Mazda CX-7 - What the Auto Press Says

The 2012 Mazda CX-7 ranks 4 out of 20 Affordable Compact SUVs. This ranking is based on our analysis of 77 published reviews and test drives of the Mazda CX-7, and our analysis of reliability and safety data. Reviewers say that if you want good performance, the 2012 Mazda CX-7 delivers. But if performance isn’t a priority, reviewers say the Mazda CX-7 falls a little short, with less cargo space than competitors and tight second-row seats.

Most compact SUVs place practicality above performance, but the 2012 Mazda CX-7 takes the opposite approach, prioritizing nimble handling. Reviewers say the CX-7’s agile handling makes it easy to whip around town and its powerful turbocharged engine option makes it faster than most family SUVs.

It’s not surprising that the automotive press is so fond of one of the most well-tuned models in the class because many test drivers are drawn to vehicles that are fast and nimble. However, the performance traits that reviewers like about the CX-7 may give some shoppers pause. The CX-7’s available engines are two of the best in the class, but neither gets very good fuel economy ratings, especially when you compare them with fuel economy leaders like the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and GMC Terrain. A sporty suspension makes the CX-7 nimble, but it also gives it a stiff ride. Families or people with long commutes might prefer something with a softer suspension.

While the CX-7 is large for a compact SUV, it has a cramped second row and limited cargo space. And although the 2012 Mazda CX-7’s price is high for the class, its interior doesn’t come with standard features like Bluetooth and a USB port, which are becoming commonplace in affordable SUVs.

In terms of performance, test drivers think the 2012 Mazda CX-7 is one of the best options for families and commuters who want a compact SUV that handles more like an affordable sports car. But if traits like generous interior space, good fuel economy, a lot of standard features and a low base price are of the utmost importance, there are other crossover SUVs you’ll like better.

Other SUVs to Consider

Like the CX-7, the Chevrolet Equinox is big for a compact SUV. But unlike the CX-7, the Equinox makes better use of its interior space. The rear seats have enough space for tall adults, and even slide back to increase legroom. You can also slide the seats forward to increase cargo space. Though the Equinox isn’t as fun to drive as the CX-7, reviewers appreciate that its ride is smoother and that it has some of the highest fuel economy ratings in the class.

If an engaging drive is a must-have for your next SUV and you don’t mind paying more for it, check out the Volkswagen Tiguan. It’s the only compact SUV that can compete with the CX-7’s performance. But keep in mind that the Tiguan is much smaller, has a higher starting price and requires premium gasoline. CX-7 models equipped with the turbocharged engine also need premium gasoline.  

Details: Mazda CX-7

The 2012 Mazda CX-7 doesn’t see significant changes this year. The i SV, i Sport and i Touring trims have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed automatic transmission. The s Touring and s Grand Touring trims have a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is only available on s models.

Porsche Macan ; made in Indonesia ??

Porsche is planning to introduce the Macan for the 2014 model year. It will be the smallest SUV built by Porsche but in some ways it will be closer to its roots than the larger models. 

Porsche, after all, is known for its sports car production. The company received a lot of criticism for widening its line with the four-door Panamera and the Cayenne SUV. But these models proved to be successful for Porsche as they broadened the customer base and even appealed to Porsche traditionalists who were seeking greater utility than the sports cars. Their success with the new models lies in their increased space, but also in the translation of the Porsche driving experience to the larger vehicles as well as their provocative design. So now comes the Macan.

The Macan will be a smaller SUV based off the Audi Q5 platform. This puts the size among the smaller of the SUVs, competitive to the Q5 but also the Volkswagen Tiguan, Range Rover Evoque, BMW X3, and Mercedes Benz GLK. Nobody will buy a small Porsche SUV for serious off-roading, so just who is the target market and how will the vehicle be used?

In the 1950’s, ‘60’s and into the ‘70s, moms with kids favored the old station wagons. Who can forget the fake contact paper “wood” on the sides of those smelly, gas-guzzling sleds? In the 1980’s and ‘90s, soccer moms moved to the ever-practical minivans pioneered first by Lee Iacocca at Chrysler. Minivans gave way to SUVs. Soccer moms loved their large Chevy Suburbans, GMC Yukon Denalis, Ford Expedition and Excursions, Cadillac Escalades, and in their most extreme form, the Hummer. And even dads liked these vehicles as they were comfortable, spacious, macho, and could handle the occasional off-road duty. But gas prices have largely killed this segment both economically and politically. So that paved the path for mid sized SUVs and crossovers. These vehicles have garnered the focus of manufacturers for their utility and relative fuel efficiency. But lately they have received more attention from automakers with more daring design and performance. People looking for more utility than sedans or sports cars but with performance and flair have flocked to this segment. The Porsche models fit into this category.

Not a lot is known about the Macan at this stage. Porsche has released a video teaser that shows active young men and women all engaged in outdoor activities, and even the obligatory soccer mom with two young boys. Expect the marketing and positioning for the vehicle to be lifestyle focused. It is doubtful that the Macan will be viewed as a serious utility vehicle. The Q5 is about eight inches shorter than the Cayenne so expect the Macan to be similarly reduced. The height likely will be three to four inches lower than the Cayenne and should sit lower to the ground. Front seats will be the focus with plentiful space and sport bolstering but the rear should be a kids-only domain with room for two and a half. Pity the half. Cargo space will be minimal with seats up but more utilitarian with seats down. But who seriously buys a Porsche to transport stuff?

The design sketches look like a raised and shortened version of the four-door Panamera. According to the sketches, the front and back ends are typically Porsche. The side views are dominated by ultra large wheels (likely to be right-sized for production), and a chopped greenhouse (likely to be raised for production). So the final design likely will look more like a baby Cayenne with a lower, shorter, and more raked profile.

Who will buy the Porsche Macan?

The target will be young people who need more than a sports car but can’t bear to move to a Ford Explorer or a Chevy Acacia and who can’t afford the Cayenne or a Range Rover. They would prefer to be driving a Cayman or Carrera but know they need space for the kids. With an expected price in the $45-50,000 range, this should limit buyers to active, wealthier 30-45 year old couples with young kids. How big is this market? Not huge, but it is a gap for Porsche and large enough to be worth spending a half a billion dollars to adapt a Q5. It’s something to look forward to.

Lamborghini Madura

The lamborghini Madura was brought to life by Slavche Tanevsky, a student at the University of Applied Sciences in Munich, Germany. The vehicle is a more eco-friendly concept car to be produced by the Italian supercar manufacturer Lamborghini in the year 2016. This environmentally sound vehicle, although not the first of its kind, maintains the speed and performance that Lamborghini has become known for.

The Lamborghini Madura was created in collaboration with Audi as well as Lamborghini designers for Lamborghini's Raw Materials project.^[1] The project allows students at the University of Applied Sciences^] in Munich, Germany to design a car body and propose it to the major designers at Lamborghini. Slavche Tanevski, a student at the University, proposed this body style as well as hybrid concept to the designers, and his super-car idea has become a sensation among hybrid enthusiasts around the world. Aside from proposing the idea for a hybrid super-car, Tanevski has given other contributions to the Lamborghini company such as the Lamborghini Ankonian. The Madura body design was meticulously sculpted and manages to resemble other Lamborghini vehicles as the design will invoke aggressive body lines, a sleek interior, as well as a slightly more environmentally friendly engine. The drivetrain of this vehicle is placed in the front-mid section of the body of the car allowing Tanevski to create radical rear end body lines. The car's engine, as stated by Lamborghini officials, will maintain the same basic setup as other cars and will utilize 10-12 cylinders all while keeping a high amount of horsepower, as many Lamborghini vehicles have become known for.^[2] As for the body of the car, it utilizes large, slender headlights with bulky air intakes underneath, in order to accentuate the cars width.^[3]

As some car enthusiasts may be aware of, Lamborghini has always named their vehicles in the spirit of Spanish culture such as bulls, bull fights and famous places in time. This symbolic naming system was proposed by car company creator, as well as tractor manufacturer Ferruccio Lamborghini, due to his immense love of Spanish culture as well as heritage.^[4] In the spirit of his ideas, Lamborghini continues to name their vehicles in this way and has managed to come up with the name Madura for their concept vehicle. The name Madura arose from the island Madura in Indonesia which is famous for its large scale bull races and bull fights.^[5][6]

Lambo Aventador J is King

Everyone knows Rome wasn't built in a day, but did you know the Aventador J - Lamborghini's outrageous speedster that brought Geneva to its collective knees last week - was cooked up in just six weeks?

After scooping our mandibles from the floor after Lambo whipped the covers off the roofless, screenless J, Top Gear secured an exclusive interview with designer Filippo Perini for the full story behind the lowest Lambo in history. It's fair to say he looked a little rushed. This is why...

Though the Aventador J was widely reported to have been commissioned by a well-heeled customer, Perini reveals it was devised entirely in-house by the Lamborghini team after CEO Stephan Winkelmann asked them to come up with ‘something special' for the Geneva show. As is traditional at Lamborghini, this required some fairly rapid forward progress.

Gallery: the Lamborghini Aventador J

"It was the 14th of January that Mr Winkelmann asked us to do something for Geneva," says Perini. "A blank sheet. Do what you want. I drew up this car in a weekend..."

So that's just a month and a half to bring a car from drawing board to reality: most companies would take that long to decide on the level of damping on the stereo volume knob.

The timeframe is even more astonishing when you consider that the J is far more than an Aventador with the roof and windscreen lopped off. Only the front bonnet, front fender, rear fender and headlights remain from Lambo's big V12 coupe: every other panel is new.

A huge winglet-covered diffuser lurks at the front, while the rear diffuser has grown too, and sprouted a quad of evil exhausts (imagine the noise). The Aventador coupe's slatted rear deck is gone, replaced by a pair of sleek humps and a delicate carbon-fibre crossbrace over the engine. And just look at that ‘periscope' rear-view mirror.

Six weeks. And don't forget this is no concept: the J is road-legal, homologated in Italy (we're not sure how the single-car homologation procedure works in Italy, but we'd imagine it goes something along the lines of, "Yeah, it's a massive red Lamborghini with no roof. Any problems? No? Great...").

Even before its Geneva unveiling, the one-off J had already been sold, to an anonymous but presumably not-very-poor Lamborghini enthusiast.

"Mr Winkelmann knows our best customers personally," says Perini. "One of the first ones we presented the project to was interested. In a minute he had sent the money."

Well, what self-respecting businessman doesn't have £1.75m (plus taxes) sitting idly in his current account? And has our supercar value scale got a bit skewed recently, or does that not sound like such a ridiculous price for Lamborghini's most extreme one-off since 1970's Jota?

The common ‘J' is no coincidence. Though Lamborghini claims the Aventador J's suffix refers to the FIA's ‘Appendix J' regulations, the rulebook governing technical specifications of sports cars and their homologation requirements, this is a lie. It's short for Jota, the Miura-based racer that remains, even today, Lambo's most extreme, iconic creation.

"I have always wanted to do something with the ‘Jota' name," Perini says. "Inspiration comes from the past, and the Jota is the true heritage of our company."

A worthy successor? A snip at one-point-seven-five-million-plus-taxes? Or simply the most depraved piece of automotive smut this decade? For the full story behind the Aventador J - and a photoshoot we guarantee will make you feel a bit funny-in-a-good-way - make sure you pick up the April issue of Top Gear magazine, on sale 29 March...

New Honda Pilot ..............$28,470 - $40,820

The 2012 Honda Pilot is a competent offering in the crossover segment, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. So for 2012, Honda has made some minor changes to the Pilot both inside and out. The Pilot also now delivers the highest EPA fuel economy available in a three-row, eight-passenger vehicle. Front-wheel-drive Pilots achieve 25 mpg on the highway, 2 mpg more than the previous model thanks mainly to improved aerodynamics and slight updates to the Pilot's 3.5-liter V-6 and five-speed automatic powertrain. The biggest exterior change to the new Pilot is an updated front end that lends it a more luxurious look. All Pilots receive a more refined interior, plus more tech and entertainment goodies. Previously exclusive to the Pilot EX-L with Navigation and above models, the EX now comes standard with audio system upgrades, including a 2 GB CD-Library and Bluetooth audio streaming. For 2012, EX-L models come with Honda's new intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) that includes backup camera display, while EX-L models with navigation receive an upgraded nav system with higher resolution and a 60 GB hard drive complete with XM real-time traffic updates. Cargo capacity is one of the Pilot's strong suits, with plenty of storage options and impressive interior volume. As has been the case since launch, all Pilot trim levels are offered in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configuration.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2012/honda/pilot/#ixzz1pFYtILjB

Land Rover Defender Station Wagon

EXTERIOR FEATURES

Fitness for purpose defines the Defender's body. Short front and rear overhangs and high sills provide optimum clearances off road, whilst the flat, vertical sides maximise visibility and the ability to manoeuvre the vehicle in tight situations. A combination of high strength steel and light-weight aluminium keep weight down to maximise economy and corrosion resistance.

2.2 litre 4 cylinder diesel engine

Defender’s new 2.2 litre Diesel engine produces an impressive 360Nm of torque. With 90 percent of peak power constantly on tap from as low as 2,200rpm to over 4,350rpm, it provides maximum muscle for tough working environments.

With the introduction of Land Rover’s new Diesel Particulate Filter, not only is the new Defender engine fully compliant with the latest N1 EU5 emissions legislation, it now delivers an historic new top speed of 90mph. The engine is designed to meet modern emissions legislation and features an Anti-Stall device, which intelligently adjusts the fuel required when the engine is working at low speed.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

For maximum control both on and off-road, certain models of Defender are available with 4-channel anti-lock brakes (ABS) and Electronic Traction Control (ETC). Detecting any significant difference between wheel speeds during braking or accelerating, this optional system helps maintain control by automatically reducing or applying brake force to the appropriate wheel.

Land Rover Defender Profesional

With more than 60 years experience building dependable, capable and hard working vehicles to meet the exacting demands of commercial fleet customers the world over, Land Rover Professional Vehicles continue to lead the way. Based on the highly acclaimed and hugely versatile Defender 90, 110 and 130 vehicle platforms, Land Rover Professional Vehicles are able to deliver solutions for the most demanding of commercial customer applications. When your business depends on reaching inaccessible locations, operating in the most inclement conditions or conquering challenging terrains as part of your daily operations, there simply is no substitute

 
Land Rover Professional Vehicles combine the considerable capability and durability strengths of the world renowned Defender with the versatility to meet a customers specific usage needs. Whether from the Professional Vehicles range or based on a customer’s unique vision for a specific vehicle use, there is a Defender Professional Vehicle to meet your needs and to serve your business well.

 - Tried and trusted capability and durability with a powerful, efficient 2.4 Litre diesel engine
 - Versatile 90,110 and 130 wheelbase vehicle platform capable of supporting a wide variety of needs
 - Standard and Heavy Duty Suspension variants
 - Class leading towing and all terrain capability
 - A range of Professional Vehicles from which to choose as well as bespoke build capability
 - Experienced team of engineers and vehicle conversion specialists
 - Land Rover Warranty and Aftersales support
 - Solutions engineered to meet customers specific legislative or specific test criteria
 - Commonality of vehicle components across a multi-purpose Defender fleet offers efficiency in parts procurement, maintenance, training and greater vehicle familiarity
 Land Rover Experience training to meet busines