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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2011 |

Mazda isn't the only automaker to use its name as a designation for its model series. Taiwan's aspiring new automotive brand Luxgen has adopted the same nomenclature for its range of models that has now been expanded with its first ever four-door sedan, the Luxgen5 that joins the Luxgen7 MPV and Luxgen7 SUV.The newly revealed Luxgen5 is the production version of the Neora EV concept study that was exhibited at the Auto Shanghai 2011 in China earlier this year.
The Taiwanese automaker says it is targeting the medium-large sedan market with the new Luxgen5 that will make its world premiere at the 2012 Taipei Auto Show next April.
According to Luxgen, the four-door model has been created for global markets in mind since its inception. The chassis has been designed with the support of US engineering analysts Altair, while the car was tested by UK safety organization Mira to meet the chassis configuration requirements of local and overseas markets.
Power comes from a choice of two four-cylinder petrol engines, a 1.8-liter VVT Turbo producing 150HP and 23.5kgm (230Nm) that's matched to a 5-speed automatic transmission, and a 2.0-liter VVT Turbo delivering 170HP and 26.1kgm (256Nm), coupled to a 6-speed automatic from Aisin.
The larger displacement engine allows for 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 210km/h (131mph).
Other highlights include a full suite of safety features such as ABS, EBD electronic brake-force distribution, a BAS brake assist system, an ESC electronic stability control system and a TCS traction control system, along with a 'jet fighter-style' HUD display and the LUXGEN THINK+Touch infotainment system developed in collaboration with smartphone maker hTC that comes with a large touchscreen incorporated in the center console.

Kudos to Austin Hsu for the tip!

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VIDEO

TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013 |

We might not have a lot of official information on the brand-new, and heavily panned by many readers for its odd-looks, 2014 Jeep Cherokee, but we can now further enlighten you on its exterior styling thanks to a raft of pictures that were released online today, and which you can check out, and, of course, comment on, right after the break.

We've yet to hear this from Chrysler Group officials, but a recent report from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) stated that Jeep based the new Cherokee on a design borrowed from parent company Fiat's Alfa Romeo brand:

"The 2014 Jeep Cherokee, which makes its debut Wednesday at the New York Auto Show, is based on a design first developed for Fiat’s Alfa Romeo—a sharing intended to spare Chrysler hundreds of millions of dollars in engineering costs and shorten the time it takes to get new vehicles to market," said the report from WSJ.

However, the article doesn't elaborate on whether it means the actual design of the SUV (as in styling of the body etc.), or if it refers to the underpinnings of the new Cherokee, which is believed to be based on a modified version of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta-sourced chassis of the Dodge Dart.

We'll have full details on the 2014 Cherokee tomorrow from its New York Auto Show world premiere.

Update I: We've added new photos to the gallery, including official shots of the 2014 Cherokee's interior that is seen here for the first time.

Update II: The Chrysler Group issued a press release in which it confirms that the new Cherokee is indeed based on the Alfa Romeo-sourced Compact U.S. Wide (CUS-wide) platform that's also used on the Dodge Dart sedan.

Engine choices at launch will include a 2.4-liter four-cylinder Tigershark unit with 184 horsepower and 171 lb.-ft. of torque that returns up to an estimated 31 mpg highway fuel economy rating, and a 3.2-liter Pentastar V-6 engine with 271 horsepower and 239 lb.-ft. of peak torque, with a towing capability of 4,500 pounds. Both powerplants are linked to a segment-first, nine-speed automatic transmission.

We're also told that the new Cherokee will be available in four different flavors named, Sport, Latitude, Limited and the Trailhawk (pictured above), which is the most capable of the bunch.

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