Anthony Joshua has been helping celebrate the 50th birthday of the Range Rover. The World Heavyweight Champion boxer tackled some ice driving in Sweden.
Joshua experienced something few Range Rover owners do – driving very sideways. Don’t worry, Land Rover hasn’t added a Drift Mode. Rather, he’s been learning ice driving at Land Rover’s Arjeplog test facility in the Arctic Circle.
He did so under the careful instruction of Jaguar Land Rover’s Ice Academy driving experts. Four high-spec Special Vehicles models were used: a Range Rover Sport SVR, Velar SVAutobiography, Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic and a ‘standard’ Range Rover SVAutobiography.
We hope Joshua and the instructors didn’t slide their way through Beck’s artwork. The special anniversary logo and script required no less than 45,000 steps across the snow.
Land Rover says full celebrations of the model begin in June, on the anniversary of the introduction of the two-door Range Rover in 1970.
June is also when Anthony Joshua will be riding in his SVA, on the way to fighting Kubrat Pulev in London.
“Over five decades the Range Rover has evolved into the most desirable luxury SUV in the world,” said Gerry McGovern OBE, chief creative officer at Land Rover.
“Its peerless combination of sophisticated design, refinement and capability has struck an emotional chord with customers all over the globe.”
https://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/LR_RR_SV_AJ_19.03.2020_05.jpg10801920Ethan Jupphttps://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/mr-top-motoring.svgEthan Jupp2020-03-20 11:09:512020-03-20 11:32:37Anthony Joshua celebrates the Range Rover's 50th... on ice
One of the biggest talking points from the 2018 Geneva Motor Show was the announcement of the two-door Range Rover SV Coupe.
Planned as an exclusive limited edition of 999 units, Jaguar Land Rover would later decide to cancel production in a drive to save costs.
For those disappointed by losing the chance to spend £240,000 ($295,000) on a Range Rover coupe, Dutch car designer Niels van Roij has a new solution.
Inspired by the Range Rover Classic
London-based Niels van Roij has created numerous automotive designs, but is best known for his Shooting Brake version of the Tesla Model S.
The Adventum Coupe is his own take on the two-door Range Rover idea, and it does differ subtly from Land Rover’s own SV Coupe version.
Viewed in profile, the roofline of the Adventum Coupe falls away less dramatically than the SV Coupe. Niels has stated that the original Range Rover provided the inspiration for his model, rather than the SV concept.
The result is a two-door Range Rover coupe that looks like it could have just left the production line. In reality, coachbuilders Bas van Roomen will be responsible for building all Adventum Coupes by hand.
Only the bonnet, front fenders, and tailgate lid are said to be shared with the original vehicle. All other body panels are made from scratch.
Being a coachbuilt creation, interested buyers can have their own Adventum Coupe tailored to meet their exacting demands. Niels van Roij suggests that this could include the addition of extra vents in the bodywork, or special paint hues.
Teak flooring throughout
Interior modification is also a major part of the Adventum Coupe, with van Roij fitting a trademark teak floor throughout.
The buyer of the first Adventum, finished in Arctic White paint, choose teak elements with a white finish between them. It complements the rest of the interior, that features red leather upholstery and a dashboard finished in black piano wood.
A key part of the Adventum Coupe is the replacement of the standard rear bench seat with two individual chairs. It makes the van Roij design a four-seater, with the rear seats electrically adjustable.
To ensure the Adventum Coupe has the performance to match the looks, van Roij has used the range-topping powertrain for it.
This means a 5.0 supercharged V8 engine offering 525 hp, which allows the regular Range Rover to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds.
Air suspension, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and permanent four-wheel drive should mean the Adventum retains the off-road ability of the five-door Range Rover.
How bespoke will your budget allow?
Such coachbuilt exclusivity will not come cheap. Starting prices for an Adventum Coupe being at €270,000. This is equivalent to £245,000 or $300,000. Niels van Roij plans to be only 100 examples.
Given the level of custom work involved, buyers will also need to place a €50,000 (£45,000 / $55,555) deposit with Niels van Roij.
Having an Adventum Coupe built to your exact specification is not a quick process. Building one should take at least six months, and possibly longer depending on the options picked.
https://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Range-Rover-Adventum-Coupe-001.jpg10801920John Redfernhttps://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/mr-top-motoring.svgJohn Redfern2020-03-16 08:47:212020-03-16 08:47:21The Adventum Coupe is an exclusive coachbuilt two-door Range Rover
Heavyweight world champion boxer Anthony Joshua has taken delivery of a special commission Range Rover SVAutobiography from Land Rover.
He collected his new heavyweight car outside the Finchley Boxing Club in Barnet, north London – the place where he started his sporting journey.
Unique touches on this SVA Range Rover include a special B-pillar badge with his family crest, plus recognition of his four heavyweight world titles. Joshua’s initials are embroidered on the headrests, too.
An ‘AJBXNG’ graphic features on the commissioning plaque on the centre console, as well as the illuminated sill treadplates. The alloy trim on the dashboard also has Joshua’s name engraved, while the interior door handles have subtle boxing glove motifs etched into them.
On the outside, Joshua’s car is finished in a bespoke black paintwork. The grille, side vent graphics and door handles are ‘Graphite Atlas’ grey. Union Jack flags feature on the wing vents, along with ‘258’ – the name of his management company.
The car is finished off by 22-inch split-spoke alloys. Turning these is the SVAutobiography’s 565hp supercharged V8, so Joshua won’t be late for any engagements.
Joshua is currently preparing for his next fight, against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev. With the stresses and intensity of his day job, it makes sense for him to want a comforting and cossetting car.
“With family and media commitments here in London and my training base in Sheffield, I spend lots of time on the road,” Joshua said.
“The SVAutobiography will take the stress out of long trips, allowing me to relax in complete comfort, and its unique design features both my family crest and references to my boxing success and I have to thank the team at Land Rover Vehicle Personalisation for taking my ideas and making them real.”
https://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Anthony.Joshua_hero.jpg10801920Ethan Jupphttps://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/mr-top-motoring.svgEthan Jupp2020-03-12 14:56:142020-03-12 14:56:14Anthony Joshua shows off custom-built Range Rover
2020 sees the Range Rover turn 50. Over the course of its life, Land Rover’s stately stalwart has been transformed from a hose-down hack into the must-have driveway accessory for any self-respecting Cheshire mansion owner.
From the prairie to the Premier League, Range Rover, this is your life.
In the 1960s, Rover sensed a genuine opportunity to launch a game-changing project. The company looked across the Atlantic at the likes of the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wagoneer and pondered a rival based on the Rover P6. This more broad, sturdy model would sit above the Series Land Rovers. Two years later, the Range Rover prototype was born…
The ‘100-inch Station Wagon’
It was called the ‘100-inch Station Wagon’, with the engineering pair of Charles ‘Spen’ King and Gordon Ashford working on the body. Donald Stokes, the then boss of Leyland which had recently taken control of Rover, liked the design and left it to David Bache to make necessary refinements. The prototype was completed in 1968.
First Range Rover is built
In 1970, the first Range Rover rolled off the production line in Solihull. It featured an aluminium V8 engine, permanent four-wheel drive and all-round disc brakes. The price was a quite remarkable £1,998.
A true British classic was born
The original Range Rover was a revelation, with the automotive press quick to praise its blend of off-road capabilities and on-road manners. A true British classic was born. A British car to take on the world.
First four-door Range Rover
In 1981, the first four-door Range Rover was built. It was based on a previously launched Monteverdi design, which had struggled to sell, largely thanks to a high price tag.
First Range Rover automatic
The 1980s saw a series of new innovations for the Range Rover, starting in 1982 when Land Rover launched the first Range Rover automatic.
The visit of the Pope
During the Pope’s UK visit in 1982, the Pope was driven around in a converted Range Rover.
First diesel-engined Range Rover
Four years after the first automatic, Land Rover introduced the first diesel-engined Range Rover.
North American debut
The Range Rover made its North American debut in 1987, while a year later, the opulent Vogue SE was launched. In 1989, the 3.5-litre V8 became a 3.9-litre, while in the same year, the Range Rover became the first SUV to feature ABS brakes.
Long-wheelbase LSE
In 1990, the two-door CSK model was introduced, named in honour of Charles Spencer King. Two years later, the long-wheelbase LSE model was launched, completed with a 4.2-litre V8 engine.
Range Rover County LWB
The car was known as the Range Rover County LWB in the US and it was owned and driven by the rich and famous. Here is Michael Jordan’s Range Rover in 1995.
ETC and air suspension introduced in 1992
In 1992, the Range Rover became the first SUV to feature Electronic Traction Control (ETC) and automatic air suspension. Consider the fact that this was now a full 22-years since the launch of the original car and a replacement was still two years in the future.
Launch of the P38A
When it arrived, the Range Rover P38A was a bit of anti-climax. In fairness, it was always going to be tough following up a legend – that difficult second album syndrome. But while the second generation was more luxurious and did offer a wider range of engines, it was beset with reliability problems.
Production of the MK1 Range Rover continued
On the plus side, the P38A (codenamed after the building in Solihull in which it was built) did retain many of the Range Rover’s key features, such as the floating roof, clamshell bonnet and split tailgate. But it was no surprise to find the original MK1 Range Rover continuing to be sold alongside its replacement.
Range Rover Classic
When it did bow out in 1996, the original Range Rover – now known as the Range Rover Classic – had already lived up to its badge. Classic by name, classic by nature. A total of 317,615 cars had been shifted in a 26-year production life. In comparison, the second generation model lasted a mere seven years…
Range Rover Linley
But that wasn’t before the P38A delivered the most luxurious Range Rover to-date. It was called the Linley and featured black paint, black leather, piano black interior trim and deep-pile carpets. It was also one of the first cars to feature satellite navigation and a television. The price was a mere £100,000.
The last Range Rover II
Here we see the last second-generation Range Rover rolling off the production line in Solihull. Charles ‘Spen’ King was there to witness the event.
Third-generation Range Rover
In 2001, the all-new third-generation Range Rover was launched. In an early indication of shifting market trends and a move even further upmarket, the design was said to be inspired by yachts, fine furniture and first-class seating.
Pompous and self-important?
Spen King went on record as saying how much he regretted the way in which the Range Rover and other 4x4s developed. His original concept was for a hose-down and wipe-clean interior and he had no visions of leather and woodgrain. In fact, he felt drivers of luxury SUVs were ‘pompous’ and ‘self-important.’
New TDV8 engine
In 2006, the new TDV8 diesel engine was offered for the first time. The photo shows the Range Rover Autobiography of 2009, which featured new 20-inch diamond-turned twin-seven-spoke alloy wheels.
Range Rover facelift of 2010
The midlife facelift for the 2010 Range Rover, introduced at the 2009 New York Auto Show, was far more than a cosmetic exercise. Indeed, Land Rover bosses claimed 1,420 new parts were used in creating a more luxurious and refined SUV. With every passing year, Range Rover was getting ever closer to Rolls-Royce levels of luxury and comfort.
New 5.0-litre V8 and 5.0-litre supercharged engines
In the same year, two new engines were introduced, including the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 found in the Jaguar XFR. The V8 would help to propel the Range Rover to 62mph in 5.9 seconds, while delivering 19mpg. Meanwhile, the TDV8 could offer a slightly more acceptable 25mpg.
Holland & Holland Range Rover by Overfinch
This 2009 special edition was less Guns ’n’ Roses and more Guns ’n’ Boozes. The Holland & Holland Range Rover Overfinch was famous – not for its 31 piece gunstock walnut trim or unique four-seat layout and hand-veneered rear console. No, it was the self-replenishing drinks cabinet which captured most people’s imagination. Can’t think why.
Range Rover introduces the world’s first TFT
2010 saw the introduction of another world-first in a Range Rover with the introduction of a 12-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT), which presented all the driver information on a set of virtual dials. We take this technology for granted these days, but in 2010 this was big news. You may also remember the Range Rover was the first vehicle to offer a dual-view infotainment screen.
The most luxurious Range Rover ever?
It was billed as the ‘most luxurious Range Rover’ ever built and it cost a cool £120,000. The Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition of 2010 featured a pair of iPads on the back of the front seats, two rear seats in place of the bench and an aluminium laptop table. There was also the small matter of teak decking in the boot. Only 500 were built.
The fourth-generation Range Rover
By now, the Range Rover was on a roll. Fresh from the launch of the Evoque came the fourth-generation Range Rover, billed as ‘the world’s most refined and capable SUV.’ It was the first SUV to feature a lightweight all-aluminium body and was the most aerodynamic Range Rover ever produced. In an instant, the third generation Range Rover looked outmoded and so past it.
2013 – Range Rover Hybrid
These are changing times and even Range Rover has to adapt. Still hurting from its rollocking from Greenpeace, Land Rover introduced a new Range Rover Hybrid in 2013. The SDV6 Hybrid cuts CO2 emissions to a remarkable 169g/km – not bad for a 340hp V6-powered SUV capable of sprinting to 60mph in 6.5 seconds and retaining the same ground clearance and wading depth.
The Long-wheelbase Autobiography Black
Catchy name, isn’t it? We’re pretty sure Spen King didn’t have the likes of the Range Rover Long-Wheelbase Autobiography Black in mind back in the 1960s, but the new car did manage to extend the rear legroom by 186mm and see the introduction of executive style seating.
The new Range Rover Holland & Holland
But if the LWB Autobiography wasn’t luxurious enough, you could always order the £180,000 Range Rover Holland & Holland. Once again, it promised to be ‘the most luxurious model ever’ and featured a host of bespoke upgrades, including a leather-trimmed gun cabinet.
The Range Rover SV Autobiography
The SV Autobiography of 2015 felt no less special, but at £148,000, it was a tad cheaper. Highlights include a ‘Duo-tone’ paint, featuring a Santorini Black upper body and lower body colour of your choice, along with Windsor leather ‘event seating’, complete with footrests.
6 millionth Land Rover is a Range Rover
Rather fittingly during the Range Rover’s 45th year in production, the 6 millionth Land Rover to roll off the production line just happened to be a Range Rover LWB Vogue SE. It was built on 2 April 2015.
Range Rover facelift
Revealed at the beginning of 2018, the fourth-generation Range Rover got its first comprehensive update. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and the Range Rover was as cool-looking as ever. Changes were subtle, including new sleek LED lighting. The front matrix lamps now came with 142 individually controllable LEDs apiece. In addition to that, the Pixel-Laser High Beam added lasers to the Range Rover’s lighting arsenal. Paging Dr Evil…
Going digital
A modernised outside was matched with further digitisation of the cabin. Gone were most of the buttons, replaced by ten-inch touch screens. The upper-level screen controlled media, as did the previous iteration. The lower screen was all-new, with integrated swivel dials to control the climate control. It was a thoroughly slick system that brought the Range Rover firmly up-to-date in the face of fierce competition.
Plug-in hybrid model
New for the Range Rover with the 2018 update was the introduction of a plug-in hybrid variant. This combined JLR’s 300hp 2.0-litre Ingenium four-cylinder engine with an 85kW electric motor. This electrified Range Rover came with a claimed emissions-free range of 31 miles, albeit under the dubious NEDC cycle. Economy figures were rated at 101mpg – stratospheric for a Range Rover – and CO2 was claimed to be down to 64g/km. Impressive, given in all, this Rangey packed an impressive 404hp.
Range Rover SVCoupe
In a way, the SVCoupe went back to the Range Rover’s roots. Conversely, this blingy £250,000 luxurious beast was more suited to Sheikhs than sheep shearers. While, as the Coupe name suggests, it had just two doors, that’s where the similarities with the original Rangie end. MR’s Peter Burgess had strong opinions on it at the time, but he needn’t have worried. The decadent SVCoupe was eventually canned due to budgetary concerns.
Six appeal
If the four-pot in the PHEV sounded a bit weedy to you, but the supercharged 5.0-litre is a bit much, fear not. The 400hp Ingenium straight-six arrived in early 2019 with a mild-hybrid boost to improve emissions.
Send in the Sentinels
If you’re a high-value target, but quite fancy a Range Rover, fear not. The heavily-armoured Sentinel variant that debuted last year should keep you safe. It featured more than a tonne of armour plates and glass, with protection against ‘modern and unconventional forms of attack, including improvised explosive devices’.
To the stars
2019 also saw the introduction of the Range Rover Astronaut Edition, exclusively for members of the Virgin Galactic Future Astronaut community. Special features include the ‘zero gravity blue’ paint, and various detail touches like imagery of SpaceShipTwo throughout the cabin. Special editions don’t get more exclusive than that.
The spin-offs: Range Rover Sport
The Range Rover name began spawning offshoots over 15 years ago. The Range Stormer Concept previewed a sportier model to sit below the long-standing ‘full size’. Shortly after, the Range Rover Sport was introduced, as an answer to the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5. It brought supercharged power and ice-cool looks, attracting a younger, sportier audience to the Rangie. While it was introduced with 400hp from a 4.2-litre supercharged V8, the current blood-curdling SVR variant of the second generation sport has over 570hp from a 5.0-litre unit.
The spin-offs: Range Rover Evoque
Truly bringing the Range Rover name to the masses was the Evoque, introduced in 2011. Based on – whisper it – the Freelander, the Evoque changed the game, introducing the sporty design language Land Rover still uses today, at undeniably attractive prices. Have that, BMW X3 and Audi Q5. The less said about the convertible variant of 2016, the better. Now in its second-generation, Land Rover hasn’t strayed from the stylish look of the original Evoque too much. It’s as cool and desirable as ever.
The spin-offs: Range Rover Velar
The latest spin-off, the Velar, had some scratching their heads. Bigger than an Evoque, but smaller than a Sport, who was this new Range Rover variant for? Honestly, we’re still not sure, but it’s probably the best combination of the two. It introduced the sleek cabin of the big Range Rover, and can be ordered in muscular SVAutobiography supercharged V8 form. Now the most devoted of Premier League posers can have a four-car collection consisting entirely of distinct Range Rover models.
The future of the Range Rover
With 50 years behind it, what’s next for the Range Rover? The fourth-gen still has some years left in it, but prototypes of the next-gen car are out testing. There are rumours it’ll be all-electric, sharing a platform with the all-electric next-generation Jaguar XJ. If so, it’ll be one of the biggest changes to the Range Rover in over five decades. For now, the Range Rover is fighting fit at 50.
https://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/01_History_Range_Rover_Land-Rover.jpg12001800Motoring Researchhttps://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/mr-top-motoring.svgMotoring Research2020-02-20 08:05:312020-02-20 09:12:49Range Rover at 50: From the prairie to the Premier League
If, like us, you spent the weekend sheltering from Storm Dennis and binge-watching the latest series of Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars, you’ll recognise this Range Rover.
The 1982 two-door Range Rover was imported from Spain before being recommissioned by Twenty-Ten Engineering. Although the episode ended without the car finding a buyer, it could be yours, because the Range Rover is going under the hammer this weekend.
He was adamant that the car should fetch at least £30,000, describing it as potentially “the best left-hand-drive one out there”. Fellow presenter Paul Cowland hoped to achieve £30,000 on the nose.
‘This car owes us a lot of money’
“I’ve seen the invoices for this car and they’re just massive. This car owes us a lot of money,” said Cowland.
Pritchard travelled to Barcelona to buy the Range Rover and spent £13,500 on what he thought was a totally original example. Having entrusted Twenty-Ten with the job of recommissioning the car, he discovered that just the driver’s door was the original paint.
Undeterred, the team pressed on with a sympathetic restoration, maintaining some of the car’s originality, including the letters on the bonnet and tailgate. A pair of travel stickers were also retained, although the hosts failed to agree on whether or not this was a good thing.
Cowland described the Range Rover as a “£26,000 piece of stock”, so anything less than the higher estimate would be a disappointing result.
It’s a manual from Barcelona
Previously, it was for sale on the Car & Classic website for £29,995, with the description stating that the producers ‘would be keen for the new owner to potentially appear on camera purchasing the car from our presenters’.
You won’t get an opportunity to appear on TV if you buy this at auction, but you will own a Range Rover that has spent almost its entire life in the classic-friendly conditions of Spain.
If you haven’t caught up with the latest series of Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars, you’re missing a treat. The presenters are excellent, the cars are fantastic, and you get to see the wonderful array of engineers and specialists helping to keep our classic cars alive.
Is a standard Land Rover too anonymous for you? Want to turn heads like a supercar, but have the practicality of an SUV? Look no further than this body-kitted, scorchingly pink Range Rover, formerly owned by Katie Price.
The colour, if you’re wondering, is ‘Barbie Rosa Pink’, while the styling kit comes courtesy of Urban Automotive. It’s currently being prepared by Saxton 4×4, after the dealer picked it up at auction.
While a modified Range Rover ordinarily wouldn’t ordinarily make financial sense, research by Auto Trader shows that cars with celebrity history can sell for up to 241 percent more than a similar car with non-famous former owners.
“We’re always looking to source the best and most unique cars,” said a spokesperson for Saxton 4×4.
“A car’s history is very important and can add to its value. Being owned by a celebrity offers extra kudos and can make the car more desirable.”
Saxton calls the car “a piece of tabloid history”. Quite whether it’ll have a 241 percent markup remains to be seen.
https://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/15326142_794451757361388_257803158675562423_o.jpg10801920Ethan Jupphttps://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/mr-top-motoring.svgEthan Jupp2019-12-06 10:47:562019-12-06 10:47:56'A piece of tabloid history': Katie Price’s pink Range Rover is for sale
Land Rover has unveiled a Range Rover Astronaut Edition, and it’s rather exclusive.
While you might have to buy a few ‘regular’ Ferraris to get access to the special stuff, the rules for buying an intergalactic Range Rover are even more strict.
In short, you have to be a member of the Virgin Galactic Future Astronaut community.
What makes the Range Rover Astronaut Edition special?
Marking out this special Range Rover is the aptly-named ‘Zero Gravity Blue’ colour scheme.
Unique details include puddle lamps with a silhouette of the Virgin Galactic ‘SpaceShipTwo’, alloy handles with the ‘Future Astronaut Community’ constellation design and ‘DNA of Flight’ graphics.
Inside, you get custom cupholders featuring pieces of one of the Virgin Unity Spaceship’s front landing skids. Once you go into space, one of these is swapped out for a piece of the skid from ‘your’ ship, with details of the flight inscribed. The other has Richard Branson’s “See you up there’”quote inscribed on it.
The DNA of Flight graphic also features on the carbon fibre front console lid, while the seats can be embossed with a silhouette of SpaceShipTwo.
A rocket-powered Range Rover?
Sadly, the Range Rover won’t have its own rockets, although the P400e plug-in hybrid and 5.0-litre supercharged V8 aren’t bad substitutes.
“The Astronaut Edition Range Rover is the next step on this journey and the chance for the Future Astronaut Community to celebrate our two brands’ shared values of pioneering spirit and true sense of adventure,” said Gerry McGovern, chief designer at Land Rover. “This vehicle really will take them Above and Beyond.”
https://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1722962_LR_Astronaut-Edition_SirRichardBranson_GerryMcGovern_090519_003-1.jpg10801920Ethan Jupphttps://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/mr-top-motoring.svgEthan Jupp2019-05-10 10:51:582019-05-10 10:51:58New Range Rover Astronaut Edition: for space travellers only
The Range Rover line-up has had a mild update for 2019, gaining a smooth-running inline six-cylinder petrol engine, as well as standard fitment of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Colour and trim options have been revised, and detail changes include headlights that adjust to which of the road you’re driving at the press of a button. They even automatically dim when they sense you’re being glared by reflections from signposts.
CarPlay and Android Auto as standard
Admittedly, new engines aren’t always the hottest topic these days. Connectivity, however, is. You can’t call your car well-equipped these days without integration of Apple and Android’s proprietary in-car phone systems.
As such, the Range Rover has been playing catch-up, until now. Both systems now come as standard across the range.
Mild hybrid + clever engine = over 30mpg
The new engine is a 400 horsepower 3.0-litre ingenium straight-six with 48V mild hybrid technology: it’s called P400.
(It’s worth noting the P400e plug-in hybrid continues: this uses a 2.0-litre turbo petrol paired with an electric motor and higher-capacity battery.)
The new engine was first seen in the Range Rover Sport P400, and comes to the larger Range Rover more or less unchanged. That means the 3.0-litre straight-six comes with both a turbocharger and an electric supercharger, which work in harmony.
The technical jargon is available here in our story on the Sport P400, but it’s clever tech. All in, efficiency is improved, and lag is down. Not least on both parts, thanks to the 48-volt battery and the torque boost it provides, meaning the engine doesn’t have to lug as much during low-end acceleration.
Those first few moments of acceleration are some of the most stressful and least efficient in the usage cycle of a conventional internal combustion engine.
The battery can also recover charge during deceleration and braking, and works in tandem with a more sophisticated and comprehensive start-stop system. Overall, the new Range Rover equipped with this powertrain can achieve 30.4mpg on average and produces 212g/km of CO2 (on the NEDC cycle).
“Traditional Range Rover strengths have been heightened with the introduction of the latest 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine,” said Nick Rogers, Executive Director of Product Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover.
“Advanced technologies work alongside a mild-hybrid system that harvests energy as you drive, to improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
“The otherwise wasted energy is used to power the electric supercharger, which enhances vehicle capability by enhancing the torque curve at low engine speeds for greater responses.”
As for colours, Eiger Grey has replaced Corris Grey, and Portofino Blue replaces Loire Blue. A new 22-inch gloss black wheel option also joins the range.
Prices for the entry-level SDV6 Vogue start from £83,655; the new P400 engine costs from £90,010.
https://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/LR_Range_Rover_005_19_05.jpg10801920Ethan Jupphttps://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/mr-top-motoring.svgEthan Jupp2019-05-01 14:03:082019-05-01 14:03:082019 Range Rover gets Apple CarPlay and a new mild hybrid petrol engine
Persons of importance with a penchant for stately British transport, listen up: this could be your new ultra-safe vehicle of choice. Coming courtesy of Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations, is the Range Rover Sentinel.
Because is your armoured car really armoured if it isn’t named after the mutant-slaying robots from the X-Men comics?
Readying a Range Rover for battle
So what does it take to turn a Surrey Mum’s school run express into one of the safest moving vehicles on the planet? Let’s run through the Range Rover Sentinel’s extensive list of upgrades.
Most obviously, a tonne of armour, literally… The reinforced glass, bodywork, roof blast-protection and everything else adds more or less a tonne to the Rangie’s already hefty curb weight. Needless to say, suspension components, chassis and braking systems have been necessarily upgraded to carry it.
The protection cell is certified ballistic and blast resistant, with the exterior armour designed to keep occupants safe from ‘unconventional forms of attack’ like improvised explosive devices. Run-flat tyres can go for up to 30 miles at 50mph if damaged.
There is the option to add a droppable window, to 150mm, for ‘document delivery’, as well as a ‘public address system’, for if you wanted to chat with potential assailants and attackers. Optional too are sirens and emergency lighting.
It wouldn’t be a Range Rover if it wasn’t one of the nicest places in which to find yourself. As such, in spite of its battlefield readiness, the cabin remains as luxurious as ever. Legroom, headroom and seating are improved and the latest 10-inch Touch Pro Duo equipped infotainment systems come as standard.
The car will debut at the Home Office Security and Policing show this week (5-7 March 2019). If you want one, you’d best get in line behind the Queen, the Prime Minister and various other high-value targets.
https://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/RR_L405_Sentinel_19MY_PressRelease_040319_01-1.jpg10801920Ethan Jupphttps://www.motoringresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/mr-top-motoring.svgEthan Jupp2019-03-04 11:04:352019-03-04 11:05:26The Sentinel is SVO’s new bullet-proof Range Rover
Land Rover tuning company Overfinch has got its hands on the most svelte Range Rover in the range. And its ‘redefined’ Velar makes for an interesting comparison with the official new Velar SVAutobiography…
The Overfinch Velar breaks the modification mould by being relatively subtle. You’ll find no sprouting wings or gaping vents here. From a distance, it looks like a very well-specced Velar.
The full upgrade package consists of a carbon fibre grille, front splitter, fog light apertures, rear spoiler, diffuser, custom tailpipes and 22-inch wheels.
Customers can cherry-pick parts or take the lot. All accessories offered in carbon can also be made from what Overfinch calls ‘technical composite’, which comes in high-gloss black.
While it wouldn’t look out of place sat outside the Dorchester hotel or trundling down Sloane Street, it’s a comparative shrinking violet compared to a lot of aftermarket models.
You can either buy parts for your stock Range Rover Velar, or buy a new car directly in whatever level of Overfinch preparation you desire.
Beyond this package, Overfinch can do whatever you want. It’s effectively a modern-day coachbuilder, in that your funds are the only limit to the level of customisation.
Added together, the individual Overfinch parts cost around £18,000. That’s a fair chunk of change to subtly update a Velar, or you could just buy a new SVAutobiography…
Range Rover
Niels van Roij Design
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Saxton 4x4
Land Rover
Land Rover
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Overfinch
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