Land Rover Discovery 4 Review

Despite exterior changes and LED-style headlamps, this is unmistakably a Land Rover Discovery.

LAND Rover’s 2011-series Discovery 4 continues to evolve, and while we’ve yet to get our hands on the very latest model with all-new eight-speed auto ‘box, this heavily revised current model continues to impress.

Out goes the TDV6’s 2.7-litre and in comes a high efficiency 3.0 litre. It still uses two turbos, but parallel sequential plumbing means a greater kick comes from much lower rpm.

While the bigger turbo does most of the work for most of the time, the smaller turbo remains dormant until high power outputs are needed. Land Rover says this design reduces pumping losses and helps improve fuel economy.

But when the engine room is summoned to give it all, the turbo system keeps the 3.0 litre V6 buzzing, never letting the engine run out of breath.

It means a whopping 600Nm of torque is on standby to propel the 2.5 tonne 4x4 out the blocks with a level of pace that makes the figures look like a mistake. There is much better lock-up from the torque converter too, taking away some of the slushiness that can rob auto boxes of efficiency.

Idle speed has been lowered to 710rpm and the introduction of a regenerative, smart charging system means the alternator does most of its work when the Discovery is coasting, rather than accelerating. Expect fuel efficiency to slide upwards into the low 30’s.

Van-sized proportions lead to generous load space. The boot cleverly hides a third row of seats, too.

Functionality

Neither does it stop there. Tweaks to the clever Terrain Response system have added yet more off-road functionality to the transmission, designed to give more safety and support for those straying off the black top.

As a result, Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control have been added to the Discovery 4’s repertoire. Applying a decent amount of brake pedal pressure at standstill rewards the driver with brakes being held on for a few seconds, or until start-up torque is sufficient to overcome brake resistance.

Gradient Acceleration Control, however, intervenes on downhill slopes when Hill Descent Control has not been activated. It slows the car to a limit determined by throttle position - otherwise, the system restricts speed to 3.1mph for up to 20 seconds, to allow the driver to regain control.

Classier

The interior is now reminiscent of a top-spec Range Rover.

The interior of this latest Discovery is now much classier than it used to be, hinting it wants to follow its bigger brother, the Range Rover, into the premium sector. It is now a nice place to sit, reinforced by brilliantly composed air suspension, which soaks up everything our British road surfaces can muster.

It is only slightly marred by the upright windscreen and mirrors the size of grain shovels, which conspire to to amplify wind noise at higher speeds.

While there is no questioning the Discovery’s off-road credentials with the sophisticated Terrain Response system, this new engine has raised its game a couple of notches and transformed the boxy 4x4 from merely mediocre, to a solid performer which deals a much better hand on the open road.

We can only hope the arrival of an eight-speed auto box finally gives Discovery drivers a five-star experience.

Source: Farmers Guardian

Range Rover Evoque 'wireframe' makes its outdoor debut at UAE

United Arab Emirates: Residents of Jumeirah Beach Residences (JBR) were the first to witness the unveiling of a unique outdoor installation in the form of the Evoque 'wireframe', a life sized replica of the new Range Rover Evoque, set to arrive at Al Tayer Motors and Premier Motors showrooms later this year.

Range Rover Evoque 'WireFrame'

The wireframe, made from steel wire and painted in luminous neon blue, was created by Land Rover as an artistic representation of the Range Rover Evoque, a uniquely designed compact SUV which will appeal to a young, stylish and urban minded driver. The wireframe, launched at JBR, will be displayed at the Ritz roundabout, a prime location to attract attention from residents and visitors to the neighbourhood, until October 7. The wireframe will then be displayed at the Dubai International Financial Centre from October 16-20.

From October 20 - November 19, Virgin Megastores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi will feature two display units of the wireframes at their stores in the Mall of the Emirates and Abu Dhabi Mall respectively. The wireframe in Virgin Megastore in Dubai will be a vibrant red colour while the wireframe in Abu Dhabi will sport a fluorescent pink colour. In the third week of the promotion, a surprise awaits customers in Dubai.

Robin Colgan, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover MENAP commented, "The Range Rover Evoque will appeal to a stylish, urban consumer who is looking for a car that combines Range Rover's premium luxury and formidable all-terrain performance with dynamic and sporty handling. With our eye-catching wireframes we're sure to turn heads in the Emirates ahead of the Evoque's arrival."

The Evoque wireframes were incorporated as part of a global campaign by luxury automotive manufacturer Land Rover to launch the newest edition to the Range Rover family. The wireframes have been spotted in cities across the world, from New York's Grand Central Station to San Paolo Fashion Week and Paris's Pompidou Centre. Now, the wireframe has arrived in the UAE, for installation at various popular locations within Dubai and Abu Dhabi.



The Evoque Wireframe is brought to the United Arab Emirates by Al Tayer Motors, UAE's exclusive official Land Rover importer, and Land Rover.

Source: Ameinfo

Tata Motors Sep Sales increased 22%

Tata Motors' total sales (including exports) of Tata commercial and passenger vehicles in September 2011 were 78,786 vehicles, higher by 22% over September 2010. The company's domestic sales of Tata commercial and passenger vehicles for September 2011 were 72,566 nos., higher by 22% over 59,611 nos. sold in September last year.

Cumulative sales (including exports) for the company for the fiscal are 399,663 nos., a growth of 5% over 380,128 nos., sold last year.



Commercial Vehicles

The company's sales of commercial vehicles in September 2011 in the domestic market were 46,247 nos., a 29% growth compared to 35,734 vehicles sold in September last year. LCV sales were 28,092 nos., a growth of 47% over September last year. M&HCV sales stood at 18,155 nos., a growth of 9% over September last year.

Cumulative sales of commercial vehicles in the domestic market for the fiscal are 243,134 nos., a growth of 19% over last year. Cumulative LCV sales are 146,900 nos., a growth of 27% over last year, while M&HCV sales stood at 96,234 nos., a growth of 8% over last year.

Passenger Vehicles

The passenger vehicles business reported a total sale and distribution offtake of 27,137 nos. (26,319 Tata + 818 Fiat) in the domestic market in September 2011, higher by 6% compared to 25,527 nos. (23,877 Tata + 1,650 Fiat) in September last year. Sales of Tata passenger vehicles for September 2011 are at 26,319 nos., a growth of 10% over September last year. Sales of the Tata Nano were 2,936 nos., lower by 47% over September last year. The Indica range sales were 10,282 nos., higher by 64% over September last year. The Indigo range recorded sales of 7,793 nos., lower by 11% over September last year. The Sumo/ Safari/ Aria/ Venture range accounted for sales of 5,308 nos., a growth of 60% over September last year.

Jaguar Land Rover sales in India continued their upward trend.

Cumulative sales and distribution offtake of passenger vehicles in the domestic market for the fiscal are 134,140 nos. (125,448 Tata + 8,692 Fiat), against 161,051 nos. (149,188 Tata + 11,863 Fiat) last year, lower by 17%. Cumulative sales of Tata passenger vehicles were 125,448 nos., lower by 16% compared to 149,188 nos., till September last year. Cumulative sales of the Nano are 29,377 nos., lower by 21% compared to 37,402 nos., till September last year. Cumulative sales of the Indica range are 41,283 nos., lower by 16%. Cumulative sales of the Indigo family are 32,202 nos., lower by 26%. Cumulative sales of the Sumo/Safari/ Aria range are 22,586 nos., higher by 18%.



Exports

The company's sales from exports at 6,220 vehicles in September 2011 are higher by 23% compared to 5,057 vehicles in September last year.

The cumulative sales from exports for the fiscal at 31,081 nos. are higher by 16% over 26,698 nos. in the same period last year.

Related Posts:
August Sales Figure - Tata Motors
July 2011 : Indian Car Sales Figures

2012 Range Rover Evoque: First Drive, Off Road

"A four-Cylinder? It's fuel-efficient?How much power? Nice!"

That's the sort of reaction we found from several middle-age suburbanites who momentarily interrupted their community-center fitness group to ask us some questions about the new 2012 Range Rover Evoque - all the while, gushing about the design. And it's a scenario that repeated at least another couple of times on our way from vancouver earlier this week to take some rugged trails up near Whistler, British Columbia.

And it underscores a key point regarding the stylish new Land Rover Evoque: Increasingly, shoppers liked what they saw in Range Rover models, but they wanted a more manageable vehicle with better gas mileage.

While at first the idea of a better-handling, more smartly sized model for the city might seem like a stretch for Land Rover, it all makes perfect sense as soon as you see it up close and sit inside. The Range Rover Evoque is poised to broaden Land Rover’s appeal more than any other product in the brand’s.

Warm, colorful, engaging

The coupe-like styling of the Evoque is right on the mark in every respect; and inside, it's sporty, warm, and inviting, with interior materials that manage to feel anything but cold and Teutonic. The soft padded dash, earthy (Prestige models) or colorful (Dynamic models), and contrasting trims—plus the laid-back, cockpit-style layout, set low, all add up to a look and feel that's more luxury coupe than off-roader. In all, Land Rover boasts a total of 12 designer interiors, 12 colors, three contrasting roof colors, and five alloy wheel.

On the road, we were able to confirm many of the observations made by our editorial director Marty Padgett in his first drive of the Evoque this past summer: The 240-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder has impressive torque down low, but there can sometimes be a slight delay for power to be delivered (turbo lag) when you ask for some serious oomph. The vast majority of the time, the excellent six-speed automatic transmission deals with that well, with nice, prompt downshifts (and even a throttle blip in Sport mode), plus steering-wheel paddle-shifters. Likewise, body control is superb for a vehicle that does claim some level of off-road ability, with a nice, level cornering attitude and a more carlike feel in general—plus precise, quick-ratio electric power steering that loads and unloads nicely.

Back to the point, it's an impressive setup, capable of dashing to 60 mph in just 7.1 seconds and on to a 135-mph top speed, yet rated an EPA 19 mpg city, 28 highway. Key to all that is weight; the Evoque weighs 1,600 pounds less than a Range Rover Sport—just 3,900 pounds, thanks to the extensive use of boron and high-strength steels, aluminum, and magnesium. Even more impressive is (included in all U.S. Evoques) the huge laminated glass roof and a strong structure that needs no middle B-pillar ring.

Quick and able, on-road or off

The Evoque is no slouch off-road water-wading capability of nearly 20 inches, an approach angle of 25 percent, and breakover angle of 22 percent (that's in the ballpark of the Mercedes-Benz GLK and BMW X3). And, to emphasize that Land Rover has serious trail capability in mind, the oil system is capable of 45 degrees of tilt.

Wrapping everything together is Land Rover's Terrain Response system, which includes modes for general driving, grass/gravel/snow, mud & ruts, and sand. Each mode individually affects engine (throttle), gearbox, and steering calibration, plus settings for the stability control. Included as part of a suite of chassis control technologies are Hill Descent Control, Gradient Release Control, and Hill Hold—all helping you stay stable on slick slopes—plus Trailer Stability Assist, if you want to tow a boat or small trailer.

As we headed up an extremely steep gravel road, interspersed with muddy stretches, huge potholes, and a few rocks, the electronically controlled Haldex center-coupling all-wheel drive system didn't stumble. But once we reached a much, more traillike section, we appreciated the mud and ruts mode, which allowed more wheelspin. Don't expect any level of wheel articulation, but the driveline and even the base suspension manages to soak up the worst of the bumps and shocks. Just as in Land Rover's larger utes, you can fine-tune the speed of Hill Descent Control with the cruise-control buttons.

Dynamic drives best

Rather counterintuitively, it was a Dynamic model, with the optional Adaptive Dynamics MagneRide suspension, which we found to be not only the firmest, best-cornering version of the Evoque on the road but also the best of the two suspension setups off-road. The suspension, which we describe in more detail in this post, managed to quickly firm up (or loosen) damping when needed. The long-travel suspension softened far beyond the base suspension off-road, actually aiding control as we hopped over small rocks, and keeping the cabin quieter and less jarring in the process.

We were also tremendously impressed with the Range Rover Evoque's interior space. Land Rover says that the five-door Evoque has more rear-seat headroom than the Range Rover Sport (or the Audi Q5), and at 6'-6,” this driver managed to fit very comfortably in back, behind an average-height passenger. Coupes have a little less room—and getting in and out is hampered by a rather tall ledge, but it's definitely good enough for short trips.

Back on the road, the turbo four was a little coarser than we might expect at times, and we wished for somewhat more relaxed steering feel on center, at cruising speeds. Additionally, those hoping to take advantage of every bit of versatility might be somewhat disappointed, as we were, to find that the rear seatbacks don't fold fully flat.

With a starting price of less than $45k, the Evoque looks positioned to pull a lot of people away from less-fuel-efficient, perhaps more traditional-feeling crossovers from Volvo and Mercedes-Benz—as well as provide a stylish step up from more ubiquitous all-weather rides, like Subaru Outbacks. We think the Evoque's superb design, city-smart packaging, road performance, and trail prowess make it a no-brainer for sustainability-minded, go anywhere people who simply can't turn their back on style.

Source: Motor Authority

Tata Grande loses the Sumo Moniker; Soft launched with a Facelift

Continuing the new found focus of Tata Motors to hive off its vehicles into separate brands that do not conflict with each other, the Tata Sumo Grande will now simply be called the Tata Grande DICOR. This is a typical Tata move to re-brand vehicles which share names with previous offerings that has been previously practiced with cars like the Tata Indica Vista which is now the Tata Vista and the Tata Indigo Manza, which now is the Tata Manza. Thus, Sumo being an abbreviation of long time ex-TELCO boss Suman Moolgaonkar’s name has finally been vanquished from the Grande for good.

While we expected quite a lot from the Grande’s makeover along with this repositioning, the resulting product is merely a mid career visual facelift than any significant change. To be fair to Tata, the car maker didn’t really promise anything with this makeover, which is quite apparent why the Grande didn’t even see an official launch or for that matter a press release to signify its arrival into the market. In fact, it was the Vista’s recent makeover with better interiors and new design bits on the exterior that prompted us to expect much from the Grande.

Any which ways, the Tata Grande MPV now gets a facelifted exterior that includes a chromed front grille and side finishers, outer rear view mirrors with integrated turn indicators, chromed rub rails, chromed door handles(And, this bit will also make it to the Tata Merlin SUV), blacked out B and C-pillars which are nice touches and finally, new graphics which quite frankly aren’t too appealing visually. So, Tata has indeed given the Grande a refresh on the exteriors and this is something the automaker has to be credited for. On the interiors though, not much has changed.

The only difference is that most of the stuff Tata has printed in the brochure as “new” being marketing chutzpah. In fact, we’re quite surprised that Tata is actually misleading prospective customers by calling many of the features as new even though the features in question have been in existence even on the Sumo Grande Mark II. It isn’t to say that the Grande doesn’t have positives, yes sir it does but naming things differently and expecting the customer to fall for it is hitting below the belt Tata, and that isn’t something customers might not take lightly.

The supremely comfortable seats remain, with the 2 captain seats, a three seater bench layout and two seats at the rear in 7 seater and 8 seater configurations. Rear AC vents for both the second and the third rows are superb touches that make living in the Grande a very comfortable experience. These are points which Tata actually needs to advertise instead of harping on things which simply aren’t there or perhaps, Tata has forgotten to upgrade the Grande’s webpage selectively. That is about the Grande’s interiors.

Coming to the engine which powers the Grande, the same tried and tested 2.2 Liter DICOR common rail, turbo diesel engine albeit in a detuned form does duty on this MPV. the engine produces 120 Bhp of peak power and 250 Nm of peak torque, which is higher than the competition, read the Innova and the Xylo. But what is missing on the Grande are safety features like ABS and Airbags, which the competition provides. Suspension too doesn’t see any change with independently mounted coil springs up front and parabolic leaf springs at the rear. 

So, if you’re expecting any change in the bumpy ride quality that was the bugbear of Grande(in Sumo form), you would be disappointed. The Grande is also available with a 2 liter, 90 Bhp turbo diesel engine for BS3 towns and cities. All, the Grande with the 2.2 liter DICOR engine offers a decent package for the money you pay for as the entry level Grande begins at INR 7.1 Lakh Rupees, ex-showroom Delhi. The Grande comes with a 3 year, 100,000 Km warrant, extendable to a 4 year, 150,000 warranty. This is a price level which is just a little lesser than of the Xylo while the Innova remains significantly more expensive.

Source: Indian Cars Bikes