What is it about Range Rovers and Jaguars that capture the imagination of automobile enthusiasts more than any other marque?
Most Land Rover fans are mostly familiar with the sport of how the original Series 1 was conceived after its creator drew a picture of the car on the sand on an Anglesey beach or how the Queen of England is actually a fan. Similarly, Jaguar is known in backing up their timeless styling with an enviable history of performance, both on and off the track.
We thought it high time to pay tribute to some of those interesting tit bits that make LDR one of the most successful car manufacturers in the world.
The first Land Rover had the steering wheel in the middle
Modeled after World War Two, in 1947, and built on a Jeep chassis, Maurice Wilks and his brother Spencer chose to place the steering wheel in the middle to keep things simple in this new utilitarian vehicle and more tractor-like. It is possible to think that they did this to avoid building two different versions the car for the left and hand drive markets, making the vehicle more universal. However, the novel set-up had little legroom and thus it was dropped.
The Range Rover was displayed in the Louvre
Currently, the Range Rover holds the honor of being the only vehicle ever to be displayed in the Louvre gallery in Paris, due to the fact that it was considered an exemplary work of industrial design. Range Rover was the first luxury SUV in the world in 1970 and 50 years on, it continues to lead the way.
There’s more to Land Rover than you think
Land Rover has faced many obstacles and demands over the course of the years. To accommodate 12 people, they created their Defender 110, thus qualifying it as a ‘bus’, which had beneficial tax advantages. They manufactured a number of military vehicles for their reliability and flexibility that gained popularity around the world.
The 101 Forward Control was designed tow the Howitzer Cannon, and the company also created a military vehicle to put the notorious ‘Humvee’ to shame. In order to prevent its diesel engine from sinking, Land Rover also experimented with floating Defender 90, complete with a dedicated propeller at the rear, a rudder to steer and a snorkel.
The birth of the Range Rover
Rover, in 1970, added a new vehicle to its range. Rover wanted a vehicle that could be used as a family car and was not only 4-wheel drive but also comfortable, thus creating the Range Rover.
Interestingly, the original model from prototype to production model never changed, since it was first conceived in 1966. Its architecture was considered to be cutting edge and it was good enough to show the Range Rover as a masterpiece of industrial design in the Louvre. The pre-production units were nicknamed ‘Velar’ to keep the public confused as to what was in the pipeline, and what it would ultimately be called.
Land Rover is committed to the environment
The company has lowered its total CO2 emissions from its European fleet tailpipe by 32 percent compared to 2007 and its NOx emissions from its Euro 6 diesel engines by 80 percent. Furthermore, all of its UK production plants, product development sites and most of its satellite sites purchase 100 percent of the grid’s renewable energy and use initiatives such as solar panels, LED lighting and combined heat and power.
Jaguar proudly holds a reputation of one of the strongest motorsports brands
Jaguar has a long background of motorsport, here are only some of the various Jaguar models’ racing accomplishments:
- The Jaguar XK-120C is the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1951-1952 season) winner.
- The Jaguar C-Type is a 24-hour Le Mans winner (1951-1953 season).
- The Jaguar D-Type is a three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans (1954-1957 season) winner.
- The Jaguar E-Type Lightweight is the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1963-1964 season) winner.
- The Jaguar XJR is a two time 24 Hours of Le Mans (1985 – 1992 season) winner and a three-time World Sportscar Championship winner.
Jaguar currently produces an extensive range of cars, including the SUVs E-Pace, F- Pace, and I-Pace, the sports coupe and convertible F-Type. They have the XE, XF, and XJ models as far as sedans go.
Jaguar is meticulous about leather
Jaguar are serious about high-end luxury, so much so that they recruit a group of hide experts to fit out the interior of their vehicles that won’t tolerate just any cowhide. They use only Scottish Angus Bull hides for the Jaguar XE, never cows as they can get pregnant and grow stretch marks that leave defects in the leather. They often use selected herds grown up north, so flying pests such as mosquitoes are less likely to do harm to the leather
with their bites.
This elite cattle community is housed in areas with no barbed wire, and the cows are also sheltered indoors during the cold winter months! What goes on the dash and doors is the belly and neck skin, so it is super soft and the part of the rump and backbone is harder, because it becomes the seats. You can be confident that the interior leather is of the very highest grade when you buy a Jaguar and will stand the test of time.
Jaguar started out as a sidecar business
Jaguar specialized in producing sidecars for motorcycles when it was the Swallow Sidecar Company. With a £ 1,000 loan taken out with the aid of their dads, founders William Walmsley and William Lyons started the business. In 1927, coach-building kits for the Austin 7 started experimenting with vehicles.
The Leaper hood ornament isn’t used anymore
For decades, the leaping Jaguar hood ornament has been used, becoming an iconic feature of automobiles. It was withdrawn in 2005 to adhere to the current safety requirements of the European Union for car manufacturers. This was done out of concern for frontal collisions. For a small charge, however, consumers can still have the Leaper attached to the versions.
Interestingly, Jaguar have the world’s safest valets
Jaguar goes through a lot of trouble to make sure that its vehicles are securely loaded into trains. Their drivers do not wear belts or buckles, and often go so far as to remove their shoes from the metal shoelace eyelets. This is intended to prevent something being scratched. When they zip and unzip an industrial quality vehicle cover, the drivers do not touch the exterior of the car.
