Having been around for 75 years, Land Rover is a brand name that is recognisable all over the world. Its original Defender model had a highly recognisable shape which is embedded in the brand’s design DNA. It is associated with 4×4 vehicles in the same way as Jeep and in fact, spread further around the world than the American brand.
In spite having periods of difficulty at different times in its history, Land Rover soldiered on like the tough vehicles it has produced. Although it can lay claim to having given the world the first premium SUV – the Range Rover – back in 1970, it only truly entered the premium segment when the 21st century began.
The success of the Range Rover in the premium segment led to the company establishing its name as a brand on its own around 10 years ago. The Range Rover brand would be for the premium models while Land Rover would be for models like the Freelander, Discovery and Defender.
Following the move by Jaguar Land Rover (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (JLRM), a joint venture between SISMA Auto and Sime Darby, to consolidate its retail operations in Malaysia, SISMA Auto has announced the opening of SISMA Auto Hub, a new premium multi-brand 3S centre to buy, sell or service any brand of luxury car.
Located at the former Jaguar Land Rover 3S centre in Glenmarie, Shah Alam, Selangor, the new SISMA Auto Hub Glenmarie has a 14-car showroom and a 16-workbay service centre.
While SISMA Auto still retains significant interest in the Jaguar Land Rover business as a joint venture partner in JLRM, it now plans to leverage its more than 25 years as a franchise dealer for Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo to offer the same premium 3S experience for any brand of luxury car.
Continuing to grow
The company aims to continue to grow with the Volvo Cars brand in Malaysia and has started construction of its flagship Volvo 3S facility in Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur. The 50,000 square foot facility spread over 4 floors, represents a significant expansion of SISMA Auto’s Volvo business. It is expected to commence operations by the end of 2022.
Aside from Jaguar Land Rover (Malaysia) and SISMA Auto Hub, the company currently operates two Volvo outlets – a sales showcase atBukit Bintang and Service and Selekt Centre in a Glenmarie, next to the SISMA Auto Hub.
“We believe that a premium 3S experience should be available to all luxury car owners. At SISMA Auto Hub, our highly trained team will provide the same level of exceptional service that you have come to expect from SISMA Auto,” said Syed Khalil bin Syed Ibrahim, Managing Director of SISMA Auto.
Bowler Motors, an off-road performance vehicle specialist in the UK, has developed a Land Rover Defender rallycar that will compete in its own championship in 2022. Known as The Bowler Defender Challenge, it will consist of seven events in the UK, the first of which is scheduled to be in March.
There are 12 entries available for the one-make series, with each team competing in identical Bowler-prepared Defenders. For those with limited experience or none, the company can offer training and support to gain the necessary licence before moving directly to the series. The Challenge has been an ideal platform on which to gain motorsport know-how before joining other Bowlers and competing in rally-raid events across the globe.
For 2022 and beyond, the Challenge will continue to focus on delivering a fun environment that fosters the development of driving and competition skills yet retains the involving, engaging feel of a real motorsport family.
Defender 90 model used
Bowler will prepare the rallycars using the Defender 90 with a 300 ps Ingenium 2-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Each vehicle will be completely stripped back to install a full FIA-standard roll cage. The front and rear subframes are modified and given additional bracing for a new bespoke performance suspension set-up. Designed in collaboration with Fox, it increases the ride height by 25 mm. In place of the standard wheels are Bowler rally-spec 18-inch wheels.
Bowler’s engineers will add a suite of electronic components, from fire protection and electrical cut-offs to additional lighting and vehicle control systems – all integrated with the existing electrical architecture. Competition racing seats are also installed and the gear selector is repositioned for the optimal racing position. Additionally, Bowler-developed column-mounted paddle shifts will provide quicker shifting action.
Strengthened structure
During the conversion, the engineers subtly modify and stiffen the already rigid Defender bodyshell to cope with the extreme conditions of off-road competition. The standard doors are trimmed to remove the sill covering section, which allows the fitment of full-length, side-to-side underbody protection panels. A modified front end increases airflow to the cooling system and houses additional race-level lighting
Packages for the 2022 Challenge will start at £99,500 (about RM574,500) which the vehicle. Options include training, series logistics and vehicle support and customers can also choose from a range of accessories developed as part of this programme .
“The development of the new Bowler Defender Challenge rallycar perfectly illustrates the mutual benefits of Bowler joining Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. Our technical support married to Bowler’s legendary rally expertise has turned the extraordinarily capable Defender into a purposeful competition machine,” said Michael van der Sande, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations which has owned the Bowler business since 2019.
Incidentally, for those who are interested in getting a new Defender, we hear that Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia will make the model available in the near future. To register your interest, visit www.landrover.com.my.
Latest Land Rover Defender, soon to be available in Malaysia.
Aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2039, in line with the Reimagine strategy announced last month, Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) aim includes zero tailpipe emissions from its vehicles by 2036. This means that internal combustion engines will no longer be used. Electrical power is the most viable solution for future powertrains as they will have zero emissions, and JLR is developing various prototypes.
Fuel cells, spin-offs from the space program, are being considered by a number of manufacturers, some of whom already have commercialised fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). JLR is also looking to use a hydrogen fuel cell and is developing a prototype FCEV based on the latest Land Rover Defender.
Advantages of hydrogen FCEV
FCEVs, which generate electricity from hydrogen to power an electric motor, are complimentary to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on the journey to net zero vehicle emissions. Hydrogen-powered FCEVs provide high energy density and rapid refuelling, and minimal loss of range in low temperatures, making the technology ideal for larger, longer-range vehicles, or those operated in hot or cold environments.
Since 2018, the global number of FCEVs on the road has nearly doubled while hydrogen refuelling stations have increased by more than 20%. By 2030, forecasts predict hydrogen-powered FCEV deployment could top 10 million with 10,000 refuelling stations worldwide.
JLR’s advanced engineering project, known as Project Zeus, is partly funded by the government-backed Advanced Propulsion Centre, and will allow engineers to understand how a hydrogen powertrain can be optimised to deliver the performance and capability expected by its customers: from range to refuelling, and towing to off-road ability.
The Defender’s platform, which can accommodate combustion engines as well as hybrid powertrains, is also being used for the development of a fuel cell electric vehicle.
The project also has other partners involved such as Delta Motorsport, AVL, Marelli Automotive Systems and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) to research, develop and create the prototype FCEV with testing scheduled to begin this year. The testing, in the UK, will verify key attributes such as off-road capability and fuel consumption.
“We know hydrogen has a role to play in the future powertrain mix across the whole transport industry, and alongside battery electric vehicles, it offers another zero tailpipe emission solution for the specific capabilities and requirements of Jaguar Land Rover’s world class line-up of vehicles. The work done alongside our partners in Project Zeus will help us on our journey to become a net zero carbon business by 2039, as we prepare for the next generation of zero tailpipe emissions vehicles,” said Ralph Clague, Head of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells for Jaguar Land Rover.
A Land Rover factory in the UK.
Producton facilities are carbon neutral
JLR was the first UK automotive manufacturer to have met the internationally recognised PAS 2060 standard for carbon neutrality across its vehicle manufacturing assembly operations and product development sites. In January last year, its facilities completed a second consecutive year being certified as carbon-neutral by the Carbon Trust. Together, these sites represent 77% of JLR’S global vehicle production.
The Carbon Trust re-certification is part of the carmaker’s journey to ‘Destination Zero’, after it was originally achieved two years ahead of a commitment to operate carbon-neutral UK manufacturing by 2020.
The designs of motor vehicles are proprietary, and manufacturers typically protect them from being copied by other companies. Occasionally, there are court cases when a company introduces its model which looks rather similar and sometimes the original manufacturer wins, or might not. Of course, not all models are copied and it is those with an iconic design that some unethical companies may try to duplicate, believing that they could achieve similar success with their model.
The design of the original Land Rover Defender would be such an example and though Land Rover has come out with a totally new model, the classic shape of the original still appeals to some people. Bowler, a company in England, believes there is enough demand for it to produce vehicles using the classic Defender shape and has obtained permission from Land Rover to do so.
Project CSP 575
It is the next phase of development for Bowler, which makes all-terrain performance cars and rally raid vehicles. With the agreement, the company can develop a new family of high-performance models which will supplement the ongoing motorsport developments that are the foundation of Bowler’s past, present and future plans.
The project is codenamed ‘CSP 575’ and will see a new road-going vehicle with Bowler’s own rally-proven CSP high-strength steel chassis. Onto it will go Defender 110 Station Wagon body panels – made of aluminium alloy like the original – and Land Rover’s 575-ps supercharged V8 engine as well.
Competition-inspired
Initial renders of the planned 4×4 provide a glimpse of the rally-derived model, which will be the first new Bowler since 2016. Full details will be revealed early next year, but the competition-inspired off-roader promises to combine potent performance and motorsport-honed durability in a classic Defender 110 Station Wagon shape capable of accommodating four passengers.
Founded in 1985, Bowler pioneered the production of dedicated off-road competition cars in the UK. It became a subsidiary of Jaguar Land Rover at the end of 2019 and its expertise has been utilised in for a number of projects as part of Special Vehicle Operations.
Bowler customers are already benefitting from this relationship as Land Rover SV engineers are helping develop Bowler vehicles and using their engineering expertise to test Bowler products at Special Vehicle Operations’ world-class facilities.
The classic Defender (left) and the latest all-new model on the right.
Land Rover’s decision to issue Bowler with a licence agreement to build vehicles using the classic Defender shape is a natural progression of this relationship and the new stationwagon project represents a unique undertaking. It integrates the technology, components and engineering underpinning Land Rover’s Special Vehicle products with Bowler’s motorsports expertise and experience.
“We’re excited to announce the first major project since our acquisition of Bowler. The ‘CSP 575’ will combine Supercharged V8 performance and 4-seat practicality with Bowler’s rally raid-proven CSP platform, broadening the appeal of the brand. This high-performance road-going model will sit alongside Bowler’s evolving range of rally raid models, which continue to enjoy success in the world’s toughest motorsport events,” said Michael van der Sande, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations.
Bowler specialises in developing vehicles for off-road competition and also provides support services.
The new model will be manufactured in very small quantities at Bowler’s own facilities by the same engineers and technicians producing its competition 4x4s. Bowler will be marketing the model to customers in the UK, select European and overseas markets, with an indicative pricing to be around £200,000 (about RM1.086 million at current exchange rates).
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on changes to many different aspects of life to fight the coronavirus. One of the important measures is the reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses, which can be on the many surfaces we come in contact with. Researchers are also beginning to find that the viruses can float in the air for a while too.
For the auto industry, urgent work has been carried out to develop systems and switch to materials that can help in the fight against bacteria and viruses. The latest development is from Jaguar Land Rover which, together with the University of Cambridge, has a new contactless touchscreen technology. This will also help keep drivers’ eyes on the road, improving motoring safety.
The patented technology, known as ‛predictive touch’, uses artificial intelligence and sensors to predict a user’s intended target on the touchscreen – whether that’s satellite navigation, temperature controls or entertainment settings – without actually touching a button.
The pioneering system, developed with engineers at the University of Cambridge, is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s ‘Destination Zero’ vision – a desire to make its vehicles safer and the environment cleaner and healthier.
In the ‘new normal’ once lockdowns around the world are lifted, a greater emphasis will be placed on safe, clean mobility where personal space and hygiene will carry premiums. Jaguar Land Rover vehicles are already designed to help improve passenger wellbeing, with innovations including a Driver Condition Monitor, engine noise cancellation and cabin air ionisation with PM2.5 filtration to capture ultrafine particles and allergens.
New technology like predictive touch is another step forward in addressing the wider landscape of mobility, from how customers connect with mobility services, to the infrastructure required to enable fully integrated, autonomous vehicles in cities.
Lab tests and on-road trials have shown the predictive touch technology could reduce a driver’s touchscreen interaction effort and time by up to 50%. At the same time, this will limit the spread of bacteria and viruses from the touchscreen surface to fingers.
Uneven or poor road surfaces can often cause vibrations that make it difficult to select the correct button on a touchscreen. This means drivers must take their attention away from the road, increasing the risk of an accident. The technology uses artificial intelligence to determine the item the user intends to select on the screen early in the pointing task, speeding up the interaction.
A gesture tracker uses vision-based or radio frequency-based sensors, which are increasingly common in consumer electronics, to combine contextual information such as user profile, interface design and environmental conditions with data available from other sensors, such as an eye-gaze tracker, to infer the user’s intent in real time.
Existing displays need not be replaced as the technology is a software-based solution using artificial intelligence.
This software-based solution for contactless interactions has reached high technology readiness levels. It can be seamlessly integrated into existing touchscreens and interactive displays, so long as the correct sensory data is available to support the machine learning algorithm. This means that existing systems do not need to change, keeping costs down.
“As countries around the world exit lockdown, we notice how many everyday consumer transactions are conducted using touchscreens: railway or cinema tickets, ATMs, airport check-ins and supermarket self-service checkouts, as well as many industrial and manufacturing applications. Predictive touch technology eliminates the need to touch an interactive display and could therefore reduce the risk of spreading bacteria or viruses on surfaces,” said Lee Skrypchuk, Human Machine Interface Technical Specialist at Jaguar Land Rover.
“The technology also offers us the chance to make vehicles safer by reducing the cognitive load on drivers and increasing the amount of time they can spend focused on the road ahead. This is a key part of our Destination Zero journey.”
When you have been selling a vehicle that is engineered to be as durable and reliable as possible to be driven anywhere on the planet, it’s probably unnecessary to change it frequently. Especially for many of the customers who buy it, the fundamental design and construction remains good enough for their needs. But there still comes a point in time when the original design is just ‘too old’ and the world has changed too much, so it’s time to retire. That’s probably what happened with Land Rover’s Defender, which was produced for 67 years up till 2016 (although the Defender name only came into prominence in 1990).
Over 67 years, the vehicle evolved and met changing demands while remaining true to its ‘Best4x4ByFar’ promise. Armed forces loved it and so did adventurers, wealthy farmers and celebrities. Like the Mini, it was the sort of vehicle that was acceptable at every strata of society, though in different forms.
Now, 3 years after the last Defender was given its farewell at the Solihull factory, where the vehicles have always been built, Land Rover has revealed an all-new successor at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new 4×4 made its first appearance by descending an extreme 42-degree incline at the show – a feat broadcasted live to a global audience of eager fans.
The unstoppable New Defender is the most capable and durable Land Rover vehicle ever made, it is claimed, and its debut in Frankfurt marked the end of its first adventure, to the Valley of the Castles in the Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan – one of the most land-locked places on earth.
An icon reimagined
A distinctive silhouette makes the new Defender instantly recognizable, with minimal front and rear overhangs providing excellent approach and departure angles. Gerry McGovern, Chief Design Officer at Land Rover and ‘Guardian of Land Rover DNA’ said: “The new Defender is respectful of its past but is not harnessed by it. This is a new Defender for a new age. Its unique personality is accentuated by its distinctive silhouette and optimum proportions, which make it both highly desirable and seriously capable – a visually compelling 4×4 that wears its design and engineering integrity with uncompromised commitment.”
“The new Defender is respectful of its past but is not harnessed by it. This is a new Defender for a new age.”
Gerry McGovern, Chief Design Officer, Land Rover
The range will have 5 variants – Defender, S, SE, HSE, First Edition and top-of-the-range Defender X. Depending on market, customers will be able to personalize their vehicle in more ways than any previous Land Rover vehicle, with 4 Accessory Packs. The Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban packs each give the Defender a distinct character to help owners to make the most of their world. Exclusive First Edition models featuring unique specification will be available throughout the first year of production.
The New Defender completes the Land Rover dynasty and will be available in 90 and 110 bodystyles, with up to 6 seats in the 90 and the option of 5, 6 or 5+2 seating in the 110.
Switch to monocoque construction
Departing from past construction, Land Rover’s new purpose-engineered D7x (for extreme) architecture is based on a lightweight aluminium monocoque construction to create the stiffest body structure the brand has ever produced. Three times stiffer than traditional body-on-frame designs, it has been engineered to withstand Land Rover’s Extreme Event Test procedures and provides the perfect foundations for the fully independent air or coil-sprung suspension while supporting the latest electrified powertrains.
Although hybrids will grow in importance, Land Rover will continue to offer a choice of advanced petrol and cleaner diesel engines in markets where conventional internal combustion engines continue to be needed. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain will join the range next year providing the prospect of EV-only progress.
Permanent 4×4 will still be standard, of course, with a twin-speed automatic gearbox. The Defender is also the first Land Rover to feature Configurable Terrain Response, which allows drivers to fine-tune a range of settings to suit the conditions more precisely than ever before. A new Wade program optimizes the vehicle for fording – giving customers even more confidence when tackling flooded roads and tracks with a world-class maximum wading depth of up to 900 mm.
21st century technologies
Inside, the highly functional cabin design is marked out by exposed structural elements and 21st century technologies, including the state-of-the-art new Pivi Pro infotainment system. The next-generation touchscreen is more intuitive and user-friendly, requiring fewer inputs to perform frequently used tasks, while its always-on design guarantees almost instant responses. In addition, Software-Over-The-Air technology, with 14 individual modules capable of receiving remote updates, ensures Defender customers always benefit from the latest software, wherever they are in the world.
“We’ve embraced the Defender’s stunning capability and minimalistic, functional interior to reinvent the icon for the 21st century. The New Defender gives us the licence to do things differently, to push the boundaries and do the unthinkable, without ever losing the character and authenticity of the original. From the start, we had an absolute obsession with functionality beneath the skin, from choosing the right materials through to state of the art connectivity. The result is not only the most capable Land Rover ever made, but also a truly comfortable, modern vehicle that people will love to drive,” said Nick Rogers, Executive Director, Product Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover.
Depending on specifications, the New Defender will have prices starting from around £40,000 (about RM206,000) when sales start in the fourth quarter of this year. While Land Rovers were once assembled in Malaysia, sufficient numbers are needed to justify the investment for local assembly and it is unlikely that the numbers will be right. So, as with the rest of the Land Rover range, the vehicles will have to be imported from the UK in CBU form, which means higher duties imposed.
The all-new Land Rover Defender will have its world premiere later this year. In the past, when Land Rover was developing its new models, it would do most of the real-world testing on its own, using its own experienced personnel. Perhaps that was partly to keep details of the new model under wraps till launch.
These days, however, the carmaker must find it also useful to let outside parties check out prototypes. This is especially so if the outside parties operate in extreme conditions and have specific requirements for the transport vehicles.
One such organisation is the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) which was visited by the team carrying out the latest stage of its global testing programme of the new Defender.
IFRC fleet experts put new Defender to the test
A prototype vehicle visited the IFRC global fleet base in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Land Rover engineers demonstrated the vehicle’s breadth of capability to their IFRC counterparts both on and off road. Then the IFRC fleet experts took to the wheel to test the vehicle for themselves on the region’s desert sand dunes and the twisty tarmac of Jebel Jais highway in temperatures over 40 degrees C. The Defender also climbed the tallest mounting in the UAE and reached an altitude of nearly 2,000 metres.
The dunes around Dubai were 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 815 mm, resulting in a very large contact patch. Coupled with a bespoke traction control system, which monitors and adjusts for a large variety of terrain, this makes the new Defender highly capable on sand and incredibly smooth on road as well.
Global partnership since 1954
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.
“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,” said Ilir Caushaj, the IFRC’s Team Lead For Global Fleets And Logistics.
The session with the IFRC fleet experts complements the global testing programme which has seen prototypes covering more than 1.2 million kilometres in all kinds of conditions. Various activities have also been arranged to give the public a sneak preview of the vehicle, including a dynamic appearance at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.
The idea that going for a drive is a pleasurable experience isn’t always true. Much of the time, traffic conditions cause frustration and instead create stress. An unexpected jam due to roadworks or an accident can completely change the cheerful mood of a relaxing Sunday drive. One study suggests that 74% of us admit to feeling stressed or overwhelmed every day.
Understanding that this is not just unhealthy (bad for the heart) but can also have an effect on safety, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is researching new artificial intelligence (AI) technology to understand our state of mind while driving – and adjust cabin settings to improve driver wellbeing.
Monitoring the driver’s mood
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.
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.
Rear passengers can benefit too
JLR is also evaluating 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.
The new mood–detection system is one of a suite of technologies that JLR 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 company is exploring 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 already available on all Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.
Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia has just rolled out the 3.0L R-Dynamic variant of the Range Rover Velar for local motoring enthusiasts who want to experience more power in their drive while enjoying the “modernity and elegance” that this luxurious mid-sized SUV has to offer. Priced at RM722,787, this variant is now available at all LR showrooms nationwide.
The P380 Supercharged V6 petrol engine, this variant offers exhilarating performance that enables the Velar to reach 100km/h in only 5.7 seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. The exhaust note has been enhanced to produce a deep powerful note that is sweet sounding to match the refined cabin.
The Velar is known for its exquisite cabin which uses premium and luxury materials to reflect extravagance. The instrument panel’s strong, horizontal beam is the defining element of the Velar’s interior architecture while the slender air vents reinforce the Velar’s reductive, technology-enabled design. The seats are covered with perforated leather combined with Kvadrat’s* luxurious fabric for an opulent plush.
*Only available with the Premium Textile Interior Pack.
More on the Range Rover Velar 3.0…
Pioneering consumer technologies such as the flush deployable door handles and the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system are among the advanced features of the Velar. The Touch Pro Duo features two 10-inch high-definition touchscreens integrated seamlessly behind secret-until-lit surfaces. These slim, intuitive displays work in harmony with the cabin architecture while adding an overall sense of modernity to the vehicle’s design.
The flush deployable door handles are a futuristic feature and deploy when the vehicle is unlocked and retract once the vehicle is locked. The door handle design contributes to the low drag coefficient. At only 0.32, it is the most aerodynamically-efficient Land Rover ever produced. Another great feature that adds to the aesthetics of the Velar is the Matrix LED Headlights, one of the most slender headlights to appear on a Land Rover vehicle. These boldly designed headlights produce a quality of light close to daylight, giving excellent illumination and reducing eye fatigue.
The Velar’s body is built with aluminium-intensive monocoque using Jaguar Land Rover’s Lightweight Aluminium Architecture. Aluminium alloys account for more than 81 percent of the body-in-white – a figure no competitor can match. Its light, stiff, aluminium-intensive body, together with double-wishbone front and Integral Link rear suspension provides the perfect basis for agile handling, superior ride comfort and outstanding refinement. It also delivers exceptional levels of crash protection that the Velar has been developed to meet.
It is also one of the safest vehicles due to its comprehensive safety system that includes six airbags and a suite of technology advanced driver assistance system. The Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go and Emergency Braking system that is equipped in the Velar adds on to the driver’s convenience when cruising on the highway or driving in traffic. The ACC maintains a set cruising speed, and a driver-selectable gap to the vehicle in front. The technology ensures that the vehicle will come to a complete stop when the vehicle in front does.
The radar-based High-Speed Emergency Braking technology increases the capacity and speed at which Emergency Braking is able to function, operating between 10-160km/h. If the radar detects an imminent collision, it will sound an audible alert to the driver and, if the driver doesn’t take any avoiding action, the vehicle will brake in order to mitigate a collision.
The 3.0L Velar features a sophisticated all-wheel drive system, four-corner air suspension, class-leading ground clearance of 251mm, class-leading wading depth of 650mm. The air suspension’s ride height drops by 10mm when cruising at speeds above 105km/h to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve fuel efficiency.
Designed and engineered at Jaguar Land Rover’s development centres in the UK, the Velar is manufactured at the company’s Solihull production facility.
The Velar is recognised globally and locally as one of the best SUVs of 2018. Among its recent awards include the Premium Large SUV of Malaysia by the 2018 Cars of Malaysia Aurizn Awards and Best Large-size Luxury SUV/Crossover by Star Carsifu Editor’s Choice Awards 2018.
All vehicles distributed by Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia are compatible with the Malaysian climate, environment, fuel quality and meet the Malaysian emission standard. All Land Rover vehicles distributed by authorised dealers also come with the Land Rover Care programme which includes a five-year warranty, five-year free service and three-year roadside assistance. Visit www.landrover.com.my for more information.
