At 65, the Land Rover Defender is officially a Senior Citizen, but clearly not ready to retire (thank you, Land Rover). This new LXV Special Edition is based on the original Defender hardtop and features a 2.2-liter Diesel, a 6-speed stick, a black on gray color scheme & some LXV birthday logos.
Via Motors is an American carmaker that specializes in custom electric vehicles, mainly turning popular full-size GM cars & trucks into long-range plug-in electrics. Their latest, the 2013 Chevy Silverado-based X-Truck just debuted at the Detroit auto show last week. The truck has been heavily modified inside and out with beefed-up and mean looking body panels, bumpers, and suspension, while achieving the fuel economy of a Prius.
Named for one of the gnarliest 4X4 trails in the Sierras, Jeep’s Wrangler Rubicon turns 10 this year. The 10th Anniversary Edition Ruby features an extra 2 inches of clearance, & a winch-capable bumper up front. It also comes stock with taller, meatier BFG tires, a vented hood & red leather interior. It’ll be available in 2- & 4-door versions this Spring.
Even love-blind Jeep aficionados have to admit that the new Grand Cherokee is a far cry from the rugged, wood-paneled Jeep big-rigs of yore: More Kia Sorento than CJ’s big bro. Finally though, Jeep has decided to toughen up the GC. The new Trailhawk Edition gets Quadra-lift air suspension, a sporty graphics package, aluminum 18s, and all the front-end chrome replaced with matte gray trim. V6 or V8, your choice.
Can anyone explain the link between the combat video game series Call Of Duty and the Jeep Wrangler? Didn’t think so but regardless, Jeep is launching another beefed-up special edition for the release of Activision’s latest Call Of Duty: MW3. Not sure hardcore gamers will fully appreciate the 32-inch mud tires and burly bumper upgrades but they look good to us.
The new Chevy Colorado Rally concept truck looks like it could drive right up and over Hyundais and Kias and crush them like ants. The question is, will the forthcoming production model of the new truck actually look this badass? We hope so. The aggro design, dual front and rear winches, auto-adjust suspension, and beefy 2.8-liter diesel motor will make it a formidable foe against the newest Tacoma, Ranger, and Nissan Frontier.
If & when you’re stepping up to a new truck, there can be no half-stepping. Going full-size means you want the power and torque of a heavy-duty V8. The GMC All-Terrain Sierra HD is the one. With nearly 400 horses and 765-foot pounds of torque, this beast will pull your RV up over the Continental Divide at 80 miles an hour. And if you feel like peeling off the pavement to bushwack through the scrub, it’ll do that, too. It’s got adjustable Fox racing shocks and nearly a foot of clearance at the skid plates. It’s serious.
The Defender is one of the most enduring vehicles ever designed. In over 60 years, it has barely changed. But it’s changing now. Speculation is that Rover will introduce a redesigned model to the U.S. in 2013 with updated emissions and safety features. It will also feature independent suspension and power from one of LR’s proven diesel motors. Basically, you’ve got two years to sell the FJ.
Double-take! No, it’s not a restored and modded ’66 Toyota Land Cruiser. It might actually be better than the classic safari wagon it’s modeled after. The FJ44 is a new, handmade custom utility machine built by Van Nuys, California’s ICON. Designer/builder Jonathan Ward produces this and other models marrying classic ’Yota styling with new alloy bodies, new engines and a sick array of custom parts. Like a steering wheel from a Caterpillar earth mover, Mercedes softtops, and interior bits from Lear jets.
You’ve almost bought a Jeep about five times, right? Then you look at the tiny backseat & wonder how much “utility” you’ll get out of it. Well … now you’re gonna buy one. Not since the homely Comanche, has Jeep launched a pickup … and no offense, but that one is worth forgetting. But right out of the gate, the soon-to-drop Gladiator looks like a winner. It’s boxy & bad-ass. It’s got everything you’ve come to expect from a Jeep – plus room for all your stuff.
