2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport: Up Close

If you're a fan of Land Rover's big, posh sport-utility vehicles, you'll be pleased to hear that the company's new and improved versions don't stray from that formula. The latest addition to the line, the 2014 Range Rover Sport, slots in nicely between big daddy Range Rover and little brother Evoque.

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This is the athlete of the bunch, and it's evident from the moment you approach the truck. It looks low, with an optional two-tone paint job that accentuates the sleek body lines. Wheels are big and fill the wells nicely, with a wide stance that hints at the power underneath. Yet it is still immediately identifiable as a Range Rover, with a classic shape and silhouette that harkens back decades. The details, however, are quite modern; it's got LEDs front and rear and more than a touch of the successful Evoque's design.

2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport at the 2013 New York Auto Show

• Competes with: Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, Porsche Cayenne, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
• Looks like: Meaner and leaner with a heavy dose of Evoque-styling cues
• Drivetrain: 340-hp, supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 or 510-hp, supercharged 5.0-liter V-8; eight-speed automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: TBD
• Base MSRP: $63,495

North America is Land Rover's best market, and the New York area leads the continent for sales, so it's no surprise that the company used the 2013 New York International Auto Show for the global debut of the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The name is still a mouthful to say, but it promises to be more than a handful to handle as well, with a decidedly sporty nature that's meant to slot between the bigger, more posh Range Rover and the smaller, entry-level Evoque.

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Outwardly, it looks as if someone has pasted the Evoque's signature elements (front and rear end, especially) over the old Range Rover Sport's silhouette. It works well, however, giving the new Sport a much more aggressive, sporty stance that should prove popular.

2013 New York Auto Show: What to Expect

Billed as the nation's "first and largest-attended" auto show, the 113-year-old New York International Auto Show also may be the most ironic — hosted by the only U.S. city in which more than half the residents don't own a car. But that fact won't be reflected on the expo's 900,000-square-foot show floor, set to feature more than 1,000 vehicles, including a host of North American and world debuts.

The show runs March 29 through April 7 at New York's Jacob Javits Center, 11th Avenue between 34th and 40th streets; hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children 3 to 12, free for kids 2 and younger, and $13 per person for groups of 20 or more.

One eagerly anticipated New York debut is the redesigned 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The Liberty replacement trades in the Cherokee's previous boxy, trucklike appearance in favor of narrow, sweeping headlights, a modern-looking seven-slot grille and a creased hood. In addition to the Cherokee's sleek look, Jeep said the SUV boasts improved off-road capability and significantly improved fuel economy.

2014 Range Rover Sport to Debut at the 2013 New York Auto Show

If you thought the North American International Auto Show in Detroit was busy, just wait for the New York International Auto Show. Although it's still more than two weeks away, the reveals planned for the show are piling up.

The latest announcement is a new Range Rover Sport from Land Rover. It's no wonder the automaker chose New York for the debut; according to Land Rover, more Range Rover Sports are sold in the city than any other city in the world.

Details are slim, but Land Rover calls the new version of its best-seller its "fastest, most responsive and agile vehicle" yet. Check back with us on March 26 for a full report on the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport.

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Nine-Speed Transmission to Debut on 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

Land Rover is making a major shift in transmission technology with its new nine-speed automatic, which the British automaker will demonstrate at the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show in March. Land Rover told Kicking Tires that the newly developed transmission, a first for passenger vehicles, will be available on the 2014 Range Rover Evoque.

Increasing the number of gears from six to nine will help reduce emissions and improve efficiency, Land Rover said in a statement. The automaker said the nine-speed transmission's smaller steps will also improve acceleration response, as well as shift quality and refinement.

"A higher top gear improves efficiency by lowering engine speed, which also improves comfort and reduces noise when cruising at highway speeds," Land Rover said.

The nine-speed — developed with transmission-manufacturer ZF — will also complement the all-terrain capabilities for which Land Rover is known, the automaker said. The lowest speed is geared lower than the existing six-speed's lowest and is designed for off-road use, towing and steep gradients.

2014 Land Rover Range Rover Gets Supercharged V-6

For the 2014 model year, Land Rover is eliminating one of the two available V-8 engines on its flagship SUV, the Range Rover, and replacing it with a supercharged V-6. The new 340-horsepower, supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 replaces the 375-hp, 5.0-liter V-8 this year.

The new V-6, which Land Rover says has a zero-to-60 time of 7.1 seconds and top speed of 130 mph, will be offered alongside the 510-hp, supercharged 5.0-liter V-8, which carries over from last year; both engines will be paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The new V-6 loses about 10% and 11% in horsepower and torque, respectively, compared with its predecessor — though Land Rover estimates that fuel economy will go up by as much as 15%.

Continuing its emphasis on improved gas mileage — already boosted by the 2013 model year's 700-pound weight loss thanks to the SUV's new aluminum components — Land Rover claims the 2014 Range Rover gets 16/22 mpg city/highway, a 2-mpg improvement in both measures over the outgoing V-8. A new intelligent engine stop/start system reduces idling, also contributing to fuel efficiency and emissions reductions, Land Rover says.

2014 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, Other Sport SUVs Head to 2013 Detroit Auto Show

At next week's 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, expect a couple SUVs to make a splash in the high-horsepower club — traditionally the province of super-sedans and exotic sports cars. Porsche will unveil a Cayenne Turbo S, complete with a turbo V-8 that kicks out 550 horsepower. That's 10 hp more than last year's Cayenne Turbo with an optional Turbo Power Kit.

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Across the show floor, Jeep will unveil an updated Grand Cherokee and an SRT8 version with a Hemi V-8 the size of Utah. Today's Grand Cherokee SRT8 makes 470 hp; will the 2014 make the 500-hp club? Stay tuned.

The stupid-powerful SUV club goes on. Mercedes-Benz unveiled the GL63 AMG at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show — a $116,925 (excluding a destination fee), three-row SUV with a 550-hp, twin-turbo V-8. No doubt it will be on display in Detroit. Likely so will the automaker's 518-hp ML63 ($97,005), a rival to BMW's 555-hp X5 M ($89,745). Land Rover's redesigned Range Rover, whose sybaritic Supercharged edition ($99,950) boasts a 510-hp, supercharged V-8, will certainly be on display.

Enjoy them all in one place if you can. Seeing one of these on the road will be rare — and you may only spot the taillights.

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Recall Alert: 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque and LR2

Land Rover is recalling 70 model-year 2012 versions of the LR2 and Range Rover Evoque SUVs due to problems with the vehicles’ brakes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The affected vehicles were manufactured on June 11, 2012, and have rear brake caliper bolts that have been insufficiently tightened (check your vehicle’s build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb). This could lead to a loss of brake function and an accident.

Land Rover will notify owners starting on Jan. 18, 2013, and dealers will replace the affected parts for free. Owners can call Land Rover at 800-452-4827 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

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Auto-Parking System Challenge

By James R. Healey, USA Today and Kelsey Mays, Cars.com

The simple act of parking your car is the focus of extraordinary technology. Backup cameras and warning sensors have become old hat. Surround-view cameras are slowly arriving, and the big step is cars that parallel-park themselves.

Well, sort of; they find a parking spot that's big enough and they do the wheel work. You still must operate the accelerator and brake pedals to be sure you get out of the traffic flow quickly and then don't whack the parked car ahead of or behind you.

Lexus introduced auto-parking in the U.S. on its 2007 LS 460 full-size sedan. That system had a high gee-whiz factor, but was cumbersome to use. It's gone now — discontinued after the 2012 model. Almost nobody bought it, so Lexus "removed that option," spokesman Bill Kwong said.

Though the luxury brand has axed auto-parking, mainstream Toyota still sells the feature as a Prius v option. It's also available as a stand-alone feature ($395) on the $24,000 Ford Focus Titanium. Auto-parking no longer is strictly a luxury item, though that's where it's mainly found.

Auto-parking systems become mainstream

Now that these systems are working themselves into the mainstream, USA Today and Cars.com wanted to find out if today's parking systems work better than the original Lexus setup, and thus are more likely to become popular.

Jaguar to Show Off Three Models at 2012 L.A. Auto Show

Jaguar and Land Rover plan to unveil a trio of vehicles at next week's L.A. Auto Show, and we've already seen two of them. Jaguar's all-new F-type was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show and goes on sale next spring. The two-seat sports car is loosely based on Jaguar's C-X16 coupe concept, which made the auto-show rounds last year.

We've also had an up-close look at Land Rover's redesigned lightweight, aluminum-heavy 2013 Range Rover. It also will make its U.S. auto show debut in L.A.

Lastly, the automaker will unveil a high-performance version of the XF, the 2014 XFR-S. The sedan will make its world debut at the L.A. show. Specs haven't been announced, but Jaguar is calling the limited-edition car the "fastest and most powerful sedan Jaguar has ever produced." Only 100 will be made.

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