HYDERABAD: Ralph Waldo Emerson quoted, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” This saying fits perfectly on the Land Rover.
The 45-minute off-road experience track near Novotel Hyderabad Airport comprised undulating surfaces, grassy terrain with rocks and mud, a small water body, slopes with a steep descent, slippery ruts, side inclines, crater-filled stretches, and more. Not once did the Land Rover get unnerved, and took all these ‘minor irritants’ in its stride effortlessly.
I, for one, had quite a few ‘heart in mouth’ moments, especially when passing over a rut, when the vehicle’s back wheel was in the air for couple of seconds. Did it topple over? No. Thanks to the instructions of Abel, the professional stunt driver from Cougar Motorsport, I had made it safely to the finish area. Not to mention the off-road capabilities of the Land Rover itself, for, any other ‘lesser’ car might have been reduced to a wreck in that punishing track.
The JLR’s off-roading features include a pioneering Terrain Response Mode, consisting of four options - General Driving, Grass / Gravel and Snow, Mud & Ruts, and Sand. Each of these modes can be used based on the specific surface.
The Hill Descent Control feature controls the braking of the vehicle without manual intervention when driving downhill. This is to apply the braking force on individual wheels, which ensures the vehicle does not skid or slide. Likewise, when climbing a hilly terrain, Hill Start Assist feature does not allow the vehicle to roll back for a full three seconds.
Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd (JLRIL) Rohit Suri said, “Over the years, these unique drive experiences have received an overwhelming response and we are thrilled to take the Land Rover Experience to car enthusiasts in more cities.”
Ex-showroom Delhi prices of the flagship Range Rover starts at Rs 1.57 crore, whereas the New Discovery Sport starts at Rs 43.8 lakh.
For details, visit www.landrover.in