Range Rover Evoque becomes contract hire favourite

2012 Range Rover Evoque

For car makers, the contract hire and leasing market tends to be fairly stable field with mostly executive saloons and hatchbacks taking the lion’s share of the market. But UK contract hire website, ContractHireAndLeasing.com has noticed one significant new entry into its list of most popular vehicles; the new Range Rover Evoque.

Land Rover’s latest model and baby of the family has managed a staggering feat of coming from its status as a relative newcomer on the market straight into the number three position in ContractHireAndLeasing.com’s list of the most searched for models in January.

The SUV model was beaten only by two Mercs; the C-Class in first place, as the most searched for car on the website last month and the E-Class in second place. It is an impressive achievement for the car, the only non-German car in the entire top ten. Following the Range Rover Evoque is the BMW 3 Series and Audi A6 to make the top five.

January is a busy month for the contract hire and leasing market, with many businesses returning to work after the Christmas break and organising their new models. Private motorists too, tend to see the start of the year as a good time to look for a new vehicle once the seasonal distractions have gone.

The Range Rover Evoque model was launched in September 2011 and went on to quickly claim more than 50 top motoring awards from around the world including BBC TopGear Magazine’s 2011 Car of the Year prize. It is the smallest, lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever produced so far and is available as a five door or coupe model, with both four-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive versions available, giving it wide appeal to a whole host of wants and desires.

Spokesperson for ContractHireAndLeasing.com, Richard Lawton explains why he believes the Range Rover Evoque has been so popular: “The demand for compact SUVs has continued to grow, and the Evoque is Land Rover’s much-awaited entry into this market. What’s more by focusing on fuel economy and lightweight design, Land Rover has appeased consumer demand for vehicles that are compact, easy to manouevre and fuel efficient. With economy as strong as 57.6mpg [EU combined cycle], the Evoque is an ideal urban vehicle that is also able to cope with the rough and tumble of rural conditions come the weekend.”

Source: Easier

Jaguar Land Rover displaying C-X16 at Toronto, Canada

The C-X16 concept is a precursor to future Jaguar sports cars that will aim to set new class benchmarks in design, vehicle dynamics and technology.

Jaguar C-X16 Concept

Jaguar C-X16

The Jaguar C-X16 production concept, making its Canadian debut in Toronto, is designed by the same team that produced the Jaguar XJ, XF and XK, headed by Jaguar’s design director Ian Callum.

The C-X16 concept is a precursor to future Jaguar sports cars that will aim to set new class benchmarks in design, vehicle dynamics and technology.

As the concept neared completion, Callum commented: “Great Jaguar cars have always been beautiful, innovative and have looked firmly to the future. The finished C-X16 concept has the potential to do these things while retaining the ability to surprise, excite and invigorate.”

Jaguar will also showcase the 550-horsepower XKR-S Coupe. The high-performance sports car is the fastest and most powerful production vehicle Jaguar has ever created.

Land Rover

Land Rover will feature the 2012 Range Rover, the pinnacle of luxury SUVs, with its unique blend of high-performance on-road dynamics and traditional Range Rover off-road capability.

Also on display are the Range Rover Sport and Evoque, plus the Land Rover LR4 and LR2.

Source: National Post

2012 Range Rover Sport Wins ALG Award for "Best Luxury Midsize Utility Vehicle"

Range Rover Sport continues its run of top residual value awards in the luxury midsize utility vehicle category. A Residual Value award reflects value and customer demand for Land Rover SUVs.

2012 Range Rover Sport

Jaguar Land Rover Canada is proud to announce the company's latest achievement - a Residual Value Award from ALG, the industry benchmark for residual values and depreciation data. The 2012 Range Rover Sport has been named the "Best Luxury Midsize Utility Vehicle".

The Range Rover Sport models enter the 2012 model year with subtle styling refinements, significant audio/infotainment technology upgrades and additional amenities.

"It is a true honor to receive this accolade," comments Jaguar Land Rover Canada President, Lindsay Duffield. "With all of our Land Rover models, we are dedicated to providing customers with value along with vehicles that combine top notch off-road capabilities and a strong sense of luxury."

The annual ALG Residual Value Awards recognize automakers' outstanding achievements in producing new vehicles that are predicted to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a three-year period for luxury vehicles. Awards are given in 19 vehicle categories and also for the two brands with the highest overall predicted residual values among all mainstream and all luxury vehicles. This year's awards are based on 2012 model year vehicles.

"The Range Rover Sport represents an unrivaled blend of off-road capability, on-road manners, and opulent trimmings," said Geoff Helby, Canada Regional Director for ALG. "Equipped with its full-size sibling's impressive naturally-aspirated and supercharged V8 engines, the Sport takes home its third award in four years."

Award winners are determined through careful study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand, and pricing and marketing strategies remain the key factors that affect ALG's residual value forecasts.

2012 Range Rover Sport

Range Rover Sport models enter the 2012 model year with subtle styling refinements, significant audio/infotainment technology upgrades and additional amenities. The Range Rover Sport is powered by a 375 hp 5.0-liter V8 or a 510 hp supercharged version, and features advanced chassis control systems, uniquely blend high-performance on-road dynamics with traditional Range Rover off-road capability, along with the brand's renowned luxury.  The new compact Smart Key fob is smaller than before yet retains all functions, including lock, unlock, tailgate release and panic alarm. Steering wheel stalks are revised for easier use and higher quality appearance.

The 2012 Range Rover Sport is available in HSE, HSE with Luxury Package, Supercharged and top-of-range Autobiography models.

Pricing:*

• Range Rover Sport HSE - $73,650
• Range Rover Sport HSE LUX - $77,750
• Range Rover Sport Supercharged - $89,450
• Range Rover Sport Autobiography - $100,650

Source: The Auto Channel

New 2013 Range Rover heading for a Geneva 2012 debut

2013 Range Rover

We’re hearing that Land Rover are planning to debut the 2013 Range Rover at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

We’ve had plenty of spy shots of the new Range Rover in the last year as Land Rover work hard to sort out the vital replacement for the now 10 year old Range Rover, and we’ve even had spy video of the new Land Rover halo car at the Nurburgring. Now we’re hearing that Land Rover are planning to debut the new Range Rover at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.

The general consensus has been that the new Range Rover wouldn’t get a public debut until the Paris Motor Show in September, but we’ve heard from a normally very reliable source that Land Rover are planning to make the new Range Rover a star at Geneva in just a few weeks.

The new Range Rover will be a huge chunk lighter than the current model – as much as 500kg lighter – and is based on new aluminium underpinnings borrowed from the new Jaguar XJ. Despite the weight loss, the new Range Rover will grow in size to give passengers more room – especially in the back – be far more economical and much more dynamic.

The dynamic bit was illustrated very well back in November when one of our team fell in to conversation with a Land Rover tester who was in Spain shaking down the new Range Rover. In conversation, the Land Rover man said that the key to the new Range Rover would be handling and dynamics, and that they were aiming for Cayenne and X5 levels of on-road manners with the new Range Rover – and that aim would be fulfilled.

If true, that would put the Range Rover a country mile ahead of any competition. The Range Rover is already perhaps the most appealing car money can buy, and if you throw in decent economy, more room and dynamics and performance up there with the Cayenne and X5, Tata will have pulled off an absolute winner.

If news that the 2013 Range Rover will debut at Geneva is true, JLR should take the trophy for star of Geneva, especially as the new Jaguar XF Sportbrake will debut at Geneva too.

Source: Cars UK

Spyshots: Land Rover Freelander Facelift

Land Rover Freelander Facelift Spyshots

Judging from these spy photos, Land Rover is preparing another second facelift for the Land Rover Freelander 2 (aka LR2 in North America).

Following the Freelander 2's first facelift revealed in 2010, the second facelift will be quite mild with a new grille and new headlights as well as new taillights. We might also see a slightly updated interior and new, more fuel-efficient engines.

Expect the 2013 Freelander 2 facelift to be officially introduced at the Paris Motor Show in September this year.

More Images

Source: World Car Fans