Land Rover Monthly February 2019

AS I type this I am on a flight back from Kathmandu to London. I’ve just spent a week in Nepal in the company of Miles Chadwick, the founder and CEO of Land Rovers Overland. As it says on the tin, they rent out Land Rovers to those who want to explore this fascinating mountain mecca. To find out how you too can experience an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime Nepalese adventure, make sure you don’t miss my write-up, on page 58. Why not make 2019 your year for exotic and far-flung Land Rover adventures? Land Rovers are more than just the sum total of their bits; the vehicles we love so much can take us to incredible places – and once you get out there you’ll discover that they are driven by…

AS PART of the new Range Rover Evoque’s reveal, world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua teamed up with Land Rover to host an exclusive sparring session in partnership with KOBOX Gym. As well as giving attending VIPs, influencers and customers a little insight into how Anthony trains and stays fit, they were also taught boxing hints and tips to improve their reactions and dynamic performance. Fans can follow the story using #LiveForTheCity or #HelloEvoque or by visiting liveforevoque.com. The three-day Evoque experience in London also saw Jamie Oliver give an exclusive live cooking demonstration after he drove the new vehicle to pick up ingredients to create the city’s best veggie burger, to help highlight how what we buy – even food – impacts the world. As one of the first people…

87-YEAR-OLD DOROTHY Peters enjoyed a literal drive down memory lane when Land Rover took her off-roading in one of the earliest models in existence. Fulfilling a lifelong dream, the retired Land Rover employee got to go off-road in a vehicle she worked with over 70 years ago. In July, 1946, at the age of 15, Solihull-born Dorothy joined the service department at the Lode Lane factory working alongside the first Series Land Rovers to be built at the site. In June this year, Dorothy went to Land Rover’s 70th celebration event in Solihull, with a photograph album of her time working at the plant. Little did she know that one particular picture would trigger a series of events that would reunite her with a very special Series Land Rover –…

AS PART of its £2.5 billion turnaround plan, Jaguar Land Rover is expected to cut up to 5000 jobs next year. After the car manufacturer posted a £90 million loss on the third quarter with a lessening demand for diesel cars, costs associated with Brexit and trade tensions in China, the company will be outlining part of its restructuring plan at the start of 2019, with job losses expected to help deliver cost savings. The news comes on top of JLR announcing that 180 agency workers were being laid off at its Solihull factory at the end of November. In its defence, the car maker said that this decision was linked to a change in shifts, adding: “There is a requirement to review all current head counts and amend accordingly”…

Sales growth in North America offset by downturn in China WITH A total retail sales of 48,160 vehicles in November 2018, Jaguar Land Rover are down 8 per cent year-on-year reflecting continuing consumer uncertainty following tariff changes and trade concerns. But while sales in China were 50.7 per cent lower than a year ago, sales were up by 18.1 per cent in North America thanks to strong demand for Range Rover models. It signifies Jaguar Land Rover’s best-ever November sales results in the market, and this performance was combined with growth in Europe and the UK where they outperformed the market. So, it’s not all bad! JLR awarded for innovation IN WHAT has been some of the gloomiest months for Jaguar Land Rover, it was good to see the carmaker…

IF YOU have almost 60 grand burning a hole in your pocket and want to make what might be a sound investment, then check out this very rare 1958 Land Rover Series II Cuthbertson tracked vehicle. James Archibald Cuthbertson himself was an early manufacturer of rubber tracks, dating back to the Second World War 2. He designed the first endless rubber belt, which led to further developments including half-tracks, the unique ‘water buffalo’ and Land Rover conversions built for farmers who worked in uneven and hostile landscapes. This SII has one of James A Cuthbertson Ltd’s tracked conversions complete with power steering. Each track, fitted in 1958 when the vehicle was new, is 12 inches wide and has 40 steel shoes which drive four wheels on skinny tyres. The modifications…