Fifth member of Range Rover family previewed

Range Rover has confirmed a fifth member of its luxury SUV family with the introduction of the Range Rover GT, writes Brian Byrne. It's a new grand tourer focused on long-distance comfort and refinement.

Revealed ahead of its full debut, the Range Rover GT features a minimalist interior, with a single central screen, a separate driver display and a concealed full-width air vent that preserves the brand’s signature horizontal graphic. A woven textile wraps the dashboard, hiding integrated speakers, and the cabin claims class-leading second-row legroom.

The Range Rover GT will be the first all‑electric Range Rover built on the new EMA platform at Halewood in the UK. It will launch initially as a battery-electric vehicle, with a full hybrid option planned later. 

Prototype vehicles are currently undergoing final global testing in a camouflage wrap. More details will be released later this year. 

Range Rover review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

I remember in the very early 1970s an English friend of my Dad's came to our family pub, having driven over in his new Range Rover, writes Brian Byrne. I had a (much) younger man's interest in cars at the time, though I was still almost two decades away from writing about them.

"Want to take it for a spin?" he said, dropping the keys on the counter in front of me. I didn't need to be asked twice. Two hours later I brought the car back and handed him the keys. "I'm afraid I got it a bit dirty," I mentioned. He grinned. "If the dirt's on the inside, you'd better hose it out."

I had taken the car to an off-road training area not far from my home, operated by the Irish defence forces. And I had fun, even though I'd never at that point had any experience in off-road driving. It was a measure of the car's ability even then that it steered me out of any difficulty. And a measure of my own naivety that I had chanced bringing it into the mud and gullies at all ...

That car was a new take on the Land Rover theme. A modern shape, though still on the body-on-frame platform that served the original LR vehicles so well in rugged terrain use. Smart estate style — though at the time with only two passenger doors. High tech with a 3.5-litre V8 petrol engine derived from a former Buick 'small block', and full-time AWD. Stopping power of disc brakes all round. It was also more comfortable on road than the usual Land Rover, with coil springs instead of truck-style leafs. With all that, though, it wasn't intended to be a luxury vehicle. Vinyl seats and plastic dashboards were designed to be hosed down, just like the utilitarian Land Rovers.

I was remembering those things recently when I collected the latest generation of the Range Rover for review. That it is just the fifth iteration of the car in 53 years says something about the style longevity ethos of the model — change only because it is time to change, and then only with substantial improvements to excellence. It is several generations ago of the Range Rover now since it became a luxury car. And each decade of change since has been to enhance it in that luxury space. But not at the cost of ability to work in the rough, though the technology to allow that has moved by a quantum from the fairly simple AWD system in the original.

The latest Range Rover has the smoothest styling of any of the five generations. A mix of straight lines with subtle edge-softening and a move away from aggressive grille shapes are part of it. Clean but carefully drawn horizontals emphasise the width, which is only exceeded in the segment by BMW's X7 (and even larger Rolls-Royces). There's an engaging simplicity about the rear of the car that hides the two-way tailgate which among other uses provides a clean seating area for those who want to watch the pony shows or picnic to mountain views from the back of the car. While that afore-mentioned subtle curving of the edges minimises any bold look, the car retains a real presence.

Moving inside, plush has gotten noticeably plusher, with a techy edge. The ivory leather in the review car worked well with the dark trims and satin metal fittings on the dashboard, door furniture and storage spaces. The dashboard design itself manages to create both opulence and simplicity, and thankfully makes do with just a single centre infotainment screen, unlike some Range Rover derivative models. Large knobs and buttons for climate control, and a coherent treatment of the primary driving instruments are all welcome. There's more room for the rear seat passengers than in the Range Rover Sport I drove a while back, and the extra headroom also makes a significant difference here. Some of the extra length of the car also extends the boot space.

Like that smaller Range Rover, the power in the big brother came via Land Rover's own 3.0 inline six petrol with plug-in hybrid electrification. The range of the battery on its own proved to be a genuine 80-plus kilometres, while the overall 8.8L/100km that I achieved in my time with the car was quite respectable for a 2.4-tonne vehicle. All travel is done, as it should be for a car with a price that would go a long way to ensuring a small mortgage for an average house, in a smooth and almost serene manner.

And no, I didn't get it dirty. I had previously driven one of this model in some rough and grotty places and knew that I didn't have to do it again. Besides, any time I try for the military training place these days, there's a jeep-load of MPs on my tail in short order ... I think they have a camera there. Also, if I got the inside mucky, I wouldn't be able to hose it down.

PRICE: From €143,998; review car €183,968. WHAT I LIKED: Remembering my early 20s. 

Range Rover revises Velar

Range Rover have revised their Velar model, a mid-size in the luxury brand's range, writes Brian Byrne.

Externally there's a new grille, and newly-styled LED headlights, and there have been detail changes to the rear including a new bumper. Inside the car gets a new single centre console-located touchscreen in curved glass.

Powertrains continue to be options from petrol and diesel, with mild hybrid technology and a plug-in hybrid that is rated to have a greater EV range of up to 64km. That version has a combined power output of 404hp.

The revised car is now available to order in Ireland priced from €91,680.

Jaguar enhances I-Pace for 2023

Jaguar's I-Pace electric SUV has been given a mid-life upgrade designed to visually enhance the car and also higher specifications, writes Brian Byrne.

The exterior changes include a revised grille, door details and rear diffuser. The specification upgrades include distinctive alloys across all versions, and a new range of satin-finish paints.

The I-Pace won three categories at the 2019 World Car of the Year Awards, including World Car of the Year. It has a rated range of up to 470km under the WLTP regime. According to Jaguar's own calculator, the combined urban-motorway range in a typical Irish winter day temperature of 5degC would be 358km. 

Last of the F-Types ends a 75 years era

This is the last ever Jaguar F-Type model that will be produced, and also marks the end of new Jaguar sports cars powered by internal combustion engines, writes Brian Byrne. From 2025, Jaguar will only launch electric new models.

The Jaguar F-Type 75 is a special edition unveiled last October, the '75' recalling the number of years since the XK120, the brand's first sports car, was launched.

The last of the F-Type line is powered by V8 petrol engines outputting 450hp and 575hp, the latter for the R version. Both are all-wheel-drive, but there's also a RWD version available. There's also a convertible.

 

New Range Rover Sport

The third generation of the Range Rover Sport is now available to order in Ireland at a starting price of €114,150, writes Brian Byrne.

Engine options include six-cylinder hybrids, a new V8, and mild hybrid versions of the six-cylinder Ingenium engine in petrol and diesel forms. A full electric version is scheduled for 2024.

The styling is sleek and smooth with exceptionally slim headlights and a full-width surface-LED implementation of rear lights.

The company says the new car has the most engaging driving experience in the model to date, thanks in large part to a suite of systems managed by an integrated chassis control system.

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Jaguar to reposition brand upwards

Jaguar is to reposition itself to compete with brands like Aston Martin, Bentley and Maserati, rather than the high-volume German brands it currently competes against, writes Brian Byrne.

To do so, it will refrain from introducing any new models until 2025, when it plans to become an all-electric vehicle brand. All the current models will be phased out by that time. At the moment, the company has one battery-electric car, the I-Pace.

Jaguar's boss Thierry Bollore stunned the industry last February when he announced the all-electric ambition. Rather than adapting existing models, the company also scrapped plans for an electric XJ and a new crossover to be called the J-Pace.

The Jaguar EV platform will be separate from the Land Rover MLA platform designed for both hybrid and battery-electric vehicles.

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Land Rover to prototype fuel cell Defender

Jaguar Land Rover is to start testing a hydrogen fuel cell-powered Defender towards the end of the year, writes Brian Byrne. The prototype is being developed as part of Project Zeus in the UK, funded by the British Government. The 'Zeus' stands for 'zero and low-emission vehicles in urban society'.

It's not anticipated that an FCEV-powered Land Rover will actually go into production, but the company has indicated that hydrogen will have a part to play in its development of a zero-emissions range of vehicles.

A fuel cell generates electricity to power an electric motor, and in the Defender prototype it will also charge a small battery to give extra power in high-load situations.

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Jaguar to go all-electric by 2025

Jaguar has committed to produce only electric models from 2025, writes Brian Byrne.

In a statement this morning, Jaguar Land Rover said that all models from the two brands will be offered with an electric version by the end of the decade. The first all-electric Land Rover vehicle will be on sale in 2024.

By 2030, the company anticipates that 60pc of Land Rover sales will be electric, with six EV models available. JLR CEO Thierry Bolloré also said the company, owned by the Indian Tata Motors group, will be a 'net-zero-carbon' operation by 2039.

 

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Review: Land Rover Defender

There was a lot of angst when Land Rover decided they could no longer just keep updating the Defender and killed off the model that was the icon of the vehicle from which the brand was born, writes Brian Byrne. The simple truth, it was no longer fit for modern purpose.

It was truly iconic, still very capable in the right skilled hands, and was loved enough to garner a significant number of buyers every year. But an ever diminishing number.

Besides, it was uncomfortable, noisy, and would never last under the continually more stringent emissions regulations. Eventually the patchwork of incremental improvements could no longer take another patch. Defender had become a dinosaur.

I learned my early off-roading in a Defender. A long time ago now, but I would still be happy taking one in the most difficult conditions today and be confident that it would take me back home safely. But dinosaurs have to die eventually.

Land Rover promised a replacement. It took them some time, but they finally delivered on the promise, and the car arrived here earlier this year. I was fortunate enough just before Level 5 to have had one out for a full appraisal.

It has no technical relationship with the old vehicle in any way. Nothing has been brought forward from the previous version. So this is more than a generational change, it's a total reboot of the nameplate. This is Defender brought into the realm of modern Land Rover and Range Rover. The whole range is now luxury car stuff.

There are some detail traces of the old DNA. But they are cosmetic, a tip of the hat for the nostalgics. The overall squareness of the new Defender is one. The spare wheel on the rear door is another, though practical — you don't want to be going off-road in anything without a proper spare wheel. But the hawkeye front lights, and the sets of tail-lights in the back door frame, are all from today's automotive world. As is the whole body and platform.

Inside elements like visible bolt heads on the door trims also hark back to the old, though in a more refined way. And there is a relative simplicity up front in the driver's area compared to other Land Rover models which also appeals to me. Only the one centre screen, for instance, compared to what has become a cineplex in some of the others. Beautiful rotary knobs for climate control. And though the main instruments cluster is entirely built on digital, the dials are a good modern take on old school simplicity.

It's a big car, especially in the 5-door 110 which I was driving. With lots of room for the five people it can accommodate and all their needed accoutrements.  And, boy, will they certainly be travelling in comfort. Everything that we now expect from a premium car maker is there. No point in listing them, they're just there. Including stuff we never had in the old Defender days, like cameras in the front which show what you can't see when you're aiming towards the sky on a steep off road incline, or trekking a narrow trail and that big bonnet gets in the way of you knowing just what kind of hole your front wheels are about to drop into.

I had the opportunity to take my review car into some of that more challenging terrain during my week. By no means anything like my drives through the Argentine Andes in 2007, but potentially tricky. But because the new Defender has the latest versions of all Land Rover's technical off-road electronic wizardry, it was as easy as driving onto the grass verge in a park. I also have had enough experience of that tech in seriously tough situations to be very confident in it.

Back on the road, this is an excellent highway cruiser. As you'd expect, certainly when you are paying the price for the new Defender. It's also very pleasant sitting up high over other road users and seeing the countryside. There are, many, worse ways to be travelling.

My review Defender was the starter one of four grades that are available. A 3-door 90, and a Hard Top version are available, and there's also a commercial option. Power came from Land Rover's own 200hp 2.0 diesel, which was barely heard from inside, and wasn't much louder from outside. There are options of 3.0 diesel and 2.0 and 3.0 petrols, and a plug-in hybrid.

Whenever we get to be able to go long distances and interesting parts of Ireland again, with the option of some trails driving, I certainly wouldn't mind having this one for the journey. And I'm not nostalgic for the old one, really.

PRICE: From €68,160; WHAT I LIKED: That it isn't the old Defender. 

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Jaguar XF gets a substantial makeover

Jaguar has given its XF saloon and XF Sportbrake a substantial makeover that includes an enhanced exterior design for a more assertive presence, new more luxurious interiors, advanced connectivity and efficient engines with mild-hybrid capability, writes Trish Whelan.

The new exterior includes a new front bumper, lower air intakes, a new wider grille, all-LED headlights, and a new rear bumper.

This top end saloon also gets a new, more luxurious interior. The new cockpit design places greater focus on the driver. There’s also a new sporty centre console. Technologies include Jaguar’s latest Pivi Pro dual-sim infotainment accessed through a new 11.4 inch HD curved glass touchscreen. Software-Over-The-Air capability means the latest vehicle systems and infotainment are installed seamlessly and remotely.

Petrol customers can choose between 250hp or a 300hp version of the 2.0 four-cylinder producing 365 Nm and 400 Nm respectively. The latter version is offered exclusively with AWD. The 250hp petrol delivers fuel economy of 8.0 L/100kms (35.2mpg); C02 emissions are from 181g/km (WLTP).

The diesel is a new 204hp MHEV (mild hybrid electric vehicle) 2.0 four-cylinder turbo that produces 430Nm torque. It is 24hp more powerful than the engine it replaces with reduced emissions and improved fuel economy. C02 is from 130g/km and up to 4.9 L/100km (57.2mpg) on the XF saloon.

All engines are paired with Jaguar’s eight-speed automatics gearbox and every XF is available with all-wheel drive. Irish pricing has yet to be confirmed.

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Electrified Velar from Range Rover

Range Rover has updated its Velar range with its new plug-in hybrid powertrain that offers 53km of all-electric driving, writes Brian Byrne.

The Velar also gets the new 3.0 straight-six petrol and diesel engines, which are available with mild-hybrid technology in power outputs up to 400hp. A 240hp four-cylinder diesel is also now available on the range.

Interior improvements include the provision of Land Rover's latest infotainment system Pivi and Pivi-Pro, which include an embedded data connection.

Irish prices and specifications have yet to be finalised.

 

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Details of new F-Pace revealed by Jaguar

A new generation of the Jaguar F-Pace is on the way with enhanced styling, a completely new interior and a range of engines that include a plug-in petrol hybrid, writes Trish Whelan.

Styling changes include a larger grille, new bonnet sculpting, a revisit to the bumper design, and super-slim all-LED headlights as well as the familiar J-shaped running lights.

Engine options will include diesels ranging from 163hp-300hp, a 250hp petrol and mild-hybrid petrols of 340hp and 400hp, as well as a 404hp PHEV with a rated all-electric range of up to 53km. Inside, a new 11.4" curved glass HD touchscreen is brighter and larger and has a simplified menu structure. There's also a 12.3" main display which is highly configurable.

An improved filtration system is part of a cabin air ionisation to improve the air quality for car occupants. No details are yet available for Irish arrival or pricing.

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Discovery vehicle of choice for SEMRA rescue group

The South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association (SEMRA) has carried out its 500th operation and over the last three years has attended over 100 rescues using Land Rover vehicles, writes Brian Byrne.

The volunteer group uses a Land Rover Discovery for getting to difficult locations, which can carry a stretcher with a medic sitting alongside the patient.

SEMRA provides the only search and rescue service for those in difficulty on the mountains of south east Ireland and typically operates round the clock 365 days a year across the Galtee, Knockmealdown, Comeragh and Blackstairs mountains.

The Discovery has been lightly modified for operational duties and features a comprehensive list of emergency and first aid kit, powerful emergency lighting, a roof box, additional interior lighting and rear stowage nets.

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New MH diesel engines for Range Rover Sport

A range of new 6-cylinder diesel engines have been introduced by Jaguar Land Rover for its Range Rover Sport, writes Brian Byrne.

The 3.0 engines also bring 48v mild-hybrid diesel technology to the model for the first time.

The engines range in power output from 249hp to 350hp, and join the existing range of petrol and diesel power options for the model, which also has a PHEV variant.

Pricing for the Irish market is yet to be announced.

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Hard Top name returning to Defender range

A commercial version of the new Land Rover Defender will bring back the Hard Top name to the model line-up, in both 90 and 110 versions, writes Brian Byrne.

The commercial Defender will be a two seat-vehicle, with an optional 'jump' seat making it capable of transporting three people as well as cargo.

The Hard Top name dates back to 1950, when the introduction of demountable Hard Tops gave early Series Land Rovers added security and protection from the elements. New Defender Hard Top continues this ethos, sharing its fixed metal roof and silhouette with the original.

The commercial will also have a towing capacity of up 3,500kg and a wading depth of up to 900mm. A comprehensive range of driver assistance technology will also be on the vehicle.

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Range Rover marks 50 years with special edition

Range Rover has marked 50 years since the introduction of the model that defined luxury SUV with a special version, the Range Rover Fifty, writes Brian Byrne.

Only 1,970 units of this special edition will be available globally, devised by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. The number reflects the year in which the original was launched, on 17 June.

The Range Rover Fifty is based on the Autobiography grade, with special badging and details, in both standard and long wheelbase variants. Powertrains from the latest fourth-generation Range Rover in petrol, diesel and hybrid will be offered.

More than a million Range Rovers have been sold, and the original model has expanded into Evoque, Velar and Sport companion nameplates.

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