Review
Phil Harris encounters the comprehensive and exhilarating Land Rover Experience in Halewood Liverpool
of a Land Rover. Terefore when learning about the exclusive Land Rover Experience in Halewood Liverpool I knew this would be a great opportunity to see firsthand what the Freelander 2 was capable of. I arrived promptly at 11.00 am at the factory in Halewood in anticipation of the Land Rover Experience. Being at the home of the Range Rover Evoque and Freelander 2 I had high expectations for the day. Te Land Rover Experience has a dedicated
W
on-site facility where hosts and instructors will fully immerse guests with their expert knowledge of the Land Rover brand. Located only 20 minutes from Liverpool City Centre, the Land Rover Experience in Halewood is a fun addition to any visitor schedule in the recent European Capital of Culture. Before embarking upon the factory tour I knew
I would be encountering something completely different to anything I’d previously done before. Entering the reception area I was welcomed with a coffee by Danielle and given a full briefing on the plan for the day. With so much to fit in with an entire factory tour and off-road experience to complete, I was immediately curious to see how the experience would fit into one day, as there was so much to see and do. My day started with the manufacturing tour, which covered every stage of the vehicle
hen it comes to off-road luxury driving, very few vehicles come close to the comfort and manoeuvrability
assembly process. Te first stop in this was the press shop to witness the pressing of the body panels to form the structure of Freelander 2 and Range Rover Evoque. Te next location was the body and white stop, where a fascinating collection of robots sealed, welded and riveted the aluminium and steel bodies. Next came the trim and final stage, which consisted of a two-mile line where cars are glazed, engines fitted, wheels fitted and final testing carried out before the brand new wheels touch the ground for the very first time. Following the factory tour came what was possibly the most invigorating stage of my Land Rover experience as I prepared myself for the off-road track test of one of their brand new vehicles. Although the factory tour may be booked on its own, the combination with the off-road track drive really rounded off the day and was definitely not for the faint hearted. After seeing the detail involved in the vehicle assembly I was excited to embark on the opportunity to see the Halewood manufactured Freelander 2 in action. With a qualified instructor at the wheel I sat in the brand new car and prepared to set off on an off-road adventure on the Land Rover purpose-built track. Te Land Rover Experience purpose-built
track is conveniently located next to the factory at Halewood, which has been designed to best demonstrate vehicle capability and incorporates a combination of obstacles for guests to challenge. Whilst behind the wheel
I encountered traverse ditch crossings, tipping bridges, hill climbs and steep descents as well as wading through deep water. Te variety and extremity of the terrain
consisted of various elements to help demonstrate the impressive ability of Land Rover products. Despite the testing nature of the track I felt completely safe as the flexibility and durable nature of the vehicle made the otherwise frightening obstacles less daunting to tackle. I found the one hour taster drive offers more than just a sample of what the Land Rover is capable of. It succeeds in giving a good introduction to the product and its off- road driving capabilities. With 36 Experience Centres around the globe that offer a vast range of all-terrain experiences in countries such as South Africa, Brazil and China, the Land Rover Experience does not end at Halewood. In addition to this are Land Rover’s
exclusive adventure holidays which allow guests to drive themselves through some of the most stunning and far flung landscapes around the world. A haven for the more extreme off-road driving enthusiasts, noted rough terrain experiences available from Land Rover Expeditions have included the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania and the icy woodlands of Finland. Te experience provides thrills and adventure for those seeking it, whilst also staying in some of the world’s most spectacular accommodation.
For more information or to book:
www.landorver.com/expeditions
Land Rover Experience, Halewood Halewood Visitor Centre
South Road, Liverpool, L24 9BJ Tel: +44 (0) 151 448 4023
www.landrover.com/halewood
31
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68