Range Rover Evoque prices: UK vs Malaysia

Recently met an old friend after 18 long years. We were university mates and both of us ended up in the UK in quite different occupations. However, despite being only about 100 miles apart we were unable to meet up because of something or the other.

It was quite ironic that we finally met up in Malaysia, around 9000 miles away from the UK. Anyway, we got to talking about cars like car lovers usually do and the cars we drive. My friend recently bought the Ranger Rover Evoque, which coincidentally also happens to be my dream car.

We were discussing car prices and how the Evoque is quite out of my league with prices starting at RM413,888 (without insurance).  Source: Paul Tan.

My friend was visibly shocked as the cost in the UK was around £30K (OTR). That's considered quite a handsome even for a luxury brand. However, it translates to about RM180K at the current exchange rates, which means that we are paying more than double the price of the Evoque here in Malaysia as compared to the UK. 

With that amount, I can buy a 2-sty Terrace/Link House 3 bedroom house near my office in Semenyih, Selangor. So literally the Ranger Rover Evoque is a house on wheels. 

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Range Rover Evoque Convertible

Land Rover will show off their the 2016 Model Year Range Rover Evoque at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, confirming rumours that the Range Rover Evoque Convertible will go into production.

A video was recently released which features the disguised prototype of the compact SUV exploring the underground tunnels of London’s crossrail, which are still under construction. Price of the new Evoque is expected to be around £40,000.

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JLR live at the Frankfurt Motor Show

Here is the live stream of JLR at the Frankfurt Motor Show below:
Looking forward to the C-X17 Concept, interviews with Jaguar executives and guests.

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Jaguar Land Rover investing more in technology and innovation

In its 65th anniversary year, Jaguar Land Rover recently announced plans for further investments in technology and innovation at the Geneva International Motor Show.

This includes the introduction of 8 new or updated products this year and £2.75 billion (US$4.2 billion approx. ) investment in new product development. They are also increasing total investment to more than £500 million (approx. US$755 million) to their state-of-the-art Engine Manufacturing Center in the UK, doubling the number of jobs to 1,400.

The new model releases will include the world's first 9-speed transmission in a passenger vehicle, alongside its new all-electric Defender research vehicles. The Jaguar XFR-, which is their Jaguar's fastest and most powerful sports saloon car, also makes its eagerly awaited European debut alongside the new two-seat sports car, the Jaguar F-TYPE.

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New Range Rover

The All-New Range Rover unveiled at the Paris Auto Show.

It's the first SUV to have an all-aluminium body structure. No information about emissions or prices have been released as yet.

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Jaguar Land Rover pushes up Tata's profits

Tata Motors has announced a 41% rise in profits booted by rise in sales by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) despite fall in profits within the Indian market (falling more than half to 1.74bn Rupees).

The rise is attributed to sales (32,000) of the new Range Rover Evoque model.

In the three months to December 31, China has also overtaken UK as JLR's biggest market. China now accounts for 17.2% of total sales compared with 16.5% for the UK. Sales have also increased in Russia. In the same quarter, JLR had a profit of £440m, up 57% from a year earlier.

Source: BBC News.

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Tata invests in the West Midlands

There was some good news for the automotive sector in the UK today as Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announced that they plan to increase their workforce at their plant in Solihull by more than 25%.
For more info read their press release here.

This follows the opening of their new Global Headquarters at the Company's site in Whitley in Coventry last week.

From left: Mr Ravi Kant, Vice President of Tata Motors, Mr Ratan Tata (cutting the tape) Chairman of Tata Sons, and Dr. Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover (Right).

Tata the Indian owners of Jaguar Land Rover will be investing more than £1.5 billion pounds annually for the next five years.

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Discovery 4 in the Malaysian Jungle

The unmodified Land Rover Discovery 4 takes on the Malaysian jungle and survives. With help of course.

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Video of the new Jaguar Land Rover Defenders concepts

Here is a video of the new Jaguar Land Rover DC100 and DC100 Sport concepts. Also inculdes interviews with the designers of the Defender and Jaguar C-X16 concept cars.

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New Land Rover Defender Concept

After more than 60 years of production, theLand Rover Defender is finally getting a makeover. Land Rover today unveiled the new Land Rover DC100 and DC100 Sport concept cars at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This indicates a new future direction for the Land Rover Defender which is one of Land Rover’s oldest and most iconic models and has been used by UN aid workers, Red Cross medic’s, police and military forces worldwide.

The new concepts have been designed by the Land Rover Advanced Design team whose remit was to create a vehicle that would resonate with the commercial customer as well as the retail customer. Their aim was to create a model that is relevant to the 21st century.

Both the Land Rover DC100 and DC100 Sport concepts are buit on a Lightweight, mixed-alloy platform using sutting-edge, sustainable, hi-tech materials taken from aerospace industries.

They are loaded with high tech features including

• The Terrain-i scanning device which warns the driver of obstacles when off-roading and can suggest alternative routes.
• Wade Aid which uses sonar technology to assess water depth and advise the driver of optimum speed
• Intelligent, next-generation, Land Rover Terrain Response system automatically optimises the car for any environment.
• Driver-activated spiked tyre system can be deployed at the touch of a button.

Both cars are permanent four-wheel drive with an eight-speed transmission, Intelligent Stop/Start and a transfer case. They are powered by 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with hybrid and plug-in capabilities.

The new Defender models are planned for production in 2015.

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Zara Phillips is the first owner of the Range Rover Evoque

Land Rover ambassador Zara Phillips recently became the first owner of a 5-door Orkney Grey Evoque. The car has a 2.2 litre Diesel engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, panoramic sunroof and features including park assist, blind spot monitoring and a surround camera system.

Zara said: "I've grown up around Land Rovers and have been an ambassador for the brand for several years – I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of my new Evoque. It looks absolutely fantastic and I am delighted to be the first person in the UK to take delivery of one."

Land Rover has received over 20,000 pre-orders for the Range Rover Evoque worldwide with 6,000 of these in the UK.

Zara is one of the UK's leading equestrian figures and has been a Land Rover brand ambassador since 2006.

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Tata to create 700 jobs in the UK

Indian car maker, Tata recently announced a £ 700 million investment plan with the creation of 600 jobs at Jaguar Land Rover. It is also launching a new programme to recruit new graduate engineers in September. That's great news for the Midlands.

I have no idea why but unlike other companies, there is absolutely no news about this in both the Jaguar or the Land Rover sites. Only got to read bout it in the local newspaper.

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