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The Nissan Juke-R is a model that isn’t even headed to production but is generating a lot of buzz. The street legal Juke-R uses the same 3.8-liter twin-turbo charged V6 engine found in the Nissan GT-R, a sports coupe that despite being a niche model, won the Motor Trend’s 2009 Car of the Year award.

But for the lucky few to drive the Juke-R, a one-off concept version of the Juke, they get to experience what Nissan describes as “The fastest, most exciting and daring compact crossover in the world.”

Bold Styling

With its curvy shape and small cargo area, the Juke is a model that already favors sport over utility. The Juke-R takes the unique shape of the model to a whole new level with a unique split rear wing, revised rear bumpers, flared wheel arches, and 20” alloy rims. The interior also has changes with a new dashboard, interior controls, twin race-seats with five-point harnesses, and a visible.

To handle the massive 480 horsepower produced by the engine, the Juke-R also has enhanced structural rigidity and all-wheel drive (AWD). This compares to a 1.6-liter turbocharged 188 horsepower engine in the Juke, in which AWD is optional. Considering the 2012 Nissan GT-R has a starting price of nearly $100,000, the Juke-R would be a relative performance bargain. But it seems wise that Nissan would not mass produce a $100,000 Juke.

The Ultimate Performance Crossover

With a 0-60 time under 4 seconds, the Nissan Juke-R is the World’s fastest crossover with the power to take on the best supercars from the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini. See how the Juke-R fared in a race against the Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, and a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG in the video below.

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admin | Compact SUVs | 01 25th, 2012 | No Comments »

There’s a new entry coming to the compact subcompact luxury crossover category. The 2013 Buick Encore will debut later in 2012 as a 2013 model. Currently Buick has only the Enclave 7-seat crossover in its SUV lineup. However, instead of going compact and basing the model off the platform used by other GM models such as the Chevy Equinox, Buick is going subcompact with its new crossover, as the Encore will be built of a modified version of the Chevy Sonic’s platform.

Interior Space & Features

At just 168 inches long, the five-seat Buick Encore is only 6.7 inches longer than the Mini Cooper Countryman and 3 inches shorter than the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. And with just 48 cubic feet of cargo room with its rear seats folded flat, it has less room than the upcoming 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek.

Despite its small size, the Encore boasts a host of standard luxurious features such as active noise cancellation, laminated glass, sound absorbing materials, and 18-inch five-spoke wheels. The model also features Bluetooth, OnStar, and Buick IntelliLink, which has a seven-inch LCD screen.

Other available features include remote vehicle start, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bose premium sound system, Rainsense wipers, heated, leather wrapped steering wheel with audio control, and six-way power seats with driver memory.

The Encore also has great safety features such as 10 standard air bags, cornering brake control and brake assist. Available features include lane departure warning, forward collision alert, front and rear park assist, rear vision camera, and all-wheel drive.

Engine & Fuel Economy

The Buick Encore features a modified version of the 1.4-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine used in the Chevy Cruze and Sonic. In the Encore, it produces 140 horsepower and 148-pound-feet of torque. This is not a lot of power for a model that weights 3,309 pounds. In comparison, the 2012 Honda CR-V LX weighs 3,305 pounds and sports a 185 horsepower engine. A Hydramatic six-speed automatic transmission is standard in the Encore.

The Encore’s fuel economy figures have not been released, but with a fuel-efficient 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, the model should be one of the most fuel-efficient crossovers on the market. The base Mini Cooper Countryman, with a 1.6-liter 121 horsepower engine has fuel economy of 27-mpg city and 35-mpg highway.

Pricing & Competitors

The pricing for the 2013 Buick Encore has not yet been announced. A starting price in the mid 20Ks is likely. Currently, Buick’s most inexpensive vehicle is the compact Verano sedan, which starts at $23,470. However, the Encore has less passenger room and a less powerful engine than the Verano.

Buick is claiming the Encore is a pioneer in the premium U.S. subcompact crossover market. In Europe, models such as the BMX X1 and Audi Q3 compete in this segment but they are not sold in North America. In the U.S. the Encore will compete against models such as the Mini Cooper Countryman, up-level trims of the Nissan Juke, and hope to attract compact SUV buyers.

For photos and more information, see the Encore page on Buick’s website.

Author: +Jason Nelson

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admin | Premium Compact SUVs | 01 19th, 2012 | No Comments »

When you buy a vehicle, you want to get the most for your hard earned dollar. The resale value of the model is a key factor as it is highly likely that a new SUV owner will need to trade-in or sell their vehicle in the future. That is why it is important to study resale value statistics prior to making a new vehicle purchase.

Resale Value Data

There is a new study out indicating the best value SUV of 2012 in each different class. ALG, a company that provides services to automotive manufacturers, financial institutions, and fleet companies, has released its 2012 residual value awards.

ALG’s study looks at what vehicles retain the highest percentage of their original price after a three year period. ALG also prognosticates on new models based on historical data and data of comparable models by the auto manufacturer.

photo credit: Land Rover Our Planet

Residual Value Award Winners

The winners in the six SUV categories in the study were:

Compact Utility – Jeep Wrangler
Midsize Utility – Subaru Outback
Fullsize Utility – GMC Acadia
Luxury Compact – Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Luxury Midsize Utility – Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Luxury Fullsize Utility – Audi Q7

These models can be considered the best value SUVs of 2012. Subaru won ALG’s Mainstream Brand Residual Value Award for the third year in a row. Subaru has seen a healthy share of awards for its 2012 models, as all three of its crossovers were named to the IIHS’ list of safest 2012 SUVs.

American Models on the List

Japanese manufacturers scored big with 11 winners in the 21 vehicle categories. The Acadia and Wrangler were the only two American models to win the award among all vehicles.

The Wrangler is a bit of a stand out as more of a niche model with its off-road heritage. However, the model is much improved for 2012 with a more competent and fuel-efficient 283 horsepower V6 engine.

These awards are important for manufacturers as they build credibility and can helpful in marketing their models. Ultimately, the best value SUV of 2012 is the model that best fits the buyers’ needs and budget.

admin | Resale Value | 01 6th, 2012 | No Comments »

The 2012 Acura ZDX is a luxury all-wheel drive crossover with a distinctive couple-like appearance. With its steeply sloped roofline, Acura refers to the model as a 4-door sports coupe. The ZDX has a similar design to the more expensive BMW X6, which BMW calls its sport activity coupe.

Style Over Utility

The ZDX’s sleek styling stands out among other crossovers. Some may view it as polarizing but it does make a statement. The ZDX has Acura’s front grille styling with a downward sloping roofline really cuts into cargo room. Leather seats, power seats, and 19” inch wheels are all standard features.

photo credit: saebaryo

The model also features the a very large panoramic sunroof, hand-stitched leather covering for the center console, dashboard, and door panels, and concealed rear door handles to add to its sporty floor.

The model has 27.5 cubic feet of cargo room behind the rear seats and 57.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. This is comparable to the X6, which has cargo volumes of 25.6/59.7 in these same dimensions, and the Infiniti FX (24.8/62). The ZDX does have more cargo room than the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque (20.3/51).

Power & Fuel Economy

The ZDX offers just one engine – a 3.7-liter V6 producing 300 horsepower. The model comes standard with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The ZDX gets EPA-estimated fuel economy of 16-mpg city, 23-mpg highway, and 19-mpg in combined driving, which is about average for its class. Premium fuel is required for the ZDX and the model is rated to tow just 1,500 pounds.

According to Motor Trend, the 2012 Acura ZDX has a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds, making it quicker than the Range Rover Evoque.

photo credit: JoeInSouthernCA

Facts and Figures

The 2012 Acura ZDX is an interesting mix of style and SUV capability. The model is built on the same platform as Acura’s three-row crossover the MDX. The 2012 ZDX has a starting price of $46,020 and comes with a host of luxury features. The model was designed and developed in North American and is assembled in Canada.

The ZDX has changed little since the model was first introduced in 2010. For further impressions of this model, see Motor Trend’s long-term update for the 2010 version.

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admin | Luxury SUVs | 01 5th, 2012 | No Comments »

Subaru will add a new SUV model to its stable for the 2013 model year. The Subaru XV Crosstrek will be the company’s smallest SUV model costing several thousand dollars less than the larger Forester. The compact crossover will be built off the Subaru Impreza’s platform, but will offer its own front and rear fascias, wheels, body-side cladding, and a raised suspension.

The XV Crosstrek helps Subaru target urbanites that are looking for the utility of a crossover with good fuel economy. The model will offer the same 2.0-liter 148 horsepower four-cylinder boxer engine found in the Impreza with a standard five-speed manual or available continuously variable transmission (CVT) with paddle-shifters. The XV Crosstrek will also come standard with all-wheel drive.

photo credit: Autoviva.com

Cargo Room

The XV Crosstrek is smaller than most compact SUVs. It is more comparable to a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport than say a Honda CR-V in terms of cargo room. The model has cargo room of 22.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 52.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. This is fairly close to the Hyundai Tucson(25.7/55.8), but much smaller than its larger sibling the Forester, which has dimension of 33.5/68.3.

Fuel Economy

Subaru made large strides with fuel economy in the 2012 Impreza. That model is rated at 27-mpg city and 36-mpg highway with a CVT, making it the most fuel-efficient all-wheel drive vehicle sold in America. Since the XV Crosstrek, is essentially a raised and modified Impreza hatchback, expect fuel economy to be a bit lower with the added weight. However, the XV Crosstrek will likely be the most fuel-efficient SUV on the market when it debuts.

In comparison, the Nissan Juke, which is not even considered an SUV by the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (they consider it a “small car”), gets EPA estimated fuel economy of 25-mpg city and 30-mpg highway with all-wheel drive. However, the Juke has 40 more horsepower than the XV Crosstek but does have less cargo room.

On Sale Fall 2012

The 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek will go on sale in Fall 2012 and have an interior largely the same as the Impreza. If you are looking for a higher ride height and more cargo and storage space, the XV Crosstrek is a good choice over the Impreza hatchback. Subaru will add some fun to the model by offering exterior colors such as orange.

photo credit: Autoviva.com

The XV Crosstrek is expected to have a starting price under $20,000. Subaru hopes the model fares much better than the Outback Sport, which was also a raised Impreza. Subaru is betting the XV Crosstrek’s practicality, style and fuel economy wins over buyers.

The model could benefit from a turbocharged engine or diesel engine in the U.S. that would be more befitting its vibrant color options. Motor Trend estimates the XV Crosstrek will have a 0-60 time of between 10.2 and 10.4 seconds, which would lag all its competitors. Subaru is offering a diesel engine in the XV Crosstrek in overseas markets.

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admin | Compact SUVs | 12 29th, 2011 | No Comments »