The Range Rover for 2006 features two new petrol engines ? including a powerful supercharged 4.2-litre ? and a profusion of new technology.
The Range Rover for 2006 gains two powerful, Jaguar-derived petrol engines, which offer more performance and are predicted to have better fuel economy than the single outgoing V8 petrol. Now heading the line-up is a supercharged 287kW 4.2-litre engine, with maximum torque of 550Nm. It offers over 35 percent more power than the outgoing V8, over 25 percent more torque ? which contributes to more refined driving ? and is projected to be around 7.62 seconds faster from 0-100km/h.
The new, naturally aspirated 220kW and 425Nm 4.4-litre V8 is also quicker and more powerful than the outgoing V8. The 0-100km/h acceleration time is projected to be around 8.93 seconds faster and maximum power is increased by 15kW.

Both engines are lightweight and use advanced torque-based engine management systems that, together with drive-by-wire throttle control and variable camshaft phasing (on the naturally aspirated), continually adjust the engine to deliver optimum performance, fuel economy and emissions.
For the Range Rover, the Jaguar-sourced engines have been further developed to offer more torque at lower revs and to operate at more extreme angles to cope with tough off-roading. They have enhanced protection from dust and rocks, and are also better water-proofed for Land Rover’s tough river-wading requirements.

The new engines are matched to the latest-generation ZF six-speed automatic electronically controlled transmission, which offers outstanding smoothness and response. It uses a centre differential (now electronically controlled) that improves both off-road prowess and on-road handling. Low-range is also available for extreme off-roading.
Steering feel is enhanced and the air suspension with adjustable ride-height is improved, for even better on- and off-road performance and comfort.
In addition, the supercharged version gets performance Brembo front brakes for better stopping power, and revised suspension that delivers flatter handling, for superior high-speed on-road performance.
The Range Rover retains its iconic shape, but there are subtle yet distinct changes. All Range Rovers for 2006 get a new front bumper design, new headlamps and tail-lights, a new front grille and revised power vents. New 18-inch and 19-inch alloy wheels are also available. The supercharged derivative gets distinctive, additional styling modifications, which include mesh-design front grille and power vents, and unique 20-inch alloy wheels.

The much-acclaimed Range Rover interior design does not change. The supercharged model, however, does offer two new trim colour combinations, jet/jet (all black) and ivory/jet. Black lacquer wood is also now available, and all supercharged vehicles get special sports-designed stainless steel accelerator and brake pedals.

The Range Rover for 2006 is not only faster, it is also quieter. The new engines offer better NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) qualities than their predecessor, and are also better isolated from the interior. Cabin noise is significantly reduced. The front side glass is now laminated to cut out more external sound and the profile of the A-post has been modified to reduce wind noise. The result is the quietest Range Rover ever.

It is also the best equipped. Additional customer features available include a rear camera for easier reverse parking, a tyre pressure monitoring system and adaptive front headlamps that swivel when cornering, to improve illumination. A rear seat entertainment system is now available, with two headrest-mounted 6.5-inch screens, a six-disc DVD auto-changer, infra-red remote control, wireless headphones and sockets for auxiliary media sources (such as an MP3 player or games console).

These improvements are in addition to other luxury appointments. These include a DVD satellite navigation that provides both on- and off-road guidance, a Logic 7 harman/kardon audio system boasting 14 speakers and 710 watts of power, and a personal integrated telephone system. This latest in-car phone is Bluetooth-enabled and can be voice, touch-screen or steering wheel operated. Cradle-mounted phone handsets also allow for SMS text messaging (via an on-screen keyboard). A new, easy-to-use touch-screen is standard on all derivatives. It has clear resolution, for easy visibility in all light, and provides an interface for audio, navigation, on-board computer, telephone, and 4×4 information and settings.

The popular six-cylinder turbodiesel powertrain continues unchanged, though with the refreshed exterior design details and additional features for 2006.

(this article was taken from motoring.iafrica.com)

Brookwell Supplies is proud to announce that we will be attending the LRO Show on Stand A3A, the show is to be held on the Bank Holiday Weekend of the 26th, 27th and 28th of August 2005.

This is the biggest event on the Land Rover show calendar which attracts on average 31,000 visitors every year. The Three Counties Showground is easily accessible from anywhere in the country – just 8 miles from the M5 and M50 motorways.

It will be a real pleasure to meet our customers face to face rather than on the end of a phone, come along to the stand and say hello as we will be organising giveaways throughout the show.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Use this map to find our stand on the day:

Land Rover has introduced two new versions of the Freelander described as ‘Definitive Editions’ – presumably because they will be the last before the Freelander gets replaced in 2006.

The ‘Adventurer’ derivative includes air-conditioning, front sports seats, 16″ alloy wheels, alarm and front fog lights, with prices starting from ?17,300. The Freelander ‘Freestyle’ model has, in addition, 17″ alloy wheels, park distance control, heated front seats, six CD auto changer and powerfold mirrors, with prices from ?19,300.

In addition, enhanced features will also be included on the Sport derivative. Privacy glass, roof rails, 18″ alloy wheels, heated front seats and leather/Alcantara seats are now fitted as standard, with prices from ?21,600.

The West Midlands car maker Land Rover is cutting production of its new Freelander model – because its engine was produced by MG Rover.
The company is planning to limit sales of the vehicle to the United States so it uses up remaining stocks of the engine more slowly.

Land Rover says it will cut a shift from the Freelander production line in early July.

Three hundred agency workers are expected lose their jobs as a result.

LANHAM, Md.

MOVIEGOERS are sitting through repeated viewings of the final “Star Wars” installment, trying to fathom their hero’s unfathomable transformation from Anakin Skywalker, handsome good guy, into Darth Vader, disfigured villain. At Land Rover, an equally extreme mutation has occurred in the other direction: the coarse and disagreeable Discovery has evolved into a gracefully refined new vehicle, the LR3.

The Disco made sense mainly for hard-core off-roaders. As spry as a goat in the mountains and as hardy as a camel in the desert, it was often beastly in civilized surroundings. All the while, it treated its occupants with the delicacy of a police van, inflicting punishment even before charges were leveled or a verdict was rendered.

And the Discovery’s abysmal reliability scores – confirmed over years of surveys by Consumer Reports and J. D. Power & Associates – brought to mind another film. In “The Gods Must Be Crazy,” the protagonist struggles to counter his Land Rover’s faulty parking brake as he tries to open a gate without losing his truck.

Any character that comes over from the Dark Side needs a new name and a new look to confirm its conversion to civility. Casting off the Discovery’s armored helmet – its functional high-box design – the LR3 emerges as one of the sharpest-looking S.U.V.’s on or off the road. A box it remains, but it is a classier box. While it bears a distinct resemblance to the more expensive Range Rover, it is not an outright clone, lacking the gill slits in the front fenders, for instance. If the Disco dressed in khakis, the LR3 wears a pressed Armani suit.

The Discovery did not simply fall short in quality, it was saddled with old technology, including a V-8 engine that dated from a General Motors design of the 1960′s. But Land Rover, which in 2001 found new a foster parent in Ford after a brief stay in the house of BMW, has benefited from huge investments in its engineering, design and manufacturing facilities, some of which predated World War II. Land Rover insists that the LR3′s quality will reflect these improved operations.

That remains to be seen, but I can say that the fit and finish of my test truck seemed excellent. The only flaw I noted was a persistent buzz when the stereo was cranked up.

With so many changes, perhaps the new name was in order. But here’s the thing: people who owned Discoverys liked them, and people who were unfamiliar with them didn’t know much about their shortcomings. So the Disco didn’t carry the strong negative associations of say, the late, unlamented Chevy Cavalier (recently replaced by a new car with a new name, the Cobalt).

The LR3 will still carry the Discovery name elsewhere in the world. For Americans, the new designation hardly seems an improvement. Why not leave those generic, meaningless alphanumerics for robots like C-3PO and R2-D2? Give us adventurous names that evoke Luke Skywalker’s X-34 landspeeder zooming over the desert.

The LR3 will zoom, too, thanks to its 300-horsepower Jaguar-derived V-8 (which is itself related to the engines in the Lincoln LS and Ford Thunderbird) and six-speed automatic transmission. That power will cost you at the pump, though; the LR3′s economy rating of 14 m.p.g. in the city, and 18 on the highway, is typical for an S.U.V. like this, but thirsty by any measure.

The 4.4-liter engine is enlarged slightly from its Jaguar specification, and it has special oil and water pumps designed to operate at extreme angles. The water-resistant air intake breathes through a vent in the right front fender. Ostensibly, the LR3 can ford water up to that level.

The technical showcase of the LR3 is its Terrain Response System, an ingenious means of adapting the various electronic systems to suit driving conditions. A knob on the console lets the driver select normal highway driving; slick surfaces like snow or ice; deep mud; sand; or rock-crawling. Each selection adjusts the height of the air suspension, the operation of the locking differentials (center and rear); the traction control and the transmission’s shift points.

If you’ve unexpectedly encountered a challenge in an off-road vehicle, and found yourself puzzling over whether to lock one or more differentials or make other adjustments, you will appreciate the LR3′s user-friendly setup.

What’s more, the system is idiot-proof, overriding the setting for, say, sand, if you forget to turn back the dial before pulling onto the highway.

The air suspension contributes to the LR3′s ability to be all things to all people by providing a truly comfortable highway ride while permitting good off-road performance. The only noticeable downside was the system’s tendency to make embarrassing flatulent noises after parking.

I spent a day at Land Rover’s off-road course here, which offered plenty of opportunities to get into trouble – traversing muddy ruts, climbing giant rocks and fording ponds – but despite my best efforts I never had to use the optional winch.

Creeping off ledges and down rocky dropoffs offered a glimpse of a future when cars may drive themselves. The Hill Descent Control limits the LR3′s speed as it descends, so I lifted my size 12 boot from the brake pedal and just drove off the ledge, trusting the LR3 to do its thing. Which it did – applying the brakes and traction control to maintain a slow, steady crawl.

Removing yourself from the controls as you drive off a precipice requires a leap of faith, quite literally, but this time I had the reassurance of Jim Swett, a Land Rover instructor and off-road expert who came along for the ride. Mr. Swett also provided a tip for improved traction when churning through deep mud: shake the steering wheel back and forth as quickly as possible, he said, to try to shake out some of the mud packed in the tire treads.

Real off-road tires are self-cleaning, and they would have worked much better on the off-road course. The test model’s highway-oriented tires are better suited to conquering the suburban streets that LR3′s will patrol in the hands of most owners.

Land Rover offers its owners opportunities, for a fee, to test their vehicles and their own skills at off-road schools around the country. A big benefit of these schools is that they provide the vehicles, so you won’t spend the next week cleaning muck out of your own.

For its $53,245 sticker price (the base version is $44,995), the LR3 test car had a cabin as comfortable and attractive as the underpinnings were capable. The look is in keeping with the old-world image of British vehicles, with luxurious wood and leather trim; even the vinyl looks soft and expensive.

A sunroof over the front seats, plus fixed skylights over the second and optional third rows, give the interior an open feel that contrasts with the cavelike sensation of many three-row vehicles.

The LR3′s independent rear suspension not only works well off-road, it permits an unexpected amount of third-row legroom. This, combined with that seat’s own climate control vents, reading lights, cup holders, audio controls and headphone jacks, make the rear fairly accommodating. The second-row seats flip easily forward, supported by gas struts, for access. Everyone gets the limo treatment in the LR3.

When in use, the third-row seat does consume most of the cargo space, so the LR3 is an either-or vehicle – accepting either a full complement of passengers or a full load of cargo, but not both at the same time.

Among the nice details are third-row headrests that slide down low when not in use, making it easier to see out the rear window when backing up. For better visibility you can fold the seat entirely, which opens up the view out of the irregularly shaped rear window.

That window flips up while the rest of the rear folds down like a tailgate. A conventional upward-lifting hatch would be more convenient, since it could be opened with a single action rather than requiring that the window be raised first.

I had one aggravation with the interior: the window switches are so far forward on the door that they are inconvenient even for drivers with orangutan arms.

There are lots of reasons to consider an LR3, though for the way most Americans drive, a vehicle with such off-road prowess amounts to extreme overkill. Face it: lots of Land Rovers are sold on image alone.

The company’s rough-and-ready reputation was cemented in the United States by decades of exposure by the Crocodile Hunter’s spiritual predecessors, Marlin Perkins and Jim Fowler, on “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.” Each week Americans would watch as Mr. Fowler ventured out to wrestle a wild beast, aided only by his trusty Land Rover. (Perkins always narrated the encounters from a safe distance.)

Hey, if the Land Rover could keep Jim out of harm’s way week in and week out, it must be good.

Even if the Disco turned out to be not so great once it was domesticated into a luxury vehicle, it cleared a path for an LR3 that looks to be more hero than villain. As fans of Star Wars know, the offspring can turn out much better than their forebears.

INSIDE TRACK: The Force is strong with this one.

REACHING parts of North Devon that other police vehicles can’t reach, a brand new Land Rover is the very latest addition to the fleet – courtesy of Winstone Pincombe Land Rovers of Chulmleigh.

As part of a two-year corporate sponsorship deal, the TD5 Short Wheel based Landrover will be based in South Molton for the first six months to enable to officers to reach remote areas of Exmoor.

It will then be swapped with the police force’s own Land Rover Discovery in Lynton, before returning to South Molton next summer.

Chief Insp Sarah Nutt said: “Essentially, the vehicle will be used in routine response and slower-time incidents and to enable our staff to get to hard-to-reach areas – particularly some of the more challenging areas where tracks and driveways are not easy to reach in normal response vehicles.

“Corporate sponsorship deals like this are highly beneficial to both the police and the community and we are extremely grateful to Winstone Pincombe.

“The Land Rover has been parked outside the police station in North Road for about two weeks and garage owner Winstone Pincombe has already been getting a good response from customers as a result.

“This is the second corporate sponsorship deal following an earlier arrangement with Croyde Motors. Both contracts are working extremely well and show how a strong commitment from the community can really help the police.

BIRMINGHAM, England ? Land Rover is working on a small car-based SUV that would become a new entry-level model below the Freelander, according to U.K. press reports.

British magazine Autocar reported “insiders at Land Rover” confirmed that a design team was working on a car-based model but had not yet persuaded Ford’s management to build it.

“We have to make a business case for a new model,” the source was quoted. “Land Rover has to prove that the investment by Ford over the past five years is paying off.”

The car-based SUV could be seen as a concept in the near future. It is likely to be based on Ford Motor Co.’s C1 platform, which underpins the Ford Focus and the Volvo S40 and V50. The platform offers front- and four-wheel drive and a range of four-, five- and six-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines.

With anti-4×4 sentiment growing, especially in the U.K., a smaller and more environmentally friendly vehicle could become necessary for the brand. Greenpeace activists have been targeting Land Rover.

What this means to you: The popularity of smaller SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 cannot be ignored ? even by hardcore off-road brands such as Land Rover.

Insiders at Land Rover have confirmed to Autocar that a design team is working on a car-based model. ?We have to make a business case for a new model,? said our source. ?This is a relatively complicated process, as Land Rover has to prove that the investment by Ford over the past five years is paying off.?

Despite the hurdles that the Solihull-based company has to clear, the new car could be seen as a concept in the near future. And if the baby Land Rover does appear in the spotlights at a major motor show, we can be sure Ford has given the idea the green light. But the project would be a substantial development effort by Land Rover?s engineering team, making a launch unlikely before late 2007.

We understand the new vehicle will be based on the Ford Group?s C1 chassis, which underpins the Focus and the Volvo S40/V50. This offers both front- and four-wheel drive and a range of four-, five- and even six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

In 2002 Wolfgang Reitzle, then overall boss of Land Rover, revealed his idea of a smaller, cheaper model ? nicknamed the Landy ? to be positioned under the Freelander.
The Landy would probably be marginally shorter than a Focus estate but have a much taller roofline. The project could be a new chapter in Land Rover design, marking a fresh
interpretation of today?s distinctive look.

There?s a strong sense at Land Rover that in 12 months, when the new Freelander is rolling off the line, Land Rover and Ford will have triggered the Landy project. And by then, anti-4×4 sentiment could make the model a necessity.

Meanwhile, work continues on next year?s replacement for the Freelander. Mules have been spotted testing at the N?ring under the body of a current Freelander. Secrecy surrounds the looks, although Land Rover design-boss Geoff Upex has endowed it with an appearance similar to that of the Range Rover and Discovery. Unlike today?s model, only a five-door version will be available, and insiders say there won?t be a seven-seater despite bigger dimensions.

The new car is being developed as part of a broader new-car programme at parent company Ford. Other forthcoming cars in the programme include Ford?s Mondeo, the LMV and SAV people-carrier siblings, and Volvo?s S60, V70, S80, XC70 and XC50 ? the latter two are sister models of the Freelander.

Using a reworked version of the C1 platform, the Freelander receives a stretched wheelbase and increased track widths. Although the car relies heavily on Ford components, Land Rover engineers have been given the freedom to upgrade many aspects of the mechanical package, particularly the 4×4 system, to ensure it delivers top-notch off-road performance. Among the changes are a thicker propshaft and reworked driveshafts with additional splines for extra strength. The Freelander also gets more wheel travel and an upgraded cooling system.

Land Rover is planning a wide range of petrol and diesels for the new Freelander ? including a 233bhp 3.2 six-cylinder unit that?s deemed crucial to the new car?s sales prospects in the US. Other petrols include a 145bhp 2.0-litre four- and a 200bhp 2.5-litre five-cylinder unit. Among the diesels will be 125bhp 1.8 and 140bhp 2.0 four-cylinder units, and a 185bhp 2.4 five-cylinder. All have been redesigned for off-road performance. Transmissions will include a five-speed manual, a six-speed manual for more powerful versions and a six-speed automatic.

The mighty Range Rover and Range Rover Sport aren?t being ignored either. Our spies spotted a development car powered by an all-new 3.6-litre V8 turbodiesel, to be built at Ford?s Dagenham plant. It?s thought that the engine will be good for around 250bhp and well over 400lb ft of torque.

Volume production should begin in November and around 35,000 engines should be made in a full year. It?s expected to be fitted to the Range Rover Sport later this year and the Range Rover in 2006. Ford is at the cutting edge of diesel engine design with this engine?s block, which is made from Compacted Graphite Iron (GGI). Industry experts say that as the massive fuel injection pressures found in modern diesel engines increase even further, CGI will also be used for cylinder heads instead of aluminium.

A Range Rover with hybrid power is also being planned to offset the criticisms of anti-4×4 campaigners, a top-level Land Rover source has revealed. The favoured option is a diesel/electric system, If it?s signed off soon the hybrid could be in the showrooms by 2009.

Two new ‘Definitive Edition’ Land Rover Freelander models, ‘Adventurer’ and ‘Freestyle’, are introduced to the 2006 model year range and are on-sale now.

The new Freelander range offers a higher level of specification on both 3 and 5 door models, with the ‘Adventurer’

derivative boasting standard features that include air-conditioning, front sports seats, 16″ alloy wheels, alarm and front fog lights, and available from ?17,300.
The Freelander ‘Freestyle’ model has in addition, 17″ alloy wheels, park distance control, heated front seats, six CD auto changer, mud flaps, powerfold mirrors and glass roof panels (3 door only), and is available from ?19,300.

For the 2006 model year, enhanced features will also be included on the Sport derivative. Privacy glass, roof rails, 18″ alloy wheels, heated front seats and leather/Alcantara seat facings are all now available as standard from ?21,600.

The annual LRO Show is the biggest gathering of Land Rovers in the world.

This year it will be staged at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, on August 26-28. The Showground is easily accessible – just 8 miles from the M5 and M50 motorways. It can be reached by rail, car or coach and is in an ideal central location for visitors from all over the UK.

The revamped event will include the following:

Improved features

• New and refreshed content

• Non-stop entertainment
• An off-road course for all skill levels
• Superb amenities – including site layout, signage, toilets and camping facilities
• Something for everyone, from casual family visitor to committed enthusiast
• Rare and amazing Land Rovers from all over the world
• Stunning location
• High-level of professional security

Visit the LRO Show website