Land Rover 4x63mm Green And Silver Caps on 2040-cars

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2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class vs big luxury off-roaders: How they compare on paper

During our first drive of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the all-new SUV's product manager was asked to identify competitors that might have been benchmarked in its development. The look on his face was about the same as if someone had asked him to recite King Lear in Klingon. As far as Andreas Hoeppel was concerned, the G 550 and AMG G 63 doesn't actually have a rival, or at least something the engineers and designers thought to compare it against. The G-Class is a G-Class, who cares what the other guys are doing? Well, in case you care, we figured we'd plug the new G-Class' specs into the old Autoblog Comparo Generator 3000 (TM) to see how the G 550 and AMG G 63 compare to the Range Rover and its mightiest SVAutobiography Dynamic model, plus the Lexus LX 570 and Bentley Bentayga V8. Frankly, Heir Hoeppel was onto something as each of these is wildly different. But, they do share some common elements: giant size and weight, ultra-lux interiors, and far more off-roading capability than other luxury SUVs offer and any of its owners are likely to ever utilize. Sad. So enjoy this trip down specification lane, and if you're still left hungry, you can always check out our Range Rover comparison or create your very own comparo. Off-Road Clearances and Capability All the fancy off-roading software and special cameras in the world won't do you a lick of good if your SUV is too close to the ground or has low-hanging body work that'll get easily ripped off. As such, check out each of these uber-SUV's ground clearance, approach and departure angles, and wading/fording depths. In this case, the Range Rover has an advantage due to its air suspension that can raise itself into an Off-Roading height that's a whopping 2 inches higher than the new G-Wagen. Sadly for itself, Lexus only provides figures for its air suspension when in normal height. It could match or surpass the Range Rover for all we know (but doubt it). As Land Rover does provide figures for the Range Rover's approach and departure angles in normal and Off-Road height, you can get an idea of just how much clearance the new G-Wagen has without any fancy (and expensive to fix) raising and lowering air suspension hardware. In fact, its departure angle is better than even the Range Rover's Off-Road height. Bentley doesn't provide any such information despite touting the Bentayga's surprising off-roading talents.

Jaguar Land Rover likely to build US plant... in three years

Jaguar Land Rover may very well open a plant in the United States, but the latest word has it that it'll be another three years or so before the company even makes a decision on the matter. The prospect first came up on our radar back in October when we reported that JLR was considering building a plant in the South. Georgia governor Nathan Deal even flew to the UK to solicit JLR's business. Former parent-company chairman Ratan Tata subsequently confirmed the idea was under consideration last month. And now the British automaker's CEO has told Automotive News that JLR will need a US assembly plant to fuel its growth in the vital North American market, but that'll it'll take a while to get going. The reasons for the delay, according to chief executive Ralf Speth, are threefold. For one thing, the automaker has its hands full at the moment opening plants in other locations: last year it opened one in China and this year it opened one in Brazil. It also recently opened a new SVO facility, an electric-propulsion R&D center and a new engine plant all in the UK, and can only handle building so many new facilities at a time. JLR will also need US suppliers of aluminum components to step up their game, as the company relies heavily on aluminum construction for their vehicles. US automakers shifting to aluminum for models like the new Ford F-150 will encourage American suppliers to get into the game, but it may be a while before they're up to Jaguar Land Rover standards. Finally, JLR will need to increase its sales potential in the US in order to justify local production. Speth says the company would need one model of which it could sell 30,000 to 40,000 units in the US alone, and it sold less than 18,000 units of its best-selling the Range Rover Sport here last year. In fact the entire Jaguar brand sold less than 16,000 units throughout all of last year in America, with Land Rover selling far more at over 50,000 units to contribute to total sales of over 67,000 units. Related Video: Featured Gallery Jaguar Land Rover Engine Manufacturing Center View 16 Photos News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Jaguar Land Rover Plants/Manufacturing Jaguar Land Rover jaguar land rover jlr

Jaguar and Land Rover now offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

The 2019 Jaguar I-Pace will come standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, and the connectivity feature comes as a roughly $300 option on select and appropriately equipped 2019 Jaguar and Land Rover models, the joint automaker said. It comes via Jaguar Land Rover's Smartphone Pack, which is available on all 2019 and future models, but with conditions. The car in question must have the 10-inch InControl Touch Pro touchscreen or split-touchscreen Touch Pro Duo infotainment systems, plus navigation, InControl Apps and Wi-Fi connectivity. Those are included on some upper trim levels and available as separate options on others. So basically, depending on trim level, you could be looking at a simple $300 add or a long-line of other extra charges just to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are other new features coming for the InControl Touch Pro system as well, including voice command for navigation, major graphic refreshes for certain screens, new shortcut buttons on the home screen for key navigation, media and phone functions, and changes to the user experience in the media screen. Jaguar and Land Rover first introduced the InControl Touch Pro for 2016, enabling users to learn whether they have enough fuel or battery range to get to a searched-for destination and share their destination, current location and ETA with others via email or text message when using the on-board nav system. The Touch Pro Duo first debuted on the 2018 Range Rover Velar and will be standard on the 2019 I-Pace electric crossover, plus the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. It features interlinked dual upper and lower touchscreens. In terms of the trim level availability mentioned earlier, a JLR spokesperson tells us that Smartphone Pack is available on all 2019 Jaguar F-Pace trim levels. It is available separately starting with the F-Pace Prestige trim level, but on the base F-Pace and Premium versions, you have to also get the optional Connect Pro Pack, Navigation Pro Pack, and traffic sign recognition and adaptive speed-limiter pack. Yes, it is a bit complicated. JLR recently released a touchscreen infotainment system designed to blend in with vintage models that retails for $1,796 before taxes. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.