Land Rover to Ford: Good luck with Terrain Management - Just remember who invented it

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Technology, Crossover, Ford, Land Rover, Luxury, Off-Road

Back in 2005 when Land Rover let loose the most comprehensive upgrade to its long-running mid-level Discovery line since its introduction in 1989, one of the most intriguing new bits of technology was the company's highly lauded Terrain Response system. In fact, so revolutionary was the design of this new 'ute and the technology that made it work so well that Land Rover completely ditched the Discovery name in the United States, giving its pride and joy the LR3 moniker.

Fast forward to 2010. Recall that just last week Ford announced that its next-gen Explorer for the 2011 model year would feature a new technology that it's calling Terrain Management. Sound familiar? It should - Land Rover is keen to point out that Jim Holland, the Chief Engineer, Explorer Platform Program, spent three years working at Land Rover in the UK as chief engineer for Range Rover. Coincidence? Hardly.

Both Ford and Land Rover's systems work on a similar principle, that of allowing computers to take over from the driver in adverse conditions so that the vehicle can remain in control with the most available traction under any and all types of terrain. But - and according to Land Rover (not surprisingly), it's a very big BUT - LR's system has more settings, namely 'General' for everyday on-road driving; Grass/Gravel/Snow; Mud/Ruts; Sand and Rock Crawl.

Further, Land Rover cites its air suspension, low-range gearing and Gradient Release Control as important features that the 2011 Ford Explorer is expected to lack. Oh, and Land Rover also claims that its 60 years of off-road experience cannot be dismissed. Are these important considerations? Well, naturally that would depend on your desired usage of the vehicle. In any case, Land Rover sums its case up as such:

We naturally wish our friends the best of luck with their new vehicle. We just want everyone to know where the system was invented. And that was right here at Land Rover.

[Source: Land Rover]

Land Rover to Ford: Good luck with Terrain Management - Just remember who invented it originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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, New Car Reviews

2009 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 controllers, 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.

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