News & Events

Land Rover: Celebrating 60 Years And Going Strong

60 years have passed since a motoring icon made its public debut, when the original Land Rover was shown at a motor show in Amsterdam, on April 30, 1948. The current Defender is clearly descended from that first vehicle, now known as a Series 1. Extraordinarily, they even share a couple of original parts, an oil filler plug and a cleat for tying down the canvas roof. But the rest of the vehicle technology has moved on considerably.

Today, Land Rover goes from strength-to-strength, with a five-model line-up headed by the Range Rover, and record global sales of over 226,000 vehicles in 2007.

The company recently received an early birthday present, in the form of two Queen's Awards for Enterprise. The first, for 'International Trade', was given in recognition of export sales of nearly £4 billion per annum to 147 countries, with markets such as China and Russia driving major growth. The second, for 'Innovation', was awarded for Land Rover's acclaimed Terrain Response system. At the twist of a knob, this sets up the vehicle's engine response and traction systems to maximise performance on all terrains - the electronic equivalent of having an expert instructor alongside the driver.

Around the world, Land Rover will be celebrating its 60th anniversary year throughout the summer with a series of special activities and events

Phil Popham, Land Rover's Managing Director, commented, "Land Rover's history is a long and illustrious one - and the future is just as exciting. We are committed to maintaining our relevance and meeting the needs of our customers in a changing global environment. Earlier this year, we unveiled a glimpse into our possible future - the diesel hybrid LRX cross-coupe concept. This signals that Land Rover will continue to evolve, with capability, premium values and sustainable motoring at the top of the agenda."

Land Rover Historical Timeline

1948 LAND ROVER SERIES I The iconic British 4x4 makes its debut at the
Amsterdam Motor Show
1949 ARMY EDITION British Army orders its first Land Rovers
1953 Long-wheelbase version introduced
1958 LAND ROVER SERIES II UNVEILED
1966 500,000th Land Rover
1970 RANGE ROVER Land Rover's versatile model launched in two-door
format
1971 LAND ROVER SERIES III LAUNCHED
1976 Millionth Land Rover built in June
1982 Four-door Range Rover introduced
1989 DISCOVERY Third Land Rover model launched
1990 DEFENDER Original `Land Rover' relaunched and renamed
1992 2ND GENERATION RANGE ROVER
1995 Land Rover production tops 100,000 per annum
1997 FREELANDER Land Rover's fourth model launched
2002 3RD GENERATION RANGE ROVER All-new Range Rover makes its debut
2004 DISCOVERY 3/LR3 Latest generation Discovery launched
2005 RANGE ROVER SPORT Popular sports tourer goes on sale
2006 Land Rover announces ground-breaking CO2 offset scheme
2006 FREELANDER2/LR2 New model begins production at Halewood plant
2007 Record sales of 226,000 vehicles
2008 LAND ROVER LRX LRX concept signals the possible future of Land Rover

Harwoods Land Rover Joins Fundraising Drive in Aid of the British Red Cross

To mark Red Cross Appeal Week (4 -10 May), staff at Harwoods Land Rover dealerships are organising a range of activities to raise much needed funds for the British Red Cross - including a prize draw with a chance to win a Land Rover adventure of a lifetime.

All visitors to Harwoods Land Rover dealerships during the British Red Cross Appeal Week can make a voluntary donation to the Red Cross and also take the opportunity to enter a free prize draw for a chance to win one of 20 Adriatic Adventures.

This four-day journey from Montenegro to Dubrovnik will see the winners, and a guest, drive the range of Land Rover's supremely capable 4x4 vehicles across diverse terrain from scenic coastline to challenging off-road environments. In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to enter a free prize draw for a chance to win one of 10 Land Rover G4 Mountain Bikes.

Commenting on the fundraising initiative Glyn Woodage, Chief Executive at Harwoods, said: "We are committed to making a significant contribution to this worthy cause and, in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, our efforts support a wider Land Rover drive to raise around £1 million*."

The British Red Cross is the UK's leading voluntary crisis response organisation and supports people in adverse circumstances every day of the year. From a large-scale disaster, such as the tsunami or Pakistan earthquake, to a more personal emergency, such as returning home from a stay in hospital or requiring first aid, the Red Cross is always on hand to provide unconditional care.

Land Rover Recollections

As part of its 60th anniversary celebrations, Land Rover today launches 'Born in Lode Lane' - a book written by one of Britain's best known motoring journalists, Gavin Green - which brings together 'behind-the-scenes' recollections of Land Rover's history and anecdotes from long-serving employee, Roger Crathorne.

Roger Crathorne, a Land Rover employee of over 45 years was born in April 1947 in Solihull Hospital, one mile away from what was to become Land Rover's historic manufacturing plant on Lode Lane - the same month that the Wilks Brothers conceived the first ever Land Rover vehicle. Having served as an engineer for 15 years, he is now widely regarded as one of the best off-road Land Rover drivers and instructors and is expert in demonstrating the vehicles' all-terrain capabilities.

He has trained Royalty, was integrally involved in the development of the original Range Rover, turned off-road driving into a science and travelled all four corners of the globe - from the muddy tracks of Eastnor Castle, to central American volcanoes and the Sahara sand hills. Some of his amazing stories have been brought to life in 'Born in Lode Lane'.

"Although never in senior management, Roger is known to many - Royalty, senior military officers, explorers, customers, journalists and myself - as 'Mr Land Rover'. It therefore seemed fitting that his memories of life with Land Rover be documented to mark the Company's anniversary year," said Phil Popham, Managing Director, Land Rover.
The book is interspersed with interviews undertaken by Roger with the likes of Phil Popham, Spen King, the Father of the Range Rover, and renowned explorer and adventurer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes - all of which provide a unique insight into Land Rover's past 60 years and into its future.

'Born in Lode Lane' is available to buy from Monday, April 28 from Land Rover Gear - priced at £12.50. Proceeds will go to the British Red Cross.

Land Rover Wins Two Queen's Awards

Strong international sales and technical expertise have resulted in Land Rover winning not one but two Queen's Awards for Enterprise.

Land Rover has received the award for International Trade for an outstanding performance in increasing export sales by 52% to nearly £4 billion a year, an increase of £1.3 billion in three years.

Land Rover also won the award for Innovation for its patented Terrain Response System. Available on all Land Rover models, apart from Defender, Terrain Response sets up the vehicle's engine response and traction to maximise performance on all surfaces. It is the electronic equivalent of having an expert instructor next to the driver.

Phil Popham, Land Rover's Managing Director, said, "To win not one but two Queen's Awards is a considerable achievement and a testament to Land Rover's relevance and modernity in its 60th anniversary year. It demonstrates we are building and selling desirable and technically advanced cars around the world and generating significant wealth for Britain."

Land Rover exports over 75% of the production of its Defender, Freelander 2, Discovery 3, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover vehicles to 147 countries around the world. Land Rover achieved a third successive year of record sales in 2007, with a total of 226,395 sales, versus 192,511 in 2006 and 185,120 in 2005.