Audi will be giving the Audi Q5 compact crossover SUV a couple of new engines, although these engines aren’t headed for US releases anytime soon.

Two new smaller engines for the entry-level Q5, only in Europe for now

Along with the Audi A4 Allroad, the Q5 will be getting the 143-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder TDI diesel engine and the 180-horsepower 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder gasoline power plant. The two will be leaned on to give buyers more options in the entry-level segments, along with better efficiency and savings options.

It is unclear when the Q5 equipped with the new engines will be released Stateside, if at all. The A4 Allroad executive car isn’t even released in the US.

There’s no question that the Crossomotive team loves the Volvo XC60 crossover. We loved it when it initially came out, as seen in our preview on the car. We loved the XC60’s City Safety system, even if there aren’t any figures yet that show how effective it is. We even featured the mixed-review XC60 ski campaign.

Now, Volvo is giving XC60 lovers and crossover lovers alike a new treat, as it will be releasing the sporty Volvo XC60 R-Design edition, which is set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The XC60 R-Design gets a sporty setup, with a new body kit and a lowered sports chassis. The car gets standard 18-inch Cratus aluminum wheels, but buyers also have the option to upgrade these to 20-inchers. The car’s lower part is color-coordinated with the body (although we personally prefer the matte black on the standard model’s lower parts).

There are also premium R-Design elements for the interior. The steering wheel has aluminum inserts, and there are also door moldings, aluminum pedals, and a new center console. There’s a new dual-tone design for the leather seats, too. Perforated-leather trimming and an R-Design engraving on the sports steering wheel round out the interior premiums.

The bottom line: If you loved the XC60, then you’ll definitely love the sportier XC60 R-Design.

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

GM will be letting go of the Saturn brand pretty soon. That means the completed two-mode hybrid system slated for the used-to-be-upcoming Saturn Vue needs to be shifted to a different model.

The recipient? The Chevrolet Equinox crossover.

GM confirmed that the Vue’s system will be tweaked to fit the Equinox’s 3.0-liter V6 engine (the Vue uses a 3.6-liter V6). The company says that the vehicle should be ready by 2011.

The new Subaru Outback range starts at $22,995.

Subaru has revealed the pricing for its upcoming Outback range of crossovers. The range starts at $22,995, which is no different from the entry-level trim of the current range.

The entry level for the new range is a 2.5L 170hp four-cylinder Boxer engine with a six-speed manual transmission. Keyless entry, electronic parking brake with a ‘Hill Holder’ system and four-speaker audio system are all standard features. For the automatic variant, it’ll cost buyers another $1,000.

The Outback 2.5i ‘Premium’ has some extra features, and starts at $24,995 for the manual edition. Fog lights, privacy glass, an electric driver’s seat, leather steering-wheel and 16in alloys are the added features. This one has a more upmarket trim called the Outback 2.5i ‘Limited’, which costs $27,995. The following pics are included: automatic transmission, dual-zone climate-control, paddle shifters, all-season tires wrapped around 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-trimmed upholstery and a Harman/Kardon audio system.

The range-topping Outback is the 3.6R, equipped with a 256hp six-cylinder engine with a 5-speed automatic as standard. It starts at $27,995 and gets all-season tires, 17-inch alloy wheels, paddle shifters, fog lights and privacy glass.

The 3.6R also has Premium and Limited trims, with the same add-on features included as in the 2.5i. Premium starts at $28,995, and the 3.6R Limited at $30,995.

The Hyundai Nuvis concept

A new crossover concept joins the ranks of Hyundai’s recent concept vehicles such as the HED-6 and the Blue Will. Designated as the Nuvis, this new concept is designed to make the most of the urban lifestyle.

“Our goal was to create a living machine, constantly moving, that the driver and passengers could be part of,” said Hyundai Design Manager John Krsteski. “There are no lines on or in this car that are standing still.”

It is clearly a sleek design, with an interesting mix of coupe, hatch, and SUV design elements. We look forward to more news about the new Hyundai Nuvis crossover concept.

The Ssangyong C200 Aero Concept

We’ve already tackled the new Ssangyong C200 crossover compact SUV, which will hit the Seoul Motor Show in April. Now, the Korean car manufacturer has released a new teaser image for an aero variant of the vehicle, and what we’re seeing could be a preview of a trim that could be released alongside the production version.

The car features extensive body aerodynamic styling, along with a new set of wheels.

We’ll let you in on the details as more information becomes available.

The C200 concept shown in 2008

South Korean car manufacturer Ssangyong will usher in a new monocoque design generation when it unveils the C200 crossover at the Seoul Motor Show in April.

Designed by Giugiaro, the C200 will be competing in the same market segment as better-known crossovers like the Toyota Rav4 and the Honda CR-V.

It is powered by a 2.0-liter diesel capable of 173 bhp, mated to a six-speed auto. An alternative manual transmission could be made available.

More details as they get leaked. Stay tuned!

Kia Sorento teaser image

Kia has released some teaser pictures of its new Kia Sorento compact crossover vehicle, which is slated to debut at the Seoul Motor Show this coming April. The teasers show the car’s bigger frame and more-aggressive looks.

The new Sorento will have an added third row of seats, because of the vehicle design’s shift to the platform used by the Hyundai Santa Fe CUV (which is essentially the Sonata platform). This makes the new Sorento larger and longer.

Kia will also be using Hyundai’s Theta II 2.4-liter engine, which goes for 170 horsepower at 170 lb.-ft. of torque. Buyers have an option to get a 3.8-liter V6 engine good for 275 horsepower. Either variant will likely be mated to a six-speed transmission.

The new Kia Sorento will be manufactured in West Point, Georgia.

Source: Left Lane News

Just wait.

There have been sightings of an all-new crossover that is being developed for the North American market, and this CUV could be released sometime in late 2009, or as early as the third quarter. This bit of news could mean that the Honda Accord Tourer might not be released in the US after all, contrary to previous indications.

Source: 4wheelsnews

The HED-6 Concept

We’ve already tackled the upcoming Hyundai HED-6 Crossover concept, which will be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. Now, Hyundai has released official details and photos of this self-proclaimed “urban nomad”, said to be the jump-off point for a future model of the Hyundai Tucson.

For so long, all we had to work with was a teaser image with the rough side-view of the vehicle. It’s great to finally see a full official photo. We love the aggressive look, and the novel and sleek windshield design looks like a great update. The new Tucson will be released to the US market later in 2009.

Source: Motor Authority