The carmaker started using the 500-acre site in 1961 to assess the off-road credentials of its vehicles. Today, the site still plays an important role in the research and development of Land Rover’s vehicles, with its most recent model, the Range Rover Evoque, completing its off-road apprenticeship at the site.
According to Land Rover, Eastnor has not only been instrumental in developing the cars themselves, but it has also enabled the company to develop technology such as Anti-lock Brakes, Adjustable Air Suspension and Electronic Traction Control, many of which were world firsts in the 4x4 sector.
In addition, since 1989, Eastnor has been used as an off-road learning centre for the emergency services, explorers, humanitarian societies such as the Red Cross and, more recently, the general public.
Land Rover customers and fans are able to book drive experience days to hone their on and off-road driving skills with tuition from a team of highly qualified Land Rover Experience instructors.
Eastnor is one of over 30 centres around the world, and hosts more than 5,500 visitors every year participating in half or full days, beginner and intermediate training as well as exciting night drives.
The study, which was approved by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), highlights many of the processes that make the Range Rover Evoque the brand's lightest and most efficient vehicle to date. These include the use of recycled materials, lightweight components and stop start technology.
It also mentions sustainability measures that have been built into the manufacturing process, such as the installation of the latest generation of fully flexible paint application equipment for Evoque's contrast roof option. This reduces paint consumption and solvent emissions.
The life cycle assessment of the Range Rover Evoque was fully audited and approved by the VCA, making Land Rover one of only a few vehicle manufacturers to have completed an officially recognised study of the environmental impact of a vehicle – from manufacturing, through a lifetime of customer use, to ultimate disposal and recycling.
“VCA certification for the Range Rover Evoque is a great achievement for Land Rover,” said Phil Hodgkinson, director of Jaguar Land Rover product development.
“We are fully focused on maintaining our commitment to sustainable engineering and will learn lessons for application in future models.
“Life cycle assessment is a core part of our engineering practice and we have launched a new interactive website dedicated to life cycle assessment, so customers can better understand all of the sustainability attributes that Land Rover offers.”
The certificate was awarded by Paul Markwick, VCA CEO, at a ceremony at Jaguar Land Rover's Gaydon engineering facility.
“I’m very pleased to have presented this certificate to the team at Land Rover,” he said.
“Operating in a sustainable way and producing products that reflect this ethos is clearly a very important part of business. Initiatives such as Life Cycle Assessment provide a framework that allows industry to assess the environmental impacts of a product from concept through to the end of vehicle life.”
Land Rover, which is seeking to reduce its operational CO2 emissions and waste to landfill processes by 25% by next year, is hoping the study will enable it to identify more opportunities to improve the sustainability of its vehicles in the future.
- Contracting Stds
- Seat Contract Vehicle Hire
- Contractor Foundation
Find a Foundation Repair Contractor. Select a state below to find a local foundation repair contractor near you:
- Florida Contractors License Search
- Sgeu Contract
