SUVs

Restyled 2009 Toyota RAV4 Debuts New Fuel-Efficient Four-Cylinder Engine and Adds New Safety, Convenience and User Technology Features

Toyota has restyled its popular RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) for 2009. The new standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is more powerful than the previous 2.4-liter engine and is more fuel efficient. In addition, all RAV4 models feature interior upgrades and a comprehensive new Sport Appearance Package is available for the 4WD V6 model.

2009 Toyota RAV4 Sport: Featuring a new standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and interior upgrades

August 5, 2008 – Torrance, CA - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for the 2009 RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle (SUV).

Equipped with numerous enhancements for 2009, the average MSRP for the RAV4 will increase by $224, or 0.9 percent.

2009 Toyota RAV4 Sport

The 2009 RAV4 will begin arriving at Toyota dealerships in early September.

The 2009 RAV4 is offered in three distinct grades – Base, performance-oriented Sport and top-of-the-line Limited – and with a choice between an all-new four-cylinder and powerful V6 engines with either front-wheel drive or electronic on-demand four-wheel-drive.

August 4, 2008 -- Montvale, NJ – Mercedes-Benz announced today that it will offer HD Radio technology on several of its MY 2009 vehicles. The free digital AM/FM radio service is part of Mercedes-Benz’s completely new generation of entertainment systems developed for its M-, R-, GL-, G-Class SUVs and E-Class vehicles.

“HD Radio technology serves to enhance our digital information and entertainment system today and has the potential to significantly expand the options available to consumers in the future,” said Rasheq Zarif, Assistant Product Manager - Technology Planning at Mercedes-Benz USA. “Mercedes-Benz is committed to providing our customers with the latest, next-generation in-vehicle entertainment technology.”

10,000 orders in Western Europe alone just one month after vehicle was released for sale

Stuttgart -- Aug 01, 2008 -- Stuttgart – Mercedes-Benz’ new compact SUV has met with an outstanding response from customers in the first month after the vehicle was released for sale on June 30, 2008.

2009 Mercedes-Benz Vision GLK Freeside

In Western Europe alone, Mercedes-Benz has already received a total of 10,000 orders for a GLK-Class vehicle by the end of July. Deliveries of the GLK, which celebrated its world premiere at the Auto China show in Beijing at the end of April, are scheduled to commence in Western Europe in October, with market launch in the U.S. set to follow at the beginning of 2009.

DEARBORN, Mich., July 1, 2008 – The 2008 Ford Explorer is more resistant to damage and less likely to cause damage to other vehicles in low-speed crashes than other midsize sport utility vehicles, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported today.

2008 Ford Explorer XLT

“The Ford Explorer has been the benchmark SUV for family capability, safety and value for two decades,” said Darryl Hazel, president, Ford Customer Service Division. “Insurance companies are more likely to give Explorer customers discounts because of this established track record.”

Built with GMC’s legendary capability and renowned refinement, the Yukon and Yukon XL family of full-size SUVs continues to deliver more power and better fuel economy than the competition. For 2009, a host of new features is designed to deliver segment-leading fuel economy and give customers more choices of helpful safety and convenience equipment.

2009 GMC Yukon XL

The GMC Yukon Hybrid delivers a dramatic improvement in fuel economy over non-hybrid models – up to a 50-percent improved mileage in city driving – with all of the comfort and capability customers expect in a full-size SUV. Indeed, the Yukon Hybrid is mostly unchanged from the gasoline-only models, with the exception of some exterior details, subtle interior styling and several functional modifications.

2009 GMC Yukon Hybrid - side

There is no difference in passenger seating capacity, and towing and payload are highly competitive with other non-hybrid SUVs in the segment.

Changes to the 2009 GMC Envoy and Envoy Denali models are few, but customers will appreciate the new Bluetooth wireless capability for safer, hands-free phone calls. It is available with Envoy’s OnStar 8.0 system. Also new for ’09 are three exterior colors: Sand Beige Metallic, Quicksilver Metallic and Silver-Green Metallic.

2009 GMC Envoy Denali - side

They replace Medium Brown Metallic, Liquid Silver Metallic and Silver Mist Metallic, respectively.

Envoy lineup

GMC’s popular Acadia continues to win over customers seeking the spaciousness and capability of an SUV with a smooth ride and responsive handling of a crossover. Nearly 73,000 were sold in 2007 and sales increased more than 75 percent in the first quarter of 2008 – in a segment that was up only 9 percent over the first quarter in the previous year.

2009 GMC Acadia SLT

For 2009, Acadia receives an enhanced version of the 3.6L V-6 VVT engine that uses gasoline direct injection technology to help produce more power, greater fuel economy and increased towing capacity than the ’08 model. The engine is paired with Acadia’s fuel-saving six-speed automatic transmission.

Chrysler LLC's First Production Hybrid Vehicles

Auburn Hills, Mich., Nov 14, 2007 - Chrysler and Dodge are bursting onto the hybrid scene in a big way.

With the introduction of the new 2009 Chrysler Aspen HEMI® Hybrid and 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid, Chrysler LLC delivers two hybrid-electric vehicles that combine fuel-efficient advanced-hybrid technology with full-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) performance and capability.

2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid