2011 LAND ROVER LR4 GAINS NEW USER TECHNOLOGIES AND AMENITIES
09/20/2010
Land Rover
Following a substantial transformation that gave it an all-new powertrain, a more luxurious interior and chassis refinements for 2010, the Land Rover LR4 enters the 2011 model year with additional dynamic control features and a new available Vision Assist Package.
The 2011 Land Rover LR4 has a base MSRP of $48,500 (includes $850 destination and delivery charge) and is again available with the HSE and HSE LUX upgrade packages. New for 2011, enhancements to the Terrain Response(TM) system bolster the LR4's already considerable off-road capability, while new and reconfigured option packages enhance luxury and value.
New 2011 highlights:
- Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control, which help the driver negotiate severe slopes/gradients encountered in off-road driving conditions.
- Bluetooth(R) phone connectivity now standard on base LR4.
- 7-Seat Comfort Package is added to HSE and HSE LUX; includes third-row seat, head curtain airbags, climate control, map lamps and an accessory power socket.
- Rear View Camera standard with HSE (previously optional).
- Halogen headlamps on the HSE Package now include LED Signature Lighting.
- Climate Comfort Package is now a standalone option on LR4 base model and HSE and included in HSE LUX.
- Premium Audio Upgrade available on HSE Package.
- Black Lacquer Finish is a new interior trim option.
- New Vision Assist Package for HSE and HSE LUX Packages includes: xenon HID headlamps (HSE only, already standard on HSE LUX); Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS; swiveling headlights); Automatic High Beam Assist (AHBA) and a Surround Camera System; power-folding mirrors; Trailer Assist and Trailer Hitch Assist.
375-horsepower LR-V8 and 6-speed transmission
The Land Rover LR4's 5.0-liter LR-V8 with direct fuel injection and torque-activated Variable Camshaft Timing (VCT) develops 375 hp and 375 lb.-ft. torque and meets the stringent ULEV2 (ultra low emissions vehicle) regulations. Cam profile switching and a variable-length inlet manifold optimize power and torque across the engine speed range, yielding exceptional responsiveness at all speeds and helping make the LR4 an excellent tow vehicle. (Maximum towing capacity is 7,716 lbs. with a braked trailer.) The LR4 can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in a brisk 7.5 seconds (0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds).
Engineered for rugged off-road travel, the LR-V8 has a deep, pressure die-cast oil pan to accommodate the extreme tilting angles the LR4 can negotiate. Belt drives are waterproofed, as are the alternator, air conditioning compressor, power steering pump and starter motor. With the use of 5W-20 semi-synthetic oil, normal service intervals are extended to 15,000 miles (24,000 km) or 12 months.
The powerful LR-V8 is coupled to a 6-speed adaptive automatic transmission with CommandShift(TM) featuring Normal, Sport and Manual shift modes. The transmission sends power to all four wheels through an electronically controlled 2-speed transfer case with shift-on-the-move capability.
Trailer Stability Assist helps make towing a trailer safer. This technology detects trailer oscillations by monitoring key vehicle behaviors, such as unwanted steering movements and slight vehicle swing in response to trailer behavior. In such situations, the system can initiate engine torque reduction and braking interventions to bring the towing back under control.
Enhanced Terrain Response
Further enhancements to Terrain Response bolster the LR4's considerable off-road capability. Terrain Response optimizes the vehicle set-up for virtually all on-road or off-road driving situations, with five driver-selectable settings to suit different conditions: General Driving; Grass/Gravel/Snow, Sand; Mud and Ruts, and Rock Crawl. For 2011, this vehicle control system gains new Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control.
Hill Start Assist helps prevent the vehicle from rolling backward when moving from a standstill on an incline. This feature, which works automatically and transparently, momentarily holds brake pressure when the driver's foot moves from the brake pedal to the accelerator. Gradient Acceleration Control is designed to provide an extra measure of safety on severe inclines when the driver does not have Hill Descent Control engaged.
By pressurizing the brake system, GAC slows the vehicle to a limit determined by the throttle position when descending a slope in Drive or Reverse. Otherwise - such as when descending while facing up the gradient with Drive selected - GAC restricts speed to 3 mph (5 km/h) for up to 20 seconds, enabling the driver to regain control.
Hill Descent Control system integrates Gradient Release Control, which restricts the initial rate of acceleration when descending very steep inclines. This action helps to support vehicle control when braking is released at extreme angles.
Luxurious interior
The Land Rover LR4's soft, elegant interior complements the vehicle's signature architectural theme, combining smooth, flowing surfaces with easy-to-use controls. The console is inclined towards the driver, and all models feature a steering wheel with switches to access driver information and operate the audio system, cruise control and steering wheel heating (if so equipped).
Leather seating, dual-zone automatic climate control and a power tilt-and-slide sunroof are among the LR4's standard amenities. A choice of natural-finish woods, along with stitched and wrapped fascia, door casings and center console add to the LR4's handcrafted feel. The available white LED mood lighting casts subtle halos around the metal-plated interior door handles and pockets, as wells the dashboard and center console area.
In all LR4 models, a 5-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) driver information LCD screen within the instrument cluster displays key information in a clean, simple and user-friendly manner. A hard-drive navigation system, part of the HSE and HSE LUX packages, provides fast route calculation. The "towards guidance" feature supplements the junction map and icon-based information with details of the actual road signage seen by the driver along the route.
Seeing beyond eyesight
The 2011 Land Rover LR4 offers convenient and helpful systems to enhance safety and security. The Vision Assist Package offered for HSE and HSE LUX includes xenon HID headlamps (already standard on HSE LUX); Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS; swiveling headlights); Automatic High Beam Assist (AHBA) and the Surround Camera System.
Automatic High Beam Assist can automatically switch on high beam headlights where external light levels are below the system's threshold. Importantly, the system can also detect traffic ahead, and in a split second will automatically switch back to the low beams to avoid dazzling other drivers.
Five digital cameras make up the Surround Camera System, relaying to the touch-screen a near 360-degree view from the vehicle. The cameras, which support easier parking, towing and off-road maneuvering, function immediately as the vehicle is started, and have options for selecting and zooming in to assist with close quarter parking and with towing.
The "tow assist" function (selected from the touch screen menu) helps the driver execute accurate towing maneuvers. The wide views from the side cameras give a clear picture of the reversing trailer. Guide lines overlaid on the rear camera image illustrate both the vehicle and trailer's trajectory. These line move with steering inputs, making it easier for the driver to predict where the trailer will move to before reversing. Specific characteristics such as type of trailer, number of axles and width guides can be fed into the system to further fine-tune guidance.