Category: Jaguar Land Rover

• Expert know-how: Land Rover visits the 4×4 experts at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) global fleet base in Dubai as the next step in the new Defender’s testing programme
• Breadth of capability: New Defender tackles the region’s famous sand dunes and the hairpins of the renowned Jebel Jais highway, which winds its way up the tallest mountain in the UAE
• Renewed relationship: Land Rover and the IFRC have agreed a new three-year global partnership to focus on disaster preparedness and response initiatives
• Established partners: Land Rover has supported the IFRC since 1954 and is proud to work with the world’s largest humanitarian organisation in its centenary year
• See the Defender testing HERE

The new Land Rover Defender has been put through its paces under the watchful eye of all-terrain experts from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in the latest stage of its global testing programme.

The prototype vehicle visited the IFRC global fleet base in Dubai, ahead of its public debut later this year. Land Rover engineers demonstrated the vehicle’s breadth of capability to their IFRC counterparts both on and off road, before the IFRC fleet experts took to the wheel to test the vehicle for themselves on the region’s desert sand dunes. The team also took to the twisty tarmac of Jebel Jais highway, experiencing the assured handling and comfort of the new 4×4 as they wound their way up the tallest mountain in the United Arab Emirates.

The test in Dubai coincides with the renewal of Land Rover’s global partnership with the IFRC – a relationship that dates back 65 years, to 1954, when the first specially adapted Land Rover entered service in the region as a mobile dispensary. This year marks the humanitarian organisation’s centenary as it celebrates ‘100 Years of Hope’. Over the next three years, Land Rover will support disaster preparedness and response initiatives in locations including India, Mexico and Australia.

Ilir Caushaj, IFRC’s Team Lead for Global Fleets and Logistics, said: “The Red Cross supports millions of people in crisis every year, working in almost every country in the world. We operate in some of the most hard-to-reach places on earth, often working in very difficult terrain, so our teams have to be able to cope with anything. That’s why we’re proud to have partnered with Land Rover since 1954, and to be putting their new Defender to the test, as together they help us reach vulnerable communities in crisis, whoever and wherever in the world they are.”

The IFRC fleet experts tested the Defender in soft sand among the rolling dunes of the desert, where the prototype model shrugged off the steep ascents, demanding side slopes and blind crests that characterise off-road driving in the region. With temperatures in excess of 40-degrees, the iconic hairpins of the Jebel Jais highway were the next destination, as the Defender demonstrated its on-road comfort and agile handling, scaling altitudes of nearly 2,000m.

Nick Rogers, Jaguar Land Rover Executive Director Product Engineering, said: “Jaguar Land Rover is proud to support the work of the IFRC. Since 1954 our vehicles have enabled access to remote and vulnerable communities, helping them become more resilient, and we hope the new Defender will maintain this heritage. The dunes of Dubai are the perfect place to confirm that this is the most capable Land Rover ever made. It sits on tyres with an overall diameter of up to 815mm, resulting in a very large contact patch. Coupled with our bespoke traction control system, which monitors and adjusts for a large variety of terrains, this makes the new Defender fantastic on sand and incredibly smooth on road as well.”

The test, which gave IFRC fleet experts the opportunity to experience the new Defender ahead of its world premiere, is the latest step in the new Defender’s development programme. So far, prototype models have covered more than 1.2 million kilometres of testing, including a week-long initiative with wildlife conservation charity Tusk, in Kenya, and a dynamic appearance on the famous hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The new Defender will have its world premiere later this year – register your interest at: www.landrover.co.za/defender

Jaguar Land Rover trials new recycling process to help tackle the world’s plastic waste problem

• Jaguar Land Rover partners with BASF in a pilot research project which aims to tackle the challenges of plastic waste
• ChemCycling project takes plastic waste and recycles it into premium material for potential use in future Jaguar and Land Rover models
• Recycled plastic material is tested on prototype production parts in the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE to ensure it meets Jaguar Land Rover’s exacting quality and safety standards
• Collaboration is a step towards delivering Jaguar Land Rover’s vision for a Destination Zero future

Jaguar Land Rover is trialling an innovative recycling process which converts plastic waste into a new premium grade material that could feature on future vehicles.

It’s estimated that the amount of waste plastic is predicted to exceed 12 million tonnes globally by 2050*. Today, not all of this plastic can be recycled for use in automotive applications – especially in vehicle parts that are required to meet the most exacting safety and quality standards.

Working in conjunction with chemical company, BASF, Jaguar Land Rover is part of a pilot project called ChemCycling that upcycles domestic waste plastic, otherwise destined for landfill or incinerators, into a new high-quality material.

The waste plastic is transformed to pyrolysis oil using a thermochemical process.

This secondary raw material is then fed into BASF’s production chain as a replacement for fossil resources; ultimately producing a new premium grade that replicates the high quality and performance of ‘virgin’ plastics. Importantly, it can be tempered and coloured making it the ideal sustainable solution for designing the next-generation dashboards and exterior-surfaces in Jaguar and Land Rover models.

Jaguar Land Rover and BASF are currently testing the pilot phase material in a Jaguar I-PACE prototype front-end carrier overmoulding to verify it meets the same stringent safety requirements of the existing original part.

Pending the outcome of the trials and progression in taking chemical recycling to market readiness, adoption of the new premium material would mean Jaguar Land Rover could use domestically derived recycled plastic content throughout its cars without any compromise to quality or safety performance**.

Chris Brown, Senior Sustainability Manager at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Plastics are vital to car manufacturing and have proven benefits during their use phase, however, plastic waste remains a major global challenge. Solving this issue requires innovation and joined-up thinking between regulators, manufacturers and suppliers.

“At Jaguar Land Rover, we are proactively increasing recycled content in our products, removing single-use plastics across our operations and reducing excess waste across the product lifecycle. The collaboration with BASF is just one way in which we are advancing our commitment to operating in a circular economy.”

This is the latest example of Jaguar Land Rover’s commitment to addressing the challenge of waste plastic. The company has collaborated with Kvadrat to offer customers alternative seat options that are both luxurious and sustainable.

The high-quality material, available initially on the Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque, combines a durable wool blend with a technical suedecloth that is made from 53 recycled plastic bottles per vehicle.

Jaguar Land Rover has already met its 2020 target for Zero Waste to Landfill for UK operations. This includes the removal of 1.3 million m2 – equal to 187 football pitches – of plastic from its manufacturing lineside and replacing 14 million single use plastic items in business operations.

Together, these efforts are driving towards Jaguar Land Rover’s vision for Destination Zero; an ambition to make societies safer and healthier, and the environment cleaner. Delivered through relentless innovation to adapt its products and services to the rapidly-changing world, the company’s focus is on achieving a future of zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion.

*https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/7/e1700782.full
**All Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles tested have achieved a Euro NCAP 5* rating.
More information about ChemCycling: https://www.basf.com/chemcycling

From “Project Jay” to present day, Land Rover Discovery legacy spans three decades

• Land Rover’s legendary all-terrain SUV celebrates its 30thbirthday in 2019
• Five generations of the ultimate go-anywhere family vehicle
• Celebratory Discovery Landmark Edition due for launch in October
• Watch a video of legendary adventurer Kingsley Holgate’s personal Discovery 2 being passed on through generations HERE

First revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, 1989, Land Rover Discovery celebrates 30 years of all-terrain adventure this year. With five generations, 300 global awards and more than 1.7 million sales under its belt, the Discovery nameplate has proven itself as an icon of capability and versatility for three decades.

The luxurious family adventure vehicle we know today began life as a research project named “Project Jay” in 1986. The study was conceived to develop a vehicle to slot between the robust Defender and more upmarket Range Rover at a time when Land Rover’s lineup comprised only two vehicles.

In August, 1987 Project Jay received approval from the Rover board and two years later the first Discovery made its public debut, in three-door configuration, at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Discovery 1

With a distinct stepped roofline and upper Alpine windows the first Discovery arrived with a fresh take on styling in the SUV segment. Its airy cabin, tiered theater-style seating (with optional sixth and seventh jump seats) and hard-wearing surfaces were targeted at families with an appetite for adventure.

The first Discovery landed in South Africa late in 1991 in a more practical five-door guise. Interestingly, the South African market was the first outside of Europe and the Middle East to introduce this body style.

The South African Rover director at the time was quoted as saying: “This is the only British model to win back, so decisively, a market that had once been lost to the Japanese competition,” in a 1991 issue of SA Car Magazine.

Priced at just under R180 000, the Discovery 1 featured a 3.5-litre V8 petrol engine with 122kW and 287Nm. In 1994 the Discovery gained a more powerful 4.0-litre V8, ABS brakes, dual electric sunroofs and airconditioners and leather upholstery.

With underpinnings based largely on the proven Range Rover, and including full-time four-wheel drive, a two-speed transfer case and locking centre differential, the original Discovery’s off-road pedigree was its strongest selling-point. This was backed up with successes at the Camel Trophy – a rigorous off-road driving competition held in treacherous regions such as Siberia, Burundi, Guyana, Sabah-Malaysia and Mongolia.

Discovery 2

Discovery 2, also known as “Series II” debuted in 1999 and was a more sophisticated evolution of its predecessor. Its design was instantly recognisable with similar proportions and shape, but was in fact 98 per cent new.

Additions for Series II included active suspension with rear air springs and self-levelling functionality. To make it even more off-road capable, the second-generation Discovery also saw new items such as Hill Descent Control (HDC), traction control and electronic brake distribution which were said to render the now deleted locking centre differential redundant.

In 2002 the Discovery underwent a mid-life facelift with new ‘pocketed’ headlights and a revised front bumper that greatly improved front-end ground clearance. Wheels were upped to 18-inches in diameter and interior trimming options were expanded to include a ‘Designer Choice’ style which was also borrowed from the more luxurious Range Rover.

Discovery 3

Revealed in 2004, the third-generation Discovery brought with it several objectives for Land Rover. This vehicle was to set new benchmarks for design, comfort and refinement in the SUV segment, while also increasing on-and off-road performance.

Where the Series II could be considered an evolution of the original, Discovery 3 was indeed an all-new model which introduced new levels of quality and reliability to the Land Rover brand. Out was the traditional ‘body-on-frame’ chassis and in was a higher-tech monocoque design for improved ride and comfort.

Coil springs made way for fully independent air suspension, wheel sizes were upped to 19-inches and fancy features such as premium Navigation and Bluetooth connectivity were included. But it was the introduction of Land Rover’s famed Terrain Response system which represented the largest leap in technical innovation.

Terrain Response took the guesswork out of the up-to-now complex four-wheel drive functionality and offered drivers a simple twist of a knob for preset terrain-based modes including General Driving, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud & Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawl. The system intuitively chose the appropriate vehicle settings for varied surfaces and adjusted gearbox modes, suspension height, diff locks, throttle sensitivity and traction control. Terrain Response is still employed, albeit in more advanced forms, in current Land Rover vehicles.

Discovery 4

October 2009 saw the launch of the Discovery 4 – a modest stylistic upgrade over the third generation but one that brought with it improved dynamics, a new range of efficient engines and far more hi-tech features.

Inside the Discovery 4 gained improved seat designs, LED mood lighting, a TFT instrument cluster, USB ports, revised touch screen functionality and a dedicated iPod input among other niceties. High Beam Assist automatically dipped headlights for oncoming traffic at night, keyless entry and start was added, and a Surround View camera system made its way into Discovery for the first time, allowing drivers to see 360-degrees around the vehicle from the infotainment screen.

In 2014 a minor facelift saw the ‘Land Rover’ lettering across the bonnet changed to ‘Discovery’, and the digit ‘4’ was removed from the tailgate Discovery badge. This deletion foreshadowed the introduction of the next Discovery – which was to completely dismiss numeric references from Discovery’s naming convention.

Discovery

Land Rover’s self-proclaimed ‘Best family SUV in the World’, the All-New Discovery, was introduced to South Africa in July, 2017.

The fifth and current generation Discovery represents a massive jump in style, tech, comfort and capability over its predecessors. Though everyday ingenuity has been at the heart of every Discovery for the past 30 years, the latest signals a transformation from cogs to code in a digital age.

Among a long list of clever technologies is a world-first Intelligent Seat Fold system, allowing owners to reconfigure the second and optional third seating rows using the central touchscreen, controls in the boot, or via smartphone app. The new Discovery features up to nine USB ports, six 12-volt charging points and in-car WiFi hotspot for eight devices.

All three seating rows are available with heated seats – heated and cooled in rows one and two – while massage seats are available for the driver and front passenger. Auto Access Height technology also reduces the ride-height by up to 40mm as passengers prepare to enter or exit the vehicle.

The premium SUV provides up to 2,500 litres load capacity, or up to 1,231 litres behind row two, and a dual-purpose Powered Inner Tailgate provides all the versatility expected from a vehicle wearing the Discovery badge. When raised, the fold-down panel at the leading edge of the load area operates as a practical load restraint, but when lowered the overhang doubles as a useful bench for event seating or changing muddy footwear, all under the shelter provided by the new one-piece tailgate. This simple device replicates the functionality of the horizontally split tailgate fitted to previous generations of Discovery.

Ground clearance is rated at 283mm (up 43mm from Discovery 4) while a maximum wading depth of 900mm (up 200mm) puts Discovery in a class of its own when tackling waterlogged tracks or flooded roads. Land Rover’s latest multi-mode Terrain Response 2 system optimises a range of settings to suit the driving conditions at the turn of a rotary controller – and can even select the optimum setting automatically if drivers are unsure of the best choice.

Discovery Landmark Edition

Due for South African launch in October, the new Discovery Landmark Edition celebrates 30 years of adventuring in a value-packed showcase specification.

Using an already well-appointed Discovery SE as a starting point, the Landmark Edition adds a Dynamic Pack, which includes a more aggressive front bumper and Narvik Black mesh grille and fender vents. Narvik Black nameplate scripting on the bonnet and tailgate is also paired with unique Landmark badging on the tailgate.

Standard equipment includes a fixed panoramic roof, 20-inch Gloss Black wheels, a 380W Meridian Sound System, and a Satin Brushed Aluminium centre console with titanium mesh finishers. The Landmark’s interior is available with a choice of three premium Windsor leather options with contrast micropiping.

The Discovery Landmark Edition will be available in South Africa exclusively with a 190kW/600Nm 3.0-litre TD6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Pricing is set at R1,271,500 and includes a 5-year/150 000km warranty.

Kingsley Holgate

Legendary explorer, humanitarian and global Land Rover brand ambassador Kingsley Holgate has used Discoverys on various expeditions for more than 10 years.

In 2009 Kingsley and his team departed South Africa in a Discovery 3 on a 100-day ‘Boundless Southern Africa Expedition”, to unite nature, culture and communities across the southern part of the continent from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic. The trek covered nine countries, seven Transfrontier Conservation areas and over 30 national parks and game reserves.

Since then Holgate and crew have completed 12 other expeditions with Discoverys including his ‘Journey to Juba’ to celebrate the first Independence Day for South Sudan; “All Afrika” where a Discovery hitched a ride on a C130 transport aircraft to rescue an abused baby chimpanzee named Claude in the Central African Republic; and ‘Extreme East’ to visit war-torn Somalia’s Ras Xaafun – the most easterly point of Africa – to name a few.

Most recently Kingsley and his team successfully took a pair of new Discoverys from Cape Town to Kathmandu. This 17,000km journey took them through Africa, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Pakistan, India and Nepal.  Along the very challenging route they tackled high-altitude 4×4 passes clogged with snow and mud in the high Caucasus Mountains of Georgia close to the Russian border, endured below-freezing temperatures in Armenia, crossed the vast deserts of Iran and ran the gauntlet of military convoys in the dangerous Baluchistan region near the Afghanistan border.

Kingsley Holgate’s personal Land Rover Discovery 2, which was passed down to son Ross years ago, was recently handed over to Ross’s son Tristan making it a genuine Holgate family heirloom. Watch a heartwarming video of the handover here: https://youtu.be/fOacCMHcmdM

• Jaguar Land Rover is developing new AI technology to better understand changes in the driver’s mood while behind the wheel 
• Cabin settings will be altered in response to the driver’s facial expressions to help tackle stress
• Reports suggest 74 per cent of people admit to feeling stressed or overwhelmed every day
• New mood-detection system is one of a suite of technologies Jaguar Land Rover is exploring as part of its ‘tranquil sanctuary’ vision to improve the overall driving experience 
• See a film of the system in action HERE

Jaguar Land Rover is researching new artificial intelligence (AI) technology to understand our state of mind while driving – and adjust cabin settings to improve driver wellbeing.

The technology uses a driver-facing camera and biometric sensing to monitor and evaluate the driver’s mood and adapt a host of cabin features, including the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, media and ambient lighting. The settings will be altered in response to the driver’s facial expressions to help tackle stress. Reports suggest 74 per cent of us admit to feeling stressed or overwhelmed every day*.

The mood-detection system will use the latest AI techniques to continually adapt to nuances in the driver’s facial expressions and implement appropriate settings automatically. In time the system will learn a driver’s preference and make increasingly tailored adjustments.

Personalisation settings could include changing the ambient lighting to calming colours if the system detects the driver is under stress, selecting a favourite playlist if signs of weariness are identified, and lowering the temperature in response to yawning or other signs of tiring.

Jaguar Land Rover is also trialing similar technology for rear passengers, with a camera mounted in the headrest. If the system detects signs of tiredness, it could dim the lights, tint the windows and raise the temperature in the back, to help an occupant get to sleep.

Dr Steve Iley, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Medical Officer, said: “As we move towards a self-driving future, the emphasis for us remains as much on the driver as it ever has. By taking a holistic approach to the individual driver, and implementing much of what we’ve learnt from the advances in research around personal wellbeing over the last 10 or 15 years, we can make sure our customers remain comfortable, engaged and alert behind the wheel in all driving scenarios, even monotonous motorway journeys.”

The new mood–detection system is one of a suite of technologies that Jaguar Land Rover is exploring as part of its ‘tranquil sanctuary’ vision to improve the driving experience. Designed to create a sanctuary inside each of its luxury vehicles, the manufacturer is trialing a wide range of driver and passenger wellbeing features, to ensure occupants are as comfortable as possible whilst ensuring the driver remains mindful, alert and in control.

Mood-detection software is the next-generation of Jaguar Land Rover’s existing driver tracking technology. The Driver Condition Monitor, which is capable of detecting if a driver is starting to feel drowsy and will give an early warning to take a break, is available on all Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.

See a film of the system in action HERE.

* https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/stress-are-we-coping

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

After more than three years in the making, the world’s biggest Jaguar Land Rover EXPERIENCE facility is now open in the heart of Johannesburg’s northern suburbs.

What was once a rustic venue in the middle of a 14-hectare Lonehill veld is now a state-of-the-art lifestyle destination where families are welcome to visit and enjoy the many memorable experiences on offer. A wide variety of activities for any age group are designed to showcase not only the entire range of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, but also the lifestyles that go along with them.

The reception area of the Welcome Centre is divided into two separate brand display zones for Jaguar and Land Rover respectively. Here visitors can get up close and personal with Jaguar Land Rover’s latest products, technology showcases and branded goods ranges. The beauty of the EXPERIENCE Johannesburg facility, however, is that the range can be trialed on a variety of test tracks through a selection of Experience drives.