Motoring: Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic; Triumph; Aston Martin
LAND ROVER has chosen the most power production version of its Range Rover flagship to showcase some of its latest technological advances.
The 2017 Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic is powered by a 550HP V8 supercharged engine whilst inside luxurious touches include diamond quilted leather seats, contrast stitching and a knurled finish rotary shift controller and pedals.
Despite its vast size, the off-roader is capable of accelerating from 0-60 in 5.1 seconds.
However, it is the vehicle’s technological capabilities that are the focus of JLR’s new sales pitch.
Standard driver assistance technologies include Rear Park Distance Control, Cruise Control and Speed Limiter, Lane Departure Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). This intelligent technology uses a forward-facing camera to detect a risk of collision and warn the driver initiating full emergency braking if the driver fails to respond.
The additional ‘Drive Pack’ includes existing features such as Blind Spot Monitor, Traffic Sign Recognition and Reverse Traffic Detection, and new technology including Intelligent Speed Limiter, which uses the Traffic Sign Recognition hardware to automatically adjust the vehicle speed to meet the prevailing speed limit.
Also included in the Drive Pack is Driver Condition Monitor which analyses data such as steering inputs and road speed, as well as taking account of the time of day, to warn against driver fatigue.
The ‘Drive Pro Pack’ takes the features of the Drive Pack and adds Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist and Intelligent Emergency Braking. Range Rovers fitted with Drive Pro Pack also benefit from Blind Spot Assist which automatically applies counter steering if the driver begins to change lane into the path of a following vehicle, and Lane Keep Assist which provides gentle, corrective steering input if it detects the vehicle is drifting across the white lines.
Elsewhere, Advanced Tow Assist is intended to take the anxiety out of the difficult task of reversing while towing a trailer. Using the vehicle’s existing Surround Camera System, this technology enables drivers to guide a trailer into position with minimal effort. By following the trajectory lines overlaid on an image from the rear-facing camera displayed on the central touchscreen, Advanced Tow Assist is able to automatically steer the vehicle to follow the path selected by the driver using the dash-mounted rotary Terrain Response selector.
Low Traction Launch is a manually selectable driving mode designed to assist drivers when pulling away from a standstill on slippery surfaces such as wet grass, snow or ice. By controlling the amount of torque that can be applied by the driver, the system reduces the likelihood of wheelspin to maintain traction and ensure smooth acceleration.
The feature can be accessed independently through the central touchscreen and the driver is prompted to engage Low Traction Launch whenever Grass/Gravel/Snow mode is selected using the vehicle’s Terrain Response 2.
The introduction of JLR’s ‘InControl Touch Pro’ infotainment system improves satellite navigation functionality and connectivity. The intuitive operation is augmented by a new larger 10-inch dual-view touchscreen display, alternatively users can choose to enhance their view of the navigation system by selecting to convert the digital display behind the steering wheel to a full-screen view of their route and map.
As part of an ‘InControl Connect Pro’ pack, InControl Touch Pro incorporates a series of new app services to Range Rover. InControl Remote Premium allows customers to remotely control vehicle functions such as activating the climate control to cool or heat the car ready for departure, set and deactivate the alarm, and even start the engine. The app will alert owners if their vehicle alarm has been triggered.
Additional InControl Touch Pro Services include live apps that can be downloaded to provide information such as headline news, weather reporting and flight tracking.
InControl Touch Pro also features ‘door-to-door routing’, an intelligent, multi-device system that navigates users to their destination whether they be on foot or behind the wheel, thanks to a Land Rover-dedicated smartphone Route Planner app.
‘Commute mode’ automatically learns frequently-used routes and recommends the most efficient route dependent on live traffic data, then shares the driver’s destination, arrival time and current location with friends, family and colleagues via a live messaging system through the driver’s smartphone.
In addition to the existing engine line-up, UK customers will have the option of specifying JLR’s 3.0 litre V6 supercharged petrol engine. The V6 achieves 340 PS and 450 Nm of torque combined with CO2 emissions of 248g/km. Acceleration time from 0-60mph is 7.1s.
As will become increasing the norm for JLR, new owners will be able to specify bespoke exterior finishes courtesy of the manufacturer’s Special Vehicle Operations division.
In total, 19 new colours give customers more choice of metallic and pearlescent colours, widely available in either gloss or satin matte finishes. The additional palette ranges from traditional shades to bolder, more contemporary choices.
Mark Stanton, director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations, said: “The Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic has been specially developed by the Special Vehicle Operations team to deliver a more engaging driving experience. It delivers the ultimate combination of performance and Range Rover luxury, befitting its unique position in the portfolio.”
The vehicle goes on sale in the final quarter of 2016, with prices starting from £76,350 for the TDV6 Vogue, with the SVAutobiography Dynamic starting from £132,800.
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A SPECIAL edition Triumph motorcycle has become the famous British brand’s fastest ever machine.
The Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner, piloted by Guy Martin, achieved a speed of 274.2 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats on August 8.
The Streamliner smashed the previous official Triumph record that stood at 245.667 mph as well as the unofficial Triumph record of 264mph, both set by Bob Leppan, in the Gyronaut X-1.
Near perfect conditions greeted the team on the final day of the team’s land speed practice week. With confidence high after a successful number of days running on the salt at Bonneville the team’s goal for the day with the Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner was the Triumph record.
Just after 8:30am the team set off on the first run of the day, after a steady start, Martin accelerated the sleek looking streamliner to a staggering 274.2 mph, rewriting Triumph history in the process.
Just after the two-mile marker Martin came to a controlled stop near to the team’s base camp to be greeted by the news that he had broken the 46-year-old Triumph record.
Martin said the run had given him the confidence that the machine could now secure the World two-wheeled Land Speed record.
He said: “It’s good and we are moving in the right direction, but it is just one step on the way to what me and team are here to do.”
The Triumph Infor Rocket features a carbon Kevlar monocoque construction with two turbocharged Triumph Rocket III engines producing a combined 1,000 bhp at 9,000 rpm. The motorcycle is 25.5 feet long, 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall. Powered by methanol fuel, the bike is competing in the Division C (streamlined motorcycle) category.
Hinckley-based Triumph has a history of breaking the land speed record, holding the title of ‘World’s Fastest Motorcycle’ between 1955 to 1970 – except for a short 30-day period.
The record-breaking Triumph Streamliners included: Devil’s Arrow, Texas Cee-gar, Dudek Streamliner and Gyronaut X1, the former achieving a top speed of 245.667 mph (395.28 km/h).
Today’s record, held by Rocky Robinson since 2010 riding the Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner, sits at 376.363 mph (605.697 km/h).
Triumph conceived the iconic Bonneville name following Johnny Allen’s land-speed record runs at the Salt Flats in September 1956, when he reached the record breaking speed of 193.72 mph. The first T120 Bonneville model was unveiled at the Earls Court Bike Show and went on sale in 1959.
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LUXURY carmaker Aston Martin has teamed up with prestige menswear retailer Hackett to launch a specially-branded range of menswear.
The companies have offered a glimpse of what will be available when the full range, dubbed Aston Martin by Hackett, is launched next month.
The launch will coincide with the reveal of Aston Martin’s highly anticipated DB11 sports car.
Hackett’s relationship with Aston Martin stretches back many years through a successful partnership with Aston Martin Racing, the company’s global sportscar racing operation.
Aston Martin’s executive vice president and chief creative officer, Marek Reichman said: “Starting with the enduringly successful relationship with Hackett via Aston Martin Racing, we were delighted to take the partnership to a whole new level of style with the creation of the Aston Martin by Hackett collection. By bringing together our creative teams from the outset of the project we have created a look that captures the essence of this great partnership.”
Jeremy Hackett, chairman and founder of Hackett, added: “I am very proud of the successful relationship that Hackett has forged with Aston Martin. We are both forward-looking brands with a strong focus on delivering a refined product to a discerning market. Taking the step from uniforms for the race team into a beautiful capsule collection of luxurious clothing has been a pleasure for Hackett and we believe we have created a collection that drives us to the next level in elegance and refinement.”
The 14-piece collection includes outerwear, knitwear, shirts, trousers and accessories.
