Pictured above is a concept render of Kumho’s (a Korean tire-maker) Fortis 3-door all electric SUV.

If this car ever see’s the light of day it will feature a seperate 100HP electric motor to power each on of its wheels. Powering said motors will be a lithium ion battery that will pull a bit of energy from the car’s regenerative brakes.

This concept is apparantly the work of Kumho’s resident designer, Rob Dolton, who reportedly used to work for Fiat making the jump in 2005.

via WorldCarFans

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What you see above is supposedly a leaked image of the Acura’s 2010 RDX. As you can see, the 2010 model will apparantly features a completely restyled frontend.

Furthermore, the 2010 RDX is said to feature hexagonally shaped exhaust tips along with a redesigned bumper that will give the car a much more aggresive look. On the inside expect to find iPod and Bluetooth integration and an updated back up camera.

Under the hood the 2010 RDX is said to sport the Acura’s 2.3 liter turbo’d 4 cylinder engine capable of 240HP and 260 lb-feet of torque. For now, take this with a grain of salt until we get official confirmation from Acura themselves.

via Autoblog

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BMW X5 Edition 10

To commemorate the 10 year anniversary of BMW’s first ever SUV, the X5, the Bavarian firm will be coming out with a special edition version of its second-generation X5. Production will be limited to just 500 units with buyers being able to combine the ‘X5 Edition 10′ as it is officially named, with any of the six-cylinder and V8 engines presently offered in the range.

Some of the features of the X5 Edition 10 will include a unique gray metallic finish, new 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in huskier rubber, special trim and upholstery options, a panoramic sunroof and an array of commemorative tags inside and out. More details are expected to be released closer to the special edition model’s launch date Fall 2009.

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It seems that UK automaker Lightning Car Company has announced that, in addition to their recently announced Lightning GT, they will be launching 3 additional all-electric vehicles.

If you didn’t know, the Lightning GT is an all-electric vehicle with a 120,000 price tag, 0-60 mph sprint of 4 seconds and a range of 180 miles. It hasn’t hit the market yet but Lightning Car Company head honcho Ian Sanderson says that they have a smaller sportscar, SUV and a “high-end chauffer-driven car with electric power” in the works.

So yeah, none of us will be able to afford these, but thanks anyways Lightning Car Company.

Read (AutoBlogGreen)

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2010 BMW X1

BMW has announced that the all-new X1 SUV is projected to go on sale in the United States in 2011. The Bavarian car maker said that precise details on the U.S. market version including engine and drivetrain configurations will be brought out closer to the time of launch.

The X1 (X3’s smaller brother) will arrive in BMW’s European dealerships this fall with a selection of four engines, including a 258HP straight six gasoline and three 2.0-liter four banger diesels with 204HP, 177HP and 143HP. In a first for a BMW SUV model, the X1 will be available in rear-wheel drive and xDrive all-wheel drive configurations.

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2010 GMC Terrain SLT

The 2010 GMC Terrain SUV will arrive in GM’s showrooms in September and is priced from $24,995 for the front-wheel drive model and $26,745 for the all-wheel drive version. The base SLE1 model is powered by a 182HP 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine linked to a 6-speed automatic with an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 32 miles per gallon.

The better equipped SLT2 features sunroof, leather seating, a premium Pioneer sound system, and a special chrome package, starts at $29,995. In addition to the the 2.4L engine, the Terrain is also offered with a 3.0-liter direct injection V6 engine producing 265HP that returns an estimated 25 mpg highway, 18 mpg city. The V6 model comes with added standard equipment such as integrated navigation system and a rear-seat DVD infotainment system.

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If you’re looking to buy a midsize SUV, excuse me SAV (Sport Activity Vehicle), you should probably wait until the end of the year to check out BMW’s latest offering – the 2010 X3.

Changes to the 2010 X3 include a lower roof line along with rounded corners to make for a sportier look, inspired by the X5. Under the hood owners will be able to opt for for petrol or diesel. BMWBlog predicts that the petrol engine choices will include a V6 3l engine and a twin-turbo V6 capable of 306 HP. The diesel option, on the other hand, will be the same one found in the X5d and 335d, two other diesel offerings from BMW.

The 2010 X3 is currently set to hit showrooms sometime in November of this year.

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The Lexus GX midsize luxury SUV has been available since 2003 and has enjoyed some success during that time, but while many rivals may soon start pulling out of the segment altogether, Lexus means to stick it out by unveiling a redesigned GX, according to inside sources. The new model is expected to have all-new sheet metal as well as a 310hp (231kW) 4.6L V8 in substitution of the current model’s weak 263hp (196kW) 4.7L V8. This new 4.6L engine, by the way, is the same unit used in the 2010 Toyota Tundra.

The current body-on-frame platform will continue, but expect radically different styling as well as a redesigned rear door. The interior will also be totally updated, with more luxurious trim and an updated navigation system coming as standard. The new GX will likely be called the GX 460 and appear at the end of the year as a 2010 model.

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Apparently Nissan is moving forward with its plans to build a convertible Nissan Murano crossover SUV. No one really knows why, especially in this market. Initial rumors cropped up up late last year, but nothing was heard since – until recently. The report seems credible, suggesting that the vehicle will be sold as a 2011 model, featuring a soft top and will get its power from the regular Murano 265hp (197kW) 3.5L V6, according to Edmunds.

What is most interesting, the Murano convertible will supposedly be a two-door configuration, making it a sort of SUV-crossover-roadster. Who can forget the sensational success that was the Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro concept, which was a vehicle most people in their right mind would not buy. If it actually does get built, here’s wishing Nissan success.

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Kombat T98

The Dartz Kombat T98 SUV from Russia looks like a cross between a tank and a Hummer and that connection apparently is revealed in the name as well (T9 tanks). The SUV comes with steel plated doors and 3-inch windows, and enough armor to keep the passengers protected from attacks, ranging from bullets from an AK 47 to rocket propelled grenades.

Power comes from a solid 8.1-l Vortec V8 that delivers enough power to take this beast to a top speed of an astounding 110mph. With the luxury and space offered, it will no doubt hold a lot of interest

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Audi Q3

It has been decided that Audi’s new compact SUV will be called the Q3 and it will be produced at a VW Group plant in Martorell, Spain, beginning 2011. Audi will be spending more than €300 million in preparing the plant for the production of the Q3, which will have a capability of producing up to 80,000 units yearly. The Q3 is reported to be a coupe-like five-door SUV with seat positions, wheel size, and ground clearance typical of an SUV.

Its styling will be based on the 2007 Cross Coupe concept car. Both three-door and five-door variations are likely, and since it will almost certainly be based on the same PW35 platform as the Audi A3 hatch, it will likely share internals with it too. Engines will include a 147kW 2.0L TFSI engine, a 171kW 3.0L turbodiesel V6 and a 210kW 3.6L FSI V6.

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Rap tycoon Damon Dash’s jewelry brand, Tiret New York, has tried its hand at automotive design with its latest creation, the Tiret Sport Coupe. Recently unveiled at the watch expo Baselworld in Switzerland, this luxurious 2-door SUV is based on the Range RoverSport and sports real diamond accents copied from Tiret’s opulent oversized, adorned timepieces by designer Daniel Lazar.

It is obtainable by special order at an unrevealed but without a doubt astronomical price. A wide assortment of color combinations including two-tone schemes is available inside and out plus Nappa leather seating and exquisite wood trim. The exterior changes include wider flared arches, LED lighting, 22-inch LSE alloy wheels and a panoramic glass sunroof.

Tiret Sport Coupe

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GMC has done a pretty good job keeping the details of their forthcoming 2010 Terrain SUV underwraps, until now.

Recently spotted on a GMC exec’s Twitter was some juicy details regarding the car.

For once, it’s said to get 30 miles to the gallon on the highway. Yes, 30 mpg for a midsize SUV, a damn good number. Hell, that get’s more than my car and I drive a sedan!

More information will be released about the GMC Terrain on April 5th, we’ll keep you posted.

Read (Jalopnik)

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The Cayenne is certainly one of the most intriguing Porsche models we’ve seen so far. Some people still can’t understand why did Porsche feel the need to create an SUV all of a sudden, while others love that new design. And these Cayenne lovers are quite a few. Porsche announced that it has made 250,000 Cayennes so far and that plant in Leipzig, Germany is still going strong. What do you think? Would you purchase a Cayenne?

via Press

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KIA Rondo

What on earth is a Kia Rondo? While the name might not exactly roll off the tip of the average American’s tongue, the Kia Rondo is Kia’s crossover offering; a part-station wagon, part-SUV that looks like a little minivan. In Europe, this style of vehicle is called a “space wagon MPV” and is quite popular, but the concept is fairly new to the U.S. auto market, which is in the process of detoxing from yet love-affair-gone-bad with huge trucks and SUVs.

The Rondo is available in a 2.4 liter four cylinder model and a 2.7 liter V6, both of which feature automatics transmissions with a Sportmatic feature that lets drivers choose their own gears. Air conditioning is standard at all trim levels except the most basic LX, and lots of fun options are available, like MP3-capable audio systems and leather-wrapped steering wheels. The 4 cylinder option gets an decent EPA fuel efficient rating of 20 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway, with the V6 coming in slightly lower at 18 MPG city and 26 MPG highway.  MSRP on a 2009 Kia Rondo starts at around $18,000.

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