Tata Motors CEO Carl-Peter Forster has announced Land Rover production would begin in India in 2011 and Jaguar is looking for a partner to produce cars within China. Although Forster didn’t announce which model would be built in the sub-continent, the T5 platform used for the current LR4 and Range Rover Sport seems a likely candidate. That same platform is expected to be used for a replacement model for the classic Defender which is expected to debut in 2012.

Because foreign automakers are required to work with local companies in China, Jaguar is in negotiations for a production deal in the economic powerhouse. China’s luxury market is still growing and local production would undoubtedly make it easier for Jaguar to get a larger slice of the pie.

[Source:Autoblog]

Ford spent a fortune to buy Jaguar in 1989 and Land Rover in 2000, then spent billions on each of them getting them into fighting shape. Tata spent billions to buy JLR in 2008, and has since been raising and spending billions to retain their fighting shape and get them even fitter. The Indian firm is planning a funding round via shares, equity and the like in order to scare up another $1 billion.

Tata is a massive conglomerate and the funds will go to reducing the company’s overall debt-to-equity ratio, but the number we were most interested in was £600 million pounds – almost the entire amount of the funding round, $908 million. That’s the amount Tata says it will spend this year on new product development at at JLR.

In May we were told that Tata would invest £1 billion per year on JLR, but we won’t quibble about being short £400 million for now with the Evoque, a meaner XKR, an XE and maybe also an F-Type being forged. So even if the Ford and Tata initial experience with JLR sound familiar, we give Tata credit: for all those billions they’re spending, there isn’t an X-Type in sight.

[Source:Autoblog]

There were so many debuts at the Geneva Motor Show this year that a few new cars were bound to slip through the cracks. We happened to miss this custom Range Rover Sport from Hamann, probably because the 670 horsepower Tycoon Evo M was sharing the same stand. Named the Conqueror II, it follows up on Hamann’s first take of the Range Rover Sport that debuted a few years ago.

Benefiting from the RR Sport Supercharged’s new 5.0-liter V8, the Conqueror II packs 560 horsepower and 506 lb-ft torque thanks to a revised engine management system and a sport exhaust. The exterior gets the full Hamann treatment, with a full body kit, carbon fiber hood, LED running lights and forged 23-inch wheels. Interior modifications are relatively subtle (the snakeskin seats in Conqueror I are thankfully absent) and include the usual stuff like embriodered mats, plus aluminum and carbon fiber accents. Hit the jump for full details, and high-res photos can be found in the gallery below.

Around the world, HAMANN-Motorsport is a renowned specialist for exclusive refinement of luxury automobiles. And with the CONQUEROR II, based on the high-end model Range Rover SPORT, the Laupheim-based company once again confirms that it is the top address when it comes to dynamic accessories and exciting car body design.

Already the self-confident exterior shape turns the CONQUEROR II into a real conqueror of longing looks on our roads. Perfectly manufactured wing extensions made of light composite material give the aerodynamics set a masculine look. This perfectly goes with the stylishly adjusted front bumper components with the four integrated LED daytime running lights and the carbon bonnet. The athletic appearance is perfected with the roof spoiler, the rear apron in a diffuser-look and the
HAMANN-side planking.

The body refinements by HAMANN already render a dynamic appearance which also continues under the bonnet. The technology specialist allows the Range Rover SPORT 5,0 V8-Supercharged to achieve an engine performance of 560 hp / 412 kW at 6,500 r.p.m. (serial: 510 hp / 375 kW). At the same time, the maximum torque rises by 60 Nm to 685 Nm within the speed range of 2,500 to 5,500 r.p.m.U/min. Also the Diesel model is equipped with extra power. After the serial motronic has been re-programmed, the 3,0 TDV6-aggregates render 280 hp / 206 kW and supply the crankshaft with a maximum torque of 660 Nm.

The components of the HAMANN sports exhaust system render an earthy and impressive sound. The stainless steel end muffler with its four end pipes can be optionally amended by metal catalysts, sports manifold and a centre pipe set.

The rim programme is impressive in its dimension and variety. No matter if the customer seeks strikingly dynamic or elegant high-end rims – HAMANN offers a large variety of wheel designs and wheel sizes, such as a one-part wheel called Unique Forged Anodized measuring 23 inches. A unique design, produced in most modern forged technology and refined with an anodized surface are both hallmark and eponym at the same time. The recommended wheel-tyre combination for the front- and back axle is 11×23 inches with tyres measuring 315/25 R23.

Especially by the electronic HAMANN lowering kit, the XXL rims are further emphasised. The centre of gravity of the CONQUEROR II is lowered by 40 millimetres at the front- and by 30 millimetres at the back axle.

In addition to the serial interior, HAMANN accessories offers black-anodised aluminium combined with carbon applications. Pedals and foot rests render motorsports atmosphere and perfectly match the 6-part HAMANN decoration set made of carbon fibre. HAMANN offers an elegant boot mat with decorative stitching and an embroidered HAMANN logo for the Range Rover SPORT. Perfectly matching the latter is the floor mat set made of twisted pearl velours including another logo.

For more information about the extensive HAMANN tuning programme, please visit the web site www.HAMANN-MOTORSPORT.com .

[Source:Autoblog]

The man installed by Tata to guide the Jaguar/Land Rover ship, David Smith, has left the company. Smith was the head of finance for Ford Europe, and had helped sell Aston Martin to Dave Richards’ group before he assisted in the sale of Jaguar to Tata. He has been the CEO since 2008, and just last year helped the company secure a £340 million ($553 million) European Investment Bank loan guarantee. A short statement from the company itself gave no reason for the departure, saying only that Ravi Kant, company director, will take over in the meantime while a successor is found.

[Source: Jaguar/Land Rover, BBC]

[Source:Autoblog]

So you’ve got a hot air balloon and a Range Rover, no problem so far. Then, one day you catch the “you got chocolate in my peanut butter” fever, and it’s time to create a Rover/Balloon mash-up. Your handy pile of old money means that the Rangie goes off to a bespoke vehicle specialist, said to specialize in “stretch Rolls Royce and 6-wheel Range Rovers for oil sheiks.” Well, who else would you send it to, anyway?

Of course, since the balloon runs on LP gas, converting the Rover to run on the same fuel will save some money. With the dosh you save, you might as well install some big, chunky tires so that it “rides like a big Range Rover on chunky tires,” and trashes fuel economy a little, too. The vehicle is in the UK, but the seller will ship. Construction quality is reportedly epic, and who doesn’t have a desire for the castoffs of the wealthy? Looking at the photos, it appears to have taken its share of (ab)use lately; the blue hood is a nice touch, along with the various trappings of old Rovers, like the permanently exposed fusebox. It’s on eBay for just under $8,000 – a pittance for a custom crew cab Range Rover pickup, especially if you’ve got a hot air balloon kicking around.

[Source:Autoblog]

Land Rover is set to celebrate the first 40 years of its eminently capable Range Rover line next June. What better birthday present to itself than to unleash a new model that’s set to bring its wares up to date with the modern realities of fuel efficiency and a reduced environmental impact?

The vehicle in question is the new Range Rover LRX, and Autocar in the U.K. is reporting that the small Rover will see its debut on June 17, 2010 with the first production models rolling down the line in early 2011. Styling both inside and out is expected to stay very close to the well-received LRX concept from the 2008 Detroit Auto Show.

Based on underpinnings shared with the Freelander (that’s the LR2 here in the States), the LRX could feature a transverse engine driving the front wheels with the first application of the marque’s e TERRAIN electric drive rear axle, a setup that is said to be capable of powering the rear wheels using battery power only at speeds up to 20 mph.

[Source:Autoblog]

The steep downturn of the world’s luxury automotive markets has taken a toll on Jaguar/Land Rover, and the company’s bottom line has taken a huge hit as a result. Automotive News is citing a Financial Times report that says Tata Motors’ British luxury marques lost 673.4 million pounds ($1.11 billion U.S.) in 2008. That’s a $2 billion swing from the 641.5 million pound ($1.05 billion) profit the British brands earned in 2007. Tata Motors said last month that Jaguar/Land Rover lost 306 million pounds ($504 million) for for the fiscal year ending March 2009.

The Financial Times report comes as Tata Motors is working out a deal with the British government to provide short-term financing for the cash-strapped automaker. The report that says the U.K. government is willing to provide a 175 million pound ($288 million) commercial bridge loan to keep operations running. The reports says Tata Motors would like a 12-month loan, while the British government would like a six-month term, along with representation on the board.

[Source:Autoblog]

In January, the UK government set aside £2.3 billion for loan guarantees to help automakers start producing electric cars on the island. In April, Tata applied for £10 billion from the program to build its Indica Vista EV. Last week the Indian firm was told that it would be another eight weeks before the Department for Business Innovation and Skills would decide on Tata’s application.

Tata can’t understand what the holdup is and plans to deliver a petition to the minister in charge of the program to make its case. It can’t help that while Tata waits it’s watching UK government figures give speeches at Nissan facilities in an attempt to woo the Japanese automaker to produce electric cars in England. Nor can it help that Tata’s Norwegian arm has already been approved by for a loan by the Norwegian government to make electric cars there.

Tata is also waiting on its €340 billion European Investment Bank loan to be approved by the UK government. That loan was for Jaguar and Land Rover aid, but the issue of both loans is said to be about the British government wanting to make sure that Tata can repay the money. If the government doesn’t decide soon, they might have much bigger things to deliberate on — like more job losses at JLR…

[Source: Guardian]

[Source:Autoblog]

India’s Tata Motors has reported a net loss of $520 million (25.05 billion rupees) for the fiscal year ending in March of 2009. Over the same period one year earlier, Tata managed to earn 21.68 billion rupees in profit. What gives? Naturally, the global economic meltdown didn’t do the automaker any favors, but the main problem can be sourced back to the poor performance of Jaguar and Land Rover, which the Indian automaker purchased from Ford last year with the help of a $3 billion bridge loan.

The fact that Jaguar Land Rover accounted for $504 million of that $520 million total loss means that more job cuts and plant shutdowns are in store for the ailing British duo. Says Tata Vice Chairman Ravi Kant:

We have sent people on sabbatical, gone for cheaper low-cost country sourcing and tight control in cash flows, and are assisting JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) for a major belt tightening.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Tata was in search of some £1 billion ($1.5B) in cash and underwriting help to pump into the JLR operations.

[Source:Autoblog]

It doesn’t get more back-to-basics than the Land Rover Defender. While most of the world’s most hard-core off-roaders – Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes G-Wagen, Hummer H2 – have all gone luxed-out, the Defender soldiers on as the bare-bones option. Essentially the same body-on-frame design from 1948, the Defender is still hand-assembled. But what’s Land Rover to do when the market demands luxury? Lux out the Defender, of course.

The limited-production Fire & Ice editions come packed with all the features they could fit in the Defender: Recaro buckets, leather and Alcantara trim, diamond-turned alloys, color-coded head- and tail- lights, glass sunroof panel, running boards and more. The Fire edition comes in a special Vesuvius Orange metallic paint, the Ice edition in Alaska white, both offset by Santorini black accents. All that kit drives the price of the special Land Rover up to €68,400, the equivalent of about $95,000. Just 850 examples will be on offer in various markets across Europe, China and in South Africa. Check out the high-res images in the gallery below for all the angles.

[Source:Autoblog]