Evoque: I have seen the future of Land Rover ...

[Dendy Jarrett]

You are totally missing my point here and the spirit. I am not dogging Land Rover as much as I am the Evoque.
Yes, you are right, it is a shame that a company had to go through so many hands, and while owned by ford, ... ford developed these technologies and you are just now seeing those influences coming out. And it makes one wonder if it wasn't a calculated move by Ford just to discover the technology. (they obviously didn't steal it ... as they owned it at that time it was developed).
My original point is that I don't ever see the Evoque ever being considered an exploration or expedition platform.
And as to the point of the similarities between the body design resembling the Ford Explorer- I overheard person after person state this at the launch party.The crowd at the launch (in Nashville) that were giving the most interest were some professional sports guys that wanted to know if they could get it with 22" rims, rubber band tires, etc.

As an old school Land Rover lover, I miss the days of old launches when they would show Camel Trophy videos, have a fully kitted truck next to a daily driver truck, and you could let your imagination run. But alas, things must change.

 

[discotdi]

I don't want to be argumentative because a forum argument is of course pointless, but I think you are missing the point. The Evoque is not an expedition platform. Who would think that it is? Every vehicle land rover makes doesn't have to be an expedition platform. Every jeep isn't an expedition platform, hell, most are 2wd!
The difference is you are disappointed in land rover because you expect so much from them, which you don't expect from other manufacturers. Basically you just need to cut LR some slack.
Technically ford did not steal the LR technology but morally they did. They knew the ******t was good and they wanted it, so they took it. BMW took hill descent control when they sold LR but at least they have the Good manners to pay a royalty to use it.
The use of LR technologies by other manufacturers is proof that LR is the cutting edge of 4x4 tech. Hdc,terrain response, air suspension. All LR. Now used by just about everybody. I miss the old launches too, I hope they come back soon.

 

[MattScott]

Land Rover took a lot more technology from Ford than Ford took from Land Rover. Ford took a knob that changes TC settings, let's not forget that was developed on Ford's dime.

Funny, I never heard one person compare it to the Explorer at the launch. We did get the Edge though.

 

[Antichrist]

Apparently the old Land Rovers cannot do the Canol Road either.

I'm not sure allocating enough time or fuel has a lot to do with the vehicle make.

 

[discotdi]

Matt, what did LR take from ford other than engines and money? No 4wd technology.
Yes ford poured money into the factory which was great and has helped make the current LR models much more reliable, but in terms of product development that was all LR.

 

[Rocket Ship]

Also, you are correct on one point. You will continue to see Ford products that resemble LR's in the future. When Ford sold LR they raided the cupboard so to speak and basically stole technology and future product info from LR.
The reason you see it in Ford products first is because ford can bring things to production quicker for many reasons but one big one is because they don't do the same level of testing.

What a load of balogna. Do you have any actual insight into either companies product testing?

Ford raided the cupboard? You don't think Land Rover benefitted at all from Ford's massive CAE/CAD capabilities to design their new chassis?

Do you know for a fact that Ford used ANY of LR's "4wd" technology? (by which I assume you are talking about the electronic controls). Or did Ford buy the technology from one of the big Tier 1 providers like Continental? For that matter, do you know that LR didn't also just buy the technology from Continental?

I'm not even sure if LR developed the system on the Disco 2. The SLABS unit is made by Wabco, who also sold it to Hummer as used on the H2. Who actually develped that system, LR, or Wabco?

The use of LR technologies by other manufacturers is proof that LR is the cutting edge of 4x4 tech. Hdc,terrain response, air suspension. All LR. Now used by just about everybody.

Again, do you even know who developed it? There's not a lot of enigneering actually going on in the OEM's. They are more like systems integrators, and marketing engines. A HUGE amount of "technology" is developed by the suppliers, and simply sold to the OEM's.

Recognize any of these products?

http://www.wabco-auto.com/uploads/media/Product_Brochure_05.pdf

You should, they're all over Land Rovers. Who do you think actually developed them? Did Wabco steal them?

but in terms of product development that was all LR.

You sure about that?

Ever hear of the Premier Automotive Group, headquartered in Irvine, California?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Automotive_Group

 

[discotdi]

yes I have insight into product development.
Yes, LR did benefit from Ford chassis tech.
I am talking about tech like Terrain response not D2 ABS/traction control which was developed by Wabco/Bosch/ etc.
LR has taken proven tech like ABS and then implemented it for traction control/terrain response/HDC, etc. LR has taken the tech further to enhance the 4x4 capabilities of their products. Obviously all car manufacturers rely on suppliers to make the products as specified by the manufacturer. And obviously suppliers are always trying to sell new technology to auto manufacturers. The manufacturers themselves decide how to use the tech to best suit their needs and they develop it further to that end. Wabco or whoever may still make the product, but to LR's specs. I would imagine that the Hummer slabs system and LR's is not the same.
Both Jeep and Ford are now using a terrain response type system which came from LR. Of Course everything to make terrain response work is in the market place, but LR put it to use first and now others have copied it. Because it works, just like HDC and air suspension etc. BTW HDC is patented by LR even though others now use it under different names. PAG of Irvine CA did nothing. The LR vehicles in production today were developed in the UK at Gaydon and Solihull, not Irvine CA. Ask any PAG employee that was employed during the LR ownership era and they will tell you they hated the UK because LR UK would not let PAG dictate what and how things were developed. Sure the top brass at Ford had the last word on what was produced but once given the green light, it happened in the UK.
LR did benefit from Ford in terms of money, which made many things possible.
BTW Evoque was named MT suv of the year today, not the Ford Explorer. The copy is never as good as the original.:sombrero:
In the end lets just say it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

 

[reece146]

Thirty-seven Helens agree.

 

[haven]

While people here are dissing the Evoque, Motor Trend has named it the SUV of the Year for 2012

http://www.trucktrend.com/oftheyear...year_land_rover_range_rover_evoque/index.html

There's no reason why Range Rover has to build only high clearance mud bogging trucks. Porsche faithful screamed to high heaven when the Cayenne SUV and Panamera sedan. The success of those new Porsches allows the company to continue building the original sports cars. Range Rover is hoping for the same sort of success.

 

[matthewp]

Congratulations to Land Rover for winning a CAR magazine's SUV of the year award. I think I would like to wait for a truck or four wheel drive based magazine to chime in before deciding how it will benefit someone in this crowd.

 

[ltngaines]

Very sad. that Rover looks like it was made for a soccer mom. It ended with the D1 & RRC.

 

[discotdi]

Very sad. that Rover looks like it was made for a soccer mom. It ended with the D1 & RRC.

Whatever.

 

[rover4x4]

Land Rover has been dead for about 15 years.

I was looking through the recent Petersons 4wd and they are selling the JK with a PUMA hood bulge.

Id certainly buy one of those LWB JK's if theyd do the diesel and a manual gearbox.

 

[haven]

Automobile Magazine just named the Evoque one of its 2012 All Stars. It's the only SUV and/or crossover on the list of ten vehicles. Reviewer Jamie Kitman says the Evoque is close to being an icon for a new class of vehicle.

http://www.automobilemag.com/featur...ars/honda_odyssey_and_range_rover_evoque.html

 

[AmericaOverland]

The analogy that I can't help but make on what is happening in Land Rover, is what happened to Banana Republic. In the mid 80's I was living in LA and spending every weekend home from boarding school out in the Mojave deep in the desert in my CJ. Most of my outdoor clothes were Abercrombe and Fitch, but their quality was diminishing and their clothes would not hold up to desert scrub. Low and behold Banana Republic opens a store in Beverly Hills and that place spoke to me. The store had a wall themed with jungle plants and half an elephant statue sticking out. There was a military WWII jeep in the middle of the store with clothes on it, and a piper cub airplane hanging from the ceiling.

Mark, you and I could be brother/sister! Banana Republic through the 80s was the REAL DEAL! The real thing! I loved the blouses, pants, shorts, and skirts that were made in that high-quality cotton material. This stuff lasted through the 90s, over ten years later. That was so much fun! I loved shopping there, and I still can remember the feel of the store and its smells of new clothing and the bright-smiling kids working there. It was an adventure to shop there! There was and is no other store like it. I dare anyone here to prove me wrong! I'm not all that happy with the stuff being made out of plastic fibers. Anyway, Banana Republic is no longer what it was, and I feel LR is very much headed that way because the arses Dendy talked to recently just don't get it. Sorry for the hijack...