The latest stuff from, by, about, at, or for British Pacific

updated 7/01/09

Roverdrives Back In Stock

After a lengthy delay, we now have new Roverdrives in stock. These overdrive units bolt to the transfer case and are selectable in all ranges, giving you 16 speeds forward and 4 reverse to choose from! Save on gas, increase your cruising speed, reduce engine wear and noise. These new improved units will give years of trouble free service.

$1499.00

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Jaguar Land Rover Asks Workers To Delay Salary
7/01/09
from BBC News

Workers at JLR are being asked to have their salaries delayed two weeks in order to improve cash flow. Staff that accepts the request wil get $400 for their trouble.

Tata Motors reported that Jaguar/Land Rover had an $500 million operating loss over the last 10 months, and may need to cut more jobs. JLR has also negotiated late pay arrangements with vendors to move from 45 day to 60 day terms.

Jaguar/Land Rover employs 14,500 people, after layoffs of 450 earlier in the year. Sales of vehicles fell 32% in the last 10 months up to April 1. Tata's steel subsidiary in Britain is also seeking government bail out money.

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Land Rover approves LRX hybrid
6/25/09
By Drew Johnson

In a bid to improve its green image, Land Rover hasapproved a hybrid version of its forthcoming 'LRX' SUV. The LRX recently secured its spot in Land Rover’s future lineup – thanks in large part to a government grant – and it looks like a greener version won’t be far behind. According to Auto Express, Land Rover has given the green light to a hybrid LRX.

Land Rover will lean heavily on its Jaguar sister brand for the hybrid LRX’s technology, using Jaguar’s EV systems. Although Jaguar has yet to release a hybrid of its own, a company official recently confirmed a range-extending hybrid system will be available on the next XJ sedan. In addition to the Jaguar-sourced system, the LRX hybrid will also use Land Rover’s electric drive rear axle. The electric drive rear axle allows power to be sent front to back, as well as from side to side, depending on which wheels have the most traction. In tandem with the automaker’s Terrain Response system, the LRX hybrid should have the off-road worthiness befit of a vehicle wearing the Land Rover badge. However, don’t expect to see the hybrid LRX in Land Rover showrooms for at least two more years. In the meantime Land Rover will work on its green credentials through the implementation of other green technologies, such as a new start-stop system.

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Land Rover Maker Ordered to Pay $21.1 Million in Rollover Case

A Los Angeles judge blames the design of the Land Rover Discovery SUV in the 2003 accident in which a Simi Valley man was paralyzed. The company plans to appeal.

By Stuart Pfeifer May 28, 2009, Los Angeles Times

A Los Angeles judge has ordered automaker Jaguar Land Rover to pay $21.1 million to a Simi Valley man who was paralyzed in 2003 when his Land Rover Discovery sport utility vehicle rolled over several times after a collision on the 118 Freeway.

L.A. County Superior Court Judge Robert H. O'Brien cited two key reasons for his decision: The vehicle's high center of gravity made it susceptible to rolling over, and its roof collapsed too easily, causing Sukhsagar Pannu to suffer a debilitating spinal cord injury.

O'Brien issued the judgment May 18 after a trial. Pannu, 53, who had played competitive field hockey in Hong Kong, permanently lost the use of his arms and legs as a result of the injury. He lives with his parents and three children, who provide him around-the-clock care. "This verdict is a wonderful decision for Mr. Pannu. It will give him that extra money he needs to have sufficient caregivers. The system worked for him," said Pannu's attorney, Garo Mardirossian. "Hopefully, other manufacturers will look at this case and say, 'Let's spend the money and make the cars safe.' "

Warren Platt, a Costa Mesa attorney who defended Jaguar Land Rover at the trial, said the company was disappointed by the verdict and intended to appeal. He argued at trial that full blame should have been placed on the 16-year-old driver whose car sideswiped Pannu's vehicle at more than 80 mph, causing Pannu to lose control. Platt said he considered the verdict an anomaly that should not concern any of the thousands of Americans driving Discovery models manufactured in the 1990s. "The rollover, in our judgment, was not due to any problem with the vehicle. The roof was properly designed and the same result would have occurred with any other roof," Platt said. "There's nothing wrong with this truck." Attorneys for both sides said they were unaware of any larger product-liability verdicts involving Land Rover SUVs.

The $21-million hit comes at a difficult time for Indian auto manufacturer Tata Motors, which acquired Jaguar Land Rover -- and the company's liabilities -- from Ford Motor Co. in 2008. The company recently refinanced the $3-billion debt it incurred from the purchase but continues to struggle with slumping sales, an analyst said. "JLR is a challenged company at the moment. It needs to develop new vehicles targeting new and smaller segments, as well as low-emission technology, in order to survive," said Paul Newton, an analyst at research firm IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Mass. "The company needs to stem the cash burn we believe they are still suffering. Land Rover is bleeding badly as sales evaporate."

Tata spokeswoman Debassis Ray described the purchase of Jaguar Land Rover as a "sound acquisition . . . of two iconic, global brands with significant technology capabilities, an exciting product lineup and a committed team."

Editorial comment:

Those of us who live with Disco's everyday know that they have a better Cg than many SUV's and the body structures are pretty tough. They have good off road capabilities, but cannot be mishandled at speed. There is no mention of how fast Mr. Pannu was going, or if he panicked by locking the brakes and turning the wheel hard to one side. While we feel badly for Mr. Pannu and his family, the 16 year old driver plus Mr. Pannu's driving skills are the issue, not the inherent safety of the Disco. No matter how much you try to make a car100% foolproof, there will always be better fools, and there was at least one in this case.

Let's hope the appeals court has better sense.

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2009 Land Rover National Rally
Online Registration Now Available
Online registration is now open for the 2009 National Rally in Leadville, CO. Please go to http://www.landrovernationalrally.org/login.php to register. For more information, go to http://www.landrovernationalrally.org or send email to registration@solihullsociety.org
with any questions or concerns.

For pictures from last years event scroll to the bottom of this page.

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BP customer Mayo Brown is sharing this amazing picture with all of us from last Thanksgiving.
This is the payoff for all the work it takes to keep 'em 'off the road'.

From BP customer Nick Dolaptchieff:

"I just wanted to take a moment to thank all you fine members of British Pacific who made it possible for me to take my Rangie on it’s inaugural off-road trip. I did the 25 mile Barstow Poker Run this weekend. Although I did not do the course at the same speed as my buggy-driving friends, I WAS able to drive the course in air conditioned leather cocooned comfort whilst sipping on a martini!"

If you have some great shots like this please send 'em along. We'd love to post 'em for you.

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Discovery 4 / LR4 facelift of LR3 due in 2010

Land Rover is updating models for 2010. RR full size and RR Sport are getting new 5.0 engines as well as some front clip and tail light changes. To us, the big news is that the Disco 4 (LR4 here?) is getting Jaguar's brilliant twin turbo V6 diesel. This is a high mileage engine that produces 30 mpg plus officially but can do even better than that. But at the same time it makes great horsepower, has gobs of torque, and even puts out low CO2 emissions.

In our minds this is exactly the engine needed in the US. Such a combination would spur sales and rekindle interest in the model, which right now is virtually dead. Increased towing capacity with diesel mileage will open the model to a larger audience. But will California permit their sale? No word yet, but if we had to bet on it...

Further word on 2010 models is that they will beusing lubricants and fluids unique to them, where you must use Land Rover branded products for maintenance. Interesting.

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British Pacific was a sponsor of the 2008 Land Rover National Rally in
Moab, Utah
We have some pictures of the rally for you viewing pleasure

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Do you have a cool (or hot) picture to share? Send it along.
If we like it we'll post it on the bulletin board for everyone to see!
Do you have a comment about anything said or printed here?
If it's good we'll print that too.