Tata Group owned British SUV maker Land Rover will mark 65 years of technology and innovation with a celebratory event at Packington Estate near its Solihull homeland. A ‘HUE’ birthday cake will be flown in by special delivery in a Lynx helicopter by a member of the ‘Black Cats’ Royal Navy display team.
Land Rover has been continuously upping the ante in the SUV segment ever since the brand’s foundations were first sketched in the sand by Maurice Wilks. Production of first Land Rover began in 1948. ‘HUE 166’ was the very first Series I Land Rover, affectionately known by many as ‘Huey’, and will be on prominent 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.
John Edwards, Land Rover’s Global Brand Director says: “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 continues: “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.”