A Promise of Performance: Land Rover Concept Vehicle Makes First Chicago Appearance

CHICAGO, Feb. 4, 2004 -- Following its International debut, the Range Stormer concept vehicle is sure to capture the attention of those attending the Chicago Auto Show. With its bold design, innovative features and distinctive styling cues, this first-ever Land Rover concept vehicle is evidence of an exciting future for the premium sport-utility manufacturer.

The Range Stormer is a high performance, sports tourer SUV concept car, which showcases a future design direction for Land Rover. It also previews a new production model that will enter a fresh market segment for the company and will be an additional model line in the Land Rover portfolio.

Commenting on the new concept, Land Rover's managing director Matthew Taylor, said: "The supercharged V8 Range Stormer gives a taste of our forthcoming new entrant in the booming high performance SUV segment. The production vehicle that follows will share many of its styling and technical innovations. It is very much conceived to be an on-road, performance machine, as well as class-leading off-road like all Land Rovers."

Geoff Upex, design director at Land Rover, added: "The challenge was to translate fundamental Land Rover design values into a concept for a high performance machine that looks powerful, muscular and edgy.

We certainly want to challenge established views of our vehicles, but the Range Stormer is still clearly an authentic Land Rover."

Future technologies previewed with the concept include an all-new platform that will be the basis for future full-size Land Rover models. This advanced, integrated platform, unique to Land Rover, will provide the underpinnings for the production vehicle inspired by the Range Stormer.

Another major innovation showcased is Terrain Response. This smart and simple-to-use new Land Rover technology delivers the best possible on- and off-road composure and control by optimizing the entire vehicle set-up, including suspension, powertrain, throttle response and traction control.

The driver simply selects the appropriate Terrain Response setting from the six available and the vehicle does the rest, using technology that offers a choice of settings from 'dynamic' for high speed work to 'deep ruts' for extreme off-roading.

Matthew Taylor concluded: "You'll be seeing an increasing amount of innovative technology in future Land Rovers. But technology that makes the driver's task simpler not more complicated, such as Terrain Response."

The Range Stormer was completed with the support of suppliers Alps (electronic systems), Hella (interior and exterior lights), Alcoa (22" forged alloy wheels) and Goodyear (custom made tires).

Further information on the Range Stormer is available at www.rangestormer.com.

Land Rover North America is part of Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover with headquarters in Irvine, California. Land Rover established operations in the US in 1986, and now imports and distributes Range Rover, Discovery and Freelander vehicles manufactured by Land Rover in Solihull, England. Land Rover's worldwide operations are wholly owned by Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan. For information about the Land Rover retailer nearest you, call 800- FINE-4WD or log on to www.LandRover.com.

Vehicle specifications and features are subject to change.