300 Pursuits will be available in March at just under £30,000 with TDV6 engines and technology including Hill Descent Control, air suspension and Terrain Response with space for up to seven adults. Kit includes Java Black paint work with Ebony interior, 19” alloy wheels, body-coloured wheel arch surrounds, manual leather seats and chrome finish mirror caps.

“Since launch, the Discovery 3 has brought new levels of ability, comfort and refinement to the large 4×4 market. Winning 95 awards worldwide is a testament to its class-leading diesel engine, its versatility and its all-round package,” commented John Edwards, Land Rover UK managing director.

“The limited-edition Discovery 3 Pursuit gives customers the opportunity to buy an exclusive specification for the exceptional price of £29,995 OTR for the TDV6 manual and £30,995 OTR with automatic transmission. We think this represents incredible value for money.”

All Land Rover vehicles include a CO2 offset for the first 45,000 miles within the on-the-road price.
The Discovery 3 has sold nearly 30,000 units in the UK and 115,000 units globally since launch in 2004, and continues to collect critical accolades the world over.

(This article was taken from www.askaprice.com)

Customer demand for the Defender, today, saw a substantially revised new model for 2007 roll off the production line at Solihull (United Kingdom). Land Rover employees were present to celebrate this important milestone which marks the continued success of the iconic model which began life in 1948. The new model goes on sale this spring and will feature significant upgrades to enhance the ownership experience and meet forthcoming legislation.

The extension to the long life of Defender, which has been in production in various models since 1948, will preserve more than 750 jobs at the Solihull factory where it is produced alongside the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Discovery 3. Annual production of Defender has remained consistent at around 25,000 units in recent years, with much of the demand coming from large contract orders. For example, the Italian energy distribution company, Ente Nazionale Elettricita, recently placed an order for over 900 Defenders.

Since its emergence, nearly 60 years ago, the original Land Rover has carved a heroic path through some of the world’s remotest regions and it’s estimated that around two thirds of all Land Rovers are still in use. “Defender remains a significant contributor to the business as well as an enduring symbol of Land Rover’s 4×4 heritage,” said Phil Popham, Land Rover’s Managing Director. “Its simple concept hasn’t changed fundamentally over the years, but it remains as relevant as ever. Defender continues to play a vital role for emergency services, aid workers and farmers around the world. As we grow Land Rover we’re not forgetting our core values and our traditional customers.”

With a rugged ladder-frame box-section chassis and aluminium bodywork, the Defender is incredibly tough. Its practical advantages include its unmatched combination of off-road supremacy, carrying capacity and towing capability. The Defender name was introduced in 1990 but the model is a direct descendant of the original Land Rover introduced in 1948. Production of Defender and its predecessors has passed 1.8 million.

Commenting on the introduction of the model updated for 2007, Paul Cope, Manufacturing Director at Solihull said: “The introduction of Defender 07 Model Year is recognition that consumer demand remains very strong for this iconic model. The 07 Model Year with its new design enhancements, will ensure that Defender remains a key contributor to the success of the Solihull manufacturing site. Our manufacturing team is absolutely dedicated to increasing customer satisfaction by making the 07 Model Year Defender, the best Defender yet.”

(this article was taken from marathonrally.com)

by David Morgan

The new Freelander is not the only new Land Rover to arrive this month. The Range Rover Sport TDV8 is also here, with a 3.6 litre turbodiesel delivering 272bhp and massive torque of 472lb/ft at 2000rpm.

I drove this £53,120 newcomer at the Freelander launch. Performance is effortless – rest to 62mph takes just 8.5 seconds – with a subtle V8 burble from its 3630cc heart. But for all that the lightweight Brazilian-made block supports a high-efficiency unit which will average 25mpg.

As with all turbocharged engines, losing your cool with this one could cost you a hefty bill. Failing to allow a turbocharged car to idle for at least 30 seconds before switching off guarantees your expensive power plant will cook itself in your drive.

Temperatures deep inside modern engines are rigidly controlled during driving by circulating coolant, airflow and oil. But turn them off and walk away and internal temperatures can shoot up, causing damage to turbo blades, stressing metals and subjecting bolt-on accessories and nearby wiring and control boxes to unwelcome heat radiation.

One of Land Rover’s senior diesel power plant engineers, Grant Horne, told me at the launch of the TDV8 that temperatures in the vicinity of the turbo while the engine is running can reach 190 degrees Celsius.

“But that’s just part of the story,” he said. “Under the bonnet of the TDV8 the average temperature can be 120 degrees.

“That’s hot, but not a problem in itself. It’s when the engine is turned off and there’s no airflow to carry heat away that you get localised peak temperature gradients. Over a period of time high temperatures obviously have an impact on components, structures and ancillaries. So it’s sensible to give the engine all the help you can to easy the temperature burden.”

How? Simple. Just allow the engine to idle for at least 30 seconds when it comes off load. That brings down the overall temperature and gives the inevitable post-shutdown temperature rise less opportunity to cook the engine and its surrounding component.

“That in turn will lengthen the life of the engine and its components,” said Horne.

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

Land Rover today launches its marketing campaign for the 2007 Range Rover with ”Extraordinary Perspective” as its central theme.

This will be the third installment of Land Rover”s highly successful “Designed for the Extraordinary” marketing campaign, which debuted in February 2006. The latest series of communications – which includes TV, print, outdoor and web creative – presents the idea of an elevated perspective that is showcased within the cabin of a 2007 Range Rover on California”s central coast.

The premise revolves around inspiring pieces of art created in the sand on the beach at Point Conception, California. From sea level, these complex extraordinary works of art are virtually
unnoticeable; however, from an elevated viewpoint, the sand art becomes strikingly apparent. Typically created with only a piece of wood found on the beach, a rake, and no measuring tools, the art resembles fluid, natural shapes and spans several hundred feet.

“The ”Designed for the Extraordinary” campaign has demonstrated each of our vehicles in unique and fascinating ways. In the first spot, Range Rover Sport drove beneath the city of Tokyo through spectacular underground aqueducts. In the second spot, LR3 successfully navigated a plane from Nice to Corsica. This third iteration of the campaign focuses less on a physical demonstration, and more on emotional aspects of beautiful scenery, stunning one-of-a-kind artwork and the ability of our flagship Range Rover to elevate your perspective and see things differently,” said Sally Eastwood, vice president, marketing, Land Rover North America.

The Art

Sand art began in the late 1960s with a group of artists who found a limitless natural canvas in, among other things, sand. The California coastline lends itself to some of the most beautiful natural canvases for such artists. The canvas becomes a clean slate every day after the tides wash away the creations.

The Range Rover For 2007

Last year, the flagship Range Rover benefited from two new engine options, including a 400 bhp Supercharged V8. This year, a thoroughly redesigned cabin brings major gains in convenience, enhanced climate control, added comfort, and a refined interior appearance. Land Rover’s exclusive Terrain Response™ system, first introduced on the LR3 is now standard on all Range Rover models.

Land Rover North America”s “Designed for the Extraordinary” marketing campaign showcases actual events, not dramatizations. The documented Range Rover event is the third chapter of a multi-phase campaign created in liaison with Young & Rubicam Brands, Land Rover North America”s advertising agency.

In all, three pieces of sand art were created for the campaign. The campaign”s primary communication methods will focus on TV, print and outdoor, complemented by a Land Rover microsite, accessible by visiting www.landroverusa.com. The microsite houses “behind-the-scenes” footage that shows the making of the advertisements as well as a virtual showroom experience that enables users to browse through the outstanding key features on the 2007 Range Rover.

(this article was taken from deumotori.com and the image was taken from Range Rover 2007′s website)

The 2007 model year Range Rover Sport will start from £35,665 for the entry-level, 2.7-litre TDV6 S, and will be available from 1 November at Land Rover dealerships throughout the UK.

Following its world debut at the Paris Motor Show last month, the 2007 model year sees the introduction of a powerful, state-of-the-art TDV8 diesel fourth engine to the Range Rover Sport, with prices for this derivative starting at £53,120 for the HSE specification when it goes on sale in January 2007.

The TDV8 Range Rover Sport offers power and torque over 40% greater than the TDV6 turbocharged diesel engine, and achieves 25.5mpg (combined cycle) while class-leading refinement helps emphasise the V8 acoustics. Prices rise to £63,225 for the petrol V8 Supercharged Range Rover Sport HST.

(this bulletin was taken from easier.com)

(this article was written for caranddriver.com by TONY QUIROGA)

When the smallest SUV in Land Rover’s lineup, the Freelander, went on sale in the U.S. in 2001, it had already been offered in other markets for three years. Land Rover tells us that it took those three years to develop a V-6 engine for the Freelander for the power-hungry American market. But by the time the little Land Rover made its stateside debut, it was already showing signs of being dated. Land Rover’s compact luxury sport-utility didn’t have much of a run in the U.S.; after sales slowed dramatically in 2004, the British truckmaker stopped exporting it. The following year, the MG Rover Group in England closed, and that meant the Freelander’s Rover-built 2.5-liter V-6 and four-cylinder engines went out of production. So Land Rover needed to find a replacement engine for its smallest ute.

The ’08 Freelander, which will drop that name and simply be called the LR2, should debut at the Paris auto show in September. It will be built on the Ford C1 platform (European Focus, Volvo S40) and will have more space and power when it goes on sale in 2007. Thanks to a 5.9-inch-longer wheelbase, interior space increases. Power comes from a version of the new 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder that will be under the hood of the ’07 Volvo S80. In the LR2, the engine is upgraded for off-road use to resist dust, mud, and water. Other improvements allow it to operate on a greater incline without losing oil pressure. The transversely mounted six-cylinder makes 230 horsepower (five less than in Volvo form) and 234 pound-feet of torque (two less than the Volvo version). That’s a strong improvement over the Freelander’s 174-horse total. The twin-cam 24-valve engine has variable valve timing as well as a multistage intake system. Hooked to a six-speed automatic, it will take the LR2 from standstill to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, claims Land Rover, and on to a 124-mph top speed. The last Freelander we tested, in January 2002, turned 0-to-60 in 10.2 seconds.

Underneath the unibody LR2 is a fully independent strut-type suspension with larger disc brakes at each corner. The LR2 we drove rode well, feeling more nimble and better controlled through turns than a Range Rover or LR3. Compared with a BMW X3’s, the LR2’s ride is softer and more comfortable.

For those venturing off-road, the LR2 has an 8.3-inch ground clearance and an all-wheel-drive system that sends most of the torque to the front wheels until slip is detected and then the electronically controlled center coupling sends power to the rear wheels as needed. The center differential seems to act faster than a traditional viscous coupling. Open differentials are used front and rear, with brake-based traction control that apportions power left or right. As in the larger LR3, Land Rover’s Terrain Response is standard and allows the traction control, the stability control, and the anti-lock brakes to be tailored for different surfaces and situations. Standard roll control that uses a sensor to determine the likelihood of an impending rollover works in conjunction with stability control to keep the LR2’s shiny side up.

Pricing has not yet been announced, but we expect the LR2 to start at about $29,000 for the well-equipped base model that comes with leather seats, automatic headlights and wipers, sunroof, 18-inch wheels, and rear parking sensors. A loaded version with nav, an upgraded stereo with satellite radio, and bixenon headlights should be about $34,000. Look for the LR2 in U.S. showrooms next spring or early summer.

Land Rover today revealed the all-new LR2 that enters the compact premium SUV market with outstanding breadth of capability and Land Rover’s signature technologies.

The fourth new model from Land Rover in just four years, LR2 joins the impressive line-up of Range Rover (2002), Land Rover LR3 (2004) and Range Rover Sport (2005) that together have seen record-breaking sales performance around the world.

As the latest addition to the world’s leading sport-utility vehicle manufacturer’s line-up, LR2 sets new standards in its segment. New from the ground up, LR2 delivers outstanding on-road performance as well as the class-leading off-road ability of a Land Rover. A dynamic design, purposeful stance, smart and spacious interior, and an abundance of advanced technologies complete the LR2 package.

“LR2 combines the advantages of a premium sedan – such as polished ride, accomplished performance, an attractive cabin and ease-of-use – with the attributes of a robust SUV, including go-anywhere ability, toughness, stadium seating, cabin versatility and spaciousness,” says Phil Popham, Land Rover’s managing director. “We believe that no other compact SUV gets closer to blending these best-of-both-worlds abilities.”

Technical highlights of the LR2 include a brand-new 3.2-liter inline-six engine featuring advanced technologies to deliver an outstanding combination of performance and economy.

The 230bhp* i6 engine provides 0-60 mph acceleration in 8.4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds)*. The engine is matched to a new six-speed automatic transmission, with Land Rover’s CommandShiftâ„¢ offering manual sequential gear changes when required. There is also a driver-selectable sport mode, for livelier performance.

Inline-six cylinder engine configurations are ideal for delivering smoothness, and the very compact new unit in LR2 is small enough to mount transversely. The benefits of transverse fitment include improved interior packaging and safety performance.

The interior package of LR2 has generous head, shoulder and legroom, in both the front and rear. Large glass areas emphasize the spacious feel and complement the elevated ‘command driving’ position – a Land Rover hallmark – and ‘stadium seating’, where rear passengers sit slightly higher than front occupants, for a clearer view of the world outside. Cargo space is also among the best in class: 59 cu. ft. (1670 liters)* with the rear seats folded and 26.5 cu. ft (755 liters)* with the rear seats up.

The exterior and interior design of LR2 is completely fresh, integrating the company’s unique design language with a form that is instantly recognizable as the latest Land Rover.

“We purposely kept strong Land Rover design cues, such as the clamshell bonnet, stepped roof and the basic form,” says Land Rover design director Geoff Upex. “The overall look is new and contemporary. The design is chiseled, geometric and simple – it looks like it’s hewn from the solid. We have kept a close design relationship with the LR3 and Range Rover Sport, but interpreted the design language to suit the requirements of customers for a more compact SUV.”

The body is a five-door monocoque structure, with a high level of torsional rigidity which benefits refinement, comfort and handling on-road as well as ensuring the vehicle is fit for serious off-road use. The suspension is fully independent and uses the most modern stability control systems, including Roll Stability Control (RSC ®), a sophisticated technology that helps mitigate the risk of roll-over even in extreme conditions.

LR2 is packed with new technologies to improve both on-road and off-road performance. Land Rover’s unique Terrain Responseâ„¢ is standard, making off-road use easier. Other interesting technologies include a new intelligent permanent all-wheel-drive system for superior traction and better on-road fuel economy, and the patented Gradient Release Control, which improves driver confidence and control when releasing the brakes on steep and slippery slopes.

Other features and options include: keyless starter button, bi-xenon headlamps, adaptive front lighting, rain-sensing windshield wipers and rear park distance control. A standard two-part panoramic sunroof increases the cabin’s airiness; air-conditioning also comes standard and a full-color touch-screen DVD satellite navigation system is optional. A choice of top-level audio systems includes 12-speaker Dolbyâ„¢ Pro Logic II 7.1 Surround Sound with fiber-optic interconnects. An auxiliary audio connection (for MP3 players) is standard.

Designed and engineered by Land Rover at Gaydon, near Warwick, England, LR2 is built at the Halewood plant in Liverpool, where outstanding build quality has been acknowledged with a JD Power European Plant Quality Gold Award in 2005.

More info, specifications, and pictures on the new Land Rover Freelander/LR2 on auto.moldova.org

(this article was taken from Moldova.org)

PRNewswire/ — Land Rover today revealed the all- new LR2 that enters the compact premium SUV market with outstanding breadth of capability and Land Rover’s signature technologies.

The fourth new model from Land Rover in just four years, LR2 joins the impressive line-up of Range Rover (2002), Land Rover LR3 (2004) and Range Rover Sport (2005) that together have seen record-breaking sales performance around the world.

New from the ground up, LR2 delivers outstanding on-road performance as well as the class-leading off-road ability of a Land Rover. A dynamic design, purposeful stance, smart and spacious interior, and an abundance of advanced technologies complete the LR2 package.

“LR2 combines the advantages of a premium sedan — such as polished ride, accomplished performance, an attractive cabin and ease-of-use — with the attributes of a robust SUV, including go-anywhere ability, toughness, stadium seating, cabin versatility and spaciousness,” says Phil Popham, Land Rover’s managing director. “We believe that no other compact SUV gets closer to blending these best-of-both-worlds abilities.”

Technical highlights of the LR2 include a brand-new 230bhp* transversely mounted 3.2-liter inline-six engine featuring advanced technologies to deliver an outstanding combination of performance and economy.

The engine is matched to a new six-speed automatic transmission, with Land Rover’s CommandShift(TM) offering manual sequential gear changes when required. There is also a driver-selectable sport mode for livelier performance.

The exterior and interior design of LR2 is completely fresh, integrating the company’s unique design language with a form that is instantly recognizable as the latest Land Rover.

“We purposely kept strong Land Rover design cues, such as the clamshell bonnet, stepped roof and the basic form,” says Land Rover design director Geoff Upex. “The overall look is new and contemporary. The design is chiseled, geometric and simple — it looks like it’s hewn from the solid. We have kept a close design relationship with the LR3 and Range Rover Sport, but interpreted the design language to suit the requirements of customers for a more compact SUV.”

The body is a five-door monocoque structure, with a high level of torsional rigidity which benefits refinement, comfort and handling on-road as well as ensuring the vehicle is fit for serious off-road use. The suspension is fully independent and uses the most modern stability control systems, including Roll Stability Control (RSC®), a sophisticated technology that helps mitigate the risk of roll-over even in extreme conditions.

LR2 is packed with new technologies to improve both on-road and off-road performance. Land Rover’s unique Terrain Response(TM) is standard, making off-road use easier. Other interesting technologies include a new intelligent permanent all-wheel-drive system for superior traction and better on-road fuel economy, and the patented Gradient Release Control, which improves driver confidence and control when releasing the brakes on steep and slippery slopes.

Designed and engineered by Land Rover at Gaydon, near Warwick, England, LR2 is built at the Halewood plant in Liverpool, where outstanding build quality has been acknowledged with a JD Power European Plant Quality Gold Award in 2005.

(Source: Land Rover North America)

In many ways the new Land Rover Discovery is a more appealing choice than its £51,000 plus big brother, the Range Rover.

For a start it is a lot cheaper with the range starting at £26,995. And for an extra £2,000 you gain two extra fold-flat rear seats which sets the Disco apart from the strictly five-seat Range Rover.

And the Discovery can seat those seven people in comfort – and that just doesn’t mean five adults and two children in the usual tiny fold-flat rear seats. In the Land Rover, the back row seats are built for adult bottoms – and with a proper footwell for your feet, there is also plenty of space for legs attached to bodies over the height of five feet.

Although it’s mighty hard to tell, the Disco is not quite as tall as the Range Rover or as long, but it is crucially wider, which adds to the spacious feel of the cabin. But those minimal differences in dimensions do little to diminish the Disco’s imposing size alongside its more expensive stablemate.

The less expensive car’s beautifully clean lines certainly make for a thoroughly modern-looking off roader, too, and despite its bulk, from behind the wheel, thanks to a superbly high driving position, the Discovery is relatively easy to pilot around town – especially when paired with the smooth shifting six-speed automatic gearbox.

Venture further afield and the Discovery is equipped with Land Rover’s latest off-road electronics, which have done away with all the complicated extra gear levers and the like, replacing them with a simple “Terrain Response” dial to allow the driver to alter the hi-tech four-wheel drive system to suit the road conditions – whether it be tarmac, grass, gravel, snow, mud, sand or even rocks and boulders.

If you do plan to really test the Disco’s off-road abilities, then the optional satellite navigation system is a must because as well as the usual road network, the system can help you when you venture off-road, with a compass display as well as heading, latitude, altitude and longitude readouts.

Engine choice is either a 295bhp 4.4 litre V8 petrol or a 2.7 litre V6 turbocharged diesel, which puts out 189bhp and a huge 440Nm of torque.

In use the diesel engine is smooth and refined, with, as you would expect from an engine with such a large amount of lowdown grunt, plenty of response in the lower gears. Move up to motorway speeds and the Disco is an effortless cruiser with good refinement levels and surprisingly little wind noise.

With Land Rover’s immense experience in building the world’s best off-road vehicles, the latest Discovery could have been hailed a winner from the off. But designers have gone one step further, creating such a visually appealing, modern-looking “go anywhere, do anything” vehicle, that the Disco genuinely deserves to be the natural choice for anyone who wishes to satisfy their craving for adventure. – NEIL GREENFIELD

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY TDV6 – seven seat from £28,995 otr

Engine: 2.7 litre diesel

Max power: 189bhp at 4,000rpm and 440Nm torque at 1,900rpm

PERFORMANCE:

0-60mph – 11.0 seconds

Max speed – 112mph

ECONOMY: 30mpg combined

CO2 emissions/TAX %: 249/35%

INSURANCE GROUP: 13

STANDARD EQUIPMENT: Seven seats; front, side and curtain airbags; dynamic stability control; electric windows; automatic climate control; CD player

(this article was taken from hornseyjournal)

Brochure leak reveals Land Rover’s all-new Freelander small 4WD months before the official launch, reports GLENN BUTLER.

Images of Land Rover’s new 2007 Freelander small four-wheel drive have leaked in a dealer brochure months before the official unveiling at the British Motor Show in July. The new Freelander replaces a model fraught with build quality and reliability issues and is expected in Australia early 2007.

It’s the second time in two years a major new model has leaked in brochure form. The first was the BMW 3 Series sedan in August 2004. Unlike the Slovenian BMW brochure, the Land Rover sales material is in English though the type is too small to read.

Land Rover is taking the new Freelander upmarket to battle vehicles like the BMW X3 and forthcoming Audi Q5. So it has been completely redesigned to sit on a new Ford Group platform that will also spawn a small Volvo 4WD.

The 2007 Freelander is said to be bigger and roomier than the model it replaces. It shares a number of styling cues with Discovery and Range Rover models, including Land Rover’s distinctive clamshell bonnet and cheese grater grille.

The Freelander remains a five-door, five seat wagon and will have a four wheel drive system, though it will make do without the low range gearbox of bigger Land Rovers. Interior photos clearly show a Terrain Response dial similar to the Discovery’s, which enables the driver to change a number of vehicle settings depending on the terrain.

Engines under consideration include 2.8 and 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engines and a 2.3-litre turbodiesel. It’s not known whether the Freelander will share the Dicovery’s six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

(this article was taken from smh.com.au)