J.D. Power APEAL Study

I know this is a few weeks old, but here are the charts – again, nice to see Land Rover at the top of a JDP survery.

2011 Range Rover–Official PR Photo, photoshopped?

This official PR photo of the interior of the 2011 Range Rover never looked quite right to me – specifically the new transmission control area – the shadows didn’t seem correct, the coloring looked almost like is was drawn rather then being a photograph of a real item.  The right side looks like it’s not continuously even with the wood trim – wider towards the front of the vehicle, nearer towards the back.  And we can clearly seem it’s the same height and butts up with the vertical section at the back.  The top of the rotary selector looks like it was painted in.

In this frame from the PR video – there is a much different look.  Much more shallow and then it kicks up at the end –  and the top of the rotary selector is metallic now.

So it appears those first official 2011 interior photos were either using pre-production designs or were just copied & pasted to create the new look.  While in the picture below, there’s a more refined design.  I wonder what the lead time is on taking these photos – why couldn’t they wait until the interior was locked and get actual photos?

Armored Range Rover – Fire Suppressant System

So a Molotov cocktail has set your engine on fire – no need to worry – flip up the safety cover on the Fire Suppressant System button and Press!

CNET UK tells us slightly more of the RSE Touch Screen

So we discovered and posted what I believe were the first pics online of the new Rear Seat Entertainment Touch Screen Controller yesterday – the real press who already knew about it are now starting to post.  Here’s CNET UK’s take on it with some new small bits of info

CNET UK (http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/cars/range-rover-2011-review-49306144/#):

A bespoke touch-sensitive remote control unit has been developed specifically for the Range Rover. The 64mm (2.5-inch) display, which uses resistive touch technology, allows you to choose video and audio sources independently for each display. It’s extremely clever, but we won’t go as far as to say it’s perfect. It doesn’t show you artist, playlist or video information and its graphical user interface takes some getting used to. We’re not complaining though — it beats the hell out of standard rear-seat remotes, so well done Land Rover.

Armored Range Rover – Fresh Air System with MASKS!

When the tear gas grenades start going off, you can feel safe knowing that the Armored Range Rover will keep some clear air flowing.

Old Land Rover Brochures, Sales Material & More–Scanned & Posted

I still have huge backlog of old print ads, brochures and more that I just never posted.  I’ll start putting them up over the next few weeks.  To start with here are two new galleries:

Land Rover Series – Brochures & Sales Material

Range Rover Classic  – Brochures, Sales & Tech Material

What the hell is this? Touch Screen RSE Controller!?!

Sorry for the language, but this really came out of nowhere.  Watching the video from the previous post, we saw some things they haven’t shown us live yet.  But no one ever mentioned a touch screen Rear Seat Entertainment Controller.  It does seem like the kind of thing they show and then we never get it in the U.S.  So even if we don’t, it’s still great they are coming up with ideas like this:

2011 Range Rover Video–Finally something we haven’t seen

I don’t know how I missed this one, found it over on rangerovers.net and it’s got it all.

• Rear Seat Recline in Action
• Rotary Electronic Transmission Selector
• Steering Wheel Shift Paddles
• Display going through all 8 gears
• Insane Rear Seat Entertainment Controller

I’m not sure where this video actually comes from, I know it’s official Land Rover, but it’s not on any of the official LR media sites that I can find – anyway – Enjoy!

Armored Range Rover–Terrain Response

So the Armored Range Rover still does have Terrain Response, but not the full compliment of modes.

ALL-NEW RANGE ROVER EVOQUE PROTOTYPES GO UNDERCOVER

- All-new Range Rover Evoque enters final-phase testing.

- Global test programme will cover millions of miles in extreme endurance conditions.

- It’s no secret: funky ‘camouflage’ wraps designed to introduce the new Range Rover Evoque to the world.

- Over 17,000 individual tests to be completed on all components and systems.

The all-new Range Rover Evoque has entered its final phase of testing, with hundreds of prototype models dispatched around the globe for trial in the toughest climates and conditions.

Land Rover is making no secret of the operation – its design team has fitted ten prototypes with funky camouflage wraps, to introduce the new car in ten key cities worldwide.

Ordinarily prototypes are disguised for discretion, but these ten are intended to be seen. The funky camouflage imagery is actually a GPS mapping trail of ten key cities for Evoque, with each vehicle saying ‘Hello’ to its city. It signals the eagerly awaited global launch of the new Evoque.

These unmissable vehicles represent London, New York, Sao Paulo, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Berlin, Sydney, Shanghai and Moscow and will all be spotted testing around the globe. They are just a small proportion of the hundreds of pre-production cars that will be rigorously evaluated over millions of miles to ensure the new Range Rover Evoque surpasses the highest standards of quality and reliability when it goes on sale in summer 2011.

Teams of engineers will travel to 20 countries to pit the Range Rover Evoque against the most extreme conditions on earth, ranging from the Arctic to the desert, from German Autobahns to Tokyo city traffic. Alongside the engineers, Land Rover is working with 120 unique component suppliers and carrying out in excess of 17,000 individual tests to examine every separate part and system.

Like all Range Rovers, the new Evoque will have been proven against all the elements when it goes on sale next summer.

“The development stage is crucial in the year leading up to launching the car,” said Murray Dietsch, director of Land Rover programmes. “No stone is left unturned; we have a team of experienced and skilled engineers who will work to a tight schedule to ensure we have a top quality vehicle to offer our customers.”

The new Range Rover Evoque is the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient model the company has ever offered, and will be sold in 160 markets around the world.

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