The Land Rover Driving Experience is easily one of the biggest attractions at Overland Expo East. It gives attendees the opportunity to drive the newest vehicles from the Land Rover/Range Rover lineup through a course specially designed to showcase their off road capabilities.
Ben managed to link up with Land Rover and we scored some course time in a white 2014 Range Rover Supercharged rocking 20” wheels with nothing but the finest street tires. We were also fortunate enough to be paired up with none other than the legend himself Tom Collins.
Our first impressions of the Range Rover were pretty positive to say the least. Having been an owner of a L322 Range Rover and a 200 Series Land Cruiser, I’m pretty confident I can say it’s the nicest SUV interior I’ve ever seen. It’s as good a place as any to spend some time off road, the only thing I felt like I was missing was a glass of 18 year old scotch.
Ben hit the course and made quick work of all the obstacles. The ground clearance provided by the air suspension in conjunction with the traction control aids made driving a purely point and shoot activity. The air suspension provided plenty of articulation and proved that the Range Rover could easily tackle any “off road” adventures a typical owner would encounter.
At one point Tom directed Ben to approach one of the mounds and put the truck at a 30 degree angle. This wasn’t enough though, he told Ben to turn up the hill, now everyone knows you never turn up the hill at those kinds of angles. There was definitely a little pucker factor but when Tom Collins tells you to turn up a hill, you turn up the hill. Ben got the Range Rover up on 3 wheels and Tom spotted him over the obstacle with ease.
Now I’m going to be honest here, anyone who drove the course will probably tell you that it could have been run in 2wd in a stock JK, and that wouldn’t be far from the truth. Yet for a SUV that weighs over 2 tons and is capable of doing 0-60 in 5 seconds, it’s a pretty impressive feat. With a proper set of tires, these Range Rovers could easily hold their own stock for stock with the rest of the competition.
Now I imagine some of you are still wondering who this Tom Collins guy is. Tom was a driver in the 1987 Camel Trophy which was held in Madagascar, and he was also the Team Director from 1990-1998. He’s been working with Land Rover ever since, and has easily spent more time off pavement than many of us combined. Getting to hear some of his stories, and pick his brain was easily the best part of the entire experience.
We’d like to give a big thank you to Tom for putting up with us and our questions regarding the new Defender, and Land Rover USA for giving us the opportunity to hit the dirt in their flagship Range Rover.
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