Land Rover’s Defender Concept 100 and Defender Concept 100 Sport have made their Indian debut at the New Delhi Auto Expo 2012. These concepts investigate the potential design direction for a replacement for the iconic Defender.

John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director said: “The Defender has always been at the heart of the Land Rover Brand and single-handedly defines our go-anywhere, can-do sprit. Our ambition is to create an all new Defender for a global market that remains absolutely faithful to its original DNA: tough, versatile, durable and capable. At the same time, it will be developed for the 21st century and adaptable for the needs of future generations.

“Our intention is to introduce the all new Defender in the middle of the decade – there’s a lot of work to do to meet these dates and our concepts are just the start of the journey. We are here in India to showcase the Defender Concept 100 and Defender Concept 100 Sport.”

Capturing the rugged, dependable and adventurous spirit of the original, the Defender Concept 100 and Defender Concept 100 Sport are intended to showcase the potential breath of capability for the future Defender family. Evolved since their unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011, the concepts now ride on optimised off-road 20-inch alloy wheels shod with Cooper all-terrain tyres.

Shown for the first time in Firenze Red paint with a white roof, the Defender Concept 100 re-invents the essential Defender design cues for the 21st century. These include short overhangs for extreme approach and departure angles, vertical panels, an upright windscreen and strong shoulder line for visibility and ease of positioning and, of course, the honest Defender ‘face’ with its signature round lamps and prominent grille, incorporating a winch.

Also in Firenze Red, the Defender Concept 100 Sport takes all these key design cues and adds to them the spirit of freedom first embodied by the early canvas-roofed Land Rovers with their fold-down windscreens to create a concept bursting with California cool.

Core Land Rover attributes of capability and versatility are underpinned in both concepts by a suite of innovative off-road technological aids that reduce the workload on the driver.

Foremost of these is the next generation of Land Rover’s acclaimed Terrain Response system which will optimise the car for any conditions without driver pre-selection. In addition, a new Terrain-i system creates an intelligent map of the topography in front of the car and displays it as a 3D visualisation. Terrain-i automatically identifies potential hazards and suggests alternative routes. In urban environments the same system is able to identify pedestrians and hazards with great accuracy.

A new Wade Aid system utilises sonar sensors mounted in the bumpers and wing mirrors to measure water depth. As with Terrain Response, Wade Aid will optimise the car for water crossings by closing body vents, raising the ride height, selecting a low gear and advising on the safest speed.

Sustainability has always been a Land Rover hallmark – more than three-quarters of the almost two million Defenders made are still doing regular duty – and the Defender Concepts extend this commitment with new technologies that will reduce their environmental impact. The first is an intelligent Twin-Solenoid Stop/Start system mated to the latest eight-speed automatic gearbox, both of which have been designed with future hybridisation in mind. Second is the unique Driveline Disconnect system, which sends power to the front-axle only unless conditions demand all-wheel drive. Unlike conventional systems, this physically, rather than electronically, decouples the rear-axle to reduce friction losses but can reengage drive almost instantaneously.

• Two concepts from Land Rover investigate potential future design direction for the Defender
• DC100  demonstrates the future of Land Rover versatility and capability
• DC100 Sport is an active expression of freedom and leisure
• Automatic, intelligent, next-generation Land Rover Terrain Response
• Terrain-i device warns the driver of approaching off-road obstacles
• Wade Aid uses sonar technology to assess water depth
• Permanent four-wheel drive with an eight-speed transmission, Intelligent Stop/Start and a transfer case
• Driveline Disconnect physically decouples the rear axle to save fuel

Land Rover’s DC100 and DC100 Sport concepts investigate the potential design direction for a replacement for the iconic Defender. They will make their North American debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show on 16^th November 2011. Land Rover is taking these concepts to North America to gauge reaction and explore the possibility of bringing the Defender back to the US market.

John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director said: “The Defender has always been at the heart of the Land Rover Brand and single-handedly defines our go-anywhere, can-do sprit. Our ambition is to create an all new Defender for a global market that remains absolutely faithfully to its original DNA: tough, versatile, durable and capable. At the same time, it will be developed for the 21^st century and adaptable for the needs of future generations.

“Our intention is to introduce the all new Defender in the middle of the decade – there’s a lot of work to do to meet these dates and our concepts are just the start of the journey.  We are here in LA to showcase our DC100 and DC100 Sport concepts and start to actively explore the possibility of bringing the future Defender to North America.”

Capturing the rugged, dependable and adventurous spirit of the original, the DC100 concepts are intended to showcase the potential breath of capability for the future Defender family. Evolved since their unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011, the concepts now ride on optimised off-road 20-inch alloy wheels shod with Cooper all-terrain tyres. The DC100 also features expedition accessories with a raised air-intake ‘snorkel’ for wading and a roof rack.

Finished in the Land Rover signature combination of ‘Heritage Blue’ paint with a Candy Weiss white roof, the DC100 reinvents the essential Defender design cues for the 21^st century. These include short overhangs for extreme approach and departure angles, vertical panels, an upright windscreen and strong shoulder line for visibility and ease of positioning and, of course, the honest Defender ‘face’ with its signature round lamps and prominent grille, incorporating a winch.

The DC100 Sport takes all these key design cues and adds to them the spirit of freedom first embodied by the early canvas-roofed Land Rovers with their fold-down windscreens to create a concept bursting with California cool.

CoreLandRover attributes of capability and versatility are underpinned in both concepts by a suite of innovative off-road technological aids that reduce the workload on the driver.

Foremost of these is the next generation of Land Rover’s acclaimed Terrain Response system which will optimise the car for any conditions without driver pre-selection. In addition, a new Terrain-i system creates an intelligent map of the topography in front of the car and displays it as a 3D visualisation. Terrain-i automatically identifies potential hazards and suggests alternative routes. In urban environments the same system is able to identify pedestrians and hazards with great accuracy.

A new Wade Aid system utilises sonar sensors mounted in the bumpers and wing mirrors to measure water depth. As with Terrain Response, Wade Aid will optimise the car for water crossings by closing body vents, raising the ride height, selecting a low gear and advising on the safest speed.

Sustainability has always been a Land Rover hallmark – more than three-quarters of the almost two million Defenders made are still doing regular duty – and the DC100 concepts extend this commitment with new technologies that will reduce their environmental impact. The first is an intelligent Twin-Solenoid Stop/Start system mated to the latest eight-speed automatic gearbox, both of which have been designed with future hybridisation in mind. Second is the unique Driveline Disconnect system, which sends power to the front-axle only unless conditions demand all-wheel drive. Unlike conventional systems, this physically, rather than electronically, decouples the rear-axle to reduce friction losses but can reengage drive almost instantaneously.

Land Rover ambassador Zara Phillips is the first person to take delivery of a new Range Rover Evoque. Ms Phillips drove away the 5-door Stornaway Grey Evoque from the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, where she was competing this weekend.

Land Rover UK Marketing Director, Laura Schwab showed Zara around her new car and said “Zara has been excited about the new Evoque ever since we revealed the first pictures over a year ago and indeed she was one of the very first people to order one.”

We have a huge presence at Burghley this year, with over 60 Land Rover vehicles in action at the event. It therefore seemed fitting that our first Evoque handover took place here.”

On receiving the keys to the new Evoque, Zara said: “I’ve grown up around Land Rovers and have been an ambassador for the brand for several years – I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of my new Evoque. It looks absolutely fantastic and I am delighted to be the first person in the UK to take delivery of one.”

The Range Rover Evoque officially enters UK showrooms this week but is already proving a hit with customers. Land Rover has received over 20,000 pre-orders worldwide with 6,000 of these in the UK. Special Evoque launch events will be taking place at Land Rover dealerships throughout the UK on Thursday 8 September with customers taking delivery of their vehicles from Friday onwards.

Zara was handed the keys to a 5-Door Range Rover Evoque in Stornaway Grey, with a 2.2 litre Diesel engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, panoramic sunroof and features including park assist, blind spot monitoring and a surround camera system.

Zara was competing at the Burghley Horse Trials, which is being sponsored by Land Rover for the seventh year running. Over 60 Land Rovers were used by Competition officials, fence judges and medical teams. Zara is one of the UK’s leading equestrian figures and has been a Land Rover brand ambassador since 2006.

The Land Rover DC100, a modern interpretation of the iconic Land Rover Defender will make its debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Land Rover also confirms today, that production of a new Defender is intended for 2015.

Commenting on the Land Rover DC100 concept car, Gerry McGovern, Director of Design, Land Rover said: “Replacing the iconic Defender is one of the biggest challenges in the automotive design world; it is a car that inspires people worldwide.  This isn’t a production-ready concept but the beginning of a four-year journey to design a relevant Defender for the 21st century.”

John Edwards, Global Brand Director, Land Rover added:”Loved the world over for its simple, honest and distinctive design, we are determined that the new Defender will be true to its heritage, while meeting the requirements of a changing global market.   

We plan to engage with existing and potential customers to help us finalise the details of the new vehicle.  One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be an exciting journey, and we can’t wait to get going.”

The Land Rover DC100 concept builds upon the essential elements of the car’s character and allows Land Rover to open the debate and inspire people to dream about the Defenders of the future. The next chapter in the Defender story will unfold at 09:15 hrs (CET) on September 13, 2011 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

A new EU5 2.2-litre diesel engine replaces the EU4 2.4-litre diesel for 2011, bringing greater levels of performance and refinement to the 2012 Defender. The smaller capacity engine delivers the same power, torque and economy as its outgoing unit but makes this the cleanest Land Rover Defender yet produced. In EU5 markets, the new engine comes with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) to ensure the lowest possible levels of regulated emissions.

The Defender can trace its roots back to 1948 and during that period Land Rovers have earned a reputation as the most rugged and versatile off-road vehicles in the world. Since the current model’s introduction in 2007, the Defender has consistently sold an average of 25,000 units a year worldwide. Retail and utility customers, armed forces and NGOs in over 100 countries believe that the Defender’s off-road ability, durability and towing capability are still head and shoulders above the competition. Such a unique combination of attributes explains why this legendary vehicle commands such exceptionally high standards of customer loyalty.

“The substantial improvements to the Defender in 2007 transformed its on-road refinement and comfort whilst extending its legendary capability off-road for which Defender is synonymous. With the introduction of the new 2.2-litre diesel engine and two option packs, the Defender for 2012 now offers greater customer choice than ever before,” said John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director.

Smaller, cleaner diesel engine for 2012

The new EU5 2.2-litre diesel engine replaces the EU4 2.4-litre diesel while matching it for power, torque and fuel consumption. A new, full acoustic engine cover replaces the previous splash cover, reducing radiated engine noise and improving driving refinement. Meeting EU5 regulations, the engine delivers lower levels of the regulated emissions, NOx, CO and HC thanks to an improved combustion system and sophisticated engine management system. In

EU5 markets, particulate matter has been reduced to EU5 levels with a diesel particulate filter (DPF).

Despite the smaller capacity and reduced emissions, the new engine produces the same power, 122PS@3,500rpm and torque, 360Nm@2,000rpm, as the outgoing 2.4-litre engine. Performance remains similar too, though the top speed has been raised to 90mph compared to 82mph for the previous version. CO₂emissions on the combined cycle are consistent at 266g/km for the 90 and 295g/km for the 110 and 130.

The GFT MT 82 six-speed gearbox has been retained for 2012 with its excellent ratio spread, high top gear for cruising and enhanced low-speed crawl capability. The lower first gear offers low crawl speed making towing on-road and off-road much easier. The low-down engine torque also helps in-gear acceleration and the tall sixth gear ensures excellent real-world cruising, refinement and fuel economy. Ground gears in both the gearbox and transfer box help contribute to the refinement of the transmission.

Two new option packs

• Comfort Pack - Air conditioning, CD Player with auxiliary input, electric windows and remote central locking. The Comfort Pack costs £1650.
• Off-Road Pack - ABS, heavy duty rim and MTR tyre, tow ball and under-ride protection bar. The Off-Road Pack costs £1500.

In response to customer feedback, a plain black Pick Up hood will now be available as an option whilst a plain beige hood will be introduced for the 110 Double Cab Pick Up. Both options are in addition to existing styles. A further enhancement for 2012 includes the addition of tinted glass on all models.

The Defender’s facia is based on a single, large moulding supported on a robust steel rail to help eliminate squeaks and rattles. The instruments provide clear, concise information to the driver, and details like all-LED instrument illumination help ensure high standards of reliability. Versatile stowage shelves are conveniently located for both the driver and passenger and two console options are available: a practical open-tray design that keeps contents to hand and a large, lidded design that provides an impressive 14-litres of stowage.

A powerful heating and ventilation system is designed to cope with the most extreme climates and features aluminium plate and fin heat exchangers to deliver impressive performance.

Tall front seats are designed to improve maximum back support and head restraint ergonomics in the most demanding driving conditions and there are robust, supportive second row seats too. 110 Station Wagon and 130 Crew Cab models can comfortably accommodate three occupants on an asymmetrically-split second row seat. A spring-assisted fold mechanism helps when folding the seats for carrying large or awkward loads.

Defender 90 Station Wagon second row occupants benefit from a pair of individual, full-size, forward-facing rear seats. Providing excellent comfort levels, these seats are also available as a third row option on the 110 Station Wagon. Accessed either through the rear door or by folding the second row seats, they can be easily folded and stowed sideways in the loadspace.

Seat trims include durable all-vinyl and cloth specifications; a half-leather option is also included in the XS specification available on Station Wagon and 110 Double Cab Pick-Up derivatives to add a touch of luxury to the cabin. Three-point safety belts are specified for all seating positions.

Defender’s unique vehicle architecture has been retained for 2012. The chassis frame is available in three different wheelbases. A total of 14 separate body styles – from pick-ups and soft-tops to crew cabs and station wagons – are produced on the mainstream production line.

The 2012 Defender is available from £20,995 on the road and will be on-sale in the UK from November 2011.

The exceptional 3.0-litre SDV6 diesel engines in the Range Rover Sport now offer even greater efficiencies, with reduced CO₂, improved fuel economy and an increase in power for 2012. The output of the 245hp engine has been increased to 256hp whilst CO₂emissions have been reduced from 243g/km to 230g/km.

These improvements are partly due to the introduction of the new, highly-efficient, ZF 8HP70, 8-speed automatic gearbox, combining smooth shifting and improved fuel economy. The combined fuel economy has improved from 30.7mpg to 32.1mpg.In conjunction with the new 8-speed gearbox, the Range Rover Sport SDV6 comes equipped with the ‘Drive Select’ rotary gear shift and steering wheel-mounted paddle shift.

All EU5 SDV6 models are equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) making them among the cleanest diesel engines on the market.

The awe-inspiring 5.0 LR-V8 Supercharged remains unchanged for 2012, continuing to offer supreme power delivering 0-60mph in under 6.0 seconds and sublime refinement.

Design and equipment levels have moved up a level too with colour changes to exterior detailing and new interior colour ways for the Autobiography Sport. A new powered single piece tailgate has also been introduced across the range for 2012, enabling drivers to set their desired lift height.

For the first time on the Range Rover Sport, the next generation 7-inch touch-screen is available with optional Dual View technology, allowing the driver to view the navigation display whilst the passenger watches TV or a DVD whilst listening on WhiteFire^TM headphones. The rear seat entertainment package has also been enhanced with the availability of WhiteFire^TM wireless technology.

Significant specification and performance improvements have been made to the

Hi-ICE and Premium audio systems, offering a staggering 825W of power through 17 speakers on the Premium Harmon Kardon LOGIC 7. The new ‘Say What You See’ voice command helps the driver learn commands with useful step-by-step screen prompts and allows the use of spoken short codes too.

“The enhancements to the 2012 Range Rover Sport will ensure this car retains its position as one of the most economical and dynamic high performance SUVs on the market today. With greater levels of diesel engine efficiency, lower fuel emissions and exciting new features, the Range Rover Sport continues to live up to its reputation for power and refinement,” said Colin Green, Land Rover UK Managing Director.

5.0 LR-V8 supercharged engine continues to lead the pack

Land Rover’s remarkable 5.0 LR-V8 supercharged petrol engine continues to head the Range Rover Sport powertrain range in 2012. Developing 510hp and 625Nm

torque it set new standards in petrol engine design when it was introduced, packed as it is with innovation design features aimed at boosting both performance and economy.

Powered tailgate for greater convenience

A new powered restyled tailgate has been introduced across the range for 2012. Operated by the button located on the fascia, the key fob or tailgate, the lift height can now be set by simply holding the tailgate at the desired height and pressing the tailgate button for 10 seconds. The height can be overridden to accommodate other drivers, providing effortless use and greater convenience to the user. The tailgate has been made from aluminium for added weight reduction.

Enhanced interior and external design revisions across the range

The external design and interiors of the Range Rover Sport, Autobiography Sport and Limited Edition are all upgraded for 2012.

For the Range Rover Sport, there are changes to the rear tailgate graphics to create a distinctive new look and a Gloss Black treatment to the headlight inners and grille surround. The SE derivative now sports a Dark Atlas grille whilst the HSE and Supercharged take on the Light Atlas. The Supercharged model is also fitted with a new 20″ alloy wheel finished in Sparkle Silver with high-gloss lacquer.

Infotainment levels significantly upgraded for 2012

The introduction of the Hi-ICE and Premium audio and infotainment systems sees a significant upgrade for the 2012 Range Rover Sport. There’s new connectivity supporting DVD audio formats on the Hi-Line and Premium systems, a Hard Disc Drive Music server, Dual Tuner to give a seamless signal, iPod and video streaming by USB, audio streaming by Bluetooth and two USB ports are located in the console lid. Rear seat entertainment is further enhanced with the availability of WhiteFire^TM wireless technology incorporating cordless headphones.

The Hi-ICE Harman Kardon System has been upgraded from 9-speakers to 11-speakers and the output boosted from 240W to a substantial 380W. The optional premium Harman Kardon LOGIC 7 system has seen the most dramatic improvement, from 14 to 17 speakers and an almost unbelievable increase in output power from 480W to a staggering 825W.

For the first time on a Range Rover Sport, the next generation 7-inch touch-screen is available with Dual View technology. Dual View first appeared on the Range Rover for 2010, allowing the driver to view the navigation display whilst the passenger watches a DVD. When the Dual View screen is selected a single set of WhiteFire^TM headphones are included to enable to listen to a soundtrack independently of the driver.

Hard Disc Navigation systems include Traffic Message Channel (TMC) and destination entry by voice. The new ‘Say What You See’ voice command helps the driver learn commands with useful step-by-step screen prompts and allows the use of spoken short codes. There’s also a new 7-day timer for the Park Heater.

HSE Luxury Pack

A Luxury Pack is also available on the 3.0 SDV6 HSE bringing equipment levels close to that of Supercharged models. The pack includes contrast stitching on selected upholstery, 20-inch alloy wheels, Premium ICE, extended leather pack, HSE Luxury badge, heated steering wheel and adaptive cruise control. The Luxury Pack costs £3,065.

*manufacturer’s estimate

The 2012 Model year Range Rover Sport is on-sale in the UK from October and available from £48,795 on the road.

The new Range Rover Evoque passed an important milestone today when the first production vehicle was driven off the line at Land Rover’s Halewood manufacturing plant in Liverpool.

Jaguar Land Rover’s CEO, Ralf Speth together with JLR executive officers, union representatives and employees, gathered to celebrate the start of new Range Rover Evoque production. The first car to come off the line will be donated to the British Motor Industry Heritage trust.  

“The Evoque is an incredibly exciting vehicle that joins a product range which across both of our brands is the strongest we have ever had – and it fits in perfectly.” commented Dr Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer.” The teams that have designed engineered and built the new Evoque, working together with our research and supplier partners, can be immensely proud of their achievement. Worldwide interest in our new car has been exceptional, with 18,000 customer orders received from customers eager to be among the first to own the new Range Rover.

Halewood Operations is central to the success of the Evoque, with the workforce doubling to more than 3,000 employees in order to deliver the new model. Seventy-five per cent of production is destined for export to more than 170 countries around the world, adding around £2 billion to the UK economy. Moreover, 50 per cent of the components in new Evoque are made in Britain, with contracts worth another £2 billion awarded to more than 40 UK supplier businesses.

“It is a groundbreaking product, a Range Rover with concept car looks, lightweight technologies and the capability to deliver 50mpg fuel economy. At the same time it’s still a true Range Rover that’s agile, nimble, designed to survive in the urban jungle and capable of tackling the toughest climates and terrains thanks to Land Rover’s legendary all-wheel drive expertise.” Speth added

The launch of the Range Rover Evoque is just one of 40 new product actions that Jaguar Land Rover will carry out in the next five years in the most ambitious market offensive in the history of its two brands. This product creation programme is supported by annual investment of £1.5 billion in developing new models, engines, technologies and vehicle lines.

Currently Jaguar Land Rover directly employs almost 19,000 people in the UK, and indirectly supports up to 140,000 further jobs through its supply chain, dealer network and associated business operations. Its success is reflected in after-tax profits of £1.043 billion for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

Land Rover has today announced that new Range Rover Evoque prices in the UK will start from £27,955 for an eD4 Pure 5-door 6 Speed manual 2WD model. The 4WD equivalent is priced at £28,705.

With a choice of three engines, two body styles, three design themes and a wide range of options and accessories, the new Range Rover Evoque offers customers significant choice across a range of price points. The top-of-the-range Si4 6 Speed automatic Dynamic coupé with LUX pack is available for £44,320.

The Range Rover Evoque will be offered in both 5-door and Coupé forms and will go on-sale from September 2011. A smooth and refined powertrain line-up is available with a choice of state-of-the-art diesel or petrol engines.

The updated 2.2-litre turbodiesel has 150PS or 190PS derivatives. The 2WD (on-sale early 2012) Coupé version combined with the 150 PS 2.2-litre engine is set to achieve sub 130g/km CO₂*.

The new 240PS 2.0-litre Si4 petrol engine combines direct fuel injection, turbocharging  and twin variable valve timing for exceptional driveability and fuel-efficiency and delivers 0-60mph in 7.1 seconds*.

In place of a traditional trim hierarchy, customers can choose from three distinct design themes, which include many features as standard. A wide range of personalisation opportunities are also available, allowing customers to fully tailor the Evoque to individual tastes and requirements.

Options available include 12 exterior colours, three contrasting roof treatments, seven alloy wheel designs, 16 contrasting interiors and a full sized, fixed, panoramic glass roof.  A new online configurator goes live today, making it simple for customers to create their perfect Range Rover Evoque.

Click here for the online configurator tool: http://www.landrover.com/gb/en/rr/range-rover-evoque/build/

Body Styles

The Range Rover Evoque is available in two body styles – a Coupé and 5-door. The Coupé provides two individual rear seats, with the option of three-seat bench if preferred. The Evoque 5-door extends the appeal of the model even further by offering greater practicality and family appeal. The roofline stands 30mm higher than the Coupé, which delivers extra head and shoulder room for rear seat passengers.

Powertrains

The Range Rover Evoque is available with a choice of powertrains, both petrol and diesel with six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, and, for the first time in a Range Rover, the option of 2WD (front wheel drive) as well as 4WD.

The engine, transmission, drive and design theme combinations available are as follows:

• eD4 diesel 150hp 6-speed manual 2WD (Pure and Prestige) – available from 2012
• TD4 diesel 150hp 6-speed manual 4WD (Pure, Prestige)
• SD4 diesel 190hp 6-speed manual 4WD (Pure, Prestige, Dynamic)
• SD4 diesel 190bhp 6-speed automatic 4WD (Pure, Prestige, Dynamic)
• Si4 petrol 240hp 6-speed automatic 4WD (Dynamic)

Design themes

In place of the conventional equipment grade hierarchy, three defining design themes have been developed for the Evoque: Pure, with a contemporary feel; Prestige, which majors on luxury and Dynamic, which embraces a bold and sporting character.

Each theme has a distinct appeal in terms of exterior styling, interior appointments and equipment specifications, which offer the highest level of on-board comfort, entertainment, communications and convenience.

Pure

Evoque Pure is the purest expression of the original LRX concept. On the outside it is distinguished by the high-gloss black detailing across the tailgate and along the waistline, with a dark ‘Atlas’ finish to the grille and eye-catching side fender blades and, on the Coupé, bonnet louvres. As standard, Pure models come with 18-inch Sparkle Silver alloy wheels.

Inside, the seats are finished in grain leather, and satin brushed aluminium is used for the centre console trim. Highlights of the standard equipment on board include heated front seats, an 8-inch high-resolution touch screen display, climate control air conditioning, an 11-speaker Meridian audio system with subwoofer, push-button start, Bluetooth^TM for mobile phone connection and audio streaming, twin USB ports, which support portable audio connectivity and cruise control.

The handling and safety systems include Hill Launch Assist, rear parking sensors and, on 4WD versions, Terrain Response^TM to set up the vehicle for different off-road environments, and Hill Descent Control.

Prestige

Luxury informs every element of the Evoque Prestige models, from the exterior bright ‘Atlas’ detailing and 19-inch Diamond Turned alloy wheels, to the fine Oxford full leather interior in a selection of warm and inviting colour schemes with real wood finishers, tailored carpet mats and chrome tread plates. Metallic paint is also provided as standard and Prestige models benefit from xenon headlamps with signature LED lighting and front fog lamps.

Similarly, the equipment specification delivers the highest quality features, with an HDD satellite navigation system with dynamic route guidance and voice control option. It also displays 4WD performance information and provides an audio server for storing uncompressed digital music files. There is also a rear camera, front parking sensors and automatic headlamps and windscreen wipers.

Dynamic

The Dynamic theme adds a real sporting presence to Evoque with the addition of deeper body colour sills and bumpers, and black-finished mirrors, grille and side fender blades that are all exclusive to the design theme. Add the 20-inch Sparkle Silver alloys to the mix and there is no mistaking that the Evoque Dynamic means business.

Inside the cabin detailed touches reinforce the theme with aluminium pedal covers, a textured metal finish to the centre console and perforated leather around the steering wheel and (manual) gearshift. The striking exterior of the Dynamic is complemented by a range of bold  interior colour schemes.

Dynamic models also come with Adaptive Dynamics featuring MagnaRide^TM as standard for and an even sharper ride and handling. Adaptive Dynamics is also available as an option for Prestige SD4 models at a cost of £1150.

Pure with TECH Pack

Many of the key technology features available in the range have been brought together in a TECH Pack to enhance the Pure theme even further. The pack includes the following additional features:

• HDD premium navigation system
• Front parking aid
• Heated windscreen and windscreen washers
• Automatic headlamps
• Headlamp power-wash
• Rain-sensing windscreen wipers

Opting for the TECH Pack represents excellent value, adding just £1,900 to the standard Pure prices.

Prestige and Dynamic with LUX Pack

The LUX Pack for Prestige and Dynamic models is also available and offers greater convenience, on-board entertainment and safety. It introduces the following items:

• Powered tailgate and panoramic glass roof with power blinds
• 825W Meridian surround sound audio system
• 8-inch high-resolution dual-view touch-screen display
• Analogue/digital television
• Auto-dimming rear view mirror
• Surround camera system with tow assist
• Blind spot monitoring
• Keyless entry
• ‘Park Assist’ system
• Advanced climate control with air filtration, air quality sensor and automatic recirculation

The LUX Pack for Prestige and Dynamic models costs an extra £4,325.

UK OTR Pricing

Complete pricing information is provided in the table below:

Range Rover Evoque 5-door:

Range Rover Evoque Coupé:

Land Rover employees at the Company’s Halewood manufacturing plant in Merseyside are today celebrating an important milestone achievement − the production of the 250,000^th Freelander 2.

Production of the Freelander 2 began in 2007 and today, the plant’s 250,000^th Freelander 2 will be driven off of the line. Land Rover is also celebrating a growing demand for Halewood’s award winning model as retail sales for the popular model are up 22%, year to date (Apr 2010 – Feb 2011) compared with the same 11 month period in 2009/2010.

The 250,000^th vehicle is a 2.2 litre TD4 Diesel GS in Fuji White and is destined for a customer who lives in Scotland.

Halewood operations director Richard Else, commented: “This milestone achievement and the increasing sales for Freelander 2 highlights just how important this vehicle is, not just to Halewood but also for the regional and UK economy − around 70% of Freelanders produced at Halewood are exported overseas. I’d like to thank our flexible and highly skilled workforce and congratulate the Halewood team on this superb achievement.”

The 2011 Freelander 2 is available with either 2WD or 4WD and a refined 2.2 litre diesel engine offering two power outputs – the 190hp SD4 and the 150hp TD4. With class-leading on and off-road performance, featuring Terrain Response^TM, a premium cabin, improved fuel economy and an affordable cost of ownership the Freelander 2 is now on-sale available from £21,995 on the road.

Land Rover launches the new 2011 Defender X-Tech Limited Edition at Brussels Motorshow.

The Defender X-Tech offers raw and edgy style, with the class-leading all-terrain capability you would expect of this motoring icon.

The exterior is available in Zermatt Silver, enhanced by a contrasting Santorini Black finish to the roof and wheel arches. And, for the first time, this Defender is fitted with unique gloss black 16 inch Saw Tooth alloy wheels, to create a sense of raw utilitarianism.

The interior is available in Ebony and the seats offer the addition of leather side bolsters, for a more refined finish.

The Defender X-Tech is available in the 90 Hard Top Commercial derivative, with the full range of accessories also available to enhance capability and individuality.

Powered by the 2.4 litre common-rail diesel engine, this Defender boasts fuel efficiency and performance with 360Nm torque for effortless towing and enhanced on-road performance.

The Defender X-Tech Limited Edition will go on sale from March 2011 starting at £24,995

Land Rover today launches the new Freelander 2 SD4 Sport Limited Edition at the Bologna Motor Show.

This Limited Edition brings together the space and practicality of the Freelander 2, with a refreshed interior and exterior design to create a sportier more overt sense of style.

The exterior has been given a striking renewal, with a sophisticated black finish to the grille and the side vents, a new body styling pack which offers cleaner profiling to the front corners, and a choice of three exterior colourways in either Fuji White, Santorini Black or the all-new Firenze Red. A rear spoiler also features, together with 19″ Shadow Chrome alloy wheels, body coloured door handles and mirror caps, and privacy glass to further emphasise the dynamic look of this premium limited edition. Front and rear parking sensors will be available as standard.

The interior is available in Ebony Windsor leather with contrast Pimento stitch, or Ebony Napoli leather with matching contrast Windsor leather highlight stripe on the seats. Piano Black fascia finisher also features together with Ebony carpet mats with a contrast edge of either Ivory or Pimento. These design themes, with the contrast colours and unique stripe design offer a distinct and sporty look for the Freelander 2.

The Freelander 2 SD4 Sport is powered by the new state-of-the-art 190PS diesel engine. This Limited Edition (available with automatic transmission only) accelerates from rest to 60mph in 8.7 seconds with an increased top speed of 118mph.

The use of an Intelligent Power Management System (IPMS) provides ‘smart charging’ of the battery by recovering kinetic energy when the vehicle is slowing wherever possible, rather than consuming fuel by charging when the vehicle is accelerating, and in addition to this, the Freelander 2 Sport SD4 Limited Edition is compatible with 10 percent biodiesel rather than five percent. With these improved efficiencies, CO2 emissions are reduced to 185g/km with a corresponding fuel economy benefit.

“The Freelander 2 SD4 Sport Limited Edition offers customers the practicality, performance and efficiency of our best-selling compact SUV with more dramatic, sporty styling and the overall package represents good value for money,” said Colin Green, managing director, Land Rover UK.

Land Rover will introduce the new Discovery 4 ‘Landmark’ Limited Editions in January 2011 featuring unique Black and White colour themes.

This new variant brings a fresh, more contemporary sense of design to the latest Discovery 4 line-up. Both the Black and White models blend high-end interiors with bold, contemporary colour schemes, giving the Discovery 4 a more upmarket look. In keeping with the core appeal of the Discovery 4, this Limited Edition offers on-road refinement to match most executive saloons, the versatility of a large people carrier and unrivalled off-road capability.

“The new Landmark Limited Edition Discovery 4 has been created to offer our customers more choice,” said Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern. “The Discovery 4 is already the ultimate all-purpose vehicle, but we’ve brought a new, bolder, more contemporary edge to the design, offering a higher level of luxury in the cabin.”

The Landmark is available in Santorini Black or Fuji White colour schemes. A high-specification Taurus interior leather comes in either Ebony or – for the first time in a Discovery – Ivory. Offsetting the Grand Ivory veneer with a contrasting top stitch creates a duo-tone look, offering bold colour combinations to give both versions a striking, contemporary finish.

The exterior also benefits from Santorini Black finish grille vanes, gloss black 20″ 5-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels, privacy glass, and Satin Black extended roof rails that create a unique side silhouette.

The Landmark is powered by Land Rover’s highly efficient 3.0 litre SDV6 twin turbo diesel engine that offers a nine percent fuel economy improvement (EU combined cycle), compared to 2.7 litre engine it replaced and ten percent less CO2, re-affirming the brand’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.

All variants come with Land Rover’s award-winning Terrain ResponseTM system, which optimises the vehicle set-up for virtually all on-road or off-road driving situations, with five different settings to suit different terrains.

The Land Rover Discovery first went on-sale in 1989 and since then has received over 150 awards from all over the world. The Discovery 4 has won a number of awards, including, in the UK, 4×4 Magazine’s Car of the Year and the Scottish Car of the Year and, internationally, the Best 4×4 for Spain’s Car and Driver, Best Annual SUV for Autocar in China and All-Round SUV of the Year for Bloomberg’s USA.

The Discovery 4 Limited Editions will go on-sale from in the UK from January 2011, priced at £46,945 OTR.

The exciting 5-Door version of the all-new Range Rover Evoque makes its global public debut at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show on November 17, 2010.

With its stylish and sporting appearance, enhanced by extra practicality and greater family appeal, the 5-Door Range Rover Evoque joins the stunning coupé model to create a highly desirable line-up that will transform the premium compact SUV segment.

Like the coupé, the 5-Door Range Rover Evoque remains faithful to the spirit of the groundbreaking Land Rover LRX concept car, offering an innovative new interpretation of the original cross-coupé design.

The 5-Door Evoque also stays true to the core values of the Range Rover brand, providing premium levels of craftsmanship, luxury, performance and renowned Land Rover all-terrain capability, but in a more compact package.

“The addition of the 5-Door to the Range Rover Evoque line-up extends the appeal of our brand still further,” said Land Rover’s Managing Director Phil Popham.

“While retaining everything that’s great about the Range Rover Evoque coupé, this new 5-Door bodystyle will offer customers even more choice, greater practicality, versatility and flexibility. The launch of the Evoque in 2011 will expand and revitalise the global appeal of the Range Rover marque.”

Coupé style and 5-Door versatility

The 5-Door Range Rover Evoque offers an exciting new interpretation of the LRX concept car design, combining the dramatic stance and dynamic appeal of the original cross-coupé with the enhanced functionality offered by a 5-Door format.

“The 5-Door Range Rover Evoque has the same strong emotional appeal as the coupé, while offering the superior versatility of a family vehicle,” said Land Rover Design Director, Gerry McGovern.

“The key lines remain intact – the dramatic rising beltline, muscular shoulder running the length of the car, and the distinctive taper to the floating roofline – but with a slightly higher rear roof. The finished vehicle offers impressive levels of space and versatility whilst retaining the overall essence, visual robustness and jewel-like detailing of the coupé.”

The more capacious interior of the 5-Door Range Rover Evoque has not been achieved by enlarging the compact footprint of the coupé model: the overall length and width remain identical.

Like the coupé, smart design, meticulous engineering and clever packaging has ensured that the 5-Door Evoque delivers the core Range Rover values of luxury, refined performance and all-terrain capability while remaining true to the spirit of the LRX concept design.

Interior quality and versatility

The cabin of the Range Rover Evoque is lavishly appointed with premium quality materials and an elegance befitting of a Range Rover interior.

Customers can specify soft, premium leather and beautifully tailored, twin-needle stitching providing a luxurious finish to almost every surface of the instrument panel, doors and seats.

Measuring 30mm taller than the coupé model, the 5-Door Range Rover Evoque adds further space and versatility to the luxurious cabin. Rear seat passengers benefit from over 50mm more shoulder room, along with generous headroom which compares very favourably to traditional sporting saloons.

A full-sized glass panoramic roof enhances the sensation of space and comfort by flooding the interior with natural light, and offers even greater headroom for all occupants.

For growing families, the 5-Door Evoque provides the versatility and luggage space of a compact station wagon.

The rear seats, with seat belts and head restraints for three passengers, have 60/40 folding seat squabs and are equipped with ISOFIX child seat mounts. When required, luggage capacity can be expanded to a substantial 1445 litres.

Sporting dynamics

On the open road, the 5-Door Range Rover Evoque offers a polished driving experience that combines dynamic and sporty handling with responsive, effortless performance and refinement.

“The 5-Door Range Rover Evoque has the same sporting character as the coupé,” said Murray Dietsch, Director of Land Rover Programmes. “We have focused on ensuring that the car is agile and fun to drive, so that customers have a rewarding experience, even in day-to-day urban driving. Advanced technologies such as MagneRide™ mean we can ensure that this dynamic prowess does not come at the cost of top-quality refinement or comfort.”

The optional Adaptive Dynamics system with advanced MagneRide™ dampers provides an exceptional balance between a supple, controlled ride and sharper handling responses.

Capable off-road

Drivers who take their Range Rover Evoque off-road will be reassured to know that, in addition to extremely generous ground clearance, the car has better breakover and departure angles than other compact SUVs.

The Evoque will be the first Range Rover to offer customers a choice between a full-time four-wheel-drive system, which delivers outstanding performance and traction on all surfaces, and a low carbon, front-wheel-drive option for further enhanced fuel economy.

The Range Rover Evoque’s formidable all-terrain potential is enhanced by the latest version of the company’s signature Terrain ResponseTM system.

Powertrains

The 5-Door Range Rover Evoque shares its turbocharged powertrain line-up with the Coupé model. The state-of-the-art diesel and petrol engines offer smooth and responsive performance, blending four-cylinder efficiency with six-cylinder refinement and power.

Customers can choose between two comprehensively updated 2.2-litre turbodiesel derivatives, with 190PS or 150PS.

In the 5-Door model, the front-wheel drive Range Rover Evoque with the 150PS 2.2-litre engine achieves sub 135g/km* CO2.

A new 240PS, 2.0-litre Si4 petrol engine combines direct fuel injection, turbocharging and twin variable valve timing for exceptional driveability and fuel efficiency.

Murray Dietsch, Director of Land Rover Programmes, said: “We have combined state-of-the-art powertrains with a lightweight bodyshell and a range of low-carbon technologies to deliver fuel efficiency which is outstanding for a premium SUV.”

Innovation

Like the coupé model, the 5-Door Evoque benefits from the same high-end innovative technologies as the larger Range Rovers. An intuitive control system and touch-screen display combines a stylish, uncluttered layout, state-of-the-art functionality with class-leading ease of use.

The display is available with dual-view technology, so that driver and passenger can view independent content.

Connectivity options include Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone and audio streaming, plus a range of USB and auxiliary inputs for iPods and other portable devices.

The Evoque is the first Range Rover to offer breathtaking new sound systems developed in partnership with the high-end audio specialist Meridian. The premium Meridian offering is an 825W, 17-speaker system that delivers the ultimate in surround-sound performance.

Other features available to Range Rover Evoque customers include:

Park Assist for automated parallel parking
Blind Spot Monitoring system
Surround Camera System with five digital cameras, including a reversing system
Full dual-zone automatic climate control, featuring a Park Heater timer facility
Hard drive navigation system
DAB/FM/AM/Sirius tuners, with hard drive virtual 10xCD multiplayer
Digital and Satellite TV, and DVD playback
Rear seat entertainment package, with 8-inch video screens, digital wireless headphones and touch screen remote control
Keyless entry system and powered tailgate
Adaptive headlamps with Automatic High Beam Assist
Heated windscreen, front seats and steering wheel
Three design themes

The 5-Door Range Rover Evoque follows the coupé model by offering customers the choice of three main vehicle design themes, each with its own distinctive character, exterior treatment and carefully co-ordinated interior package.

‘Pure’combines the stunning concept-car exterior with a stylish, clean interior in neutral colours. Soft-touch wrapped materials on the major surfaces contrast with the metal brushed aluminium trim.

‘Prestige’ is theultimate in Range Rover luxury, combining a bespoke exterior that includes unique, 19-inch wheels and sparkling metallic details with an interior that is almost entirely leather-wrapped.

‘Dynamic’ brings a bolder exterior with 20-inch wheels and unique bumpers, sills, grille and tailpipes for a more assertive, confident stance. Contrasting roof and spoiler colours are available, while the premium sports interior offers sports seats with splashes of bright contrast colour.

Both coupé and 5-Door models of the Range Rover Evoque will be manufactured at Land Rover’s multi award-winning Halewood plant in Merseyside, UK. The car will go on sale in more than 160 markets worldwide from summer 2011. Prices will start from £30,000/ 35,000E.

The 2011 Freelander 2 model range, on sale in the UK from the end of September 2010, benefits from a new 2.2-litre diesel engine available with either 150PS or 190PS outputs, a new look exterior plus interior alterations including new instrument dials and a new Premium Pack option.

Land Rover’s new turbo diesel engine is available in the 4WD TD4 150PS model featuring a manual transmission and intelligent Stop/Start technology as standard (an automatic gearbox without Stop/Start is available as a cost option), or the new SD4 model delivering 190PS (available in automatic transmission only).

This new engine is quieter, more efficient and both derivatives have 20Nm more torque than the outgoing engine. This means the 2011 Freelander 2 offers improved engine response and more mid-range strength for towing. CO₂ emissions have been significantly reduced to 165g/km and 185g/km respectively with corresponding fuel economy benefits.

However, despite reductions in consumption and emissions, there has been no compromise in performance.  The flagship 190PS Freelander SD4 accelerates from rest to 60mph in 8.7 seconds with an increased top speed of 118mph. The Freelander 150PS TD4 manual and automatic versions match the performance of their predecessors.

As well as being upgraded from EU4 to EU5, both versions have a new variable geometry turbocharger and have been extensively re-calibrated to deliver new levels of power, meet emissions regulations and reduce CO₂ emissions.  They are fitted with a catalysed diesel particulate filter as standard and are now compatible with 10 per cent biodiesel rather than 5 per cent.

As an addition to the Freelander 2 range, Land Rover will also offer customers a 2WD derivative, available in the UK from January 2011. This will be called the Freelander 2 eD4 and it will be the most efficient Land Rover ever produced, with fuel consumption of 47.2mpg combined, and CO₂ emissions of just 158g/km.

“The new Freelander 2 eD4 moves Land Rover into the hugely popular and fiercely contested two wheel-drive SUV market,” said Land Rover managing director Phil Popham. “The European market for two-wheel drive SUVs represents 23 percent of the segment and we intend to compete strongly here.

“A 2WD option is just one way in which we are developing our vehicles’ efficiency whilst adding to the Land Rover range and expanding our appeal to a broader group of customers.  We will continue to make the ‘world’s finest all-terrain vehicles’ for those customers who require 4WD but will also now offer an alternative.”

This groundbreaking Freelander 2 eD4 is powered by the new 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine, delivering 150PS.  It is only available with a six-speed manual transmission featuring Stop/Start technology as standard.

The exterior of the latest Freelander 2 gets a new look for 2011.  Marked out by a new front bumper assembly incorporating new front fog lap bezels, a new front grille finish, improved headlights and tail lamps, new full width tailgate appliqué and new 18- or 19-inch alloy wheel styles. There are three new colour schemes for 2011 Kosrae Green, Baltic Blue and Fuji White.

Inside the cabin, Land Rover’s design team have revised the instrument dials, and there are four new seat styles with the option of a Premium Pack that includes Windsor Leather upholstery, an 8/6 way electric seat, plus premium carpet mats and covered centre stowage.

The 4WD TD4 and SD4 models are on sale in the UK from the end of September.

Prices are as follows:

*Automatic transmission available as £1,515 option

The 2WD eD4 model will be available in the UK from January 2011.  Prices will be announced later this year.

Land Rover has announced that it will introduce a 2WD option (in addition to the 4WD derivative) for the new compact Range Rover. On sale in 2011, the 2WD vehicle will emit less than 130 g/km of CO₂ – making it the lightest, most fuel efficient Range Rover ever.

JaguarLandRover has committed to investing £800 million in developing environmental technologies and remains committed to developing vehicles with sustainable features which respond to customer demand. 

Phil Popham, Land Rover managing director said: “Land Rover has announced that the all-new compact Range Rover will be available in 2WD.  This is good news for the company and for our customers. A 2WD option is just one way in which we are developing our vehicles efficiency whilst adding to the Land Rover range and expanding our customer base.  We will continue to make the ‘world’s finest all-terrain vehicles’ for those customers who require 4WD but will also now offer an alternative to those that don’t.” 

As part of the introduction of 2WD, Land Rover will be focussing on three main areas of technology to reduce the weight of Land Rover vehicles, reduce parasitic losses and increase powertrain efficiency. The use of hybrid technology is also part of the significant developments for the larger vehicles in the range. The first diesel hybrid will be available in 2012 and on the road in 2013.

By the end of 2010 Land Rover will be testing the first diesel hybrid prototype called the ‘range_e’ which is being developed using a Range Rover Sport platform. Tests of this vehicle will use the existing 3.0 litre TDV6 diesel engine featuring a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. The goal is to achieve a range of 20 miles using electric power only emitting less than 100 g/km of CO₂ emissions and to achieve a top speed of around 120 mph.

Land Rover has over 60 years of experience developing supremely capable vehicles with pioneering technology such as Terrain Response.  Land Rover sells its vehicles in over 160 countries world-wide and is constantly looking at the market place and developing vehicles that customers in all these markets want to buy.

Land Rover, in association with the Ski Club of Great Britain, has launched a new free Snow Report app for the iPhone – available to download now from iTunes.

Featuring live snow report data from 250 resorts including snow depths, on and off piste conditions as well as webcams and the latest ski and snowboarding news, this cutting edge service will be invaluable to iPhone users who are passionate about snowsports.

Anthony Bradbury, UK marketing director, Land Rover says: “Land Rover’s all-terrain capability ensure owners can make it to their favourite ski resorts whatever the conditions and now Land Rover, working in partnership with the Ski Club of Great Britain, can offer snowsports enthusiasts up-to-the-minute ski and snow information, whatever their location.”

Land Rover is the Official Vehicle to the Ski Club of Great Britain and Chemmy Allcot, Britain’s Number 1 Female Skier, is a Land Rover Brand Ambassador.

For more information regarding Land Rover’s ski sponsorship, log onto www.landrover.co.uk/sponsorship or visit www.skiclub.co.uk

In the period October to December 2009, Land Rover UK sales were up 93% year on year.

Sales have been improving consistently in the UK for the last four months as some stability returns to the market place, and the launch of the new 2010 model range has ensured the latest, most efficient, and technologically advanced line-up Land Rover has ever had.  On sale at the beginning of September 2009, sales of the Discovery 4 and Range Rover Sport specifically have improved by 115% and 116% respectively for the last quarter of 2009 over the same period in 2008, which highlights strong demand for Land Rover’s latest offering.

Overall sales for 2009 were strong particularly in the second half of the year, but down 10.8% year on year due to a record-breaking first quarter in 2008. 

Land Rover UK managing director, John Edwards said: ’2009 has been a very hard year for the motor industry – particularly in the premium segment.  However, Land Rover made some tough decisions and restructured our business model to ensure that we were in a strong position to weather the storm. With our new 2010 model range launched to widespread acclaim, we are looking forward to building on our outstanding sales success in the last quarter, and to a brighter 2010.’

The Freelander 2 – with the addition of the new White & Black Special Editions with an entry-level price of £19,495 – represents value for money in the sector, coupled with an efficient powertrain delivering an improved CO2 performance of 179g/km and a combined fuel economy of 42.2mpg.

The Discovery 4 and Range Rover Sport now boast an all-new 3.0-litre TDV6 engine delivering over 30mpg coupled with enhanced styling, all new premium interiors and class-leading technologies.  The Range Rover Sport also features the new 5.0-litre Supercharged petrol engine.  The Discovery 4 has received a number of global accolades since launch in September 2009 illustrating that the most-awarded SUV has just got better.

The new 5.0-litre Supercharged engine, coupled with the more economical but powerful 3.6-litre TDV8 and improved driving dynamics, strengthen the Range Rover’s position as THE ultimate SUV.  World-first automotive applications of the dual view screen and the surround camera system ensure that it is one of the most technologically advanced vehicles on the market.  It has also just been voted the Car of the Decade by Autocar.co.uk readers.

Land Rover has over 60 years of experience developing supremely capable vehicles that boast four-wheel-drive and pioneering technology such as Electronic Traction Control, Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Terrain Response – which includes a snow setting utilising the vehicles’ traction aids. These all help ensure that Land Rover owners have total peace of mind when travelling in wet and icy conditions.

John Edwards, Land Rover UK managing director comments: ‘When conditions become treacherous, there is one manufacturer that the emergency services turn to – Land Rover. For many years, we have provided local police, ambulance services and recovery agencies with the loan of our vehicles to aid their work when faced with poor driving conditions. In fact, the AA’s specialist Land Rover fleet have been on standby in the South East to help out in the snow overnight.’

The Freelander 2 ‘White & Black’ Special Editions are new entry-level additions to the Freelander 2 range for the 2010 model year, and will be on sale in January 2010, priced from £19,495 on-the-road.

The Special Editions are available in Alaska White and Santorini Black and both come with the Ebony cloth interior. They represent a lower entry price with a more generous specification and complement the new Freelander 2 Sport, also on sale at the start of next year.

The Freelander 2 ‘White & Black’ models feature the six-speed manual 2.2-litre diesel powertrain, complete with keyless starter button and Land Rover’s intelligent Stop/Start e_technology which delivers combined fuel economy of 42.2mpg. Privacy glass, 17’ alloy wheels and load space cover are also standard.

John Edwards, Land Rover UK managing director said: ‘With a price less than £20,000 and the economical yet powerful diesel engine, the Freelander 2 ‘White & Black’ Special Editions represent exceptional value for money in the compact SUV sector. Couple this with the vehicle’s enhanced styling and specification, the ‘Special Editions’ not only offer the Freelander 2’s trademark ever-ready versatility, but are pleasing to the pocket and to the discerning eye.’

The Freelander 2 is Land Rover’s best-selling model, with over 44,000 sold in the UK since launch in 2006. Sales so far for 2009 represent a 16% share of the sector.
For more information on any of the 2010 models or to book a test drive log onto www.landrover.co.uk

In showrooms early next year, the Freelander 2 Sport will be available with two derivatives and two colours – Santorini Black and Lago Grey. Both will feature exclusive 19′ limited edition diamond-turned alloy-wheels, a unique two-tone interior together with a rear spoiler, colour-keyed exterior trim and matching door handles and mirror casings.

There is a standard model available in both Black and Lago Grey with cloth interior and one with a sports styling pack available only in Lago Grey.

A unique two-tone interior is introduced on both derivatives, in contrasting Ebony and Storm. The derivative featuring the sports styling pack will offer a leather interior and the standard version with a cloth/leather interior. The sporty theme continues through the cabin, with an Ebony-coloured centre-console and lower fascia complemented with two-tone door casings.

The Sport emblem is embossed on the front and outer rear seat head restraints, with Storm coloured stitching on all seats and unique Ebony interior carpet mats with contrast piping feature throughout.

The Freelander 2 Sport is available with the powerful and economical 2.2-litre TD4 diesel power unit. The manual diesel comes with Stop/Start technology delivering an 8% improvement on CO2 emissions compared to the previous manual diesel Freelander 2 (from 194g/km to 179g/km) and fuel consumption is reduced (from 37.7 to 42.2mpg – an improvement of 4.5mpg).

John Edwards, managing director, Land Rover UK said: ‘With its dynamic styling, the Freelander 2 Sport allows you to combine sporting characteristics with all the sustainability and driveability benefits of the intelligent Stop/Start technology.’

The Freelander 2 Sport goes on sale in January 2010, priced from £26,695 on-the-road.

For more information on any of the 2010 models or to book a test drive log onto www.landrover.co.uk

The iconic, British-built Land Rover Defender has come top in the What Car? Reader Awards 2009, beating 387 other models covering 52 brands. From over 20,000 reader reviews on www.whatcar.com, the Defender has the highest average overall rating.

What Car? editor Steve Fowler said: ‘The Land Rover Defender has always had a devoted following and owners love what the car does for them. It’s far from the most sophisticated car on the road, but its no-nonsense approach and longevity are what our readers like most about it.’

Another iconic car, the Fiat 500, was top of the Supermini category, while the Jaguar XJ topped the Executive and Luxury Cars category. The highest rated coupe was the super-stylish Audi A5 and the best Open-Top Car was the Mazda MX-5 roadster.

Further proof of Skoda’s resurgence came with the Skoda Octavia getting top marks in the small family car category, while at the other end of the market Porsche topped the performance car category.

Ford were double winners with the Ford Mondeo voted best estate car and the C-Max voted top MPV by What Car? readers.

It wasn’t all good news for Ford, though. At the bottom of the pile was the convertible Ford Focus CC, with readers complaining that it let as much rain in with the roof up as the roof down!

Land Rover is delighted to announce the launch of the first Official Guinness Premiership iPhone app. The long awaited application provides the latest rugby news, fixtures, scores and results about one of the world’s most competitive leagues as soon as the action happens.

As the Official Vehicle of the Guinness Premiership, Land Rover worked in partnership with Premier Rugby to identify a service that offers supporters the ultimate companion, supplying a multitude of information to their fingertips, wherever they are.

The concise, easy to use application, called Guinness Premiership Rugby has been welcomed by the players who have been impressed with the new mechanic. Tom Rees, London Wasps captain and flanker, commented: ‘This is exactly what Premiership supporters need; it makes rugby accessible to all its followers which is great for the game.’

With the popularity of the Guinness Premiership continuing to grow, Land Rover and Premier Rugby are proud to be developing the game off the pitch by introducing fans to a resource they can benefit from throughout the season. Designed with fans in mind the app is globally available on the iPhone and iPod touch ensuring that rugby fans all over the world have free access to the live facts and figures.

Jon Duckworth, Premier Rugby, head of marketing and promotions said: ‘As a loyal and established sponsor of Premier Rugby, we are delighted that Land Rover is working with us to produce this official iPhone app. This latest innovation now means that supporters with iPhones remain in touch with the Guinness Premiership wherever they may be.’

The app is free and available to download now. Visit: www.guinnesspremiership.com/iphoneapp.php to download it and enter a competition to win a VIP experience at the Guinness Premiership Final.

The new Discovery 4 has taken home two accolades at the Caravan Club’s Towcar of the Year Awards 2010, which took place at the Royal Automobile Club in London last week. These are the first awarded to the new Discovery 4, which went on-sale in UK dealerships earlier this month.

The Discovery 4 won the ‘Best Towcar Over £32,000′ class and the ‘All Wheel Drive Over 1800kg’ category, beating the likes of the Lexus RX450h, Mercedes Benz E and C class, Volvo XC70 and XC60 and the Isuzu Rodeo. The testing was carried out at Millbrook Proving Ground to determine the car’s towing ability, dynamics when hitched, acceleration and braking.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, driving judge, Barry Williams of The Caravan Club commented: ‘The Land Rover Discovery 4 stood out among an astonishingly good selection of cars in the two classes it entered. It will go anywhere and offers an impressive array of caravan-friendly features. I’m sure it will be a popular choice with our members and their families.’

The Discovery 4 has a class-leading 3500kgs towing ability and comes with new intelligent towing technologies such as Tow Assist, which helps the driver perform accurate towing manoeuvres, and Trailer Stability Assist, a system that initiates engine torque reduction and braking interventions to bring the towing back under control when trailer oscillations and uninvited steering movements are detected.

‘We are delighted to accept these awards from the Caravan Club and to see the new Discovery 4, following on from the enormous success of its predecessor, winning awards for its all-round capability and towing credentials,’ said Land Rover UK managing director, John Edwards.

The Discovery 4 features the new LR-TDV6 3.0-litre diesel engine, which delivers more power, improved refinement, better fuel economy and lower emissions. With an impressive 600Nm of torque at low rpm and intelligent towing technologies at the driver’s disposal coupled with a more luxurious and comfortable interior cabin, it really is the perfect vehicle for caravan enthusiasts.’