We reported in detail when it emerged that Tata Group owned British SUV maker Land Rover will hold a celebratory event to mark 65 years of technology and innovation. This event will be held at Packington Estate near its Solihull homeland.
Special feature of this event will be a ‘HUE’ birthday cake that will be flown in by special delivery in a Lynx helicopter by a member of the ‘Black Cats’ Royal Navy display team.
The cake has been named after the HUE 166, which was the very first Series I Land Rover. The vehicle is affectionately called as ‘Huey’ and will be on display at the event.
Around 150 heritage Land Rovers will attend the celebratory event at Packington Estate which used to be the testing ground for the 1947-48 Land Rover prototypes through to the Range Rover development vehicles of the late 1960’s and early 70’s. These vehicles will showcase key milestones in Land Rover’s 65-year history and also some 4×4 world firsts such as anti-lock brakes, adjustable air suspension, Electronic Traction Control, Hill Descent Control, Terrain Response and Stop/Start technologies.
Also on display will be Land Rover’s current model line-up – the Defender, Discovery, Freelander, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Evoque. The assemblage of vehicles will also include the new Electric Defender research vehicle. Also on display will be the group’s technological innovations such as the world’s first 9-speed transmission for a passenger car.
Land Rover India will celebrate the 65th anniversary with the launch of its ‘Land Rover Experience’ customer events throughout India. The first event will commence on the 3rd May in the Amby Valley, Lonavla, near Mumbai – where customers will experience Land Rover’s unrivalled all-terrain capabilities.
Commenting on the upcoming event, John Edwards, Land Rover’s Global Brand Director said: “Land Rover is celebrating 65 years of proud heritage. It is in fact a dual celebration, as March saw Land Rover deliver the strongest ever monthly and quarterly sales performance in its history.
“Since 1948, every component in our vehicles has been designed and engineered with intent and Land Rover continues to this day, to build the world’s most capable all-purpose vehicles. A blend of refinement, performance and unmatched all-terrain capability make Land Rover vehicles distinctive and unique, ready to tackle the world’s most challenging and inhospitable terrain.”
John Edwards also said: “The all-new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport are the result of unprecedented investment in technology, in engineering and in our manufacturing facilities to produce the world’s first SUVs with a lightweight aluminium body structure. Investing in innovation has always been the lifeblood of Land Rover and we will continue to develop innovative new technology and sustainable motoring solutions for the future, whilst retaining the class-leading and legendary breadth of capability that Land Rover’s heritage is built upon.”
