USA - 2014 JEEP® Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel named "Official winter vehicle of New England"

• Fourth consecutive year Jeep® Grand Cherokee captures award from New England Motor Press Association
• Grand Cherokee sales up 21 percent in 2014 in U.S.; up 23 percent in the Northeast

For the fourth straight year, the Jeep® Grand Cherokee has been named the “Official Winter Vehicle of New England” by the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA).

“The Jeep Grand Cherokee has now taken the overall Winter Vehicle honor every year since 2011,” said Craig Fitzgerald, NEMPA President. “This unprecedented fourth consecutive win is due to the EcoDiesel engine and eight-speed transmission – new features that put Grand Cherokee at the top of both the power-with-efficiency and value curves.

“Grand Cherokee continues to manage New England’s snow and ice with highly competent handling and traction, an excellent ride and a comfortable, tasteful interior, with proper cold-weather amenities,” Fitzgerald added. “Wherever it goes and whatever its assignment, the Jeep Grand Cherokee stands out in the crowded SUV and crossover segments.”

Significantly updated for 2014, Jeep Grand Cherokee delivers best-in-class 30 miles per gallon and a driving range of more than 730 miles, along with a new eight-speed transmission, three advanced 4x4 systems and more than 60 safety and security features.

“Particularly in one of the harshest winters on record, we’re delighted that the influential members of the New England Motor Press Association have once again recognized the all-weather capability of the Jeep Grand Cherokee,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “Our new EcoDiesel engine and eight-speed transmission further add to blend of capability, refinement and fuel efficiency that have made Grand Cherokee the most awarded SUV ever.”

Through February, Jeep Grand Cherokee sales are up 21 percent in 2014 in the U.S., and up 23 percent in the Northeast.

NEMPA is unique among regional motor press organizations. Its media members represent all six New England states, reaching one of the largest populations in America. NEMPA’s automotive writers and talk show hosts influence consumers who are in the market to buy cars and trucks in order to cope with the region’s punishing weather conditions. Winning vehicles are chosen on how they meet specific needs of New England drivers during winter.

New 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee completely redefines the premium SUV, delivering an unprecedented combination of best-in-class fuel economy and driving range, available clean-diesel technology, legendary benchmark capability, world-class craftsmanship, and a host of advanced user-friendly technology and safety features.

For 2014, Grand Cherokee offers a new EcoDiesel engine with best-in-class 30 mpg highway and an unmatched driving range of more than 730 miles.  A new eight-speed transmission drives all Grand Cherokee engines, including the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 - achieving up to 25 mpg and more than 600 miles driving range - and the 5.7-liter V-8, now achieving up to 22 mpg.

Legendary Jeep capability comes courtesy of three 4x4 systems, Jeep's Quadra-Lift air suspension, Selec-Terrain traction management and an improved crawl ratio of 44.1:1.

A refined exterior design - complete with signature LED running lamps - provides a premium appearance. Premium interior amenities include Natura leather, exotic open-pore wood and new color offerings. The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee is available in four trim levels, including the new top-line Summit.

Range Rover Sport announced as pace car at Pikes Peak

• Range Rover Sport will open the legendary course to strong international entry at this Sunday’s 91st running of the ‘Race To The Clouds’ 
• Leading role at one of the world’s most unforgiving driving competitions for Land Rover’s fastest, most responsive and agile vehicle to date 
• By appearing at Pikes Peak, the Range Rover Sport revisits the scene of its own record-setting run earlier this month
• A four-minute documentary film showing the Range Rover Sport’s  SUV record-run can be viewed on YouTube from today

As the course-opening car, the Range Rover Sport will revisit the scene of its own record-setting run earlier this month, when it powered to a new best time up the hill for a production-standard Sport Utility Vehicle and broke the long standing record for any type of production-standard vehicle. The Range Rover Sport negotiated the 12.42-mile course, which has 156 corners and ascends from 9,390 feet (2,860m) above sea level to 14,110 feet (4,300m), in just 12 minutes 35.61 seconds – an average speed, from a standing start, of 59.17 mph (95.23 kph). The record was set in a Range Rover Sport powered by a 510hp 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine, the vehicle altered from production specification only in the fitment of a roll cage and harness seatbelts to meet racing safety requirements.

On the record run, the Range Rover Sport was driven by Pikes Peak specialist Paul Dallenbach. This Sunday, the pace car will be driven by veteran motorsports competitor and official Gay Smith, of Colorado Springs. Smith was the 1974 Rookie of the Year on Pikes Peak and has served on the event’s Board of Directors for 20 years.

This year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has attracted 157 competitors (70 cars and 87 motorcycles), with drivers and riders from 16 nations. The entry is headlined by World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb.

Timed runs start on Sunday, June 30 at 8:00am MDT. For the first time, the event is being broadcast to fans around the world via the Internet, on RedBull.TV.

Internet visitors can also, starting from this weekend, watch a newly-released four-minute documentary film about the Range Rover Sport’s record run at Pikes Peak earlier this month, with spectacular views from inside and outside the vehicle. This can be seen on Land Rover’s YouTube channel.

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

The Pikes Peak car and motorcycle hill climb competition is held annually on a 12.42-mile (19.99 km) section of the road that runs up to the summit of Pikes Peak Mountain, 14 miles north-west of the town of Colorado Springs.

First run in 1916, Pikes Peak is the USA’s second-oldest motorsport event. Some of America’s most famous racing drivers – Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, Rick Mears, and Al Unser – have won the competition, as have internationally acclaimed rally drivers such as Michele Mouton, Ari Vatanen, Per Eklund and Stig Blomqvist.

All-New Range Rover Sport

Developed alongside the highly-acclaimed Range Rover, the all-new Range Rover Sport delivers the brand’s best-ever on-road dynamics together with class-leading, genuine Land Rover all-terrain capability, while presenting customers with a more assertive and muscular exterior, more luxurious interior and the flexibility provided by the option of occasional third row seating.

Exploiting Land Rover’s breakthrough lightweight suspension design and innovative dynamic chassis technologies, the All-New Range Rover Sport’s first-in-class aluminium architecture achieves a weight saving of more than 800 lbs.

AUDI A8 L RECEIVES ITS OWN AUTOMOTIVE “BAFTA”

Official car of the 2013 EE British Academy Film Awards  gets some recognition of its own in industry-acclaimed chauffeur awards

• Audi A8 L takes home trophy in £50,000 to £75,000 category
• Second consecutive win and third overall victory since awards began
• Priced from £57,650 OTR to £95,440 OTR
• Engines range from 204 PS 3.0 TDI to 500 PS W12 quattro
• Audi A8 L hybrid priced at £65,405 OTR

The Audi luxury car that whisked many of the stars of stage, screen and TV to the red carpet last night for the 2013 EE British Academy Film Awards (the BAFTAs) has just attracted some limelight of its own. The long wheelbase A8 L has been voted Chauffeur Car of the Year in the £50,000 to £75,000 category by leading online industry magazine thechauffeur.com.

This year’s Chauffeur Car of the Year category award is the third for the opulent long wheelbase luxury saloon, which also took the top spot in 2005 and 2011. It was bestowed not just on the strength of the car itself, but also by virtue of the successful Audi UK chauffeur programme through which professional drivers can run one on a contract hire basis and benefit from exceptional support.

Paul Gibson, Editor of thechauffeur.com, commented:  " The A8 L offers the chauffeur an excellent all-round package. Excellent economy, comfort, all-wheel drive and workable boot space are key factors which helped it clinch the award.”

He added: “ When putting it against its competitors, it was also obvious that the manufacturer’s dedicated chauffeur programme is one of the best in the marketplace.”

James Douglas, Head of Fleet Sales at Audi UK, added: “I am delighted that thechauffeur.com not only believed the A8 was deserving of such a hard fought award, but also saw fit to commend the Audi chauffeur programme which provides access to it. We have gone to great lengths to structure a programme which we believe makes obtaining and running one of our luxury cars as stress-free as driving one, and it is immensely encouraging to know that this specialist title views it so positively.”

Luxury now with even greater efficiency

The excellent economy which was instrumental in the latest victory for the A8 L is commonly associated with the TDI versions, but it can now also be enjoyed in petrol models with even lower CO2 output and the potential for zero emissions driving – the A8 hybrid and A8 L hybrid.

Powered by a 2.0-litre TFSI four cylinder petrol unit working in conjunction with a 40 kW electric motor, the A8 L hybrid can drive using electric power alone at  speeds of up to 62 mph. When outright performance takes precedence, outputs of 245 PS and 480 Nm enable acceleration from zero to 62mph in 7.9 seconds and a top speed of 142mph. At the same time, equally important running costs can be kept in check  thanks to the potential for in excess of 44 mpg, equating to CO2 emissions of 149g/km – the lowest in the A8 L range.

In common with all A8 L models, the hybrid adds 130mm of extra leg room for rear seat passengers, and expands the lavish A8 equipment list to include features such as heated front and outer rear seats, electric sun blinds and deluxe four-zone climate control.

Prices start at £57,650 OTR for the A8 L SE, rising to £95,440 OTR for the flagship 6.3-litre W12 quattro. The A8 L hybrid is priced at £65,545 OTR.