Driving Sports

Western Automotive Journalists Gather For "Media Days" At Laguna Seca

The Western Automotive Journalists organization gathered this week in beautiful Monterey, Calif. to test drive the 2008 sports and luxury car field from virtually every automaker doing business in North America. Journalists from up and down the west coast arrived to test the full fleet of 2008 cars on the winding mountain roads of Carmel Valley and at speed on the track at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Yes, that's the new Nissan GT-R parked next to the NISMO Edition 350Z in the photo to the right. Yes, they're as good as you think they are.

Events such as this serve a number of purposes, including a rare chance for side-by-side tests of comparable cars from different automakers, and also to allow a relaxed atmosphere to talk shop with the manufacturer representatives. But I wouldn't lie to you and tell you it was anything like working - this event is big-time fun.

Big Luxury - Land Rover LR3 Reviewed

Land Rover is the gold standard for luxury SUVs.  From its top-of-the-line Range Rovers down to the compact and punchy LR2, if you want an import SUV that will impress, you need a Rover.  They’ve got all the luxury features anyone could want, and they’re very capable off-road, so whether you’re cruising the town in style or hitting the outback, you can do it all in a Rover.

You may have heard that Land Rover has been sold to an Indian automaker, and that’s true. Tata of India has purchased both Land Rover and Jaguar from Ford, but Tata’s management has declared that the two iconic English brands will remain independent, and the dealer network in America will be retained. So don’t look for sweeping changes at Land Rover anytime soon.

Say Tata to Jaguar and Land Rover

Tata Motors today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with the Ford Motor Company for the purchase of Jaguar Land Rover, comprising brands, plants and Intellectual Property Rights.

The transfer of ownership to Tata Motors is expected to close by the end of the next quarter, subject to applicable regulatory approvals.

The total amount to be paid in cash by Tata Motors for Jaguar Land Rover upon closing will be approximately US $2.3 billion. At closing, Ford will then contribute up to approximately US $600 million to the Jaguar Land Rover pension plans.

Land Rover Chooses Nevada Passage for G4 Competition

Land Rover North America and the Nevada Commission on Tourism announced today that this year's Nevada Passage will serve as the national selection event for the 2008/2009 Land Rover G4 Challenge.

      

Twenty athletes from around the nation will travel throughout Nevada competing in driving and outdoor adventure activities designed to test teamwork and skills such as 4x4 driving, navigating, trail running, mountain biking and kayaking. The top two two-person teams from the national competition advance to the international selection event in early 2009, where one team will be selected to represent the United States in the final challenge in Asia.

2008 Land Rover LR2 reviewed

Regular readers will have noted that this has been a good season for SUVs. I liked the Ford Expedition for being a real truck. I liked the Volvo XC70 for its car-like driving habits and its capability, and I liked the Nissan XTerra for its rugged capability in the worst weather we’ve had in Oregon in the last10 years. Now I have to say that the Land Rover LR2 is my favorite SUV ever - the LR2 combines the best aspects of driveability and capability and it does it all at a great price - it’s a Land Rover for people who thought they couldn’t afford a Land Rover.

And this is all from a guy who generally doesn’t like SUVs that much. I’m a sports car enthusiast and I like my MINI Cooper S and my Miata. So what’s the deal here?