What you see in the photos is the FT-AC that expands to the ‘Toyota Future Adventure Concept’. As the name makes amply clear, it points to a future SUV from Toyota. The concept demonstrates how a high-tech SUV can be used to support active lifestyles.

The model incorporates Toyota’s design language to a rugged, off-road platform equipped with features like removable cameras and lights. These features can also be attached to a bicycle. The car can be connected to a user’s smartphone, tablet or laptop to transfer the footage of a journey or livestream videos directly on social media.

Toyota North America vice-president, Jack Hollis said, ”FT-AC is perfect for those outdoor enthusiasts who want to dial-up the adventure on their weekend getaways.”

The concept features skidplates to protect its underside, as well as wheel arch protectors and off-road tyres wrapped around its 20-inch wheels. The SUV also gets roof racks and a retractable bicycle rack.

The FT-AC is likely to get a petrol engine — although the specifications for the car have not been disclosed. Toyota has also mentioned the possibility of the production FT-AC getting a hybrid powertrain. Drive is sent to all four-wheels with torque vectoring technology that independently controls each wheel to enhance traction and off-road capabilities

Courtesy : Autocar

A larger, seven-seat version of the Lexus RX has been unveiled at the LA Auto Show. Lexus calls it the RX L and it will be available in six and seven-seater options with the addition of a new reclining bench in the boot.

To make space for the extra passengers, the model designed for the US market is 110 mm longer than the regular RX. Length aside, the RX L can also be distinguished from the standard RX by its tailgate that sits at a steeper angle to meet the roof.

The third row passengers have access to the car’s three-zone climate control and get two cup-holders. The third row seats can also be folded down flat into the boot to expand the boot space.

In international markets, the RX L will be offered with two powertrain options. The first is a 3.5-Litre V6 engine producing 294hp and 352Nm of torque. The second, with similar specifications, will be coupled with two electric motors, delivering a combined power output of 308hp.

Lexus LX 570 two-row

Alongside the RX L, Lexus has had on display a new version of its larger LX 570 two-row SUV. The US model – meant to battle the likes of Toyota Land Cruiser – has ditched the third-row seat of the regular variant to become a five-seater.

Lexus says it has removed the passenger space, on purpose. The company intends to expand the storage capacity of the car’s boot – as per customer requests.

Lexus has not given any confirmation about the Indian debut of these cars, yet.

Courtesy : Autocar

The BMW F750 GS and the F850 GS were unveiled at the EICMA motorcycle show, in Italy. These new models feature sharper styling, new technology, a monocoque frame and a bigger 853cc engine – an upgrade to their 798cc predecessors, the F700 GS and F800 GS. BMW Motorrad will launch these two motorcycles in India at the Auto Expo in February 2018.

The new 853cc parallel-twin engine is tuned to make different power figures in both bikes – 77hp and 83Nm of torque in the F750, and 85hp and 92Nm of torque in the F850. BMW suggests that the engine’s new 270-degree firing order makes it produce a ‘powerful’ sound. Another big change comes in the form of a new monocoque frame with new suspension geometry and fuel tank position which has moved from the previous under-seat position to a conventional location behind the bars.

The F750 GS and F850 GS get a new fork (an upside-down 43mm one in the case of the F850 and a 41mm telescopic unit for the F750). Rear suspension duties are handled by an aluminium double-sided swing-arm and a monoshock. BMW’s electronic suspension adjustment (ESA) is optional. Both come with ABS, ASC, and ‘Rain’ and ‘Road’ riding modes, as standard. Other optional equipment includes full-LED lighting and a multi-functional instrument cluster.

BMW will launch both these bikes at the Auto Expo 2018 in February. Both bikes will come to India via the CBU route but they will be the most affordable bikes in the German manufacturers current line-up for India and should be priced competitively against the Triumph Tiger 800 range – which is also due for replacement in India, next year. We expect there to be a price difference of around Rs 1.5 lakh between the two models.

Courtesy : Autocar

US market introduction in 2020; Jeep sees electrification in the future as inevitable.

Jeep will add an all-new plug-in hybrid variant to the Wrangler’s engine line-up in 2020. This was confirmed by the Jeep’s head Mike Manley at the ongoing Los Angeles Motor Show. The plug-in hybrid variant will be in addition to the 2018 Wrangler’s new engine line up which includes, two petrols, including a mild-hybrid and two diesels, respectively.

Speaking at the Wrangler’s launch event, Mike Manley said, “Jeep believes that electrification in the future is inevitable and this will not only future-proof our products but also give us an opportunity to push our capability message with significant improvements in fuel economy, reduction in carbon dioxide emissions along with added capability.”

Jeep has not divulged any specifications about its powertrain, yet; but being a plug-in hybrid, it will get propulsion from the engine, the electric motor or a combination of both. The battery-pack will be able to be charged via either a plug-in socket or the engine, or both. The only other plug-in hybrid model currently in the Fiat Chrysler Automobile’s American line-up is the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, which gets a 16kWh-battery and an EPA-rated electric-only range of 53km.

When asked whether the brand’s new hybrid technology would make it to India anytime soon, Mike Manley remained non-committal, saying “India has historically been a slow adopter of newer technology because of its diverse market. However, there also been a part of the market that has embraced on the highest and newest technology. So, as we roll-out new global models with new technology, we will time their launch to when it's most suitable; to the market ready to accept it.”

Courtesy : Autocar

Since its launch, the Evoque has added to the success story of Land Rover. Right now, assumptions are that Land Rover is set to reveal the car in October next year at the Paris Motor Show.

The outgoing Evoque has firmly established its position in several markets. Its design boss, Gerry McGovern, believes there is no need for the concept to be reinvented, saying it should keep its “key ingredients” intact and would be designed to keep the design “more relevant”. He said the task was to “take the Evoque MK1 integrity and make it more relevant". Moreover, Land Rover was working to make the vehicle more modern, precise, comfortable and luxurious, other than the aesthetic changes that are planned.

The design is believed to draw inspiration from the new Velar, which has already influenced styling changes to the recently facelifted Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models.

Evoque MK2’s interior will include a dual touchscreen on the central console and a wide digital instrument binnacle in order to enhance Evoque’s connectivity options. The second-gen model will be built on an overhauled version of the present D8 structure of the car (Jaguar Land Rover’s only front-wheel-drive architecture for transverse engine models). The brand will focus on improving the ride quality of the Evoque and the comfort level of the passengers.

However, the new Evoque is likely to remain dimensionally similar without any significant change in size being 4,390mm long and 1,900mm wide. Its wheelbase is tad longer compared to the current model at 2,681mm. It also gets an increased track width and a redesigned trailing arm suspension set-up to be used at the rear to improve rear passenger comfort. This next-generation Evoque range is understood to be limited to a single five-door body style. Furthermore, the MK2 will use the same 2.0 -litre 4-cylinder, turbocharged Ingenium petrol and diesel engines. However, the company will work on the engine to improve fuel economy.

Front-wheel-drive will be offered on entry-level versions, with all-wheel-drive standard on higher trims. Both the engines will be mated to JLR’s ZF-sourced nine-speed automatic gearbox, and Land Rover’s latest off-road technology will be offered to ensure the Evoque’s go-anywhere credibility.

After 2020, all JLR models will have either an electric or a plug-in hybrid variant. However, the Evoque is expected to launch just before that time frame and is not likely to have either of them initially. The mild-hybrid version was first revealed as a part of Evoque E-technology project in 2015 and is currently used in the Evoque, Discovery Sport and Jaguar’s E-Pace.

The company has not given any confirmation on launch of a pure electric Evoque due to the limitations of the D8 architecture. Land Rover has not revealed when the second-gen Evoque will come to India, where the locally manufactured current-gen model retails from Rs 44.44 lakh to Rs 59.76 lakh (ex-showroom, India).

Courtesy : Autocar