Off-Road Luxury and Power
The 1990s trend for using big 4x4s as road cars developed into large-scale production of big, fast, luxuriously equipped vehicles with four-wheel drive. Some of these “crossover” cars were still good off-road, though many were not. Criticism of “gas-guzzling” sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) eventually led manufacturers to produce hybrid powertrains.
Mercedes-Benz GLK, 2008
| Origin | Germany |
| Engine | 3,498 cc,V6 |
| Top speed | 143 mph (230 km/h) |
A compact and luxurious road car that retains useful off-road ability, the GLK is more upright than its rivals but moves well, aided by a seven-speed automatic transmission.
Volvo XC90, 2002
| Origin | Sweden |
| Engine | 2,922 cc, straight-six |
| Top speed | 130 mph (209 km/h) |
Volvo’s best-selling car in 2005with 85,994 sold worldwide in that year alone-is a mid-size SUV with turbo engines (or a 4.4 Ford V8), and either front or four-wheel drive.
Audi Q7, 2005
| Origin | Germany/Slovakia |
| Engine | 4,163 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 154 mph (248 km/h) |
The 07 combines good performance with spacious comfort. It has four-wheel drive, not for driving across plowed fields but for superb road grip.
Lexus RX 400h, 2005
| Origin | Japan/USA |
| Engine | 3,311 cc, V6, two electric motors |
| Top speed | 124 mph (200 km/h) |
Since its introduction in 1997, the RX has been the best-selling luxury crossover in the United States. The 400h was the world’s first luxury hybrid, successful despite its still-heavy fuel economy.
Range Rover, 2002
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 4,398 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 130 mph (209 km/h) |
Fitted with BMW V8 engines (more recently Jaguar/Ford units) the Range Rover has come a long way from its luxury off-roader origins, but it still does both jobs well.
Range Rover Sport, 2005
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 4,197 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 140 mph (225 km/h) |
Using a supercharged Jaguar engine on the Discovery 3 platform with added adjustable air suspension, the Sport has good off-road and excellent on-road performance.
Chrysler Pacifica, 2004
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 3,518 cc, V6 |
| Top speed | 131 mph (211 km/h) |
A two/four-wheel-drive crossover marketed as a “sports tourer,” the Pacifica was engineered with Daimler-Benz. However, its sales were poor, and it was discontinued in 2008.
Toyota Sequoia, 2007
| Origin | Japan/USA |
| Engine | 5,670 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 120 mph (193 km/h) |
Toyota’s full-size SUV for the U.S. market is based on the Tundra pickup but with independent rear suspension, two- or four-wheel drive, and 4.6-5.7 V8 engines.
Lincoln Mk LT, 2005
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 5,408 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 110 mph (177 km/h) |
Lincoln’s luxury pickup with optional four-wheel drive is based on the Ford F-150. It had to be heavily discounted to achieve good sales figures, and production ended in 2008.
Nissan Armada, 2004
| Origin | Japan/USA |
| Engine | 5,552 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 120 mph (193 km/h) |
Nissan’s full-size SUV shared its platform with the Titan pickup. It was built only in Canton, Mississippi, for the U.S. market. Rear-or four-wheel drive was produced.
Cadillac Escalade EXT, 2002
| Origin | USA/Mexico |
| Engine | 5,327 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 108 mph (174 km/h) |
Cadillac’s first Sport Utility Vehicle appeared in 1998, and by 2002 offered eight seats-except for the five-seat EXT pickup. A 345 bhp, 6-liter V8 engine was optional.
Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2004
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 6,059 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 152 mph (245 km/h) |
The all-new WK-series Grand Cherokee used Jeep’s sophisticated Quadra-drive II system for excellent off-road performance. It came with 3.1-liter V6 to 6.1-liter V8 engines.
Jeep Commander, 2006
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 3,701 cc, V6 |
| Top speed | 113 mph (182 km/h) |
The Commander was a mid-size SUV based on the Grand Cherokee, but was more like earlier Jeeps with its angular, rugged lines. There was also a high-performance V8 version.
BMW X6, 2008
| Origin | Germany/USA |
| Engine | 4,395 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 155 mph (249 km/h) |
Marketed as a “sports activity coupe,” the X6 combined high ground clearance, all-wheel drive, and large wheels with coupé styling and a twin-turbocharged V6 or V8 engine.
Infiniti FX50, 2008
| Origin | Japan |
| Engine | 5026 cc, V8 |
| Top speed | 155 mph (249 km/h) |
Nissan’s premium brand, Infiniti, which is unknown in Japan, appeared in the United States in 1989, then in Europe in 2008. This top performance SUV is very fast and well equipped.
Porsche Cayenne Hybrid, 2010
| Origin | Germany |
| Engine | 2,995 cc, V6 + electric motor |
| Top speed | 145 mph (233 km/h) |
Sports-car builder Porsche scored remarkable success with its 4×4 Cayenne soft-roader. A 325 bhp gas engine was joined by a token 47 bhp electric motor on the Hybrid.
Hummer H3, 2005
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 3653 cc, straight-five |
| Top speed | 113 mph (182 km/h) |
Derived from the U.S. army vehicle called a Hummer, this large 4×4 is great off-road but-compared with purpose-built road 4x4s-rather crude and cramped.
It is a quote. The Definitive Visual History Of The Automobile 2011
