Land Rover Monthly November 2019

SO it’s finally here, the new Defender. More than three years after they stopped making the old one. I am so proud of the fact that we are the first Land Rover magazine in the world to have it on our cover without the camouflage. There has been a lot of work behind the scenes to make that happen. You have no idea of the goings-on prior to a massive global launch like this. I actually saw the new Defender in all its glory several months ago at the design studio in Gaydon, where they showed us the various models and accessories for the first time. When I drove home I had to remind myself that this was an entirely new vehicle and comparing it to my 1998 Defender in the…

EVER fancied playing the part of 007 James Bond? Well now you can, or at least pretend you are, thanks to bespoke Defender specialists Himalaya who are offering a rare opportunity to own one of the most famous Land Rovers to ever appear in a film with its new special-edition Spectre tribute truck. Priced at $250,000 (its normal custom builds start at $165,000) and uses a rare Crew Cab pick-up configuration. The South Carolina-based company is able to create the very same layout using all-new body panels and frames sourced from England which are hung on an all-new frame that is precision-manufactured, while their team can customise the powertrain and interiors to customers’ preferences. Himalaya also goes the extra step by designing and manufacturing its own handles, latches and catches. While it…

BUILD No. 6 from Twisted’s Classic Series I collection were invited to take part in one of the world’s most exclusive road tours – the Atlantic Road Trip, which crosses four countries from Oslo to Pärnu, via Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallinn. The six-day, 1300-mile journey began on August 11 and proved to be an exhilarating drive taking in some of the most mesmerising scenery along the Atlantic Road and the iconic Trollstigen Serpentine, before hitting the Auto24ring at Pärnu for some racing action on the track, followed by an exclusive party on the beach, famous for its white sands. The Twisted 110 is already well-travelled having taken the team 1800 miles across Europe in March this year when it exhibited at the Geneva Motor Show and has completed two Yorkshire 300…

THE Land Rover Discovery has celebrated its 30th anniversary by playing the role of a mobile laboratory on a pioneering drive across sub-Saharan Africa as part of the latest Land Rover Bursary. Over two months, the Mobile Malaria Project team covered 4567 miles across Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya in a Discovery developed by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. Led by Dr George Busby, the Oxford University researchers worked with local scientists to extract and analyse DNA in remote sites to show how portable tech could fight spread of the disease. Scientists usually have to wait weeks for data after obtaining, preparing and dispatching samples to overseas laboratories for analysis, but this time they generated it in hours while driving. Dr Steve Iley, Jaguar Land Rover’s chief medical officer, said: “Malaria affects…

ON Saturday September 28 LRM will be holding its Billing off-road day and there are two options available: a morning-only ticket which will allow attendees to try out the Lakeside Course and a full-day ticket that allows drivers to try out both the Lakeside course in the morning and the more challenging Riverside Course in the afternoon. The big news this year is that people will be able to camp over on the Saturday night and LRM’s own editor and ad manager will be roughing it, too. Marshals will be on hand to offer assistance and advice, along with LRM editorial, and there will be catering on site, and demonstrations from our partners. The full-day ticket costs £55 while the morning ticket will set you back £30. Price of camping is £15…

SIX courageous walkers (four of which were current or ex Household Cavalry servicemen) walked 470 miles from Windsor Castle to Edinburgh Castle in August in aid of two deserving army charities (the Household Cavalry Foundation and Royal British Legion ) – and two Land Rover Discovery support vehicles were behind them all the way. The vehicles were essential to the smooth running of the ten-day trek, from the departure at Windsor Castle to their triumphant arrival on Castle esplanade in Edinburgh as part of the pre-show entertainment that precedes the Royal Military Tattoo on August 7. Jaguar Land Rover is a holder of the Gold Military Covenant, offering programmes to support military personnel including education and employment opportunities. Over 1000 former military personnel have been employed by Jaguar Land Rover, and the…