Extreme off-road Range Rover SVO is in the works

Head of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations Division hints at extreme off-road derivatives to go with high-performance and luxury spin-offs

The boss of Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations division (SVO) has confirmed that it’s not just high-performance, luxury and small-production run models like the Project 7 in his product plan – more extreme off-road models are on the way, too. Our exclusive image shows how an off-road focused Range Rover SVO could look. 


“There are four different types of cars we want to do at SVO,” John Edwards explained. “There are on-road performance cars, all-terrain performance cars that we haven’t done so far, luxury derivatives and what we’re calling collector’s editions, like the Project 7.  

“On-road performance is fairly easy; you just think about ‘M’ and ‘AMG’ and think how can we apply the same thinking. All-terrain is slightly different; clearly much more appropriate for Land Rover than Jaguar. Land Rover has that all-terrain capability built into all its products, but we need to give customers the permission to use it.” 

Edwards told us every Land Rover has outstanding off-road performance, but it’s about making that performance “useable” and the cars “abusable rather than too precious”.

He gave a series of examples to show what he means by a range of more overtly off-road models: “For example, the material for the seats; it’s leather versus a material that’s very durable and very hi-tech. It’s about ground clearance, it’s about wheel and tyre combinations, it’s about underbody protection, because actually the capability of the cars is class-leading anyway in most cases.” 

Edwards stopped short of confirming exactly which models would be first to receive a rugged makeover, claiming that the idea was still being debated internally, but he hinted that the Range Rover family is near the top of his list. “It’s clearly going to be more obvious on a Defender than a Range Rover, but in a funny way there’s more of an opportunity on a Range Rover," he said.

“When we did the G4 Challenge five or six years ago, there was a strong but niche demand for a G4 Challenge Range Rover. We never thought there would be, but there was. A car that has the roof rack, lights, tyres and underbody protection. There really are people who want to use the car for what it’s designed for.”

News Source: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/land-rover/89407/extreme-off-road-range-rover-svo-is-in-the-works

6×6 Is the New 4×4: This 6×6 Defender–Based Concept Is Seriously Bad-Ass

Concerned that the worldwide demand for outrageous fuel-swilling, six-wheeled, paramilitary off-road 6×6 SUVs couldn’t possibly be satiated alone by the now-ended production of the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 and exclusive variants like the Brabus B63S-700 6×6, British firm Kahn Design has entered the ring with a stretched, LS3-powered 6×6 version of the Land Rover Defender it has dubbed the Flying Huntsman.  

Although the Defender looks mighty bulky in standard form, fitment of the additional hardware required an increase to both length and girth. To squeeze the approximately 430-hp 6.2-liter LS3 GM V-8 under the hood, Kahn added just under 16 inches forward of the A-pillar. (Earlier in the year, the tuning firm applied the same powertrain and stretch to the three-door, four-wheel Defender, emerging with the aptly named Defender 105 Longnose.) The aesthetics are a bit questionable, but we feel the ends justify the means.

Making room for the additional rear axle required a stretch of 31.5 inches to the rear of the vehicle. Width is up by 5.9 inches, although Kahn doesn’t cite any specific mechanical reasons behind this increase; we posit that it’s simply to keep the proportions of the seriously long off-roader intact and to keep it from tipping over in a stiff breeze. The doors are said to have been widened a bit, and the rake of the windshield also has been increased. A full panoramic roof extends from the B-pillars back to keep the sun shining on even the blackest of ops.  

Gears are shuffled by a six-speed automatic ’box, torque running to all six-wheels via a “Hi-Lo” ratio-drive system—what we Yanks refer to as a transfer case—and a variety of locking differentials. The brakes and suspension system have been “upgraded,” which in the realm of high-dollar bespoke vehicles could mean just about anything from simple colored shocks to binders pilfered from an Airbus A380. Addressing the suspension and performance upgrades, Kahn says only, “This modern British icon would be equally comfortable outrunning any roadgoing SUV.”

As you might expect, armored variants equipped to B4, B6, B6+, and/or B7 ballistic-protection standards have been discussed, leading us to an obvious conclusion: How soon till the Kahn Design Flying Huntsman 110 WB 6×6 faces off against a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 in a Michael Bay project?

News Source: http://blog.caranddriver.com/6x6-is-the-new-4x4-this-6x6-defender-based-concept-is-seriously-bad-ass/

2015 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged LWB Test Drive And Review: More To Love

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2015 Range Rover Supercharged LWB (Long Wheelbase), and my affection is renewed. If possible, it’s even expanded.

I am on record with my love of the Land Rover brand, and the Range Rover Supercharged in particular. Range Rover got a complete makeover for the 2013 Land Rover Range Rover, losing 700 lbs and gaining additional capability in the process.

The 2015 Range Rover Supercharged LWB carries a base price of $106,995. My test vehicle came in at $118,501 with options, California Emissions and destination charge. Land Rover’s 4-year/50,000-mile new vehicle warranty includes 24-hour Road Recovery Service and complimentary first scheduled maintenance. The EPA estimates that the 2015 Range Rover Supercharged LWB can achieve 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway/16 mpg combined.

I view the Range Rover Supercharged as an ideal executive conveyance. Both behind the wheel and in the second row, the Range Rover delivers an excellent experience, with luxury amenities, a great ride and a commanding view of the road. The LWB version of the Range Rover adds an additional 7.8” between the axles (122.8”), which results in an overall vehicle length of 204.7” (7.9” longer than the standard Range Rover). The added length shows up in the cabin as 7.3” of increased legroom in the second row, further improving the Range Rover’s functionality. An already luxurious cabin becomes limousine-like.

Visually, it’s easy to distinguish the LWB edition of the Range Rover from the standard wheelbase version. The second-row doors have absorbed the additional length. This may have unintended consequences, as the second-row doors are now heavier and longer than before, and require more swinging space to open fully. You have to find a wider parking spot to avoid having your rear passengers dinging the sides of the car next to you. Of course, the true executive knows to wait until the driver opens the door from the outside, allowing unfettered egress to the curb.

I didn’t get a chance to take the LWB Range Rover off-road. The LWB version maintains much of the capability of the standard wheelbase version, with the same maximum approach and departure angles (34.7 degrees/29.6 degrees). Breakover angle is necessarily smaller (26.1 degrees vs. 28.3 degrees) – that’s just pure geometry, and the LWB comes in about 200 lbs heavier, which also affects performance. The important figures, minimum ground clearance (11.63”) and maximum wading depth (35.4”), are shared regardless of wheelbase. Out here in Los Angeles where I live, wading depth becomes important every time it rains, as every intersection turns into a lake thanks to our ridiculously poor drainage. I like having the confidence that a Range Rover can plow right through conditions that will swamp most luxury vehicles.

The additional weight of the Range Rover LWB nearly disappears under the influence of the 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine that produces 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The Range Rover feels fast. Land Rover reports 0-60 mph times of 5.5 seconds for the LWB (vs. 5.1 seconds for the regular wheelbase). Enhanced electronic air suspension with automatic load leveling delivers flat, stable handling with great road feel. The eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and full-time all-wheel drive connects up to an alphabet soup of electronic systems: ABS, EBD, HDC, EBA, RSC, ASL, GRC and more. The additional wheelbase does affect the turning circle, extending an already wide 40.4’ diameter for the regular wheelbase out to 44.0’ for the LWB.

Until Bentley brings out its long-awaited Bentayga SUV and Maserati brings out its Levante SUV, Range Rover Supercharged LWB’s competition remains the same on the SUV front: Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, Lexus LX, Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator for second row comfort; Porsche Cayenne Turbo S for performance. Some executives may prefer sedans or limousines to SUVs, but they’re missing out on the great seating position that an SUV affords the driver and passenger. And ironically, a Range Rover Supercharged LWB is less conspicuous than a limousine or a long wheelbase luxury sedan.

Source: www.forbes.com/sites/jasonfogelson/2015/03/09/2015-land-rover-range-rover-supercharged-lwb-test-drive-and-review-more-to-love/