4X4 Topper : Land Rover Scores 54% of the Vote in MSN Cars’ Poll of Best 4x4 Brands

In a recent online poll, MSN Cars asked its readers a simple question: “Which firm makes the best '4x4' type cars?” The winner, with an astonishing 54% of the 39,663 votes is Indian British automaker Land Rover.

The brand’s winning combination of aggressive yet attractive styling, “go anywhere” off-road ability, ruggedness and comfort have made Land Rover the powerhouse brand it is today – and a deserved winner. Land Rover UK managing director Colin Green is understandably over the moon:

“We are thrilled that MSN users have voted Land Rover their favourite 4x4 brand. We know that Land Rover has some of the best brand loyalty figures in the industry and this poll is testament to that. Taking over half the votes is a great achievement and goes to prove that Land Rover really does make the world's most authentic 4x4s. Thank you to everyone who voted for us!”

Second place was snatched by Toyota (9%) and Audi took a surprising third (8%). Jeep claimed an equally surprising sixth (3%), bested by the likes of BMW (6%), Mitsubishi (5%) and Subaru (4%). Mercedes-Benz shared 7th place with Jeep while Lexus, Volkswagen and Volvo scored 2% a piece.

With a history stretching back 63 years, there have been many noteworthy Land Rovers. It seems every model the company has released – from the Range Rover of the 1970s to the Discovery and Freelander models of the ‘90s – has ignited the public’s imagination and fuelled much debate.

So tell us, readers: what is your favourite Land Rover? Do you go with the traditionalist Series I of the ‘40s, the radical Evoque or the flawed yet brilliant Range Rover? You tell us.

By Tristan Hankins

Story source: MSN Cars

Subaru BRZ Concept Rumored to Debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show

If we are to believe to a new report from Car&Driver - and we have no reason not to, Subaru will finally lift the veil off a concept version of the BRZ sports coupe with actual sheetmetal at the upcoming 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show in mid-November.

And unlike the BRZ's sister model from Toyota, Subaru won't be showing another concept as both the BRZ and FT-86 (we're still not sure about the name), will be making their world premiere in final production trim at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show in December.

Citing inside sources, C&D says that Subaru and Toyota had an agreement not to show "a single production body panel" if any car until their debut at the Tokyo event, which explains why the Toyota FT-86 Concept I, II, and G Sports, as well as the more recent Scion FR-S, looked different.

But it’s not all good news as the magazine reports that the final production Toyota FT-86 (global model) and the Scion FR-S (only for North America) will be identical twins sans the badges and equipment levels, while difference with the Subaru BRZ (global model) will be limited to the front fascia.

The development of the rear-wheel drive sports car's powertrain and chassis was handled by Subaru, which will also build the cars at its Gunma facility in Japan, starting from next spring. Toyota, on the other hand, took over the styling aspect.

A Subaru-sourced 2.0-liter boxer four featuring Toyota’s port-and-direct-injection system, believed to produce around 200-ponies, will power all three cars.

Finally, power will be transferred exclusively to the rear wheels (there won't be an AWD version for the Subaru) through a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.

Story sources: Car&Driver via Worldcarfans

Good News Everyone: Subaru's See-Through BRZ Concept gets a Lime Tint…

Subaru BRZ

If you were expecting Subaru to shed some light on its upcoming rear-wheel drive coupe with its BRZ Prologue concept, get ready to be disappointed.

The study shown in Frankfurt is the same clear-bodied display model we saw at the Geneva Salon this past March with the only difference being in the different tint on the plastic body.

But fear not as according to sources, we're going to see the actual production model making its world premiere at this year's Tokyo Motor Show in November, while Subaru has officially confirmed that sales will start next spring. While we still have no clue to as what the BRZ will look like, we do know that it will share its platform architecture and the 2.0-litre direct injection naturally-aspirated four cylinder Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine linked to a manual transmission with the Toyota FT-86 and the Scion FR-S.

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IAA 2011: Subaru Launches Impreza-Based XV Crossover

Subaru XV Crossover

Subaru lifted the wraps off its new competitor in the small crossover segment at this week's Frankfurt Motor Show. The Japanese firm's Nissan Qashqai rival is based on the Impreza, but comes with a different body style and a jacked up suspension that provides close to 220mm or more than 8.5 inches of ground clearance.

The compact sized model measures 4,450mm in length, 1,780mm in width and 1,570mm in height and will launch in Europe with a choice of three boxer engines, including 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter gasoline units, and a 2.0-liter turbo diesel.

The 1.6-liter petrol delivers 114HP and 150Nm (110.6 lb-ft) of peak torque, and is offered with a 5-speed manual or optionally, a Lineartronic CVT. The manual model completes the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 13.1 seconds while reaching a top speed of 179km/h (111mph) and returning a combined fuel economy of 6.5lt/100km (36.2mpg).

The more potent 2.0-liter petrol comes with 150HP and 196Nm (144.5 lb-ft) of peak torque, and is offered with either a 6-speed manual or an optional Lineartronic CVT. The manual model goes from zero to 100km/h (62mph) 10.5 seconds, maxes out at 187km/h (116mph), while delivering a combined fuel efficiency of 6.9lt/100km (36.2mpg).

Finally, the 2.0-liter diesel generates 147HP and 350Nm (258.2 lb-ft) of peak torque, and is offered only with a 6-speed manual. The standard sprint is completed in 9.3 seconds and the crossover can reach speeds of up to 198km/h (123mph), while returning a combined economy of 5.6lt/100km (42mpg).

Naturally all models come equipped with Subaru's AWD system, while the Japanese company has also added its “Auto Start Stop System".

Subaru has not yet confirmed availability for North America.

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China May Reject Toyota-Fuji Heavy Industries Joint Venture with Chery, Say it is “One too Many”

China looks set to reject the proposal for a joint venture between Fuji Heavy Industries, in which Toyota holds a 16.5% stake, and the country’s seventh largest carmaker, Chery Automobile Co.

According to state sources cited by Bloomberg news, the reason is that this would give Toyota a third joint venture in the country. This violates current regulations stipulating that any overseas company can form only two joint ventures in the passenger car manufacturing field.

The same sources, who wouldn’t be identified because of the sensitive nature of the issue, claim that the Chinese government considers Fuji Heavy Industries, the owner (among others) of Subaru, a part of Toyota. The latter already has joint ventures with China FAW Group Corp. and Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. in the country, but if the plan is rejected, it will hamper Fuji Heavy Industries’ goal of 180,000 sales in China and increasing its global production to 900,000 units by 2015.

Perhaps this isn’t just a matter of interpreting regulations. Maybe it has also something to do with the Chinese authorities’ intention to limit local car production and slow its rapid expansion while at the same time pushing for the development of “green” technologies.

Shanghai-based CSC International Holdings analyst Han W`eiqi agrees with this view: “The government is concerned about overcapacity of the auto industry and has focused on slowing down automakers’ expansion pace. A venture between Subaru and Chery wouldn’t likely contribute much in terms of volume or improvements to the industry.”

Both Toyota and Fuji Heavy Industries spokesmen commented that they were unaware of any decision on that matter.