Land Rover is a motoring legend – an icon for enthusiasts the world over, with its reputation for seeming indestructibility and rugged style.
Since the very first design appeared in 1948, the Land Rover name has become universally identified with four-wheel drive vehicles. The Land Rover story is a remarkable one that reads like a history of the 4×4 itself.
LANDROVER HISTORY
The first Land Rover appeared in 1948 – a simple and inventive working vehicle. Brothers Spencer and Maurice Wilks, Land Rover’s creators, developed the iconic vehicle that combined utilitarian simplicity with rugged, dependable quality. The earliest models were designed to be serviced in the field and were manufactured as a range of four-wheel drive vehicles.
From the 1970s onwards, Land Rovers came under increasing competition as manufacturers the world over entered the off-road four-wheel drive arena. Land Rover has been owned by various organisations, including British Leyland, British Aerospace and BMW. In 2000, Land Rover was sold by BMW to Ford but was recently bought by the Indian company, Tata Motors.
LANDROVER FACTS
Type: Subsidiary Founded: 1948 Founder: Rover Headquarters: Solihull, England Key People:Geoff Polites, CEO Industry: Automotive Products: Automobiles Parent:Tata Motor Company
MODELS
LAND ROVER DEFENDER – a four-wheel drive off-road utility vehicle available with a variety of body types, often used in agricultural, industrial and military roles, Increasingly, the Defender is being used as a private car.
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY – an on and off-road four-wheel drive vehicle, the Discovery is the most popular Land Rover model and is now in its third generation.
LAND ROVER FREELANDER – currently in its second generation, the Freelander is a compact crossover SUV. Launched in 1997, it quickly became the best selling compact 4×4 in Europe.
LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER – a full size luxury four-wheel SUV, the Range Rover has been in production since 1970 undergoing a wide range of changes in three different generations.
LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER SPORT – A sports – rather than off-road – orientated SUV.
DID YOU KNOW?
Early Land Rovers were constructed of a lightweight rustproof alloy of aluminium and magnesium called Birmabright which was used due to post war steel shortages and the plentiful supply of post-war aircraft aluminium. Birmabright’s resistance to rust helped Land Rovers build a reputation for being long-lasting even in the toughest conditions. In fact, it is estimated that around 75% of all Land Rovers ever built are still in use.
The early choice of Land Rover colour was mainly down to the military surplus supplies of aircraft cockpit paint after the war – so early vehicles only came in various shades of light green.
Early advertisements for Land Rovers bragged that the vehicles could be driven for thousands of miles on banana oil!
Mini debuted the all-new Cooper and Cooper S at the recently held 2007 North American International Auto Show. These models feature an entirely different body design, interior and engines.
Though at first glance, the overall design of the Mini Cooper is still identical to its predecessors, the automaker confirmed that each body panel is different. Under the hood of the vehicle is a set of new engines that include the 1.6-liter four-cylinder which is capable of producing 120 horsepower. The Mini Cooper S, on the other hand, features an intercooled and turbocharged version of the same 1.6-liter engine that generates 175 units of horsepower. The automaker also claims a 0-62 time in just 7.1 seconds, and a top speed of 140 miles per hour.
Each body panel has been redesigned by the automaker. However, the vehicles still bear that distinguished look of Mini vehicles. Mini’s pool of designers made continuity and fluidity as their concept. Moreover, the concept also emphasized modern traditional designs and significant engineering features. The newly launched Minis are immediately recognizable both dynamically and visually.
The new vehicles retained some of its predecessors’ Mini Cooper parts accessories like short body overhangs, the popular wheel-at-each-corner stance, high shoulder line rising towards the rear, hexagonal radiator grille, and the huge, round headlights. Subtle changes are also made to new Mini Cooper parts to create a brand new aura. New Minis have become a bit bigger compared to the first generation. As a fact, the new MINI Cooper is 60mm longer than its predecessor while the new MINI Cooper S is longer by 61mm. To maintain proportions, Mini also increased the size of the rear portion by giving the vehicle more rounded contours.
The headlights of the vehicle are now stationary to the body. They are turned protruding to some extent to the outside to keep the geometry of the car from the front. The indicators are housed within the main headlight units. Also, the radiator grille is now composed of a closed, self-contained element inspired by the air intake scoop on the classic Mini.
The Mini Cooper S has a more prominent front end because of the featured bonnet that curves up by about approximately 20mm more to provide extra space for the turbocharged engine under the hood. The feature is also resorted to comply with the pedestrian impact regulations. The new Cooper S rises gently to the rear to accentuate the stance of the vehicle. Its shoulder line is made 18mm higher than the previous model. With regards the rear lights, they are made larger and now come with external surrounds.
Both the Mini Cooper and the Mini Cooper S feature vertical airflow edges on the C-pillars and individual spoilers at the rear end of the roof enhance the level of aerodynamics to an even higher standard than before. In addition, 0.33 is the current drag coefficient of the Mini Cooper.
Critics in the industry are saying that the Mini Cooper is dead because of the redesign. They added that from the moment the new Minis are displayed in the recent auto show they are pronounced DEAD. However, are they really dead and insensible? Enthusiasts say it is the other way around.
Now, Minis are open to a wide range of customization. It is given broad variety of paintwork and body colors, 7 of which are brand new.
The Mini Cooper S is a small, very friendly looking car with a traditional design but a modern engine and features. The very first Mini was launched on the market in 1961 by the British Motor Corporation (BMC), belonging to the supermini class of automobiles.
The genuine Mini is considered an emblem of the 1960s, being of great inspiration to the car makers in that time that noticed the clever space saving front-wheel-drive layout. The Mini Cooper was very popular among celebrities in the 60s and the 70s but it hasn’t lost its fame today.
The history of the Minis is long and BMC has launched a great number of successful models of Minis throughout the last decades. There are the MK I Mini the MK II Mini, variants to these, plus the Mini Cooper and the Cooper S. Mini Cooper and the Cooper S were considered two economical models, the price being affordable to almost anyone. These very sporty and speedy cars, so many people preferred them.
Mini Cooper S has made history in the rally races as well, obtaining some victories at the Monte Carlo Rallis in the 1960s. The famous Nikki Lauda, Enzo Ferrari and Steve McQueen all owned Mini Coopers. However, the Mini was voted as the second most influential car of the twentieth century, being beaten only by the Ford model T.
Unfortunately, the Cooper S was produced up till 2000, but a new Mini was introduced by BMW, the owner of the brand. This fresh mini car was called the MINI written in capital letters. The new MINI is worthy of its name, keeping many of the old characteristic features of the mini Cooper but getting some state of the art features also. The Cooper S is considered a sporty version of Mini. It two doors only and a 6 speed manual transmission.
The Mini Cooper S features a multifunction steering wheel plus an up to date navigation system, glass panel sunroof, automatic air conditioning and many more. These are only the standard options to which you can add some other extras. Even if the S is a small car, it has force and is very speedy. It has strong suspensions, precise go-kart handling and great transmission.
You can be sure that the Mini will offer you great safety with the ABS, the Connecting Brake Control, Electronic Brake force distribution as well as the Brake assist feature, which are all included in the standard package onf the Mini Cooper S. you can also get the automatic stability control and traction features plus the dynamic stability control. For the Cooper S manufacturers safety comes first. All in all, the Mini S is a car with great personality and looks, speedy, inexpensive and safe. Enjoy the ride and the car as well.
MG is best known for two-seat open sports cars, but MG also produced saloons and coupés. More recently, the brand has also been used to designate sportier versions of other models belonging to the parent company. Nanjing MG Automobile Co. (NAC MG Ltd) bought the assets of MG Rover in 2005; in 2007, under these new owners, MG will restart production of the MG TF at the company’s Longbridge factory.
MG HISTORY MG was founded in 1924, getting its name from “Morris Garages.” The first car which could be described as a new MG, rather than a modified Morris, was the 18/80 of 1928. A smaller car was launched in 1929, the first of a long line of Midgets. MG also made a name for itself in the early days of motorsport. Before World War II, MG began to produce the T-Series Midgets. MG released the MGA in 1955 and the MGB in 1962, which continued production until 1980
MG FACTS
Type: private Founded: 1924 by William Morris and Cecil Kimber Headquarters: Longbridge, England Key people: Wang Hao Liang (NAC Chairman), Yu Jian Wei (NAC CEO) Industry: Automotive Products: Cars
FEATURED MODELS
MG MGF: – a mid-engined, rear wheel drive roadster first produced in 1995 MG TF: – the redesigned MG TF was launched in 2002 and named after the classic MG TF MG ZR : – a hot hatch produced by MG Rover between 2001-2005
DID YOU KNOW?
The MGB was the first new sports car for more than half a million Americans and was probably owned by at least a million more because it had second, third and even fourth owners. It was the last MG sports car sold in the USA The MGB tourer was built from 1962 to 1980, with total production reaching 386,789 units, of which nearly nine out of every ten were exported, mainly to the USA The bore and stroke dimensions (80 x 89.3 mm) of the 1.8 K Series engine used in the MGF and TF are almost identical to those of the MGB 1.8 B Series. The technology moves on, but the ideal proportions for torque and usable power remain the same
The Aston Martin DBR9 is manufactured by its racing division and has had significant success since its inception in 2005. The car is a GT1 racing class, and it got its name “DBR9″ from it predecessor the “DBR1″, which was the first winning car in the family that won the illustrious 1959 “24 Hours of LeMans” race and in that same year the “World Sportscar” title as well. The “DBR1″ derived its name from then-owner David Brown, which heralded the British back into the racing world once more. The Aston Martin DBR9 was first shown to a very select few of people back on 4th November 2004, at Aston Martin’s headquarters in Gaydon, UK, and its debut race was the “12 Hours of Sebring” in March 2005.
The body of the car is designed in the conventional 2 door coupe style, and has its foundations rooted from the Aston Martin DB9 road car. And the DBR9 maintains some major attributes from DB9 road car, for example the heads of the V12 engine, the cylinder block, and the chassis, whereas everything else was made from scratch, and re-mastered for a superb enhancement of the car’s performance under tough competition scenarios. The structure of the DBR9 is made up of an aluminum roof, racing developed aluminum under-frame, which is derived from the DB9, a high strength steel roll cage, and every other body panel is made from a “carbon fibre composite”.
Aston Martin DBR9’s bodywork is a complete blending of maximum aerodynamic performance, and the ease of use of a typical road car, making movement on the track second nature to the car and driver, resulting in a comfort and normalcy to everything that the car is, also adding to the aerodynamics of the car. The designer’s aim was to make the entire bottom, from the rear diffuser to the front, of the DBR9 flat as possible, with a carbon wing attached to the backend in order to stimulate the rear down-force, allowing the car to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 3.4 seconds.
The specifications of the car are a width of 1978mm; a length of 4767mm; a weight of 1100kg; a wheelbase of 2741mm; and a height of 1195mm. The engine of the DBR9 consists of a “48 valve Aston Martin Racing 6.0 litre V12″ fabricated from all alloy and a quad overhead camshaft, also the engine includes a “dry sump lubrication system”, and “2 x 31.2mm air restrictors”. The 6.0 litre V12 max power peaks at 600 bhp, and with a torque of over 700 N m. The suspension of the car incorporates a double wishbone at the front end and at the backend, with adaptable Koni dampers equipped with Eibach springs. The braking system is consists of both front and backend “Brembo six pot calipers” with “330mm diameter carbon discs”, all labouring around a set of “OZ forged magnesium wheels”. The arrangement and configuration of the DBR9 comprises a “mid front mounted engine”, rear wheel drive, and a “mid rear mounted transmission”. The transmission, Xtrac, is built up of “six speed sequential” that is longitudinally situated at the rear axle, and is put to use by a “four plated carbon clutch”. The incorporated ECU/Data system encompasses a “Pi Data system” with a “Pectel engine ECU”.
Recently, there were changes in regulations to assist race car drivers while racing the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans race, and Prodrive added these changes unto the car e.g. the installation of air conditioning in the cockpit, and a heat resistant white roof inside. Both to assist the driver by ensuring temperatures are kept at a minimum, so performance levels from the driver would go up. However, the items previously responsible for cooling, the two hood vents, were removed because they were no longer needed.
The racing history of the DBR9 is a prominent one, with its major rival being Corvette Racing, where there as been some tough rivalries over the past 3 years. DBR9 debuted by winning the 2005 “12 Hours of Sebring” LMGT1 category. It came second behind Corvette in 2006 in both the 12 Hours and the 24-hour races, but had victories at Lime Rock Park, Mosport, Laguna Seca, Miller Motorsports Park, and Petit Le Mans. They finish second overall that year earning automatic entry into the 2007 24 hours of Le Mans, which they eventually won their class.
At the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin introduced a revised version of the company’s critically acclaimed DB9, which includes significant enhancements to standard specification.
Changes include a revised version of Aston Martin’s 6.0 litre V12 engine to deliver improved power and torque. Peak power of 470bhp (350kW) – increased by 20bhp (30Nm) – is now reached at 6,000rpm, resulting in a power to weight ratio of 267bhp per tonne (199kW/tonne) – an increase of 11bhp per tonne over the existing Aston Martin DB9.
Peak torque of 600Nm is delivered at 5,000rpm, providing even more accessible power for the driver, as well a greater performance feel overall. Accordingly, top speed is now 190mph (306km/h) and the benchmark 0-60mph time improves by 0.3 seconds for the Touchtronic transmission – which benefits from a new valve box and integrated transmission controls to achieve quicker gear shifts – to 4.6 seconds and by 0.1 seconds to 4.6 seconds for the manual gearbox.
The latest Aston Martin DB9 also incorporates a series of chassis developments for both the Coupe and Volante derivates. Bilstein dampers are introduced in addition to revised upper suspension arms and retuned suspension bushes to deliver improved ride quality; aiding greater refinement in the Volante and an enhanced sporting feel in the Coupe. The Aston Martin DB9 Volante also benefits from revisions to the front shear panel which increases torsional rigidity by 10%, further improving refinement.
The Aston Martin DB9 manages to combine all facets of style, quality and usability of a traditional Aston Martin without relying on retrospective detail or design. Therefore, auto parts styling changes to the revised Aston Martin DB9 are subtle, reflecting the car’s timeless design and understated elegance. Auto parts exterior styling changes include the introduction of a new standard 19” 10-spoke alloy wheel, new door mirrors and a revised anodised aluminium five-bar grille. In the cabin changes include a new centre console constructed from die cast zinc with a painted iridium silver finish and the introduction of a new Emotion Control Unit (ECU) – first seen on the DBS in 2007. The ECU – constructed from glass, polished stainless steel and polycarbonate – replaces the key used previously for the DB9.
The innovative Aston Martin DB9 introduced an exciting new era for Aston Martin. The 2+2 sports car set new standards in its class due to its astonishing combination of technology, agility and design. The car marked the beginning of a new era for Aston Martin and became the first car to be hand-made at the company’s state-of-the-art facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire.
Sales of the Aston Martin DB9 started in spring 2004, and to date, more than 10,000 examples have been produced and delivered to customers around the world – surpassing the DB7 as the most successful Aston Martin of all time.
Deliveries of the updated Aston Martin DB9 begin during quarter two 2008, with prices from £113,950 for the DB9 Coupe and £122,950 for the DB9 Volante.
This is a video that I made after I saw Top Gear abusing and wrecking two Marinas. The Marina is seen by everyone as a creep, and loved by very few people, so this is a bit of a protest because the Marina is so badly abused by some people. Dedicated to the Morris Marina Owners Club and all the Marina owners that put a lot of effort on saving these cars.
Only 27 new vehicles made the list for the safest cars of 2010. In 2009, 94 vehicles made the list for top safety cars, which are 67 less than this year. Apparently the safety rating got a lot tougher, like the addition of a new roof strength requirement. The roof strength requirement aims to protect passengers against rollover crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety added the roof strength test to address the increasing circumstances where people are injured or killed in accidents.
Honda not only got one of its vehicles to make the top 27 list, but two. The Honda Civic and the Honda Element were two of the Honda vehicles that performed very well on these rigorous safety tests. The Honda Accord missed the list by a synch due to minor details. The Institute named 19 cars and eight sport-utility vehicles as the top safety vehicles for 2010. Among them are the Audi A3, Honda Civic, Dodge Journey and Ford Taurus. Among major automakers with no top picks is Toyota Motor Corp. Toyota’s Camry came close with good front, side and rollover protection, but fell short in the rear-impact test. To become a top safety pick, a vehicle has to have the insurance group’s top rating of “good” in front, side, rollover and rear-impact crash tests and also have electronic stability control, which helps drivers maintain control of their vehicles in situations that might otherwise result in crashes.
Roof strength has long been a point of contention between the Insurance Institute and the auto industry, as well as among safety experts. Carmakers have never been fond of roof strength testing because they say these test do not show a conclusive relationship between roof strength and occupant safety. Carmakers also conclude that roof strength testing does not show how well a vehicles structure performs in crash collisions. A representative of the Institute, Mr. Lund, responded by stating that their research on rollover crashes showed that weaker vehicles roofs more often than not result in death.
Honda has been known for over a decade for its reliable and safe vehicles and once again has been recognized for it. Make sure to stop by your local Miami dealership to test drive your safe Honda vehicle.
