Month: June 2019

South Africa’s most followed celebrity announced as Jaguar South Africa’s latest Brand Ambassador Minnie Dlamini Jones put to the test by driving instructors at EXPERIENCE Johannesburg and accepts a Jaguar F-PACE SUV handover at Joburg’s newest premium destination.

Popular TV presenter, celebrity and philanthropist Minnie Dlamini Jones has been welcomed to the Jaguar South Africa family as its latest Brand Ambassador.

Minnie, who is well known for her work in girls’ education, STEM development and children’s nutrition, was surprised with a new Jaguar F-PACE shortly after completing a series of driving courses at the new EXPERIENCE Johannesburg facility in Lonehill.

Minnie Dlamini Jones said: “I’ve been a Jaguar fan for ages and now I’m excited to be officially part of the family! I’m thrilled to be associated with a brand I admire, and I’m even more delighted that Jaguar is interested in collaborating with my social responsibility projects.”

In March Dlamini Jones and Jaguar worked together with a nursery school in Khayalethu near Knysna to make the lives of around 80 young learners a little brighter. The partnership saw the delivery of solar light jars, backpacks, activity books and Jaguar water bottles. The children were also treated to lunch and each student received a food pack loaded with nutritious cooking ingredients as part of the Minnie Dlamini Foundation’s partnership with Nutriwell.

Tina Pienaar-Smit, PR and Sponsorship Specialist, Jaguar South Africa, said: “We are inspired by the work that Minnie does to support communities and Jaguar is proud to be part of it. The collaboration of Minnie, her Foundation and Jaguar is a perfect match. We’re looking forward to growing the relationship with such a renowned personality and uncovering exciting projects together.”

Last week Minnie was invited by Jaguar to its new EXPERIENCE Johannesburg facility to complete a series of advanced driving courses led by a team of skilled instructors in an F-PACE SUV. The celebrity was taught the importance of ABS braking and stability control systems on the EXPERIENCE skidpan with practical demonstrations on a wet surface. Shortly after completion of her courses Minnie was presented with a set of keys to brand-new Jaguar F-PACE R-Sport in Polaris White.

Follow Minnie Dlamini Jones on Twitter @MinnieDlamini and on Instagram @minniedlamini.

 

 

• Tougher than ever: Specially camouflaged Defender prototype was used by wildlife managers to support conservation operations across the 14,000-hectare Borana Conservancy
• Unstoppable capability: New Defender was put to the test towing supplies in support of operations and fording rivers while tracking prides of lion
• Trusted partners: Land Rover has been an official partner of wildlife conservation charity, Tusk, for 15 years and 2019 is its Year of the Lion, to highlight declining lion numbers in Africa
• Captured on film: Watch the new Defender on test HERE

Pretoria, 4 June 2019 – The new Land Rover Defender has moved a step closer to production after successfully completing a demanding testing program with Tusk in Kenya, in support of their lion conservation initiatives in Africa.

A prototype Defender fitted with an integrated raised air intake and wearing a unique camouflage, which was specially devised for the surroundings, supported operations at the 14,000-hectare Borana Conservancy, tracking radio collared lions and transporting supplies.

The unique test programme gave Tusk operatives a chance to put the new Defender through a series of real-world tests as wildlife managers forded rivers, pulled heavily loaded trailers and negotiated challenging terrain. The prototype model was even used to help replace the inoperative tracking collar fitted to a male lion, which was sedated at close range from the security of the new Defender.

The Borana Conservancy is home to flat plains, deeply rutted tracks, steep rocky inclines and muddy river banks, giving the new Defender a chance to showcase its unrivalled breadth of capability.

Nick Collins, Vehicle Line Director, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “‘We are now in the advanced stages of the new Defender’s testing and development phase. Working with our partners at Tusk in Kenya enabled us to gather valuable performance data. The Borana reserve features a wide range of challenging environments, making it a perfect place to test to the extreme the all-terrain attributes of the new Defender.”

Land Rover has been an official partner of Tusk for 15 years and the Defender was put to work at the Borana Conservancy to support its lion conservation program, to highlight the critical situation faced by lions across Africa. Three-quarters of lion populations on the continent are in decline and black and white rhinos now outnumber the big cat in Africa. Fewer than 20,000 lions survive in the wild globally – a figure that has declined from 200,000 over the last century.

Charles Mayhew MBE, Chief Executive, Tusk said: “This year marks Tusk’s Year of the Lion. Our aim is to raise awareness of the alarming decline in lion populations across Africa. Fortunately, within the Borana Conservancy, there are a number of prides of lion and tracking and monitoring their movements across this vast and tough environment is vital in order to protect them and reduce any conflict with neighbouring communities. The new Defender took everything in its stride, from deep river wading to climbing rocky trails.”

The overall initiative was supported by Jaguar Land Rover’s worldwide logistical partner and supporter of Tusk, DHL to help celebrate 2019 as Tusk’s Year of the Lion.

The new Land Rover Defender will make its world premiere later this year but you can register your interest early at: www.landrover.co.za/defender