• Three Range Rover Diesel Hybrid prototypes complete 10,472 miles along the Silk Trail from Solihull, home of Land Rover, to Mumbai, home of Jaguar Land Rover’s owners, TATA
• Journey covered 53 days, 13 countries and two continents putting the Range Rover Hybrid prototypes through their final extreme engineering sign-off test
• Tested to the limits in temperatures from -10 degrees to 43 degrees Celsius at altitudes of 5500 metres and over every type of terrain
• First foreign-registered cars to drive China’s Xinjiang-Tibet highway
• Land Rover’s first ever production hybrid to go on sale in first quarter 2014 (selected markets only)

(more…)

I don’t post too many rumors, they just don’t interest me and most never come true.  That’s why I haven’t posted anything on the “Grand Evoque” or “Evoque XL” that we’ve been reading about.  Are we sure this “Grand” model isn’t just the next Evoque on the new Jaguar aluminum platform?

Now call me a hypocrite – the info below was posted on a few Land Rover forums and while it may just be wishful thinking on my part, I do hope it’s true.  After using the ICE (NAV/Audio/Etc) in my sister’s 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the current gen Range Rover system is an embarrassing joke.

Enjoy and thanks for letting me post it Steve.

http://www.rangerovers.net/forum/24-range-rover-mark-iv-l405/69994-when-next-refresh.html#post535946

http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic21405.html

From SteveK/Stevek1173:

******

JLR has already stated that updates will now be annual. This recent trend has proved very encouraging in terms of sales performance year on year. Sweeping midlife updates as in all previous generations will not happen from this model onwards (the new Sport is included in this new strategy).

• Updates are generally circulated to dealers around the Feb/Mar time frame for the following MY updates. This information is generally not communicated to the end customer so as not to compromise current MY sales. However the growing eagerness and interest of people together with the help of forums such as this one helps customers in hearing of the possible changes coming, albeit earlier than the manufacturer would like.
• I understand the current improvements coming for MY15 are as follows :
  Significant update to engine range to meet euro 6 emissions and improve mpg (requirement for all new cars effective Jan 1st 2015).
• Possibility of the new Hotfire JLR engine to join line-up as an entry level model. The new engine factory is due to open in Wolverhampton, UK in March 2014. It’s confirmed for the Sport in MY15. Not available in all markets and U.S. will not be one of them, unfortunately. Unless you all complain I suppose!
• Significant update to infotainment, GPS and accompanying seating controls via touch screen display. Think Apple IOS meets Telsa S. This will feature throughout the JLR range and is something they have been working on for sometime. Featuring a HD screen albeit with the loss of the dual view function currently available (this is due to the dual view technology currently unable to work with HD screens apparently). This new system is ‘wow’ I’m told and finally features such things as album artwork a la iTunes.
• 9speed ZF auto gearbox standard throughout range as previewed and available now on MY14 Evoque.
• Torque Vectoring standard throughout range.
• Airbag deployment within seatbelt restraints standard on AB optional on rest of the range.
• Driver Head-up display standard on AB optional on rest of the range.
• Heated front seat armrests standard on AB optional on rest of the range.
• Improved climate seating cluster.
• Terrain Response 2 standard throughout range.
• Extra large water bottle standard throughout range.
• Improved LED mood lighting standard on AB optional on rest of the range.
• Full LED lighting throughout the vehicle standard throughout the range.
• 3 new body colours including options of all body coloured gills and sill line.
• 3 new interior wood choices.
• 3 new wheel designs.
• LWB model to be officially announced and available Sep/Oct 14.
• RS higher performance model to be officially announced and available Sep/Oct 14.
• 5 year one off payment service pack as available in the New Range a Rover Sport and Evoque models.
• The MY15 model is available for delivery Sep/Oct 2014.

I must stress that this is the current plan as I understand it and as of now. A lot can happen between now and next year! Many of the items still depend on passing the testing process and/or manufacturing partners ability to deliver to the timeline.

******

This is separate of Ovalnews, but I still think it’s amusing.  This site is an off-shoot of my original site ROVERHAUL.com.  On that site I documented my year long frame-off restoration of a 1971 Land Rover Series IIA.  It’s still very popular, I get questions & comments constantly.  I was going through the stats on the site; always checking out the largest and most interesting referring sites.  Tonight I found a Chinese language webboard with a 26-page long thread in which the author “documented” the restoration of “his” 1971 Land Rover – funny thing was, all of his pictures were mine.  He cropped all of our faces, used filters and watermarked each one.  He really went to some trouble to make it like it was all his.  On one hand I almost feel bad because it’s pretty pathetic and on the other hand I’m just mad.

But, it is what it is – still made me laugh out loud.  Best post was the one where someone else pointed out that he was a fraud using this image he posted – this is dedication:

My original:

And another amusing post in which someone said he should use a better camera, he had a response but in actuality it was state of the art digital camera for 2003!

Go check it out and you can decide if he’s really the one who did the restore, haha.  This thread has been viewed 109,000 times.

http://bbs.fblife.com/thread_2475609_1.html

Hey that’s me! (or is it????)

Whitley, Coventry: Jaguar Land Rover has appointed John Edwards into the role of Managing Director of the newly created Individual Products Division with immediate effect. The new division will be responsible for designing and creating a portfolio of brand extending products, ranging from high value halo vehicles to lifestyle merchandise products.

In his new role, John will be responsible for the company’s ‘Engineered To Order’ division, accessories, licensing & merchandise activities, vehicle operations and heritage vehicles across both brands.

On the new appointment, Jaguar Land Rover’s Chief Executive, Dr Ralf Speth commented:"The introduction of the Individual Products Division is an exciting new opportunity for Jaguar Land Rover and is designed to sharpen our relentless focus on delivering outstanding products for our customers – past, present and future.  John brings a wealth of experience to the role which will be integral to supporting our future growth strategy."

John Edwards joined Jaguar Land Rover as a graduate and has held a number of senior management positions, most recently Land Rover Global Brand Director during which time he oversaw a period of significant volume and profit growth for the Land Rover business.

Commenting on his new role, John said,"This is a great opportunity to establish a new business within a business.  Both Jaguar and Land Rover are world renowned brands that evoke strong emotional connections with customers the world over. We intend to ensure that our product offering constantly evolves to further enhance the experience of owning one of our products. This new division aims to develop that additional dimension."

John continues to sit on Jaguar Land Rover’s Executive Committee.

Click through for the full gallery: