Suv

The luxury performance SUV market is a competitive segment with no shortage of impressive challengers. From the BMW X4 M to the Mercedes GLC 63 S to the Jaguar F-Pace SVR, you can have a pick of these three and go home with a big smile on your face.

But the eternal question that plagues every car applies here, too. Which is the best one among these three high-performance SUVs? More specifically, which of these three is the fastest in a drag race? OK, not everyone asks the latter question, but that doesn’t mean we’re not curious to find out, right? YouTube channel Cars with Pilot Tseno has the answer for us, and it is a surprise, to say the least.

When Ford revived the Bronco earlier in 2020, Jeep introduced the V-8-powered Wrangler 392 Concept. But what seemed like a PR stunt created to crash Ford’s celebration has morphed into a production model. Meet the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, the first-ever Wrangler powered by a V-8 engine and the most powerful Wrangler built since the nameplate was introduced back in 1987. The muscular powerplant, shared with the Dodge Charger and Challenger, is backed by enhanced off-road capability and several special features inside and out.

Volvo is famous for being one of the carmakers that produces some of the safest cars in the world. The Swedish automaker has been investing in this department for decades now and it’s still paying big attention to the safety of its vehicles. Apparently to the extent that it’s dropping brand-new cars with a crane from 100 feet in the air.

When the Bronco was unveiled, a lot of us were disappointed by the absence of a V-8 mill. But, we still had hopes that it could become a reality someday. However, Ford made it clear that a V-8 will not be offered here. Although we had our deliberations, this confirmation from Ford served as the final nail in the coffin.

It has now come to light that Ford was sure about not offering one right from the start. In fact, it even built the Bronco without bothering to check if a V-8 engine could be plonked in or not! Speaking with Ford Authority, Bronco’s Chief Engineer, Eric Loefller said that they hadn’t even given it a shot during its development days.

Rivian created a splash when it announced and showcased the R1T pickup truck and the R1T SUV. The products looked stunning, came with some brilliant features and specs, and was touted to be the segment leader with these offerings. We kept getting updates on the products ever since, but Rivian hadn’t officially launched it with all the details. Now, after many years, we have some concrete information. Rivian has announced the packages, pricing, and some more information for both these vehicles. Brace yourselves, folks; it’s finally happening!

The Discovery has been in the market for over three decades now. Currently in its fifth iteration, this Land Rover has proved its mettle over the years and is an all-rounder in this family of off-roaders. It comes with all the bells and whistles on the inside, a seven-seat layout, and is a true off-road capable family SUV. The Discovery is currently in its fifth generation and Land Rover has decided to update it for the 2021 model year.

The 2021 refresh sees a lot of new updates, like refreshed aesthetics, a lot of improved tech features, and most importantly, new engines, one of which is mated to a mild-hybrid system. Does the facelift make the Discovery all the more relevant in this competitive segment?

Remember the Vision iNext concept that BMW unveiled at the 2018 Paris Motor Show? It’s now called the iX, and it’s one step closer to production. Although it’s still a concept vehicle, the iX doesn’t look as futuristic as the iNext, but it previous technology that we will find in BMW production models in the future. Set to go into production in late 2021, the iX will become BMW’s flagship electric vehicle, so it will slot above the X3-based iX3. The big news here is that the iX is built on a new, modular, and scalable platform for electric vehicles.

Hyundai unveiled the i20 N in 2020, expanding its lineup of N-badged models to three, but the Korean brand isn’t stopping here. The company will add seven N and N Line models through 2022 and confirmed that the Elantra will be the first N vehicle to arrive in the U.S. At the same time, Hyundai released a teaser of the Tucson N Line.

The 2021 Bentley Bentayga LWB is a long-wheelbase version of the already familiar Bentayga. Not yet confirmed by the British company, the SUV was spotted testing around and on the Nurburgring track and looks ready to go into production.

Compared to the regular Bentayga, the 2021 Bentayga LWB will feature a slightly longer wheelbase that will add a few extra inches of legroom for second-row seat passengers. When’s it going into production and what extras will it come with? Find out in the speculative review below.

Lynk & Co is not exactly popular outside China, but it’s been doing well in the Asian country and it’s looking to expand in the near future. The brand is already selling five different vehicles, which share underpinnings with Volvo, as both Lynk & Co and the Swedish carmaker are owned by Geely. At the 2020 Beijing Auto Show, Lynk & Co unveiled the Zero Concept, a crossover that previews an upcoming production model with an all-electric drivetrain.

The Range Rover Velar is a fairly new product in the company’s lineup, but an important one. It looks like the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport’s lovechild and even sits in between them in the lineup. There is a lot of part-sharing with the Jaguar F-Pace, but the Velar is more suited to folks who prefer an SUV with better off-road dynamics. In the top-spec, it is loaded with features and comes with a 5.0-liter V-8 that dishes out 500 ponies. The Velar starts around $55,000, but the mouth-watering top trim costs an eye-watering $90,000.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Velar recently arrived at TopSpeed’s headquarters in the top-of-the-line SVAutobiography Dynamic trim, and here’s what we have to say about it.

The new Land Rover Defender is a very capable vehicle, but purists surely miss the old one. The old Defender had a different aura and charm, something that the new one will probably never be able to match it. Although numerous aftermarket companies are restoring and rebuilding it, the fact is that the same models are in circulation. But, that’s about to change now.

Aftermarket specialist Bowler has been granted the license to use the iconic Defender shape in the next phase of development for all-terrain performance cars and rally raid vehicles. In case you have apprehensions about another company building the classic Defender, let me tell you that Land Rover purchased Bowler last year. So this is as good as Land Rover building it.

Call it what you will but to our eyes, the Audi Q8 is a neatly executed example of what a “SUV-coupe” must look like. That or our brain has been bombarded with some many iterations of this car body style that we’ve learned to live with it.

In any case, Audi is not about superficiality and that’s why the Q8 can now be ordered with a new powertrain. A plug-in hybrid one, to be more precise, featuring a larger battery pack and two system outputs.

German aftermarket company Lumma has come up with a build for another luxurious SUV. The company has given radical twists to many vehicles in the past, including multiple iterations of the Audi Q8. This time, it’s the Mercedes G-Class that goes under the knife.

The German firm is known to design really wild creations, pretty much like Mansory, but this one – according to Lumma’s reputation – is a rather subdued customization. The conversion kit comes with a custom body kit and huge wheels amongst other things.

We’re having quite an unusual SEMA Show this year, but that hasn’t deterred automakers from coming up with special off-roading concepts. Toyota is no exception and has teamed up with 4WD Toyota Owner Magazine to develop an Overlanding concept based on the Tacoma. We’ve seen a lot of aftermarket Tacoma builds over the years, but this one stands out for the amount of equipment installed on it.

The only chink in Bronco’s armor is the missing V-8 engine under the hood. Although Ford matched the Jeep Wrangler in every aspect, dare I say, even better in some, the lack of a V-8 will be a deal-breaker for some folks. However, aftermarket tuners have grabbed on to this opportunity. PaxPower was one of the first companies to announce a Bronco V-8 and soon many companies jumped the wagon. The latest one to do so is Hennessey Performance.

Hennessey has announced that it will be building a VelociRaptor version of the Ford Bronco with a V-8 mill that will churn out 750 horses. This will be a limited-edition build and will cost around four-times the cost of a standard Bronco. Is it worth it?

If there’s any corner that Mitsuoka has claimed in the auto industry, it’s the corner of quirky and sometimes hideous cars. The niche Japanese automaker is the same company that gave us the Rock Star, the Mazda Miata-Chevrolet Corvette C2 mashup. It’s also the same company that’s responsible for the nightmare-inducing Honda NSX-based Orochi supercar.

Now, the automaker is back with another creation, only this time, it doesn’t look as horrible as we feared. It’s called the Mitsuoka Buddy, and it’s essentially a Toyota RAV4 wearing the skin of a modernized 1980s Chevrolet SUV. Get a load of this one, folks.

After unveiling the E-10 electric concept last year, Chevy has now unveiled a 1977 Blazer K5 electric concept for the SEMA show that previews the company’s crate powertrain future. For a company that didn’t seem to be as vested in electrification as other automakers until recently, this is a very big step. This concept also gives us a peek at the upcoming Electric Connect and Cruise package that’s expected to come sometime next year.

Genesis has finally stepped on the A-pedal. Launches are happening often now, and we’d like to see the trend continue because the products coming out of the oven are pretty good. Hyundai’s luxury brand recently unveiled the GV80 SUV, and now it has taken the wraps off its sporty crossover, the GV70. Given how the compact SUV/crossover market is booming, this might be one of the most important products in Genesis’ portfolio. Can it become the company’s best-seller?

Jaguar and Land Rover have been quite active in recent months with the 2021 model year updates. We saw the F-Pace, Velar, and the XF Sportbrake among other products being updated in recent months. This time, it’s time for the E-Pace to be updated.

Although it comes with similar updates like its other family members, which include new mild- and plug-in hybrid options and tweaked interior and exterior, the E-Pace comes with another big change – a new architecture. Will this make the SUV better than the current model?