LR_Discovery_16-5MY_Graphite_221015_03

These models give the Discovery even greater on-road presence than ever before. Available to order now, they will be seen on the roads from January 2016 onwards.

“The appeal of the Land Rover Discovery has just got even greater. We have launched two new models – the Landmark and Graphite, which offer the customer greater on-road presence and enhanced comfort to complement the Discovery’s existing versatility and capability attributes,” says Finbar McFall, Jaguar Land Rover Product Marketing Director.

Landmark

The Discovery Landmark builds on the generous specification of the HSE Luxury derivative with new interior and exterior features that offer customers a more premium and unique look and feel to their Discovery.

The exterior upgrade sees the addition of full length roof rails in a bright finish that highlight the familiar stepped roof design of the Discovery. Distinctive black fender vents, grille and mirror caps complement silver bonnet and tailgate badges, alongside Landmark badging to the side and rear to further distinguish this model. 20-inch 5-split spoke alloy wheels complete the design.

The Landmark is available in a limited range of five body colours, including Zanzibar which has been exclusively reserved for the Landmark edition and is not available on any other Discovery. The other four available body colours are Waitomo Grey, Santorini Black, Yulong White and Indus Silver.

Enhancements to interior refinement come as standard inside the Landmark with the addition of Windsor Leather seats and the Extended Leather Pack throughout, furnishing the dashboard, door casings and fascia. The interior is purposefully limited to three colourways – Ebony, Almond and Tan. The latter is offered for the first time ever in a Discovery, with Tan Windsor Leather Seats complemented by Ebony door casings and fascia and a Straight Grained Walnut veneer trim finisher.

Customers can opt for either the Grand Black Lacquer or Straight Grained Walnut Wood & Leather steering wheel with two other variants fitted as standard to complement the choice of veneer.

The Discovery Landmark is available through Land Rover Retailers for an on the road price of £55,995.

Graphite

The Discovery Graphite builds on the success of the Black Pack and introduces a modern and distinctive look to the model range with striking finishes. A grey Graphite finish to the fender vents and grille, which also sports a gloss black and lighter grey frame, blend with existing grey highlights appointed to the door handles and the Discovery badging to the bonnet and tailgate. Exclusive to the Graphite is the 19-inch 7-split spoke alloy wheel in a high gloss dark grey as standard, with the option of a 19-inch 7-split spoke alloy wheel. The customer can choose between a spectrum of nine body colours and three interior colourways.

The Discovery Graphite is available through Land Rover Retailers for an on the road price of £47,495.

Efficient technologies

The optional Land Rover InControl Apps complements the Discovery’s existing infotainment system to provide the ultimate in-car connectivity. It brings the convenience, familiarity and original look and feel of compatible smartphone apps into the owner’s vehicle, which are displayed and controlled from the vehicle’s touchscreen. The customer can find parking spaces, stream their favourite music or simply locate the nearest hotel for that invaluable pit-stop.

The acclaimed Terrain Response® and Hill Descent Control drive technologies ensure optimal and responsive driving across any terrain as standard. Add in the twin-speed transfer box  offering high and low range for the most demanding off-road conditions, and optional Wade Sensing™ technology to alert the driver to deep water, and the Discovery is equipped to tackle whatever path the customer decides to travel.

The Discovery has been at the top of The Caravan Club judging panel’s list of capable towing vehicles consistently for the last nine years in the UK, recently scooping three top honours, including overall winner. To support the Discovery’s award-winning towing capacity of 3,500kg, Tow Hitch Assist is available as an option to help hitch a trailer to the tow bar and Towing Assist acts as an extra pair of eyes as the vehicle is maneuvered into position. Safety and security options – such as Blind Spot Monitoring, Closing Vehicle Sensing and Reverse Traffic Detection, offer the driver further assistance when out on the road.

A full 7-seater with stadium seating and over 2,500-litre stowage capacity, the Discovery can be reconfigured and equipped to fit seamlessly into the changing lifestyle of its owner. Its versatile interior with variable seating and a range of essential hard-wearing and practical accessories, ensure everyone travels in premium class comfort without compromise. The split tailgate and adjustable air suspension are an added bonus for easier loading and unloading.

The Land Rover Discovery continues to drive power and all-terrain capability with efficient diesel and petrol engine options when matched with fuel-stretching Stop/Start technology and the refined ZF 8-speed automatic transmission.

The 3.0-litre SDV6 remains, delivering 256PS (188kW), 36.7mpg (7.7l/100km) and a CO₂ figure of 203g/km on a combined cycle.

The Land Rover Discovery retains its position as the ultimate vehicle for all-terrain capability and versatility, with over 1,160,000 retail sales and 225 international awards since its launch in 1989.

FIAT Professional has unveiled the all-new FIAT Fullback pick-up truck at the 2015 Dubai International Motor Show. The new, medium-duty pick-up will join the award-winning FIAT Professional range in autumn 2016 and will be available only with a practical double cab body style configuration in the UK making it an ideal vehicle for both commercial and leisure time activities.

Measuring up to 1,780mm in height, 1,815 mm in width and 5,285mm in length, with a wheelbase of 3,000mm, the new FIAT Fullback will offer a competitive payload of 1,045 kg and will be powered by a 2.4-litre, aluminium, turbo-diesel engine with a power output of either 150hp or 180hp. Two transmissions will be available, a new six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic transmission with sports mode, and both will be combined with full four-wheel drive systems.

The new FIAT Fullback will be available in the UK in two trim levels with pricing and specifications to be announced closer to the vehicle’s launch in autumn 2016. The Fullback is FIAT Professional’s first contender in the medium-duty pick-up truck segment in the EMEA region, which totalled 675,000 units in 2014 representing 23% of total sales in the LCV segment.

Visitors to the 2015 Dubai International Motor Show will also be able to see the FIAT Fullback equipped with a selection of special accessories currently under development by Mopar, FIAT Chrysler Automobiles’ brand for after-sales service, customer care, genuine spare parts and accessories.

The all-new Nissan NP300 Navara will become arguably the world’s most comfortable standard mass production pick-up truck when it goes on sale in the UK in early 2016.

This achievement is the result of a standing brief to Nissan’s engineers and designers during the model’s development: deliver a pick-up that offers the same comfort and refinement as the brand’s market-leading crossovers.

The result is an all-new state-of-the-art 5-link rear suspension system that respresents a technological sea change in the pick-up sector, with all competitors employing a combination of rigid rear axle and leaf springs as seen on the previous generation Navara.

The new, lightweight multi-link system gives a vastly superior ride quality – especially when unladen – without compromising on payload ratings, towing capacity, durability or off-road performance.

Found in double cab versions of the NP300 Navara, the new system is also 20kg lighter than the suspension in the last generation Navara, contributing to the newcomer’s class-leading fuel economy and CO₂ emissions.

Payload ratings are now in excess of one-tonne across the line-up, while the model also offers an impressive 3,500kg towing capacity – ensuring NP300 Navara is more than a match for even the most demanding of jobs or leisure pursuits.

James Oliver, Category Manager, LCV at Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd, said: “Right from the very start of the development process we knew we had to raise the bar in the pick-up sector and set a new benchmark for quality and comfort.”

“The all-new NP300 Navara was always going to incorporate our latest design language and look like a Nissan so it had to drive like a Nissan too. We’re delighted with the results and believe it offers class-leading levels of comfort and refinement for driver and occupants as well as exceptional all-round performance and capability.”

10 modified Defender 90s took on 10 stages across former M.O.D. moorland against a backdrop of high winds and rain in the penultimate round of the 2015 season. Fuelled by an appetite to secure precious points ahead of the final round of the series, drivers and co-drivers readied themselves for the challenging conditions ahead.

Continuing with their winning streak, Sturgess Land Rover driver Edd Cobley and co-driver John Tomley delivered a strong performance at each stage finishing 1st in the Defender Challenge and 7th in the event overall. Cobley and Tomley finished just over a minute slower than Richard Barrow in his Subaru Impreza and over 2 minutes ahead of Darren James in his Mitsubishi Evo 9 demonstrating the suitability of the adverse weather conditions and harsh terrain to the Defender.

During first service Cobley commented, “The off-road sections are perfect for the Defender, there are deep ruts which help us manoeuvre the Defender across the track. It’s incredibly slippery through the wooded sections so it’s important to keep focussed.” By the end of the rally Cobley and Tomley achieved a good gap ahead of second placed Lookers Land Rover’s Gareth Curruthers and Wallace McKay, clocking in 1 minute 20 seconds ahead.

The battle for third position was so close that after the first stage only two seconds separated The Defenderists, Brian Palmer and Northern Ireland Racing. Palmer slipped into third position ahead of The Defenderists after stage two and held it until stage seven when The Defenderists’ driver Paul Mansfield and co-driver Richard Mills took it back having completed the stage a second faster, inching ahead by the smallest of margins.

In stage nine, Northern Ireland Racing found extra pace completing the stage in the same time as The Defenderists at just 48 minutes and 37 seconds and moving them up the leader board a place to fourth position between The Defenderists in third and Palmer in fifth.

Northern Ireland Racing’s David Johnston and Joseph Monaghan continued to find time in stage 10 and moved into third place securing the coveted spot for both the stage and the round. Having competed neck-to-neck throughout the rally, the overall times showed only seconds between places three, four and five. Just two seconds behind Northern Ireland Racing were The Defenderists who finished in fourth and Brian Palmer and his co-driver Callum McPhail in fifth six seconds behind that.

As round five closed, debate over the next and final round ensued. The Borders Rally in Dumfries is renowned for its challenging, undulating terrain and night stages, and with the appetite for third position well and truly whetted, the top teams have just two weeks before the final rally of the 2015 Defender Challenge to prepare.

The Borders Hill Rally takes place on Saturday 21^st and Sunday 22^nd November at the Forrest Estate, Dumfries. For more information see scottish-hillrally.co.uk

Land Rover Defender Challenge 2015 – round 5

There are promotional videos for vehicles and… well, and there are real ones like thisvery . We were lucky enough to drive a racing buggy with RJ Anderson in Baja and can confirm that this guy can drive! He also happens to be a nice bloke. Must admit, that Polaris looks pretty capable as well!!

The penultimate round of the one-make rally series is set over open moorland formerly owned by the M.O.D, giving this rally a sense of nostalgia as the 11 Land Rover Defender 90s take on 166.8 miles of rally and liaison stages.

As the competition edges ever closer to its climax, the teams are determined to achieve their best results this weekend to secure a strong ranking ahead of the Borders Hill Rally on 21st and 22nd of November, the final round of the Defender Challenge. Rivalry between the teams ahead of this weekend’s rally is rife, heightened by the anticipation of an unknown location, the battle for the top three positions is well and truly on.

Leading the pack of Bowler-modified Defenders is Sturgess Land Rover piloted by Land Rover Experience Instructor, and reining title holder, Edd Cobley and co-driver John Tomley, whilst Lookers Land Rover reside in second position with driver Gareth Carruthers and co-driver Wallace McKay.

Edd Cobley commented ahead of the rally. “I’ve never competed at Tempest but I’m really looking forward to its challenging, changeable conditions. So far we are doing well in the Defender Challenge, our Defender ‘Skippy’ has been strong and reliable all year and that has given us the scope to really push the car and ourselves as hard as possible. With Gareth getting better, smoother and faster at each round, I am very aware of how close he is to us. For this round, John and I are aiming to get a strong start with fast results in the first stages so that we can control a decent gap ahead of Lookers throughout the day.”

Newcomers Brian Palmer and Callum McPhail enter round five third in the table having amassed enough points to put them ahead of both Northern Ireland Racing and The Defenderists who are tied in fourth place, setting the tone for a battle for third position as the teams head into the final round later in the month.

The Defender Challenge is part of the ‘Tempest 4 Rally’ which is open to spectators on Saturday 7th November. For more information please visit www.tempestrally.com.

Defender Challenge 2015 – Championship Points by Team:

While Sunderland might not be great at football these days (sorry if you are a fan!) they can certainly build a decent SUV up there in the North East. Nissan has just celebrated producing its 500,000th second generation of the highly successful Qashqai. This is apparently a figure reached faster than any other UK-built vehicle.

The model is actually on sale in 84 countries no less, including Uganda, Zambia and St Kitts. The latest model rolls off the Sunderland production line every 62 seconds, which is something you have to stop and think about. The global population of the Qashqai has now topped 2.5 million and later this year production starts in St Petersburg for domestic sales in Russia.

■ Not perhaps quite the same scale as Nissan at the moment, but impressive nevertheless, Jeep has just confirmed that it has produced no less than 135,000 new Renegades at its Melfiplant in Italy.

These particular models have been for built for customers in both Europe and North America and it is noticeable that they are now appearing on UK roads. Indeed, sales for all Jeep models have been looking good this year, Jeep enjoying its best ever August in North America, and the company claiming to be the fastest-growing automotive brand so far in 2015 with the Renegade actually being a class best seller in France, Italy and Austria.

The Wildlife Conservation organisation Rhino Ark was started originally back in 1988 by Ken Kuhie, in response to the threat of extinction of the Black Rhino. The result has been the construction of a 400km fence in Aberdare, Kenya, to keep the rhinos away from local farmlands. Interestingly, the Rhino Charge was an extreme African off-road event that was started with the aim to raise money for the charity – something that it has done very successfully. Rhino Charge UK is, as the name suggests, our version of the event, which also raises money for the charity.

The UK event has John Bowden of Gumtree 4×4 as the enthusiastic co-ordinator and once again credit must go to his team, and all the competitors, who raised £3325 for Rhino Ark. As John explains: “There was a great effort from all the teams who joined us at Slindon Safari 4×4 and we raised some much needed funds for Rhino Ark. “A fence can seem like a simple response to the hugely important role of conserving one of East Africa’s most famous rhino sanctuaries, but it simply works and has done for many years now.

These 4x4s tearing around a small part of West Sussex have helped protect rhinos and conserve their habitat for years to come.” This year the winner of the Rhino Charge UK was Ian Purcell, in his Team Tusker Toyota Land Cruiser. The competition was close with second place going to Vishal Shah, whose Team Crawler Range Rover Bobtail pickup was driven by Dash Patel. Vishal Shah and his team also won the Victor Ludorum Prize, which is judged on a combination of performance and fund raising.

They will now have the opportunity of participating in the Kenyan Rhino Charge 2016; quite a different event in itself, but a fantastic opportunity for some amazing African off-roading. If you want to support the charity, a United Nations Environment Programme report into the Aberdare Fence Project is available at: www.unep.org/PDF/PressReleases/Rhino_ Ark_Main_Report.pdf Many thanks to Tina Hills for this year’s Rhino Charge UK photographs.

The Range Rover Sentinel is the first fully armoured Land Rover to be produced by the company’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO). Based as you can see on the Range Rover Autobiography, the model boasts ‘VR8 level certification’, which confirms ‘impressive ballistic and blast resistance’.

It is a sad state of our times that such a vehicle is now necessary and it made its debut at the Defence and Security Equipment International Show in London last month. The base of the vehicle is a six-piece armoured passenger shell, and all the protection must add significant weight to the Range Rover, which is powered by the 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol engine.

Uprated brakes have been fitted to control all this weight. If the doors are jammed or unable to open, then the occupants can actually exit via the Emergency Escape System behind the rear seats. JLR also offer a full driver training programme to ensure drivers are capable of handling the vehicle.

The vehicle meets the homologation levels for UK, Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East. JLR expect the main markets for the Sentinel to be overseas and the guide price for what will probably be a bespoke vehicle are around £300,000.

A very special collector’s edition Defender pedal car is now available form JLR. This handbuilt product has been designed to celebrate 60 years of Defender production and is built in aluminium with high quality leather interior trimming the seats, steering wheel and rear stowage area.

The chequerplate trims, running bars and serious off-road tyres finish the pedal car off. It has spring suspension and working brakes (including a parking brake) and can be pedalled forwards and backwards.

We have seen the vehicle and it certainly looks great. Whether it is really a collector’s piece or a children’s toy is open to question, and before you suggest that your little darling puts one of these on his or her Christmas list, maybe we should point out that the Defender pedal car concept is expected to be available for ‘around’ £10,000.