Daily Yoghurt at Sunday, May 23, 2010 wrote:Volkswagen will exploit its partnership with Suzuki by launching a model based on the current SX-4.

It is called Rocktan and the Germans will fight with Nissan Juke and Toyota Urban Cruiser. After connected a close partnership with Suzuki and bought a stake of 19.9% in the Japanese automaker, Volkswagen is already thinking how to better use the Nippon resources. According to unofficial sources, the German leadership wants a new model in range, based on the Suzuki SX4. It would be named Rocktan and become the first concrete result of the joint venture’s created between the two sides.

The new member of the Volkswagen range will be a city SUV, positioned between the present CrossPolo and Tiguan. Theoretically, by launching Rocktan, the Germans will try to offer a more individualistic replacement of the old CrossGolf. Moreover, the model will allow to the automaker from Wolfsburg to rival with the new Japanese models, such as Toyota Urban Cruiser and Nissan Juke, launched in March at Geneva Motor Show.

As expected, the engines range of the German model will borrow Volkswagen’s familiar engines, including: 1.4-liter TSI engine for those who prefer gasoline, and 1.6-liter, respectively 2.0-liter TDI engine for those that favor diesel.

There is currently no information about the starting price, but is expected that VW Rocktan will cost under €25,000. The release date was not announced, the Governing Board will give its consent for the series, which will probably take place in Hungarian plant from Esztergom.

carguideblog wrote:Land Rover announced that a smaller SUV Land Rover will be available for sale in the third quarter of 2011, and it doesn’t like to be called as a crossover. From my experience in the past, driving a Land Rover is like driving your house around. With the fading of the SUV to the crossover SUV, and instead of a crossover, Land Rover is betting on this small SUV, which is based on the LRX concept.

So far, their are no specifications or prices for this Land Rover small SUV. Levitan said that dealers were not given any technical or pricing details on the new SUV. ”It is hard to say what customers it will appeal to because we don’t have the pricing,” he said. “Any new product will drive people into the Land Rover centers.” Anything smaller than previous SUV models is a welcome. One thing for sure is that this Land Rover small SUV is one cool, modern looking SUV.

Horatiu B. wrote:MINI eyes on Nissan Juke



Richard Aucock recently published an interesting comparison between two unusual rivals: MINI and Nissan. The latest model coming out of the Oxford’s plant, Countryman, is already shaping up as being a strong contender in the small crossover segment, a segment that many believe is yet to be clearly defined.

Sporting a higher ride height and combining elements from previous MINI models, the Countryman is unique in its own way. Despite initial expected criticism around brand dilution and what MINI stands for, recent reviews and driving experiences have managed to change the perception of this new MINI model.

And so it seems that MINI is not the only one to fully take on this new market. The Japanese automaker Nissan has their own up the sleeve: Nissan Juke. In a recent report by Automobile Magazine, Nissan described the Juke as being “designed for “aggressive attention-seekers,” or in other words, youngish dudes who would normally be scouring Craigslist ads for a four-year old BMW 3-series, or an old Z, or perhaps a used Maxima.”

Well, it seems like they discarded the real competitors who beside MINI, come from Suzuki’s SX4 or Mitsubishi’s Outlander Sport.

So, let’s jump into the short analytical report by Aucock and his take on what the two models stand for.

MINI is going head to head with Nissan this autumn as an all new car sector fast hots up.

The small crossover market is one both makers hope will bring big sales gains for them – but the route to entry for both has been rather different.

MINI, of course, stokes the most controversy. This is the biggest MINI ever, the first 5-door, the closest a MINI has ever got to the 4 metre long threshold.

Nissan, though, is coming at it from the other way. It’s enjoyed amazing success with the fine Qashqai family crossover; now it’s bringing similar thinking down to the supermini market.

In the Juke and the Countryman, the two firms meet at last. Yup, it’s the first time a Nissan has ever eyeballed a MINI!

It’s a significant meet in two ways – one, in showing the desire of BMW Group to win extra sales volume for MINI, further strengthening its future. But, two, it is also a measure of how the Nissan brand has come on from its Almera-riddled past.