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2007 Saturn Outlook

The eight-passenger - via an available second-row bench seat - crossover is GM’s attempt to lure large families who are tired of sub-par SUV gas mileage but don’t want to be seen in a minivan.

The center console and armrest, door panels, gauge cluster and seats are on par with GM’s new full-size SUVs, like the Chevy Tahoe, and are far beyond anything the company has produced before.

Both rear rows of seats fold flat, but not into the floor. That means the cargo floor is perfectly flat to stow long objects, but isn’t as deep because the seats don’t hide beneath the floor like they do in some minivans.

This is an interesting way to do it and much preferred to GM’s full-size SUVs, which must have the rear seats removed to achieve maximum cargo space. Parents will also enjoy the second-row bench seat because it fits three children across, two with the convenient LATCH system.

Mileage is estimated at 17/25 mpg city/highway for front-wheel-drive models and 16/24 mpg for all-wheel drive. The same 3.6-liter V-6 engine and six-speed transmission from the Aura will also be in use here, but will produce 263 or 267 hp, depending on the model. The Outlook will go on sale toward the end of the year and prices are expected to start in the mid- to upper $20,000 range.

VW’s Diesel SUV Gets A New Filter

With the Touareg V10 TDI a series production off-road vehicle has reached the summit of Pikes Peak at 4,300 metres for the first time in the history of the legendary “Race to the Clouds”.

The competition, officially called “Pikes Peak International Hillclimbing Contest”, provided the sporting backdrop for the market launch of the Touareg V10 TDI in the USA. On 1st September, the sale of the high-end off-road vehicle, which is equipped with a diesel particulate filter as standard, will start in the USA.

The Touareg V10 TDI is the first turbo-diesel off-road vehicle in the US market with a particulate filter (DPF). Volkswagen is, in this way, once again setting a trend for drive technologies. In comparison to similarly equipped petrol engine vehicles, the 310 bhp Touareg V10 TDI is approximately 30 percent more efficient. As is the case in Europe, Volkswagen is seen as the leading manufacturer of diesel passenger vehicles in the USA. A total of twelve percent of all Volkswagens sold between New York and San Francisco already have the TDI logo, and this trend is increasing. In the TDI versions, the New Beetle and Golf are, according to the “U.S. Environmental Agency” (EPA) and the “U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)”, the most economical vehicles in their class on the US market.

The Touareg V10 TDI with diesel particulate filter will now augment the US off-road vehicle segment, which is dominated by petrol engine models, with a particularly fascinating, responsive, but also economic model. The three Touaregs participating in the “Race to the Clouds” were the same as the standard production model, with the exception of special safety equipment for the competition (roll-over cage, fire extinguisher, sports seats with five-point seat belts).

The three vehicles used diesel fuel with low sulphur content. Racing driver Mark Miller (who also drove at the Rallye Dakar 2006 for Volkswagen) was the fastest up the mountain: after 14 minutes and 8 seconds he saw the finish line and thus left many vehicles that had been built especially for the competition behind him. The other two Touareg V10 TDI vehicles were driven by Ryan Arciero and US racing legend Danny Sullivan.

The Touareg is an international success. In Germany, the Volkswagen off-road vehicle is available at prices as of 41,450 Euro (Touareg TDI with 128 kW / 174 bhp). The European version of the Touareg V10 TDI with 230 kW / 313 bhp costs 74,650 Euro.

2007 Land Rover Defender unveiled

The Land Rover Defender is the longest surviving SUV, and it soldiers on for 2007 with some important enhancements to its interior and powertrain. First off, the Defender still looks the same way it always has, which is to say utilitarian and square. The only exterior change is to the hood, which receives a new profile to fit around the Defender’s new 2.4-liter four-cylinder CRD diesel engine.

The new motor puts out 120 hp and 265 ft-lbs. of torque, and a new six-speed gearbox with a lower first gear and higher sixth gear improve responsiveness while rock crawling and highway cruising, respectively.

The Defender’s dash has also been completely redone and features bits and pieces from the LR3, a more powerful HVAC system and an improved stereo system with AUX-IN jacks and high-mounted tweeters. Seats have also been upgraded and for the first time the station wagon model can be ordered with a third row of seating.

GM To Slow Large SUV Production

General Motors Co. seems to be reacting to news that sales of large SUVs, such as the Chevy Suburban and GMC Yukon, are plummeting. GM CEO Rick Wagoner stated in an interview that the automaker will begin to slow production of its full-size SUVs for the rest of the year. While he would not elaborate on what this ’slowdown’ entailed, he mentioned that cutbacks would be made to “some” overtime at the company’s plants while revamping their vehicle lineup to include other models.

According to Ward’s, sales of large SUVs have dropped 22 percent between January through July of 2006.

Toyota Raises Base Price For Full-Size 2007 Sequoia SUV

The Sequoia 2WD carries a base MSRP that ranges from $33,160 for SR5 to $45,660 for Limited 4WD.

Total Sequoia average MSRP increases $345 or 0.9 percent.

The Sequoia full-size SUV gains several enhancements for 2007. The SR5 grade receives color-keyed grille while the Limited grade receives chrome rear view mirrors.

All grades now receive standard driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags and two row side curtain airbag.

For 2007, Sequoia is also available with an Appearance Package which includes seven passenger seating configuration, 16-inch sport alloy wheels, fog lamps, and skid plates.

Indian Automaker Targets U.S. Market With Scorpio SUV

India-based Mahindra & Mahindra is considering exporting its light utility vehicles to the U.S., perhaps as early as 2007. According to AutoWeek, the company is trying to establish a network of 200 dealers to sell its flagship Scorpio SUV.

Mahindra already exports the Scorpio to a number of countries, including Malaysia, South Africa, Russia, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. In Europe, the car is known as the Mahindra Goa. This won’t be the company’s first exposure to the U.S. market - Mahindra USA opened its doors in 1994 to assemble and market the company’s line of tractors.

The latest version of the Scorpio was launched earlier this year, and comes in seven- and eight-seat configurations, with either 2WD or 4WD powertrains. The standard powerplant for the Scorpio is a 2.6-liter common-rail turbodiesel, but the company is said to be adding a gasoline engine sourced from Renault, and a hybrid prototype is under development.

Reviews of the 2005 Scorpio suggest that its levels of performance and refinement were significantly below U.S.-market standards, but perhaps the 2006 version has addressed those concerns. In any event, you can expect the chunky SUV to carry a bargain-basement price.