Friday, September 28, 2012

Interested in trying something different this weekend? Go off-roading and get your Land Rover dirty!

Check out the Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area that's full of trails and obstacles for you to tackle in your Rover.  For more information, see their Yelp page. 

Hollister_hills

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Land Rover May Add Subcompact Crossover Under Range Rover Evoque

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First we saw the crazy Range Rover Evoque convertible concept before hearing rumors that Land Rover wanted to expand the Evoque line with a seven-seat version of the internationally popular crossover. A baby Range Rover Evoque may be next on the automaker’s list, according to a new report from Automotive News.

Though sales of the Range Rover Evoque are currently only limited by the number of models Land Rover can produce, a company spokesman told the publication that with so much attention on sustainability (and fuel economy), “you could argue that smaller and lighter is the way to go.”

With the new flagship Range Rover SUV losing more than 700 pounds compared to its predecessor, the company has clearly shown that weight loss is a key topic for its engineers. As for a subcompact crossover  placed below the Range Rover Evoque, such a vehicle could compete in price with the BMW X1 and Audi Q3, not to mention the Land Rover LR2. Though a new baby Evoque could be just right for somewhat affluent urban style-setters everywhere, we wonder how it would affect sales of the LR2. Refreshed for the 2013 model year, the Land Rover LR2 is now powered by the 240-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 in the Evoque, and we’d be surprised if a baby Evoque didn’t include that as one engine option. The 2013 LR2 costs $37,250 to start while the Evoque starts in the mid-$40,000 range.

The 2013 BMW X1 starts at $31,545; a small Range Rover could fit well in that price range and help increase Land Rover’s average fuel economy numbers, as well.

 

Courtesy of motortrend.com

Friday, September 14, 2012

Photo of the Day: A Helping Paw

Lions_help_change_flat

Looks like these tourists are getting a helping paw with their flat tire. They seem oddly calm, but I'm sure they know their Defender is keeping them safe.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

All-New Range Rover Revealed At The Royal Ballet School

All_new
  • All-new Range Rover revealed to an international audience of celebrities, business leaders, sports stars and royalty
  • World's most capable and luxurious SUV
  • Step change improvements in sustainability with a 420kg weight saving and plans for hybrid model announced
  • Surprise performance by Dire Straits founder Mark Knopfler
  • Guests included Zara Phillips, Victoria Pendleton, Yasmin Le Bon, Jessica Schwarz, David Gandy, Julian McDonald, Alex James, Jimmy Carr

Tonight, in the quintessentially British setting of the Royal Ballet School in Richmond Park, Land Rover revealed the All-New Range Rover, the fourth generation of the world's most capable and luxurious SUV.

The international audience, including leaders from business, film, television and sport gathered to witness a dramatic dynamic reveal and celebrate one of the world's most iconic vehicles. Many of the guests, from Olympic medalists to royalty, were long-standing Range Rover owners and enthusiasts keen to get the first view of the All-New Range Rover in the metal.

In front of a packed house, the All-New Range Rover was unveiled in spectacular style and demonstrated its world-class capabilities by wading through a water pool that was almost a metre deep and gracefully climbing a rocky causeway before coming to a stop in front of White Lodge - a formal royal residence and home to the Royal Ballet School.

The dramatic reveal culminated in a surprise seven-song performance by long-term Range Rover driver and Dire Straits founder, Mark Knopfler. Classics including, 'Sultans of Swing' and 'Money for Nothing' rocked the grounds of Richmond Park and guests including Mike Tindall, Martin Johnson, Holly Vallance, Nick Candy, Karen Brady, Theo Paphitis, Nick Love, Kenny Logan partied the night away.

The all-new Range Rover has been developed from the ground up to provide the ultimate luxury SUV. It is the world's first SUV to have a lightweight all-aluminium body and is 20% lighter than the outgoing model with a weight saving of 420kg.

The lighter body structure has driven a dramatic 22 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, achieving figures of 37.7mpg and 196g/km respectively.

Land Rover also used the event to announce plans for a hybrid Range Rover - the world's first fully capable SUV. The state-of-the-art high-efficiency diesel hybrid model, which is planned for production late in 2013, will see step changes in Range Rover's environmental credentials and will target CO2 emissions of less than 169g/km.

John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director said during the evening: "The Range Rover is a British icon and the all-new model revealed this evening has set the benchmark for luxury in SUVs.  It is quieter, smoother and lighter than any vehicle in its class."

Edwards continued: "Like the Royal Ballet School, Land Rover is quintessentially British and has been setting world standards in performance and capability for many years. We wanted to launch the All-New Range Rover in the UK and White Lodge was the perfect venue."

Order books for the All-New Range Rover are now officially open with prices in the UK starting at £71,295 for a Vogue TDV6, rising to £98,395 for a the Supercharged Autobiography model.

The All-New Range Rover is designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK and will be exported to over 170 global markets. Over £370million has been invested in the Solihull manufacturing plant to create a state-of-the art, aerospace inspired, aluminium body shop - the largest of its kind in the world.

 

Courtesy of newsroom.jaguarlandrover.com

Monday, September 10, 2012