Land Rover News Bulletin - 10 May 2010

GAYDON, UNITED KINGDOM – May 11, 2010:

Land Rover Sales Continue To Grow
The positive sales trend continues for Land Rover globally with sales up 29.7% for April and 35.2% year to date. Land Rover UK sees its eighth consecutive month of improvement up 54% for April and 61% year to date, ahead of the rest of the sector.

The overall upward trend continues in nearly all global Land Rover markets. Most notable are USA up 34.6% with 2,749 units, China up 124.8% with over 2000 units and France up 131.9%.

Phil Popham, Land Rover managing director commented: "The investment in and the success of the latest 2010 model range, including comprehensive exterior, interior, powertrain and technology improvements, are integral to driving this momentum. Demand is, in fact, so strong that we have just announced 275 new jobs at the Company’s manufacturing plant in Solihull."

Land Rover manufactures Defender, Discovery 4, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover at the Solihull factory

Land Rover Discovery 4 Wins Best 4x4 Category At The Diesel Car, Car Of The Year Awards 2010
Land Rover's Discovery 4 has been named 'Best 4x4' at the annual Diesel Car, Car of the Year Awards 2010, beating the Freelander 2 and the Range Rover to the top spot.

Ian Robertson, editor of Diesel Car Magazine said: "We offer no apologies for an all Land Rover line-up as finalists in this category, as the British firm's 2010 range is simply the best ever. The Discovery 4 has always been unbeatable off-road, and now it has the on-road ace to match, with decent road manners and top notch refinement. There's even enough room for seven full size adults on-board - and there aren't many vehicles that can cope with that."

The Discovery 4 is a supremely versatile seven-seat vehicle which now comes with a powerful and highly efficient TDV6 3.0-litre twin turbo diesel engine. The new engine delivers a nine percent fuel economy improvement (EU combined cycle) and ten percent* less CO2 emissions, at the same time as increasing power by 29%, compared with the outgoing 2.7-litre engine.

Together with a new fresh exterior identity and a more premium cabin, the class-leading breadth of capability of the Discovery 4 has now been extended even further with greater dynamic improvements for both on-road and off-road driving and a host of user-friendly technologies.

John Edwards, managing director for Land Rover UK added: “The outgoing Discovery 3 received over 100 international awards, and yet we've found ways to improve virtually every aspect of the new vehicle. It is therefore extremely rewarding for Land Rover to have received the one-two-three and recognition that that the best has just got better!"

Engineer Responsible For First Land Rover Makes Surprise Visit To Britain
Arthur Goddard, who led the engineering team that developed the original Land Rover, has returned to Britain to celebrate the iconic 4x4 vehicle’s 62nd birthday.

The 89-year old, who is still chief engineer of his family’s Australian-based trailer firm, last week visited Land Rover’s design headquarters, Solihull factory – his first visit for 55 years –and was also guest of honour at the special 62nd birthday party at Gaydon organised over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend.

‘Solihull is unrecognisable from the factory I left in 1955,’ says Arthur. ‘Seeing the Defender coming down the production line however did bring back memories. It’s astonishing that a vehicle that was really developed as a “stop gap” should continue to be so successful, and has given birth to a thriving 4x4 company.’

Arthur joined Rover in 1945, initially to help develop a new tank engine. Once the war ended, the 24-year old was moved onto car engines. Soon after, in Easter 1947, Maurice Wilks had his brainwave for a pioneering all-terrain vehicle – the Land Rover.

Arthur’s responsibility was to design and to develop the vehicle, for production. Working under him were such Land Rover legends as Tom Barton and Frank Shaw (transmission), Gordon Bashford (chassis), Joe Drinkwater (engine) and Sam Ostler (body design).

Land Rover Employees Raise Funds For Red Cross Appeal Week
This week, Land Rover employees have been promoting Red Cross Appeal Week throughout the Company's sites in the West Midlands, to help raise funds for the volunteer-led humanitarian organisation.

Employees were encouraged to get involved in a number of fund raising activities including a sponsored 'rowathon', raffle, clothes donations, first aid training, shuttle bus donations and a Krispy Kreme doughnut sale.

Funds of over £3,500 were raised which will be donated to the British Red Cross for initiatives that will reach vulnerable people in the local community and throughout the UK.