Crazy, High-Performance SUV Concepts That Never Made It

These awesome SUVs remained concepts forever. But we will never forget them.

Stuffing powerful engines under the hood of a vehicle designed specifically for off-roading isn’t a new phenomenon. Automakers have been doing this for years for one reason, and one reason only: it’s awesome. SUVs, specifically those with a body-on-frame chassis, are the go-anywhere, up-for-anything vehicle people want in their lives, but having more power is never a bad thing.

High-performance SUVs are typically special editions, providing carmakers with some always needed street cred and a relatively easy way to make a few extra bucks. A regular SUV with an upgraded engine is a win-win for everybody – automakers, customers, and gas station owners. Sadly, some of the craziest, most powerful SUVs never made it to production, forever remaining concepts.

Volvo XC90 Supercharged

Today, it’s not uncommon to see a performance vehicle from Volvo, including SUV crossovers. But back in 2005 it was almost unheard of. Meet the Volvo XC90 Supercharged. It’s yellow. Very yellow. It also has a Yamaha-developed V8 that, under normal circumstances, makes 311 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. Volvo wanted more than normal, so added a massive supercharger that dialed up the output to an estimated 600 hp. Power was sent to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox. That system was also “pre-charged,” meaning power could be instantly routed to the wheel with the most traction.

Compared to the production XC90 at the time, its Supercharged evil twin rode two inches lower to the ground and wore nine-inch wide ultra-high-performance alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero rubber. Volvo also made changes to the front fascia and added custom fabricated wheel arches. Quad exhaust pipes can be found at the rear. Although production never happened, the XC90 Supercharged was a demonstration of what Volvo could do and what it wanted to become.

Chevrolet Tahoe SS

Back when gasoline was stupid cheap Chevrolet figured ‘Hey, why the hell not… let’s build a Tahoe SS for fun.’ And so it was. The ‘SS’ moniker, famous for its muscle car heydays of the 1960s and early 70s, was called upon once again. The Tahoe SUV, at the time in its second generation (at least with that nameplate), was given a few cosmetic changes from the standard version, such as a clean front grille and wide-mouth air intakes under each headlight. Its stance was also lowered by two inches up front and four at the rear. Under the hood was a 6.0-liter Vortec V8 with 345 hp. That power was directed to the rear wheels only.

Chevrolet wanted to go with a stealthy look similar to the Tahoe cop SUV, and it managed to pull this off nicely. Unfortunately, despite being production ready, or close to it, Chevy opted not to build it in the end. Instead, it was merely a display of the brand’s performance capabilities. Bummer, because this could have been an instant classic.

Cadillac Escalade Twin Turbo

The Cadillac Escalade was always a bit nuts. Big, bold and bling tastic, this luxury SUV never has and never will apologize for being what it is. During the same time Chevrolet was toying with the idea of a Tahoe SS, Cadillac had a lunatic idea of its own: a twin-turbo Escalade.

Under its hood is a 6.0-liter V8 that borrowed the cam from the C6 Corvette LS6 engine and ported aluminum Vortec heads. Cadillac even added a custom carbon fiber intake. A pair of Aerodyne turbochargers were then added. Combined output: 580 hp and 580 lb-ft of torque. Total weight came to around 5,700 pounds. Engineers also lowered the SUV’s ground clearance at the front and rear axles by 25 and 35 millimeters, respectively. The interior received an entertainment system consisting of a DVD player and voice control. The exterior featured silver metallic paint and chrome-plated 20-inch wheels. Production? You wish.

Ford SVT Tremor

The world was a different place in 1998 and so was Ford Motor Company. Remember, this was before the era of the crossover, a vehicle body style Ford has committed itself to for the foreseeable future. But it was during the 1990s when Ford also cherished the SUV, specifically the Explorer (before its crossover days). Anyone remember the SVT Tremor Concept? It’s okay if you don’t. Maybe you weren’t even born yet. “The Tremor is a further evolution of America’s best-selling sport utility vehicle, the Ford Explorer,” said Tom Scott, director of the Advanced Design Studio at the time. “While it maintains the Explorer’s well-known attributes of performance, ruggedness and a well-packaged interior, this concept vehicle creates a new niche of fun-to-drive vehicle.”

So, why was the SVT Tremor particularly cool? Built together with Yamaha, under the hood was an all-aluminum 4.6-liter V8 with an estimated 380 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque. To compare, the 1998 Mustang Cobra had 305 hp. Top speed was said to be about 140 mph and a less than 7-second 0-60 mph was predicted. But once again, we never got the chance to see everything this performance SUV was capable of.

Jeep Trailcat

When you have an engine as incredible as the supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8, you might as well use it. Not only is the Hellcat found in the Dodge Challenger, Charger, and Jeep Grand Cherokee, but also in a Wrangler. Yes, really. The Jeep Trailcat was a concept first shown in 2016. With a total of 707 hp, you’d think the engine could somehow rip the Wrangler in half but Jeep engineers made sure this wouldn’t happen.

And yes, this concept was really put to the test when it made its debut appearance at Jeep’s 50th annual Easter Safari gathering in Moab, Utah. Along with a six-speed manual, the Trailcat received a set of massive tires, a big roll cage, and – this is where engineering is really needed – a 12-inch wheelbase extension in order for the engine to fit. Although the Trailcat never reached production, you could argue that it paved the way for the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.

BMW X5 Le Mans

This isn’t the first time we’ve come across the BMW X5 Le Mans and no doubt it won't be the last. Why? Because back in 2000, BMW had the wonderfully nuts idea to stuff a V12 engine under the hood of a first-generation X5. Production was never intended, but a trip to the Nurburgring was. BMW managed to get this one-off X5 up to 192 mph at the Green Hell. Oh, and that 6.0-liter V12 came directly from the BMW V12 LMR Le Mans endurance racer. Total output: 700 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque. The race car had about 100 hp less.

And just when you thought this couldn’t get any crazier, engineers opted for an M-division six-speed manual transmission. As for its Nurburgring aspirations? The X5 Le Mans managed a lap time of 7:50. To compare, the 2018 Honda Civic Type R set its own ‘Ring lap time of 7:43.8.

High-Performance Audi SQ8 Spotted Without Any Camouflage

And an even more hardcore RS Q8 could be on the way.

The recently revealed 2019 Audi Q8 SUV is set to battle coupe-style SUV models such as the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE Coupe when it hits the streets later this year. Though it hasn't been announced, we have already spied a hotter SQ8, which from the looks of these pictures should debut in the coming months or even weeks. Rumors about the SQ8 have been circulating based on camouflaged test mules, but we may have a much clearer picture of the hotted up SUV based on a new test mule that was spotted without any camouflage.

For starters, the SQ8 looks like it will retain the grey trim around the grille. This test mule is also running on the same wheels as found on the standard Q8, though this may just be for testing purposes. The SQ8 differs in the rear, where the Q8's dual exhausts have been replaced with quad tips. We still don't know what will sit under the hood of the SQ8. Some rumors point to a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 mated to a hybrid drivetrain to produce 470 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. There may also be a diesel version with a 4.0-liter tri-turbo V8. This engine produces 435 hp and 664 ft-lb of torque in the SQ7.

Judging by the TDI badge on the back of this test mule, we assume that is the diesel version, which will likely be for Europe only. We'll have to wait and see if a second test mule emerges without the TDI badge. If not, the SQ8 may end up being another Audi model meant for Europe only. Luckily, an even hotter RS Q8 is rumored to use the V8 hybrid drivetrain from the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, producing 680 hp.

Don’t Get Your Hopes Up For A High-Performance BMW i8 S

BMW says there hasn’t been enough customer demand for a more powerful i8.

The fate of the BMW i3 and i8 looks uncertain, as BMW hasn’t yet decided if they will be renewed for a second generation. With the BMW i4 and iNext EVs due to launch in 2020 and 2021, BMW may find it hard to justify keeping the i3 and i8 in production, so they may not be replaced. A successor to the i8 hybrid sports car hasn’t been ruled out yet however, so we’re keeping our hopes up. In the meantime, if you’re hoping for a more powerful S version of the current i8 in the vein of the i3 S, you’re going to be disappointed.

Speaking to CarAdvice during the launch of the i8 Roadster, product manager for the i8 Roadster and Coupe Marcus Pluntke revealed that the current i8 will keep the same powertrain variant for the foreseeable future. While sales for the new i8 Roadster have been encouraging, there hasn’t been enough customer demand for a high-performance version of the hybrid sports car. “Customers are very happy with the performance it has. Especially as it is so quick, you know the electric motor’s response is like immediately, like reading your mind, and that is what customers really ask for in a sports car,” he said.

“They don’t say ‘ooh, I need more power’ quite the opposite they say ‘It’s so fast on public roads. I can’t believe how quick it reacts and how quick it is’”. Pluntke also ruled out the possibility of introducing a more affordable entry-level i8 to attract new customers. “If you do a proper sports car – especially a BMW – it will always have proper sports car performance and with the i8 I think it does have that, we will keep it this way,” he said. With a top speed of 155 mph and a combined output of 369 horsepower, the current i8 is certainly no slouch. 0-62 mph takes 4.4 seconds in the Roadster, while the Coupe will do the same sprint in 4.2 seconds.

But we can't help but feel it still has plenty of untapped potential, particularly as the updated 2019 model received a slight power increase and improved range. Unfortunately, with a hot S model now ruled out and a successor yet to be confirmed, we may never see the i8 become the car we know it can be.

View the original article here

Hyundai Wants To Copy BMW With High-Performance SUVs

First step already done: hire away BMW M's VP of engineering.

Hyundai is dead set on its upcoming N performance brand, as we’ve just been reminded of regarding the upcoming Ford Focus ST and VW Golf GTI rivaling i30 N hot hatch. Led by former BMW M boss, Albert Biermann, plans for the N division are vast and, according to Australia’s Drive, include plans for an eventual performance version of the Tucson SUV crossover. "Right now there are no limitations," Biermann stated during a recent i30N prototype pre-drive event Down Under.

“We started with the C segment and the Fastback will follow and we are already working on some other concepts for the B segment (Accent) and SUV also. Right now we are open.” That SUV he’s referring to is the Tucson. “If you look at the Tucson today it is very relaxed, very comfortable to drive, but to have an N version requires lots of power, nice transmission, nice handling, sportier tires and lowered body,” Biermann said. “We have a good platform with the Tucson to make a high-performance SUV.” Biermann is the right man to make this happen, taking into account his three decades of experience at BMW, where he also led the development of its high-performance SUVs, such as the X5 M.

He’s now been tasked by Hyundai to do the same for its lineup, and after we met Biermann ourselves at Detroit last January and witnessed first-hand his enthusiasm, it’s clear he’ll deliver the goods. Now that he’s wrapped up work on the new Kia Stinger, Biermann’s full focus is on the growing N division, and after the i30 hot hatch arrives, don’t be surprised to see an N-badged Tucson caught testing on the Nurburgring.

A High-Performance Bentley Bentayga Speed Is Definitely Happening

And it won't be limited to just a power boost.

It’s been nearly three years since the Bentley Bentayga had its official debut. Since then, V8 gasoline and diesel versions have been launched and more recently, a plug-in hybrid with about 31 miles of all-electric range has gone on sale. But what about a high-performance ‘Speed’ version? Is that happening? If so, when? Autocar recently spoke with Bentley design chief Stefan Sielaff who confirmed the UK automaker is currently working on it.

Although Sielaff did not reveal any sort of launch date or related timeline, he did say we can expect a “big change” in design over the current Bentayga. Expect to see the “typical” styling changes Bentley applies when doing Speed versions for other models. Those typically include a lowered ride height, some front and rear styling tweaks, and some interior upgrades. We’ll just have to wait and see how far Sielaff and his team go with the changes, but don’t mistake the Bentayga Speed with the also expected though still not confirmed Bentayga coupe. And because raw speed and performance are the name of the game here, especially since the Lamborghini Urus’ arrival, the Bentayga Speed will be even more powerful.

It’d be fair to assume the 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 will be the chosen engine, currently rated at 600 hp and 663 lb-ft of torque. According to the report, those figures are expected to increase as well. It’s possible we’ll see the Bentayga Speed next March at Geneva, but we doubt it’ll be any time before then.

High-Performance Toyota Supra And Manual Transmission In The Pipeline

A convertible version also hasn't been ruled out.

Toyota is really dragging out the reveal of its long-awaited sports car. The all-new Supra made its public "debut" at the Goodwood Festival of Speed but was still wearing camouflage to hide important details. Toyota recently hosted a media drive where journalists could drive the new Supra, but the car still wore camouflage and no details were offered on pricing or power output.

This didn't stop Australian outlet Car Advice from digging for answers, and a few important details were leaked by the Supra's assistant chief engineer, Masayuki Kai.

For starters, the question that has been on the minds of every enthusiast waiting to see the Supra was asked: will it be offered with a manual transmission? The assistant chief engineer said that a manual has been developed for right-hand-drive markets. He was speaking to an Australian outlet and Australia is an RHD market, so this doesn't preclude the manual from also being offered in LHD markets.

"This is not yet finally decided [introduction of a manual transmission], and depending on feedback from the market, we will decide if we should introduce a manual transmission," Kai said. Based on every comment we've read on our Supra news pieces, Toyota would be silly to not offer a manual.

This would also be an interesting way for Toyota to differentiate the Supra from the automatic-only BMW Z4 which shares the same platform.

Car Advice also asked about the possibility of a more powerful version of the Supra. BMW has already said that the M40i will be the most powerful version of the Z4 and that no Z4 M is planned. Toyota, on the other hand, said a more powerful version of the turbocharged inline-six engine is in the cards.

"Yeah of course. We are still studying bigger engines and different transmissions. Everything is still being studied. I don't think a V8 or something will be fitted because the weight distribution will be destroyed. But more power with inline six should be possible," said Kai.

"For future development, we are now planning and we are discussing this with BMW. What our wishes are for a facelift and future versions, extra versions, they are also providing us what could be the next update on transmission, engine and so on. It's not finished."

Finally, he was asked whether a Supra Convertible was on the table. We simply figured because the Z4 was a convertible, the Supra would be a coupe-only and there would never be a Z4 coupe. Much to our surprise, Kai said "As for now, yes. But, if BMW wants to make a coupe, it's their own decision. There is no restriction – for example, if we want, we can also make an open roof Supra. But, this is currently not being investigated. Never say never, everything is possible."

Well, there you have it. While nothing has been officially confirmed, we can still retain hope that the Supra could have a manual transmission, more power, and a convertible variant in the future.