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2016 USSV Rhino GX is a dictator’s fortress on wheels

If you are a fan of theJay Leno’s garage show, then you would know that the former Tonight’s Show host features on his programme some of the most amazing vehicles that the automotive world has to offer. Regardless of age or power rating, over the years, some pretty interesting metal has rolled on to his show for their brief 15 minutes or in this case about 25 to 30 minutes of fame.

This time around, Jay features the 2016 USSV Rhino GX, an absolute tank of a vehicle that is based on the Ford Super-Duty F450. This behemoth has been modified to withstand small arms fire thanks to its bulletproof Armour plating. Despite the major changes to the bodywork, the engine and transmission have been mostly left relatively stock.

Despite what you might be thinking, the main market for the vehicles made by USSV (US Specialty Vehicles) is China. Apparently such vehicles are a hit in there because Chinese buyers are strangely drawn to American and American-built vehicles.

Besides the Rhino GX, a Rhino XT is also featured on the show. It’s a smaller armoured vehicle compared to its bigger brother and at first glance, looks like a mini Hummer. Based on the Jeep Wrangler, the Rhino XT has gained popularity around the world because it was featured in the latest installment of the Fast & Furious franchise – Fate of the Furious.

Check out the video for more information on the vehicles and find out what Jay thinks about them.

Infiniti QX60 wins Best Luxury SUV for Families award

The Infiniti QX60 has won the Best Luxury Three-Row SUV for Families award by U.S. News & World Report. The award is meant to highlight vehicles that have exceptional safety ratings, cargo space and family-friendly features.

“We develop vehicles that offer a combination of empowered performance, interior versatility and advanced safety for our owners, and the Infiniti QX60 is a perfect fit for all stages of family life, from toddlers in car seats to teenage drivers,” said Randy Parker, vice president, Infiniti Americas. “We are honored to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report for this commitment to delivering a premium drive experience for the entire family.”

This year, the QX60 went up against some stiff competition before it was chosen fro the award. U.S. News & Word Report reviewed over 200 entries which include cars, SUVs and MPVs that are currently on sale in the US market. Each vehicle was judged based on automotive reviews, safety and reliability ratings, seating, cargo volume, and the availability of children-friendly features.

Infiniti’s QX60 was chosen because it comes with a whole slew of tech that include advanced driver assistance features, such as Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Backup Collision Intervention, Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention, Blind Spot Warning, Distance Control Assist, Around View® Monitor with Moving Object Detection, rear view camera and in-car WiFi.

It’s family friendly too because the seven-seater QX60 allows parents to access the third row of seats without having to remove one of the second row’s seats. When purchased with the Theater Package, the vehicle offers dual eight-inch colour monitors to entertain rear passengers on long journeys. Available as an option is an automatic boot system that allows the rear tailgate to open and close electronically, which should be to the liking of many parents.

There’s also the InTouchTM system that integrates navigation, convenience, security and entertainment features into the infotainment system. Drivers can interact with it by voice commands for various in-car features including the vehicle’s health report.

Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury arm and produces some of the most sophisticated vehicles that the Japanese company has to offer. Visit the automaker’s local site to know more.

What to consider when buying a new car by Piston.my

Most car buyers prefer to opt for a new car purchase rather than a used one. There are various reasons why many make that choice, which include, warranty, reliability, availability of spare parts and of course, that new car smell.

However, there are certain things to consider when buying a new car and today, we will try to provide some tips to help you choose the right vehicle for your needs.

Tip 1: Identify your budget

Before attempting to step into any dealership, a car buyer needs to assess his or her budget to gauge how much he or she has to invest in a new vehicle. Once you have a clearer picture of how much you have to spend, then you should be able to make a shortlist of the vehicles that are within your reach.

Tip 2: Maintenance Costs

Many new car buyers make the mistake of assuming that monthly payments is all they need worry about when it comes to vehicle ownership. This isn’t true, you need to consider maintenance and running costs as well. Granted, many automakers do take care of most of your new vehicle’s maintenance requirements for a number of years. But eventually, when the warranty expires, you will be on your own.

Tip 3: Insurance and road tax

It’s an inescapable fact that all vehicle owners will need to renew their insurance and road tax annually. The costs depend on vehicle price and engine capacity. The more expensive a vehicle is, the higher the insurance costs. And the larger the engine displacement, the more you will need to pay for road tax, anything above 2.0-litres starts to become quite pricey.

Tip 4: Fuel Consumption

More powerful cars are fun to drive but that too comes at a cost. Larger engines or turbocharged ones, when pushed hard, tend to consume a lot of petrol. That means the more fun you have, the more often you will need to visit petrol stations. As such, the general rule of thumb is, get a vehicle with modest displacement and power if all you want is a general purpose one to lug the family around. In the long term, rising fuel prices will be less of an issue for you than those who opted for ones with more power.

Tip 5: Spare parts availability

Parts for cars that are currently on sale are easily accessible and are available in large numbers. However, over the course of a few years, accessibility to parts and quantities will dwindle depending on how popular a vehicle is. Spare parts facilities are more inclined to stock parts for vehicles that were sold in large numbers than those enjoyed by a select few.

Keep these tips in mind and you should have a good idea of what to expect when purchasing a new car and hopefully, will allow you to enjoy years of trouble-free motoring.

Lamborghini opens its largest showroom in Dubai

China seems to be the main attraction for mainstream automakers due to the size of its market and manufacturing/logistical capabilities. Lamborghini however, begs to differ because the supercar maker has setup shop in Dubai. It is the largest Lamborghini showroom in the world and is located along Sheik Zayed Road.

The showroom covers a surface area of 1,800 square meters and comprises of three floors that house sales, service and merchandise departments. The large showroom area in an attempt to maximize space to display the various models that the Italian automaker currently has to offer.

Unlike the usual showrooms that we are used to, the Lamborghini one can be likened to that of a 9-year old’s fantasy. The sales gallery houses some of the most exquisite supercars that Sant’Agata currently makes. Various variants of the Avantador and Huracan line the the showroom floor, which can only be described as a Lamborghini fan’s idea of heaven.

The facility has a state of the art service centre where highly trained technicians tend to customer vehicles in immaculate working conditions. There’s also a merchandise store where fans and customers of Lamborghini can browse through and purchase an impressive selection of Lamborghini branded attire, accessories, model cars and other memorabilia.

The Italian supercar maker plans on servicing customers in the Middle East with the best that the company has to offer as well as build on its current clientele and cover more markets in the region.

Hyundai Kona to be introduced soon

Hyundai has provided fans with a glimpse at its new SUV, the all-new Kona, ahead of its official debut in the coming months. At this point in time, the Korean automaker has only made the front fascia available for viewing, not the whole car.

Based on what we can see, the design language used to pen the new vehicle is similar to what Hyundai uses today. The signature hexagonal Cascading grille is present and accounted for, but what’s interesting is that the DRLs (Day Time Running Lights) are placed above the LED headlights rather than under them in most conventional designs.

The sharp contours at the front especially those encasing the headlights and front grille provide the the Kona with a menacing look, which should make the new SUV an attractive alternative to vehicles offered by the juggernauts of the motoring industy.

The vehicle will have decent SUV sized ground clearance and will have an optional four-wheel drive system that will enhance ride and handling behaviour. Hyundai hasn’t released any specific details regarding powertrain, driver aids or even the interior layout, and as such, one can only speculate what will be offered in the coming months.

The Kona will be the fourth SUV that Hyundai makes with the first being the Santa Fe. Since 2001, Hyundai has sold 1.4 million SUVs to date and with the new addition, the automaker hopes to take it to the next level in Europe and other parts of the world.

Hyundai Motor Europe has ambitious plans of becoming the leading Asian automotive brand in Europe by 2021 bolstered by the launch of 30 new models and variants in the next few years. The Kona will make its official debut towards the middle of this year but we expect the company to divulge a lot more in the coming months leading up to the official reveal.

New Volvo XC60 rolls off production line in Sweden

Volvo’s XC60 has just started rolling off the production line at the company’s plant in Torslanda, Sweden. It was the T5 AWD Inscription (in Crystal White) that was the first variant to come off the line.

The new vehicle replaces the original XC60, which has been produced for nine years since its launch and has gone on to become the best-selling premium mid-sized SUV in Europe and allowing Volvo to sell nearly a million of them globally. Due to its popularity, the XC60 accounts for 30 per cent of Volvo’s sales worldwide.

“This is a proud day for everyone at the plant,” said Magnus Nilsson, vice president of the Torslanda plant. “We have worked hard in recent weeks and months to prepare Torslanda for this latest new Volvo model, and now we are ready to start delivering new XC60s to customers.”

Unlike its predecessor, the new vehicle is built on Volvo’s SPA (Scaleable Product Architecture) which already underpins three other models in the company’s current line up inclduing the 90 series cars. The SPA platform has improved overall efficiency and has had a positive effect on employment at Volvo, with thousands of new jobs being created in production, research and development, and other areas.

Like the rest of the line-up, The XC60 features cutting edge safety tech which include Steer Assist, City Safety, Oncoming Lane Mitigation which help avoid head-on collisions and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) that works with Steer Assist to reduce the risk of lane-changing collisions.

Apart from that, there’s also Pilot Assist, which is available as an option. It’s a semi-autonomous driver-assistance system, that takes over the tasks of steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads at speeds of up to 130km/h.

Inside, the cabin features a CleanZone four-zone climate control system that removes harmful pollutants and particles that enters the cabin. The XC60 is available with a T8 Twin Engine petrol plug-in hybrid that delivers 407bhp and allows it to sprint to 100km/h from a standstil in just 5.3 seconds.

Volvo has also fitted an infotainment system that comes with connected services such as Sensus and Volvo on Call. It also offers smartphone integration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The Volvo XC60 will be made available in markets across the world gradually as the automaker aims to make 2017 another record-breaking year.

Citroen unveil C5 Aircross at Shanghai

Citroen unveiled its Sporty SUV, the C5 Aircross at the Shanghai Motorshow. The French automaker is starting to focus quite a bit of its attention on the SUV market with the introduction of the futuristic C-Aircross Concept and C3 Aircross.

For the C5 Aircross, Citroen is positioning it as a global vehicle that will take on the German and Japanese heavyweights that have dominated markets around the world. Unlike most contemporary designs, the C5 Aircross features sleek and elegant contours. The front fascia sports a thin and understated louvered grille design that extends from one side of the fender to the other. The Citroen badge has been integrated with the upper grille that also houses the thin two piece LED headlights.

From the sides, the car features a contemporary look, wide wheel arches and wide but sleek A and C-pillars that feature glass paneling, giving the vehicle a more airy look. At the rear, the look is reminiscent of the older VW Toureg. The elongated four panel LED tail lights’s lines flow with the contours of the rear bodywork. The entire design blends luxury and rugged outdoors ability into a simplified yet elegant package. The C5 Aircross features a 2,730 mm wheelbase and short overhangs that will help it tackle off road obstacles with better maneuverability and precision.

But inside is where things get interesting. Due to the vehicle’s construction and choice of materials, the cabin looks spacious and like the exterior, has an airy effect to it, thanks in part to the large panoramic roof. The dashboard features a horizontal layout to provide for a greater width, the seats are wide and feature comfortable materials which is also true for the wide centre console which has soft and elegant materials that provide a better sense of protection and comfort.

In the centre stack, there’s a 12.3-inch TFT digital cluster and a capacitive 8-inch HD touchscreen infotainment system that should feature an array of connectivity. The heated front seats have a massaging feature that will help occupants relax as they breath in the clean purified air expelled from the vehicle’s air quality treatment system.

Built on the EMP2 platform, this particular Citroen comes equipped with the Progressive Hydraulic Cushions suspension, which is said to provide exceptional levels of damping and ride comfort. Apart from that, it also comes with a slew of driving aids which include Active Safety Brake, Active Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control with a Stop function, Grip Control and Hill Assist Descent Control.

Citroen’s C5 Aircross will the first vehicle in its line-up to also feature a PHEV plug-in hybrid variant, which will definitely be to the liking of the environmentally conscious folks. According to the automaker, the vehicle will be launched in China in October of this year followed by Europe at the end of 2018.

Jaguar provides sneak peak of XF Sportsbrake

Jaguar picked a rather peculiar venue to give the general public a sneak peak at the upcoming XF Sportbrake. Images of the car were revealed at Wimbledon’s Center Court. In less than 70 days till the Wimbledon 2017 tennis championship, Jaguar used the court as the canvas to showcase its large-scale outline of its latest addition to the model line-up.

Regarding the reveal, Jaguar’s Director of Design, Ian Callum, said, “With XF Sportbrake we’ve created a silhouette which sweeps towards the rear, almost into the distance, and really gives the car a sense of speed and sportiness. It will bring new levels of practicality to the range without sacrificing the dynamic design and agile handling our customers expect.”

Besides the reveal, Jaguar is also the official car partner of Wimbledon 2017, which takes place from July 3rd to July 16th.

When launched later this year, the XF Sportbrake will join the XF sports sedan in the automaker’s line up as it diversifies the model line-up to accomodate the needs and wants of its ever growing customer base.

Aston Martin release video showcasing 28 of its most important cars

Aston Martin has published an interesting video showcasing some of the best vehicles of the company’s history to commemorate the transfer of ownership of three super hangers to the sportscar maker in St. Athan, South Wales. At this very location, Aston Martin has opened its second manufacturing plant to deal with its expansion plans.

The Aston Martin Vulcan was the first model to come out of the new site in St. Athan, where production is expected to ramp up to accommodate more vehicle models. This move will allow the redevelopment of its primary manufacturing site into a state-of-the-art facility.

In the video, Aston Martin showcases 28 special cars from its 104-year histroy by allowing some of its better known drivers indulge in some boyish shenanigans with £65 million worth of cars. The drivers include Aston Martin Racing’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) drivers, Darren Turner and Nicki Thiim and Aston Martin’s Chief Engineer, Matt Becker.

Instead of boring you with more details, take a look at the video and bask in beauty and soundsfrom the likes of the A3, DBR1, One-77, A number of Vantages, Rapide S and the Vulcan.

BMW launches 740Le xDrive in Malaysia

BMW has launched a new variant of its ever popular 7-Series model, called the 740Le xDrive. The new vehicle has a sophisticated hybrid propulsion system, intelligent all-wheel-drive technology and a luxurious interior suited for top level execs. The car is part of BMW’s i line of vehicles and is touted as the most advanced modern luxury limousine in Malaysia by the Munich based automaker.

Unveiling the All-New BMW 740Le xDrive, Mr. Han Sang Yun, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia said, “Since its introduction early last year, the BMW 7 Series has already redefined the idea of driving luxury in the premium automotive world, even taking home the much coveted World Luxury Car of the Year 2016. The All-New BMW 7 Series Hybrid with eDrive Technology will only set the benchmark even higher, offering to our customers the most cutting edge BMW eDrive technology which we have developed through our expertise with BMW i.”

There are subtle hints that can help you tell the 740Le xDrive apart from other variants, it has eDrive badges on the C-Pillars and BMW i logos on the front side panels. Based on the same wheelbase as its predecessor, the new car is the largest 7-Series in the company’s history and features tech that rival that of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Under the bonnet is BMW’s TwinPower Turbo 2.0-litre inline four engine which produces 258bhp and 400Nm of torque. The turbocharger has been integrated into the cast-steel exhaust manifold for a more compact and efficient package, which coupled with high precision injection, double-VANOS and advanced Valvetronic technology offer decent performance figures.

Mated to the engine is an 8-speed Steptronic trasnmission, which aids in getting the 7-Series to its top speed of 250km/h. Working with the petrol engine is a synchronous motor that develops 113bhp and 250Nm of torque. Juice to the electric motor comes courtesy of a 9.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged using any electrical outlet. But, through the use of BMW’s Wawllbox Connect charger, the battery can be fully charged in under 5 hours.

The car has a combined output of 326bhp and 500Nm of torque which allows it to accomplish the 0-100km/h sprint in just 5.3 seconds, which is impressive for a car of its size. But this Bimmer’s party piece is the eDrive system that governs the propulsion system, activating or disengaging either petrol engine electric motor as and when required. When the Auto mode is selected, the engine and motor work together to deliver performance and fuel economy.

The engine is only cranked over once the car’s speed exceeds 80km/h which should help conserve quite a bit of fuel. when Max is selected, the vehicle can be driven in electric only mode, allowing the petrol engine to be shut off completely but awakened when the accelerator pedal is pressed to the floor.

The car’s suspension and driving behaviour can be altered through the use of the Driving Experience Control with five different modes which are Adaptive, Eco, Pro Comport and Sport. But what takes things to the next level is the xDrive all-wheel-drive system that operates proactively and varies power delivery between front and rear axles depending on the requirement at any given time.

Inside, BMW has fitted the Ambient Light design which includes the Welcome Light Carpet feature that illuminates the cabin and provides a sense of occasion for the occupants. The lighting system has three different colours to choose from and the car also comes with panoramic Sky Lounge glass roof which comprise of over 15,000 lighting elements.

Passengers at the rear are able to change the vehicle and entertainment systems through the use of the BMW Touch Command control located in the rear console. There is also a removable 7-inch tablet that allow passengers to change the comfort and entertainment (16-speaker Harman Kadron Surround Sound System) settings by tapping the appropriate commands.

On the safety side, the car comes with front and side airbags, head/curtain airbags for the front and rear seats, a knee airbag for the driver, ISOFIX child seat mountings in the rear, and the Active Protection System – along with other features.

The All-New BMW 740Le xDrive is available in Black Sapphire, Imperial Blue, Mineral White, and Sophisto Grey. Inside, the upholstery is lined with exclusive Nappa leather while the interior trim is finished in Poplar Grain Grey fine-wood.

The new 740Le xDrive is priced at RM853,800 but after factoring in the government incentive for hybrid vehicles, the price is comes down to a more reasonable RM598,800. BMW is offering the car with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty. Head on over to the manufacturer’s local website to learn more.