Don Wildman treks through Jamaica in his Land Rover and ends up at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston!

Land Rover planning entry-level 'baby' SUV?

Autocar reports Land Rover may be mulling a new, inexpensive SUV to slot below the company's current offerings. John Edwards, global brand director for Land Rover, has confirmed his company's product planners are currently evaluating the viability of a baby SUV. Edwards says he scan see such a model performing well in several markets, but has yet to see a convincing business case for bringing the machine to life right now. Other premium manufacturers are seriously pushing into the small CUV market with vehicles like the upcoming Porsche Macan, BMW X1 and even the Mini Countryman.
If the small Land Rover were to come to fruition, we could expect the car to carry an MSRP of around 18,000 pounds in the UK, or around $27,500 in the US at current conversion rates. Autocar reports the machine would likely borrow design cues from the beefy-looking Land Rover DC100 Concept as well as the upcoming Defender replacement. 

 Courtesy of Auto Blog

Land Rover Sponsored Race2Recovery to feature in Two One–Hour Special TV Series on ITV4!

Whitley, 24^th April 2013. An exciting new two-part documentary, Dakar Rally: Frontline to Finish Line, follows the Race2Recovery team of seriously injured servicemen from Britain and the US who took on the world's toughest rally in January this year. The two one-hour series will be aired on ITV4 at 9pm on Wednesday 24^th and Friday 26^thApril 2013. 

The Dakar saw the team race almost 6000 miles over 15 days through Peru, Argentina and Chile in Land Rover Defender-based Wildcats. They tackled some of the most challenging, isolated terrain in the world, from giant sand dunes to the Atacama Desert and the top of the Andes. The Dakar is the ultimate test of man and machine versus the elements, but for the Race2Recovery team, there was an added challenge. Each of the four cars contained an amputee serviceman as part of the two-man crew. Co-driver Corporal Tom Neathway, for example, is a triple amputee, having lost both legs and an arm while serving in Afghanistan.

The rally was the culmination of two years' hard work. The idea for Race2Recovery grew out of a conversation between Neathway and Captain Tony Harris at Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre and quickly grew into a twenty-eight strong rally team, comprised of volunteers and servicemen. Harris became the first amputee driver to enter the Dakar, using a specially adapted clutch pedal. 

The team's target was to get four Land Rover-based Wildcat vehicles across the finish line, but things did not go according to plan. Within days, three of the Wildcats had been forced to retire, one in a horrifying rollover crash. The tears flowed as the crews saw their dream turn into a nightmare. The infamous Dakar had bitten hard but against the odds, the remaining Wildcat, nicknamed 'Joy' after the wife of a team benefactor, struggled on. Joy made it to the finish line in Santiago de Chile and in doing so, co-driver Corporal Barney Gillespie became the first amputee to complete the Dakar.

"It is almost two years to the day since I was blown up in Afghanistan," said Gillespie at the finish. "There were dark days when I thought life as I knew it was over, but I hope I've shown that serious injury is no barrier to doing extraordinary things. Everyone here's been through so much, but we've all supported each other. It's been an emotional journey, but we made it."

Land Rover Brand Experience Director, Mark Cameron commented: "What the Race2Recovery team accomplished in South America earlier this year is a testament to achieving an extraordinary feat of human endurance despite the odds being well and truly stacked against them.

"Despite this, they pushed on and won the ultimate prize - not just finishing the race but becoming role models for anyone suffering injury, illness or adversity in their lives.

"Land Rover is proud to support the Race2Recovery team with our all-terrain vehicles perfect for covering the demanding terrain associated with the Dakar."

The inspirational challenge received Royal backing when it became the first ever recipient of a grant from the Endeavour Fund, set up by the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.  The Duke and Duchess sent the team a personal note of congratulation on their completion of the rally. "Catherine and I have heard the wonderful news about your success today − many, many congratulations.  We know it was not easy, but you have today become true record holders as the first ever disability team to complete what is one of the world's toughest challenges.  What you have achieved was a triumph of perseverance and teamwork, and you have shown the world what true valour looks like."

Prime Minister David Cameron added his congratulations, telling the team they, "should all be rightfully proud to be the first disabled team to complete what is recognised as one the of the world's toughest challenges. You have shown that disability should be no barrier to achieving success and have fully lived up to the team motto 'Beyond Injury - Achieving the Extraordinary'."

Dakar Rally: Frontline to Finish Line will be shown on ITV4 Wednesday 24^th and Friday 26^th April 2013.

Courtesy of: Land Rover Media

This 2011 Land Rover Range Rover HSE, with only 20k miles on it, won't be around for long!

Click here to browse through our inventory.

Here's a Maintenance tip to make those summer trips a breeze!

Check Brakes:

You want to make sure that your brake system is working the way it should. You should check the system at least twice a year, especially before winter and before summer. Salt and other chemicals used on the roads in the winter can cause excess wear on your brake pads, leaving you with less stopping power. You also want to check your brake fluid. Brake fluid does evaporate through use. The brake system is a closed system and any large drop in fluid level can mean you may have a leak that requires repairs. If there is a significant drop in the amount of fluid you’ll want to take it to your mechanic and have it looked at.

Courtesy of Car Insurance Quotes Online

The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Sheds 800 Pounds, Gains Supercharged V-6 !

Edgier, sleeker, and faster, the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is the sporting complement to the off-road specialist (with on-road credentials) found in the new Range Rover.

Unveiled this evening just before the 2013 New York Auto Show, the 2014 Range Rover Sport improves upon the previous model's formula with quicker acceleration, lighter weight, and greater agility.

How much lighter is the new Range Rover Sport? Try 800 pounds lighter. That's like kicking four 200-pound six-footers out of the super-SUV--without having to leave your friends on the roadside.

Four variations of the 2014 Range Rover Sport will be offered in the U.S.: the base SE, with a 3.0-liter supercharged 340-horsepower V-6; the HSE with the same engine but upgraded features; the Range Rover Sport Supercharged, with a 510-horsepower 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 (naturally); and the Range Rover Sport Autobiography, with the same engine as the Supercharged model, but again, a better set of equipment.

All 2014 Range Rover Sport models are equipped with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Two transfer cases are available: one with a single-speed Torsen limited-slip differential; a second with two-speed locking differentials and low range. The second is the more off-road-suited choice.

Stop/start is also standard on all Range Rover Sport models, as is the updated Terrain Response 2 system, which automatically adjusts to suit the terrain or road conditions.

Another new aspect to the Range Rover Sport range is 5+2 seating, bringing an optional third-row seating element for "occasional use". That should probably be read as "for kids, and for short periods only," but it does expand the utility of the Sport for those on the fence between it and the larger standard Range Rover.

Courtesy of Motor Authority

Thanks Caroline for such a pleasant review!

“They had a very no-pressure sales approach which I greatly appreciate. Every experience we have had so far has been very pleasant, and the entire team has bent over backwards to accomodate all of our needs.” - Caroline

 To check out more reviews click here.

Easy Ways To Increase Your Gas Mileage!

Turn off the Car:Idling gets zero miles per gallon and collectively consumes several billion gallons of fuel per year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The California Energy Commission (CEC) advises that vehicles should be turned off if the expected wait will be longer than 10 seconds, since an idling vehicle can burn as much as one gallon of gas each hour. Turning the car off can save about 5 cents per minute. 

Courtesy of Investopedia

Join filmmaker and traveler Peter Bragiel as he covers 6,500 miles by crossing through 25 US states in 1 month.

HRH The Prince of Wales reinforces his support for Britain’s countryside & the next generation of farmers!

Land Rover and The Prince's Countryside Fund announce applications open for new bursary to help support British rural communities.

The Prince of Wales visited a Land Rover driver-training programme, where applications for a new Bursary scheme that aims to support British countryside communities, were officially opened. During the visit The Prince of Wales again highlighted the urgent need to help Britain's rural economy, and called for more support for countryside communities.

Visiting Kitridding Farm, near Kirby Lonsdale, to meet a variety of beneficiaries and experience training first hand, His Royal Highness announced details of the new Land Rover Bursary in partnership with The Countryside Fund. The scheme will offer a bursary to five individuals or groups who can demonstrate that the use of a Freelander 2 for a year would enable them to support their rural community.

During the visit, The Prince spoke to a number of young people currently benefiting from his charity about their ambitions and the challenges they faced.  Matthew Alexio, a hill farming apprentice from Cumbria, said: "When you're brought up surrounded by landscape like this, you never want to leave it.  Hill farming gives the satisfaction of rearing livestock and the peace of mind that the landscape is being preserved.  If we weren't supported by apprentice schemes like this, there would be no one our age entering hill farming.  We are the future of farming and have a responsibility to manage the countryside."

The Prince showed off his own skills by taking part in a training session where he drove a vehicle on a mini-Terrapod, an off-roading mobile unit that uses a combination of steep slopes, low friction surfaces and other obstacles to emphasise the grip and traction abilities of the vehicle.

In his speech HRH the Prince of Wales said: "I really want to use this opportunity today to express my warmest possible gratitude to Land Rover for their really remarkable generosity in ensuring we now have this splendid scheme. 

"Land Rover, as a fully-fledged supporter of the Prince's Countryside Fund, is creating a bursary of its own with the gift of five Freelander 2s for a year which can be won by five individuals who can demonstrate that they will be using the cars for the rural community.

"It is this sort of willingness to be involved that makes a fantastic difference in ensuring we can maintain the priceless national asset that is our British countryside." 

The Countryside Fund beneficiaries learnt a variety of skills from winching to how to drive safely off-road. Laura Schwab, Marketing Director of Land Rover UK, said: "Having reliable and dependable transport to work in the countryside is essential and we hope these bursaries will benefit entrepreneurial farmers. Driving skills such as towing and winching are crucial when it comes to being able to use a vehicle such as a Land Rover Freelander 2 to its full potential.  At Land Rover Experience we aim to be able to teach these specialist skills to anyone needing them, either for day to day travelling around the countryside or more specific working needs."

Victoria Harris, Director of The Prince's Countryside Fund said: "We are delighted to announce that applications are now open for our Land Rover vehicle bursary and are excited about the variety of people and businesses that we are expecting to apply. 4x4 vehicles are crucial in helping rural businesses get around the countryside for their daily business needs and providing this opportunity to our rural communities is a fantastic thing to be able to do."

Land Rover announced in January a three-year partnership with The Prince's Countryside Fund. The partnership involves the support of rural communities by offering Freelander 2 vehicles to five groups or individuals who demonstrate how the use of the vehicle will benefit their community.  They could be a young entrepreneur starting a rural enterprise, an apprentice hill farmer or an organisation offering free transport to rurally isolated people or access to training opportunities for young people dedicated to building a sustainable future for rural communities.

Courtesy of: Land Rover Media 

Hurry in and take advantage of this special!

Land Rover Supports 'Tiger Tracks' and the Campaign to Save the World's Endangered Big Cats!

• Land Rover's involvement with Save Wild Tigers forms part of its long-established global conservation partnership with the Born Free Foundation wildlife charity who was one of the beneficiaries of the night
• Land Rover supports Save Wild Tigers' initiative to raise funds and build public awareness about the threats to the world's tiger population
• Tiger Tracks - a three-week programme of activities and promotions at St Pancras International rail terminal - climaxed with a celebrity gala dinner and charity auction, with a year's use of a Range Rover Evoque among the star lots to be won. 

Land Rover is pleased to support the world's largest event to highlight the plight of the tiger. Tiger Tracks was a three-week programme of activities and promotions at St Pancras International rail terminus in London, organised by Save Wild Tigers to raise funds for vital conservation work and build public awareness about the threats that could render the tiger extinct in just 10 years.

The event concluded on 21 March with a high-profile charity reception and dinner at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. It was supported by leading figures including Virginia McKenna, Joanna Lumley, Jimmy Choo and Louise Redknapp. The evening included a charity auction to help bring in valuable funds for the Save Wild Tigers' project and the work of the Born Free Foundation and Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), with Land Rover donating a year's use of a new Range Rover Evoque. The event raised the incredible amount of £75,000. 

Mark Cameron, Jaguar Land Rover Brand Experience Director said: "We at Land Rover are very happy to be able to help in raising funds for this extremely worthwhile cause, a world without Wild Tigers is unthinkable and therefore we need to do everything possible to avoid such an outcome." 

Save Wild Tigers is a global initiative established by Simon Clinton with the international wildlife charity Born Free Foundation, and the Environmental Investigation Agency. Its principal aims are to end the illegal tiger trade and to protect the animals in their natural habitat. 

Land Rover's involvement comes through its conservation partnership with the Born Free Foundation. Since 2002, it has supported the foundation through project funding, providing vehicles for its work around the world and by publicising its activities through promotions in its dealerships, staff incentives and merchandising. The Born Free Foundation's field projects for Save Wild Tigers engage communities to help secure vital tiger habitat and keep wildlife in the wild. 

More information about Save Wild Tigers and Tiger Tracks at St Pancras International can be found at www.savewildtigers.org  For more about the Born Free Foundation, visit www.bornfree.org.uk 

Courtesy of: Land Rover Media

Be Sure to Check Hoses and Belts Regularly!

The key to summer driving is keeping the engine cool. We're going to talk about the radiator and coolant soon, but first you need to check the hoses and belts. The hoses connected to the radiator help pump coolant to and from the engine block, and the belts run the fan that helps cool the system further. If the hoses crack or the belts snap, the radiator will quickly overheat, leaving you stranded.

Check hoses for cracks, leaks and loose connections. Hoses should be firm, never soft and malleable. Hoses suffer from a slow deterioration process called electrochemical degradation (ECD) that eats away at rubber hose material from the inside. The most vulnerable parts of the hose are those nearest to clamps where the hose connects to the radiator or the engine.
Belts can also be visually checked for cracks and damage. Take note if the belt looks excessively slick or smooth. Remove the belt to make sure that the material hasn't started separating into different layers. Experts say the risk of belt failure rises dramatically after 36,000 miles.

Courtesy of How Stuff Works