Land Rover and Virgin Galactic: Meet the team.

• Partners Land Rover and Virgin Galactic make progress in the world of testing and development of new vehicles – on land and in space
• New Discovery Sport entering final development phase, with prototype fleets testing globally: video available showing extreme hot and cold testing
• Land Rover is the first global partner of pioneering commercial spaceline Virgin Galactic
• Land Rover releases two videos contrasting Virgin Galactic testing and development with Land Rover product engineering tests

Global partners in adventure, innovation and exploration, Land Rover and Virgin Galactic have opened the doors on the world of prototype testing and development. For the first time both brands compare the parallels and complexities behind the test and development of a new vehicle. Both Land Rover and Virgin Galactic have used their partnership to share values and experiences that have steered each brand to develop cutting edge technologies for both land and space.

The pioneering partnership, announced in April this year, has continued to make strides through Land Rover’s continued development of the new Discovery Sport vehicle while Virgin Galactic moves closer to the launch of the world’s first spaceline.

As the new Discovery Sport enters its final testing phase, Land Rover and Virgin Galactic, which continues its flight test and engineering programmes ahead of the launch of its commercial spaceflight programme, are giving a glimpse of what goes into their test and development programmes.

Murray Dietsch, Programme Director, Land Rover, said: “There is a common philosophy towards engineering between Land Rover and our partners Virgin Galactic. We start with an idea and build from there, spending years refining a design and completing virtual testing before the first prototypes see the tarmac. As our partnership with Virgin Galactic develops, it will be fascinating to get closer to their team and explore common areas of engineering and expertise.

“Discovery Sport prototypes have covered approximately 750,000 miles during the testing phase, in some of the world’s harshest and most challenging terrains and climates. A total of 181 prototype vehicles were built, completing over 11,000 tests over their lifetimes around the globe, ensuring total confidence in the robustness of build and design of the vehicles.”

“As we look to launching the world’s first spaceline, Virgin Galactic continues to push boundaries and develop pioneering new innovations that bring to life our vision,” said George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic. “In engineering and design, like Land Rover, our focus is on precision, ingenuity, and unparalleled design.”

Land Rover and Virgin Galactic announces strategic partnership for future space flights.

• Land Rover announces its New Age of Discovery in dramatic fashion in New York
• Global reveal of Land Rover’s new Discovery Vision Concept car alongside SpaceShipTwo, the world’s first commercial spaceship
• Land Rover is Virgin Galactic’s first global partner, bringing together two world leaders in adventure, innovation and exploration  
• Partnership to be used to inspire young people across the globe to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology

Land Rover, the British brand synonymous with adventure, has revealed a long-term global partnership with Richard Branson’s pioneering commercial spaceline, Virgin Galactic.  

Demonstrating their shared vision of pioneering spirit, technological innovation and sense of adventure, the ground breaking partnership was announced against the backdrop of SpaceShipTwo, the world’s first commercial passenger carrying spacecraft, together with Land Rover’s new Discovery Vision Concept vehicle. The announcement illustrates the commitment that both brands share to iconic design and engineering excellence and a desire to push the boundaries of travel for the next generation.

The partnership will see Land Rover vehicles become part of daily life for the Virgin Galactic team and for all ‘Future Astronauts’, the space experience will now begin with Land Rover as they arrive in New Mexico for training, and continue to the moment they drive from the space terminal building to the waiting spaceship. Land Rover will base a fleet of vehicles at the Virgin Galactic test centre in the Mojave Desert, California and at its astounding operational New Mexico base, Spaceport America.

The exciting announcement was revealed in dramatic fashion on board USS Intrepid, a former aircraft carrier and now a museum dedicated to the exploration of sea, air and space and anchored on the Hudson River. Land Rover’s first act as exclusive partner was to bring a unique full-size replica of SpaceShipTwo VSS Enterprise to New York, where it joined the remarkable British Airways Concorde and its namesake Space Shuttle Enterprise upon the Intrepid. Like the Space Shuttle, SpaceShipTwo is the first of a revolutionary fleet of reusable human spacecraft. Having the vehicles in one place for the first time provided a powerful symbol of human ingenuity and the adventurous spirit of exploration and discovery.

Revealed alongside SpaceShipTwo was Land Rover’s Discovery Vision Concept, a vision of Land Rover’s future family of Discovery vehicles. The concept car previews dynamic new design language and an array of world first technologies. Building on Land Rover’s renowned all-terrain capability, the Discovery Vision Concept represents the ultimate SUV of the future. 

The vehicle uses augmented reality technology to display a ‘see-through’ view of the terrain ahead, making the front of the car ‘virtually’ invisible from inside the cabin. Gesture Control allows you to open the doors, operate the indicators or turn on the headlamps simply by moving your hand, while Laser Referencing projects visible markings, symbols and imagery onto the ground to aid low speed or tricky manoeuvres.

More than 200 VIP guests witnessed the two game-changing vehicles, which were revealed against a stunning Manhattan background and an awe-inspiring projection mapping sequence. 

Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Galactic said: “We couldn’t be more delighted to have Land Rover join us on our incredible journey. It is hard to think of a brand which is more synonymous with exploration and adventure. The safety and engineering excellence of Land Rover’s vehicles, which have been the stuff of legend for more than 65 years, are attributes which also lie at the heart of Virgin Galactic. We look forward to crossing the final frontier together and to a long and fruitful partnership.”    

Phil Popham, Group Marketing Director of Jaguar Land Rover said: “This is a marriageof two of Britain’s most iconic brands which celebrate shared values, a pioneering spirit and a true sense of adventure.  Not only do we both share the same long-term vision to enable mankind to explore, but we also want to develop this partnership to inspire others. From our tens of thousands of employees and customers to schools and colleges, motivating more young people to pursue careers in engineering, science, technology and math - and explore new ways of travelling for future generations.

Land Rover’s heart beats ‘above and beyond’ – we are pioneers on land and Virgin Galactic is the pioneer of space. It’s a very special match of brands with a shared vision.” 

Both brands run significant and highly regarded community relations and STEM education programmes, which encourage young people to aspire to a future in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and together see the huge potential to develop this partnership to inspire others and motivate more young people to pursue careers in these vitally important fields.

Courtesy of Land Rover, SpaceShipTwo, will remain on display at Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum for the public to view between from 15^th to the 22^nd April.  It will sit alongside other game changing artefacts including the first ever space shuttle Enterprise, the prototype NASA orbiter that paved the way for the space shuttle programme and the record-breaking and revolutionary supersonic passenger airliner, the Concorde. 

The Discovery Vision Concept will be on display at the New York Auto Show, which opens on Wednesday 16^th March.  

Follow the excitement as the story continues to unfold on Land Rover’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages and join the conversation using #ReadyToDiscover.

To view a specially created film to mark the dawn of a new partnership for Land Rover and Virgin Galactic visit; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhR3GCqT0Zg and to see Richard Branson comment on the partnership visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghrQOWO5r1o