A unique specification 35th Anniversary Limited Edition Range Rover goes on sale this month.

The first glimpse of this special and exclusive Range Rover can be caught whilst it leads the cavalcade of The South London and Surrey Land Rover Club London to Brighton Land Rover Run from Crystal Palace Park in London to Madeira Drive in Brighton, on Sunday 2 October.

The V8 Supercharged 35th Anniversary Range Rover is equipped to Vogue SE specification and comes complete with a harman/kardon ‘Logic 7′ sound system, 7-inch touch-screen navigation with 4×4 information, rear-screen entertainment with DVD, personal telephone integration system, colour rear-view camera, front and rear Park Distance Control, and park heating with timer and remote control as standard.

Bespoke Limited Edition features include ‘Anniversary Claret’ metallic paintwork, carmen red leather interior and dual-toned steering wheel in the finest hand-picked Windsor leather, extended burr walnut trim and Limited Edition claret deep-pile sheepskin foot rugs.

The Range Rover was conceived in the mid 1960s when Land Rover began to develop a vehicle that would combine saloon car levels of performance, handling, ride comfort and refinement with all the ruggedness and off-road ability of the original. The ‘tough luxury’ Range Rover was the result and made its world debut at the London Motor Show in June 1970.

A mere 35 Limited Editions are on sale now exclusively to the UK priced at £85,000 on the road.

(this article was taken from newcarnet.co.uk)

Wolfgang Reitzle was a senior exec at BMW when that company owned Land Rover, and he personally spearheaded the development of a new Range Rover planned for a 2002 introduction. He left to join Ford before the job was done–only to reinherit the project when the Blue Oval acquired Land Rover. When the flagship Rangie came to market, it did so carrying a BMW powerplant. Ford, for obvious reasons, wanted to segue to homegrown engines, taking the opportunity to do that, and much more, with a substantial midlife update for 2006.

The previous BMW V-8 cranked out 282 horsepower and was backed by a five-speed automatic transmission. That combo has been replaced by two new powertrains: a 4.4-liter naturally aspirated aluminium V-8 good for 305 horses and an Eaton-supercharged 4.2-liter unit packing an impressive 400 ponies. Both are mated to an outstanding ZF six-speed automatic, offering a Sport mode and manual control. New grille and headlight treatments, plus redesigned A-pillar finishers, reduce wind noise. Chassis and subframe revisions make for more quiet as well. Audio/ nav/communications systems have been upgraded, and a rear-seat DVD audio/video system is available, too. The Supercharged model is visually distinguished via a mesh grille and side-gill treatment, badging, and dual exhaust pipes. As you’d expect, it also has sportier damping, stiffer anti-roll bars, larger and more aggressive rolling stock, and Brembo front brake calipers.

The current Range Rover didn’t offer much to complain about, but the new one is sharper, more up-to-date, and more refined in every way. Only the fuzzy mouse-fur headliner, similar to that on many $20,000 cars, looks out of character. The blown model offers more performance than one needs in a luxury sport/utility, and the firmer handling is welcome at high speeds and in mountain passes. Land Rover should consider making its underpinnings optional on the base model as a Sport package. The ride remains supple, although with much enhanced road feel.

The sales types guess that just 15 to 20 percent of next year’s estimated 15,000 Range Rover sales will be of the Supercharged model. So, it’ll enjoy the cachet of rarity (and a big sticker price) as well as its premium performance. Herr Reitzle would be proud.

(this article was taken from motortrend.com)

In the world outside the United States, Range Rover has a reputation of being able to travel virtually anywhere the driver chooses. While the luxurious comfort it offers is an important aspect to the Range Rover, in these markets it seems to take a back seat to its hardiness.

In the United States it is practically the opposite. Most owners choose the Range Rover for its luxurious appointments with the off-road prowess secondary. However, secondary as it may be, the abilities of this vehicle are rated one of the top reasons why these folks buy a Range Rover. It is the old adage: “I want to know that my vehicle can do it if I want to.”
Having the knowledge that their Range Rover can crawl over fallen trees, through mud and up steep ravines is a high priority for these buyers. That’s a fact, even though these folks probably never will go off paved roads.
So, if the average buyer isn’t looking for off-road prowess as his No.1 reason for purchasing the Range Rover, what is? That can be answered in one word: luxury.
However, Range Rover luxury is not like you might find in a fabulously expensive limousine. The luxury found here is practical and useful. The seats are as supportive as a sports car along with their superior comfort. The instruments are plentiful, yet easy to comprehend once you are familiar with them.
In part, because of the all-new engines — there are two available — the interior compartment is quiet and luxurious and offers a calming atmosphere without becoming lackluster. In fact, to call this vehicle boring is an insult to both the development team and your sense of driving. This Range Rover can and will add excitement to your drive.

Under the hood there are two choices for power, both derivatives of Jaguar engines. The naturally aspirated 4.4 V-8 engine is plenty capable to handle the more than average daily drive. This power plant produces 305 horsepower along with 325 foot-pounds of torque.
My favorite is the wonderfully powerful 4.2-liter V-8 that has a supercharger bolted on for a beautifully smooth 400 horsepower and 420 foot-pounds of torque. While both engines are smooth and powerful, the supercharged engine responds like a herd of horses being chased by a swarm of hornets.
To pull all the power and torque offered by each of these power plants, the development folks have bolted a six-speed automatic transmission that transfers all that power to useable energy on the pavement. For the sporty shifter in you, this transmission also offers CommandShift manual mode. This enables the driver to select the gear he prefers. This unit is one of the better systems on the market, able to put more control in the driver’s hand. It doesn’t interfere with gear selection, like many other luxury vehicles equipped with a manual-mode automatic transmission.
Since the inception of the first Range Rover in 1970, the company has had a wider vision for what was known then as a luxury four-wheeler.

Today, the Range Rover has a more concentrated visualization for this top-notch sport utility vehicle. The new Range Rover highlights luxury, style and versatility. While acceleration and handling may not be attributes Range Rover is concentrating on promoting, you are assured that this Range Rover hasn’t given up on performance.

It has, however, become a superior, enhanced luxury SUV that will, at your command and without worry, take you into the jungles of the Amazon just as easily as it navigates through the asphalt jungle of an American city.

(this article was written by Ron Moorhead for washingtontimes.com)

Land Rover’s 2006 Range Rover drops in at NAIAS with more power under its hood and minor cosmetic changes to its skin. The biggest news is the most powerful engine ever offered in a Land Rover: a supercharged, 400-hp, 420-lb-ft 4.2-liter V-8 that powers several current Jaguar models. A normally aspirated 4.4-liter V-8 producing 305 hp derived from the Jag 4.2 will also be available for the Land Rover flagship. Both engines should improve performance over the ’05 Range Rover’s sluggish (at least for it’s $70,000+ price range) nine-second 0–60 times achieved with the BMW-sourced, 282-hp, 4.4-liter V-8. The two new mills will incorporate advanced torque-based engine-management systems that should yield better fuel economy numbers despite the increases in power.

Exterior changes to the ’06 Range Rover will affect the front grille and bumper, power vents, taillamps, and wheels.

Most prominently, the headlight assemblies will be a bit smaller and more rounded following the example of Land Rover’s newly released LR3. The high-beam lamp will protrude into the grille assembly, thus eliminating some of the vertical straight lines on the Range Rover’s nose. The grille insets on supercharged models resemble the business end of a Remington MicroScreen electric razor, and replace the previous three-bar look that corporate parent Ford seems to have called rank for its upcoming models (i.e. Fusion, Fairlane concept, etc). Supercharged versions will also get unique twenty-inch alloy wheels.

Scheduled availability for the ’06 Range Rovers is sometime this summer.

(this article was taken from automobilemag.com)

Land Rover has developed an adaptation of the LR3, fitted with best-of-breed products and accessories, to demonstrate the enormous possibilities for an endurance athlete to travel, train and compete in style.

Land Rover vehicles are already among the most versatile available, and the LR3 offers numerous possibilities for showcasing, stowing and carrying performance-oriented gear. Featuring genuine Land Rover accessories such as – Hitch-Mounted Bike Rack, Rubber Mats, Waterproof Seat Covers, Cargo Dividers – and a premium collection of endurance brands such as — Cervélo bikes, Mizuno shoes, Zipp carbon fiber wheels, Orca wetsuits – the LR3 is well-suited for the needs of triathletes.

“Land Rover inspires and encourages adventure, so the proposition of creating an LR3 with these exemplary products was a natural fit,” said Sally Eastwood, marketing vice president for Land Rover North America. “It combines the most sought after gear for the triathlete with LR3’s extraordinary performance, adaptability, and stowage solutions, making it the perfect choice for anyone passionate about endurance sports.”

The credentials of the LR3 and these endurance brands, from purposeful design to durability, are imperatives for the endurance athlete, thus making an LR3 geared up for triathlon racing a complete solution.

Launched in November 2004, the Land Rover LR3 is the purest expression of a modern Land Rover, delivering state-of-the-art architecture, innovative technologies and iconic design in a very capable and spacious vehicle.

The patented Land Rover system, Terrain ResponseÔ, is a permanent, active system, which optimizes the vehicle’s set-up for different driving conditions, providing optimum traction, drivability and vehicle composure.

Powered by a 4.4-liter V8, or a 4.0-liter V6, the LR3 is capable of wading in depths of water up to 28-inches, and is loaded with extensive safety and control features to provide an even more confident driving experience.

Land Rover has joined with Competitor and Windy City Publishing – and their 11 regional magazines – to present an exclusive opportunity featuring an ultra-premium package of the triathlon gear fitted on the Land Rover LR3. To enter to win this collection, everything you need to make your LR3 ready for triathlon, visit www.gen-a.com/LR3 to enter the drawing, which will take place in December of this year.

The premium performance companies that provided product to outfit the LR3 for the endurance athlete are:

· Cervélo – Recognized as the most innovative bike manufacturer the sport has seen in years.
· Hammer Nutrition – A market leader in purpose designed healthy endurance fuels and supplements that help athletes improve their performance by enhancing the body’s positive response to exercise.
· Mizuno – Manufacturer of high quality athletic equipment for serious performance, through the artful combination of technology and craftsmanship.
· Orca – A highly influential sports brand with technical thinking, design and development, Orca creates and develops leading-edge wetsuits and sports apparel.
· Polar Bottle – The Polar Bottle combines the thermal properties of an insulated vacuum bottle with the lightweight, flexible features of a plastic bottle.
· Polar HRM’s – Provides personal fitness solutions, including heart rate monitors, to help people achieve their improvement goals.
· Specialized – A manufacturer of high-end bicycles, bicycle components and other products that encourage outdoor/active lifestyles.
· Speedplay Pedals – Located in San Diego, California, Speedplay Pedals designs and manufactures user-friendly, high-performance pedal systems for road and off-road cyclists.
· TYR – TYR has passionately dedicated itself to redefining the next generation of performance, recreational and multi-sport swimwear and accessories, while continuing to be the model of leading edge innovation and style.
· YAKIMA – The world leader in the design and manufacture of vehicle racks for bikes, boats, ski equipment and gear, including a full line of cargo boxes for a variety of space saving needs.
· Zipp – The premier manufacturer of carbon wheels in the United States, Zipp has been committed to providing triathletes and road racers with the best equipment for the last 17 years.
The triathlete promotional package includes a P3 SL time trial bike by Cervelo; 999 700 front and rear wheels by Zipp; P-Flex wet suit, Elite trisuit, bike shorts and bike shirt by Orca; Wave Creation 6 running shoes by Mizuno; Zero Titanium pedals by Speedplay; a selection of nutritional products and supplements from Hammer Nutrition; 625X running computer by Polar HRM; insulated bottle by Polar Bottle; Xsight race goggles, silicone swim cap and Aqua-Shift Skin suit by TYR; and a triathlon backpack by Triathlon Bag.

Land Rover accessories featured on the LR3 outfitted for triathletes are: Hitch-Mounted Bike Rack, Side Steps, Quick Release Tow Hitch Receiver, Lockable Crossbars, Day Tent, Electric Winch, Driving Lamp Kit, A-Frame Protection Bar, DVD System, Sliding Loadspace Floor, Rubber Mat Set and Waterproof Seat Covers. These, and all Land Rover accessories, are available at 164 U.S. Land Rover retailers. When purchased with a new vehicle, kit items are covered under the same limited warranty.

The LR3 outfitted for the triathlon racer is inspired by the Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year Award, which was presented to Land Rover by active.com and Competitor Magazine. The fully kitted LR3 will be touring the United States at select events throughout 2005.

(this article was taken from triathletemag.com)

Designed to complement the Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport is a completely new vehicle ? a more compact, more agile and more performance-oriented SUV.

Land Rover reckon it?s the best-performing and best-handling vehicle they’ve ever built.

This ?sports tourer?, the fifth nameplate for the company, offers a combination of powerful, but refined on-road performance and ? this being a Landy ? versatility and go-anywhere ability.

“It is an outstanding four-wheel-drive off-roader, as you?d expect from Land Rover,” reckons managing director Matthew Taylor. “And on road, compared with its rivals, we believe it is less frenetic, more refined and more comfortable. It all adds up to the broadest range of capability in its class.”

The top-line version uses a 287kW Jaguar-derived supercharged V8 engine and has a claimed top speed of 225 km/h, electronically limited ? making it the fastest and best-accelerating Land Rover yet (7.6 seconds for 0-100 km/h, they reckon).

Maximum torque is 550Nm and power and torque are fed, full-time, to all four wheels through a ZF six-speed ?intelligent shift? automatic gearbox. The transmission features sport programming and Land Rover?s Command Shift, which offers manual control of gear changes. Low range is electronically selectable ?on the move?, for tough off-roading.

Other engines offered are the Jaguar-derived 220 kW 4.4-litre V8 and the new 2.7-litre 140 kW turbodiesel V6, which produces a healthy 440 Nm of effortless torque. They use the same six-speed ZF automatic gearbox and the same full-time four-wheel-drive system as the supercharged model.

Other high-technology features of the powertrain include an electronically controlled centre differential, which improves the vehicle?s handling both on-and off-road.

To reinforce the vehicle?s sporty character, and improve agility, the wheelbase is 14cm shorter while the fully independent, air-sprung suspension has also been tuned for on-road performance. Minimum body-roll and maximum driver feedback were priorities, so double wishbone suspension front and rear ? as typically featured on sports cars ? is used.

A new technology, Dynamic Response, further reduces roll and improves handling. This computer-controlled active anti-roll system senses cornering forces and then acts to reduce lean, giving the SUV the handling and agility of a smaller sports car.

But what’s the point of a Land Rover if you can’t take it off the tar. So the company’s Terrain Response? system, which made its production debut on the new Discovery 3/LR3, is standard on all models. It allows the driver to choose one of five terrain settings ? from packed snow to boulders ? via a pop-up rotary control on the centre console.

Terrain Response then automatically selects (or guides the driver to select) the most appropriate settings for the vehicle?s electronic controls and traction aids including ride height, engine torque response, Hill Descent Control, electronic traction control and transmission settings.

Apart from Terrain Response, and its other advanced powertrain and traction controls, the Range Rover Sport features Adaptive Cruise Control, bi-xenon adaptive front lighting and the latest generation satellite navigation, both on- and off-road. Audio systems by harman/kardon and a twin-screen DVD rear seat entertainment system, using high-resolution screens enclosed in the front seat headrests, are available.

?The interior is far more cocooning than the SUV norm,? says Taylor. ?Yet there is still the characteristic Land Rover Command driving position, which gives a superb view of the road ahead and the scenery around you.?

If that scenery were able to look back, it would see a car that follows traditional Range Rover styling cues but in a much more sporting shape.

So the windscreen is more steeply raked, the roofline is lower and sloped, the glass is flush fitting, the characteristic Range Rover bonnet castellations have been smoothed away, and the vehicle sits lower.

The final effect? ?The Range Rover Sport looks like it?s going fast ? even when it?s standing still,? reckons design director Geoff Upex.

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

Our 2005 Land Rover LR3 has performed admirably so far. It has been pressed into service for a variety of duties including participation in an Edmunds.com fuel economy test and a week-long family vacation by an Edmunds employee.

The e-mailed comments exchanged concerning the LR3 are primarily positive but some editors took issue with the midsize Land Rover’s nearly $51,000 as-equipped price. As we noted in our long-term introduction that price includes every option except DVD navigation and an in-car beverage cooler. However, it’s important to remember that Land Rover has a well-deserved reputation for building top-notch off-road vehicles so the price certainly reflects abilities and technology that might not be useful to the average minivan owner. It’s important to consider your needs before adding the Land Rover LR3 to your shopping list.

In fact, one driver who did use the LR3 in its intended element said that it performed quite well and that the SUV’s interior remained quiet even during off-road excursions. He went on to say that its off-road demeanor was “very composed” and “inspired a lot more confidence off-road than on-road.” This driver also made use of the various height settings and the LR3′s hill descent control, commenting, “Thanks to the multiple terrain settings, the LR3′s various components all worked in concert to tackle virtually any obstacle, plus these features all worked unobtrusively.” In the end, it’s the LR3′s specific-use features that make its price justifiable.

On the other hand, Road Test Editor Brian Moody noted, “There are buttons, switches and dials that I haven’t touched in a month of driving and doubt I ever would. If I were to spend $50,000 on the LR3 I wouldn’t be getting a very good value considering my personal needs. I simply don’t go off-road. But for those who do go off-road and still want to drive a luxury vehicle, the LR3 is perfect.”

Another high point is the climate control system. One driver noted that the A/C was “powerful enough to cool this almost-black car in the hot 100-degree Arizona sun.” Actually, virtually every editor had good things to say about the LR3′s interior. While the seats are comfortable and the interior looks luxurious, it’s the truck’s versatility that inspired the most discussion. One driver simply loved the ample front and rear storage and made specific mention of the rubberized surfaces that help keep things in place. Another editor found the rear storage boxes invaluable and still another loved how easily the third-row seats fold up and down; “I can do it with one hand.”

The one thing we wished the Land Rover would do better is sip fuel. Most of the time our fuel economy was in the low teens and once or twice dipped into the 12-mpg range between fill-ups. Add to this the fact that the V8-powered LR3 requires premium fuel. However, Senior Consumer Advice Editor Phil Reed included the LR3 in an upcoming fuel economy study and found that one could achieve better-than-EPA estimates (14 city/19 highway) if driven moderately. He went on to say, “We also discovered that using the cruise control for freeway driving improved the fuel economy by over 13 percent!” So the lesson here is leadfooting in the LR3 is gonna cost ya.

We have had only one minor issue with the LR3. We keep getting a warning message on the instrument panel that indicates “Bonnet Open.” We have checked and rechecked and have come to the conclusion that there is a faulty switch. It seems like no big deal but we had a hard time getting a service appointment. The earliest available time we were given was a week and a half after our initial call; that seems a bit excessive considering the price and upscale clientele Land Rover caters to. If we were driving a Ford or a Lexus we’d simply call another local dealership. However, Land Rover dealerships aren’t quite as abundant as Lexus dealerships and our next closest Land Rover retailer was a good 30-minute drive away. Once we got the LR3 into the dealership, the problem was corrected and the car was ready later that same day.

Thankfully, the Land Rover was out of service for just a day, something that’s very appreciated considering how much we like the LR3. We’re sure it will continue to be a staff favorite on road and off, we’ll just have to plan ahead for our next service appointment.

(this article was taken from edmunds.com)