You will not please everyone. New Toyota RAV4
Designers RAV4, it seems, really finally dismissed – in the sense, not home, but emotionally and documented. How else to explain the fact that the concept of FT-AC, shown last year, turned out to be almost an exact copy of the production model? Yes, with such an approach, it is unlikely that it will be possible to make housewives sit in RAV4 – but almost all the other “target groups” are unlikely to remain dissatisfied. Well, the Japanese are trying to delight the eye with gloss and gloss lovers with an exterior finish, which, however, is somewhat discordant with the image of the “space explorer”.
The bright image accompanies the logical transition of the model to the new GA-K platform of the TNGA architecture: this is exactly what makes the RAV4 related to the Camry, and at the same time to the Avalon and Lexus ES. However, this does not mean an absolute technical relationship – the machines simply scale according to a similar principle. There is 13 centimeters less space between the axles than the Camry, but 3 centimeters more than the old RAV4 – 2,690 millimeters. Continue reading
Extenuating circumstances. Updated Suzuki Vitara
Vitara is the best-selling Suzuki model in Europe and Russia: from January to August of this year, 55,826 and 2,423 units were sold, respectively. Consumers are attracted by the laconic design in the spirit of the discontinued Grand Vitara SUV and the healthy conservatism of the Japanese crossover’s technical stuffing.
The update started in the fourth year of life did not bring radical changes to Vitara, but the fiat 1.6-liter turbodiesel and outdated gasoline aspirated with the same working volume disappeared from the gamut of engines of the European version due to tougher environmental requirements. But if in Europe amtospheric motors leave even the segment of mass inexpensive models, then in Russia they are still in great demand. More than 90% of Vitar are sold in our country with just 1.6 petrol engine (117 hp), and Suzuki reasonably decided for us to leave this unit, and instead Europeans will be offered a 111 Boosterjet petrol turbojet hp Continue reading
They went horseback. Peugeot e-Legend
This time, the Peugeot brand did without loud presentations at its home salon, where journalists, it must be admitted, are often driven away by force. Meanwhile, it was Peugeot from the entire bush of French brands that performed at the Paris Motor Show more successfully than the rest. On the one hand, demonstrating a practical 508 SW wagon, which, according to the company’s managers, will account for 60% of model sales in Europe. On the other hand, showing the retroconcept e-Legend, which, according to our observations, has become the most popular car in the cabin among all the “French”. And so that the visitors did not miss, they did not get lost in the large pavilion and certainly found e-Legend, the big lion pointed the way to the new product.
The retro theme in concepts, of course, is not new, but artists do not often turn to a specific model of the brand. Continue reading
Mercedes-Benz EQC electric crossover
About the Mercedes-Benz EQC electric crossover, a lot became known a month ago after its presentation in Stockholm, but it was a conventionally closed show not for everyone, and in Paris, Mers on batteries could feel anyone, and there were no less than to the new GLE, which, of course, is very beautiful, but in essence, does not offer anything new.
So, a month ago, from official sources, we learned that the EQC is built on a modified GLC crossover platform (wheelbase 2873 mm), but at the same time it has a more elongated body (length 4761 mm). Kinship with the model, designed for the use of internal combustion engines, led to the fact that the EQC does not have the usual front trunk for electric vehicles: the entire engine compartment is occupied by a powerful tubular frame, on which the electric motor and the power electronics unit are mounted. Continue reading
Go to the barricades: buy the Mitsubishi Outlander II
It is now Outlander in the model range Mitsubishi occupies an intermediate position: between the almost accessible ASX and the flagship Pajero. And in the distant 2006, when the second generation entered the market, there was no compact crossover in the model range – compared to the previous body, the dimensions grew quite large (in some catalogs this model had the prefix XL). Many observers saw this as a marketing miscalculation, because the same year Nissan Qashqai entered the market, who not only became a bestseller, but, in fact, founded the class of compact crossovers.
Partly, Mitsubishi recognized this by releasing competitor Qashqai in 2010 in a failed attempt to pull the blanket over. But back to our search. Despite the solid size and impressive volume of engines in 2.4 and 3 liters, some tend to underestimate this car. Although it can sometimes be bullied in the city and on the highway, and if necessary – turn off the road into the mud. It is a pity that some individuals with a distorted view of reality tried to squeeze out of the Outlander a little more than he could. Continue reading
