Vilner has announced a new tuning program for the rough Land Rover Defender 2, which has been transformed from hard off-roader to luxurious ride suitable for everyday driving.
The interior has been entirely reorganized – 4 individual sport seats upholstered in brown and black, using Nappa and Alcantara. There is also leather on the door panels, the dashboard, the grips on the headliner and the sun visor. It is an interesting decision to cover the sun visor in Alcantara, but it looks very nice. The same applies to the rear view mirror and the third brake light.
The shapes on the leather, the new elbow rest and the bottom of the seats reflect an athletic vigor, and the “piano lacquer” subtlety.
The floor is the another interesting highlight. It features wooden decoration, a motive that embellishes the rear arm rest. The speedometer on the dashboard has the same color as the interior.
Vilner also installed a nice multimedia system with power of 600W and 15” LCD screen connected to the DVD-player has been installed. The car cab has been soundproofed, so you can listen at max volume without disturbing anyone on the road.
It is true that somehow colors do have a connection with mood and character. Maybe it’s their undisputed connection to style preference. So with that cleared up (not really), what would you say a man in a red Range Rover would be like? According to Afzal Kahn, red signifies haste, energy, dynamism and sex appeal… apparently. So, if you happen to be the person described above, you are Kahn design’s target audience for this one – It’s the Land Rover Range Rover “red ranger” by A. Kahn. That sexiness however, will cost you £71,875 ($114,885)
So for that kind of money, what do you get in return? (except the redness). Add some Extended front and lower lip spoilers, front wheel arch LED light strips, vented front and rear arch spats with integrated air dams and there you have it. The brake calipers are all so very red and an RS front grille surround insert in carbon.
The Kahn stainless steel twin RS autobiography quad oval exhaust system fits perfectly as a complement feature to the whole bodywork. 9.5×22-inch at the front and 11×22-inch at the back, the Kahn RS600 wheels are equally impressive. Their coating is entirely up to you.
The same goes for the interior – Kahn are well known for offering their customer’s flexibility when it comes to the internal style. This particular “red ranger” however, bares inside an RS Vesuvius style diamond quilted claret and perforated leather with carbon trim. The speedo and rev counter are in red and cream, the clock is riddled with Swarovski stones. There are entry sill plates in stainless steel that are illuminated for that extra chic feel.
That pretty much rounds it up really. Need we remind you that an “A. Kahn Design is for the individual who will not submit to a life of uniformity and who will only accept perfection” … against monotony and what not. Truth be told, one can break the shackles of mediocrity trough much cheaper means but then again, why not go all the way an get a Range Rover turned into a red ranger?
Kahn Range Rover "red ranger"Kahn Range Rover "red ranger"Kahn Range Rover "red ranger"Kahn Range Rover "red ranger"
This Land RoverDiscovery 4 HSE Luxury Special Edition is currently being showcased in New York as it represents some of the best features of the brand.
One way to distinguish it from the common Discoveries is looking at the exterior – silver roof rails, silver capped mirrors, a silver grille surround and silver fender vents. That may be too much silver for you but Land Rover say every segment is a different shade of the color, and if they say so…anyways. The door handles are coordinated with the body color (Santorini Black) while the rear bumper has a stainless steel step. As a finishing touch, the Discovery lays on a set of 20-inch 10-spoked alloy wheels. If you happen to miss all of those details, there’s a badge on the tailgate that lets you know…that you have missed them.
Inside, a feast of leather, Ivory or Ebony, welcomes us. If the quantity is deemed insufficient, more Windsor leather can be added on top of the dashboard binnacle, the door top rolls, armrests and pull Dark Zebrano veneer can be found here and there and the floor mats have contrasting edges – thrilling.
It’s not all 19th century appeal though. If, let’s say, you want to burst the windshield open from the inside, try turning up the 825W Harman/Kardon® LOGIC7® Premium Audio system. At the back, 8-inch screens and wireless headphones will keep the kids preoccupied trough the medium of multimedia.
For power, the HSE Luxury uses the sturdy Land Rover 256PS SDV6 diesel engine that’s mated to a super-efficient ZF HP70 8-speed automatic gearbox. 0-60mph is done in 8.8 seconds and the top speed is at 112 mph.
The price one has to pay for this luxurious SUV is $90,490. Better start saving now. Sales start in July this year.
2012 Kahn Vesuvius Orange Range Rover Sport is the name of the latest tuning made by the exceptional Afzal Kahn. What you might don’t know here is that the Vesuvius is a style and concept originally developed by Kahn which has been copied by many since then. Now, the designer is coming up with new revamped 2012 model of this range rover sport Vesuvius.
It carries a range of upgrades which include improvements in terms of performance, fuel efficiency and gear ratios. Even more, the vehicle receives as well an upgraded audio and infotainment system with the new generation’s seven-inch touch screen which features the dual view technology and rear-seat entertainment with screens mounted in the front headrests.
Furthermore, there are also enhancements regarding the exterior, which is now fitted with Kahn LE exterior upgrade. It includes a wide track aerodynamic styling package with vented wide wheel arches and integrated LED daytime running lights, quad stainless steel exhaust system, liquid gold calipers, RS front grille with 3d mesh, grille insert in carbon fibre, exhaust side vents and Kahn branding.
Paint detailing includes: matt pearl grey door handles, Vesuvius orange side vents and a grille surround. What is more important here is the 3.0 liter SDV6 diesel engine, which now produces an improved 256hp (188 kW) at 4,000rpm with maximum torque of 600Nm(443 lb.-ft.) at 2,000rpm.
This engine utilizes a parallel sequential turbo charging system which enhances the throttle response with a maximum torque already available from only 2,000rpm. The 3.0 liter diesel delivers 500Nm (369 lb.-ft.) in only 500 milliseconds from idle. What this basically means in that it offers instantaneous access to 83 percent of maximum torque in the lower rev ranges.
2012 Kahn Vesuvius Orange Range Rover
Moreover, the engine is linked to the ZF 8HP70 eight-speed automatic gearbox. The latter now offers smooth shifts and improved fuel economy. What is specifically interesting around the gearbox here is that it as brains. In general, this means that when it is in hot conditions it selects a lower gear to run the engine and air conditioning pumps faster to cool down the cabin quickly.
On the other hand, when operating inn cold conditions it runs the engine faster to reduce warm-up time and emissions. The 2012 Kahn Vesuvius Orange Range Rover Sport has also been equipped with the Drive Select rotary gear shift and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Factory options include: Electric glass sunroof, rear view camera, front and rear parking sensors, power folding mirrors, colour satellite navigation, Harman Kardon surround sound iPod.
How about the interior of the vehicle: it is completed with the Kahn LE interior package. The latter consists of bespoke RS front and rear seats in diamond quilted perforated black leather with Vesuvius orange inserts, matching centre arm rest and door tops, carbon fibre interior facia trim, speedo and rev counter in red, diamond gear selector, Churchill time clock with Swarovski diamond bezel, Kahn illuminated sill plates and machined foot pedals.
Furthermore to be mentioned here is that this vehicle rides on 22” Kahn RS wheels finished in the color of customers choice and fitted all original centre caps. With this important addition, now the Vesuvius looks even more elegant and innovative.
Of course the Orange Range Rover is available in petrol and diesel models, both in right hand or left hand drive. The 2012 Kahn Vesuvius Orange Range Rover Sport is available for £73 875.
Prindiville Range Rover Evoque Convertible concept was presented at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. This bold concept builds on the global success of the Evoque and continues Land Rover’s tradition of creating significant vehicles, which deliver luxury and style. In details, the soft-top convertible concept is based on the Range Rover Evoque Coupe. It includes entirely retractable premium roof system with a Roll Over Protection System [ROPS]. Furthermore, the concept combines capability and versatility with a drop down tailgate and a comfortable four seat package. The vehicleretaimns key characteristics from the Land Rover design philosophy, including a command driving position and all-terrain capability. Evoque’s rising waist line and specific shape has been retained. Hence, the new convertible body style has been achieved with minimal changes to weight and torsional rigidity. The hood is housed in a neat tapered finisher with the roof mechanism stowed discretely below the belt-line. Although Range Rover Evoque Convertible Concept was already revealed in Geneva 2012 it is only a design and engineering study. Unfortunately, there is no production plans confirmed.
Prindiville Range Rover Evoque Convertible Concept
Get ready for something new. Although the markets today are flooded with all kinds of SUV’s, Land Rover are going to introduce one that will fascinate the world. Welcome to the Land Rover Evoque Convertible Concept. A world debut is set for the 82nd Geneva Motor Show in no more than two weeks time.
The Convertible Concept is actually a standard Evoque Coupe that has sped through a really, really low bridge and the hard top was scraped clean off the car. Well, it is actually more complicated than that, but it will have the Evoque’s engine lineup – a 2.2-liter diesel with 150bhp or 190bhp, and a 240bhp 2.0-liter petrol unit. That may come as a disappointment for some as it is common knowledge that making a convertible takes some extra weight and strengthening. The soft-top retracting mechanism is neatly snug below the belt-line and the distinctive shape of the original has been preserved to near perfection.
Inside, one still gets a hefty amount of Evoquishness – Terrain Response, surround cameras, Park Assist, an 8-inch dual view touch screen and a Meridian sound system. Predominant colors in the passenger area are Lunar and Ivory while outside, the body work is Causeway Grey metallic, complemented by 21-inch wheels that have a Titan silver finish.
The Evoque Convertible Concept really does look like a bathtub with a windshield but in a sort of a cool way. We really like the uncanny feel that this car radiates and we hope other people like it too. Production is still questionable and most likely the Geneva Show will play a decisive role in the concept’s future. Should the reception turn out positive we might see it in a couple of years on the streets.
“Auto Motor und Sport” is one of the well known automotive magazines in Germany and recently its readers voted the Range Rover Evoque as the most popular import SUV in the country. That is good news for Arden, a tuning house based in Germany that has more than 40 years of experience with British carmakes. Naturally, now they have introduced some enhancements for the Evoque which will give that extra character a good SUV deserves.
In a frontal view, the Arden Evoque makes an impression with its new, handmade, stainless steel mesh grill that has the company’s typical patterns. A party piece further back is the addition of illuminated side stainless steel pipes. They have been specially designed for the Evoque and subsequently they fit perfectly. You can use a remote control to turn them on for that instant glamor and functionality as well – light can come in handy when getting in or out.
Sadly the Arden Evoque won’t be too fit for off-roading for the springs are also of a special kind – the 30mmlower kind – while that might be viewed as a slight disadvantage, it does give the SUV an attractive road stance.
It’s not all shell decorations with the Arden people. The Evoque’s 2.2 Diesel engine has underwent an ECU tweak with an end result of 30 hp more power and 50 Nm additional torque. That may not sound a lot but it will certainly be felt at low and medium engine speeds.
Arden Range Rover EvoqueArden Range Rover EvoqueArden Range Rover Evoque
It has been ten years now since the third generation of Range Rovers was introduced by Land Rover, and to this day, these emblematic SUV’s still dominate the world of luxury, performance and style. To celebrate that fact, the company has released three new editions that further reinforce that superiority – welcome to the TDV8 Westminster, TDV8 Autobiography and Supercharged Autobiography.
Westminster Edition
The Westminster acts as a replacement for the Land Rovers Vogue and Vogue SE. It is a specification that goes further with even more comfort and convenience as standard. A Westminster can be recognized by a set of exterior features such as the front grille and side vents which are finished in bright “Noble” while the lower splitter bar and fog lamp bezels are in ‘Titan’ silver. 20-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels bare the weight of the ‘Westminster’ badge riddled body of the vehicle. Inside, one would find that the tread plates are illuminated in order to complement the feast of luxury that is the interior of the Westminster – Grand Black lacquer trim elements and luxury carpets complete with bright-finished pedal finishers. Range Rover’s innovative Dual View infotainment screen redefines interactivity. Depending on the angle of looking at the screen, people can observe different things on the same monitor at the same time. The front seats can be either heated or cooled electronically which can probably be quite energy consuming. However, that worry fades against the fact that the entertainment system alone comprises of 19 speakers – 1200 Watts of power coming from the harman/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system.
Power comes from a 4.4 TDV8 engine while an 8-speed automatic gearbox takes care of the smooth delivery. The end result is a 309 hp powerhouse that has the a torque figure of 700 N·m (516lb·ft).
Exterior finishes are in a choice of seven with five interior ones as a combination. Equipment is abundant with thing such as: electric sunroof, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, Park Distance Control with rear-view camera, memory setting for the steering wheel, driver’s seat and rear-view mirror and a heated, leather trimmed steering wheel.
TDV8 Autobiography and Supercharged Autobiography
The Autobiography editions share features with the Westminster plus even more exclusivity: The Bumpers are new and integrated stainless steel ornaments the exhaust finishers and side skirts. The 20-inch alloy wheels are in Shadow Chrome. Inside, the rear seats have a recline and lumber adjust function, electric heated/cooling and aircraft-style headrests with wings for added support. Other than that, the Autobiography versions have the same grille and side vents finishes as the Westminster’s, the same illuminated treadplates and the same rocking LOGIC7 surround sound system. The 4.4 TDV8 Engine is also used in the Autobiography but in the Supercharged Autobiography a 5.0-litre LR-V8 petrol unit seems more appropriate (503hp).
To round things up, the Westminster offers more luxury and equipment than the former Vogue and Vogue SE for the price of £69,995 ($110 704). Topping the exclusivity scale however are the TDV8 Autobiography and the Supercharged Autobiography which cost £84,295 ($133 321) and £86,895 (137 433) respectively
As you see this iconic Range Rover received and upgraded appeal from Kahn Design. This was made through the feature of the Cosworth‘s engineering with quintessential British. This Imperial blue Cosworth Range Rover Edition now has even more style, comfort and luxury. It is now boosted with wide vented front and rear wheel arches with integrated LED running lights in the front air dams, brake calipers finished in liquid gold, RS front grille with 3D mesh, exhaust side vents, Cosworth branding, matt pearl grey or matt black paint detailing (door handles), side vents, grille surround and Cosworth machined and vented aluminum foot pedals.
Next to the powerful Cosworth engine enhancement, there is also featured a combination of alterations to the supercharger and ECU programmingq, which are taking effect as an even more rapid Range Rover. In addition the Kahn stainless steel quad exhaust system is centered on a radical design, which reflects an attraction to a pluto-matic lifestyle. The vehicle is completed with a cross hair exhaust feature.
The Cosworth interior package is excellent and done with a lot of attention on the details: great finishes and top end design make it even classier. Cosworth included also in the interior a front and rear seats in diamond quilted perforated black leather with a carbon trim, carbon fibre interior trim, Cosworth speedo in blue, yellow rev counter, diamond gear selector, Churchill time clock with Swarovski diamond bezel and Cosworth door entry sill plates.
Next to be mentioned are those great wheels on which the Rover sits – namely 22″ Kahn RS wheels. The RS wheels are synonymous with elegance and innovation due to their simple clean lines, soft organic surfaces on the edge of the spoke and a purposeful mechanical centre.
VOGTLAND is a company with a long lasting experience in suspension tuning and coil-spring production. Now they have a new product exclusively for vehicles with air-suspension chassis as standard. It is an electric module that basically overrides the function of whatever the air suspension and the user has a more viable access to vehicle height control.
The benefits that can come out of this are in favor of the dynamics. Suspensions can be lowered by up to 40 millimeters and as we all know the lower the center of gravity, the better the handling. Besides it just looks more cooler the lower it gets.
Installation depends on model of the vehicle but it is generally easy and seamless. Just pluging in all the connecting cables to the steering electronics of the on-board power supply will do the trick. The module is 100% compatible with standard equipment so any other systems that the chassis might have, can function without a problem. Deinstallation is just as easy, taking up only minutes of the customer’s time. Various cars, SUV’s and such, made by Audi, Bentley, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen can be fitted with VOGTLAND‘s module in question, For more information you can check out their website at: www.vogtland.com
Another debut today at the 2012 New Delhi Auto Expo has made the Land Rover’s Defender Concept 100 and Defender Concept 100 Sport. These concepts are an attempt for a possible replacement of the iconic model. Moreover they are intended to showcase the potential breath of capability for the future Defender family, capturing the rugged, dependable and adventurous spirit of the original.
Furthermore Defender Concept 100 represents the essential Defender design cues for the 21st century, but a bit modified ad optimized. Such optimizations and modifications include short overhangs for extreme approach and departure angles, vertical panels, an upright windscreen and strong shoulder line for visibility and ease of positioning and Defenders frontal image with its signature round lamps and prominent grille, incorporating a winch. Improvements have been made with the optimised off-road 20-inch alloy wheels shod with Cooper all-terrain tyres. On the other hand the Defender Concept 100 Sport takes all these key design cues and adds to them the spirit of freedom with their fold-down windscreens.
The first and foremost highlight here is the next generation of Land Rover’s Terrain Response System which will optimise the car for any conditions without driver’s pre-selection. Moreover a new Terrain-i System shows an intelligent map of the topography in front of the car and displays it as a 3D visualisation. It also automatically identifies potential difficulties on the road and of course suggests alternative routes. And while driving in urban environments, the same system identifies pedestrians and hazards with great accuracy. Another innovation is the new Wade Aid System which uses sonar sensors mounted in the bumpers and wing mirrors to measure water depth. Additionally Wade Aid will optimise the car for water crossings by closing body vents, raising the ride height, selecting a low gear and advising on the safest speed.
The Land Rover brand is also concerned about the environment and extends the commitment to develop new technologies which will reduce the environmental impact. First of all there is an intelligent Twin-Solenoid Stop/Start System mated to the latest eight-speed automatic gearbox, both of which have been designed with future hybridisation in mind. Secondly, there is the one-of-a-kind Driveline Disconnect System, which sends power to the front-axle only unless conditions demand all-wheel drive. Hence, this systems physically, rather than electronically, decouples the rear-axle to reduce friction losses but can reengage drive almost instantaneously.
If you want to be a green-oriented person, you no longer need to ride a bicycle. Why, because the new Range_e is at hand. The Jaguar Land Rover’s technology concept for a plug-in hybrid diesel-electric powertrain just received the 2011 Award for Automotive Innovation by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). And there are many reasons about this accomplishment. The innovative system was first revealed at the Geneva motor show in March. It has been acclaimed by the auto industry as the most significant achievement of the year and as a great development for the world-wide market.
The first reason for all these achievements is that the Range_e marks the globe as a luxury all-wheel drive vehicle, which is powered by a plug-in hybrid system: equipped both with a 94PS (69kW) electric motor and 14.2kWh lithium-ion battery with Land Rover’s 245PS (180 kW) 3.0-litre TDV6 diesel engine. This fascinating eco-friendly vehicle is based on the Range Rover Sport and what is important it can be driven for more than 20 miles on its electric power creating zero tailpipe emissions(isn’t it stunning). Furthermore, to optimize the CO2 emissions, the diesel hybrid drivetrain takes care about it. Can you even imagine that the overall CO2 output is only 89g/km and all goes with 85mpg fuel economy, while at the same time the system’s combined power of 339PS (249 kW) delivers a top speed of around 193 km/h (120mph). And if you wonder about the battery recharging – it can be accomplished simply and efficiently by connecting the system to an external 240V power source!!!
The award that has been given is sponsored by GKN, was presented to Jaguar Land Rover at the SMMT annual dinner by Norman Baker (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport), and Rob Rickell (GKN Global Engineering Director).
May be you don’t know that the Range_e is one of a number of Land Rover projects supported by the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board. In addition five more prototype models are currently engaged in a test program with Land Rover’s fellow members of the CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emissions Demonstrators – consortium). There’s no doubt that this technology is the future and it is destined to be deployed in production vehicles. For this reason Land Rover is planning an introduction of its first diesel-electric hybrid model in 2013. Stay tuned … and eco!