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Cobra, Mille Miglia Race-Brescia, Italy
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SUVs, Performance Autos (206)Join us for an in-depth look at what's become the hottest thing on four wheels: the sport-utility vehicle, also known as a "sport-ute" or SUV. SUVs have become more and more popular ever since the Ford Explorer and the Chevy Blazer came into vogue in the mid-90s. Today the SUV classification has grown to include multiple models from virtually every manufacturer. Luxury SUVs by Land Rover, Mercedes, Lexus and others have taken over for the Lincoln Town Cars and Cadillac Sedan Devilles of the world. We'll show you what makes them so popular as we examine the Land Rover Range Rover and the Mercedes G-500.
Then we take a look back in time, when SUVs were serious tough trucks. We go off-roading with owners of Land Rover Discovery SUVs and other four-wheeled beasts that would run rings around today's SUVs, which rarely—if ever—stray from the paved roads.
Next, we travel up to Sonoma, Calif., for the Wine Country Classics. Every year a large group of vintage racecar owners get together to race around Infineon Raceway. The friendship, the history, the stories and the competition are truly amazing. You'll meet several of these enthusiasts, many of whom have been racing their cars here for decades.
SUV Facts:
- The Range Rover made its debut at the Earl's Court Motor Show in London in 1970.
- The Mercedes G-500 was originally built as a military vehicle.
- The first Mercedes-Benz off-road vehicle, the G1, was built in 1926.
- Elite and luxury SUVs usually have at least 16 cubic feet of cargo space and are typically priced above $40,000.
- A popular feature in luxury SUVs is a third row of seating.
- Today, SUVs account for about 25 percent of new vehicles sold.
- Less than five percent of SUV owners regularly take their vehicles off-road.
- Cadillac's Escalade EXT can be reconfigured from a five-passenger SUV into a full-size truck.
Resources:
Land Rover
www.landrover.com
Mercedes
www.mercedes.com
"Wine Country Classics" Facts:
- In addition to hosting the Wine Country Classics, Infineon Raceway also hosts NASCAR, AMA Superbike and NHRA drag-racing events.
- Fourteen vintage race groups are divided into classes based on era, car type and engine size.
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