bhp) Quattro S Line tiptronic	63.8%	£4,962
6	Land Rover Discovery 3 2.7TD (190 bhp)	63.7%	£3,720
7	Audi TT Coupé 2.0T FSI (197 bhp)	63.6%	£3,123
8	Nissan Qashqai 1.6 (113 bhp) 2WD Visia	63.3%	£1,628
9	Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2.7TD (187 bhp) S auto	62.5%	£4,425
10	Audi A5 2.7TDI (187 bhp) Sport Coupé S tronic	62.2%	£4,123

Five-door Evoque revealed

The three-door Range Rover Evoque was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show as intended, but Land Rover’s plan to keep the five-door version tightly under wraps until November’s Los Angeles International Auto Show seems to have been scuppered.



That’s because someone at a pre-show dealer event in Paris took a sneaky photo of the car. Of course, it then quickly found its way onto the internet, which prompted Land Rover to release this official image:

It shows the Evoque wearing a colour scheme that is more Mini Cooper than traditional Range Rover. The contrasting paint will apparently be a no cost option, with a full glass panoramic roof also available for an extra charge.



The engine line-up is expected to be as per the three-door Evoque, which means a choice of three four-cylinder units, all turbocharged.



In Europe, the 2.2 litre diesels will undoubtedly be the popular preference. Available in either 147 bhp (110 kW / 150 PS) TD4 or 187 bhp (139 kW / 190 PS) SD4 guises, both were first seen in the recently updated Freelander 2. To help save fuel, a stop-start system will feature as standard when the manual gearbox is specified.



Across the Atlantic, though, the 236 bhp (176 kW / 240PS) 2.0 litre Si4 petrol engine should account for most North American sales. Land Rover claims it will provide the economy of a four-cylinder with the performance and refinement of a six.



Like the Freelander 2, the Evoque will also be offered with front-wheel drive only. Whether this actually matters to anyone remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that it brings economy and emissions benefits. According to Land Rover, buyers of TD4-powered cars who forgo all-wheel drive will enjoy a combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 58 mpg (4.9 l/100km) and CO2 emissions that are below 130 g/km.

2010 Land Rover LR4 Full Tech SPecs

The D3s 6-speed manual transmission is no longer available . An improved version of the ZF 6-speed automatic/sequential gearbox is now fitted which includes taller gearing to take advantage of the new engines' greater torque output and an updated lock-up system to further reduce fuel consumption. Other technical changes include the fitting of the more powerful brakes from the Range Rover Sport and thicker anti-roll bars to improve on-road handling. The electronic handling system have been updated- the Stability Control System now includes a programme that detects the onset of understeer and applies the brakes. The D4 retains its predeccesor's fully independent air suspension with cross-linking when off-road and the twin-range transfer gearbox with an electronic infinitly-variable locking centre differential
2010 Land Rover LR4


2010 Land Rover LR4


2010 Land Rover LR4


2010 Land Rover LR4


2010 Land Rover LR4


2010 Land Rover LR4


2010 Land Rover LR4


2010 Land Rover LR4


2010 Land Rover LR4


2010 Land Rover LR4


2010 Land Rover LR4


2010 Land Rover LR4


2010 Land Rover LR4


2010 Land Rover LR4


2010 Land Rover LR4


. As before a similar locking rear differential is available. The Terrain Response system remains but with two new features- the 'Sand' mode incorporates a new traction control mode to prevent loss of traction when starting off and stopping in soft sand, and the 'Rock Crawl' mode gains a feature that applies gentle brake pressure at low (less than walking pace) speeds to improve grip and stability on slick rock.


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Land Rover LR4 2010 The exterior

he exterior design of the Land Rover Discovery 4 has been updated, with smoother and simpler surfaces at the front, including a new, more aerodynamic bumper. Aerodynamic changes to the front end, with the revised front lower chin spoiler and new front wheel deflectors, help to reduce drag by increasing underfloor airflow. The new lights include LED technology front and rear.

Land Rover LR4 2010


Land Rover LR4 2010


Land Rover LR4 2010


Land Rover LR4 2010


Land Rover LR4 2010


Land Rover LR4 2010


Land Rover LR4 2010


Land Rover LR4 2010


Land Rover LR4 2010


Land Rover LR4 2010


Land Rover LR4 2010


Land Rover LR4 2010


Land Rover LR4 2010


Land Rover LR4 2010


Land Rover LR4 2010




The front headlights include High Beam Assist, switching on or off, as conditions require.