Autoblog

Onyx slams 2010 Range Rover, lets the boys be boys

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SUV, Land Rover, Luxury

Range Rovers by Onyx - Click above for high-res image gallery

Since we're getting close to the time frame seen in the movie Demolition Man, you might want to start shopping for a car that can prepare you for Stallone and Snipes blasting it out in the streets. Irish tuning house Onyx could have what you seek with its new 2010 Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Vogue conversions. Inside are buffalo hides and carbon fiber, and outside are a ring of bluff skirting, along with LEDs on the Vogue and, naturally, 22-inch TPM wheels.

Some under-the-hood work has also been done, adding an impressive 80 horsepower to the already very quick Supercharged model's 517 horsepower. You can read about the Onyx Rovers in the press release after the jump and check them out in the gallery of high-res photos below. And feel free to also enjoy the musical riff on this post's title - it's most likely the kind of soundtrack you'll hear coming from one of these, anyway...

Gallery: Range Rover Tuning by Onyx

[Source: Onyx]

Continue reading Onyx slams 2010 Range Rover, lets the boys be boys

Onyx slams 2010 Range Rover, lets the boys be boys originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

LA 2009: Land Rover brings Autobiography package to 2010 Range Rover Sport

Drew Phillips — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Performance, SUV, Land Rover

2010 Range Rover Sport Autobiography - Click above for high-res image gallery

We can't figure out exactly what the name Autobiography is supposed to convey, but Land Rover seems to think it's a fitting name to put on its top-of-the-line Range Rover models. Last year, they pulled the wraps off the Range Rover Autobiography at the British Motor Show, and this week at the LA Auto Show the Range Rover Sport Autobiography has just made its official debut.

Most of the appeal of the package is inside. All of the seating surfaces are covered in beautiful two-tone leather, and the Autobiography logo can be found in the wood door inserts and the embossed headrests. The exterior gets a few special touches as well, including body-colored lower door panels, an extended roof spoiler, and special 20-inch alloy wheels.

Just 250 examples of the Range Rover Sport Autobiography will be built, all in Santorini Black with the 5.0-liter supercharged V8 as standard. Pricing is listed as an imposing $88,545, but we can see that in its exclusive circle, enough Land Rover buyers will likely be willing to cough up a $14,000 premium to have their own Autobiography, even if it's only a leather, wheel, and trim package. Hit the jump for full details, or check out our high-res gallery of live shots below.

Gallery: 2010 Range Rover Sport Autobiography

Continue reading LA 2009: Land Rover brings Autobiography package to 2010 Range Rover Sport

LA 2009: Land Rover brings Autobiography package to 2010 Range Rover Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Tata Motors back in the black as Jaguar/Land Rover fortunes improve

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, SUV, Jaguar, Land Rover, India, Tata, Luxury, Off-Road

While many confusing car-related things have happened in the upper strata of the Autoverse over the last few years (Aston Martin and Ferrari both being impart owned by Middle Eastern concerns, Aston Martin not being bankrupt) perhaps the most shocking and disconcerting was Ford's sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to India's Tata. To many, the scheme seemed doomed from the get go and after a couple cash-hemorrhaging quarters coupled to the recent recession, the naysayers appeared right.

Turns out, Tata can say nay to the naysayers as its two prestige/luxury brands just turned a profit. A combination of cost cuts and attractive new models (LR4, XF) have helped catapult the long time money losers into the black. And while the $4.7 million in consolidated net profits last quarter is certainly nothing to jump for joy over, that nearly five million bucks is a nice change of pace from the usual Jag/Landy blood red ink. JLR sales rose 23% over the previous quarter. Rule Britannia! Er, India.

[Source: Gasgoo | Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images]

REPORT: Tata Motors back in the black as Jaguar/Land Rover fortunes improve originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Land Rover replacing 61-year-old Defender model

Chris Shunk — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Land Rover

2008 Land Rover Defender SVX - Click above for high-res photo gallery

There aren't very many vehicles on our blue planet that have soldered on for 61 straight years, but the Land Rover Defender comes up on the short list. The Defender is reason numero uno why Land Rover has the off-road superstar status that it does, but the Detroit Free Press is reporting that the go anywhere SUV may finally be nearing the end of the dirt trail.

Land Rover managing director Phil Popham reportedly told Australian newsletter GoAutoNew that emissions and pedestrian safety laws will force the Tata Motors-owned automaker to either profoundly re-engineer or flat-out replace the Defender by 2013. The iconic Defender, which is also available in the U.S., hasn't even received major body work since 1983, which incidentally was the year Plinko was added to Price is Right. Popham insists that Land Rover won't replace the Defender with a kinder, gentler vehicle, adding that the new vehicle would offer even more on- and off-road capability, and we're guessing that any new model will come standard with more modern aesthetics inside and out.

While it's pretty clear that the Defender as we know it is likely on it's last set of knobby tires, there is still a decent chance that the geriatric SUV's successor could retain the Defender name. After all, you just don't throw away 61 years of name recognition on a whim, right?

Gallery: Land Rover Defender SVX

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

REPORT: Land Rover replacing 61-year-old Defender model originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Land Rover reportedly puts plans for seven-seat LR2 on ice

Chris Shunk — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Land Rover, Tata, Rumormill

2009 Land Rover LR2 HSE - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Land Rover LR2 looks nice enough and it has some offroad chops, but during our time with the British SUV we weren't exactly thrilled with its on-road capabilities. We're not so sure an extra row of seating would have helped the baby Rover's disposition, but if a news item from Autocar is to be believed, we may not know of a long time. The U.K. publication is reporting that Land Rover has postponed plans to produce a seven-seat Freelander/LR2 in order to concentrate on a new business plan that ups annual sales to 200,000 units. The seven-seat LR2 had been rumored since the smallest Land Rover hit the streets, and Autocar says the more passenger friendly LR2 was set to go to production by next year.

The new plan will reportedly be to shift the remaining attention to the production of the two-door LRX, which is expected to enter production in 2011. The LRX is expected to provide some of the volume Land Rover owner Tata Motors is looking for, while giving the British luxury off-road automaker a smaller, lighter, more efficient offering for the motoring masses.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Land Rover LR2 HSE

Photos copyright (C)2009 Chris Paukert / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Autocar]

Land Rover reportedly puts plans for seven-seat LR2 on ice originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Holland & Holland Range Rover by Overfinch: Gun and booze hauling reaches its zenith

Alex Nunez — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Europe, Land Rover, UK, Luxury, Off-Road

Holland & Holland Range Rover by Overfinch - Click above for high-res image gallery

This, friends, is how one rolls. Behold the Holland & Holland Range Rover by Overfinch, a joint effort between the gunmaker, Land Rover's bespokery and, well, Bacchus. One hundred tweed-wearing pheasant slayers will have the opportunity to drive this sybaritic super sled to the hunting grounds. Frankly, one wonders why anyone would ever bother leaving the SUV. This ultimate Range Rover is outfitted with a gorgeous, custom-integrated gun cabinet, a cavernous backseat console/fridge, and a liquor cabinet nicer than anything you'd find in Don Draper's office. Our favorite feature? Well, the liquor itself is "self-replenishing," meaning that for the first year of ownership, Holland & Holland Rangie owners will have the vehicle's booze supply refilled automatically. Think of it like bottled water home delivery, only with single-malt scotch, small-batch gin, and other fine adult refreshments.

Naturally, all the interior trim is customized to match the cabinetry, which, in turn, can be made to match the customer's Holland & Holland firearms. The paint colors offered are exclusive to this model, of course, and the exterior is dolled up with unique trim and wheels as well. Aspiring Limey ballers take note -- you can even swap the standard dubs with off-road rubber for a pavement-only 22" wheel/tire package as well. The whole thing is deliciously ostentatious and wonderful. Power comes from either the blown 503-horse gasoline V8 or the diesel TDV8. It should come as zero surprise that this sort of exclusivity carries a dear price, so bring money. The H&H Range Rover will set you back at least £120K. Not that that'll be a problem for the target audience. For more, check out the PR after the jump.

Gallery: Holland & Holland Range Rover by Overfinch

[Source: Land Rover]

Continue reading Holland & Holland Range Rover by Overfinch: Gun and booze hauling reaches its zenith

Holland & Holland Range Rover by Overfinch: Gun and booze hauling reaches its zenith originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tata confirms closing of Jaguar or Land Rover plant

Dan Roth — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Jaguar, Land Rover, Earnings/Financials, UK, Tata

When the economy gets dinged, luxury vehicles gets massive dents. Jaguar and Land Rover haven't been the most profitable aut for a while, and parent company Tata is studying which of two plants it would shut to try and stem some of the losses; Solihull or Castle Bromwich.

It sounds drastic, but the pain of closing a plant and shedding underutilized capacity - about 40 percent of JLR's production overhead is going unused - could head off outright failure. Production has been pulled back already, while jobs have been cut and wages frozen, so word of the closing is just more bad news, but Jaguar Land Rover CEO David Smith is committed to taking "decisive actions" to see the storied marques through. The union, of course, is unhappy, and a meeting will be going forward between the company and GMB officials to determine what actions might be taken on both sides.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image Source: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty]

Tata confirms closing of Jaguar or Land Rover plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Surprise! Land Rover confirms two-door LRX for production

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, SUV, Crossover, Land Rover

Production Land Rover LRX rendering - Click above to enlarge

Land Rover has today confirmed what we've long expected - the popular LRX Concept from the 2008 edition of the Detroit Auto Show is headed for production. The British-born automaker doesn't actually say the new 'ute will be called the LRX when it hits the market in 2011, but it will definitely be wearing a Range Rover badge and therefore likely be marketed as a premium vehicle.

No details are given about the coupe-like SUV's powertrain, but Land Rover does say the it "will be the smallest, lightest and most efficient vehicle the company has ever produced." Previous reports have suggested the production LRX will share underpinnings with the LR2 (a.k.a. the Freelander) and will be offered with an optional all-wheel-drive hybrid powertrain that may use an electric motor to power the rear wheels and a transverse engine underhood driving the front wheels.

Judging from the lone rendering released with this announcement, the basic shape from the LRX Concept should survive mostly intact, perhaps gaining a slightly more pronounced front fascia to go along with the production-necessary external door handles. Expect more details to filter out at the beginning of 2010, but in the meantime, click past the break for Land Rover's official press release.

Gallery: Land Rover LRX Concept

[Source: Land Rover]

Continue reading Surprise! Land Rover confirms two-door LRX for production

Surprise! Land Rover confirms two-door LRX for production originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Land Rover to debut LRX next June for 2011 launch

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:39:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Crossover, Land Rover, Rumormill, Luxury

Land Rover LRX Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Land Rover is set to celebrate the first 40 years of its eminently capable Range Rover line next June. What better birthday present to itself than to unleash a new model that's set to bring its wares up to date with the modern realities of fuel efficiency and a reduced environmental impact?

The vehicle in question is the new Range Rover LRX, and Autocar in the U.K. is reporting that the small Rover will see its debut on June 17, 2010 with the first production models rolling down the line in early 2011. Styling both inside and out is expected to stay very close to the well-received LRX concept from the 2008 Detroit Auto Show.

Based on underpinnings shared with the Freelander (that's the LR2 here in the States), the LRX could feature a transverse engine driving the front wheels with the first application of the marque's e TERRAIN electric drive rear axle, a setup that is said to be capable of powering the rear wheels using battery power only at speeds up to 20 mph.

Gallery: Land Rover LRX Concept

[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Land Rover to debut LRX next June for 2011 launch originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Land Rover increases production of new Discovery and Range Rover Sport

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Land Rover, UK, Tata, Luxury, Off-Road

It's a little difficult to keep track of what's happening at Tata and JLR these days. While the XF sales continue apace and the XJ is promising, the JLR division lost £673.4 million pounds ($1.11B U.S.) last year, and parent company Tata was $520 million in the red at the end of its 2008 fiscal year. Due to those numbers and a so-far unfulfilled quest for financing, Tata has been relentlessly talking up the need to shed production workers.

A report today, however, says that because of "forecasts of strong demand" for the refreshed Land Rover Discover and Range Rover Sport, the Solihull plant will increase production. Workers who've been on shortened hours since the spring will now go back to a five-day work week. That's good news for the employees and hopefully for Tata. Worker at Land Rover's Halewood plant don't fare so well: the Freelander factory will be shut down intermittently because of low demand.

[Source: What Car?]

Land Rover increases production of new Discovery and Range Rover Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jaguar/Land Rover reportedly chalks up $1.1B loss

Chris Shunk — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Jaguar, Land Rover, Earnings/Financials

2010 Jaguar XJ - Click above for high-res image gallery

The steep downturn of the world's luxury automotive markets has taken a toll on Jaguar/Land Rover, and the company's bottom line has taken a huge hit as a result. Automotive News is citing a Financial Times report that says Tata Motors' British luxury marques lost 673.4 million pounds ($1.11 billion U.S.) in 2008. That's a $2 billion swing from the 641.5 million pound ($1.05 billion) profit the British brands earned in 2007. Tata Motors said last month that Jaguar/Land Rover lost 306 million pounds ($504 million) for for the fiscal year ending March 2009.

The Financial Times report comes as Tata Motors is working out a deal with the British government to provide short-term financing for the cash-strapped automaker. The report that says the U.K. government is willing to provide a 175 million pound ($288 million) commercial bridge loan to keep operations running. The reports says Tata Motors would like a 12-month loan, while the British government would like a six-month term, along with representation on the board.

Gallery: 2010 Jaguar XJ

[Source: Automotive News]

Jaguar/Land Rover reportedly chalks up $1.1B loss originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tata considers more Jaguar/Land Rover cuts after massive loss

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Jaguar, Land Rover, Earnings/Financials, Tata

2010 Land Rover LR4 - Click above for high-res image gallery

India's Tata Motors has reported a net loss of $520 million (25.05 billion rupees) for the fiscal year ending in March of 2009. Over the same period one year earlier, Tata managed to earn 21.68 billion rupees in profit. What gives? Naturally, the global economic meltdown didn't do the automaker any favors, but the main problem can be sourced back to the poor performance of Jaguar and Land Rover, which the Indian automaker purchased from Ford last year with the help of a $3 billion bridge loan.

The fact that Jaguar Land Rover accounted for $504 million of that $520 million total loss means that more job cuts and plant shutdowns are in store for the ailing British duo. Says Tata Vice Chairman Ravi Kant:

We have sent people on sabbatical, gone for cheaper low-cost country sourcing and tight control in cash flows, and are assisting JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) for a major belt tightening.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Tata was in search of some £1 billion ($1.5B) in cash and underwriting help to pump into the JLR operations.

Gallery: 2010 Land Rover Discovery 4

[Source: Reuters]

Tata considers more Jaguar/Land Rover cuts after massive loss originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Compact hybrid Range Rover LRX gets green light

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Green, Crossover, Land Rover

Land Rover LRX Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Automakers that hope to continue doing business over the next few years need to be increasingly aware of their fuel consumption, emissions and environmental credibility. In deference to this fact, Auto Express in the U.K. is reporting that Land Rover is moving forward with plans to launch the new LRX compact hybrid 'ute, possibly with a bit of help from the U.K. government.

According to the report, Land Rover will borrow liberally from corporate partner Jaguar's hardware stable, which is rumored to soon include both hybrid and extended-range EV options. Land Rover's innovative electric drive rear axle is supposedly on the LRX menu, which would work along with the automaker's well-known and highly-effective Terrain Response System to put power to the ground wherever possible.

If there's any truth to these rumors, we shouldn't expect Land Rover to have the hybrid LRX in production until at least two years have passed. In the meantime, the British-built, Indian-owned automaker is set to debut stop/start and regenerative braking on all of its models to improve their environmental performance.

Gallery: 2008 Land Rover LRX Concept - Black & Silver

[Source: Auto Express]

REPORT: Compact hybrid Range Rover LRX gets green light originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Land Rover takes the Defender to new heights with Fire & Ice editions

Noah Joseph — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:57:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Europe, Land Rover, UK, Specialty

Land Rover Defender Fire & Ice editions - Click above for high-res image gallery

It doesn't get more back-to-basics than the Land Rover Defender. While most of the world's most hard-core off-roaders - Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes G-Wagen, Hummer H2 - have all gone luxed-out, the Defender soldiers on as the bare-bones option. Essentially the same body-on-frame design from 1948, the Defender is still hand-assembled. But what's Land Rover to do when the market demands luxury? Lux out the Defender, of course.

The limited-production Fire & Ice editions come packed with all the features they could fit in the Defender: Recaro buckets, leather and Alcantara trim, diamond-turned alloys, color-coded head- and tail- lights, glass sunroof panel, running boards and more. The Fire edition comes in a special Vesuvius Orange metallic paint, the Ice edition in Alaska white, both offset by Santorini black accents. All that kit drives the price of the special Land Rover up to €68,400, the equivalent of about $95,000. Just 850 examples will be on offer in various markets across Europe, China and in South Africa. Check out the high-res images in the gallery below for all the angles.

Gallery: Land Rover Defender Fire & Ice editions

[Source: Land Rover]

Land Rover takes the Defender to new heights with Fire & Ice editions originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Review: 2009 Land Rover LR2 HSE is naughty by nature

Chris Paukert — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, SUV, Crossover, Land Rover, Reviews

2007 Land Rover LR2 HSE - Click above for high-res image gallery

Land Rovers have always gone their own way - often literally. While off-roading demands a low center of gravity and muddy trails would seem to warrant hose-out interiors and body-on-frame-construction, the British automaker has long contented itself building tippy-looking unibody boxes with tall greenhouses and opulent cabins - the anti-Humvee, as it were. Further, in recent iterations, they've packed their products with immense electronic systems, air suspensions, dial-a-topography Terrain Response controller, and so on... the very sort of complexity that ought to be enough to send English sports car enthusiasts running back to their therapists' offices.

And yet, the formula has always worked - vehicles like the Range Rover and Discovery (now LR3) have somehow managed to earn both Kalahari-traversing credentials and valet stand privileges. Other companies have attempted the leather-lined off-roader thing before (Lamborghini, Lexus, Hummer, Porsche, and LaForza come to mind), but while some have added the trappings of luxury to their SUVs, exactly no one has been as successful in marrying their vehicles to the notion of aristocracy - the sort of "Lord and Master of All That I Survey" quality that has remained Solihull's historic preserve. In short, Land Rovers have always been a gloriously and uniquely British contradiction on wheels - a fact that goes some way toward explaining why your author remains more than a little conflicted when it comes to this LR2.

Click through to the jump to find how it all shakes out.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Land Rover LR2 HSE

Continue reading Review: 2009 Land Rover LR2 HSE is naughty by nature

Review: 2009 Land Rover LR2 HSE is naughty by nature originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 May 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tata looking to raise £1 billion to keep Jaguar, Land Rover going

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Jaguar, Land Rover, Earnings/Financials, Tata

We don't know how many times through the millennia one gentleman has told another, "Be careful with her - she's beautiful, but she's expensive." We would like to know if Alan Mullaly offered that warning to Ratan Tata (above) before the latter bought Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR). As with the Blue Oval before it, Tata Motors is about to throw billions at the English luxury marques and it is looking for help doing it.

Tata wanted the British government to guarantee a £340 million loan ($515M USD) Tata received from the European Investment Board. The government refused to underwrite the entire amount, and it was written that the government additionally wanted Tata to invest up to another £400M ($605M) in JLR (on top of the £900M ($1.36B) Tata pitched in last summer) and put £50M ($76B) on the table before it would underwrite anything. The government is also said to have wanted veto power on top executive choices and labor plans.

Those talks, unsurprisingly, went nowhere. Now Tata is looking to banks for £1 billion ($1.5B) in cash and underwriting help. Citigroup is has begun the search for lenders to provide the money by September, which everyone expects to come with heavy-duty interest rates. With the state of the market and Tata's other recent purchases, 2009 is shaping up as an expensive year for the Indian company.

[Source: Global Motors | Image: Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty]

Tata looking to raise £1 billion to keep Jaguar, Land Rover going originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 May 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New York Preview: 510-hp Range Rover Sport emphasizes the "S" in SUV

John Neff — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:37:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Land Rover

2010 Range Rover Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

Like the new LR4 and classic Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport also gets plenty of upgrades for the 2010 model year. Like the regular RR, the Sport gets the same 5.0L direct-inject V8s from Jaguar in either naturally aspirated or supercharged guise plus a new six-speed automatic transmission. The NA puts out 375 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque while the force fed mill creates 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, the latter good for 5.9-second sprints to 60 mph. The Sport's exterior has also been tweaked with a new two-bar grille centered in the revised front end and new rear tail-lamps nestled above a redesigned rear bumper. The interior has also been redone with higher quality materials and a new steering wheel that includes paddle shifters on the supercharged model. Throw in enough electronic nannies to make even the Queen look like a good driver and you've got an eminently more capable sports SUV than the one it replaces.

Gallery: 2010 Range Rover Sport

[Source: Land Rover]

Continue reading New York Preview: 510-hp Range Rover Sport emphasizes the "S" in SUV

New York Preview: 510-hp Range Rover Sport emphasizes the "S" in SUV originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

New York Preview: 2010 Land Rover Range Rover is awash in new power and tech

Chris Paukert — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Technology, Land Rover

2010 Land Rover Range Rover- Click above for a high-res gallery

While Land Rover's sales have been flagging like almost every other automaker in this economy, it has been the company's venerable Range Rover SUV that has held down the fort, maintaining its share better than any other product in the British automaker's empire. This is a particularly impressive feat, as the Range Rover is the longest-serving model in the company's off-road arsenal to go without a major update. Until now.

Not that you can tell from the outside terribly easily, mind. The outgoing model is something of a style icon, so you could forgive LR stylists for not wanting to futz unnecessarily with the styling. Still, changes are substantial yet modest - there are new headlamps, a new grille, a refreshed bumper cap, relocated fog lamps, and a triple theme to the sides and rear of the vehicle that includes three-section fender vents, 'three-stripe' LED side indicators, and new LED taillamps that incorporate the same 'three-stripe' motif.

Inside, the changes are more dramatic, punctuated by a new virtual gauge cluster that utilizes a 12-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) screen in place of traditional analog needle instruments - Current Mercedes S-Class owners enjoy a similar setup. Other interior adjustments include a raft of new switchgear, a revamped steering wheel with new multi-directional thumbpads, a new leather headliner and a much-needed upgrade to the navigation system. The new GPS system is hard-drive based touchscreen setup that also includes enhanced USB connectivity and a dedicated iPod port.

Click on the jump for more of this writeup and a detailed press release.

Gallery: 2010 Range Rover

Continue reading New York Preview: 2010 Land Rover Range Rover is awash in new power and tech

New York Preview: 2010 Land Rover Range Rover is awash in new power and tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

New York Preview: 2010 Land Rover LR4

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:05:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Land Rover

2010 Land Rover LR4 - Click above for high-res image gallery

On the eve of the New York Auto Show, Land Rover has released all the details on its new 2010 LR4. The new LR4 (the SUV formerly-known-as LR3) is packing a thoroughly revised, direct-injected 5.0-liter V8 sourced from Jaguar putting 375 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. Land Rover has updated its Terrain Response system to deliver five different settings to suit the terrain, ranging from a normal driving mode to the infamous "Rock Crawl" setting.

A new front end with revised headlamps and fascia joins a restyled rump with LEDs, while an all-new interior provides ample accommodations for five or seven passengers, depending on spec. A Surround Camera system joins keyless entry, push-button start, gradient release control and tow assist (max. towing is 7,716 pounds) to make jaunts to Grandma's through the snowy climes a breeze. A revised suspension architecture, improved steering and larger brakes (14.2-inch discs in front and 13.8-inch rotors in the rear) round out the major modifications.

Hit the jump for all the details and check the gallery below for plenty of LR4 eye-candy.

Gallery: 2010 Land Rover Discovery 4

Continue reading New York Preview: 2010 Land Rover LR4

New York Preview: 2010 Land Rover LR4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Updated Land Rover Range Rover headed to Big Apple, more LRX details emerge

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Crossover, Land Rover

Even in the face of an overall market for SUVs that's seen demand fall by over 50% over the last year alone, Land Rover's top-level Range Rover is keeping the British/Indian automaker afloat. Sales of the Range Rover - which boasts a starting price of $78,525 - are down only 17.8-percent for the first two months of the year. It's the smaller LR3 (down 28%) and entry-level LR2 (down a whopping 57%) that are dragging the automaker's overall sales figures (down 36.6%) into the mud.

Given its importance to the brand, word that an updated Range Rover is expected at next week's New York Auto Show is big news. Spy shots of the new Rover indicate that exterior changes won't be terribly dramatic for the model that was launched way back in 2002, but there should be big news under the hood, where we expect Jaguar's 5.0-liter all-aluminum V8 engine to take up residence.

Given how well the Range Rover name resonates with 4x4 buyers, it's not surprising to hear that the British company may badge its upcoming production version of the LRX concept (which debuted at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show) as a Range Rover. Like the concept upon which it's based, the new model will be a coupe-like take on the automaker's well-defined SUV theme. However, given the frequency with which consumers already often interchange "Land Rover" (the brand) and "Range Rover" (the model) - not to mention "Range Rover Sport" (the model) - this arrangement sounds potentially confusing. Further, given the LRX's more road-oriented mission, one has to wonder if branding the LRX as a "Range Rover" will serve to dilut the range-topping vehicle's hard-earned off-road equity...

Gallery: Land Rover LRX Concept

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd | Image: Auto Express]

REPORT: Updated Land Rover Range Rover headed to Big Apple, more LRX details emerge originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments