Always one of my fave sources of super hot rally pics, Warwick Patterson has posted a bunch of new pics from the Mountain Trials Rally. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out some of his other cool galleries & new on the Vancouver music scene.

Mazda seems to be on a roll with their cross over SUV’s lately. The new CX-7 looks great and folks who’ve driven it seem to agree so far. I hope to drive one in the next few weeks. Hot on it’s heels, Mazda is set to release yet another crossover. Officially unveiled at the New York auto show in April, this 7 passenger ute is due to appear in dealerships in early 07. Curious, but today’s press release from Mazda actually bears the release date of April 12. This must a be Ford influence.

Mazda press release:

In a follow up to the glitzy LR2 launch last week, Land Rover has released more details about the new LR2. Perhaps the funniest thing is that the press release seems to describe a first gen Xterra!

Land Rover press release:

Land Rover has revealed the all-new LR2, the fourth new model from Land Rover in just four years. LR2 joins the line-up of Range Rover (2002), Land Rover LR3 (2004) and Range Rover Sport (2005) that together have seen record-breaking sales performance around the world.

“LR2 combines the advantages of a premium sedan - such as polished ride, accomplished performance, an attractive cabin and ease-of-use - with the attributes of a robust SUV, including go-anywhere ability, toughness, stadium seating, cabin versatility and spaciousness,” says Phil Popham, Land Rover’s managing director. “We believe that no other compact SUV gets closer to blending these best-of-both-worlds abilities.”

Technical highlights of the LR2 include a brand-new 3.2-liter inline-six engine featuring advanced technologies to deliver a combination of performance and economy.

The i6 engine provides an estimated 230bhp and acceleration of 0-60 mph in 8.4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds). The engine is matched to a new six-speed automatic transmission, with Land Rover’s CommandShift^™ offering manual sequential gear changes when required. There is also a driver-selectable sport mode, for livelier performance.

Inline-six cylinder engine configurations are intended to deliver smoothness, and the very compact new unit in LR2 is small enough to mount transversely. The benefits of transverse fitment include improved interior packaging and safety performance.

The interior package of LR2 has generous head, shoulder and legroom, in both the front and rear. Large glass areas emphasize the spacious feel and complement the elevated ‘command driving’ position - a Land Rover hallmark - and ’stadium seating’, where rear passengers sit slightly higher than front occupants, for a clearer view of the world outside. Estimated cargo space is 59 cu. ft. (1670 liters) with the rear seats folded and 26.5 cu. ft (755 liters) with the rear seats up.

The exterior and interior design of LR2 is completely fresh, integrating the company’s unique design language with a form that is instantly recognizable as the latest Land Rover.

“We purposely kept strong Land Rover design cues, such as the clamshell bonnet, stepped roof and the basic form,” says Land Rover design director Geoff Upex. “The overall look is new and contemporary. The design is chiseled, geometric and simple - it looks like it’s hewn from the solid. We have kept a close design relationship with the LR3 and Range Rover Sport, but interpreted the design language to suit the requirements of customers for a more compact SUV.”

The body is a five-door monocoque structure, with a high level of torsional rigidity which benefits refinement, comfort and handling on-road as well as ensuring the vehicle is fit for serious off-road use. The suspension is fully independent and uses the most modern stability control systems, including Roll Stability Control (RSC ®), a sophisticated technology that helps mitigate the risk of roll-over even in extreme conditions.

LR2 is packed with new technologies to improve both on-road and off-road performance. Land Rover’s unique Terrain Response^™ is standard, making off-road use easier. Other interesting technologies include a new intelligent permanent all-wheel-drive system for superior traction and better on-road fuel economy, and the patented Gradient Release Control, which improves driver confidence and control when releasing the brakes on steep and slippery slopes.

Other features and options include: keyless starter button, bi-xenon headlamps, adaptive front lighting, rain-sensing windshield wipers and rear park distance control. A standard two-part panoramic sunroof increases the cabin’s airiness; air-conditioning also comes standard and a full-color touch-screen DVD satellite navigation system is optional. A choice of top-level audio systems includes 12-speaker Dolby^™ Pro Logic II 7.1 Surround Sound with fiber-optic interconnects. An auxiliary audio connection (for MP3 players) is standard.

Designed and engineered by Land Rover at Gaydon, near Warwick, England, LR2 is built at the Halewood plant in Liverpool, where outstanding build quality has been acknowledged with a JD Power European Plant Quality Gold Award in 2005.

It’s been a busy weekend here in The Garage, so there’s been no time for posting. Watch tomorrow evening when we take the cover off all the pics and stories from the VARAC Festival at Mosport this weekend. Oh yes, please pass the aloe vera. We need to deal with the nuclear Mosport sunburns!

Next up from the Ranta Collection is the 1969 Canadian Grand Prix. I know I was at this one, but at only 2 years old I don’t have any stories. The 90 lap race was won by Jacky Ickx, with Jack Brabham in second and Jochen Rindt taking third spot on the podium.

One of the many good things that came from the days of tobacco sponsorship is the wealth of memorable marketing images. The back cover of the program is home to the Player’s Navy Cut brand.

The Garage has more like this in the archives

As a Service Manager, I’ve seen my share of stupid things. Often, some of the brightest guys make some of the most outlandish blunders and with this in mind I had a nice giggle at the story recounted by Joe Sherlock.

Brainless Mechanic: A friend sent this to me. I don’t know if the story is true or a joke. Or both. The writer is from Mississippi: When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our car, we were told the keys had been locked in it. We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the driver’s side door.

As I watched from the passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it was unlocked. “Hey,” I announced to the technician, “It’s open!” To which he replied, “I know - I already got that side.”

Back in April, Land Rover announced a partnership with Wimbledon Champ Maria Sharapova. Yesterday, in a private reception at Babylon at the Kensington roof Gardens, Land Rover released the new LR2, displayed by Sharapova.

Source Jalopnik

Related Freelander 2

The 2007 Freelander 2 is starting to show up around the net, with more details and more pics arriving daily. Overall dimensions have increased substantially, with the width increasing by a whopping 101 mm. While The Garage loved the look of the old Freelander, it was just too narrow for a family of five, so this extra size will be interesting.

Continue reading →

When I first heard rumours of Jacques Villeneuve recording a single, I thought it must be a prank, possibly even a drunk karaoke incident. Then actual lyrics and even a title appeared. Today I decided to go have a listen, only to find that the single is hosted on JV’s myspace page! Un Freakin’ believable. Former World Champion turned pylon, now turned Roch Voisin wannabe!

Now I know that JV is a fan of some pretty heavy Alt Rock, so I kind of suspected a heavy garage band sound. What I got was a French Canadian folk ballad with a video that looks like Julie Andrews will appear at any moment! This cat is LAME!

For any of you who really want to pick up one of the 5000 copies of this drivel will have to visit Jacques’ restaurant NEWTOWN in Montreal. Maybe bring along your Celine Dion cd’s & JV will Autograph them on behalf of his fellow expat French Canadian.

Keith over at Formula 1 Fanatic has posted a multi part series of the top 100 Formula 1 videos. I just lit up my office with the sounds of a 1979 Renault, driven at Montreal by Rene Arnoux. That was back when the F1 jockey’s were real drivers. The car sounds angry and the shifts deliberate, none of this autoshift nonsense we have today!

Other highlights include Senna punching Irvine, Emerson’s first F1 win at Watkin’s Glen in 1970 and the beginning of the Senna/Prost war.

They are only up to number 71 so far, so it will be interesting to see where some of the all time faves end up. My bet is on the Villeneuve vs Arnoux battle to be #1.