Range Rover 2011 Review

2011 Range Rover comes with a new V8 diesel engine fitted with 8-speed transmission. The big SUV also has two significant Terrain Response® upgrades and slight external styling enhancements. The vehicle will go on sale in late September this year.

Phil Popham, Land Rover managing director comments: “The 2011 Range Rover retains its position as one of the world’s most complete luxury vehicles. Its combination of reduced CO2 emissions and superior engine performance continue to make it a clear industry benchmark. And with the introduction of our all-new ’super diesel’, we see the Range Rover delivering over 30mpg for the first time,”

The mighty LR-TDV8 4.4 litre diesel engine features parallel sequential turbocharging and brings unrivalled power and massive torque. The 4.4 litre engine replaces the old one – 3.6 litre, besides the new power unit is larger, it is also more cleaner and delivering even lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The combined cycle fuel consumption of the new LR-TDV8 4.4-litre is 30.1mpg, which is outstanding result for a machine weighing over two tons.

The 4.4 litre LR-TDV8 develops 313PS and 700Nm of torque. It is combined with electronically controlled, ZF 8HP70, 8-speed automatic gearbox. The performance is more than satisfying – 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds, 50-70mph in just 4.0 seconds and top speed of 130mph.

FUN CUP MIDDLE EAST Pulls Up AT DUBAI AUTODROME

Following the successful launch of the Fun Cup Middle East at Spa, Belgium in July, the inaugural promotional Fun Cup Middle East Race Weekend will be held at the Dubai Autodrome on the 27th, 28th and 29th of January 2011.

The first 3 Fun Cup Middle East cars left the factory in Belgium at the end of August and are now on hand at the Dubai Autodrome for Track Days (details on website). All 3 cars will be at the circuit including a twin-seater car for drives with a Fun Cup Instructor.

The ever popular FunCup is an endurance motorsports race and the series was launched in the Europe in 1997, as a step forward in motorsport with the clearly defined objective of providing cost effective, close, exciting and above all, good fun racing for all teams competing.

The concept was originally conceived in Belgium based on the success of endurance karting. As well as series in the UK and Belgium, it now runs in France, Italy, Germany and Spain with the USA next in line. From small beginnings, it has taken off to massive success with more than 160 cars on the grid for the Spa 25 hour race and regular grids, topping 50 cars in Europe.

The cars are race designed, single-seaters, with super-strong space frame chassis. Most Fun Cup cars are powered by an 1800cc, 130 bhp VW/Audi petrol engine, with a 5 speed gearbox, race brakes and fully adjustable suspension. However, a new and exciting development to the Fun Cup in 2009 was the introduction of the 1900cc TDI, 160 bhp VW diesel engines.

Tony Burton, Race Director, Burton Motorsports the exclusive rights holder for Fun Cup Middle East comments, “We saw a gap in the market and motorsports community for an endurance motorsport series that allowed novice drivers to acquire the basic skills through a race license and a certain level of track time that then enabled them to really test and enjoy their driving skills on a serious circuit within a real racing environment”. Burton further added, “With the European race season running from April to October it is our aim to see this series find a continued season in the Middle East from October to April. We believe that such a series would enhance regional motorsports by making it more accessible and popular across a wider audience, as well as offering a significant entertainment value to the regional circuits”.

With European crowds reaching up to 30,000 strong, Fun Cup brings the thrill of driving and racing to participants and spectators alike. The level and extent of viewership and coverage currently occupied by Fun Cup will naturally lend itself to inbound tourism, as well as to the promotional export of the UAE and its neighbours.Fun Cup Middle East aims to be incorporated into the official regional motorsports race season by September 2011.