Ford Explorer Best-in-class combination of V6 horsepower and fuel economy.8

Fully capable to handle whatever you throw at it

The 2013 Ford Explorer is incredibly capable. It starts with the structure – strong and supportive, thanks to high-tech materials and advanced forming

technology. 

 To help you handle everything from rugged off-roading to snow-covered roadways, there’s the available Intelligent 4WD with Terrain Management System.™ For your peace of mind, Curve Control, an enhancement to AdvanceTrac^® with Roll Stability Control,™ delivers enhanced control in turns. Open the door. The Explorer offers up to seven-passenger seating capacity and seats that fold down for cargo space on demand – up to 80.7 cubic feet of space. You expect capability in an SUV. Explorer delivers it.

  

An impressive performance

The 2013 Explorer offers the available 2.0L I-4 EcoBoost^® engine, delivering 240 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque across a wide 1,750–4,000 rpm range. The standard 3.5L V6 engine features the best-in-class combination of V6 horsepower and fuel economy* (unsurpassed 290 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft. of torque). With all that power and torque, Explorer can tow up to 5,000 lbs. when properly equipped.** An impressive performance indeed.

  

The smartest Explorer ever. 

The 2013 Explorer features some incredibly innovative and smart features. For example, there are lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist to help keep you in control. Explorer features the world’s first automotive production inflatable rear safety belts that spread crash forces over more areas of the body compared to conventional safety belts. Available adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support scans traffic ahead of you, providing an alert and precharging the brakes if it senses a collision with the vehicle in front of you. AdvanceTrac^® with Roll Stability Control™ features Curve Control to help provide even more control. There are even available headlamps that automatically change modes, going from low beam to high beam to provide enhanced illumination when you need it. In the 2013 Explorer, smart features help provide you with peace of mind.

Groundbreaking technology that lets you do more.

The technology can make your driving experience much more convenient. Take, for example, available SYNC^® with MyFord Touch^{® 27} – the easy-to-use in-car connectivity system. With simple voice commands, you can make phone calls, choose music, control your climate and more without taking your eyes off the road. Another feature, the available voice-activated Navigation System with integrated SiriusXM Traffic and SiriusXM Travel Link³⁴, provides weather forecasts, traffic updates, fuel prices – even movie times. Yes, there's much more to the Ford Explorer than outstanding performance and flexibility.

Gurkha LAPV ; The Armored Vehicles With Excellent Protection

The Gurkha LAPV is armored vehicles wich has a typical SUV configuration of 4 side doors and a single rear cargo-crew exit door and carries a total crew complement of up to eight persons. Gurkha LAPV is Mounted on the Ford F550 chassis, repair and spare parts are available throughout the worldwide Ford Motor Company. The Gurkha LAPV is armored to the NATO STANAG 4569 level 3 which exceeds the CEN European B7 armor level provides excellent protection. The estimated price for Gurkha LAPV is around $489.000.

With its hollow cavity walls filled with blast protective materials, the side armor, the Gurkha LAPV provides excellent protection against side load IEDs. In addition to its frontal armor, the firewall is a second armored wall that further protects the driver and front passenger from a frontal attack. The floor is protected from blast and even with this advance armored protection, the payload after armoring is still in excess of 2,041kg (4,500lbs).

JAGUAR LAUNCHES XJ SENTINEL ; "THE ULTIMATE ARMOURED LUXURY SPORTS SALOON"

“The XJ Sentinel was designed and developed in partnership with industry leaders, and incorporates the very latest armoured vehicle systems to deliver extremely impressive levels of protection, while maintaining a very discreet appearance,” said Mike O’Driscoll, Managing Director, Jaguar Cars.

“The XJ Sentinel is the ultimate armoured luxury limousine. It offers governments, security organisations and private individuals, the highest level of security, with advanced design, refined performance and a beautifully-crafted cabin. The XJ Sentinel will be the vehicle of choice for the most discerning," he added.

COMPREHENSIVE ARMOURING SYSTEM

The XJ Sentinel is equipped with a purpose-built armouring system which has been specially developed to ensure that the vehicle offers outstanding occupant protection, while being almost impossible to detect from outside the car.

Constructed from specialised high strength steels with Kevlar backing, the armoured inner cell was engineered in partnership with Centigon, a leading global specialist in vehicle armouring.  The XJ Sentinel offers ballistic protection up to B7 level (BS EN 1522 level FB7 and BS EN 1063 BR7-), blast protection against 15kg TNT equivalent detonated within close proximity of the vehicle, and substantial under floor grenade protection.

To ensure that the armouring meets the latest national and international standards, the protection offered was certified by QinetiQ, a globally recognised independent blast and ballistic testing organisation.

ENGINEERED WITHOUT COMPRIMISE

Just like the other models in the highly-acclaimed XJ range, the Sentinel has been engineered without compromise to deliver sophisticated performance, peerless vehicle dynamics and reassuring levels of active and passive safety.

The Sentinel is based on the long wheelbase XJ saloon powered by the refined and responsive 5.0-litre 385PS AJ-V8 Gen III naturally aspirated direct-injection V8 petrol engine, which is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

This powerful and sophisticated powertrain ensures that the XJ Sentinel is capable of swift and agile performance, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 9.7 seconds (0-60mph in 9.4 seconds), and achieving a top speed of 195km/h (121 mph).

The Sentinel’s chassis, which features the advanced Adaptive Dynamics system with continuously variable dampers, has been comprehensively uprated to cope with its increased body weight.  Jaguar’s dynamics specialists have tuned the suspension and steering to ensure that the armoured model offers the same qualities of poise and agility found in the standard XJ.

Impressive stopping power is provided by a new high performance braking system which has been sourced from the formidable 510PS Supercharged non-armoured XJ model, while active safety is further improved by the XJ’s full array of advanced traction and stability systems.

To enhance passive safety, the Sentinel retains full functionality of the standard XJ restraint system, including dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags, side thorax airbags and side curtain airbags.

TOTAL LUXURY AND REAL-WORLD USABILITY

The comprehensive occupant protection offered by the XJ Sentinel has not been achieved at the expense of comfort or practicality.  Jaguar engineers have ensured that the armoured model retains the supreme luxury and real-world usability which are core features of the standard car.

The design of the armoured inner cell has been optimised to maintain the extremely spacious interior package of the long wheelbase XJ, which provides rear seat passengers with a full metre of legroom.

With its elegant and contemporary style, the cabin surrounds occupants with beautifully-crafted leather and veneer surfaces, creating a supremely relaxing, comfortable and luxurious environment.

A generous 500kg payload – maximised by the XJ’s lightweight aluminium body structure – means that the Sentinel is comfortably able to accommodate four occupants along with their luggage and additional security equipment.

This day-to-day practicality provides government organisations, security forces, businesses or high net worth individuals with a discreet yet highly desirable form of armoured transportation.

COMPLETE SUPPORT PACKAGE

XJ Sentinel customers benefit from a comprehensive support programme, both before and after purchase.

A dedicated security consultant works closely with the customer during the sales process, to ensure their full requirements are met.  A wide range of specialised optional security and vehicle features are available and can be tailored to meet individual requirements.

Once the vehicle is in service, the customer has access to a full support package including driver training and on-site servicing from dedicated specialists when required.

The XJ Sentinel has been carefully developed to allow regular servicing and repair to be carried out at Jaguar dealers, using standard diagnostic equipment, and is covered by a full three-year 50,000 mile factory warranty.

Knight XV Luxury SUV Of The Apocalypse

Conquest Vehicles are not widely known, but this Canadian company surely makes ultra-luxurious, fully-armoured SUVs. Okay, we can’t really use the plural version. So far, they have only made one; the Conquest Knight XV, but Conquest lives up to their mission on this vehicle.

The Conquest Knight XV doesn’t qualify as an everyday kind of ride, but for professional athletes, government officials, and heads of corporations around the globe, it should fit perfectly amongst their stable of high-priced vehicles. This extravagantly large and armored vehicle was first unveiled at the 2008 SEMA Show and since then, has had an abundant amount of comfort and security features added to it.

The vehicle is the picture of insanity and utter viciousness. We would just like to say that it would be an awesome choice for the next Decepticon in any upcoming Transformers if the production could afford it. It looks ready for the job already.

For the 2012 model, the Knight XV has been designed using only the most expensive and highest quality armoring materials on the planet. Nothing - and we mean nothing - about this all-utility ride is weak.

Beginning with the exterior, the 2012 Knight Conquest XV features many of the same design elements as the last model except that this one is wider and a little longer. Among the few changes done on the vehicle include a redesigned and more aggressive front end, a new hood, a new grille, and matching headlights and taillights.

What makes the Knight XV the ultimate in all-utility luxury are the optional packages that it comes in. For the 2012 model, there are plenty heaps of it, including a Luxury Group Package and a Security Package.

For the former, the add-ons feature electrostatic tinting (rear windows, sunroofs, partition), rear power windows, retractable ballistic glass partition, retractable flat screen television, siren, 2-way PA system with loud speaker, hidden front VIP strobes lights, forward and backup sensors and an external intercom communication system, Playstation3 or Xbox entertainment system, a VIP package inclusion of decanter bar, cooler box, and a cigar humidor.

Meanwhile, the latter offers less premium upgrades but has more than enough security features to rival a Las Vegas casino. As part of the Security Package, you’ll receive cool trinkets like an under vehicle explosive protection system and magnetic attachment detector, an opaque floor armor protection, a Black box, a security safe, a fire extinguisher, exterior surveillance camera system, positive pressure defense system against gas attacks, and an oxygen survival kit.

The last Knight XV to hit the market came with a price tag of $489,000, which is, believe it or not, comparatively cheaper than the 2012 model. Thanks to a lot of the added upgrades in the last model that have been turned into standard features, the 2012 Knight XV now commands a king’s ransom worth $629,000.

It’s hard to find a suitable comp for the Knight XV because there aren’t a lot of vehicles on the planet that offers all the things it can give, including the price tag.

Hummer has long been discontinued and even the most tricked out versions of those machines still pales in comparison to what you get with the Knight XV.

If we were reaching, though, you could make a case that where the Knight XV has in interior amenities, Paramount Group’s Marauder more than makes up for in sheer intimidation alone.

Russian Kombat T98 armored SUV is more of a luxurious tank

The Dartz Kombat T98 SUV from Russia looks like a cross between a Hummer and a tank, and that connection apparently shows up in the name as well (T9 tanks). The SUV comes with steel plated doors and 3-inch windows, and enough armor to keep the passengers protected from attacks, ranging from bullets from an AK 47 to rocket propelled grenades.

The Dartz T-98 has been noted as one of the fastest multiterrain armored vehicles in the world, boasting an 8.1-liter engine and made with parts courtesy of General Motors. The Hummer H1 is often considered to be the most desirable of the Humvee makes, being the first of the now famous line introduced by AM General and also valued for its (relatively) efficient gas mileage. Coincidentally, the Hummer brand is also associated with GM, which had to part with the line as part of its bankruptcy settlement. So how much do they have in common versus how much they don't have in common? Well, I'll let you be the judge, as this video puts both vehicle types to the test in various environments including highways, sand dunes, forests, and snow. Enjoy. Or not. It's no big deal, right?

Mercedes Benz S600 Guard hits the roads Now

The final variation of the new S-class has been announced with news that Mercedes has developed an armoured special-protection model. Labelled the Mercedes Benz S600 Guard the new car has had its protective elements fully integrated into the vehicle direct from the Sindelfingen plant in Germany. Currently, it only comes in long-wheelbase form with the same V12 as shared with the regular sedan. The S600 Guard develops 517hp (380kw) thanks to the biturbo V12 and rides as comfortably as the standard-production S-Class despite the addition of heavy reinforcements. Some of the attacks the vehicle is capable of withstanding include armour resisting military-standard small-arms projectiles, hand grenade fragments other explosive charges. Additional safety features include run-flat tyres, a self-sealing fuel tank and a fire-extinguishing system.

Along with the military grade additions, the S600 Guard still features most of the technical innovations from the already safe Mercedes S-Class. These include the latest braking assistance and brake force distribution features as well as night vision. The car of choice for up-and-coming dictators of small African countries just got better.

Mercedes-Benz has completed the new S-Class range by introducing an armoured special-protection model. Thanks to its factory-integrated protective features, the new S-Guard provides a unique level of protection against attacks and threats posed by violent crime. The new model is initially available in Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard guise, with a twelve-cylinder engine and a long wheelbase.

The new Mercedes-Benz S-Guard is the logical continuation of an almost 80-year unbroken tradition in the development of special-protection vehicles. This new top-of-the-range Guard model is produced in Sindelfingen, Germany by vastly experienced specialists working on the principle of integrated special protection. In effect this means that, rather than retrofitting the protective elements in the doors, rear wall, side panels, roof lining and firewall etc. of an already finished vehicle, they fully integrate them into the bodyshell on a dedicated production line. All the body-structure reinforcements required due to the extra weight of the protective elements can therefore be incorporated right from the start. The resulting vehicles offer hallmark Mercedes-Benz build quality combined with comprehensive Highest Protection, including in those areas where post-production access would be all but impossible.

Outstanding comfort and effortlessly superior performance

The S-Class interior space concept, which makes for a first-class ambience combined with outstanding ride comfort for all the occupants, not to mention effortlessly superior handling, remains virtually unaffected. Furthermore, generously dimensioned chassis components and twin-calliper front brakes lend the Mercedes-Benz S-Guard Saloon hallmark Mercedes handling qualities and provide the driver with an optimal driving feel at all times. Plus the chassis has been configured so as not to impair the sumptuous level of comfort that distinguishes the standard-production S-Class. At the heart of the Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard is a twelve-cylinder biturbo engine developing 380 kW/517 hp, whose scintillating performance capability allows the luxury saloon to escape from dangerous situations with breathtaking speed.

The Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard offers Highest Protection and has been engineered to resistance level B6/B7, as tested and certified by state-approved organisations. Its armour resists military-standard small-arms projectiles and provides protection against fragments from hand grenades and other explosive charges. Additional safety features include run-flat tyres, a self-sealing fuel tank and a fire-extinguishing system.

Yet the Highest Protection that underpins the new Guard Saloon is scarcely noticeable from the outside. After all, discretion is as much of a must as trust, reliability and quality. Prominent personalities in particular like to travel incognito, wherever they happen to be, and the new Mercedes-Benz S-Guard gives them this option.

All the trailblazing developments of the new S-Class

The Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard is equipped with the same technical innovations that have made the flagship Mercedes S-Class the number-one trailblazer in passenger car development and the world's best-selling luxury saloon. These include important new developments such as Brake Assist PLUS and the PRE SAFE® brake in combination with DISTRONIC PLUS, night view assist and the enhanced PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection system. On top of all this, the outstanding level of interior comfort and extremely agile handling make for an effortlessly superior driving experience.

Kia K9 2013 SUV Debuts In Korea

Kia has unveiled its new K9 flagship sedan, which goes on sale Korea in the first half of the year. Kia has also confirmed that the K9 will be sold outside of its domestic market, though the name and exact timings for overseas launches won’t be revealed until later this year.

Previously referred to as the KH, the new model is Kia’s first rear-wheel drive sedan and it’s set to serve as the automaker’s flagship.

Kia boasts that the K9 exemplifies the “best of the best” design, driving performance and high technology capabilities.

The styling draws its inspiration from the theme “distinctive, modern and classic,” which as it turns out includes LED headlights, bold character lines, and a purposeful stance. According to Kia, the K9’s profile was a key focus for the design team. It features a simple side character line to give a feeling of spaciousness while emphasizing the new model’s boldness.

While the K9 name may seem odd, it continues Kia’s naming practice for models, such as the existing K5 and K7, sold in its domestic market. The letter “K” represents not only Kia and Korea, but also refers to the Greek word “Kratos” (meaning powerful, domination and reign) and the English word “Kinetic” (meaning active, dynamic).

Kia hasn’t gone into details about its K9’s mechanical package but beneath the sheet metal is the same rear-wheel drive platform from the Hyundai Equus luxury sedan, not the smaller Genesis as previously predicted. This means the K9 is likely to come with a V-8 engine matched to an eight-speed, or possibly even a 10-speed, automatic transmission.

A starting price below the $58,750 sticker of the Equus in the U.S. would also be likely, that is, if the K9 ever does arrive. But considering the following statement from Soon-Nam Lee, Kia’s overseas marketing chief, “This all-new rear-wheel drive large sedan will definitely become the leading model of our lineup around the world, showcasing the best of the best of Kia,” it certainly would be strange if it didn’t.