In message <
[email protected]>, Tim Lamb
<
[email protected]> writes
>and bridleways... touché!
And changing tack, so to speak. Have you read the latest in LROI mag
and quote.
'New Brussels safety regulations set to change the face of future Land
Rovers.
You see them on every street: boy racer-beskirted hot hatches with
barely enough ground clearance to negotiate the speed bumps. But don't
laugh too hard, because future Land Rovers may very well look like this.
New European safety regulations will change the shape of Land Rovers to
come-and this may make the vehicle useless off road.
These latest regs to be introduced by EU law makers are designed to make
vehicles more pedestrian friendly if an accident occurs, But they will
also have serious implications on ground clearance, which will effect
performance on uneven ground.
Vehicles that have bumpers more than 500mm from the ground - including
Defender, Discovery and Range Rover will have to change. These bumpers
must be lowered to less than 500mm (about 20inches). They will also
need to be fitted with deep underskirts to spread the load under impact.
The regulations mean that bonnet shapes are also likely to change, to
cause least injury to pedestrians in the event of an accident, they will
have to be sloping - similar to the shape typified by most modern MPV's.
Land Rover's reputation has been built upon unrivalled off road
excellence. It's designers now face the inevitable task of keeping
within the law while creating the next generation of world beating off
roaders.
'This will certainly be a real challenge' says Andy wheel, lead designer
at LR. 'Over the next 10 years we're going to see fundamental changes in
the look of new cars. and is exercising our creativity.'
The new laws will come into force in two stages: from 2005 new vehicle
design will be 'monitored', but will have to comply fully be 2010.
But LR remains bullish that it can stay within the law without diluting
it's off road reputation. Technical communications manager Roger
Crawthorne an engineer on the team that designed the original RR says
'We fitted bib spoilers on the P38a RR when it was launched because they
looked good and were aerodynamically correct. But they're not a problem
if you want to go off road you can just take the spoilers off by undoing
three small fixings on each side.'
In common with other vehicle manufacturers LR refuses to comment on
septic areas of design on future models, But it is being hinted that the
back room boys are already working on retractable spoilers for future
LR's. These can be raised and lowered at the flick of a switch. This
will come as no surprise to anyone who has sat among the myriad of
switches in the gizmo-loaded cabin of the new RR. 'If there's
legislation to meet, we will meet it.' Says Roger.
Sorry for the long post but you need to read it all to get it across.
Ps Merry Christmas.
--
Graham Jones
110 Defender 300tdi (special vehicle)
