USA - The Editors of Autotrader USA has picked the F0150 Raptor as one of its Must Test Drive cars.

The editors at Autotrader have discovered what owners, fans and the media have been reporting now for months: The all-new F-150 Raptor is a “Must Test Drive” vehicle for 2017.

The Autotrader designation is a consumer-focused award program designed to highlight the top 12 vehicles shoppers must see and experience to believe. 

Winning vehicles are chosen based on a diverse set of criteria outlined by Autotrader editorial experts, who log thousands of miles test driving the latest cars, trucks and SUVs each year.

“For all the awards and accolades owners and the media have bestowed upon the all-new F-150 Raptor, the only way to truly understand how incredible this truck has become is to get to a Ford dealer and get behind the wheel,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager.

The purpose-built, off-road F-150 Raptor builds on the success of its predecessor with performance gains and new technology. The all-new Raptor stands alone among high-performance off-road trucks, featuring a high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost^® engine generating 450 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque, plus a segment-first 10-speed automatic transmission and six-mode Terrain Management System^™. Its high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body saves 500 pounds over the previous model.

The 2017 F-150 Raptor’s competition-proven chassis also sets the performance bar with its second-generation BF Goodrich KO2 tires designed exclusively for the truck’s extended off-road capabilities. In addition, upgraded FOX Shocks (jointly engineered by Ford Performance and FOX) are 44 percent larger with 3-inch diameter shock canisters (2.5-inch previously) and nine-stage bypass damping delivering improved suspension control. The new shock design enables an increase in suspension travel to 13-inches at the front and 13.9-inches at the rear (a 0.8-inch front and 1.9-inch rear increase in wheel travel compared to its predecessor).

The Autotrader award is the latest in a series of accolades for the all-new F-150 Raptor, including Truck of the Year from FOUR WHEELER, AutoGuide.com and Cars.com.The recognition for Raptor further highlights Ford’s yearlong celebration of F-Series as best-selling truck in America for 40 consecutive years, and 35 years as best-selling vehicle in America. Join the #40YearsTough celebration at www.40YearsTough.com.

Already the most capable production vehicle in the world, Jeep® Wrangler is about to deliver even more capability.

• Increased 4x4 capability and protection from the most rugged terrain, courtesy of a front axle upgrade, enhanced off-road rock rails and heavy-duty cast differential covers
• New 17-inch Low Gloss Granite Crystal-painted aluminum wheels, optional body color fender flares and unique red interior accents
• Available in Jeep® showrooms later this month

Already the most capable production vehicle in the world, Jeep® Wrangler is about to deliver even more capability – specifically more protection from the most severe, rugged off-road terrain – with the addition of the new Wrangler Rubicon Recon. Improved off-road prowess is a result of a stronger front axle, enhanced rock rails and heavy-duty cast differential covers.

“With an array of beefed up off-road components, the new Rubicon Recon provides even more legendary Jeep Wrangler capability,” said Mike Manley, Head of Jeep Brand – FCA Global. “With unmatched capability and a unique appearance, Rubicon Recon is the perfect Wrangler for our most loyal, diehard off-road enthusiasts who love to tackle the most demanding trails.”

 

The new 2017 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Recon Edition arrives in showrooms later this month at a U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $39,145 for the two-door model and $42,945 for the Wrangler Unlimited (four-door) model.

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Recon Edition

Based on the Wrangler Rubicon model, the Rubicon Recon Edition ups the off-road ante with a front axle upgrade that features strengthened tubes and heavy-duty end forgings, heavy-duty cast front and rear differential covers and enhanced off-road rock rails that are shortened to accommodate up to 35-inch tires. 

It is equipped with Wrangler’s part-time four-wheel-drive system that has electronic-locking front and rear Dana 44 axles with power being sent to each through a Rock-Trac transfer case with a “4-Low” ratio of 4:1. A 4.10 front and rear axle ratio is standard as are Tru-Lok locking differentials. 

With a six-speed manual transmission, the Wrangler Rubicon Recon Edition has an impressive crawl ratio of 73.1:1 that makes climbing obstacles easy.  

Wrangler Rubicon Recon Edition is offered in seven colors:  Black, Bright White, Billet Silver, Firecracker Red, Gobi, Rhino and Granite Crystal.

Wrangler Rubicon Recon Edition has many different features that make it distinctive, including a half-inch lift, new 17-inch Low Gloss Granite Crystal-painted aluminum wheels wrapped in 32-inch BF Goodrich KM off-road tires, optional body-color fender flares and a dual-vented Power Dome hood with a black-silhouette “Rubicon” decal on both sides.    

A Low Gloss Black grille with Low Gloss Granite Crystal inserts and headlamp rings, Low Gloss Black off-road bumpers and Jeep badge with a red base give the Wrangler Rubicon Recon a toughened exterior look. The steel front bumper features a winch-capable design and removable end caps that help the Wrangler Rubicon Recon climb obstacles without any issues and reduce damage on the trail. 

Red tow hooks in front and back also provide the Rubicon Recon with added protection and help separate it from the rest of the Wrangler lineup.

Inside, the Wrangler Rubicon Recon comes standard with an eight-speaker audio system, black leather heated seats with a “Rubicon” embroidered logo and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with red accent stitching. 

Black vinyl-wrapped front door armrest and console lid with black stitching, red accent netting on front and rear door pockets and the center console, and red accent-colored seatbelts help to distinguish the Rubicon Recon from the rest of the Wrangler lineup. A dashboard plaque displays information regarding the front and rear axles, front sway bar, transfer case and tires. 

A Premium Sunrider soft top is standard while a body-color hard top is also available.

A unique gauge cluster features exclusive styling and also features a premium Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) with added read-outs, such as oil pressure, transmission and coolant temperatures, digital speed and individual tire pressure, which are helpful when out on the trail. 

The passenger grab handle features Midnight Star Black accents that are also found on the vent rings, steering wheel spokes and door pulls.

Final design touches include all-weather slush mats with a red accent “Jeep” logo and red accented axle locker and sway-bar disconnect switches. Jeep’s Connectivity Group, Power Convenience Group, Satellite Radio, remote starter and auto temperature control are also standard.

USA - J.D. Power designated the 2016 Hyundai Tucson as its most appealing small SUV in the 2016 Study.

J.D. Power designated the 2016 Hyundai Tucson as its most appealing small SUV in the 2016 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM. 

In its 21st year, the APEAL study examines owners’ emotional attachment and level of excitement across 77 attributes, ranging from the power they feel when they step on the gas to the sense of comfort and luxury they feel when climbing into the driver’s seat. Vehicles and their brands are measured on a 1,000-point scale.

Tucson outscored all other small SUVs and performed particularly well in the categories of vehicle fuel economy, seats, HVAC, storage, exterior, visibility, driving, interior and audio/comm./entertainment/navigation.

“We are thrilled with the recognition of Tucson in this year’s J.D. Power APEAL study,” said Scott Margason, director, product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “

The new Tucson looks great, has two fuel efficient engines and a roomy interior that satisfies a wide range of SUV buyers. The team did a great job launching the all-new Tucson this year.”

Ssangyong 2 - Korando 2.2 ELX 4x4 Auto - The Tivoli’s bigger brother, a car that offers more, and delivers.

In the second of our road test reports from Ssangyong, we take the mid sized off-roader for a session on the off-road track at the Millbrook proving ground, The Korando, was, before the Tivoli launch the brands best seller and the best car to have, but now that the Tivoli is heading towards it's first birthday, and the recent addition of 4x4, the Korando, is now showing it's age a little.

The Korando, has some interior traits shared with it's smaller sibling, to keep the family look, which is no bad thing, but it does need to have some updates inside, maybe utilising some of the Tivoli switchgear and central binnacle look, will make the difference.

After the Tivoli was taken around the Millbrook off-road track, we had a short wait while others were taking the Korando  round, but once inside, it was swiftly noticeable that the 2.2 Litre was under the hood, and not the 1.6 Litre, the pulling power was far superior, as to be expected, there was that added grunt, when pushed.

The increase in ground clearance was also noticeable, as we never grounded this car, even when we tried too, it made minced meat of the 25% gradient hill we went up, and the driving on the side, the car just did it, no complaints, no sliding, it just knew it had a job of work to do, and it did it.

The 4x4 system will be suited to dealing with anything you throw at it, whereas, the Tivoli will be better on road, and can deal with snow and ice, and muddy tracks for the main part, the Korando, will do anything, whether it be on a farm, someone taking it to a quarry at the weened to play, doing a proper off-Road course, or just driving the kids to school, this car will do it all with out batting an eyelid, 

Like the Smaller car, you can engage the diff lock, move the auto level to "M" and use the switch at the side to do manual gear changes, ideal for bad ground, inclines and the like.

Both cars have a small degree of descent control, mainly via engine braking, and having your foot gently tap the brake when necessary, there is no real DCS on this car, like on Land Rovers, whose Descent Control System is second to none.

Again, here, like all cars in the brand, they supply you with a limitless five year warranty, They also cover brake pads and clutch friction plates for a year/12,500 miles, over and above many other brands, something these days, people care more about, making sure that your car is fully covered in the rare even of some sort of failure, or issue.

But it does not stop there, they also cover your audio equipment (fitted) for five years, also limitless mileage, and the battery is covered for three years not two, like many other brands, so all the positives are stacking up in favour of the brand, so we have at present two products from the company, that seem to be very good cars, and so they should be, no one makes a bad car these days, not like in the 1970's when most were bad, and if you found a good one, you worried why is was good.

The engine in our test Tivoli is the potent 178ps diesel engine, the engine produces the 178ps @ 4,000rpm max power with an impressive 400Nm @1,400-2,800rpm for a powerful and sporty driving experience, this engine is mated to the AISIN 6-Speed Auto transmission, this is already a well proven auto box, as it also appears in the Tivoli,  and like the but this is tuned to deliver a better fuel efficiency.

And the gear change is smooth, just like the Tivoli, it is up there with the best, but it could be just that little bit more! drive the car at a reasonable pace and you will hardly notice any change up or down, however, if you put your foot down and you can tell it is an auto.

The new in house 2.2 litre engine is quite potent and will give some of the other cars on the road a pasting, and over taking at motorway speed is easy, albeit a little noisy, once you get higher up the rev range, the 0-60 in the Korando is 9.9 seconds, not the best in the world, but better than a lot of competition, unfortunately it suffers from a Co2 level of 177g/km, yes it is a 4x4 SUV, but the new Discovery Sport has a Co2 of 139g/km and mpg of 53.3 combined.

Like the Tivoli we managed to achieve a reasonably low MPG whilst on the track, but when you see the manufacturer claimed figures of 48.7/39.2/56.5 (combined, Urban, Extra urban) for the manual, however the auto is significantly different, which was surprising, as most modern auto's are not that far from the manual, but the automatics are 41.5/32.8/49.6 (combined, Urban, Extra urban), so combined with a 57 litre fuel tank are 610.70 Miles (M) or 520.41 (A), not bad as long as you have not got a heavy foot.

The interior of the Korando is looking dated compared to the smaller model, but with a similar look to the Sat Nav, radio buttons etc, it keeps from looking completely dated, that said, everything is easy to understand, easy to find, and easy to operate, you cant say that for a lot of cars these days, when you need a degree in Computer Science to work out what button does what.

The seating in this car are very comfortable, and they support in all the right places and keep you in position when driving on inclines of going around corners at speed, there is plenty of leg room front and rear, whether your six foot tall and sit behind another six footer in the driving seat, you still have enough room to be comfortable, no low roof line is great too, meaning no headaches when you do take the car off-road with guests, it is a rarity these days, as a lot of brands are sloping the roof line down significantly at the back, so to have a proper car with a proper roof, is good.

Equipment levels on our car are good too, but as it is top of the range it is not surprising, but you get

• Rear parking sensors.
• Tyre Pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
• Full sized spare wheel (cost option)
• Space Saver Spare wheel.
• 18" Diamond cut alloy wheels.
• Front fog lights.
• Projection headlamps.
• Hill start assist.
• Puddle lamps.
• Heater lower front windscreen.
• Trip computer. 
• Rear View Camera.
• TomTom Navigation.
• Rear heater duct.
• Automatic air con.
• Electric Moving, heating and folding door mirrors.
• Auto dipping rear view mirror.
• Electronic cruise control.
• Electric Windows, Front and rear.
• Leather Upholstery.
• Electric Power Steering.
• Smart Instrument Cluster.
• Remote Keyless Entry.
• Privacy Glass, Rear door, quarter and tailgate.
• Electric Moving Front Seats.
• Heated seats, Front and Rear.
• Steering wheel mounted controls.

Boot Space is reasonable, but it is not bad at 486 Litres, it will take a lot of the everyday items that you carry, put the seats down and you will get 1312 litres of space meaning you should be able to get most of your goods in the car with ease, however, the high bumper can be a hindrance, but it is flat from there, no drop down once inside, 

CONCLUSION

Looks - 7/10

Fuel Consumption - 7/10

Equipment - 9/10

Off-Road Capability - 9.5/10

On-Road capability - 8/10

Co2 levels - 7/10

Interior Space - 9.5/10

Total - 8.1/10

______________________________

The car that until, the Tivoli came along was a brilliant SUV, that does not mean that the Korando is poor, far from it, but the Tivoli is so good, it makes the rest of the range seem dated, it is extremely capable both on road and off, but off-road, the car excels, it managed the test track at Millbrook as though it was a flat road, there was no hesitation, no struggling and like its smaller sibling, Ignore this at your peril.

The automatic transmission copes with all you can throw at it, and in manual mode, you can control the gear changes with ease, if you happen to forget, you don't really notice the rising revs, as the car manages to hide the noise, which is another plus point, the Korando is a  car that should be on your list, like the Tivoli, why they do not sell far more, is anyone's guess, but for now, they are a very well kept secret, a secret that should be shared..

Ssangyong 1 - The Tivoli 1.6 Litre ELX 4x4 Auto, the car to define the brand for the next generation.

The Ssangyong brand is one of those brands that you know of, mainly because of the name, after all, it is not the easiest to pronounce if you are not told how to say it, but they make some great cars, and they are definitely ones that you should consider when buying your next car, to not do so, would be a mistake, they have a range of Off-Roaders and a barge like MPV, the range starts with the Tivoli at just shy of £13k, and works it way up from there.

This first post on the brand and it's products, will be about the SUV's and there off-road performance, other posts will appear over the coming week, but for now, we review the new Tivoli 4x4 on the Millbrook Proving Ground off-road facility.

The Tivoli is the car that will push the brand further along than any other in its UK history, it is just the right size, has a very competent Euro 6 range of engines and now it comes with a four Wheel drive system to aid the driver in inclement weather or off road driving, the CEO of Ssangyong UK, Paul Williams, is quoted as saying that "Tivoli is really helping to put Ssangyong on the map" and he is not wrong.

For a car that does not have huge ground clearance, it handled the challenging track with consummate ease, even climbing up a 25% incline, both forward and on it's side, it never failed, to get us round the course, we did manage to "clunk" the undercarriage a could of times, but that's par for the course in a low slung car like this.

I would say that the new 4x4 system will be better suited to dealing with bad winter weather, or muddy roads, but you must not forget that this car can cope with far more, flip the diff lock and move the auto level over to "M" and you get the opportunity to change gear, manually, on the lever, with a small switch, you can then go on your journey and not have to worry.

"We are delighted with the reception the car has received from our customers as well as the media, who recognise the real step-change that has taken place" is another quote from Paul Williams, and they back this up with a limitless five year warranty, They also cover brake pads and clutch friction plates for a year/12,500 miles, over and above many other brands.

But it does not stop there, they also cover your audio equipment (fitted) for five years, also limitless mileage, and the battery is covered for three years not two, like many other brands, so all the positives are stacking up in favour of the brand.

The engine in our test Tivoli is the potent 115ps e-XDi160 diesel engine, the engine produces the 115ps @ 3,400-4,000rpm max power with an impressive best in class 300Nm @1,500-2,500rpm for a powerful and sporty driving experience, this engine is mated to the AISIN 6-Speed Auto transmission, this is already a well proven auto box, but this is tuned to deliver a better fuel efficiency and minimise power loss, the gears are optimised to help transfer the power smoothly through all six changes, making for a more comfortable driving experience.

And the gear change is smooth, not in the DSG league, but for a car of this size, class and price point, it is up there with the best, drive the car smoothly and you will hardly notice any change up or down, however, give it some beans and you can tell it is an auto, with that familiar "blip" as it changes, but it does nothing to deter you as a driver, quite the opposite.

Giving the car some welly, it is plain to see that it has been geared for economy rather than performance, but it is no slouch, far from it, this little car can shift, and will happily keep up with fast traffic, and overtaking is easy too, it's no Porsche Macan, so you cant expect 0-60 in the sub 5 seconds, and Ssangyong have not released any figures as yet but a 123g/km Co2 is not bad for a Diesel 4x4, it can be better, the Ingenium range of diesels can go sub 100 in a 2.0L diesel, so, some work will no doubt be carried out over time to drop this.

Whilst testing the Tivoli we managed to get a great MPG, 12 Miles to the gallon, and we were reasonably impressed with that, considering that we were off-road and in first and second gear most of the time, at higher revs, but the manufacturer claimed figures are 60.1/51.4/67.3 (combined, Urban, Extra urban) for the manual, however the auto is significantly different, which was surprising, as most modern auto's are not that far from the manual, but the automatics are 47.9/36.2/57.7 (combined, Urban, Extra urban), so combined with a 47 litre fuel tank are 621.36 Miles (M) or 495.23 (A), not bad as long as you have not got a heavy foot.

The interior of the Tivoli is a huge jump forward, it looks clear, clean and crisp, the twin dials in front of the driver look modern and are very clear to understand, the central binnacle area with the Audio, Sat Nav etc, is also clear and easy to understand, and with few buttons, it is also very similar to the Korando, making it a design trait for the brand.

The seats are firm, but not over hard, the cosset nicely and hold you in position whilst on rather steep inclines, with two six footers in the car, and our navigator, we found that, even with the seat quite a way back, there was still a lot of leg room, so getting comfortable on a longer journey is a lot easier, especially for a child, head room too is very substantial, and you have no worries about banging your head like some deeply sloping roofs on a lot of new Crossovers.

Equipment levels on our car are good too, but as it is top of the range it is not surprising, but you get

• Front and Rear parking sensors.
• Tyre Pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
• Space Saver Spare wheel.
• 18" Diamond cut alloy wheels.
• Front fog lights.
• Rear spoiler.
• Seven Airbags. 
• Rear View Camera.
• TomTom Navigation.
• Rear heater duct.
• Dual-Zone air con.
• Electric Moving, heating and folding door mirrors.
• Auto dipping rear view mirror.
• Electronic cruise control.
• Electric Windows, Front and rear.
• Auto Wipers.
• Auto Lighting.
• Smart Instrument Cluster.
• Smart Keyless Start.
• Privacy Glass, Rear door, quarter and tailgate.
• Leather Seats
• Heated seats.
• Steering wheel mounted controls.

Boot Space is not the best in the world, but it is not bad at 423 Litres, it will take a lot of the everyday items that you carry, put the seats down and you get a large load space, giving room for medium sized pieces of furniture, a couple of dogs (Husky sized) or just the junk you take to the tip on a Sunday morning.

CONCLUSION

Looks - 9/10

Fuel Consumption - 6/10

Equipment - 9/10

Off-Road Capability - 9.5/10

On-Road capability - 9/10

Co2 levels - 7/10

Interior Space - 10/10

Total - 8.5/10

______________________________

Ignore this car at your peril, because if you do, you will be missing out on an awesome car, it does everything and more that you could want from a small SUV, comfort, all round vision, Equipment, lay out and looks.

The name may be a mouthful and some people might be put off by it, but you should not be, Ssangyong has been in the UK for a couple of decades now, and they have been growing since that first car, the Musso, and today they have a small and medium range of SUV's that can compete with the best, and in some sections, beat them.

We went with expectations, we came away impressed, would we own a car from this brand, yes, we would have the Tivoli, as that's what we would need, if we were in the market for a slightly bigger car, then yes the Korando would head that list too.