Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, SUVs
Cross Lander (finally) to be sold in U.S. after NHTSA grants airbag exemption
Apparently, America's renascent no-nonsense SUV class is set to grow by one, thanks to a new NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) ruling. Miami-based Cross Lander USA has been given an exemption for its Brazilian-assembled offering which will enable it to (finally) ply its non-airbag equipped vehicle on U.S. shores.
The exemption from the airbag requirement arrives courtesy ye olde 'economic hardship' clause, which affords cash-strapped automakers the chance to circumvent the law temporarily because they might go belly-up without it. After finding this to be the case with Cross Lander (which says it lost some $5 million in 2004), NHTSA issued an exemption good through May of 2008, provided the company slaps a caveat emptor sticker on U.S.-bound examples.
NHTSA estimates that if 9,000 244X's change hands, the automaker will have enough money to fit airbags by the exemption's end date. We're willing to bet not one of 'em goes to a Public Citizen member.
[Associated Press via Orlando Sentinel]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Paul C. 1:50PM (1/05/2006)
I've been waiting for more news on these since I first read about this a couple years ago in a print-mag (Car and Driver maybe?). Supposedly, the price is going to be really low. I love the classic land cruise meets range rover styling. Wonder if it will come in a 2-door :)
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required 3:26PM (1/05/2006)
First of all, that thing is a waste of metal! it's 1980s technology at current prices. Any true off-road enthusiasts will build their own rig anyway, and will start with either a Jeep or a Truck for the base.
The only thing this company's website touts about their "SUV"s is that they're body-on-frame. So is the Jeep, Xterra, Tacoma, Frontier, etc. And most of those can be had for $20K (maybe a 1-2 year old model but at least it will have Airbags and ABS among other things)
And secondly, you know someone is going to sue them over the air-bag, warning-sticker or not!
Either way, i will bet money that this US offshoot won't be around by the time their exemption runs out. and i say good riddance!
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RUBICONTRAIL.NET 7:31PM (1/05/2006)
The only way that Crosslander can get many sales is to seriously undercut Jeep, Land Rover, Toyota, Nissan, and Hummer on price. To beat Jeep, Toyota, and Nissan on price they will have to price the vehicle right around $12,000.
But of course, this means they will not be turning the profits they need to survive.
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md 8:42PM (1/05/2006)
"2. First of all, that thing is a waste of metal! it's 1980s technology at current prices. Any true off-road enthusiasts will build their own rig anyway, and will start with either a Jeep or a Truck for the base."
If it is inexensive enough, four-wheelers will love it. You are right that rigs are built and not bought, and since this will probably be less than its competition, it will make a great base to build a rig off of (with the added bonus of not having to deal with rust when building). It has a proven engine (ford 4.0 V6) and would make a great platform to build from.
This is not meant to be a daily driven vehicle and you won't find many poseurs driving these around
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klaatu 8:01AM (1/06/2006)
I have to agree with md. This thing is not going to be available with automatic transmission - that means probably 95% of potential "SUV" buyers won't touch it.
This one is intended for serious offroad use and bad weather driving. I know my local Hyundai / Chrysler / Jeep / Dodge / Pontiac / GMC / Buick and Saturn dealer has been waiting a couple of years for these things to start showing up on car carriers at his doorstep...
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Roitberg 7:33PM (1/06/2006)
Hi, Cross Lander is made in Brazil, more precisely in Manaus, capital of Amazon state. It has an old Romenian body but: (1) all aluminum Eaton transmission (manual 5), 4x4 part-time, plus transfer case with low at 2,1267:1 (first in 4x4 low has a total of 30:1) - (2) International Engines motor, 2.785 cc, turbo diesel with 132hp (97Kw) @ 3.800 RPM and 36,2Kgf.m (355Nm) @ 1.600 RPM, not the anemic gasoline European engine (3) ventilated disc brakes at front (4) air-conditioned integrated in the strucure with exits to the back seats (the only one in jeep segment). It is a very capable "back to the basics" 4 door cheap jeep.
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Chris Kivi 11:15PM (1/06/2006)
Cool! I have seen these too in articles, and online, so now we have another Deisel that could run on BIO-DEISEL FUEL which is made from a totally renewable source: Canola! There are 1,000's of Farmers, Ranchers, Adventurers, Ex-Military, Joe and Julie Average from the US Coast to Coast, the Prairies and Mountains that would buy this Cross Lander. Airbags would not deter most of them, not I, since many wish they could get their paws on a Scout or old Land Rover. However supply is limited and costly repairs to the older 4X4's make this vehicle particularily appealing. A low geared Diesel is in demand, and with a growing supply of Bio Deisel, Entrepreneurs are breaking into territory ready to grow. This could be the poster-vehicle for renewable energy and can help reduce our reliance on Foreign Oil. Thumbs up on this Cross Lander.
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Chris Kivi 11:17PM (1/06/2006)
Cool! I have seen these too in articles, and online, so now we have another Deisel that could run on BIO-DEISEL FUEL which is made from a totally renewable source: Canola! There are 1,000's of Farmers, Ranchers, Adventurers, Ex-Military, Joe and Julie Average from the US Coast to Coast, the Prairies and Mountains that would buy this Cross Lander. Airbags would not deter most of them, not I, since many wish they could get their paws on a Scout or old Land Rover. However supply is limited and costly repairs to the older 4X4's make this vehicle particularily appealing. A low geared Diesel is in demand, and with a growing supply of Bio Deisel, Entrepreneurs are breaking into territory ready to grow. This could be the poster-vehicle for renewable energy and can help reduce our reliance on Foreign Oil. Thumbs up on this Cross Lander.
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max 12:46AM (1/07/2006)
Are you sure it has the diesel?!? According to autoblog's earlier entries it was getting a Ford 4.0, v-6.
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Chris 2:09PM (1/10/2006)
The diesel engine was not able to meet US federal emissions requirements, and therefore Cross Lander decided to use the ford 4.0 V6 engine. This truck will NOT have a diesel when it hits US shores.
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James 11:03PM (2/01/2006)
just recently have plans drastically changed. It will come as a diesel. Roitberg is correct. It originally was planned to launch as a diesel, and although it met the year of testing's EPA standards, it wouldn't have met the yearly tightening standards the next year. So, the bailed and went with a Ford based powertrain. Now, back to initial plan, but out of Brazil plant, with, as stated above, a more poweful diesel engine. Also, there might be more than one version.
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