Archive for the 'SUVs' Category

first pickup truck from Suzuki – the 2009 Equator

suzuki equator pickup trucks

Suzuki has unveiled its first pick-up at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, a mid-size truck based on the Nissan Frontier pickup. Developed in collaboration with Nissan, 2009 Suzuki Equator will go on sale by end of 2008 in the US and will be available in crew cab and extended cab styles with rear-wheel or four-wheel-drive options. Suzuki says Equator will be offered with two engine options, a 2.5-liter DOHC inline four with 152 horsepower and 171 lb.-ft. of torque or an optional 4.0-liter, V6 DOHC engine producing a 261 hp with 281 lb.-ft. of torque. The price details are not available at this time.

Meant as a lifestyle oriented recreational vehicle, Suzuki has showcased 3 concepts – Equator RMZ-4, Quad and Quay – designed to match their other recreational products and here’s what SMC has to say about these.

Suzuki Equator RMZ-4

suzuki equator pick-up rmz-4 front

Designed to match Suzuki’s performance-oriented motocross motorcycles, the Suzuki Equator RMZ-4 concept offers rugged off-road performance in a Crew Cab. This Equator-based concept, built by the Carlab of Orange, Calif., features a number of exterior modifications, including a bed extender provided by Amp Research, an eye-catching graphic treatment, 18-inch black chrome wheels and specialty Luzlab headlights. The truck’s striking exterior is matched by an equally stunning sound system that includes an Alpine HD-Radio unit connected to Rockford Fosgate amp and speaker components.

suzuki equator rmz-4 pickup rear

Suzuki Equator Quay

suzuki equator pickup quay front

Another Carlab creation to debut in Chicago, the Suzuki Equator Quay concept is built to suit recreational boating and watersports lifestyles, with a customized paint job that reflects the look of Suzuki’s line of marine engines. With an Extended Cab, long bed and hefty towing capabilities, the truck also is equipped with a state-of-the-art Visteon nav-control head unit that provides satellite radio, MP3 and navigation capabilities, in addition to Rockford Fosgate amp and speaker components. The Suzuki Equator Quay also sports special 20-inch wheels and a matching locking hard tonneau cover.

suzuki equator quay pick-up rear

Suzuki Equator Quad

suzuki pick-up equator quad front

Built to resemble the Suzuki QuadRunner ATV, and to accommodate a recreational outdoor lifestyle, the Suzuki Equator Quad concept was developed by Torrance, Calif.-based Andry Specialty Vehicles and comes outfitted with a Crew Cab and military “look and feel.” In addition to a custom paint job and a two-and-a-half inch front end lift, the exterior of the truck has been modified with a set of 500 series fog lamps, a safari-style front bumper, front skid plate and tubular rocker guards. To enhance the vehicle’s overall appearance and performance, the Suzuki Equator Quad is equipped with Yokohama Geolander tires that ride on 17-inch custom aluminum wheels and features Rockford Fosgate amp and speaker components.

suzuki pickup equator quad rear

Spy-shots of new TATA Safari

new Tata Safari spy shot front

Photos have been snapped of Tata testing a new SUV in Sweden, which according to WCF is supposedly the new Safari. No further details are available right now but looking at its proportions, it looks more like an MUV. Although the thought of an all new Tata Safari is exciting, I find myself wishing this one to be another new Tata model and not replace the current Safari.

new Tata Safari spy side profile

2010 Tata Safari spy photo rear

A Lifestyle Pickup truck for India: Tata Xenon XT

Tata Xenon pickup

Wheeeeee!! finally a lifestyle pick-up truck for India, and thats from our very own Indian TATA in the form of Xenon. Sure, there is Mahindra Getaway but this Tata is the closest we can get to a true pickup truck. Although Tata has released Xenon last year for the international market, they only revealed the details about the India launch at the 2008 Auto Expo.

Xenon is the second generation Tata Mobile and it is to be made available in two body trims – Xenon single cab & Xenon crew cab and with a choice 4×2 or 4×4 (with an LSD) drivetrains. The single-cab is called Tata Xenon and Tata Xenon XT (cross terrain) is the double-cab 4×4 version with all the features like power windows, power steering, Air-con, central locking and the lot.

It shares its platform with the Tata Sumo Grande but gets the 3.0l DICOR engine from the older Tata Safari instead of the 2.2 dicor. Xenon pickup with this engine is good for 115 bhp power and 300 Nm torque and is expected to go on sale by the end of 2008 .

I am more curious about the Xenon single-cab and like it better. A simple mod like slapping on some wider rubber and a good set of SUV alloys to go with those wheel-arches would do wonders here.

Also check out the video below for some good footage of these pick-up trucks doing their thing but in Italian.

Continue reading ‘A Lifestyle Pickup truck for India: Tata Xenon XT’

Launched at Auto Expo 2008: Honda CR-V 2.0L for India

Honda CRV 2.0 India

Honda cars India launched the 2.0 litre variant of their CR-V at the Auto Expo 2008 in New Delhi. Priced at Rs 17,15,000 Delhi ex-showroom, this Honda will take on the Chevy Captiva and might take even more buyers off of Maruti Grand Vitara.

This Honda’s 2.0L i-VTEC engine displaces 1997 cc and produces 143 bhp power at 6000 rpm and 190 Nm torque at 4200 rpm. HSCI says Honda CRV 2.0L is more fuel efficient and doesn’t compromising on performance.

In comparison with the 2.4-litre version.

  • Honda CR-V 2.0L costs Rs 1.25 lakhs cheaper
  • 18 bhp lesser power and torque is 28 Nm lesser.
  • This Honda is 2 wheel driven (2WD) vs real-time AWD on 2.4L
  • Power steering is electrically assisted vs hydraulic assist on the 2.4L CRV.
  • Honda CR-V 2.0L gets a single CD audio system versus 6-CD changer on the 2.4-liter version.
  • The only visual changes outside are it doesn’t get a sunroof and door handles are body coloured (vs chrome).

Launched at Auto Expo 2008: GM India brings in Chevrolet Captiva

Chevrolet Captiva India

GM India plans to hold a 10% share in Indian Automotive market by 2010 and towards that end they launched the much talked about urban SUV Chevrolet Captiva at the Auto Expo 08. With a Delhi ex-showroom price tag of 17.74 lakh rupees, Captiva will mainly be competing with Honda CR-V (current segment leader) and other SUVs like Suzuki Grand Vitara, Ford Endeavor, Hyundai Tucson and Mitsubishi Pajero.

This Chevy can seat 7 passengers and in addition to all the luxury and safety features a car of this class is expected to have, Captiva has an edge over the CRV with its diesel engine. This 2.0-liter VCDi modern diesel engine is the one from Optra Magnum but with a VGT turbo and setup to produce 150 bhp power and 320 Nm torque. Sadly though, it lacks the 4WD.

Chevy Captiva India

This trailer video has 1:26 mins of footage showcasing the Captiva.

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