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Monthly Archives: December 2019

The Special Vehicle Operations branch at Jaguar Land Rover has purchased Bowler, the specialist Land Rover tuners, to complement its SV, Vehicle Personalisation and Classic divisions.

In acquiring the brand, JLR have secured the future of Bowler, whom they believe is a natural fit in their SVO family.

Having struck up a partnership in 2012 and the Defender Challenge by Bowler rally series running between 2014 and 2016, but since their inception by the legendary Drew Bowler in 1985 the brand has produced everything from off-road competition cars to performance improvements and all that lies between.

Jaguar Land Rover are looking to take from the expertise built up at Bowler’s Belper plant, valuing their knowledge in all-terrain vehicle dynamics, low-volume production techniques and ability in proving the durability of components under extreme conditions.

 

INEOS have announced that it will be broadening its standing partnership with Magna in the production of the upcoming Grenadier.

Magna are already part of the project, with their Magna Powertrain subsidiary responsible for the chassis and suspension development from the get go. The expansion comes with news that Magna Steyr will undertake the series development aspect for the all-new uncompromising 4×4.

Dirk Heilmann, CEO of  INEOS Automotive, is pleased with the development.

‘We are pleased to have Magna, with their long heritage and experience in 4×4 development, with us for the next stage of the journey. With our production plans recently confirmed, we now move into all-important series development and start to set our sights on the start of production.’

This follows the news that the Grenadier will be built at an all-new manufacturing plant in Bridgend, Wales, and that BMW will supply inline six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines to the Grenadier.

The INEOS Grenadier is expected to go into production in 2021.

Land Rover have released a new special edition of the Velar, specifically for the UK, featuring an extended list of features included as standard and a unique look.

Based on the D180 R-Dynamic SE model – a strong sales performer for the Velar – the Black limited edition is equipped with a host of features to elevate it beyond the spec on which it is based.

Among these, you’ll not be surprised that there is the Black Exterior Pack which ensures the exterior trimmings are all shadowed out. It sits on 21″ gloss black alloys and also has privacy glass and a fixed panoramic roof. It may shock you to hear that there are options for the bodywork, however the brightest of the two metallic options is the Eiger Grey, with the more congruous Santorini Black also on the table – both as standard.

Inside you’ll sit upon Ebony Perforated Grained Leather and grip a heated steering wheel, with a complimentary Ebony Morzine Headlining finishing off the specification.

Being based on the R-Dynamic SE, the Black limited edition will have Matrix LED headlights, an interactive driver display, a Meridian surround sound system plus the Park Pack, which brings 360º cameras, sensors and rear traffic monitoring. The D180 powertrain also packs 180bhp, 317lbf.ft and is the most frugal Velar model capable of up to 42mpg.

Available to order now, this suave limited edition is limited to 500 units with the Velar R-Dynamic Black costing from £56,995.