IT MIGHT not be solely down to the recent ‘big freeze’, but Land Rover bucked the trend of falling car sales with a whopping 93% rise in sales in the final quarter of 2009.

The company, which makes the farmer’s favourite, the Defender, plus the luxury Range Rover, Discovery4 and Freelander models, saw its sale-rooms choc-a-bloc with buyers following the launch of its latest, 2010 version of the Range Rover Sport and Discovery4 last autumn – with that latter model being Scotland’s Car of the Year, as voted for by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers in November.

Sales have been improving consistently in the UK for the last four months as some stability returns to the market place and the launch of the 2010 model range ensured some spectacular figures for the company.

On sale at the beginning of September, 2009, the Discovery 4 and Range Rover Sport improved by 115% and 116%, respectively, for the last quarter of 2009 over the same period in 2008. Overall, sales for 2009 were strong particularly in the second half of the year, but down 10.8% year on year due to a record-breaking first quarter in 2008.

Both models now have an all-new 3.0-litre TDV6 engine delivering over 30mpg coupled with enhanced styling, all new premium interiors and class-leading technologies. And, the Range Rover Sport’s ‘go-faster’ version features the new 5.0-litre supercharged petrol engine.

The Discovery 4 has received a number of global accolades since launch in September, 2009, illustrating that the most-awarded SUV has just got better.

• Land Rover is the world’s foremost manufacturer of 4x4 vehicles, selling in to over 160 markets worldwide, with the US, China, Italy and Russia – along with the UK – as its top markets. Improvements year on year for the last quarter have been recorded across the globe, with the US up 21% and Europe up 12%.

IT MIGHT not be solely down to the recent ‘big freeze’, but Land Rover bucked the trend of falling car sales with a whopping 93% rise in sales in the final quarter of 2009.

The company, which makes the farmer’s favourite, the Defender, plus the luxury Range Rover, Discovery4 and Freelander models, saw its sale-rooms choc-a-bloc with buyers following the launch of its latest, 2010 version of the Range Rover Sport and Discovery4 last autumn – with that latter model being Scotland’s Car of the Year, as voted for by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers in November.

Sales have been improving consistently in the UK for the last four months as some stability returns to the market place and the launch of the 2010 model range ensured some spectacular figures for the company.

On sale at the beginning of September, 2009, the Discovery 4 and Range Rover Sport improved by 115% and 116%, respectively, for the last quarter of 2009 over the same period in 2008. Overall, sales for 2009 were strong particularly in the second half of the year, but down 10.8% year on year due to a record-breaking first quarter in 2008.

Both models now have an all-new 3.0-litre TDV6 engine delivering over 30mpg coupled with enhanced styling, all new premium interiors and class-leading technologies. And, the Range Rover Sport’s ‘go-faster’ version features the new 5.0-litre supercharged petrol engine.

The Discovery 4 has received a number of global accolades since launch in September, 2009, illustrating that the most-awarded SUV has just got better.

• Land Rover is the world’s foremost manufacturer of 4x4 vehicles, selling in to over 160 markets worldwide, with the US, China, Italy and Russia – along with the UK – as its top markets. Improvements year on year for the last quarter have been recorded across the globe, with the US up 21% and Europe up 12%.