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The 2022 Range Rover Starts At $104k, Here’s What You Can Get From Bentley, Cadillac, Jeep, Hummer And Mercedes For That Money

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Land Rover has a brand new halo product in the form of the 2022 Range Rover. But it also has a serious problem on its hands because the luxury SUV market has never been tougher.

The original 1970 Range Rover wasn’t the first luxury SUV, but it went on to dominate the segment for the next 30 years. Today though, the Range Rover is under attack from all sides. Its position as the ultimate luxury SUV has been undermined by even more sumptuous and expensive SUVs from Bentley, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Maybach and Rolls Royce, and there are plenty of other off-roaders reaching up from the class below that are ready to have a pop at the $100k price point where the 2022 starts.

Your $100k buys you an entry-level SWB five-seat Range Rover SE powered by a 395 hp 3.0-liter inline six gas motor. That will get you to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, and air suspension, active roll control, and a new 13.1-inch Pivo Pro touchscreen all come as part of the package.

Read: 2022 Range Rover Revealed With With BMW V8, PHEV And EV Coming 2023

Range Rover

› Price range: $104,000 to $200,000 (EST)
› Dimensions: 199″ L (LWB 207″) x 87″ W x 74″ H
› Power: 395-hp to 523-hp

At the other end of the scale you’ll find the $163,500 LWB First Edition equipped with a new BMW-sourced 523-hp 4.4 twin-turbo V8, and for more like $200k, Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations team will sell you a hand-finished SV flagship.

But is the 2022 Range Rover really the best place to sink your luxury SUV budget? Stick around while we take a look at the rivals.

Bentley Bentayga

› Price range: $198,890 to $273,300
› Dimensions: 202″ L x 79″ W x 67″ H
› Power: 443-hp to 626-hp

The Bentley Bentayga’s brash styling won’t suit fans of the classically elegant Range Rover, and vice versa, but it carries even more brand cachet and has been kicking the Land Rover’s ass in the luxury and power stakes for years.

The six-cylinder 443-hp PHEV and 542-hp V8 broadly line up with Range Rover’s offerings, but only the Bentayga offers a 626-hp 6.0-liter W12 that can hit 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. The Porsche Cayenne and Lamborghini Urus that share the Bentayga’s platform will lap a track more quickly, but they also top out at eight cylinders.

BMW X7

› Price range: $74,900 to $141,300
› Dimensions: 203″ L x 79″ W x 71″ H
› Power: 335-hp to 612-hp

The blue and white propeller is probably considered blue-collar by Range Rover’s marketing team, as are Audi’s Q7 and Q8 SUVs. But the $99,800 BMW X7 M50i is powered by the same 523-hp twin-turbo V8 that’ll cost you an extra $20k in the Brit SUV.

Related: Alpina Says Its Customers Aren’t Interested In EVs As Range Would Be An Issue

Interestingly, the Range Rover is a tenth quicker to 60 mph (4.4 seconds) than the M50i, but the X7 has an ace up its sleeve in the form of the 612-hp Alpina XB7 that’ll do the job in four dead.

Cadillac Escalade

› Price range: $76,295 to $111,255
› Dimensions: 212″ L (227″ L ESV) x 81″ W x 77″ H
› Power: 277-hp to 420-hp

The Cadillac Escalade was refreshed for 2021 and these days it features independent rear suspension, but it’s still an old fashioned body-on-frame SUV at heart.

Range Rover buyers might sneer at the Chevy Tahoe DNA, but the Cadillac isn’t short on luxury and tech features, including Super-Cruise semi-autonomous adaptive cruise control (when the chips are back in stock, at least) and a 38-inch triple screen gauge pack and infotainment screen combo.

And in extra-long ESV spec you’ll not want for space. Pace, though? That’s a different story. Don’t expect the 420-hp 6.2-liter V8 or gentle handling (all-wheel drive is optional) to come close to matching the Range Rover’s on-road performance, though the upcoming Blackwing-powered Escalade V might change things. Oh, there’s also a 277-hp 3.0-liter turbo diesel available too.

GMC Hummer EV SUV

› Price range: $79,995 to $105,595
› Dimensions: 197″ L x 87″ W x 81″ H
› Power: 625-hp to 830-hp

Thinking of hanging on for the 2024 Range Rover EV? Then you might want to consider the Thanos of SUVs, the reborn Hummer EV. The Edition 1 cars arriving in early 2023 are all sold out, but GMC will roll out the rest of the range over a 12-month period from spring of that year.

Triple motor versions will torture their crab-walking wheels with up to 830 hp and a scarcely believable 11,500 lb-ft of torque to send this monster truck made real to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. But fractionally more sensible dual-motor Hummers with 625 hp and up to 300 miles of range will likely be more than adequate for most buyers.

Jeep Grand Wagoneer

› Price range: $88,440 to $104,845
› Dimensions: 215″ L x 84″ W x 76″ H
› Power: 471-hp

History buffs will tell you the original Jeep Wagoneers were doing the luxury SUV thing long before the Range Rover was around, and after a 30-year layoff they’re back.

Related: Jeep Boss Feels “Sorry” For Buyers Of The Ford Explorer Timberline

Both the regular Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer share the same wheelbase, body design and seven-seat layout, but the Grand has more engine (a 471-hp 6.4 V8 instead of a 392-hp 5.7), more screens, and will cost you $30,000 more of you money. As far as we’re concerned, luxury American SUVs don’t get more desirable than this.

Lexus LX

› Price range: $90,000-$100,000 (EST)
› Dimensions: N/A
› Power: 409-hp

Toyota’s Land Cruiser isn’t coming to the U.S., but it’s upscale Lexus LX cousin is, and that badge makes it a much better match for the Range Rover when it comes to car park kudos.

It should be a good match in the dirt too, thanks to its new TNGA body-on-frame platform that helps reduce weight by 441 lbs (200 kg) versus last year’s model, and a huge list of gadgets that includes Toyota’s famous Crawl Control system.

You’ll have to settle for six cylinders, but since the new 409 hp twin-turbo 3.5 V6 makes 26 hp and 76 lb-ft (479 lb-ft) more than the old 5.7 V8, that shouldn’t be a problem.

Lincoln Navigator

› Price range: $78,865 to $105,570
› Dimensions: 210″ L x 80″ W x 76″ H
› Power: 440-hp

If you want to shop at a Lincoln dealer these days, you buy an SUV or go home empty handed. And the biggest and baddest of those SUVs is the Lincoln Navigator. Just as Caddy’s Escalade shares DNA with the Chevy Tahoe, so the Navigator can trace its roots to the Ford Expedition, but you’d never guess looking at the 13.2-inch touchscreen, or the beautiful open-pore wood featured on the more expensive trim levels.

The nearest this 440-hp whale gets to sporty is when hauling your hockey team around in its huge three-row cabin, so let the semi-autonomous Active Glide system take the strain, and the wheel, and do the navigating for you.

Mercedes-Benz GLS & Maybach GLS

› Price range: $77,050 to $161,500
› Dimensions: 205″ L x 77″ W (Maybach 80″) x 72″ H
› Power: 362-hp to 603-hp

You can get into a basic Mercedes GLS 450 for less than $80k, or a V8-powered GLS580 for around the same $104,000 that’d net you a six-cylinder Range Rover, but neither has the same cachet.

Related: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV Spied With Huge Covered Grille And Aerodynamic Body

You might argue that the $132,100 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 gets a little closer on curb appeal, and at 4.1-seconds to 60mph will put distance between itself and the Range Rover at the lights. But if you really want a GLS that’ll turn heads (and, potentially, stomachs), and are prepared to sacrifice some of the AMG’s pace for even more luxury, the $161,500 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 is the one you want.

Rolls Royce Cullinan

› Price range: $384,750 to $455,725
› Dimensions: 210″ L x 85″ W x 72″ H
› Power: 563-hp

The Bugatti of SUVs, at least until Bugatti gets around to making one of its own, the Rolls Royce Cullinan is so outrageously expensive you could buy four Range Rovers for the price of one Black Label.

But none of those Range Rovers would come with a 592-hp, 6.7-liter twin-turbo V12 or a grille that looks like someone stole a gravestone from outside a Victorian church and had it chrome plated. There are luxury SUVs, and then there’s the Rolls Royce Cullinan.

Has Land Rover done enough to put the 2022 Range Rover ahead of these rivals? Let us know which luxury SUV you’d buy, and why.

Time To Vote For Your Favorite Large Luxury SUV

So all said and done, if you had the dough, which one would be your pick to park in your driveway?

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Toyota Corolla Cross GR Sport Unveiled In Taiwan With Tougher Looks And Sports Suspension

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Toyota unveiled the GR Sport variant of the Corolla Cross in Taiwan with a series of visual and mechanical updates over the standard model. Besides looking tougher, the Corolla Cros GR Sport is also sportier to drive thanks to the new suspension setup by Gazoo Racing.

Design-wise, the SUV gets a redesigned front bumper with a different grille similar to the Hilux that is surrounded by black chrome. The front end also features larger intakes with integrated fog lights and aluminum-style skid plates.

See Also: Driven: 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Builds On Sedan’s Legacy Of Affordability And Refinement

On the side, we find silver sill add-ons, while at the back there is a matching skid plate and a GR badge. Inside the model gets new graphics for the 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, a GR-branded engine start button, and the GR logo embossed on the seats. Safety equipment includes seven airbags and the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite.

Toyota Gazoo Racing gave the Corolla Cross a sports suspension with new springs and dampers for improved handling, while a new chassis reinforcement bracket increases rigidity.

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The Corolla Cross GR Sport is available with petrol and hybrid powertrains. The naturally aspirated 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine produces 138 hp (103 kW / 140 PS) and 172 Nm (127 lb-ft) of torque sending power to the front wheels through the Super CVT-i gearbox. The hybrid combines a 1.8-liter engine with an electric motor for a combined output of 121 hp (90 kW / 122 PS) transmitted to the front wheels through an E-CVT gearbox.

The new Corolla Cross GR Sport is already available in Taiwan starting from 875,000 Taiwan dollars ($31,601) for the 1.8-liter gasoline engine and 945,000 ($34,129) Taiwan dollars for the more efficient hybrid.

more photos…

H/T to Paultan

Hyundai Teases The Fully Electric Ioniq 7 Large SUV

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Shortly after Hyundai announced their carbon-neutrality goals at the 2021 IAA Motor Show, the company dropped an offifical teaser of the fully electric Ioniq range, including a large SUV concept which previews the upcoming Ioniq 7.

The Ioniq 7 is expected to arrive in the US in 2024, joining the already available Ioniq 5 hatchback and the upcoming Ioniq 6 sedan which will premiere in 2022. The teaser includes the 2020 Prophecy concept which is a preview of the aforementioned Ioniq 6 and this large SUV.

See Also: Hyundai Confirms Specs For Ioniq 6 Sedan And Ioniq 7 SUV

Despite its imposing dimensions, the Ioniq 7 appears to have an aerodynamic silhouette thanks to the high ranked windscreen and the sloping roofline, while surfacing is on par with Hyundai’s latest design language. The model gets a grille-less look with a full-width horizontal LED bar and vertical LED units on the bumper. The squared wheelarches are filled with futuristic large-diameter rims that are probably going to be replaced by a more conventional wheel\tire combination in the production model.

See Also: Hyundai Wants Zero Emission Vehicles To Account For 80% Of Global Sales By 2040, Carbon Neutral By 2045

All of Hyundai’s Ioniq vehicles will ride on the dedicated E-GMP platform. A stretched version will appear on the Ioniq 7 allowing for three rows of seats inside the cabin, with six or seven seats. The long wheelbase also means there is room for a large battery pack. Indeed, Hyundai has confirmed that their large electric SUV will use the new SK Innovation batteries with a capacity of 100 kWh and 800-volt technology, offering a range of more than 483 km (300 miles). The company also revealed that the AWD version of the Ioniq 7 will use a dual-motor setup with a combined output of 308 hp (230 kW / 313 PS).

As the flagship of the Ioniq range, equipment is expected to include all of Hyundai’s latest ADAS systems including the Highway Driving Pilot which offers Level 3 autonomy. Given its size and market placement, the SUV could also get the air suspension and four-wheel steering from the upcoming 2022 Genesis G90, as reported by The Korean Blog, together with features like mirror-replacing cameras and a solar roof.

We expect to learn more information on Hyundai’s fully electric 7-seater SUV in the coming months with the reveal of the concept car that will closely preview the production version which will arrive in 2024.

2021 Nissan Kicks And Armada Go Official At 11:00 AM ET, Watch The Live Presentation Here

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Having been teased a couple of times, America’s 2021 Nissan Kicks and Armada are about to make their official debut, with the presentation starting today at 11:00 a.m. ET (5:00 p.m. CET).

Expected to mirror the looks of the international facelifted variant, the facelifted Nissan Kicks should feature a larger grille upfront, slender headlamps, and a slightly revised cockpit.

An electrified powertrain is expected under the bonnet, pairing a 1.2-liter three-cylinder gasoline range extender and an electric motor that’s juiced up by a 1.57 kWh lithium-ion battery in international markets for a combined 127 HP and 192 lb-ft (260 Nm) of torque. While this powertrain probably won’t make its way across the pond, we might be looking at the same 1.6-liter unit over here, which is rated at 122 HP and 114 lb-ft (155 Nm) in the outgoing iteration.

Read Also: 2020 Nissan Patrol / Armada Boasts New Design And Better All-Round Tech

Joining the 2021 Kicks will be the facelifted Armada. Believed to be similar in terms of styling to the facelifted Patrol, it is understood to premiere with an updated grille and C-shaped headlamps, as well as new LED taillights and bumpers.

The cabin of the body-on-frame SUV might feature higher quality materials and more technology gizmos, such as the dual-screen set-up in the center console like the latest Patrol.

We don’t know anything about the engine family yet, but we are about to find out what will power the 2021 Armada. As a reminder, the outgoing model is offered with a 390 HP and 394 lb-ft (533 Nm) 5.6-liter V8, which works in concert with a seven-speed automatic transmission and optional four-wheel drive.

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U Spy North America’s 2021 Kia Sorento Testing In Yosemite Valley

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The new Kia Sorento has been spied testing in U.S.-spec by CarScoops reader Gor.

While Kia unveiled the new Sorento back in March, it is still working on the U.S. model and was spied putting this heavily camouflaged prototype to the test in Yosemite Valley, California. Although car manufacturers usually put body cladding like this to hide the identity of their forthcoming models, the U.S.-spec Sorento should look identical to those sold in other markets aside from some trimmings.

Read More: Kia Drops A Boatload Of New Photos And Information On 2021 Sorento

With that in mind, the SUV has a tough new look that includes Kia’s tiger nose grille up front alongside new headlights with integrated ‘tiger eye’ LED daytime running lights. It looks very purposeful and is a far cry from the previous-generation Sorento. The significant styling modifications continue down the sides and rear with thick D-pillars, sharper body lines, and split vertical taillights. All of these design details are hidden on this prototype.

We know of at least two powertrains that will be available in the United States. The first will be Kia’s new Smartstream hybrid setup that features a 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol four-cylinder that works alongside a 44.2 kW electric motor and a 1.49 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack. It pumps out a total of 227 hp and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque and is coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. For those after a little more grunt, Kia will also sell the Sorento with a 2.5-liter T-GDi engine producing 277 hp and 310 lb-ft (421 Nm) of torque and mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

In other markets, such as Australia and Europe, the 2021 Kia Sorento is also available with a 2.2-liter four-cylinder Smartstream diesel with 198 hp and 324 lb-ft (440 Nm) of torque. This engine also operates alongside an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Kia will build the new Sorento at its Hwasung manufacturing facility in Korea and its production plant in Georgia, USA. It remains unclear when we will see it unveiled for the U.S. market but an online debut should happen before the end of the year.

Hat tip to Gor Mirzakhanyan for the photos!

more photos…

Ford Has Allegedly Locked In 230,000 Bronco Reservations In Two Weeks

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Ford has reportedly secured around 230,000 reservations for the all-new Bronco.

In the two weeks since reservations books for the Bronco opened up after its online reveal on July 13, automotive enthusiasts have been clamoring to lock in a reservation. All 3,500 First Edition models were quickly accounted for, prompting the automaker to double production to 7,000 units. As it turns out, though, it is not just the First Edition that shoppers have been reserving.

According to an administrator from the Bronco6G forum, approximately 230,000 reservations for the Bronco have been placed since July 13. The administrator doesn’t state were this number comes from, other than claiming it comes from a “reliable” source. Mind you, the number does not account for the Ford Bronco Sport.

Read More: Newsflash – The 2021 Ford Bronco Is Even Cooler Than It Looks

This figure comes roughly a week after a Ford spokesperson told Car and Driver that “reservations have been so popular that some Bronco customers may not receive their Bronco until 2022.”

The Ford spokesperson added that the first deliveries are scheduled for spring 2021. It was also confirmed that customers with reservations will have their Broncos built before production of stock units bound for dealerships commence.

Of course, securing 230,000 reservations for the Bronco does not mean Ford has sold that many. Those looking to reserve a Bronco can do so with a $100 refundable deposit, but it won’t be until this December that customers are able to convert this into an order through their selected dealership.

Nevertheless, the positive reception to the Bronco bodes very well indeed for Ford’s latest SUV – plus it should put Jeep on high alert.

#141, 2021 Ford Bronco debuts; Hagerty expert praises icon

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Nearly a quarter-century after it was last made, the new Ford Bronco makes its debut today (July 13) with as much anticipation as any new vehicle in recent memory.

Often cited as the first Sport Utility Vehicle, the Bronco has a loyal following and its new edition is likely to continue the iconic vehicle’s increasing legacy.

The Ford Bronco debuted in 1966 and the 2021 was unveild July 13, 2021.

The Ford Bronco debuted in 1966 and the 2021 edition was unveiled July 13, 2021.

Brian Rabold, vice president of valuation services for Hagerty, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast to discuss all things Ford Bronco.

Ford Bronco: Its legacy contines

Hagerty, the Michigan-based automotive lifestyle company, provides specialty insurance for collectible vehicles. The Bronco, in its various model years, generations and trims, has increased in value rapidly in recent years.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Rabold about the history of the Bronco and Hagerty’s insights into the vehicle’s chronology and its re-emergence.

According to Hagerty, consider some facts and figures:

* the age of the average owner of Bronco owner is 54, seven years younger than the average collector car owner;

* The first generation (’66-‘77 Broncos) are the most valuable at a median value at $50,600. The ’73-’77 Wagon 4×4 with the 302cid engine is the most valuable model with a median value of $60,200;

* The highest sale for an unmodified Bronco at auction is $143,000 for a 1971 Bronco Stroppe Baja Edition.

Rabold discusses all of the Bronco’s attributes and he has an impressive knowledge of the vehicle’s place in American automotive culture. He also gives us an opinion about one oddity of the debut of the new Bronco.

Originally scheduled for July 9, the planned debut of the 2021 Ford Bronco coincided with the birthday of O.J. Simpson.

Simpson, the former Heisman Trophy winner and National Football League star, was wanted in the slayings of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

After Simpson failed to turn himself in, a national television audience of 95 million watched for hours as the drama unfolded of Simpson slowly being pursued on Los Angeles Freeways as the passenger in a 1993 white Bronco driven by his friend.

Simpson was acquitted a year later in one of the most closely watched murder trials in American history. But the Bronco has since been associated with the bizarre day.

Ford officials said it was “pure coincidence” when they announced the debut’s original date. But Ford dropped the Bronco in 1996.

Rabold said he “gives Ford the benefit of the doubt.”

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Buick Velite 7 Electric SUV Previewed In China, Could Herald America’s Chevy Bolt EUV

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Buick has provided a first official glimpse into the Velite 7, its first all-electric SUV which will launch in China later this year.

Joining the likes of the Velite 5 extended range and Velite 6 and Velite 6 Plus electric vehicles, it is believed to be based on the Chevrolet Bolt. While the Velite 7 is a China-only affair, a Chevy-rebadged derivative should find its way to the United States eventually.

A modular lithium-ion battery, with an optimized design and improved cell chemistry, powers the Velite 7’s zero-emission propulsion system.

Read Also: Chevrolet Menlo Launches As Brand’s First EV In China, Priced From $22,700

The Buick Velite 7 features a liquid-cooling battery thermal management system, which is said to meet General Motors’ global standards for safety and reliability. More importantly, it promises a range of up to 310 miles (500 km), albeit under the very optimistic NEDC test cycle. This will likely drop to around 200 miles (320 km) in the real world.

“Buick is strengthening its EV lineup with an all-new entry for today’s consumers, giving them the functionality of an SUV and the confidence to go farther with an impressive 500 kilometers of range”, commented the executive director of Buick Sales and Marketing at SAIC-GM, Molly Peck. “We topped it off with a suite of leading technologies to meet the needs of progressive and eco-minded Chinese drivers.”

Further details will be announced closer to the electric SUV’s launch, but previous reports have indicated the Velite 7 is 167.9 inches (4,264 mm) long and has a 105.3-inch (2,675-mm) wheelbase. The electric motor allegedly develops 174 horsepower, but America’s variant, which will be dubbed the Bolt EUV (Electric Utility Vehicle), is expected with more than 200 HP.