Suzuki Baleno 2

If you’re used to read news articles about the automotive world, you’ve certainly seen several cases of companies trying to prosper in the market by investing in new categories. Four-door coupés, the revival of shooting brakes… not to mention the whole crossover movement. However, one of the reasons why this industry is fascinating is the fact that there’s no absolute solution for anything. Sometimes, the best way to conquer the market turns out to be entering it through the front door. After this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show, which was held in September, it became clear that the latter is Suzuki’s newest intention.

Kia Sportage 4

When companies operate through multiple brands, developing a new product leads to a case of the short-blanket syndrome. They will always prefer to give them the same product, so as to cut project costs. Buyers, in turn, tend to favor uniqueness. When it comes to automakers, most of these cases are born from the merger of two companies, as an attempt to revert a bad financial situation. Therefore, their initial work is ends up forced to the first side, even though they need to sell as much as possible. This vicious circle is very hard to defeat, but once it’s done, it becomes possible to create pearls such as this article’s car.

Hyundai ix35 2016

Depois da nova linha do Tucson, o ix35 acaba de se renovar seguindo o mesmo raciocínio: por que oferecer o modelo que sucede a ambos se ainda há quem aceite comprá-los? Dianteira e traseira recebem os retoques que foram inaugurados pela versão Fuel Cell há dois anos no exterior. Além dos novos LEDs para a iluminação externa, o motor 2.0 16v foi adaptado às novas regras de emissões, de modo que potência e torque caíram para 168 cv e 20,6 kgfm (com etanol). Agora há três versões, que vão de R$ 99.990 a R$ 122.900, e um lote de trezentas unidades vendidas no laranja metálico da imagem ao lado.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2016

Depois da famosa versão SVR, o Range Rover Sport agora troca o único motor movido a diesel que usa no país. O novo 4.4 SDV8 gera 339 cv de potência e 75 kgfm de torque – com câmbio automático de oito marchas, ele acelera de 0 a 100 km/h em 6,9 segundos e alcança 225 km/h. De resto, ele continua a se destacar pela tração integral permanente com caixa reduzida, suspensão em alumínio com o Adaptive Dynamics (ajuste automático de altura), sistema Terrain Response 2 para alternar modos de direção de acordo com o terreno, e uma farta lista de equipamentos de conforto, segurança e tecnologia. Há outros dois motores a gasolina.

Toyota Land Cruiser 2016

Oh, the Land Cruiser. One of the oldest car nameplates still in mass production. An automobile as praised and respected in Japan as Willys CJ in North America. Besides all that, a product capable of catching up with all the tendencies established in this industry while retaining the same character which built its reputation decades ago. At a first sight, one can easily think this is nothing but another full-size SUV, which is sold for an amount of money as large as most of its characteristics. However, the truth is Toyota managed to make Land Cruiser a timeless car in a wonderful sense of the expression.

Lexus LX 2016

Full-size luxury SUVs are such a small market that it’s easy to understand how tough is their life. Their high prices retrieve profit margins interesting enough for many companies but, as with any other high-end category, factors such as the image of the manufacturer or the design of the car outweigh rationalities like cost-to-benefit. The aforementioned small sales volume only magnifies those barriers. Therefore, when an automaker manages to get its piece of the cake, it’s more important to retain it than to frown upon how small it might be. This seems to be the spirit in which Lexus’ biggest model was updated for the new year.

Lexus GS 2016

Automotive markets have become so competitive that no manufacturer is truly “safe” in them. The bigger ones, for instance, might look like they have all figured out, but the truth is they’re always defending themselves not only from one another, but also from the smaller ones. After all, the latter are just as hungry for buyers, but don’t worry with traditions yet. The result is the appearance of models such as Nissan Qashqai, whose subversion of the current market rules ends pleasing people more than they could have imagined. One can say this article’s sedan is Lexus’ attempt to perform a similar process in the luxury section of this market.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupé 2

If car segments were members of a big family, coupés would be those who stay in the shadow of their siblings. People who want a charming car often go to cabriolets. Practical buyers prefer sedans. Performance-seekers will only take coupés in sporty variations. And, more recently, coupés can't even get the undecided: their four-door brothers are increasingly eager to snatch those folks. Mercedes-Benz sells at least one of each of those. However, like in most families, coupés only need a moment of your undivided attention to show at what are they good. When someone does that, the results are usually breathtaking.

Mercedes-Benz S 63 760 Brabus

Sempre graças à importadora Strasse, a linha de modelos do fabricante alemão preparados pela Brabus acaba de aumentar mais uma vez. O modelo da vez é o Classe S, cuja versão de performance e exclusividade igualmente altos chega por US$ 640 mil. As alterações típicas aparecem de novo, como o predomínio da cor preta e os retoques visuais de gosto extravagante. Entretanto, também está lá um motor V8 biturbo, que desenvolve 770 cv e 112,2 kgfm – aceleração de 0 a 100 km/h em 3,7 segundos e máxima de 325 km/h. Outros destaques são partes feitas em fibra de carbono e dutos do motor banhados a ouro.

Kia Soul 2016

Pode-se dizer que o compacto da Kia passou por uma situação similar à do Hyundai i30. Depois de fazer grande sucesso na primeira geração, a segunda veio com uma série de evoluções importantes, mas um aumento de preço tão grande que o levou de queridinho da categoria ao encalhe nas concessionárias. Para contornar essa situação, a nova linha do Soul chega com uma única novidade muito interessante: uma redução de R$ 9.200 em suas duas versões. Assim, a que se identifica internamente por U.259 passa a custar R$ 84.900, enquanto a U.260 fica em R$ 88.900. Listas de equipamentos e opções de trem-de-força não foram alterados.

BMW X3 2016

Para continuar com a nacionalização, a BMW agora começa a produzir o X3 em Araquari (SC). Já com a atualização lançada no exterior ano passado, suas variações são xDrive20i comum (R$ 211.450) e X Line (R$ 229.450), e xDrive35i M Sport (R$ 290.450). As duas primeiras associam o já conhecido motor 2.0 turbo de 184 a câmbio automático com oito marchas e tração integral. Já a outra é o primeiro modelo que a empresa produz no país com motor seis-cilindros – um 3.0 cujos 306 cv o permitem alcançar 100 km/h em 5,6 segundos. Em todos os casos, as listas de equipamentos repetem o nível do modelo que era importado.

Volvo XC60 Inscription

Se você já gostava do modelo sueco, que tal saber que sua nova versão traz nível de acabamento “nunca antes encontrado nos modelos da marca vendidos no país”? É a proposta da Inscription, que custa R$ 225.990. Por fora, há frisos cromados e rodas exclusivas de 20”. Já o interior é revestido em um couro perfurado suave ao toque, o qual somou as cores branco Mármore e Caramelo. Sob o capô, o motor T6 Drive-E aparece pela primeira vez no XC60: é um 2.0 com turbo e injeção direta, que entrega 306 cv e usa start/stop e câmbio automático de oito marchas. Como já se pode imaginar, a lista de equipamentos é completa.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 3

When people hear a product is innovative, they usually think of ground-breaking. Something entirely different from what they’re used to see at its market category. Applying that strategy is certainly great, specially for those who create such products, but public reception doesn’t always work the same way. On the other hand, it’s impossible to stay profitable selling the same stuff all the time. If only there was an “optimal amount” of innovation one could apply… Well, this is pretty much what every company looks for, not only regarding automobiles. Mitsubishi, as it turns out, made its large SUV its latest attempt to find such sweet spot.

GMC Canyon 2016

While Colorado had several minor tweaks as well, GMC’s compact pickup stuck with the main novelty for the new year: a diesel engine. The turbocharged 2.8-liter delivers 181 hp of power and 369 lb-ft of torque, and composes a new option to the gasoline-burners 2.5 (200 hp) and 3.5 V6 (306 hp). It comes only with crew cab, but with RWD or AWD. Other additions are a balance shaft, ceramic grow plugs, cooled exhaust-gas recirculation, new springs and dampers designed to reduce vibrations even more, and the Apple CarPlay function to the IntelliLink infotainment system. When using the new engine, GMC Canyon starts at US$ 34,875.

Chevrolet Colorado 2016

Some years ago, the compact pickup category in North America was left entirely to Toyota Tacoma, because the Big Three no longer found it competitive. However, GM was the first one to change that, and now collects the benefits of it: Colorado became a success, and is about to make things even better in its second year of production under the new generation: you can take it with a diesel engine too, a turbocharged 2.8 good for 181 hp and 369 lb-ft. It’ll come only with crew cab, but accepts RWD or AWD. Besides, it received the same equipments as the luxury sister GMC Canyon, and the nice trim levels you’re just about to meet.

Lexus IS 2016

In order to stay competitive, IS had its engine lineup rearranged. The four-cylinder 2.5 made room for other two. The AWD trim is now called IS300, and uses the 3.5 V6 in a weaker version, good for 255 hp and 236 lb-ft – the upscale IS350 still extracts 306 hp and 277 lb-ft. Even bigger news, though, regards the new initial option. The turbocharged, four-cylinder 2.0 was borrowed from NX and makes 241 hp and 258 lb-ft here. This and the RWD IS350 use an eight-speed automatic gearbox, while the others make do with six speeds. As usual, all trim levels can have the F-Sport package of visual and mechanical tweaks.

Volvo V40 2016

Para aproveitar o bom momento de vendas, o sueco traz novidades ao Brasil. Uma é o motor 2.0 Drive-E quatro-cilindros com turbo. Ele já aparecia em outros Volvo, e aqui vem na versão Cross Country. Ele produz 245 cv, e é acompanhado de um novo câmbio automático de oito marchas e de tração integral, pelo preço de R$ 145.990. Já no outro extremo da linha, o V40 ganha as versões de entrada Kinetic e Momentum. Além do pacote de equipamentos mais modesto, elas trazem mais motores Drive-E: a primeira traz um 1.5 de três cilindros e 152 cv (R$ 99.950), e a outra o 2.0 anterior, mas com 190 cv (R$ 132.950).

Chevrolet Cruze 2016 Korea

As if it wasn’t enough, Cruze received yet another visual update. After being responsible for the first one, three years ago, the Korean division tweaked hatchback and sedan once again. The front fascia repeated the American changes, while the sedan’s rear has everything new – the costs of such operation lead to believe the new generation will take a while to arrive in that country. Some of the new equipments are headlights with LEDs and projector lamps, the new version of the MyLink system, and more chrome inserts. Engines are a 142-hp 1.8, 140-hp turbo 1.4 and 163-hp turbo-diesel, with six-speed manual or automatic gearboxes.

Toyota Fortuner 2

Sport-utility vehicles have formed a market segment of their own for around three decades. The recipe of replacing a pick-up’s bed with more space for people while preserving its capabilities became popular thanks to the fact that the SUVs stay halfway between old-school off-roaders and urban automobiles. However, as the years passed, this segment went through several important changes, some of them regarding its very concept. This article will present the new generation of one of the vehicles developed as a result of those changes. Fortuner was Toyota’s attempt to adapt to what has even motivated an Aretha Franklin song.

GMC Sierra 2016

Right after Silverado, GMC’s light-duty pickup was updated itself. However, instead of a small facelift, Sierra had only some tweaks. The front fascia received LEDs for both the DRLs and the fog lights, and there’s a new 21” style for the wheels. Inside, the IntelliLink infotainment system received the Apple CarPlay function for phone-mirroring. There are also more equipments dedicated to safety, and the optional eight-speed automatic transmission is offered in more trim levels. With everything else unchanged, the new GMC Sierra will go on sale in North America in the fourth quarter of this year.