VIDEO: New Range Rover set to be Posh-est yet
JAGUAR Land Rover has officially launched its new ‘baby’ Range Rover which is set to propel the company in a whole new direction and pave the way for hundreds of new jobs.
The company, owned by the Indian conglomerate Tata, unveiled the car – called the Evoque – for the first time at a high profile event in London last night.
The vehicle, which bears a remarkable similarity to the LRX concept unveiled two years ago, will be produced at Land Rover’s plant in Halewood on Merseyside.
It is the smallest and most fuel efficient Range Rover model ever designed and as many as 1,000 new jobs could be created if demand is strong enough.
The concept was acclaimed when it was first shown off on 2008 and created a buzz with younger drivers not yet ready to upgade to the luxury 4x4s.
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Victoria Beckham, who attended last night’s launch, was named as a creative design executive at Range Rover and will work on a special edition of the car.
The party was held to mark the 40th anniversary of the Range Rover last month.
The vehicle, which will be available with either four-wheel or two-wheel drive, will make a public debut at the Paris Motor Show in September and go on sale in 160 countries from next summer.
Phil Popham, managing director of Land Rover, said: “The all-new Range Rover Evoque will be built at our multi-award winning plant in Halewood, creating 1,000 new jobs in the Merseyside area, a fantastic boost to the UK economy. The Halewood plant has a reputation for excellence and quality and is recognised throughout the industry as a leader in lean manufacturing.”
Management at Halewood, which employs 2,000 people, were first told the plant would handle the new model in September. It came as a relief at the factory where 300 jobs were lost last year in response to the global downturn. Production of the X-Type Jaguar was due to end in 2009, leaving the plant with one model – the Land Rover Freelander.
In 2008-09 global car sales slumped by 30% and JLR saw production fall by more than 100,000 vehicles. The picture has since brightenend for the company with figures for the year to the end of March showing a 31% increase in sales to £13.6bn. Profits came in at £378m, compared with losses of £310m the year before.
