2014 Range Rover Evoque with Active Driveline on demand four-wheel drive
The updated Evoque features the ZF-9HP automatic transmission is among the world’s first 9-speed units fitted to a passenger car. With a wide spread of ratios and improved efficiency, the new transmission delivers improved economy, reduced emissions, enhanced performance and greater comfort. Available as an option, Active Driveline, is the world’s first ‘on demand’ four-wheel drive system which enhances agility and improves fuel efficiency by operating in front-wheel drive only. The new system monitors vehicle dynamics and automatically reconnects four-wheel drive (within 300 milliseconds) whenever it is needed. For the 2014 model, the driver assistance capabilities of Evoque are significantly enhanced by the introduction of several new features.
Tiff Needell hosts A Race Without Boundaries tonight starring the All-New Range Rover Sport on Fox Sports 1
FOX Sports 1 announced the premiere of DRIVEN: A RACE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES, a one-hour special shot at four iconic locations and hosted by international television star Tiff Needell (@tiff_tv) starting Sunday, Sept. 22 at 5:00 PM ET.
Following its debut, @LandRoverUSA will host a live chat with the winner of "Driven: A Race Without Boundaries," on Tuesday, September 24 from 6-7p.m. EST. Tweet your questions using the hashtag #TheDriven and join the conversation #NewRangeRoverSport.
The competition unfolded at some of the world’s most famous race venues – Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, Nevada’s Mint 400 Desert Course just outside Las Vegas, Colorado’s Pikes Peak Hill Climb and the high banks of Daytona International Speedway – as professional racers Tommy Kendall (@TommyKendall11) and Rhys Millen (@RhysMillen) battled it out in fully redesigned Range Rover Sports.
“When you get two competitors together like Rhys and I, it can get pretty intense,” said Kendall, a four-time Trans-Am Series champion. “There is a reason why these race courses are so iconic. They are tough to conquer in any format or race machine, let alone a factory SUV without any modification. A win at these courses means something.”
Every round is unique; as specially designed race courses were integrated into these historic venues, creating an environment that fully challenges both vehicle and driver. Centering on the 2014 Range Rover Sport, with its 510-horsepower, supercharged V8 engine and its lighter aluminum body, both Kendall and Millen take this machine to its limit.
“Having been a long-time Land Rover owner, I can tell you this is the best Range Rover Sport they have ever built,” Millen said. “You can take it to the limits in high-stress situations, and it has the feel and balance of a car. Believe me; nothing is spared in the performance department.”
“Land Rover literally threw us the keys and got out of the way,” said FOX Sports VP of Motorsports Bobby Akin. “Originally, we were talking with them about doing a simple TEST DRIVE program, but they challenged us to come up with something a little grander in scale … this grand slam of iconic American racing venues was the result and the racing between Tommy and Rhys is intense.”
Needell, who was formerly a co-host of UK’s popular Top Gear series, is also an accomplished
racer as well, competing in Formula One and sports car racing, including a third overall finish in
the Le Mans 24 and Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Kendall currently competes in the American Le Mans Series, driving one of Dodge’s SRT Viper
GTS-R factory entries, and is one of the sport’s most popular drivers. Like Needell, Kendall is
also a television personality, hosting FOX Sports 1’s TEST DRIVE, and is a race analyst for
various series.
He also won two International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) GTU championships and
competed in the prestigious International Race of Champions (IROC) for six seasons.
New Zealand native Millen is a current RallyCross World Championship competitor and a multitime
Drifting World Champion. The Southern California resident is the son of the legendary Rod
Millen, and has followed in his footsteps, recently conquering the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, setting
multiple records in the Time Attack category.
Lots of Range Rover Hybrid Silk Trail Images
Land Rover is doing a great job documenting their Silk Trail journey; putting the Range Rover Hybrid through its final engineering sign-off drive.
Along with the updates Land Rover has been regularly providing, you can follow along through the tweet of a Land Rover UK PR person: https://twitter.com/woowoopops She posts some behind the scenes images and notes.
The gallery is almost at 100 pictures and growing, here are a few, click through for the rest:
http://www.roverhaul.com/g3t/therangerover/l405-rangerover/Range-Rover-Hybrid/Silk-Trail-2013
Land Rover Official Press Release:
First Range Rover Hybrid Models Take On Epic ‘Silk Trail’ To India
- Range Rover Hybrid capabilities to be demonstrated on epic ‘Silk Trail 2013’ expedition
- Trio of prototype hybrids to tackle marathon 9,950 mile (16,000km) endurance drive
- 53 days final development test drive will cross 12 countries en route to India
- 1885 miles (3,034km) completed so far.