Rovers roll out
Published:Sunday | March 28, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Brian Bonitto, Special Assignment Editor
SOUNDS OF roaring lions, trumpeting elephants and 'natives' gyrating to infectious African drum beats provided the perfect setting for the official launch of the 2010 Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Discovery 4 at the river-side property, Boone Hall Oasis in St Andrew, last Sunday.
"We are consolidating Land Rover's position in Jamaica," said Simon Elliott, CONRICO's regional sales development manager - United Kingdom suppliers of Land Rover.
"No car can do as much as a Land Rover."
Elliott, who manages 18 dealerships across the Caribbean, said the brand has been gaining traction in Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.
"We are experts in this particular segment," he said, "and we aim to beat customers' expectations."
Major Hugh Blake, general manager of Kingston Industrial Garage (KIG) - the local dealer of Land Rovers - said the brand was a leader in its class.
"With a Land Rover SUV, you get a unique car with on- and off-road features, without compromising luxury," he said.
The general manager said customers should also have a shorter waiting period for parts.
"It should now take two to three weeks and we have expanded our inventory."
According to the press kit, the 2010 Range Rover Sport has had massive overhaul of its power trains. The engines - 245 PS LR-TDV6 3.0 twin-turbo diesel and the 510 PS LR-V8 5.0 supercharged petrol — have been reworked to enhance performance, while improving fuel efficiency and lowering emissions.
The 3.0-litre diesel engine produces 600 Nm of torque and 245 PS, while the fuel consumption has been reduced by 8.9 per cent to 30.7 mpg. The CO2 emissions have been reduced by 8.3 per cent to 243 g/km.
fuel economy
The supercharged 510 PS LR-V8 pushes 625 Nm of torque and improves on fuel economy by 6.2 per cent to 18.9 mpg. CO2 emissions have been reduced by seven per cent to 353 g/km.
The Discovery 4 has a LR-TDV6 3.0 twin-turbo diesel engine commanding 600Nm of torque and 245 PS. Its fuel consumption has been improved by nine per cent, delivering 30.4 mpg, while CO2 emissions have been reduced by nine per cent to 244g/km.
The Land Rover Discovery commands a star-ting price of $10.5 million, while $12.3 million can buy the Range Rover.
"It is still competitively priced," said Major Blake. "And remember, the Land Rover brand holds its value."