Record sales, new models, hybrid technology and the first Landy without all-wheel - in Land Rover are given powerful gas. We look behind the scenes of British tradition manufacturer.
One does not know the word "Crisis" currently at Land Rover, on the contrary: the SUV manufacturer celebrates sales records. One sees from the veteran Defender, all series in Germany are rich in the plus. Above all the Freelander (53.5 percent more sales in 2010 compared with the previous year) and the range Rover Sport (61.1 percent more new registrations). Also, discovery and Range Rover set to double digits. It world looks similar to positive for the British. Special offers for the smallest Landy and also the extensive technical review of the great series helped. 2010 275 new jobs have been created in the main plant of Sollihull to the demand.
With new models, it is now ensured that this boom will continue. A hybrid drive, the compact Range Rover Evoque and the new power diesel for the flagship range Rover are available. Since the beginning of 2011, there is also a first in the 60th over history of Land Rover: the first model without all-wheel drive.
The proven 2, 2-litre turbo diesel of the Freelander which moves the lion's share of the range in Europe, was thoroughly renovated. A new, water-cooled turbocharger, renovated injection system and improvements to the electronics elicit the cylinder up to 190 HP (Freelander SD4). Base engine is a 150-HP variant of this diesel (Freelander rd4), which in conjunction with the manual transmission is standard equipped with start-stop technology.
This 150-HP machine also the new base model propels, with which the English seal the end of an era of over sixty years long: the Land Rover Freelander eD4 is the first production car in the brand without all-wheel drive.
Still not ready, but already on extensive test runs on the road the hybrid concept of the English is. As a test, a range Rover is currently sports. The "Range_e" is equipped with three-liter turbo-diesel, eight-speed automatic, and an additional electric motor. Development goal is a plug-in hybrid, the local outlet charged up to 30 km electric can travel. The modular hybrid concept had already introduced Land Rover with the country-e - it should be implantable without fundamental modifications to the vehicle structure in each country Rover model.
Never a range Rover was smaller, with 4,35 x 1,60 metres (L) the Evoque participation also the Land Rover Freelander. And never more economical: the front-wheel drive range Rover Evoque eD4 with a standard consumption of around four liters diesel even hybrid savings bread competition will. Before he is even more as already announced diesel-hybrid. In all the new, one should not be on the line: the elegant luxury, where so far mainly the rich and famous of the world enjoyed, when they got into their range Rover. Material selection and processing you want to move on a level with the big brothers, details of the Interior show the club atmosphere.
In the drive, the developers rely on proven technology from the Land Rover Freelander. Its available for new in two stages 2, 2-litre diesel drive to the range Rover Evoque with 150 (TD4) and optionally 190 (SD4) HP. Who accepts partout no oil engine in a range Rover, may decide for a new Turbo gasoline engine. The Si4 baptized direct injection brings 240 HP in the game that are generated from two liter.
More takes to the new flagship: the range Rover was given to the model year 2011 a larger cylinder diesel. The 4, 4-liter engine should again make the distance of respect to the three litre TDV6 in the discovery - he was to the existing 3.6 TDV8 both in terms of performance and the torque close on the heels. The new TDV8 puts it in 313 PS and bring 700 nm torque, 9.4 litre specifies the standard consumption.
For the 2011 model year, the facilities was revised again. These include the single seats in the rear, which can be electrically adjusted as particularly exclusive extra. This will be driven in the range Rover is a class of its own. The terrain response was supplemented with new Hangfahr programs. The mountain runs speed can be adjusted by tempo anti-squash age, also a Berganfahr Wizard is now included. With this, country Rover sets still on full off-road capability of luxury all radlers. It is preserved also in the TDV8, as our tests showed.
For the 40th birthday of range Rover, Range Rover autobiography Ultimate Edition with the finest facilities, which so far has been used in a model of the British brand will also. The Special Edition limited to 500 copies is with a V8 turbo diesel (313 PS, 700 nm) or to have a V8 compressor cylinder petrol engine (510 PS, 625 NM).
To be driven is this almost charming as to drive the over range itself: in the second row a beverage cooler, laptop table wait beside the schmeichel turnouts semi aniline special leather on the two single seats in addition and to Crown two out doors accounting iPads in the backs of the front seats. The rear seats can be adjusted electrically varied and air-condition, the luggage compartment floor is lined with teak wood. The Interior colors, as well as the three new paint colors are also new and available only in this model.
All clear there is, however, for the cast iron brand fans. The Land Rover Defender icon lives on - currently, the production is fixed until 2014. With the classification as light trucks, the traditional all-terrain vehicle will work around the increasingly stringent car registration policies in the years to come.
