Land Rover Monthly February 2020

THE Last Overland expedition crew have been hogging the Land Rover headlines since their triumphant return to British shores on December 14, 2019. They fully deserve every single free beer and accolade that they get. Three Land Rovers (one of which was Oxford the 1955 Series I which did the original First Overland expedition), eight explorers, 23 countries, 11,806 miles, 9792 terabytes of footage and a lifetime of Land Rover memories – I salute them all and look forward to the documentary and book that they produce from the journey. As is often the case with this type of things, there is often the rarely seen or spoken about person lurking in the shadows, who without his or her dedication or kindness, none of this would’ve been possible. In this case…

FOUNDED in 1985, Bowler pioneered the production of dedicated off-road competition cars and has enjoyed much success in international rally raid events over the years. The expertise Bowler has amassed for all-terrain vehicle dynamics, low-volume production techniques and extreme durability, is highly sought-after, so it’s no surprise that Jaguar Land Rover jumped at the opportunity to save it from administration and secure the future of the Bowler brand. Not only that, but Bowler has had a close affiliation with Land Rover, which was formalised with a brand partnership in 2012 that led to the creation of the popular Defender Challenge by Bowler rally series in 2014-2016. With JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations division adding Bowler to its portfolio of automotive businesses, the Derbyshire-based all-terrain performance specialist perfectly complements the existing SV, Vehicle…

If you’re in the market for a particularly unique, discerning Range Rover then you might want to consider the Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic Black, with just 500 examples produced for the UK market. Based on Land Rover’s top-selling D180 R-Dynamic SE, the Black limited edition features, funnily enough, the Black Exterior Pack, privacy glass, fixed panoramic glass roof, 21” gloss black alloy wheels, heated steering wheel, metallic paint and Adaptive Dynamics as standard. Two metallic exterior colour finishes are available to choose from – Santorini Black and Eiger Grey, while for the interior the Ebony Perforated Grained Leather is complemented by an Ebony Morzine headlining. Prices start at a cool £56,995 (or £499 per month on the road) and it is available to order immediately. If you win the lottery…

A brand without a celebrity endorsement doesn’t seem to be worth its salt nowadays and Land Rover – never one to shy away from Z-list approval – has just recruited comedian and actor Jack Whitehall and his father Michael to demonstrate that their tow assist technology is idiot-proof. Now, Discovery and towing go together like fish and chips, but for some reason JLR felt compelled to get a comic to reverse a 6.8m-long Airstream caravan down a narrow single-track causeway, against an incoming tide, to prove its worth. The Corbière lighthouse in Jersey set the scene – presumably because when we think of the super posh the Channel Islands spring to mind – or it was a nice backdrop, of course. Fortunately Advanced Tow Assist comes to the rescue as…

4x4 enthusiasts from four different clubs in Norfolk drove their Land Rovers from Ryston Hall to Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital to deliver bags of presents to the West Newton ward, which cares for the elderly. A segment of society that often gets left out at Christmas time, they delivered nine sackfuls of presents to the ward. A total of 35 Land Rovers, each adorned with tinsel and wreaths, and their drivers in Christmas attire, made the annual parcel run and brought a smile to faces of the n.urses – who came out to receive them – and the patients apparently who were all rather pleased. In a time of economic and political uncertainty it’s great to hear a heart-warming story of holiday cheer. The spirit of giving lifts everyone’s mood…

‘DEFENDER stripped of doors and bonnet’; ‘thieves steal Discovery from driveway of home’; ‘owners of Solihull’s finest warned to increase security’… Unfortunately these are all headlines that we are becoming increasingly familiar with as the spate of Land Rover thefts increases. But one lucky owner was fortunate enough to be reunited with his beloved vehicle thanks to social media. Actor Richard E Grant tracked down his stolen car after appealing for help from his Twitter followers. The British star wrote to his followers: “If by any chance you see the number plate LC62 0GW, please let me know”. George Taylor from Vodafone Automotive saw his tweet and found that the previous owner of his car had fitted a tracking system. Richard paid to have it reactivated, and located it an…