There will be just 60 2020 Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Editions available to Canadian buyers, making this special luxury sport SUV one of the most exclusive Range Rovers ever.Andrew McCredie MALIBU, CA. Look up the word rare in the Merriam-Webster dictionary and youll find the words uncommon and distinctive. Those certainly apply to the 2020 Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic, of which just 60 will be for sale in Canada. Throw in powerful, advanced, luxurious, and cushy and youve pretty much covered all the bases of this very rare and refined vehicle.How refined? Engineers with Range Rover Special Vehicle Operationsthe mad scientists behind this uber-Velardesigned the engine so that at startup the valves are closed, meaning that instead of that distinctive bark of a supercharged, 5.0-litre V8, the engine note emits a lower note. Of course, put it in gear and step on it and those gleaming quad exhaust pipes let all the dog outs, to the tune of a 4.5 second zero to 100 km/h sprint. That 550 horsepower is some 170 ponies better than the next most powerful Velar, powered by a supercharged, 3.0-litre V6 and a ridiculously pedestrian zero to 100 km/h time of 5.3 seconds (if youve still got the dictionary handy, look up sarcasm). That refinement continues into the Velar SVAs bespoke chassis, which includes special damper tuning to help keep that 45 per cent increase in power in check. Those engineers also worked their magic on the eight-speed Quickshift transmission with high-performance SV calibration, which also makes its way into the all-wheel-drive system, the active rear locking differential, the steering and the air suspension. Theres also torque vectoring by braking, something you wont feel in that aforementioned straight-line sprint, but during a run up and down the many great canyon roads in the hills above Malibu had the large SUV handling more like the roadsters and sports cars that have made these roads famous for over 50 years. Put the transmission in Sport setting and engage the bespoke Dynamic modewhich allows you to personalize things like shift times, throttle and steering inputs and damping controlsand the driving experience underscores the fact that youre driving a full-size luxury SUV that is as good as cornering as chauffeuring. Oh, and braking. The 395mm front and 396mm rear brake discs feature a two-piece construction to optimize weight and are designed to dissipate heat more effectively to cope with the higher braking forces generated during high performance driving. The stopping power is remarkable.As much as the performance attributes of this special vehicle are impressive, the cabin updates over the already luxe Velar model line-up put this SUV into very rarefied territory. The double-stitched, perforated and quilted Windsor leather is unique to the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition and comes in four colour combinations (Ebony, Cirrus, Vintage Tan and Pimento). The front seats are 20-way adjustable, heated and cooled and with memory and massage functions as standard. Theres a unique sports steering wheel, which features a contoured rim and tactile aluminum gear shift paddles, and the rotary gear selector and circular control dials for the infotainment system all feature a sophisticated knurled finish. Theres also an optional carbon fibre pack for the interior. The exterior gets the Special Vehicle Operations treatment too, including a new front bumper with larger air intakes to cool the bigger engine cool the uprated braking system. Theres also a new grille up front, lower side moldings and a revised rear bumper featuring integrated those four exhaust pipes. And one change you cant see: a transmission tunnel under tray designed to smooth airflow under the vehicle.And then there is the selection of forged aluminum wheels. The standard lightweight 21-inch wheels weigh the same as the 20-inch wheels on the base model, but to really make a statement, theres the optional 22-inch rims with a Silver Sparkle finish and diamond-turned edging. On the subject of wheels, it was a bit of a shock to lift the rear cargo floor and discover the spare has a bright orange rim. A whimsical bit of English humour perhaps.When it debuted a couple of years ago, the Range Rover Velar took the storied brand in a bit of a different direction, one that while still offering the renowned off-road capabilities put more of an emphasis on luxury and style, both inside and out.The 2020 Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic takes that statement to the next level, one that 60 very fortunate owners in this country will enjoy for themselves very
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic
Rover
The new Land Rover Defender lands a role in the upcoming 007 movie
It’s looking like Daniel Craig will get to drive (or be chased by) a number of pretty choice vehicles in the upcoming 007 film. Aston Martin has confirmed its Valhalla, DB5 and V8 Vantage will all appear in the movie earlier this year, and now Land Rover has thrown its new Defender into the mix. By way of a video teaser showing the off-roader tear around in the mud/sticks/hills, the British automaker recently announced the new Defender 110 will make an appearance in the 25th James Bond film, No Time to Die. In the 40-second spot, the film’s stunt driver Jess Hawkins takes some “pretty much standard as it would be out of the factory” Santorini Black Defender Defender through the paces, smiling through much of it. “Everything we’ve given it so far, it’s taken,” Hawkins says in the video. “I’d do this every day if I could!” The short appears to show at least one of the four-door Defender 110s ending up on its side. Hopefully they got the shot. Land Rover says the Range Rover Sport SVR, Land Rover Series III and Range Rover Classic will also appear in the film. No Time to Die hits big screens on April 8, 2020, a month after the 2020 Defender’s
Origin: The new Land Rover Defender lands a role in the upcoming 007 movie
New Land Rover Defender to star in 25th James Bond film
Land Rover has confirmed that the new Defender will have a starring role in the next James Bond film. The latest instalment in the iconic secret agent series, No Time to Die, will be released in the UK on April 3 2020, and will feature the reborn off-roader taking part in a traditional car chase sequence. The exact nature of the Defender’s role is yet to be confirmed, but Land Rover claims the production’s stunt team have driven it in “the most extreme off-road conditions, demonstrating its unstoppable nature”. A video clip released by the firm shows a group of Defenders being driven at speed on challenging off-road terrain and jumping high into the air, with one clip showing the car seemingly rolling onto its side. The Defender selected for the film is the mid-sized 110 variant, which will arrive in UK dealerships ahead of the shorter 90 and longer 130. It has been specified in range-topping X trim, and equipped with optional equipment including darkened skid plans, 20in black alloy wheels and heavy-duty off-road tyres. Speculation that the Defender could appear in No Time to Die was fuelled by spy shots of the model on set in August, a month before it was officially unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show. The SUV will appear alongside Aston Martin’s upcoming Valhalla hypercar, which was confirmed as the hero car in June. The mid-engined hybrid is the latest in a long line of Aston models to feature in Bond films, following past appearances from the firm’s DB5, DBS, Vanquish, V8 Vantage and one-off DB10 models. Land Rover has also confirmed that its Range Rover Sport SVR will appear in the new film, alongside a selection of historic models including the Series III and Range Rover
Origin: New Land Rover Defender to star in 25th James Bond film
SUV Comparison: 2019 Cadillac XT4 vs. 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque P300 HSE
Nick Tragianis: Dont you just hate it whenever you step out of the shopping mall, look to the parking lot, and your car is lost in a seemingly endless sea of crossovers? Well, like it or not, this new breed of people-movers are here to stay, the segment absolutely exploding in popularity over the last few years, particularly among the luxury subset.Land Rover mustve seen this coming. The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, now in its second generation, has been a consistently hot seller since its introduction in 2011. Oh, its still relatively small potatoes compared with the likes of the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA, but the Evoque has proven itself as an established contender in the small luxury crossover segment. Weve also seen countless newcomers over the years vying for a delicious slice of that market share, particularly the Cadillac XT4: This is entirely new ground for the storied Detroit automaker, and its about time it certainly took GM long enough to offer up a small, luxury crossover. But the question remains, does the XT4 have the goods to go toe to toe against the established players in the segment?Brian Harper: Well that, my young friend, would depend on your definition of goods. Sales? Absolutely. For a brand-new model, the XT4 is doing quite well, handily outselling the Evoque for the first six months of 2019, although that could be partially attributed to the Land Rover factory ramping up production and getting the junior Range Rover to market. Price? That would also be a yes. Cadillac is being very aggressive with the XT4s MSRP, not just against the Evoque, but versus much of the competition in the compact luxury segment. And the loaded XT4 Sport testers $59,365 price is significantly more affordable when compared with the equally loaded Evoque P300 HSE $71,200 sticker. How about size? Again, the Cadillac enjoys an advantage; the XT4 is a slightly larger, more passenger-friendly crossover when compared with the truly compact-sized Range Rover. Yet, when it comes to luxury not just the features and content but also the sensation, the feeling of being something special? Quantitatively and qualitatively, the Cadillac is not in the same league. Agree?NT: Youre on the mark. On paper, the XT4 has the goods. A 2.0-litre turbo-four is standard, putting out 237 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. Thats hooked up to an eight-speed automatic and, in the case of this particular tester, all-wheel drive is standard. Take note, though: The XT4 defaults to FWD and stays that way unless youve toggled the appropriate drive mode. And if you want the base, $34,400 XT4, youre stuck with FWD. In practice, though, the XT4 isnt exceptionally impressive, but it isnt egregiously offensive, either. Its simply adequate it wont leave you wanting for more power when, say, youre merging onto the highway, but overall acceleration just feels tepid. It rides well enough, too, but the XT4 is a bit firm over the roughest of pavement, expansion joints and potholes.Its a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison to the Evoque, though, isnt it? Our particular tester was the fully loaded P300 HSE flavour: Although it technically uses the same 2.0-litre turbo-four as the base Evoque P250, you get a big bump in output (and price). The nearly $10,000 price difference is almost worth it, though the Evoque makes excellent use out of its 296 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. <img
Origin: SUV Comparison: 2019 Cadillac XT4 vs. 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque P300 HSE
Jaguar Land Rover returns to profit after revenue boost
Jaguar Land Rover boss Ralf Speth that the firm’s turnaround programme is firmly on track after it returned to profit in the last financial quarter. Hit by falling sales, the British firm posted a £395 million loss between April and June of this year. But it turned that around in the quarter running from July to September, recording a £156 million pre-tax profit – a £246 million year-on-year improvement. The improved results were driven by Jaguar Land Rover’s revenues rising to £6.1 billion, an 8.0% year-on-year increase. While retail sales dipped by 0.7%, the firm was boosted its performance in China, where sales grew 24.3%. The arrival of the new Range Rover Evoque also helped, with sales of that model up 54.6% compared to the previous year. Range Rover Sport sales rose 17.5% over the same period. Jaguar Land Rover has been undergoing a massive £2.5 billion cost-cutting and restructuring programme, named Project Charge, and Speth said the improved results reflected the success of those efforts. The firm has already achieved £2.2 billion on efficiencies, and is on track to reach its goals by the end of March 2020. It has also invested in new facilities, such as the recentl;y opened Product Creation Centre. “Our people have responded very positively to the challenging circumstances over the past year,” said Speth. “The improved performance this quarter reflects their ongoing passion and
Origin: Jaguar Land Rover returns to profit after revenue boost
SUV Comparison: 2019 Maserati Levante GTS vs. 2020 Range Rover Sport SVR
Brian Harper: Theyre big, brutish, and politically incorrect, not to mention overpowered, overpriced, and thirsty as hell. And if theyre not quite at the top rung of the SUV ladder, theyre still in rarefied air. Naturally, Im referring to that segment of the sport-ute market occupied by premium European automakers that, responding to the shift away from high-priced sports cars, coupes, and sedans to SUVs, have stuffed mega-horsepower engines into these products to give these all-weather haulers performance dynamics that amaze and confound.Porsches Cayenne Turbo, the Mercedes AMG G 63, BMWs X6 M and the subjects of this comparison, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR and relative newcomer Maserati Levante GTS, all greatly surpass $100,000 and have powerplants pumping out well in excess of 500 horsepower. I suspect anyone driving one of these ber-utes would automatically receive invitations to join the Friends of OPEC.Land Rover is an old hand at this, pushing its Range Rover Sport SVR to increasing levels of horsepower excess. Maserati, however, has only been in the SUV game for a few years with the GTS edition new for 2019. Im surprised at its competency.Nick Tragianis: I wouldnt quite call these two subtle, but the Levante definitely seems like the, er, smarter choice here. I know, I know its difficult to rationalize a $150,000 sport-ute, but hear me out: Despite the price tag, the Levante is actually somewhat subtle. You wouldnt really expect that from an Italian SUV with a 3.8-litre, Ferrari-built, twin-turbocharged V8 pumping out 550 horsepower and 538 lb.-ft. of torque, not to mention the ability to hit 100 km/h from a standstill in about four seconds before topping out at just over 290 km/h, yet the Levante doesnt make a big deal about it. Dont get me wrong, the Levante is bloody fast, but it builds that power smoothly and confidently. The exhaust note is certainly gnarly, but even in Sport mode it doesnt assault your ears. The eight-speed automatic delivers quick shifts when you drive the Levante with gusto, but settle down and it operates nearly invisibly. The steering is tight and provides stellar feedback, but you dont need to muscle the wheel. Its remarkably flat when you take a tight highway on-ramp quickly, but it soaks up bumps and rough pavement incredibly well. Dare I say, its almost like an Italian Cayenne certainly more powerful than the Cayenne S we recently pitted against the BMW X5, but there are similarities.The Range Rover Sport SVR, on the other hand, is the polar opposite. Perhaps its the matte orange paint job in which our tester was finished thats a $9,000 option, by the way but the Range is brash and outlandish. Its certainly entertaining; the 575 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque from its supercharged 5.0L V8, working in concert with an eight-speed automatic, tends to keep a big, dumb smile on your face, especially when the exhaust snaps, crackle, and pops. Like the F-Type SVR, the Range Rover Sport SVR has a flair for the dramatic. Subtlety is far from its forte. Something tells me its mannerisms will wear on you quickly, particularly if you live with the Range on a daily basis.BH: Gee, kid, the Range Rover is clearly superior in the fuel economy department, its 14.1 L/100-kilometre average in the city (and 10.7 on the highway) is almost miserly against the big Masers respective 17.9 and 12.9 results. Wouldnt that make it our winner? Kidding! Nobody motoring around in these rigs gives a wet rats rear end about being green. Look, these are high-powered, high-priced nameplates were driving. Theyre for extroverts who want to be noticed. And yes, Im in agreement; the Sport SVR is especially polarizing. Its as in your face as these vehicles come noisy, brash and obnoxious.Yet, considering that neither will see anything bumpier than a cottage road, the Range Rovers off-road bona fides are completely legit, though the testers choice of rubber is more suited to the track rather than mud, loose rock, and germane to our four-season climate snow. To be fair, though, I have taken a Levante out on a respectable off-road course and it acquitted itself quite well. But its normal driving mode is rear-wheel drive, shifting up to 50 per cent of its power to the front as necessary. <img src="/uploads/img/comparison/28-suv-comparison-2019-maserati-levante-gts-vs-2020-range-rover-sport-svr.jpg" alt="SUV Comparison: 2019 Maserati Levante GTS
Origin: SUV Comparison: 2019 Maserati Levante GTS vs. 2020 Range Rover Sport SVR
First Drive: 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport
BARCELONA, Spain While I have driven countless SUVs from a multitude of manufacturers over the years, products made by Land Rover have somehow eluded me. The British automaker specializes in SUVs there are no pickups or sedans or coupes in its lineup and prides itself on building some of the most luxurious and capable vehicles in the world. I therefore looked forward to my first opportunity to drive a Land Rover, at the world press introduction of the 2020 Discovery Sport, held in Barcelona. Sadly, I left Spain feeling somewhat indifferent.The Discovery Sport saw its most recent generational redesign in 2016, so as 2020 rolls around, so does the Sports mid-term upgrade. This revision brings a few exterior changes, like new LED head- and taillights, grille and bumpers, as well as a new interior. Four variations are available in Canada, two standard Discovery Sport models, and two higher-spec R-Dynamic variations. Prices range from $47,400 for the Discovery Sport S, to $58,700 for the R-Dynamic HSE.According to Land Rover, the Discovery Sport is a compact SUV designed to cater to adventurous middle-class couples, most of which have yet to procreate so, young, childless cohabitees who are often away on weekends. If that sounds like you, the Discovery Sport just might fit the bill: Its styling is understated yet sporty; it offers off-road capability for adventurous weekend outings; it boasts up to 1,575 litres of interior storage; and if you do eventually decide to perpetuate the family bloodline, it features seating for up to seven.While Land Rovers marketing spiel expounds the merits of being the only compact SUV to offer a third row of seats, they are actually jump seats for small kids. The good news is that they are optional, so you dont have to pay for them unless you have a copious brood or really dont like somebody. Youll also get the maximum storage space without them. The interior has been completely refreshed, including a big reduction in hard plastic surfaces. The dashboard is all new, and quite attractive. I really like the cleanliness of the cockpit, which gives the Sport an airy feel. All buttons and dials except for two of each on the centre stack have been eliminated and replaced by touchscreens. When the ignition is off, the dashboard is just an array of glossy black surfaces. Push the start button and the black surfaces come to life with images and icons that serve to control the various functions. There are six USB and three 12-volt ports available throughout the interior, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.The large dials operate the climate controls, while the one on the right also serves as the drive mode selector. There are seven drive modes that tailor drive settings to get you over anything from dry pavement to snow to mud and ruts. An extensive off-road course along our drive revealed Land Rovers raison dtre: The Discovery Sport is easily capable of handling anything an urban dweller might encounter on the way to the remote weekend cabin in the woods.The 12-inch high-definition instrument panel is highly configurable, with a multitude of attractive display options. The only downside is that you have to scroll through various menus to call up different functions, and then have to back out to reach your default display. While all of this streamlining is visually appealing, it does make certain functions tedious. The absence of dedicated buttons for the drive modes, for example, means that any change in settings requires multiple steps. And we also experienced the first of a pair of minor vehicle glitches with the new touchscreens, when we had to set up the drive modes for a difficult uphill climb and the display froze, refusing to accept our selections until we backed out and went back into the desired menu. The two Dynamic Sport models and R-Dynamic SE come standard with a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four that claims 246 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft. of torque. New for 2020 is a 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain thats optional in the R-Dynamic SE and standard in the HSE. It still uses the 2.0-litre turbocharged four, but a belt-driven electric motor bumps peak output to 286 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. The only transmission is a ZF nine-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive is standard.In the hybrid, the engine shuts off at speeds below 17 km/h to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. It does this anytime the vehicle slows, acting much like a regular start-stop function, but one that doesnt wait for the vehicle to come to a complete stop before shutting off the engine. Its quite seamless in operation. Canadian fuel consumption numbers are not yet available, but European specs claim as low as 6.9 L/100 km for the mild hybrid.Unfortunately, the only vehicle available for testing was a Euro-spec Discovery Sport mild hybrid, and its spec sheet claimed a zero to 100 km/h time of 9.2 seconds. And it felt as slow, making passing a tedious,
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport
New Land Rover Defender could get remote control for off-roading
The 2020 Land Rover DefenderLand Rover Land Rover’s redesigned 2020 Defender sports some impressive tech, but the automaker isnt stopping with whats already included its still whipping up more features that really think outside the box.Literally, Land Rover wants you to be outside its boxy truck when the going gets tough, and is working on new technology to allow drivers to remotely control their Defender.The idea is when youre off-roading, youll be able to see difficult obstacles much easier if youre not stuck behind the wheel or just using the various camera systems.This is more than just a parking feature the tech would actually allow drivers to step out of their Defender and control the steering, throttle and braking, reports Autocar. While Land Rover is still working on it, presumably it would be controlled by a key fob or with a smartphone. There are other factors to work out as well, such as how fast the vehicle should be allowed to travel, how far away the driver needs to be, and if it can be turned off quickly and safely.Although this is all super-cool tech, that doesnt necessarily mean itll be hitting the showrooms soon. Theres still a mountain of red tape the tech must go through before it can be approved for use on the road, or off.Stuart Frith, the firms chief product engineer, said in conversation with Autocar weve got as far as understanding how to do it, and weve run prototypes as well.Hopefully, the tech passes inspection just as BMW has finished its parking assist technology, and Tesla wraps its Smart Summon
Origin: New Land Rover Defender could get remote control for off-roading
Nearly-new buying guide: Land Rover Discovery Sport
These days, if you want a family-sized SUV with five or seven seats, four-wheel drive, an economical diesel engine and a tidy driving experience, you’re spoiled for choice. However, only one model brings something of the great outdoors to the table and that’s the Land Rover Discovery Sport. It was launched in 2015 as a replacement for the popular Freelander 2, as well as a kind of cheaper and more practical alternative to the hugely successful Range Rover Evoque, launched in 2011. Today, 2015-reg examples of the Sport and Evoque start at around £13,000 for cars with 100,000-plus miles. At this money, they have the old-school 187bhp 2.2 SD4 diesel engine but the Sport has seven seats rather than the Evoque’s five and is four-wheel drive, whereas the Evoque is likely to be two. Unfortunately for the model’s early adopters, shortly after the Sport was launched, the 2.2-litre diesel engine was replaced by the new and improved EU6-compliant 2.0-litre Ingenium motor, available in 148bhp and 178bhp outputs. The 148bhp version was offered with a choice of two (badged eD4 as before) or four-wheel drive and a manual gearbox as standard, whereas the 178bhp 2.0 is four-wheel drive and available with an optional nine-speed automatic gearbox. This transmission is by far the most popular across the Sport model range. So equipped, the 178bhp 2.0 TD auto is our pick. Later on, a 238bhp version joined the line-up. On the matter of two-wheel drive, few eD4s were sold, which tells you all you need to know about this drivetrain’s suitability. However, it still looks the business, costs less to run and is cheaper to buy so may suit you, depending on circumstances. A petrol engine didn’t arrive until 2017. Also from the Ingenium family, the 2.0 Si4 petrol unit comes in 238bhp and 286bhp outputs. Both are rare but entertaining and, if you don’t do the mileage necessary to justify a diesel, worth considering. For many people, the Sport’s seven seats will be a big draw. They were standard on early models but, with the arrival of the Ingenium engine, became an option, albeit a popular one. Note, though, that Land Rover calls the arrangement 5+2, a hint not to expect much in the way of third-row space. The Sport was updated in 2017, when it received the car maker’s new InControl Touch Pro infotainment system with 10.2in touchscreen. Earlier this year, the model was given a much more comprehensive update and, by rights, should be called Discovery Sport 2 as it sits on a new platform inherited from the second-generation Evoque. But these 2017-on cars cost sky-high money and the real value is to be found at three years old with the balance of the optional five-year service plan – something like a mid-power, mid-spec 2016/16-reg 2.0 TD4 180 auto 4WD SE Tech seven-seater with 70,000 miles for £19,000. Need to know Where fitted and before you buy, give the car’s InControl Touch Pro infotainment system a workout. You’re checking for bugs. If you find any, the good news is that Land Rover released a fix in March 2018 called 17c or 3.5 that should nail ’em. Owners of diesel-powered Discovery Sports have reported fuel-oil dilution problems relating to regeneration of the diesel particulate filter. The message is, if considering a Discovery Sport, be sure your driving routine satisfies the operating criteria described in the handbook. Land Rover offers a five-year service plan on new cars so check if the vehicle you’re interested in was sold with this cover since its benefits are transferable to subsequent owners. Our pick Discovery Sport 2.0 TD 180 SE Tech Auto AWD: Mid-power version offers strong performance with good economy and refinement. SE Tech brings items such as sat-nav, auto lights and a powered tailgate. Wild card Discovery Sport 2.0 Si4 240 SE Tech Auto: If your mileage is low and you fear DPF hassles, bag a petrol Disco Sport. They’re rare (we found a 2018-reg with 14,000 miles for £29,995) but fun to drive. Top spec pick HSE Dynamic Luxury: To HSE Luxury’s Park Assist technology, cooled front seats and heated rear seats, Dynamic adds Narvik Black exterior details, a bodykit, 20in gloss black alloy wheels and special colours. Ones we found 2015 Discovery Sport 2.2 SD4 190 HSE 4WD 7st, 110k miles, £13,500 2016 Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 150 SE Tech, 60k miles, £16,400 2017 Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 150 Pure 4WD, 33k miles, £18,995 2018 Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 180 4×4 SE Tech, 15k miles,
Origin: Nearly-new buying guide: Land Rover Discovery Sport
News Roundup: Land Rover Defender arrives, Ford Ranger V6 turbo rumours swirl and more
The 2020 Land Rover DefenderLand Rover Welcome to our weekly round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam.Here’s what you missed while you were away.The first look at the 2020 Defender suggests the hype was justified There’s been much ado about the 2020 Land Rover Defender, but it’s not been about nothing. According to the first look granted to our own David Booth, the iconic 4X4 should live up to the hype. Its square figure and terrain chewing capabilities keep it rooted to its off-roading history, but there’s plenty to justify the “all new” tag it’s been given, including the 3.0-litre six-cylinder Ingenium engine from Jaguar Land Rover. Read our full first impressions to learn more, including how much the 2020 Defender will cost in Canada. Ford Ranger could get V6 twin-turbo engine Australian outlet Which Car claims to have learned of the Blue Oval’s plans to gift certain Rangers with a V6 twin-turbo powerplant. According to the report, the Ranger is being tested with versions of the F-150’s 2.7-litre EcoBoost and 3.0-litre diesel V6s in Australia even as you read this. Excited? Temper it, because Ford doesn’t always send their Australian products up our way. 2020 Audi RS 7 gets new engine and new look The 2020 Audi RS 7 Audi Audi brought the second-gen RS 7 to Frankfurt this week, revealing a grand tourer with more power and more personality. Larger front fenders, a fresh grille and air intakes give the 2020 Audi RS 7 a spicy look to go with the lively, 600-horsepower 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. Inside, it borrows much from the A7, including the MMI infotainment system. Expect it in Canada middle of next year. Another viral video of a Tesla napper begs the question, where is this headed? The novelty of a video capturing a driver asleep behind the wheel of a moving vehicle hasn’t worn off, nor has the danger. Another Tesla autopilot sleeper video, this one showing a pair of young men snoozing in the front seat of a Tesla has surfaced and gone viral. Who’s worse, the snoozer behind the wheel, or the video shooter who also appears to be driving a vehicle? BMW to release Canada-specific BMW M8 editions Canadian BMW fans will have a chance to get a piece of M8 history with the release of BMW’s Canadian-exclusive M8 Individual Manufaktur Edition. It won’t be a good chance, as the brand is only making 20 of the exclusive models – ten in red and ten in black, each with a twin-turbo V8 good for 617 horsepower and 553 lb.-ft. of torque – but it’s there. Try your luck for $198,000.
Origin: News Roundup: Land Rover Defender arrives, Ford Ranger V6 turbo rumours swirl and more
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