£2.3 billion rescue plan for car industry - but it's no bailout says Mandelson

The Government announced a major package of help for the UK's ailing car industry today, including £1 billion of direct loans and a national strategy designed to help British manufacturers meet demand for greener, cleaner cars.
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Range Rover Sport limousine with 6 wheels!

Some information is lacking, unfortunately, on this extremely prolonged Range Rover Sport. But it looks very brutal off. Certainly with that hip golden color.


The conversion is done by the English Vantage International Field that we still know of the Maybach 72. But personally I think this Range Rover with 6 doors and as many wheels a lot bolder. And it is obviously a piece civilized than some HUMMER H6.



via:autoblog.nl



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Kahn Design has announced they will introduce a new 22-inch version of their RS-L series of wheels. The multi-spoke wheel features a titanium silver finish and is able to fit a variety of different original manufacture wheel caps.
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Spy: Range Rover Sport facelift in the UK

This model faces some pretty stiff competition in the marketplace. Models such as the BMW X5 and X6 and the Audi Q7 come to mind. One may ask if Tata Motors is doing enough to keep the aging Range Rover Sport competitive in its segment. But, hey, its a Range Rover, with all the romance of stalking across the African continent that entails. Maybe that'll do until the next generation Range Rover Sport comes along.


Also, a new 5.0 liter V8 engine is likely to be coming with this upgrade, probably to replace the current 4.2 liter V8. No real details on power output have been leaked or made public but it suffices to say a supercharged 5.0 liter will have considerably more horses.


Land Rover may also replace the current 2.7 liter diesel available in the Range Rover Sport with a new 3.0 liter turbocharged V6.
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MPH show:Kahn Cosworth Sport 300 Debut

Project Kahn Cosworth 300What you see in the photos is a true masterpiece, which takes the luxury 4×4 to the next stage! The new kit for the Range Rover Sport, designed by Project Kahn and Cosworth, includes a new front spoiler, a Cosworth handcrafted mesh front grille and side vents, new side sills, side steps, stainless steel side bars that will only fit with side steps, new rear roof spoiler, a Cosworth rear valance and a lower boot spoiler.


For better handling a new Cosworth fully adjustable electronic module was added while under the hood the engine received a Cosworth 300 engine upgrade, a carbon-fiber engine cover and a new stainless steel exhaust silencer. The kit is completed by the new 22 inch multispoke wheels wrapped in 285×35x22” tires. Of course, everything has a price and for a standard customization program from Project Kahn you have to pay £70,000 ($116,118 or €89,142) while for a fully customized vehicle with every option installed you have to pay £122,226 ($202,758 or €155,684).


Also a rear multimedia kit was installed including twin 7” flat face flush mounted Alpine screens with Cosworth screen saver, multi-region dvd player and twin Phillips cordless headphones, as well as a new push start button, new iPod connection, head-up display unit showing both mph or km/h, colour reversing camera with integrated tv screen in the dashboard or, as an option, front and rear parking camera.


At the interior we find blue illuminated instrument dials, stainless steel door sill plates engraved with Cosworth logo, a new set of Cosworth aluminium foot pedals with black rubber grips, perforated Nappa leather interior with white stitching including front and rear seats, headrest, centre seat arm rest, front and rear door grabs, centre glove box, perforated gear knob and Cosworth leather or Alcantara hand stitched steering wheel.



Source: 4wheelnews




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Land Rover Discovery 3

Scheduled to make its public debut at the British International Motor this July, the Land Rover Discovery Series 3 (aka LR3 in the U.S.) has received a modest facelift. Including the restyled front and rear bumpers, the wheel arches and two piece tailgate receive body colour finish. The door handles and new fender side vent also get a new color with “tungsten” metal gray. Completing the exterior changes, new 19-inch 7-spoke wheels are available in three new exterior metallic paint colours, Santorini Black, Galway Green and Bournville (black with a hint of brown). The interior receives an updated Bluetooth system plus a new “almond” trim colour. Priced from £29,950 the Discovery 3 facelift for 2009 goes on sale in the UK in August.

Source: Land Rover

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Land Rover Freelander 2 Reaches 100.000 Milestone

Land Rover has been through quite a bit over the recent past with Tata taking over ownership from Ford of the British marque. During all the meetings between Ford, Tata and unions, production of course continued at Land Rover's Halewood Operations on Merseyside where employees today put the finishing touches to their 100.000^th Freelander 2 (or Land Rover LR2 for our American readers).

Land Rover started production of the all-new Freelander 2 model just 17 months ago. The milestone car is a Rimini Red 2.2 liter diesel en will be shipped to the city of Surgut in Russia's Central Siberian Plateau. The Freelander2 is very popular in Russia with over 12,000 units sold there making it the third largest market for Land Rover, but the Freelander2 has also proven to be a hot commodity in emerging markets such as China and the Middle East.

Thomas Klein, Operations Director at Halewood said: "The 100,000th Freelander is an important milestone for the plant – Freelander 2 helped Land Rover achieve its best ever sales year in 2007 and has won several major awards in its first 12 months in the market place. I'd like to congratulate the Halewood workforce on this fantastic team achievement.”

Source: Land Rover via

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2008 Range Rover Sport Supercharged Test Drive

In the rough and tumble world of off-roading one name has stood tall for generations, Land Rover. The Defender has rocked the little trodden path for as long as any of us can remember, but they needed a new weapon for the urban battlefield. Meet the latest in the breed, the Range Rover Sport Supercharged.

The Land Rover-style became fashion almost by accident, as the American driven SUV market exploded with the likes of the BMW X5 and Mercedes ML joining the high-class fraternity. Land Rover was almost caught by surprise, but then responded with a gem of a car that cashes in on every bit of mudslinging heritage and yet is built for the city– the Range Rover Sport.

It’s big, square and buff, with slabby sides, an upright animal that comes with an imposing feel that will shift almost anything out of its way when it looms large behind them on the motorway.

But there are the little touches that take this beyond the simply square, like the grille that looks like a cheese grater left out as part of the décor in a flashy London show home. Then there are the side vents and race-bred Brembo brake callipers underneath those elegant 20” alloy wheels that show this isn’t a machine for the outback trail, but then it is plenty fast.

Beneath its imposing bonnet lies a Jaguar-sourced supercharged V8 developing a huge 400bhp and an even more impressive 420lb ft of torque, all powered through a six-speed automatic. Driving this beast is simply a matter of planting the right foot, feeling the front end rise like the bow of a ship, the engine screaming and the car taking off.

The 0-60mph sprint comes up in just 7.1 seconds and this beast will rage on to 130mph, which is all I’d ever want from a car that weighs more than 2.5 tonnes.

Computers dissipate the power, pushing it to the wheels that can use that tidal wave of torque best. The driver is simply isolated from the speed and driving this car takes no effort whatsoever. Go in too fast and it will inevitably understeer towards the rim of the road, but at a gentle lope the Range Rover simply devours land with the occasional stab on the reassuringly big brake pedal and twist of the leather-clad wheel.

It’s not especially fun to drive, despite its enormous torque, and the seamless automatic is the far more natural marriage than the optional manual gear changes you can effect. So if you’re looking for driver involvement then look away now, but this is not a car for real drivers. It’s a comfortable and cool alternative to a big estate.

It is remarkably refined, can take five grown adults anywhere without cramps setting in, the suspension soaks up everything the road can throw its way and it will simply roar between cities with no work involved – filling the mirrors of the car in front and bullying them from its path. Then, surprisingly, it comes into its element.

The spacious, upright driving position allows a panoramic view of the cars all around, which is a Godsend in the city when obstacles ahead are obvious and avoidable. The sheer size can present the odd facedown with oncoming traffic on a narrow road, but the Range Rover Sport is actually not that much bigger than a 3 Series BMW and the squared corners make it easy to place and manoeuvre.

And out on the open highway the Range Rover affords a clear view and more reaction time than a sportscar driver could ever dream of. With time at the wheel I started to watch the cars in front, and before long I had half a mile of clear visibility in one eye with the other on the car in front. The car directly behind me could see absolutely nothing, of course, but then I didn’t have to worry about that.

The weight and suspension travel of a big SUV often count against it when it comes to safe driving, but then you drive one, and the whole experience is different way up there. The benefits more than counter the dangers in the real world.

And this is a comfortable place, too, with proper leather seats, voice-activated Sat Nav and a luxury feel throughout. Everything is square, with a rugged look inspired by the original outdoorsy cars, but with the finish of a BMW or Mercedes.

Flash touches like this bring the big, aggressive truck on to the radar of the label-happy hip hop community who wouldn’t dream of going near the rough stuff and the fashion conscious aristocracy, it has crossed the class divide more effectively than the great British cup of tea.

Despite selling out a little with this mass-market, watered down version of the great Land Rovers of years gone by, the badge doesn’t seem to have suffered one bit. This is still the favoured brand of country folk and the gentry, of farmers, of horse owners and now they have added the young, hip urban professional to that list with this new model.

Created for the younger, thrusting audience that didn’t want to climb every mountain, but still wanted to look like they could, the Range Rover Sport has taken Land Rover to the top in the one place the world conquering, go-anywhere Defender could never reach – the urban battlefield.

Source:worldcarfans.com

Updated Land Rover LRX Concept set for Geneva

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Details of the Land Rover LRX have revealed that the vehicle is shorter and lower than a Freelander, making a statement of compact yet bold.

The proposed engine to accompany this vehicle is a 2.0-litre turbo diesel that is expected to return economy of 60 mpg/ 4.7 litres per 100km on the European combined cycle. Potential CO2 emissions would be 120g/km.

A concept called Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) is put to use in the coupe SUV which lets the vehicle use electric drive alone at lower speeds. Off-road torque is provided where and when needed best. Land Rover’s unique Terrain Response is integrated as well, and now includes Eco mode which is mainly for fuel efficiency when driving on the black stuff and not off-road. Also new is the Sports mode which optimizes power availability for better response when seeking a sporty feel.

Previously unknown to Land Rover is the use of lightweight materials like carbon, which makes its appearance on the roof panel as well as in the underbody, for better protection. Land Rover’s new owners will do well to seriously consider building this concept as it would be the perfect momentum driver to the revived LR brand all over the world. If they don’t believe this all they have to do is look at Range Rover Sport sales figures.

Press Release

A striking black and silver version of Land Rover's acclaimed LRX cross-coupe concept makes its global debut at the 78e Salon International de l'Automobile, alongside the original white LRX revealed earlier to widespread acclaim (at NAIAS, Detroit, in January).
"With its metallic black paintwork, silver roof and precisely detailed exterior features, the second version of the LRX concept is designed to show how well the vehicle can deliver a contemporary example of personalisation," says Gerry McGovern, Land Rover's design director.
"The LRX concept already has an abundance of character, but you can tune the appearance to reflect a customer's own personality and lifestyle. Clever use of colour and subtle additional details enable the vehicle to be tailored to suit an individual's style, without compromising the clean design of the LRX," he adds.
No production plans have been confirmed yet for the LRX concept, and both versions will now be used to gauge public, dealer and media response to Land Rover's cross-coupe concept, as well as its interesting new opportunities for vehicle personalisation.
"We were hugely excited by the positive response that the original LRX concept generated when we showed it at the Detroit Show a few weeks ago," says Phil Popham, managing director of Land Rover. "But we've always seen scope for LRX to provide a whole showroom of different models, with a range of powertrains including hybrids and bio-fuel capable engines."
Using lightweight material technologies, Land Rover has developed a series of bespoke features for the black and silver LRX that add to the vehicle's individuality and flexibility. The removable carbon composite roof panel contrasts with the silver-coloured roof, and has integral anchor points for fixing snowboards and other sports equipment. The sleek black roof bars provide another option for roof-top loads, and a compact step above the rear bumper provides for easy roof-top access. More carbon composite is used for the protective underbody plates at front and rear, while new, lightweight alloy wheels with unique-design tyres signal purposefulness. And to protect the vehicle when the going gets tough - in either urban or off-road situations - there are smart, resilient mouldings on bumpers and sills.

"The black and silver LRX shows a real world breadth of capability. Its all-terrain ability, extra protection and load-carrying versatility help emphasise that it's an authentic Land Rover, while its compact dimensions, agile handling and efficient powertrain make it a practical proposition for everyday driving," says Phil Popham.

BOLD EVOLUTION

The LRX concept marks a bold evolution of Land Rover design, signalling the brand’s potential shift into new areas of the market, while remaining true to its core values. As the company celebrates its 60th anniversary during 2008, the three-door LRX, with its more compact size, lighter weight and sustainability-focused technologies, clearly addresses the needs of a changing world and offers the potential of 120 g/km CO2 emissions and fuel economy of 60 mpg (4.7 l/100km) on the European combined cycle.

“The LRX concept delivers the powerful message that we are as serious about sustainability as we are confident about the continuing relevance and desirability of our vehicles,” says Phil Popham, Land Rover’s managing director. “LRX is in every respect a Land Rover, but it’s a very different Land Rover.

“LRX has unmistakable Land Rover design and the breadth of capability that you’d expect from our vehicles. But it carries those essentials into a segment where the brand has never been before, and with a proposed level of efficiency that would make it one of the cleanest vehicles in its class. It is Land Rover’s way of affirming the brand’s responsible approach to future product development. At this stage, LRX is purely a concept, designed to help us develop our thinking as well as gauge customer reaction – but this feels like a hugely exciting direction to take.”

COMPACT AND PREMIUM

LRX is described as a cross-coupé and dramatically extends the scope of what Land Rover represents. Though 149 mm (5.9 in) shorter than the Freelander 2 / LR2 and 205 mm (8.1 in) lower, LRX is conceived as a premium car, designed to appeal to new customers in the luxury and executive sector – those who want many of the benefits of a 4x4 and the presence of a larger vehicle, but in a more compact package.

The first all-new Land Rover revealed since Gerry McGovern became the company’s design director, LRX is a natural extension of the Land Rover range, complementing the existing models and helping to define a new segment. Its many recognisable Land Rover design cues include bold new interpretations of the signature clamshell bonnet, the floating roof and the solid ‘wheel-at-each-corner’ stance.

“LRX is a design born out of passion for the brand, but it is different, relevant, engaging and exciting – because Land Rover has never built ordinary cars,” says Gerry McGovern. “LRX has a highly desirable identity and the design alludes strongly to its capability, while clearly underlining our forward-looking philosophy – it’s a Land Rover that would be comfortable on Bond Street or Fifth Avenue, but wouldn’t flinch at getting its wheels dirty.”

Its compact size is one of its greatest assets, which will appeal to anyone who wants the versatile ability of an agile 4x4 with the cachet of the Land Rover name। In addition, its lower weight and the reduced aerodynamic drag resulting from the smaller frontal area would help give significant gains in fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions.

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Source: Land Rover

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The white LRX is conceived as a highly fuel-efficient 2.0-litre, turbodiesel hybrid, capable of running on bio-diesel. In combination with other Land Rover technologies, this powertrain could reduce fuel consumption by as much as 30% compared with other 4x4s of comparable size, and reduce CO2 emissions to approximately 120 g/km.

LRX’s improved efficiencies are the result of advanced mechanical and electrical energy-saving elements, which are combined to achieve cumulative gains in many areas.

The concept’s integrated Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) is particularly significant in Land Rover terms as it would allow LRX to use electric drive alone at lower speeds while retaining full (even improved) 4x4 ability in tough conditions. Unlike the hybrid technology used by some 4x4 rivals, Land Rover’s unique solution retains mechanical drive to all four wheels.

Off-road, the ERAD would provide additional torque only when it is needed, and with maximum electrical torque from standstill, this solution offers even better low-speed control and enhanced pull-away on difficult surfaces (such as packed snow or wet grass) or when towing.

On the road, the ERAD would allow low-speed traffic creep up to 20 mph (32 km/h) on electric power alone, with the Integrated Starter-Generator (ISG) function re-starting the engine automatically when needed. The electric drive would then continue to assist the mechanical drive until the engine is running in its most efficient range, benefiting both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The ISG would also stop the engine automatically when the vehicle halts in traffic, so the engine does not idle needlessly, and restart it quickly and smoothly as required.

The electrical drive system uses power stored in a dedicated high-voltage, high-capacity, lithium-ion battery pack, independent of the normal 12-volt battery. This is charged by a regenerative braking energy system, also working through the ERAD.

LRX also incorporates Hill Descent Control and Land Rover’s acclaimed and user-friendly Terrain Response system, which optimises vehicle drivability and comfort, as well as maximising traction. On LRX, this has five modes, including the new and efficiency-focused ‘Eco’ mode. Principally for on-road use, this configures all the integrated elements of the car’s system for optimised fuel economy. The other four Terrain Response modes provided are sports (also new), general driving, sand and ‘grass/gravel/snow’ (a single programme for slippery surfaces).

EXTENDING ‘BREADTH OF CAPABILITY’

The positioning of LRX could be described as moving subtly from traditional SUV to crossover, with its more car-like appearance and dynamics that are sportier and on-road biased. But while its character is underlined by excellent agility, handling and performance, LRX also promises the widest breadth of capability in the class.

The design of LRX was developed entirely in-house by Gerry McGovern’s team, driven by a passion to create a car that truly represents Land Rover’s future thinking. It has a very dynamic profile, with a distinctive taper to the floating roofline and a muscular shoulder running the length of the car, accentuated by the rising beltline. The glazing wraps right around LRX, with no exposed pillars, creating a bold design graphic. The architectural structure of the upper body can be glimpsed through the windows and roof – echoing some of the best contemporary buildings.

Pushing the wheels out to the four corners helps give the car its purposeful stance, and its front-end design makes a powerful and instantly recognisable statement of Land Rover’s identity. The carefully sculpted corners dramatically reduce the car’s visual overhangs front and rear.

There are new interpretations of Land Rover’s traditional clamshell bonnet, distinctive headlamps and perforated two-bar grille. The car has jewel-like, tapering blade indicator clusters front and rear, and the wheelarches are wide but softly integrated, housing highly polished, 20-inch alloy wheels.

The fine detailing includes additional polished aluminium in the form of side-strips, side and bonnet vents, and the exterior door releases, which are concealed in the car’s shoulders. Graphic details such as these appear to be ‘punched out’ of the smooth body surfaces rather than overlaid on them. The ‘frosted’ white paint colour was especially developed for LRX and its visual depth helps to highlight the car’s form.

IMPECCABLE, PREMIUM INTERIOR

The interior of the LRX concept clearly demonstrates how a compact Land Rover can still be roomy, practical, versatile – and sophisticated. The impeccably executed cabin features a combination of soft leathers in rich tan and dark chocolate, with polished aluminium details, while the visible structures of the seats, instrument panel and roof architecture not only give a highly distinctive look but also help save weight.

The ‘fast’ sloping architecture of the centre console reflects LRX’s sporty dynamics, as does the distinctive binnacle over the instrument cluster. The electronic display uses ‘floating’ LCD graphics to create a three-dimensional look that can be personalised for different drivers, as well as interacting with LRX’s touch-screen display.

The instrument graphics present data in layers depending on their level of importance, to give maximum relevant information with minimum distraction। When appropriate, displayed information transfers between the main instrument cluster and the touch screen. Further adding to LRX’s involving personality, different Terrain Response modes are matched by changes in the cabin’s background ‘mood’ lighting colour – green in ‘Eco’, red in sports and blue in general driving and off-road modes.

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Source: Land Rover

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