New Range Rover Debuts at North American International Auto Show

DETROIT, Jan. 7 -- Britain's Land Rover has introduced the next Range Rover and it has many automotive experts searching for superlatives. Considering its unique combination of on- and off-road abilities, the new Range Rover is the most capable vehicle in the world. Land Rover believes it is now the world's finest SUV. "We believe the new Range Rover is the world's most capable vehicle, with the greatest breadth of ability of any vehicle ever made," said Bob Dover, Managing Director of Land Rover. "This mixture of peerless off-road ability combined with on-road excellence should satisfy the most demanding luxury car buyer." The new Range Rover HSE, which will be available in North America in June as a 2003 model, is only the third all-new Range Rover in 31 years and is set to enhance Land Rover's reputation as a maker of premium vehicles. Among the new Range Rover's key features are:

* All-new stiffer monocoque body with integrated chassis

* All independent suspension with interconnected air springs

* Advanced five-speed automatic transmission featuring CommandShift control, allowing manual up and down sequential shifting, and a two- speed, electronically activated transfer gearbox which has the ability to shift from Low to High ratio on the move

* A new torque-sensing center differential continuously and automatically changes the torque bias between front and rear axles depending on available traction

* Extensive use of aluminum for weight reduction

* Outstanding crash test performance and occupant protection

* More interior space than previous model

* Greater ground clearance than previous model

* Focused product range: one body style and one engine, but with a choice of elegant interior styles and options, including luxury woods and leathers

The new Range Rover has evolved its distinctive exterior design. It embodies many iconic design features such as the clamshell hood with its castellations, the split tailgate, the bold upright front and the 'floating' roof. The design has been moved firmly into the 21st century with uniquely styled headlamps and tail lamps, distinctive side engine intake louvers and clean, crisp surfaces. The all-new monocoque body with integrated chassis has extremely high levels of torsional stiffness that benefit the new Range Rover's on- and off- road ability. Advances in high strength steel and sophisticated computer aided design processes mean it is now possible to reap the refinement benefits of unitary construction without compromising off-road performance. Longer and taller than the previous model, the new Range Rover has correspondingly more interior space and even stronger on-road presence. Greater ground clearance and excellent approach and departure angles result in higher off-road limits than its hugely capable forebear. The elegant cabin design is, simply put, revolutionary. The interior brings new levels of luxury to the class. A wide variety of styling and texture cues-including elegant woods and leathers-were studied from a diverse range of influences including high precision running gear from ocean racing yachts. The new Range Rover offers high quality materials and innovative luxury features including optional telephone and navigation systems, as well as a comprehensive in-car entertainment system with standard CD changer. An increase in overall dimensions and the more luxurious interior means inevitably, that the new Range Rover is heavier than its predecessor. Curb weight has grown from 4894 lbs to 5379 lbs, a rise of 485 lbs. But 0-60 comes in 9 seconds, while the huge four-wheel disc brakes with ABS produce excellent stopping performance. Central to the new Range Rover's superb on- and off-road handling and ride is the totally new sub frame-mounted fully independent air suspension. The chassis also features a number of electronic traction control systems including Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and the Land Rover-pioneered Hill Descent Control (HDC). Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) supplement the standard anti-lock brakes (ABS). The all-aluminum, 4.4-litre V8 engine, manufactured by BMW, has been thoroughly modified for application in the Range Rover. The free-revving, 32- valve V8 produces 282 horsepower at 5,400 rpm and generates 324 lbs-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm, substantial increases compared to the larger-displacement V8 it replaces. However, this engine is not the same as it appears in a BMW, having been adapted for the rigorous demands of life under a Range Rover hood, notably for wading through water, heavy-duty towing and steep off-road angles. A state- of-the-art five-speed transmission provides fully automatic and CommandShift manual operation. The new Range Rover undoubtedly offers the highest degree of passenger safety of any vehicle ever made by Land Rover. The comprehensive package of active and passive safety features includes eight standard airbags protecting both front and rear passengers. It is also the highest-quality Range Rover ever built. Led by Ford, new engineering and manufacturing processes have been implemented, resulting in quality equal to the best Europe has to offer. Over $290 million has been invested in new production facilities at Solihull. The total investment in the new Range Rover project is close to $1.4 billion. At its peak, production is expected to reach 35,000 per year. First-year sales are estimated to exceed 7,000 units in the U.S. and 450 in Canada. Pricing will be announced closer to the June introduction date. More information is available by calling 1-800-FINE 4WD or at http://www.rangerover.landrover.com .

Land Rover North America, Inc., established in 1986, imports and distributes Range Rover, Discovery Series II vehicles and Freelander manufactured for sale in the U.S. by Land Rover in Solihull, England. Land Rover's worldwide operations are wholly owned by Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan. Land Rover is part of the Premier Automotive Group, and has North American headquarters in Irvine, California. For information about the Land Rover Retailer nearest you, call 1-800-FINE-4WD or log on to http://www.LandRover.com .