1994 Land Rover Defender 90 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Jaguar Land Rover calling in 100k vehicles in three separate campaigns

Jaguar Land Rover is recalling an estimated 104,114 vehicles in three separate campaigns in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The largest of them affects Range Rovers made between April 15, 2005, and September 4, 2012, covering 74,648 units in America from the 2006 to 2012 model years. In those affected vehicles, the front brake hose could rupture, leaking brake fluid and decreasing the capability of the brakes to, you know... stop the vehicle. In a similar but separate recall, subsequent Range Rovers from the 2013 and 2014 model years (manufactured between August 16, 2012, and January 8, 2014) are also being recalled for a brake issue – this time due to the incorrect routing of the brake vacuum hose. The issue could wear down the hose and disable the power assist, again impeding the brakes from properly functioning. This second recall also affects the 2014 Range Rover Sport (specifically those manufactured between May 7, 2013, and January 8, 2014), affecting 24,679 units between both models across the United States. A third smaller recall concerns the 2012-2015 Jaguar XK – namely those built between March 4, 2011, and March 20, 2014. This campaign involves the front side parking lamps, which might switch off after about five minutes, in contravention of federal standards. As such, an estimated 4,787 units are being called in. In all three cases, owners of the affected vehicles can expect to hear from their local dealer to arrange to bring in their wayward British luxury vehicles to have the relevant issue fixed. RECALL Subject : Front Brake Hose(s) may Rupture Report Receipt Date: JAN 27, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V039000 Component(s): SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC Potential Number of Units Affected: 74,648 Manufacturer: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC SUMMARY: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Land Rover Range Rover vehicles manufactured April 15, 2005, to September 4, 2012. One or both of the flexible front brake hoses may rupture causing loss of brake fluid. CONSEQUENCE: If one or both of the flexible brake hoses fails, the vehicle may require a longer distance to stop, increasing the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front brake hoses, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 13, 2015. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837.

Lexus tops JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study again, Buick bests Toyota

It shouldn't surprise anyone, but Lexus has once again taken the top spot in JD Power's Vehicle Dependability Study. That'd be the Japanese luxury brand's fourth straight year at the top of table. The big news, though, is the rise of Buick. General Motor's near-premium brand beat out Toyota to take second place, with 110 problems per 100 vehicles compared to Toyota's 111 problems. Lexus owners only reported 89 problems per 100 vehicles. Besides Buick's three-position jump, Scion enjoyed a major improvement, jumping 13 positions from 2014. Ram and Mitsubishi made big gains, as well, moving up 11 and 10 positions, respectively. In terms of individual segments, GM and Toyota both excelled, taking home seven segment awards each. The study wasn't good news for all involved, though. A number of popular automakers finished below the industry average of 147 problems per 100 vehicles, including Subaru, (157PP100), Volkswagen (165PP100), Ford/Hyundai (188PP100 each) and Mini (193PP100). The biggest losers (by a tremendous margin, we might add) were Land Rover and Fiat, recording 258 and 273 problems per 100 vehicles. The next closest brand was Jeep, with 197PP100. While the Vehicle Dependability Study uses the same measurement system as the Initial Quality Survey, the two metrics analyze very different things. The VDS looks at problems experienced by original owners of model year 2012 vehicles over the past 12 months, while the oft-quoted IQS focuses on problems in the first 90 days of new-vehicle ownership. Like the IQS, though, the VDS has a rather broad definition of what a problem is. Because of that, a low score from JD Power is no guarantee of extreme unreliability, so much as just poor design. In this most recent study, the two most reported problems focused on Bluetooth connectivity and the voice-command systems. The former leaves plenty of room for user error due to poor design (particularly true of the Bluetooth systems on the low-scoring Fords, Volkswagens and Subarus), while the second is something JD Power has already confirmed as being universally terrible. That makes means that while these studies are important, they shouldn't be taken as gospel when it comes to automotive reliability. News Source: JD PowerImage Credit: Copyright 2015 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL Buick Fiat Ford GM Hyundai Jeep Land Rover Lexus MINI Mitsubishi RAM Scion Subaru Toyota Volkswagen Auto Repair Ownership study

Not just 'our logo on a sail': Automakers gain technology from America's Cup

HAMILTON, Bermuda - From water taxis that "fly" on hydrofoils to aircraft wings and cutting-edge car steering wheels, the America's Cup has produced technology with potential far beyond its "foiling" catamarans. With their focus on carbon fiber and aerodynamics, the teams that fought for the America's Cup attracted partners including planemaker Airbus and automotive groups BMW and Land Rover, who were keen to learn from them. One area where this is likely to have an impact is in harnessing "foiling" technology, where the America's Cup boats "fly" above the water on foils, cutting water resistance. "Foiling in small electric boats will most likely appear on rivers in major cities. We are just at the beginning of the foiling adventure," Pierre Marie Belleau, head of Airbus Business Development, who managed its partnership with Larry Ellison's Oracle Team USA, told Reuters. The space-age catamarans used in the 35th America's Cup, which ended in victory for Emirates Team New Zealand this week, can sail at maximum speeds of 50 knots (57 mph) and have more in common with flying than sailing."CARBON FIBER RELATIONSHIP" For Jaguar Land Rover, which sponsored British sailor Ben Ainslie's attempt to win the cup, the relationship is a strategic one with a focus on technology and innovation. "We don't just get our logo onto a sail," Mark Cameron, JLR's Experiential Marketing Director, said by telephone, adding that the carmaker would be providing more designers to help Land Rover BAR with technology for their next campaign. "This is a dynamic sport that is developing fast. ... It's moving quickly just like the car industry is moving quickly. It's all changing," Land Rover produced a special steering wheel for Ainslie to use in the America's Cup, with in-built gear shift paddles that allowed him to adjust the catamaran's "flight" levels. The relationship is similar between BMW and Oracle Team USA, with the German automaker focused on areas including the electronics in the wheel used by skipper Jimmy Spithill, the development of carbon fiber used to make the boat and its components, and the aerodynamic testing. "We like to think of ourselves more as a partner than a sponsor. We have a very strong carbon fiber relationship," Ian Robertson, who is the BMW management board member responsible for sales and brand, told Reuters between races. "This is a dynamic sport that is developing fast. ... It's moving quickly just like the car industry is moving quickly.