2015 Easter Jeep Safari Concept Roundup

2015 Easter Jeep Safari Concept Roundup
Tesla Software Update Attacks Range Anxiety
Porsche Wants Better Connected Car Tech
Five Best Luxury Car Companies to Buy From
Mercedes Plans 10 New Plug-Ins by 2017
New 2016 Camaro Details Released

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Every year, the Easter Jeep Safari takes over Moab, Utah, and brings with it a host of new concepts from Jeep.

For 2015, seven custom concepts have been put together by the brand. Many of the parts used are currently available through Mopar, though some are prototypes. A small team of dedicated engineers put together this group of custom Jeeps, each one of which is fully functional.

Jeep Chief

This Wrangler-based concept is inspired by the 1970s Jeep Cherokee and is tailored to fit the west-coast surfer lifestyle. Finished in Ocean Blue, the Chief gets a custom razor grille that was made famous by the original Wagoneer, halogen headlights, removable sides, chrome front and rear bumpers and 17-inch slotted mag wheels.

Two inches were taken off the doors and windshield, while the Chief has been lifted by two inches and fitted with Dana 44 locking axles, a cold air intake and Rubicon rock rails. Power comes from the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 mated to a six-speed manual.

Inside, pink, blue and white flowered cloth along with leather wrap the seats while surf stickers dot the center console and door handles. The front-passenger handle has been replaced with Rosewood and of course the 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen is present.

Jeep Staff Car

A salute to the legendary military Jeeps, this Wrangler-based concept comes fitted with basic steel wheels, small fender flares, a stretched canvas roof and bench seats. A Sandstorm paint finish keeps the exterior true Jeep's military heritage, just like the removal of the doors and b-pillars. Round headlights, Jeep J8 front and rear bumpers, fender-mounted blackout lamps and a rear-mounted spare tire and gas can complete the look.

A little added performance comes from Dana 44 locking axles and a two-inch lift.

The interior features just two bench seats along with an integrated roll cage and a painted steel floor. An integrated cooler is also built in to this concept, made from an old wooden artillery box.

Power for the staff car also comes from the Pentastar V6 hooked through a six-speed manual.

Jeep Wrangler Africa

Jeep wants to go on safari with the Wrangler Africa. A high-clearance steel front bumper with a winch, power step rock rails, a vented hood and an exteneded rear body with a high-top roof prepare this concept for duty. Fender-mounted fuel cans, 17-inch body color steel wheels and big 35-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires complete this concept.

Power comes from a 2.8-liter diesel engine hooked to an automatic transmission. A two-inch lift kit complete with Fox shocks and Dana 44 axles are found on the Africa, while the cargo area, inner roof and floor are all coated with a spray-in truck bedliner.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Overlander

The Overlander is based on the Grand Cherokee and is meant to show the SUVs capability for off-roading and camping. A one-off front fascia, tow hooks, flared fenders, SRT taillights and hood, off-road rock rails and skid plates make sure that the Overlander is ready to get you into the wilderness.

On the roof, a two-person hard-shell tent is fitted and ready to keep you protected in the wild.

A 3.0-liter V6 diesel powers this concept.

Jeep Renegade Desert Hawk

Jeep didn't forget about the new Renegade compact crossover when it was putting together these concepts. Called the Desert Hawk, this special edition gets off-road rock rails, a skid plate, a hood decal that shows the Fins and Things Moab trail in detail and is finished in Desert Tan.

Inside, Mopar Katzkin seat covers are found along with body color bezels and Mopar all-weather floor mats.

Power is delivered by a 2.4-liter Tigershark engine hooked to a nine-speed automatic.

Jeep Cherokee Canyon Trail

This Cherokee is ready to tackle Moab thanks to JPP off-road rock rails, a two-piece fuel tank skid plate, two-piece underbody skid plate, oil pan and front suspension skid plates, along with concept 17-inch painted wheels with BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A tires.

The Canyon Trail is finished in Desert Tan, accented by a Satin Black hood with a topographical map decal showing Hell's Revenge, a famous Moab trail. Inside, Katzkin leather seat covers, embroidered logos on the headrests, body color accents, a cargo tray mat, all-weather floormats and a Moab off-road bag can all be found.

The 2.4-liter Tigershark powers this concept, sending its juice through a nine-speed automatic.

Jeep Wrangler Red Rock Responder

Finally, we have the Jeep Wrangler Red Rock Responder. This concept was put together to tackle an emergency situation in a remote area and is packed with spare parts and tools to get the job done. To get there, the Responder packs a four-inch lift, Fox shocks, Dana 60 axles front and rear, a cold-air intake, off-road rock rails and a Warn winch.

Side cargo boxes make sure that the Responder can do its job once it arrives, housing a hi-lift jack, fire extinguisher, road side accessory kit, first aid kit, snap-on tools and a small air compressor complete with air hose and accessories.

Steel front and rear bumpers along with high top fenders are fitted while the Responder Red paint job finishes the look. 17-inch beadlock wheels with a body color beadlock ring are also included.

The Jeep Wrangler Red Rock Responder is powered by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine mated to an automatic transmission.

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Tesla Software Update Attacks Range Anxiety

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The latest over-the-air-update to Tesla's Model S will introduce a host of enhancements to the electric luxury sedan including a warning system meant to keep drivers from driving out of range from a charger.

"This makes it effectively impossible for a Model S driver to run out of range unintentionally," Musk said today during a press conference.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said today that a new version of the Model S on-board software that includes a "range assurance application" will communicate in real time with the company's network of superchargers and other charging stations to prevent drivers from unintentionally stranding themselves by driving out of charging range.

The software update will ignore chargers in heavy use in an attempt to combat long wait times to access the charger in question. The application will run constantly in the background regardless of whether the navigation system is active or not. It will also take factors into account that could diminish range including elevation changes and wind speed to offer a more accurate estimate of how far the car can actually drive.

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Porsche Wants Better Connected Car Tech

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Porsche is working to improve connectivity in its cars.

According to Joe Lawrence, CEO of Porsche Cars North America, the company is working towards integrating technology better while not distracting the driver. This connectivity is a "huge emphasis" right now for Porsche. "Recognizing the phone is so ubiquitous in every sector, how do we integrate that into driving experience in a way that is safe and enjoyable?" asked Lawrence.

Both Apple and Google have come up with their own versions of in-car operating systems that connect a user's cellphone to their car. "I think all manufacturers are talking to," those companies, said Lawrence. Porsche has not committed to adopting either system.

Connected cars are more important than ever with many customers making purchase decisions based on in-car technology. Getting a system right is also important to automakers, with Bluetooth and voice recognition systems getting the most complaints from vehicles owners in a recent JD Power study.

[Source: Auto News Europe]

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Five Best Luxury Car Companies to Buy From

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Luxury brands continue to excel in offering the best service customer service at the dealer level.

According to the 2015 Consumer Service Index (CSI) Study released by J.D. Power, overall customer satisfaction with dealer service averaged 852 on a 1000-point scale for luxury marques while mass market brands averaged 792. The study, which measures customer satisfaction with service done at a dealer facility looks at five measures: service advisor, service facility, service initiation, service quality and vehicle pick-up.

5. Cadillac

Ranking fifth in the 2015 CSI Study is Cadillac, with a score of 858. The American automaker not only ranked higher than the luxury brand average, but bested Mercedes-Benz (854) and Infiniti (857). Unfortunately it's a significant change for the brand, which topped the rankings last year with a score of 872.

4. Lincoln

Lincoln remained steady in the fourth position with a score of 861, a drop from last year's 865. In 2014, the American luxury automaker was tied in fourth with Infiniti, but edged out its Japanese counterpart this year by four points.

3. Audi

The sole German automaker in the top 5, Audi fell from second to third this year scoring 865. Last year, the brand finished second with a score of 868 and was just four points behind Cadillac for first place.

2. Lexus

Lexus improved year-over-year, climbing to second place from its third-place finish in 2014. Last year, the Japanese automaker scored 867 but improved to 870 this year. The luxury arm for Toyota has remained consistent throughout the years on J.D. Power's CSI Studies.

1. Jaguar

Marking a huge improvement compared to last year's results, Jaguar catapulted to the top spot with an impressive score of 877. In 2014, the British automaker performed below the luxury brand average of 855 with a score of 853. This year, things are different and marks a sharp contrast compared to sister brand Land Rover, which actually finished last among luxury brands with a score of 823.

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Mercedes Plans 10 New Plug-Ins by 2017

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Mercedes plans to electrify 10 of its vehicles in the next two years.

The German brand will launch a new plug-in hybrid roughly every four months from now right through to 2017. The brand's first plug-in vehicle, the S500 Plug-In, launched in late 2013 and will be followed up by the launch of the C350 Plug-In this month. By the time the entire plan is put in place, nearly every one of Mercedes' major product lines will have a plug-in hybrid option.

SEE ALSO: Mercedes S500 Plug-In Details

Exactly which models will get plug-in powerplants hasn't been revealed, though Mercedes has dropped some clear hints. The new GLE crossover will be the first of the brand's SUVs to get a plug-in powerplant according to the company, while the V-ision e Concept that the brand recently unveiled points clearly towards a plug-in version of the Mercedes Vito cargo van which is going to be sold in the U.S. as the Metris.

That concept also shows Mercedes' new nomencalture, which will see the words 'plug-in' replaced with an 'e' in the model name.

The upcoming C350e will use a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine mated to a 60kW motor, making a combined 208 hp. The car will be able to travel about 20 miles on electricity alone, while average fuel consumption is pegged at 112 mpg on the European test cycle.

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New 2016 Camaro Details Released

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Chevrolet just announced that the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro SS will launch with a version of its new LT1 V8 sharing much in common with the Corvette Stingray.

The new Camaro is based on the same rear-wheel drive Alpha platform as the Cadillac ATS, but in this application Chevrolet says it will be longer and wider than Cadillac's sport coupe for better cornering and to maintain a profile in line with the Camaro nameplate.

But a new engine and body style won't be the only changes to the next Camaro. Chevrolet said today that the bow tie and "SS"" badges are the only pieces it shares in common with the current car and that 70 percent of the components in the Alpha-based model are unique to it.

Certain undisclosed aspects of the LT1 small block V8 will change to satisfy packaging requirements for the Camaro. Specifically, the company said it implemented new "Tri-Y" exhaust manifolds. In the Corvette, that engine makes 455 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, but those figures could change slightly in this application.

Chevrolet didn't announce transmission options today, but the ATS-V, which shares its platform with the new Camaro and is built on the same production line, uses a Tremec TR6060 manual transmission that has gearing identical to the current Camaro. In all likelihood, that will prove to be the same transmission Chevrolet is using here along with the provision for an automatic. The ATS-V uses GM's new eight-speed automatic, although the number of forward ratios in the automatic Camaro also remains to be seen.

The Camaro will make its official public debut at Belle Isle park in Detroit on Saturday, May 16.

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Car Reviews

Thursday, 19 March 2015