Range Rover Sport predicted to retain highest residual value

“We understand the importance of residual values in our highly competitive business and are delighted by this recognition,” said Chris Marchand, executive vice president of Marketing and Sales, Land Rover North America. The ALG awards are based on careful evaluation of segment competition, past vehicle performance and emerging trends in the industry. “The 2008 awards […]

“We understand the importance of residual values in our highly competitive business and are delighted by this recognition,” said Chris Marchand, executive vice president of Marketing and Sales, Land Rover North America.

The ALG awards are based on careful evaluation of segment competition, past vehicle performance and emerging trends in the industry.

“The 2008 awards prove once again that compelling design, high quality manufacturing and disciplined pricing and volume programs are essential to achieve the highest residual value,” said John Blair, Automotive Lease Guide’s Chief Executive Officer.

Land Rover’s Range Rover Sport and other award winners are featured on ALG.com as well as other automotive publications and websites dedicated to bringing the industry’s best-performing models into the public eye.

Land Rover entered the competitive high-performance SUV category with the new-for-2006 Range Rover Sport. SUV owners with a passion for driving are well served by the Range Rover Sport’s capable blend of power and handling prowess. Consumer acceptance has been outstanding now making Range Rover Sport the leader in the luxury CUV segment.

Muscular V8 power, a tidy wheelbase, a low build, and a wide stance yield exemplary agility and tenacious road holding. The Range Rover Sport is well equipped with Land Rover’s Terrain Response(TM) system as standard. A Supercharged V8 engine and Dynamic Response technology are available as options.

A customer who has purchased a new Range Rover every year for the past 27 years has visited the Land Rover manufacturing plant in Solihull to personally take delivery of his new vehicle.

Mr Godfrey, who lives in Holbeach, Spalding, has ordered a new Range Rover every year since the early 1970s—and every one has been white. Since taking ownership of his first Land Rover product, Mr. Godfrey has travelled approximately 50,000 miles every year; therefore, he has driven in excess of 1.3 million miles in his previous 26 Range Rovers.

During his visit to the Solihull factory, where the Defender, Discovery and Freelander models are also manufactured, the valued customer was given a guided tour of the Range Rover production areas. First, he visited the impressive $104-million stamping facility that molds the largest panels for the Range Rover. He was then given an insight into the body-in-white facility, where the vehicle panels are assembled by the use of no less than 123 robots, each providing 6,350 welds for every vehicle. Finally, he toured the final assembly line to see how the vehicle is fitted with its luxurious interior trim.

After seeing the Range Rovers being built, Mr. Godfrey was then given an opportunity to experience the robust capabilities of the vehicle on Land Rover’s infamous off-road jungle track.

Phil Popham, Managing Director, Land Rover UK, who handed over the keys of the new vehicle to Mr. Godfrey, says, “It has been a pleasure to meet one of our most valuable customers. We are delighted when customers continue to come back to our showrooms to buy another Land Rover, but when someone buys 27 over the same amount of years, we know we have achieved ‘customer satisfaction.’”