More than just a pretty concept. Take a ride inside all the new and evolves SUV.

What better way to enjoy the summer than by jumping into one of the latest batch of super Sports Utility Vehicles? SUVs may have fallen into a pothole for a while in the world financial downturn, but have now made a roaring comeback as top shelf carmakers like Maserati, Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Lamborghini enter an increasingly hot market with a whole new, upscale take on the concept.

The recent New York Auto Show said it all as the next generation of luxurious, ultra performance, high-tech SUVs captivated audiences and dominated headlines. High-end car companies like Range Rover, Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz have been in the SUV game a while, of course — and have been busy innovating — but it’s the entry of super automakers for the first time that’s really shaking things up.

All that competition is producing some standout cars where the starting price of around a quarter of a million dollars has customers lining up. Smart, fuel-efficient technologies are just part of the story as consumers with deep pockets opt for all-terrain driving and major horsepower performance that can take them from city to country in absolute luxury.

Tesla — Model X
All next-gen SUV’s are shedding their fuel guzzling ways, but Tesla’s Model X is the ultimate green machine. The 257-mile electric range, zero-to-sixty in 3.2 seconds, and 5-star safety rating definitely impress, but so do the futuristic looks and IQ like automatic emergency braking, side-collision avoidance, and 360-degree sonar sensors.

Bentley — Bentayga
The Bentley Bentayga is billed as the world’s most powerful, jumping from zero to 60 in four seconds balanced with a Responsive Off-Road setting, giving it huge driving flexibility. True to form, the Bentayga is the last word in comfort with handcrafted wood and leather interiors, glass roof, luxurious seating, and a full suite of customizable options like the Bentley Entertainment Tablet for onboard connectivity.

Maserati — Levante
The Maserati Levante may be the company’s first-ever SUV, but that hasn’t stopped it becoming an instant hit. With all the impeccable Maserati engineering in place, the Levante comes in both a 3-liter V-6 twin-turbo or turbo-diesel version in tandem with top aerodynamic efficiency and intelligent all-wheel drive to give it seamless offroad performance.

Aston Martin — 2017 LagondA
Even James Bond could soon be driving an SUV it seems — now that Aston Martin’s 2017 Lagonda is almost here. This very powerful car has a V12 engine that can accelerate from zero-to-sixty in under five seconds with a top speed of over 185 mph, but comes wrapped in a sleek, lightweight, aerodynamic carbon fiber chassis for speed and fuel efficiency.

Jaguar — F-Pace
Jaguar’s F-Pace is also its first SUV, but the company has been able to call on Land Rover’s considerable experience. The supercharged V-6 gas engine can lunge from zero-to-sixty in 5.1 seconds, but technologies like Adaptive Surface Response, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Traffic Sign Recognition, and Activity Key, one of the first car wearables, are just as impressive.

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