Land Rover Defender Sponsor Earthwatch Review

May 2007

Earthwatch, the international environmental charity, has become Land Rover’s fifth Global Sponsorship Partner. Land Rover will assist Earthwatch’s activities in working to conserve endangered species and their habitats by engaging people worldwide in scientific field research and education.

The sponsorship forms part of Land Rover’s sustainable development policy, which outlines the company’s commitment to developing the business responsibly and ensuring sound environmental practice in all Land Rover activities.

Land Rover’s first act in support of Earthwatch has been to supply a Defender for work in the Samburu, Kenya. This vehicle is currently contributing to a number of projects, including surveying Grevy’s Zebras on community lands and within the Lewa Conservancy, as well as an in depth study into conflict between carnivores and livestock for limited water resources.

Nigel Winser, Executive Director of Earthwatch (Europe) said: “The vehicles that Land Rover provide will support the programmes where off-road capabilities are required. This will improve the quality and safety of the field research we undertake to understand, manage and conserve the natural resources of the world in a sustainable manner. I know these Land Rovers will be welcomed by our local scientists and the communities with whom we work.”Land Rover has pioneered responsible off-roading through its ‘Fragile Earth’ policy for many years and currently works with four other sponsorship partners; Royal Geographical Society (RGS), China Exploration and Research Society (CERS), Born Free and Biosphere Expeditions. Land Rover supplies a quarter of the global aid agency market and the vehicles are utilised by emergency services, police, ambulance and mountain rescue teams across the country and worldwide.

Land Rover’s sponsorship programmes form part of an integrated approach towards sustainability. Land Rover engineers are at the forefront of Ford’s £1bn programme to develop technologies that will reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. Land Rover has also introduced the world’s biggest consumer carbon dioxide off-set programme which offsets all of the CO2 generated by Land Rover's manufacturing operations and the first 45,000 miles of vehicle use by its UK customers. It is run by Climate Care, a highly respected offset provider. The ultimate goal is CO2 neutrality with investments being made in renewable energy projects such as wind and hydro, technology change and energy efficiency.

Land Rover Defender Upgrades Review

April 2007

The new 2007 Land Rover Defender goes on sale in the UK on 16 April 2007, featuring comprehensive upgrades to make it better-equipped to meet modern day needs. The iconic Defender, a vehicle whose roots date back to 1948, benefits from a new 2.4-litre common rail diesel engine, six-speed gearbox with wide ratio spread, a fully integrated facia, new seating configuration and high output heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. These enhancements ensure improved on- and off-road performance, comfort and refinement.

Prices will start from £18,645 for the Defender 90 Pick Up and rise to £26,605 for the XS Double Cab Defender 110, with an average price increase of only £400. The Defender 130 starts from £22,655 and will be available from Land Rover dealerships in July.

“Defender remains a significant contributor to our business, with on average 6000 units sold year on year in the UK and we already have over 800 pre-orders for the new 2007 model,” says John Edwards, managing director, Land Rover UK.

“It is also a symbol of our 4x4 heritage, a reminder of our roots and it plays a vital role in the lives of the 25,000 customers from all corners of the globe that buy one. Farmers, aid-workers, NGOs and explorers the world over value Defender’s versatility, its extraordinary strength, robustness and capability. The unique combination of these attributes helps account for the model’s exceptionally high levels of customer loyalty.”

In spite of the improvements, Defender’s unique vehicle architecture remains the same. The chassis frame is still available in three different wheelbases, and in both standard and heavy-duty guise (for even greater load-bearing capabilities). A total of 14 separate body styles – from pick-ups and hard tops to crew cabs and station wagons – are produced on the mainstream production line. Beyond this, Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations team offer a range of products from standard drop-side or box-body conversions to bespoke design and build adaptations into ambulances, mobile hydraulic platforms and even airport fire tenders – all of which are covered by Land Rover’s extensive warranty.

New for 2007 is a ‘Utility Pack’ which is a no cost option on the Defender 110 SW. The pack replaces the rear side windows with panels to create a versatile 5 seat utility station wagon.

As with all models in our product range, a cost for offsetting the carbon emissions for the first 45,000 miles is included in the on-the-road price. Administered by Climate Care, an independent provider, the programme ensures that the average amount of CO2 produced by a Land Rover is offset by investments in a mixed portfolio of projects, including renewable energy, technology change and energy efficiency initiatives.Land Rover Defender has sold 1,900,000 units globally in over 140 countries since production began in 1948. It consistently sells on average 25,000 units globally year in and year out.

To book a test drive of the 2007 Defender or for more information regarding the Land Rover range, please visit your local Land Rover dealership or log onto www.landrover.co.uk.