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Land Rover takes on dog power in Finland

This year’s warm summer has left much of Northern Europe without snow, and as such, the dogs training for the winter championships may not be sufficiently prepared. In an effort to circumvent the problem and challenge the arctic’s best sled pullers in the process, Land Rover stepped up to the plate.

This is only fitting, considering that an estimated 50 per cent of Land Rover customers own or regularly travel with a dog. This not only proves that its vehicles are dog friendly, but are capable of travelling through tough terrain to get to their destinations.

A short film has been released by the British automaker, documenting the feat of transporting a team of sled dogs to the underground Vesileppis Ski Tunnel in Finland for a unique training challenge. The vehicle of choice was the Discovery Sport, which will go head to head with these dogs around this dedicated underground tunnel for a unique 1km sprint.

The undulating tunnel is carved into the bedrock 35m below ground level and kept at constant -2°C to maintain a blanket of snow 20mm deep throughout the summer. This will not only push these sled dogs to their limit, but also demonstrate the capabilities of the Discovery Sport and its various offroad technologies.

The competitors set off in opposite directions, however the dogs had a much simpler circuit to deal with compared to the Land Rover. Once they had negotiated the first incline, all they had to to was pick up and maintain speed throughout the race.

The Land Rover on the other hand had to deal with maneuvering past ice blocks, putting its wheel articulation and traction control systems to the test. Despite what many might think, the Discovery has inherited quite a bit of offroading tech from its bigger brothers.

Driver of the Discovery Sport, Lead Engineer for Stability Control Systems at Jaguar Land Rover, Karl Richards, said, “Snow is one of the most demanding surfaces drivers will encounter during winter around the world and Discovery Sport proved to be as comfortable in these conditions as the dogs.”

He then added, “Land Rover’s advanced Terrain Response technology and intelligent four-wheel drive system ensure our premium compact SUV is in a class of its own when it comes to off-road driving – whether you’ve got two legs or four.”

As we know from this video, the two lap race was a close one with the Land Rover winning it by a whisker, no pun intended. But this goes to show how advanced automotive technology has become that a family SUV now has the capability of shadowing the most reliable method of transportation in arctic conditions – the sled dog.

The 290bhp Land Rover Discovery Sport may not be as prestigious as its more expensive Range Rover siblings, but its still a very capable vehicle.

Maserati update Ghibli GranLusso with subtle design tweaks

Maserati has given its Ghibli GranLusso a midlife facelift by making a few tweaks to the vehicle’s overall styling. Slated for a global debut at the Chengdu Motorshow, in China, on August 25th, the latest car will feature an improved design as well as advanced technological features.

Compared to its predecessor, which was launched 4 years ago, the new one come with a unique front bumper with dedicated chrome inserts and new front grille with chrome bars. The overall look of the front fascia is inline with the Italian automaker’s current design language.

the GranLusso badge at the base of the front fenders and body coloured side skirts are indications that this is the facelift model. Other telltale signs include the addition of Adaptive full LED Headlights with glare free Matrix High-Beam and active ADAS functionalities (autonomous driving).

According to the automaker, the restyling of the bodywork has improved aerodynamic efficiency by a noticeable amount, which should help stability at higher speeds. Then there’s the edition of autonomous driving tech, which allow the car to be more intelligent than its predecessor.

The new Ghibli GranLusso is a marked improvement over the car it replaces and despite the changes being mostly visual, Maserati has managed to add enough to allow the car to remain fresh and up to date. That said, it will still be going up against some seriously stiff competition from the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Cadillac introduce limited edition CTS-V to celebrate its 115th anniversary

Cadillac, also known as the Rolls-Royce of the US market, has unveiled a new limited edition version of its sporty CTS-V called the Glacier Metallic Edition. This car has been introduced to commemorate the company’s 115-year history, and only 155 examples will ever be produced, which is quite fitting.

Though remarkably similar to the regular CTS-V, the Glacier Metallic Edition does have a number of tweaks that make it seem more special. It gets illuminated door handles, dark red Brembo brake calipers and 19-inch forged polish-finished alloy wheels with Midnight Silver painted pockets.

Further customisation can be done if buyers opt for one of three different packages. The list is as follows:

Carbon Fiber Package:
Carbon fiber front splitter
Carbon fiber hood vent
Carbon fiber rear spoiler
Carbon fiber rear diffuser

Luxury Package:
Tri-zone climate control
Split-folding rear seat with armrest
Heated rear outboard seating positions
Power rear-window sunshade
Manual rear side-window sunshades
110-volt power outlet
Rear Camera Mirror

Next-Generation Cadillac user experience:
Cloud-based driver preferences
Predictive navigation with available real-time traffic
Collections application suite

On the inside, Cadillac has given the car jet black RECARO race-inspired sport seats, the Performance Data Recorder system featuring Cosworth Toolbox analysis software, UltraView sunroof, the industry–first Rear Camera Mirror and the next-generation Cadillac user experience infotainment system.

Under the hood is the same 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine as the regular car. It produces 640bhp and 855Nm of torque. Thanks to direct fuel injection, an efficient and compact supercharger as well as Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation), the powerplant is able to offer decent fuel consumption figures.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed sport automatic transmission that utilizes technology called Performance Algorithm Shifting for better efficiency. There’s also a system called Performance Traction Management that has five track-oriented modes and works with Launch control to ensure that the car can adapt to any track condition.

As icing on the cake, Cadillac will be offering owners of all V-Series models including the Glacier Metallic Edition, tuition and accommodation at the 2-day Cadillac V-Performance Academy at Spring Mountain (offer valid for 1 year).

Beginning in September, the company will beginning offering this anniversary edition car in its US showrooms. And because it is being produced in such small numbers, these cars should be snapped up in no time.

New Nissan Leaf to make debut in September

Nissan has revealed a few more details regarding its next generation all-electric vehicle, the Leaf. According to the manufacturer, the new car will feature an all new design and be packed with a slew of advanced safety tech.

Unlike the previous generation one, the new Leaf seems to take on a more angular yet functional design, which should give rise to a more aggressive overall look. And by building on the positive attributes of its predecessor, the new car is said offer a quiet and plaint ride while cruising.

The car will come with integrated ‘Intelligent Mobility’ technologies that will help enhance the vision of drivers and allow them to spot hidden dangers ahead of time. This system will also provide them with a better sense of their surroundings, which may help them be more vigilant while driving.

Regarding the interior, Nissan is still being rather vague when it comes to the layout and tech of the cabin. It was only willing to disclose that the car would have ‘Premium interiors designed to suit your taste offer a touch more comfort’.

The world premier of the Nissan Leaf will take place on September 6th, 2017 in Japan. Touted as the first mass-produced electric vehicle, the original Leaf received a lukewarm welcome from car buyers. Despite being revolutionary at the time, the car lacked the appeal and practicality that many regular petrol powered cars had at the time.

However, Nissan should have all that sorted those issues with the new car because competition is going to be ever stiffer as more and more mainstream manufactures jump on the EV bandwagon. Stay tuned and we will let you know more once the car is launched.

Volkswagen T-Roc is a crossover that slots below the Tiguan

The wait is over, Volkswagen has finally revealed its newest crossover/SUV, the T-Roc. As such, we now know what to expect when it hits showroom floors. Meant to slot below the Tiguan, VW’s latest offering sports looks that are a combination of several different models.

Built on the same modular transverse matrix (MQB) archtecture as the Atlas, the T-Roc is said to offer 445 litres of cargo space when the vehicle is fully occupied. There’s also the option of folding down the rear backrests in a 60/40 split allowing for that space to be increased to 1,290 litres.

It is the first SUV from the company that will feature a two-tone paint scheme, which include the roof being painted in a colour that best contrasts that of the rest of the bodywork. It’s prominent louvered grille stretches from edge to edge and integrates with the projector headlights quite nicely to form a unified look.

Judging from the side and rear, the T-Roc seems to have taken quite a bit of its design inspiration from the Mk7 Golf, which isn’t a bad thing. The proportions, especially when it comes to the rear, are car-like and seem to complement the sporty look even further. The placement of scuff plates for the front and rear allow for better offroad functionality.

Inside, you get the usual meticulously neat array of dials and switch gear that we are used to seeing from VW. But the The interplay between the Active Info Display and the specific infotainment system provide for a digital and interactive cockpit.

Another noteworthy feature that is being offered with VW’s latest model is the “Security & Service” package (including Emergency Service, Automatic Accident Notification and Roadside Assistance). This may seem like a Godsend especially if you live sketchy parts of town.

Marketed as a five-seat SUV, the T-Roc will be made available with a front-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive configuration. The latter is called the 4Motion AWD and will feature the 4Motion Active Control as standard.

Complementing these systems will be the choice of three different petrol and diesel turbocharged engines. As for transmissions, buyers can choose between a manual or the 7-speed dual clutch DSG gearbox.

And like most other VWs, the T-Roc will come with a whole load of safety tech which include, Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, the active lane keeping system (Lane Assist) and the Front Assist area monitoring system with Pedestrian Monitoring and City Emergency Braking.

Also available as optional extras are systems such as adaptive cruise control (ACC), Rear View reversing camera, Lane departure system including Rear Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Monitor, Lane Assist, Park Assist, Traffic Jam Assist and Emergency Assist.

Common to a number of sporty VWs is the adaptive chassis control (DCC) and progressive steering that alter vehicle drive ability based on the selected mode. This feature has become increasingly useful in recent years because owners want their vehicle to be the Jack-of-All-Trades.

The German automaker has yet to announce when production for the T-Roc will commence and has also chosen to keep mum on when we can begin to see these new VWs roll onto showroom floors. All we know at the moment is, that the T-Roc will be on public roads, eventually.

BMW reveal new M5 with Need For Speed Payback

BMW, in collaboration with Electronic Arts’ Need for Speed gaming franchise, has chosen to unveil the latest M5 concurrently with its installment called Payback. A marked improvement over its predecessor, the new car features more elegant lines and curves that overshadows the car it replaces.

Under the hood is a 4.4-litre V8 engine that is outfitted with BMW’s M TwinPower Turbo technology. Power is rated at 600bhp and an incredible 750Nm of torque. Due to the immense power at its disposal, the car is able to sprint from 0-100km/h in just 3.4 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 249km/h.

The engine is mated to an 8-speed tranmission which sends power to the wheels via the M xDrive AWD system that works intelligently by shifting power based on which wheel needs it most. In normal conditions, the M5 behaves like a rear-wheel-drive car, its only when the rear wheels reach their traction limit does power get diverted to the front ones.

Shifting characteristics can be altered through the gearbox’s Drivelogic shift lever located on the gear selector. Doing so, will adjust shift times according to the set limits. Drivers can still shift gears on their own by selecting manual mode and engaging the paddle shifters.

Damper settings can be altered by choosing between three driving modes: Comfort, Sport, SportPlus. There’s also electronically controlled shock absorbers and M Servotronic steering with modes that are named identical to that of the damper settings. The steering is able to adapt based on steering input and is said to offer decent feedback to the driver.

Should the driver engage the M Dynamic mode (MDM, 4WD Sport), the car’s characteristics are altered to a reveal an M5 that has a sharper throttle response and is more agile around corners. More torque is sent to he rear wheels, allowing the car to break traction and execute playful drifts while ensuring that the driver maintains adequate control.

Another nifty feature, is the car’s head up display that is able to project vital driving information to drivers while on the move. Other worthy mentions include red lacquered buttons M1 and M2 next to the shift paddles on the M multi-function steering wheel that control the driving settings for xDrive, DSC, engine, transmission, damper and steering.

Drivers will be able to toggle between 4WD and 2WD modes depending on their preference. BMW boasts that its engineers placed great emphasis on driving dynamics during chassis development. And as such, the car is said to be extremely agile and rewarding to drive.

“The M is not only synonymous for the world’s most powerful letter, but has also become a synonym worldwide for the prototype of the Ultimate Driving Machine,” said Frank van Meel, President BMW M Division.

He later added, “While the M5 won’t be officially released until next spring, Need for Speed players can drive it first and exclusively in Need for Speed Payback. We at BMW M are really proud of this collaboration.”

Though many might consider the M5 in Payback to be a marketing ploy, BMW and Need for Speed have enjoyed a great partnership together dating back to 1999. The E39 M5 was featured in the first Need for Speed installment and remained a mainstay for all future editions of the game.

Though the M5 won’t be launched for quite a while, check out the picture gallery below as well as the game trailer featuring the M5 and let us know what you think of BMW’s latest chariot of the gods.