New BMW X3 Tops while Range Rover Evoque Flops Consumer Reports' Tests

Just like a Rotten Tomatoes review can make or break a movie’s reputation and its box-office success, Consumer Reports’ road tests have the potential to boost a vehicle's sales or in some cases force a an automaker to run back to the drawing board.

The latest batch of vehicles tested by CR include two SUVs that even though different in size, will compete in the premium segment: the second iteration of the BMW X3 and the brand-new challenger in the category, the Range Rover Evoque.

To sum it up, the BMW X3 xDrive28i scored an 80 in CR's road test and received the “Recommended” tag, while the Range Rover Evoque managed a test score of 60 score and was placed near the bottom of its class.

“The X3 does an impressive job of combining sporty handling, a lavish interior and surprising fuel economy”, said CR’s Auto Test Center senior director David Champion. He added that it has strong acceleration, a smooth-shifting gearbox and very good brakes.

The Bavarian model also received good marks thanks to its steering, interior quality and its ability to keeps its occupants serene by isolating them from road imperfections and noise. All in all, the BMW X3 outscored every other model in its segment, bar the Audi Q5 3.2.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged Range Rover was praised for its design, impressive acceleration, braking power and six-speed auto transmission. CR also liked the finish of the interior and the full-length glass roof.

However, according to Consumer Reports, that’s where the good stuff ends. In Champion’s own words, “although the stylish Evoque has won lots of accolades in the press, including North American Truck of the Year, our more thorough testing reveals quite a few flaws.”

For starters, the Evoque is criticized for its artificial steering, choppy ride, cramped and noisy cabin and lack of visibility. CR points out that track testing also revealed flaws in its handling.

"The Evoque tackles corners well but its steering feels artificially weighted, impairing feedback. When pushed to its handling limits at our track, the tail slid out and the vehicle repeatedly lifted a wheel during our avoidance maneuver."

In the same issue, Consumer Reports awarded the “Recommended” tag to the Toyota Prius Vand the VW Tiguan, but not the Wrangler Unlimited. Jeep’s 4x4 did well in acceleration and off-roading but was panned by CR’s testers in almost everything else, from handling and braking to more trivial issues like removing the roof.

Published by: Carscoop

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Range Rover: Sport Autobiography limited edition

Range Rover Sport Autobiography limited edition - Another Frankfurt Motor Show favourite is the cool Range Rover Sport Autobiography limited edition plus a luxurious reclining rear seat package for the Range Rover, for the first time. The 2010 line-up also introduces other developments such as more powerful engines, and interior and exterior design improvements to the Discovery 4, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.

“With August sales up 11.6% against the same period last year, we are now starting to see early signs of stability in the UK market,” John Edwards, Managing Director, Land Rover UK, stated. “We’re therefore convinced that one of the best ways to help keep things moving is to excite potential customers with new and improved vehicles. Our range for 2010 is without doubt our strongest ever, and early signs show that these new products are receiving an outstanding reception in the marketplace.”

A new Autobiography Sport limited edition is available on the Range Rover Sport’s 3.6 litre TDV8 and Supercharged derivatives. Featuring an assortment of different themes, only 500 units are expected to go on sale in the UK, with duo-tone premium leather interiors and unique accents to the exteriors including the grille, vents and 20 inch diamond turned finish alloy wheels.

Land Rover’s flagship, the Range Rover will offer a range of further enhancements such as laminated rear-door privacy glass, and electronically-controlled reclining rear seats available with heated and cooled functionality, four-way adjustable lumbar support and airline-style winged head restraints, plus the front passenger seat can be moved to a maximum distance forward remotely, when not occupied.

Four new interior colour combinations have been added to the Autobiography series. Also available is the Logic 7 1200W Harman Kardon High Dynamics audio system, which features 15 independent channels and 19 top quality speakers.

The additional new features on the Range Rover as well as the Range Rover Sport Autobiography limited edition will be made available in the UK starting in January 2010, while prices are to be revealed at a date closer to the on-sale date.

Marangoni's Range Rover Evoque HFI-R Puts on its Red Shoes - Cars Pictures

Marangoni's Range Rover Evoque HFI-R Puts on its Red Shoes

In keeping with its tradition of showing up at the Bologna Motor Show with an impressive concept, Italian tire manufacturer Marangoni chose this year's edition of the venue to reveal the Range Rover Evoque HFI-R. The first thing that catches your eye as you look at the pictures is the experimental ruby red coloured Marangoni tires – well, for many it will actually be the curvalicious brunette model but that's irrelevant to this story.
Marangoni says that the bespoke “M-Power EvoRed” tires are made from special compounds with high silica content that helps rolling resistance and consequently fuel consumption. The 255/30R20 tires are wrapped around a new set of 20-inch alloy wheels from O.Z. Racing.
In addition, the bodywork of the car has been completely repainted in a special satin paint called Titanium Fluid Metal while the roof, the pillars, the door handles and the grille are finished in gloss black.
Other changes on the outside include the redesigned front and rear bumpers, and a carbon fibre aero kit comprising of a front apron, side skirts, wheel arch extensions and a rear diffuser. The same material is also used on the air intakes, the boot handle, all the bottom door guards and the mirror covers that feature small Italian flags.
The Evoque's interior was also revamped with high-quality materials such as leather, Alcantara and carbon with the seats and door panels now featuring a diamond pattern with double red stitching.
Complementing the styling changes is a raft of mechanical upgrades the most important of which concerns the Si4 2.0-liter Turbocharged petrol engine that has been tuned and modified to run on either gasoline, natural gas or alternatively a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas from a separate tank. It delivers an output of 300-horsepower with the two tanks offering a combined cruising range of 1,000 kilometres or 620 miles.
Marangoni says that when using a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas, the system can completely eliminate fine particle emissions and reduce CO2 emissions by the same percentage (up to 30 percent) as the hydrogen contained in the mix.
Other performance mods include a Tarox B360 brake kit with 10-piston calipers and composite disks, with 330x26 diameter brake rotors.

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