Agya Club Indonesia
Land Rover in general and the men and women of its Special Vehicle Operations division in particular deserve suitably gigantic congratulations for the new Range Rover Sport SVR. After our five-star road test verdict on the car landed only the other week, we hope they鈥檝e had plenty. Back to business. This 2.3-tonne marvel now has a target on its back big enough to cover a double-garage door and the time to defend itself has already come. Welcome, then, not just one but two BMW performance SUVs out to catch the Range Rover in a pincer movement worthy of Hannibal himself. First and foremost comes the obvious rival: the all-new X5 M. It鈥檚 more powerful than the SVR, it鈥檚 quicker, it鈥檚 cheaper and it鈥檚 from a performance sub-brand with almost four decades of history. It鈥檚 the kind of car that simply demands to be lined up against the reigning power in its particular class on a quiet stretch of B-road and allowed to decide its own fate. And so it shall. Then there鈥檚 the dark horse: the facelifted Alpina XD3 Biturbo.
The unspoken word hanging in the air over the 2016 Range Rover Td6 and Range Rover Sport Td6: still. Range Rover, the luxury SUV imprint of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and currently a brimming fountain of Yankee cash, is still following through with its plan to offer diesel powertrains to the U.S. This, despite the recent unpleasantness known as Dieselgate, Volkswagen鈥檚 emissions-cheating scandal. Talk about climate change. Five years ago diesel was the great green hope, a conventionally handled fuel with about 20% higher fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions. With low-sulfur fuel and post-combustion urea-injection systems to reduce NOx (nitrogen oxides), diesel light-duty vehicles could pass even California鈥檚 stringent tailpipe tests. Today, thanks to VW, diesel鈥檚 brand is in disgrace. Meet your new spokesman: Jared. The good people of JLR understand the timing of their push is less than optimal, but they note heavy industry doesn鈥檛 turn on a dime. They make the case, reasonably, that there remains a cadre of unserved Jaguar and Land Rover/Range Rover clients who prefer the range, durability, ready torque and efficiency of diesel.
The term 鈥淩ange Rover鈥?holds a powerful place in premium off-road travel with the brand鈥檚 鈥淓voque鈥?subcompact SUV establishing itself as a stylish and capable luxury vehicle. Since its introduction 7 years ago the Range Rover Evoque has sold nearly three-quarter of a million copies worldwide. However, even as the compact luxury SUV category was up 20 percent in the U.S. Range Rover Evoque sales were down 17 percent. Losing sales in a growing segment is not where any brand wants to be, so the all-new 2020 Evoque can鈥檛 arrive soon enough. The outgoing model鈥檚 strengths included a distinct exterior design, plush interior materials and off-road capabilities worthy of the Range Rover badge. The new Evoque retains those characteristics while infusing a healthy dose of advanced technology. The 2020 Range Rover Evoque鈥檚 all-new architecture features a longer wheelbase and more efficient packaging in an exterior footprint nearly identical to the outgoing model. The new chassis is 13 percent stiffer and uses rigidly-mounted subframes to reduce cabin noise and vibration.
Young Tony is startled. He can't get to school. There are no trains or buses. Standing outside I can see why. In the distance there is a tall column of smoke in the lull between the gusts that push the snow horizontal through the still leaden sky. There's a big engine with a crane behind, trying to lift something. Engine's come off the rails, Mister Simms. The wheels took the ice for rail, and then it was off! There won't be much coming through here today, I'll warrant! This'll take some hours to clear. The engine's down in the cutting, near the bridge. You can't see it from here, and they've had to radio for the York plough. There's a crane coming from there as well! The long way round, eh? I stroke my chin. The cold is biting in the wind, maybe I'll grow a beard for the winter..
