Jaguar Cars and Land Rover have selected Auto-txt to supply car tracking and security systems for all their vehicles from 2006.

The Auto-txt product provides the technology behind the new Jaguar Watch and Land Rover Watch systems, which will be available both in the UK and throughout the rest of Europe. It is the first time the prestige car manufacturers will be offering a stolen vehicle tracking system under their own branding.

Land Rover dealers have been told to expect a new lightweight V8 turbodiesel late in 2006. As we predicted in May 2005, an expanded version of Ford/PSA’s outstanding 2.7-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel is being prepared for use in the Ranger Rover. It is almost certain to also find its way into the Jaguar XJ diesel line-up, possibly with twin turbochargers.

Delegates attending the annual Land Rover dealer conference in November were told the 2007 range will see the normally-aspirated 305bhp 4.4-litre petrol V8 dropped from the Range Rover family and petrol sales concentrated on the 400bhp 4.2-litre supercharged V8.

Automotive Lease Guide has announced their annual Residual Value Awards, which honor those vehicles in each automotive segment predicted to retain the highest percentage of their original price. This year’s awards are based on 2006 model year vehicles. The awards are derived after careful study of segment competition, historical vehicle performance and industry trends.

ALG has awarded the CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) award to Land Rover North America, Inc. for the Range Rover Sport.

Further extending the breadth of capability of The Range Rover for 2006, Land Rover is showing an armoured version of the vehicle at the Middle East International Motor Show this year.

The armoured vehicle looks just like any other Range Rover, but beneath the skin it’s a very different story. Fitted with armoured steel to provide all round protection, The Armoured Range Rover has been designed to resist attack from a variety of threats while its four-wheel drive ability and off-road ground clearance allows a quick getaway from attack or ambush.

In a year that saw three major premium product launches- the award-winning all-new LR3, Range Rover Sport and the Range Rover for 2006 - Land Rover, the world’s only dedicated 4×4 automotive manufacturer, has continued to gain market-share and brand recognition across the region.

Driven by the success of these new models, Land Rover is forecasting a dramatic sales increase of 72% in the fourth Quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.

Speaking on the positive growth, Andy Gawthorpe, Regional Managing Director for Land Rover said:

Guys are obsessed with capability. Maybe it stems from the juvenile fear of being shown up. None of us liked being picked last for teams during gym class, and we don?t want a repeat now that we?re adults. Women like and respect capability as well, but with a practicality that men don?t possess. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the automotive world. Guys love that a Ferrari can rocket along at 182 mph; most women wouldn?t pay an extra $100,000 for that. Similarly, we?re comforted by the idea that our 4×4 truck could take us anywhere, anytime. Like up Mt. Everest. You know, just in case.