Daily Archives: August 20, 2012
Brand-New 2013 Land Rover Ranger Rover Drops an Amazing 700 Pounds
Have all those summer parties with cakes, ice cream, and BBQ been catching up to you? In the same way that it’s easier to gain weight than lose it for drivers, the same is true for their automobiles. With all of the new technology, comfort, and safety features available in today’s auto world, it’s easy for the weight of vehicles to creep up quickly. One way to combat this weight gain is by using lightweight materials. British auto brand Land Rover understands this fact, and its experts have put their good sense to use with the 2013 Land Rover Range Rover, which has been given a weight reduction of an amazing 700 lbs. this year (as compared to the model it replaces) due to its all-aluminum unibody structure.
So why is a lightweight vehicle ideal? First of all, it’s easier to handle and more aerodynamic, which also means that it’s faster. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, a lighter vehicle achieves greater fuel economy ratings. In order to keep up with consumer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles (not to mention government regulations) it’s important for automakers to make vehicles as light as they can possibly be without skimping on luxurious features. And, in the case of the new Range Rover, cutting 700 lbs. of fat without shrinking the size of the vehicle at all is quite impressive.
The upcoming Range Rover will boast a body structure that’s 39 percent lighter than the current model, though it still weight a rather heavy 5,000 pounds. And, though the vehicle has been lightened by 700 lbs. in the U.S., in other markets it’s been reduced by up to 926 pounds.
2013 Land Rover Range Rover Specs.:
– It’s roomy: This Range Rover boasts 4.7 more inches of rear-passenger legroom when compared with the previous generation and is available in four-seat configuration and is much less cluttered-looking than the 2012 model.
– Powerful Engines: A choice of V8 engines is available and include a (rumored) supercharged V8 (Jaguar offers a 5.0–liter engine that produces between 470-550 horsepower) and a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 engine that works with an eight-speed automatic transmission. We’ll have to wait to see if the horsepower stays at 375 or increases, and straight-line performance could benefit from the lost weight. These are the U.S. engines; others could be offered in different markets.
– Off-Road Capability: Expected to be the same as the heavier model or better, with the most recent Terrain Response electronic system and improved ride and handling. The Range Rover has also offered impressive off-road power, but this year’s standard-road-drive could be smoother than ever.
More information will be released about the 2013 Land Rover Range Rover when it’s formally introduced at the Paris Motor Show next month, with deliveries scheduled to start in December of this year.
Be sure to stay tuned with reviewitonline.net for more new car reviewsand the latest auto news. We’re always up-to-date on the latest happenings, and we can’t wait to share our discoveries with you!
A Short History of the SUV
A popular automobile genre in contemporary times, the SUV or Sports Utility Vehicle evolved to reach its current form, borrowing from several prototypes. Tracing the historical journey of these vehicles, we go back to the beginning of the 20 th century when the automobile industry was experiencing the influx of innovations and new designs.
The earliest SUVs were descendants of commercial and military vehicles that were required for transporting goods and people in rough terrains. In fact, it is widely held that the SUV took birth from the ancient ‘depot hack’ – a taxi-like vehicle which transported people and luggage from train stations to various locations. These depot hacks were also called carryalls or suburbans, the latter of which is nomenclature for the longest running SUV model – the Suburban by Chevrolet. Suburbans were popular in the 1920s, 30s and 40s as vehicles of practical use having a truck-like structure, and many automotive brands launched models in this name.
The 1950s brought some change in the regular design of the suburbans. Many models favoring a car-frame over truck-like structure came into vogue. These new vehicles became popular amongst big families since they had a fuss-free interior, lots of space and a hardy exterior. These revamped suburbans also became parent to the modern-day station wagons.
It is in the 70s that the SUVs hit their lowest point. It is in this decade that fuel-efficiency, emission control, small engines and high mileage became important concerns for vehicle-owners. Thus, the concept of the mini-van emerged. These were similar to the old carryalls in terms of the purpose they served though they could not match the spaciousness and power of its predecessors. Nonetheless, it kept the concept of SUV-like vehicles alive till the 80s, which is when they came back into prominence.
With the dawn of the 1980s, automobiles began being considered as more than just a practical transport option even for the middle-classes of society. People began to expect a combination of style, elegance, utility as well as road-presence in their automobiles. This is when the lavishly large Sports Utility Vehicle came into vogue again.
The popularity of SUVs increased significantly in the 1990s and early 2000s, especially in countries like the US, Canada, Australia and India. By this time, the SUV design had diversified into variously sized models – Compact SUVs, Medium SUVs and Full Sized SUVs. While now SUVs are also produced by luxury automotive brands, they still find usage in rural societies in most parts of the world. Thus, though the Sports Utility Vehicle has undergone many modifications over the 20 th century, it has become one of the most widely popular vehicle-types since the turn of the last century. Given their popularity and utility in the present day, one thing is for sure; SUVs are here to stay. Watch out for them on a road near you!
