Aston Martin Confirms Production of First Crossover Model

No, don’t adjust your computer screens, yes, Aston Martin Lagonda has confirmed it will be putting the DBX into series production. The automaker will be expanding its Gaydon production operation (or build an entirely new factory in the US) with a £200- / $300- million investment and seems to have big plans for the future.

Half of that money has already reached the automaker, while the other half will be injected into its accounts over the coming 12 months.

Aston Martin Lagonda CEO, Andy Palmer, said “this additional long-term funding, will enable us to add extra model lines and broaden our presence in the luxury market segment by the end of the decade. The DBX concept, has generated interest far beyond our expectations. The additional investment announced today will allow us to realise the DBX and other new luxury vehicles that will form the strongest and most diverse portfolio in our history”.

He adds that their “shareholders have shown their strong commitment and confidence in the management team to execute the strategic plan.”

We don’t know the specific details (when it’s going to be launched) but we assume it will roughly be a two year wait. Hopefully, it will have an AMG engine under the hood...

Read More

Range Rover Small Crossover

Picton envisioned the Range Rover Coupe concept as a sub-compact crossover for two passengers with more or less the same ride height as the Evoque but with a much lower roofline that drops at the rear and a shorter body.

Feel free to click the images that follow for a larger view and to share your thoughts on the design study.

Read More

BMW XS Crossover

The BMW XS Concept seen in these renderings is the work of George Manolache, a self-taught 2D/3D artist and graphic designer from Romania.

Manolache's detailed design study is for a hydrogen-powered, luxury crossover with a bulky front end that looks over to BMW's past and its 1950s and 1960s creations like the 501 and 502 sedan models for inspiration.

The rest of the vehicle, however, is modern with clean lines and four sliding doors that open up to reveal an equally contemporary interior with a minimalistic design.

Read More

2013 BMW X1 Crossover

The facelift comes after some two-and-a-half years and more than 275,000 worldwide sales of the compact X model that is built at BMW plant's in Leipzig, Germany and in Tiexi, China.

For the first time, the X1 will be avalaible in the U.S. with prices starting from $31,545 for the rear-wheel drive X1 sDrive28i, while the all-wheel drive X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i cost $33,245 and $39,345 respectively (including $895 destination and handling). BMW said that the X1 will arrive in U.S. dealerships this fall.

The cosmetic tweaks on the outside include redesigned bumpers, a larger double-kidney grille, revised headlamps, sleeker mirror housings and new alloy wheel designs.

Inside, BMW has revised the trim for the gearlever surround, cup holder and headlamp switch, while the driver’s side of the angled center console is now shallower, and covered with a higher quality material.

The engine portfolio for the North American model includes two turbocharged gasoline engines, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit for the sDrive28i and xDrive28i producing 240hp and 260 lb-ft for a 0-60mph (96km/h) sprint in 6.2 and 6.3 seconds respectively, and a 3.0-liter inline-six with 300hp and 300 lb-ft for the xDrive35i that hits 60mph in 5.3 seconds.

The sDrive28i and xDrive28i models are fitted with an 8-speed auto and return 24 mpg city/33 mpg highway/27 mpg combined and 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined respectively.

The xDrive35i makes do with a 6-speed auto, while EPA mileage estimates for this model are 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway/21 mpg combined.

Read More