Quick 5 on the new Range Rover
On the unveiling of the new Range Rover, we do a quick 5 with Nick Rogers- Director, Range Rover Programmes. Nick speaks to us about the new-generation of the flagship SUV from Land Rover and also answers our queries.
Q1) You are using an all-aluminium monocoque, hasn’t the cost gone up?
Ans) Yes, aluminium is expensive. But then we use lesser amount as aluminium is lighter, and Range Rover has its now class and we need to use the same or better standard than the existing Range Rover. Yes, there is an investment in setting up a new bodyshop, there is an increase in overall cost, but we have to take the vehicle to the next level. The moment you sit in the car
Q2) Being an aluminium monocoque, will here me any issues if the vehicle has any accidents? How ill you straighten it out?
Ans) This is the world SUV with an all-aluminium constructions, internally this our third aluminium platform car internally in JLR. Ofcourse, the loads on the Range Rover are higher, but are dealers and service stations are aware of how to handle such cases, as the XJ and the XK have been here for quite sometime.
Q3) When you started with white paper, was it always going to be an aluminium construction?
Ans) As per the initial plan, the idea was to make it from aluminium and also to reduce the weight by 420kgs.
Q4) As about 3500 new parts have been made for the new Range Rover, will any of these be also used in other Land Rover products at a later stage? Like the new Terrain Response system?
Ans) Yes, we have introduced various new parts on the Range Rover, in terms of materials, electronics and software. We will be using them at a later stage in the upcoming vehicles.
Q5) How tempting was it to remove the transfer case as your goal was to reduce the weight?
Ans) Good question. There were thoughts on this. But then it’s a Range Rover and we cannot compromise either on its off-roading or luxury capabilities. The Land Rover has always produced off-roading vehicles and will continue to produce them. There will be no sort of compromise for our customers.
Being born and brought up in a family that has been a part of the Automotive industry for over seven decades, Rachit has cars in his blood. Four wheelers are his childhood love, and he has grown up playing with bolts and spanners. To add more value to this passion, he studied automobile engineering and even karted at National level competitions.
Soon after that, he got into motoring journalism- where began the process of testing and evaluating cars. He has driven a wide range of cars beginning from Tata Nano to the Aston Martins, most of the cars that are currently sold in the Indian car market. Apart from this, he has also done many long road trips, and shall continue to do so. Rachit was one of the first journalists to take a Nano across the Golden Quadrilateral.
