TOW CAR AWARDS - Land Rover Discovery wins its category at annual Tow Car Awards

• Land Rover Discovery wins its category at annual Tow Car Awards
• Voted number one in 1,900kg+ sector by expert judges
• Eighth class win in nine years for iconic SUV

The outstanding performance of the Land Rover Discovery has been honoured for the eighth time at the highly respected Tow Car Awards 2015. The Awards, which have been running for nine years have honoured the Discovery as the heavyweight tow vehicle of choice for all but one year. It is a feat unmatched by any other rival in any category to date, underlining the exceptional capabilities of the British-built vehicle.

The iconic SUV was voted best in class in the 1,900+kg category by a panel of expert judges. The awards are presented by The Camping and Caravanning Club, in association with What Car? and Practical Caravan.

The judges selected the popular 3.0-litre SDV6 SE Tech model for this year’s series of rigorous towing tests. They commented: “The Land Rover Discovery’s tally now stands at eight class wins in the nine years of the Tow Car Awards. New rivals keep taking a shot at the title, but for now the Discovery remains on top. It’s an absolutely superb car to tow with.”

This year, close to 40 cars across various classes were assessed by the judges, with fierce competition in every sector. Each vehicle was assessed for acceleration, gearing and stability while towing on straight-mile and slalom courses. A challenging circuit of awkward cambers and uneven surfaces was also undertaken, with stopping distance measured after heavy braking.

All cars are rated for performance without a towed load, and there are further assessments of cargo-carrying practicality, running cost, reliability and safety.

Jeremy Hicks, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover UK, commented: “Whether it’s horseboxes, boats or industrial trailers, the towing community has always been an integral part of the Land Rover family. To win this award for the eighth time illustrates perfectly the strengths of our brand – a desirable mixture of power, practicality and innovative engineering that continues to prove popular with our loyal customers.”

Land Rover’s years of experience with, and feedback from, those who tow makes the Discovery the perfect vehicle for customers’ varying needs. As a result, several advanced technologies are available to enhance the towing experience and make life easier for owners.

Trailer Stability Assist detects the presence of a trailer and, above 37mph, monitors its behaviour. Selective braking of the appropriate wheels automatically helps to correct any stability issues.

Also available is Towing Assist, a reversing aid which is included with the optional Surround Camera System. Towing Assist predicts the trajectory of both vehicle and trailer during reversing manoeuvres, enabling safe and easy coupling and providing a predicted path for the vehicle when reversing by superimposing coloured lines over the image on the touch-screen.

Land Rover All Terrain Progress Control, making life, off-road, so much easier.

• First Land Rover models available with world-first All-Terrain Progress Control, to enhance Range Rover’s peerless off-road capability
• More performance,  with significantly improved fuel efficiency for six-cylinder engines
• Range Rover TDV6 engine now delivers over 40mpg and under 7 litres per 100km
• Range Rover Sport SDV6 has increased power at 306PS 225  kw) and 700Nm
• Range Rover and Range Rover Sport now feature optional Head-Up Display (HUD)

Land Rover has announced a comprehensive series of updates for the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, further enhancing the world’s best luxury and premium sporting SUVs.  The revisions include Land Rover’s innovative All-Terrain Progress Control system, a world-first technology which complements and further improves the Range Rover’s already class-leading off-road capability. 

Significant gains in both performance and efficiency are achieved through enhanced six-cylinder diesel engines.  For added convenience, Head-Up Display (HUD) projects key driving information onto a small area of the windscreen, while one eye-catching new paint colour update the exterior colour palette.

‘Range Rover and Range Rover Sport offer an unrivalled combination of performance, efficiency, design leadership and off-road capability,’ says Phil Popham, Group Marketing Director, Jaguar Land Rover.

‘Our latest updates capitalise on these strengths, with our ground-breaking new All Terrain Progress Control, along with extra-efficient six-cylinder engines, which underline Land Rover’s commitment to sustainability.’

All-Terrain Progress Control for peerless off-road capability

Class-leading off-road capability stands at the core of every Land Rover. Now All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) is being introduced to further complement the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport’s highly accomplished four-wheel-drive chassis.

ATPC allows the driver to input a desired speed, either from rest or an existing speed, without any pedal inputs once the brake is released. The system continuously monitors and adjusts the vehicle settings to optimise traction and maintain progress in all conditions. 

ATPC reduces driver workload to enhance Range Rover’s world-renowned off road capability, maintaining composure over steep gradients, rough terrain and low-grip surfaces.  It is particularly beneficial in challenging off road environments where a very low constant speed is desirable.  ATPC works both in forward and reverse gears and is operational from 1mph to 19mph (1.8km/h to 30km/h).

Available on Range Rover TDV6, Range Rover Sport SDV6 (not including SDV6 Hybrid) and all V8 Supercharged derivatives*, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport are the first models to feature this new technology.

* When specified with dual-range transmission and Terrain Response® 2

Cleaner engines, increased performance

The impressive performance and fuel economy of Land Rover’s 3.0-litre six-cylinder engines has been enhanced still further. Previously equipped with twin-turbocharging technology, Range Rover TDV6 derivatives now adopt a ball-bearing single turbocharger. 

Along with Low Pressure Exhaust Gas Recirculation (LPEGR), a two-stage oil pump that reduces parasitic engine losses and a revised design of fuel-injector nozzle, the TDV6 continues to produce 258PS / 190 kw and 600Nm. Fuel efficiency, however, significantly increases: TDV6 improves by an impressive 8.5%.

Range Rover Sport SDV6 derivatives retain parallel-sequential turbocharging, but detail calibration changes increase performance to 306PS / 225 kw and 700Nm, increases of 14PS and 100Nm respectively.  LPEGR, a two-stage oil pump and revised fuel-injector nozzles also increase fuel efficiency. The result is a pronounced 7.0% improvement at 40.4mpg/7.0 litres per 100km and 185g/km.

Head-Up Display

Head-Up Display (HUD) debuts on Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, projecting key information onto the windscreen. It allows drivers to view relevant information more quickly without glancing away from the road.

HUD data includes vehicle speed, gear position and shift indicator, cruise-control information, satellite-navigation instructions and Traffic-Sign Recognition. For maximum convenience, the driver can pre-select which information is displayed.

Increased personalisation options

Both Range Rover derivatives are now available with an updated colour palette featuring the striking Yulong White.

Technical Specifications:

Engine type	3.0L V6 Diesel (TDV6)	3.0L V6 Diesel (SDV6)
Model	Range Rover	Range Rover Sport
Power PS (rpm)	258 (4000)	306 (4000)
Torque Nm (rpm)	600 (2000)	700 (1500-1750)
0-62mph (0-100km/h) secs	7.4 (7.9)	6.8 (7.2 )
Top speed mph (km/h)	130 (210)	130 (210) / 140 (225) opt Dynamic Pack
CO2 Combined g/km	182	185
Combined consumption mpg (L/100km)	40.9 (6.9)	40.4 (7.0)
Weight From… kg	2160	2115

Pricing:

Head up Display - £1000 option

All Terrain Progress Control - £175 option

Land Rover wins twice at annual tow car awards, with Discovery winning for fifth consequtive year.

• Land Rover Discovery becomes the most successful model in the Tow Car Awards’ history, with seventh win in eight years
• Supreme luxury and towing ability earn the Range Rover Sport 3.0 SDV6 Autobiography Dynamic the new Money No Object Award
• Awards are based on extensive practical testing undertaken by expert judges, and are presented by the Camping and Caravanning Club, Practical Caravan and What Car?

Land Rover has claimed double honours in the Tow Car Awards. The Discovery remains the pre-eminent car in its class and becomes the most successful car in the history of the awards with its seventh class win in eight years. The Range Rover Sport is the first recipient of a new Money No Object Award.

The Discovery 3.0 SDV6 XS once again proved itself the class of the field in the 1900kg+ category, continuing to perform better than all its rivals, including more recently launched competitors. It is Discovery’s fifth consecutive win and its seventh award in eight years, a record unmatched by any other vehicle.

The judges declared: “It is going to take a really superb car to beat the Discovery. Power, performance, stability, practicality – it has the lot.”

The experienced panel which put the Land Rover to the test were impressed by the ease with which it tackles towing duties, in particular its “confident and decisive” overtaking and “smooth, unflustered” manner in which it can be slowed, regardless of the weight of caravan attached. It also excelled in lane changing, motorway cruising and hill starts.

The new Money No Object Award was bestowed on the Range Rover Sport 3.0 SDV6 Autobiography Dynamic, praised by the judges as a “phenomenal tow car”.

They concluded: “Put price aside for a moment, you won’t find a more capable heavyweight tow car. Dawdling traffic won’t be in the way for long, as the sprint from 30-60mph takes just 9.6 seconds, even with a big twin-axle caravan in tow.”

The Range Rover Sport’s stability was the stand-out factor, demonstrated in the awards’ lane-change test.

“Towing at 60mph feels like 40mph in the Sport, and the Range Rover seemed impervious to crosswinds, even at speeds that would have your collar felt on a British motorway,” the judges noted.

Jaguar Land Rover UK Managing Director, Jeremy Hicks said: “These awards are a great reward for the strength of Land Rover design and engineering.

“Discovery continues to set the benchmark for its class, in spite of the arrival of newer rivals on the market, and with Range Rover Sport we are delighted that independent experts consider it offers the ultimate combination of prestige, luxury and performance.”

Long wheelbase Range Rover Hybrid launches in Beijing.

• Land Rover unveils the new Range Rover Hybrid Long Wheelbase in Beijing
• Range Rover LWB will be the first diesel hybrid on sale in China
• 26 per cent lower CO₂ emissions (169g/km) and 44.1mpg (combined), with uncompromised luxury, performance and all-terrain capabilities
• Range Rover Hybrid LWB offers an additional 186mm rear seat legroom

Land Rover has further progressed the development of its acclaimed Range Rover with the global debut of the Range Rover Hybrid Long Wheelbase at the Beijing motor show. The derivative brings together two of the most recent innovations in the Range Rover line-up in a vehicle that offers an unprecedented combination of premium luxury, interior space, exceptional fuel and emissions performance and no compromise in Land Rover’s renowned breadth of capability.

Together with the Range Rover Sport Hybrid, it will be the first diesel hybrid model from any manufacturer to be offered in China. China is recognised by Land Rover as a potentially strong market for its new premium hybrids, whilst the long wheelbase design is identified as best suiting Chinese customers’ preferences for luxury and spaciousness.

Global order books will open in May and first deliveries to customers in China are expected from the end of the year. This new derivative strengthens the status of the Range Rover as one of the world’s most successful premium vehicle ranges, witnessed in more than 100 awards amassed by the new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport in the past 18 months.

The production vehicles benefit from valuable insights Land Rover gained from its Silk Trail expedition in 2013. A fleet of Range Rover Hybrids proved their durability and all-terrain capability on a gruelling 16,000km route from the Land Rover factory in Solihull, across central Asia to the Mumbai headquarters of Tata, Land Rover’s parent company. After the journey, the vehicles were stripped down and scrutinised by Land Rover engineers to improve understanding of how the designs and technologies can be fine-tuned.

The Range Rover Hybrid powertrain combines Land Rover’s 3.0-litre SDV6 diesel engine with a 35kW electric motor, integrated with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. The system allows the driver to select from three different drive modes to maximise performance or efficiency, and is capable of delivering 26 per cent lower CO₂ emissions (169g/km) and 6.4 l/100 km (44.1mpg). 

Installing the hybrid diesel-electric powertrain in the Range Rover Long Wheelbase has not compromised space, or the driving experience. The long wheelbase offers the benefits of an additional 186mm of legroom for rear seat passengers and, with the option of the executive seating package, an impressive increase in the rear seat angle of recline to 17 degrees.

The hybrid system uses the same proven Terrain Response® system and all-wheel drive technology deployed in the petrol and diesel-powered models. Wading depth capability is undiminished at a class-leading 900mm.

The complete system, including a lithium ion battery pack, inverter and electric motor, weighs less than 120kg. The electric motor produces 170Nm torque and operates to boost acceleration when required, and to drive the vehicle in EV (electric vehicle) Mode. The motor also acts as a generator, harvesting kinetic energy through regenerative braking, charging the battery when the vehicle is slowing. In EV mode the Range Rover Hybrid can travel at speeds of up to 30mph (48km/h) for a range of up to one mile (1.6km) before the diesel engine seamlessly restarts. 

Together, output of the diesel engine and electric motor is 340PS at 4,000rpm and a class-leading 700Nm torque between 1,500-3,000rpm, delivering performance on a par with the SDV8 engine. The version to be marketed in China is technically identical to that sold elsewhere, except for a change to the exhaust system to take into account the different local emissions standards.

Land Rover dominates at 4x4 Magazine awards ceremony

• Land Rover dominates 4x4 Magazine’s 2014 awards
• Range Rover Sport is winner of the Premium category and overall 4x4 of the Year
• Range Rover Evoque winner of the Top Range SUV class, Defender “highly recommended” in the Hardcore category
• Results reaffirm Land Rover’s leadership in modern SUV design and engineering

Land Rover is the most successful manufacturer in 4x4 Magazine’s 2014 awards, securing two class wins and the ultimate 4x4 of the Year title.

The new Range Rover Sport saw off competition from 24 of the market’s finest all-wheel drive models to take both the Premium class and the overall 2014 honour, while the Range Rover Evoque proved its mettle by claiming honours in the Top Range SUV class. The Land Rover Defender was “highly recommended” in the Hardcore class and the new Range Rover was second only to its Range Rover Sport sibling in the Premium category.

Presenting the results in the winter issue of 4x4 Magazine, Editor Nigel Fryatt said: “The Range Rover Sport is a worthy winner of the prestigious 2014 4x4 of the Year award. Indeed it is such a significant vehicle that you wonder if it is the best product ever to come from the Land Rover stable, of any era.”

After putting the Range Rover Sport through its paces, the judges gave it an unmatched 90 per cent score, highlighting the 3.0-litre SDV6 engine, on-road handling, off-road prowess, towing ability, comfort and design as its stand-out features.

Their report hailed the model as the “revelation of the premium group, if not the whole test” and made special reference to the quality of the Terrain Response 2 system for tackling all kinds of off-road scenarios. Where on-road performance is concerned, they declared the Range Rover Sport is “a pure pleasure to drive” and referenced the contribution made by its independent air suspension on ride quality.

The Range Rover Evoque once again demonstrated that Land Rover’s advanced styling and premium quality are not at the expense of true all-terrain performance. Evoque was the class of the “Top Range” field in the awards test, netting an 88 per cent score from the judges. They appreciated its “boldly styled and superbly crafted interior” and the fact it has “the handling feel of a sport car half its size”. Design, on-road handling and off-road competence were singled out as the qualities defining its success.

Jaguar Land Rover UK Managing Director, Jeremy Hicks, said: “These awards are very much appreciated, not least because 4x4 Magazine subjects its awards contenders to such rigorous, expert scrutiny.

“The results help demonstrate that we are successfully pushing the boundaries of all-terrain vehicle engineering and design to address the changing requirements of today’s customers. We have a great heritage, but it is vital that we continue to build on that foundation with models like Evoque, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport that deliver in terms of style, premium quality and on-road handling as well as fundamental all-terrain capabilities.”