The 2012 Range Rover (Range Rover and Land Rover are now considered separate brands in the same vein as Ram and Dodge) is quite different from the Range Rovers that I recall from a few years less than a decade back. I can specifically remember friends’ clamor about the Land Rover Range Rover—and how Michael Jordon drove one—provoking my own criticisms. Sure, it looked exquisite and had a pleasant interior, but what about the sloppy steering, slow pedal responses, and clunky suspension? But after some quick drives in a new 2012 Land Rover Range Rover, I can testify that my previous concerns have all but been erased and the things I liked before have gotten even better.

The new Range Rover doesn’t stray too far visually from previous editions, but the changes underneath the skin have transformed the car into something more deserving of its prestigious reputation: the interior that has grown to be absolutely gorgeous and the entire driving demeanor has been vastly improved compared to its predecessors.



The journey started when I grabbed the keys. The metal bands that wrap around the plastic key fob make it look similar to a small iPhone 4. Old-school tendencies takeover whenever a key fob is in hand, and I immediately start to search for the mechanical key portion of the key fob. It is a natural reaction despite every test car we see offering push-button starters. In case of the Range Rover, I broke the key before I even got a chance to set foot into the car, disconnecting the hidden metal key from the fob. It was an easy fix, but it is no way to start a relationship.



Follow the jump to read more about the 2012 Range Rover.

Provided by duPont REGISTRY

Land Rover has released a few more images and a couple more details about the upcoming Range Rover Evoque. The baby Land Rover features a contemporary interior with an eight-inch touchscreen, brushed aluminum or wood trim, two-tone leather interior, and a 17-speaker Meridian audio system. It will be powered in the U.S. by a 2.2-liter turbocharged engine making 237 hp. Land Rover promises that when it goes on sale in mid- to late 2011, it will be the smallest, lightest, and most fuel efficient Range Rover ever produced. View all the new Land Rover Evoque images here.

[via Land Rover]

Provided by duPont REGISTRY

In 1999, the duPont REGISTRY held a survey where it asked its subscribers and the visitors to its web site to pick the 10 best cars of the century. Using those opinions, along with the picks from a number of notable persons like Mario Andretti, Don Panoz, Carroll Shelby, and Reggie Jackson, it compiled a list of the Top 100 Cars of the Century and dedicated a special book to its cause (in a way it was the precursor to our annual editorial-based Exotic Car Buyers Guide). The book hit newsstands before the turn of the century and was a great success. Today we are going to take a look back at that list and reminisce on what cars were picked and why and compare it to how those cars would probably rank exactly 10 years later.

Taking the number one spot on our top 100 list was the Lamborghini Diablo. Unveiled in production trim in Monte Carlo in January 1990, the Diablo was in its ninth year and still being produced at the time the book was written. We praised the “devil” for its “staggering 530 bhp from the…5.7-liter V-12,” and “0-60 mph acceleration under 4 seconds.” In the review we wrote “Lamborghini is rumored to be working on the next generation supercar. Though it’s hard to believe, they will create an automobile that will surpass our number one car in speed, power, and aerodynamic style.” Of course none of us knew the Lamborghini Murciélago was going to be so fast and so powerful and garnish as much admiration from the motoring public with its stout 580-hp 6.2-liter V-12 engine as it did. However, looking back, we can’t help but think that if a Lamborghini were to make the top ten list, shouldn’t it be the Lamborghini Countach? A model that has influenced the styling of all the company’s cars for the past 40 years.

Continue our look back at the top 100 cars of the last 100 years.

Provided by duPont REGISTRY

duPont REGISTRY's 2010 Exotic Car Buyers Guide is your ultimate source on the newest exotic and luxury cars and accessories. This issue offers modified exotics, a wheel guide, and more than 110 reviews of the top exotic and luxury cars from all the premium manufacturers.

Provided by duPont REGISTRY

Porsche has topped the J.D. Power and Associates dependability study for 2010. Porsche owners only reported 110 problems per 100 (PP100) cars sold. For comparison, the industry average was a 155 PP100 score and lowest on the list was Land Rover with 255 problems per 100 cars sold. In 2009 Porsche was number eleven with a 150 PP100 score. Other premium brands on the list include Lexus (4), Mercedes-Benz (9), Cadillac (12), Infiniti (13), BMW (16), Hummer (23), Jaguar (24), and Audi (27). One interesting note is Jaguar, which has been increasing in reliability the past ten years or so, placed second in 2009 with a 122 PP100 score, has now dropped considerably with a 175 PP100 score.

[via J.D. Power and Associates]

Land Rover is recalling 4,001 of its new-for-2010 Range Rovers because the passenger-side airbag may not deploy in the event of a crash.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says these cars may experience an airbag warning illumintation on the front cluster and the overhead console when the passenger side airbag has become inoperable.

[via Safercar.gov]

Provided by duPont REGISTRY

If you missed out on the Cash-for-Clunkers program you still may be able to get a good deal on a new vehicle. Many luxury manufacturers are offering cash back on vehicles that they wants to move off dealer lots before the beginning of November. Here is a sample of some of the deals:

2009 BMW 650 and M6 — up to $6,000 cash back

2009 Cadillac CTS-V — up to $5,000 cash back

2009 Cadillac XLR and XLR-V — up to $10,000 cash back

2010 Land Rover Range Rover — up to $6,000 cash back

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS-class — up to $10,000 cash back

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL-class — up to $15,000 cash back

[via Cars.com]

Provided by duPont REGISTRY