I’ve recently been able to acquire a bunch of Autobiography brochures and figured I’d start to post up the scans every week. These aren’t things we ever had here in the US. We’ll start out the Range Rover Autobiography for 1995, which was also the first year for this model; the second generation Range Rover, the P38a.
I wonder realistically how much this process has changed between what was a Autobiography model in 1995 vs. 2011.
As a real customization option for the Range Rover, the Autobiography program has been something they’ve had in the UK for many years, going back at least a generation.
If you don’t already know, here’s the description of the UK Autobiography program:
An Autobiography is one of those rare opportunities in life to say precisely what you want to say. With Range Rover Autobiography, you have the freedom to express you own distinct taste through wide choices of optional colors and materials creating a vehicle that is an individual as its owner. The Autobiography program is available when you specify The Range Rover Supercharged, the naturally aspirated V8, or diesel as your vehicle order and can be tailored to your individual specification. Take as many liberties as you like. Paintwork, seats, rugs, leathers, wood finishes, facia, steering wheel or perhaps an embroidered headrest. With Autobiography, there are no rules
So all this means is you really get to go crazy with customizing and tailor a Range Rover to your own unique ideas. None of this is cheap and as far as I’ve been able to find there’s no real public price list for the UK program. In the UK, it doesn’t take a completely custom design to get that Autobiography badge, key chain & sill plates – you just need to get an Autobiography paint finish, interior color change, wood package or bespoke commission.
In the U.S., we’ve had special editions through the years that get certain Autobiography options with no real customization – the 2008 Westminster being one of them, along with the various anniversary editions. It’s on these special editions we’ve been seeing more of the exterior trim painted body color, something they offer in the UK, but not here. They usually get that two toned leather interior too, and they use one of the special wood trim options.
Starting in 2009, Autobiography became available in the US, really more of an option package. For 2011, it’s a $21,485 package that you can only add to the Range Rover Supercharged. It adds every option to the Supercharged model, gives you a full leather interior with more color choices(including the two tone options, but nothing like the UK), upgraded rear seats, special wheels and a few more items. You can go with one of the special paint choices which cost between $9,500 & $14,500. And you have three special wood trim choices, which go for $2,300. There are packages for the Sport now too, but I’m talking about Range Rovers here.
So we are getting closer to the actual Autobiography program here in the US but still nothing like the levels of customization they offer in the UK. In the pictures below, you can see pictures from the 2005 UK Autobiography guide, a hard cover book that really shows you what’s possible.
My main question is, why can’t we get this here? Are we too large of a market? Would it be too overwhelming for the Land Rover Special Vehicles people? Or do we just not care about customizing like this in the US and the marketing people have decided it’s not worth it? And how much extra work goes into a US Autobiography vs. a UK model? Does the US model get any special finishing by the Autobiography division?
I’m not looking for any of these crazy color combos, but it would be nice to have more options.
It is a great time for US Range Rover buyers, there are more options & features then ever before; hopefully it will open the door for a real Autobiography program here.
Harman Kardon® Logic7® high dynamic (HD) system – Exclusively Available on Range Rover
KARLSBAD, Germany–(BUSINESS WIRE)–(www.harman.com/automotive) – HARMAN, the premium global audio and infotainment group, prides itself on its principle of designing, developing, manufacturing and supplying branded audio systems. This authentic approach has been applied to its latest technology offering, the Harman Kardon® Logic7®HD system, exclusively available on Range Rover Autobiography and offered as an option throughout the model range. The new system continues 16 successful years of collaboration between Harman Kardon and Land Rover.
In celebration of this latest evolution in the Land Rover/Harman Kardon relationship, an exclusive launch event was held in June at the recording studios of music icon Mark Knopfler. British Grove Studios in London was selected as the perfect venue to demonstrate the capabilities of the Harman Kardon® Logic7® HD system in the Range Rover, reinforcing the depth of competency of HARMAN’s heritage in the professional recording process, coupled with the authenticity of our approach in automotive audio systems.
British Grove Studios is a state of the art facility with the ability to record in 5.1 surround and was used to best effect with Grammy winning Producer and HARMAN aficionado Steve Levine producing two tracks performed by Ivor Novello nominee Patch William. The studio was a hive of activity for two days as this young band worked under the expert supervision of Steve, producing a number of 5.1 recordings for demonstration on the Harman Kardon® Logic7® HD system in the Range Rover Autobiography.
The latest Harman Kardon® Logic7®HD system offers the audio connoisseur a unique listening experience. Utilising the most up-to-date digital technology, an impressive 1200W D class amplifier is at the heart of this premium sound system, delivering high dynamic performance, authentically reproducing the recordings back to the listener with the same unparalleled quality achieved during the live performance.
Fifteen independent channels drive the audio system, offering levels of control previously unavailable in an automotive environment. With nineteen hi-powered speakers strategically located throughout the Range Rover cabin, this class leading system delivers smooth and controlled vocal performance from the most challenging of tracks. Complemented by the new 200mm front door woofers and subwoofer in the rear quarter deck, the control of the low end frequencies is truly remarkable. Coupled with Harman Kardon’s® proprietary Logic7® surround sound processing technology this creates an all encompassing, multi-layered experience releasing the subtle nuances of the original recording, irrespective of the seat location.
HARMAN is proud of its long standing iconic and visionary collaboration with Land Rover. With the new Harman Kardon® Logic7®HD system exclusively available on Range Rover, the bench mark has been set once again.
HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,000 people across Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.4 billion for fiscal year ended June 30, 2010. The Company`s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE: HAR.
Links:
Here’s a list of the 2011 options & pricing, the Autobiography package went up this year but also added more content, so it looks like it’s an even swap for 2010 as long as you wanted everything, and if you’re going AB, I’m sure you do. Still no pricing on the Exterior Design Package, if you know, please contact me!
| 2011 Model Year Pricing | MSRP * |
| HSE | $79,685 |
| Supercharged | $95,465 |
| Supercharged plus Autobiography Package | $116,980 |
| * This pricing includes $850 destination and delivery charge. |
| Model Option | MSRP | Availability | |
| Autobiography Package Full Semi-Aniline Leather Seats, Full Leather Center and Lower Dashboard, Full Leather Door Panels, Leather Center Console Sides, Full Leather Headliner with Rear Vanity Mirrors, 14 Piece Wood Trim, Unique Autobiography 20" Style 17 Alloy Wheel, Rear Seat Entertainment with 6 DVD Changer, 1200-Watt harman/kardon LOGIC7 6-disc CD Changer with 19 Speakers, Adaptive Cruise Control with Brake Assist, Climate Glass & 4-Zone Climate Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Adaptive Front Lighting, Surround Camera System (5 cameras to assist with low speed maneuvering), Automatic High Beam Assist, Choice of Extended Color Palette, Rear Seat Recline (Style 3, Including 4-way Lumbar Support and Heated and Cooled Rear Seats), Satellite + HD Digital Radio Unique Autobiography Badge on Tailgate Infinitely Variable Rear Differential Lock |
ATB | $21,485 | SC |
| Luxury Interior Package 14-Way Heated/Cooled Power Adjustable Driver and Front Passenger Seats, Heated Rear Seats, Premium Oxford Leather (on Seats, Door Pulls and Center Console Lid), Premium Windsor Leather on Dashboard Surface, 12 piece Wood Trim, Auto-Dimming Exterior Mirrors, Luggage Net, 20" 7 V-Spoke Alloy Wheel – Style 9 |
LUX | $4,600 | HSE |
| Standalone Options | MSRP | Availability | |
| Rear Seat Entertainment Includes Wireless Headphones (2) and Remote Control |
RSE | $2,500 | HSE, SC |
| Adaptive Cruise Control Includes Collision Mitigation by Braking (CMbB) |
ADC | $2,000 | SC |
| Vision Assist Pack Blind Spot Monitoring, Adaptive Front Lighting System, Surround Camera System (5 cameras to assist with low speed maneuvering), Automatic High Beam Assist | VAP | $1,800 | HSE,SC |
| Audio System Upgrade LOGIC7, 1200 Watts, 19 Speakers, HD Digital Radio |
LG7 | $1,700 | HSE, SC |
| 20" Diamond Turned Wheel – Style 14 | DTW | $1,500 | SC |
| Adaptive Dynamics/Electronic Rear Diff Lock | ADF | $1,300 | HSE |
| Rear Seat Recline (Style 2) Includes 4-way rear headrests, front passenger seat control & front seat memory |
RR2 | $1,250 | HSE w/LUX, SC |
| Climate Glass & 4-Zone Climate Control | 4ZN | $1,000 | HSE w/LUX, SC |
| Electronic Rear Diff Lock (up to September 2010) | DF1 | N/C | SC |
| Electronic Rear Diff Lock (after September 2010) | DIF | $500 | SC |
| COLOR/TRIM/WHEEL OPTIONS | MSRP | Availability | |
| Wood/Leather Steering Wheel with Wood Gear Knob Wood and Leather portions of steering wheel are heated, Wood will match interior wood trim |
WLS | $1,000 | HSE w/LUX, SC |
| Jet Colored Headlining | JHL | $400 | HSE w/LUX, SC |
| Black Lacquer Finish Trim | BLK | $350 | HSE,SC |
| Cherry Wood Trim | CHE | No Charge | HSE, SC |
| Burr Walnut Wood Trim | WAL | No Charge | HSE, SC |
| AUTOBIOGRAPHY COLOR/TRIM/WHEEL OPTIONS | MSRP | |
| Special Chromaflair Exterior Paint $14,500 Highly chromatic, dramatic color shift paint Very limited availability (5 Colors) |
A01-A05 | $14,500 |
| Special Mica Exterior Paint Pearlescent/iridescent luster paint Very limited availability (17 Colors) |
A06-A22 | $9,500 |
| Burr Maple Prussian Blue Wood Trim | PRB | $2,300 |
| Lined Oak Anthracite Wood Trim | OAK | $2,300 |
| Ash Burl Wood Trim | ASH | $2,300 |
| 20" Diamond Turned Wheel – Style 14 | DTW | $1,500 |
| Jet Colored Headlining | JHL | No Charge |
| Wood/Leather Steering Wheel with Wood Gear Knob Wood and Leather portions of steering wheel are heated, Wood will match interior wood trim |
WLS | $1,000 |
| Black Lacquer Finish Trim | BLK | $350 |
| Cherry Wood Trim | CHE | No Charge |
| Burr Walnut Wood Trim | WAL | No Charge |
Land Rover usually doesn’t give too many official shots of lower level trim/options – most of the pictures you see on the website or in brochures are of the Autobiography’s.
While searching around for something else, I found this shot of the controls for the reclining rear seat option in the Range Rover, first time I’ve seen them. This is the Style 2 option, available with the HSE LUX package & in the Supercharged models for $1250. For the Autobiography, the upgraded Style 3 comes as standard, it cost $2500 prior to MY2011.
For comparison, here are the Style 3 controls, which add in adjustable lumbar support along with seat heating & cooling. Rear seat heating is standard on all Range Rovers, normally those controls are on the center rear HVAC console, but the are relocated to the door with the Style 3 package.
One additional feature that’s added in with either Style – “Passenger Seat Memory”. I think I remember having this on a 1995 Range Rover, but I don’t believe any of the current generation have had it. Here’s a shot from an Autobiography – you can see the memory controls there for the passenger seat:
