We have always considered Land Rover vehicles as tough off-roaders the moment they’ve demonstrated their capabilities off-road terrains and surfaces. Land Rover vehicles are indeed one of the best, no doubt about that. And just last, all remaining doubts of the capability of Land Rover vehicles were erased as one of its off-roaders, the Land Rover Discovery 3, was honored as the best 4×4 on the planet.

Planet 4×4 magazine saw what the Land Rover Discovery 3 is capable of and so rightly awarded it with the award it so deserves, The Best 4×4 of 2007.

One can truly say that Discovery 3 earned this award. On tests to check out practicality, packaging, all-around dynamics, and off road ability, the Discover 3 proved to be unbeatable and so emerged as the best 4×4 on the planet among 36 other vehicles. It earned the highest score of 819.4 out of 1000 points.

That’s not just the Land Rover model which won an award. The Land Rover Range Rover was voted as well and became the overall runner up as it was just 4.1 percent behind the Discovery 3. Land Rover models Freelander 2 and Rage Rover Sport also had class wins.

Editor of Planet 4×4 magazine, Alan Kidd, said, “With the top three overall places in 2006 and a clean sweep of class awards this year, Land Rover is getting it right at just about every level. One tester after another was wowed by the Range Rover’s class, the Sport’s style and the Discovery’s practicality.”

He added, “But what I think Land Rover can be particularly proud of is that this result comes in a competition where scores for off-roading meant almost nothing – and value for money counted towards almost a quarter of the total mark. It would be easy to write this off as a series of victories for the most expensive machines… but in reality, it shows that with Land Rover, you really do get what you pay for.”

John Edwards, the Managing Director for Land Rover UK, added, “We are immensely proud to have fared so well in this year’s awards, against ever-increasing competition in the 4×4 sector. The Discovery 3 is an out-and-out winner which proves that the British still make the best.”

One can have the Discovery 3 at cost starting from £27,315 on the road. A 45,000-mile carbon dioxide offsetting program is even included in the cost.

Car enthusiasts need not wait long – the Land Rover LRX concept will soon be unveiled this January at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show. This Land Rover concept vehicle has a somewhat futuristic design but with its body structure remaining to be that of sports utility vehicle Land Rover is known to be a popular manufacturer of. The bold design of the Land Rover LRX seems to indicate that the sports utility vehicle manufacturer is targeting new areas of the auto market.

The year 2008 is actually the automaker’s 60^th year anniversary and it seems that it is celebrating it by introducing its LRX concept vehicle to the automotive world. The Land Rover LRX concept is a three-door vehicle. But unlike the traditional sports utility vehicles from Land Rover, this one has a more compact size, has a lighter weight, and sustainability focused technologies. With these being the main characteristics of the Land Rover LRX concept vehicle, it just means that the automaker is expressing its desire to start addressing the needs of a world geared towards change.

If one would describe how the Land Rover LRX concept car looks like, one will likely say that it is a cross-coupe and that it is really quite different than the conventional luxurious sports utility vehicles form land Rover. It is smaller than the Land Rover LR2 and therefore it is thought of as a premium car. Being a premium car, the LRX targets new customers in the executive and luxury sectors. The customers in these two sectors go for vehicles that are equipped with all the goodies of SUVs but are packaged in a more compact type of vehicle.

Land Rover’s new design director is Gerry McGovern and the LRX model is the first project vehicle that came out under his leadership. The LRX actually came out as the natural extension of the range of Land Rover vehicles but still defining a new segment in the automotive industry. The design features of the LRX which are the same with other Land Rover vehicles include the bold new interpretations of the signature clamshell hood, the wheel-at-each-corner posture, and its floating roof.

The low weight of the LRX is really one of its great assets as because of this there is an increase in the fuel efficiency and a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions.

The Land Rover G4 Challenge is an event that will showcase the best attributes of the Land Rover and the mettle of the participants from competing countries. It will be a test of brains and brawn that will bring out the very best or worst of the participants.

Participant selection will be a rigid and thorough. Participants will go through a comprehensive selection process. The contest proper will last for three weeks and the two participants from the 18 competing countries will battle it out in a quest for the best. As described by the Land Rover press release, the contest will take place in “some of the world’s truly spectacular urban and wilderness locations and combine off-road driving with activities such as mountain biking, kayaking, climbing, orienteering and abseiling, pitching competitor teams against each other in tests of driving skill, initiative, strategic thinking and physical fitness”.

All Land Rover vehicles will also go through a thorough selection process, as well and the vehicles that will be used in the competition will abide by Land Rover’s environmental commitment. The car company gives an assurance that all carbon dioxide emissions will be offset by its Climate Care program.

The challenge is open to all nations. But only 18 countries will be selected to compete in the Event. The Challenge Finals will take place in Asia, the continent in which some of the world’s most beautiful sceneries are found. The Land Rover G4 Challenge researchers are undergoing extensive route research in order to find out the best and most beautiful terrain for the competition. The whole line – up of Land Rover vehicles will be used in the competition. This includes the Range Rover Sport, Range Rover, Discovery 3, Freelander 2 and Defender. The vehicles will be equipped with the latest navigation systems and communication devices. Roadside assistance includes fully equipped ambulances which are all painted in eye – catching Tangiers Orange.

Interested participants may register at the Land Rover G4 Challenge website. Potential participants will be asked to fill out an online form and they will be assessed based on their answers. Selected candidates will then move on to the National Selections. The National Selections will be a series of activities that will determine which of the 18 national teams move on to the International Selections. The international selections will take place at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire, UK. The challengers will go through a series of events similar to what the teams may encounter during the Challenge Finals. The events will test their skill and aptitude and determine whether or not they will compete in the finals. The Challenge Finals will run over three weeks and teams will “undergo compulsory and optional competitions designed to combine strategic thinking with a variety of physical skills”. Team rankings will be determined by the points that each team earns after every completed competition.

 Here’s a timeline of the flow of events for the Land Rover G4 Challenge:

Source: Land Rover Press Release

Land Rover embarks in yet another mission to contribute to society in the Land Rover G4 challenge. The Land Rover G4 challenge is a yearly event that aims to provide awareness for various social causes. This year’s G4 challenge will be held in September 2008and will be done in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The partnership will be an opportunity for the world’s biggest social organization to be able to reach larger and more diversified audiences. This will do well for the institution as it will allow them to be able to make more and more people aware of the cause that they are advancing. The partnership was forged in an effort to “leave a positive legacy by acting as a platform to generate funds and assist life-changing humanitarian projects around the world”.

Land Rover and Range Rover vehicles are synonymous to excellent performance in extreme driving conditions. This is the reason for the vehicle being the choice of transport for outreach activities in remote areas of the globe. The Land Rover G4 Challenge will prove the durability of the Land Rover vehicles in an off road driving challenge that will benefit a charitable cause. According to Land Rover Managing Director Phil Popham, “The Land Rover G4 Challenge is an incredible programme that demonstrates our products’ breadth of capability and displays our desire to always push the boundaries of adventure. It is ideal to work as a fundraising and awareness building platform for a humanitarian organisation and we are delighted that we can now make the most of the Challenge’s success and leave a lasting positive legacy by working with the International Federation.” He adds, “Land Rover is a strong brand that has a natural fit with humanitarian organisations in general. Our association with the International Federation goes back a long way, to 1954, when Land Rover supplied a long-wheelbase Series 1 to the British Red Cross for use in Dubai as a mobile dispensary. We are now looking forward to forging closer links with the International Federation through the Land Rover G4 Challenge.”

Sir Nicholas Young, the CEO of the British Red Cross, speaking on behalf of the International Federation, expresses the same sentiment as that of Popham’s. He says, “An association with the Land Rover G4 Challenge offers a unique and positive way for the International Federation to reach completely new audiences. It will enable us to activate projects that may otherwise not be possible. This will be a partnership that will save lives - it’s as simple as that.”

The Land Rover G4 Challenge will be held in the late 2008 and early 2009 in Asia. Each country will be allowed to field in two competitors who will work as a team – one male and one female. Each Land Rover vehicle for each participating country will be decorated with their countries’ colors. The winning team will receive a Land Rover vehicle which will be donated to their particular country’s National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society.

Sources: Land Rover G4 Challenge ,  Land Rover G4 Challenge 2008/09 – will support the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Range Rover HSE vehicles will soon get engines from Jaguar. The Range Rover HSE is Land Rover’s top of the line vehicle. In an effort to provide more for its demanding customers, Land Rover has decided to switch its Range Rover engines to the more powerful Jaguar engines.

Intially, BMW was producing the Land Rover and the Range Rover. In fact, much the development of the Range Rover was done by BMW. By mid – 2000, Land Rover was bought by the Ford Motors Co. The Land Rover and Range Rover vehicles had 283-horsepower 4.4-liter V-8 engines which Ford bought from BMW. It took Ford three years before it developed its own engine for the Range Rover.

The Range Rover HSE base model boasts of a “4.4-liter V-8 rated at 305 horsepower engine” with 325 foot-pounds of torque. The model was worth $76,535. The high – powered Range Rover comes with a “Jaguar-based supercharged 4.2-liter aluminum V-8, rated at 400 horsepower and 420 foot-pounds of torque”. The impressive Range Rover costs a hefty $90,000.

The base and supercharged Range Rover HSE models both come with six – speed automatic transmission with manual shift options. The base model can go as fast as 125 mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds. The supercharged model runs at a top speed of 130 mph and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds.

The HSE is equipped with a “sound damping for a quieter ride, a redesigned grille, front bumper, headlights, taillights and 19-inch wheels”. The supercharged model comes with a “separate mesh grille design, revised body-side air vents, premium leather, Brembo front brakes, adaptive headlights, 20-inch alloy wheels, unique air vents and black-on-silver “Supercharged” badging”. Both models are equipped with “GPS satellite navigation system, electronic air suspension, four-wheel traction control, electronic brakeforce distribution, and a trip computer/driver information system”.

What makes the Range Rover attractive is that it has the attributes of four vehicles in one. According to Geoff Upex, design director for Land Rover, “It has the luxury of a saloon (large sedan), the acceleration of a performance car, the stylish body of an estate (space wagon), and the ruggedness and versatility of a Land Rover”.

Luxury car buyers should definitely look out for the up and coming Range Rover HSE. This high – end SUV’s premium road performance will surely guarantee an optimum driving experience.

Source: Among changes to Range Rover are engines derived from Jaguar

A press photo of the Land Rover LRX Concept has been leaked to the internet a week before it was scheduled to be unveiled to the public. The Land Rover LRX is set to be exhibited at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show next week.

The LRX concept is said to be designed in the same body style as the BMW X6. The Land Rover LRX is a two – door off road coupe with a “highly sloped roofline and relatively little cargo space”. The new LRX is intended to target younger buyers who are looking for the optimum driving experience.

The LRX concept will have two doors instead of the rumored four. The vehicle’s engineering quite obviously veers toward the younger spectrum of the car buying market with its sleeker, smoother lines and increased driving capability.

For a sketch of the rumored LRX concept, click here.

Source: Early look: Land Rover LRX Concept image leaked

The Range Rover Sport has received the “Best Off-Road SUV” award at Mudfest (the 14th annual Northwest SUV of the Year Competition). The awarding ceremony was spearheaded by the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA). The NWAPA is made up of “automotive journalists from the Pacific Northwest, as well as representatives of various manufacturers and other industry professionals spanning the automotive industry”. Every year, NWAPA comes together to judge the best performing vehicles in specific categories.

For the “Best Off-Road SUV” award, the parameters for judging were “performance, handling and braking as well as the on-road and off-road demeanor” of each SUV. Vehicle tests included “hill-climbing and descent abilities, ride comfort and low-range handling, curve handling, and emergency braking maneuvers”.

The Range Rover Sport’s “V8 power, short wheelbase, and low, wide stance” performed best among the tests made by the NWAPA. Its active suspension, and dynamic response was perfect for SUV enthusiasts who put a premium in their vehicle’s power and performance.

This is the third time that a Land Rover / Range Rover vehicle has won an award from the NWAPA.

Source: Range Rover Sport drives home “Best Off-Road SUV” title , NWAPA

LSE Design, a well – known design studio that specializes in car aftermarket design, has just tuned up Range Rover Sport vehicles and adorned it with everything a car customization aficionado can dream of. The tricked out Range Rover Sport is a two – door coupe crossover, meaning it’s not as big as the usual Range Rover but is also larger than a normal four – door sedan.

The vehicle comes with a body made up of carbon fiber, a panoramic glass roof and LED lights. What’s best about this luxurious package is that it even comes adorned with diamonds. Yes, you read right. The design company is putting in diamonds into the crossover coupe.

The car is truly something that car addicts and car collectors would be looking out for. LSE Design is said to produce only 100 units of the special edition Range Rover Sport two – door coupe crossover. The vehicle is estimated to cost over 100 000 euros and is meant to attract car aficionados from the world over.

Sources: Diamond studded Range Rover SUV-Coupe , Tunage: LSE Design Range Rover Sport Coupe , LSE Design Range Rover Sport Coupe Unveiled

It seems that more and more marketers have been discovering the benefits of mobile marketing. Among the automobile marketers to latch on to the trend is Land Rover. The automotive retailer launched an advertising campaign for its Range Rover Sport over the Apple iPhone. The campaign ran last October and it has registered 400,000 views with 1, 100 users keying in their ZIP codes.

According to Joao Machado (online associate media director of Mediaedge:cia, the advertising agency which handles Land Rover ads), the car manufacturing company saw advertising on the Apple iPhone as the “ultimate consumer touch point”. Advertising on the iPhone was a way to reach well – to – do consumers who had the buying power.

The mobile advertisement allowed iPhone users to locate the nearest Land Rover retailers using Google Maps. Either that or they could make a phone call there using their iPhone. Maria Solano, advertising-communications manager for Land Rover North America, believes that going the mobile route was a good thing for Land Rover. She realized the direct – response potential that mobile marketing had for the brand. In fact, the click – through rate of the advertisement on the Apple iPhone was 0.3% more than the 0.22% of the entire campaign.

It seems that mobile marketing is a trend that’s here to stay. Various retailers, including car manufacturers, seem to be quick on their toes with realizing its potential.

Source: Could IPhone Up Mobile-Marketing Stakes? Land Rover, Others Think So

Land Rover has been proud of the warm greeting and strong sales of its all-new LR2 in the United States since the model has been launched in April 2007. Because of the great treatment it received, Land Rover has decided to produce an all-new again and enhanced version of this model, the Land Rover LR2 HSE. This has been equipped with improved Land Rover parts to enhance its overall vehicle performance.

This enhanced version now presents itself in a sportier stance compared to the LR2 Se. This is made possible with the incorporation of body color bumpers and side sills, titanium door handles, 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, and a rear spoiler. The interior of the LR2 had been improved as well with the 8×6-way power adjustable seats and a storage compartment under a sliding cover. With all these in the enhanced LR2, the model clearly reflects the dynamic design – smart and spacious interior and equipped with advanced technologies – that the automaker wants to include in its vehicles.

Land Rover’s Managing Director, Phil Popham, said, “The LR2 reflects Land Rover’s dynamic design, with a smart and spacious interior and an abundance of advanced technologies. It has been very well received around the world since its introduction,” said Phil Popham, Land Rover’s Managing Director. “The HSE version offers subtle changes for those customers seeking a slightly different look to their LR2.”

The technical aspects that can be found in the LR2 SE have also been put in the LR2 HSE version. One of these is the 3.2-liter inline-six cylinder powertrain capable fo producing 230bhp. This engine has an acceleration time from 0-60 miles per hour of 8.4 seconds. It has been mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission. This transmission is complete with land Rover’s CommanShift which offers manual sequential gear changes when these are necessary. A driver-selectable sport mode is also included for drivers to experience a more responsive performance. The advanced technologies that are installed in the LR2 HSE are aimed at improving performance on both on-road and off-road. The Terrain Response System of Land Rover is a standard on the HSE allowing drivers to tread off-road terrains easily. An intelligent all-wheel-drive system and Land Rover’s patented Gradient Release Control that works together with the Hill Descent Control are some of the advanced technologies in the HSE.

The Land Rover LR2 HSE models are already available for purchasing since the 1^st of November 2007.