I can always count on Ian Parry to send me the scoops!! I think the antipodeans get the news quicker, haha!!
I’m not going to go crazy analyzing this just yet, as far as I’m concerned, it’s still a test car, still too much disguise. But I will say, it does look like a Range Rover – that’s a good thing!
Thanks again Ian! I knew you’d be the one to show me this.
It seemed there was a lot of talk last year about more clearly separating the Land Rover & Range Rover brands. There were changes made in advertising and Land Rover websites. And the entire 2012 Range Rover line got some more Range Rover badging. Lately however, they appear to be reversing that trend in print.
On the main Land Rover Media Centre site, they had created two separate sections, one for Land Rover and one for Range Rover. In the past couple months, the Range Rover section has been removed and everything is now under the Land Rover banner.
In advertising, we saw this last year, an actual Range Rover ad with no Land Rover badge, it appeared the change was happening.
Then the all-new Range Rover Evoque starts to appear, and it’s back to Land Rover badging in the ads
Additionally, they don’t even use the rangerover.com web address.
Now to the item that started me on this rant today, the first actual 2012MY Range Rover print ad I have:
We’re back to Land Rover branding on an ACTUAL Range Rover print ad and still using the landroverusa.com/rangerover link.
Quick sub-rant: Land Rover, if you’re listening, please do something about these latest ads, I know you’re selling lots and lots of trucks but are ads like that one really helping? Go back to your roots, you can still keep it classy and aspirational, but skiing in Chile with my Range Rover? Boring.
I for one am happy with the change back to Land Rover if that’s what this is????
And for historical reference, here are some early 1970’s images of Range Rover branding, let’s keep it this way:
I guess we’ll see what the 2013 Range Rover ad blitz brings…
Seems like the Westminster gets the old Autobiography look, while the actual Autobiography gets the new standard for 2012, Range Rover Exterior Design Pack. And clearly this is a UK model, doubt we’ll see it here…
RANGE ROVER CELEBRATES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY WITH NEW SPECIAL EDITIONS
· New 2012 Special Edition Range Rover models: delivering increased luxury and higher specifications as current Range Rover enters its 10th anniversary year
· TDV8 Westminster Edition: new model builds on the success of the TDV8 Vogue and Vogue SE, with added styling, comfort and entertainment features
· TDV8 Autobiography and Supercharged Autobiography: both new versions presented, as standard, with the Range Rover Exterior Design Pack – a collection of exterior styling highlights specifically designed to enhance road presence
Gaydon, Warwickshire, 6th February 2012 – The Range Rover enters its 10th anniversary year in 2012, continuing to set benchmarks in luxury, capability and performance. Going beyond the 2012 model year enhancements that were introduced in October 2011, the Range Rover line-up is being developed to include three new Special Editions; The TDV8 Westminster, TDV8 Autobiography and Supercharged Autobiography.
The new arrivals focus on further extending the luxury and high specifications that are at the core of the Range Rover brand.
In 2012 Land Rover celebrates 10 years of Range Rover in its current guise. The third generation Range Rover was introduced in 2002 to critical acclaim setting new benchmarks in levels of luxury and all-terrain capability. Over the past decade, several facelifts and model year updates have kept the Range Rover at the cutting edge of technology leading up to the latest special editions, which will provide customers with increased options and convenience.
Westminster Edition
The new Range Rover Westminster Edition joins the line-up to replace the previous TDV8 Vogue and Vogue SE models. Going further than its predecessors, it comes handsomely equipped with an extensive collection of additional features that raise both the vehicle’s prestige style and comfort levels for everyone on board.
The exterior of the Westminster Edition is distinguished by the bright ‘Noble’ finish to the front grille and side vents, ‘Titan’ silver lower splitter bar and fog lamp bezels, 20-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels and ‘Westminster’ badging. Opening the doors reveals illuminated treadplates and a cabin finished with luxury carpets and Grand Black lacquer trim elements, plus bright-finished pedal finishers. The front seats feature both heating and cooling functions and the in car entertainment system benefits from a 19-speaker, 1,200W harman/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system as well as Range Rover’s innovative Dual View infotainment screen.
Featuring the powerful yet refined 4.4-litre TDV8 engine with eight-speed automatic transmission, the new Westminster Edition is available in a choice of seven exterior colours, with five interior colour combinations. The standard equipment specification further includes an electric sunroof, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, Park Distance Control with rear-view camera, memory setting for the steering wheel, driver’s seat and rear-view mirror and a heated, leather trimmed steering wheel.
TDV8 Autobiography and Supercharged Autobiography
Bold design and ultimate luxury underpin the new Range Rover TDV8 Autobiography and Supercharged Autobiography. Both benefit as standard from the Range Rover Design Pack, a collection of exterior styling features that are seamlessly integrated to compliment the car’s powerful appearance, without compromising its classic lines.
The pack introduces new front and rear bumpers, ‘Titan’ silver front grille and side vent treatments and fog lamp surrounds, integrated stainless steel exhaust finishers and side skirts. These are complemented by striking 20-inch alloy wheels in Shadow Chrome.
Inside the focus is on unparalleled luxury and comfort with the Range Rover Seat Style Pack. This comprises rear seats with recline and lumbar adjustment, heating and cooling functions and multi-adjustable aircraft-style headrests with wings for added support. The passenger “front seat away” function provides a simple control for adding extra rear legroom, while the front passenger seat itself benefits from a memory function than can store up to three different personalised settings.
Both versions gain the 19-speaker, 1,200W harman/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system and are fitted with illuminated treadplates. Seven exterior finishes are available, together with an extensive range of interior colour and trim combination options. The TDV8 Autobiography retains its 4.4-litre engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, with the Supercharged Autobiography powered by the 5.0-litre LR-V8 petrol unit with six-speed automatic gearbox.
Sales and pricing
The new Range Rover Special Edition models go on sale in March. The TDV8 Westminster Edition is £69,995, presenting customers with significant additional feature content over and above the specification of the former Vogue and Vogue SE models.
On-the-road prices for the TDV8 Autobiography and Supercharged Autobiography are £84,295 and £86,895 respectively.
ENDS
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Land Rover is celebrating 50 years of using the Eastnor Castle estate in Herefordshire as its centre for off road testing and development. Tucked away in rural Herefordshire, this historic piece of English countryside is still an important tool in the research and development of new Land Rovers as well as offering a completely unique Land Rover driving experience to members of the public.
In 1961, Land Rover first chose the 5,000 acre Eastnor Castle estate located near Ledbury, Herefordshire to assess the off-road credentials of their vehicles. Half a century on, the tradition continues, with Eastnor playing a pivotal role in the research and development of Land Rover’s outstanding all-round capability and class-leading off road performance.
As well as the cars themselves, Eastnor has been instrumental in developing an impressive collection of Land Rover technologies; such as Anti-lock Brakes, Adjustable Air Suspension, Electronic Traction Control, Hill Descent Control and Terrain Response® – many of which were world firsts in the 4×4 sector.
The tradition of testing all Land Rover models at Eastnor continues to this day. The Range Rover Evoque was the most recent model to complete its off-road apprenticeship and a large part of the Evoque’s technology, including MagneRide™, was proven on the estate, where ride dampers were tested extensively.
Terrain Response® offers drivers optimal vehicle set-up (electronic and mechanical), and performance, under a variety of off-road conditions.
Whether driving in mud, ruts, rocks, sand, grass, gravel or snow, Terrain Response® has the appropriate setting, and will optimise ride height, engine torque Response®, Hill Descent Control, Electronic Traction Control and transmission settings, ensuring a safe and controlled passage across any terrain. The Eastnor estate provides the ultimate test for all these conditions and is instrumental in the continuing development of this technology.
Eastnor has been used as not only an ideal off-road engineering ground, but since 1989, as an off-road learning centre for the emergency services, explorers, humanitarian societies such as the British Red Cross and, more recently, the general public.
Customers and fans of the brand can now book drive experience days to hone their on and off-road driving skills with tuition from a team of highly qualified Land Rover Experience instructors. Eastnor is one of over 30 centres around the world, and hosts over five and a half thousand visitors every year participating in half or full days, beginner and intermediate training as well as exciting night drives. Over a third of these visitors have travelled from overseas, keen to experience Land Rover in its heartland.
