Land Rover Experience

The Home of the Legend at Solihull, West Midlands is the birthplace of the Land Rover, possibly the most iconic vehicle that has ever been produced.

Since 1948, the Solihull manufacturing facility has been the closely guarded key to the production of all Land Rover products to date. Now, you are invited to enter and experience the latest manufacturing technology and innovations required to produce 21st Century Land Rover vehicles.

The tour will take you from initial production to seeing completed vehicles drive off the production line. During your visit you´ll have the unique opportunity to experience Land Rover´s supreme off-road capabilities, either with an expert demonstration or by hands-on driving in the company of one our highly skilled driving instructors. With different tour options available, it´s the finest way to experience adventure in the making.

Whatever activities you choose, your day at the Home of the Legend offers the ideal balance between fun, education and adventure, with the unique opportunity to gain an insight into this world-renowned motoring legend.

Tour options:

Bronze
This package includes a three-hour factory tour, video presentation and refreshments.
Price £50

Silver
In addition to the factory tour, you´ll have lunch and the chance to experience an off-road demonstration drive, taking in the Jungle Track.
Price £100

Gold
This full-day package includes the factory tour, lunch, demonstration drive and an opportunity to drive with an experienced instructor.
Price £170

Heritage

This three-hour package provides you with the opportunity to drive a selection of heritage vehicles off-road and sample how our vehicles have evolved since 1948.
Price £120

28th February 2005

We left Harrogate at 5:45am in order to reach the Land Rover Factory at Solihull, Birmingham for the requested start time of 8:45am. Due to rush hour traffic and a quick bite to eat we only just made it! On arrival we were welcomed in and offered a cup of coffee followed by a 15minute presentation video. After the video we were given some protective clothing before being allowed to start the tour.

The tour began with a visit to the new panel press building. When BMW owned Land Rover they bought this new press machinery to manufacture body panels for Land Rover products and the Mini. A Large area of land was excavated to make room for this new press and building. In order to press one panel a set of 5 dies are used to get the required finish. Some of the dies weigh in excess of 45tonnes with a press pressure of 5000 tonnes!

Moving on from the press building we went on to see how the panels are put together to form the required body. The two vehicles that we looked at being built were the Discovery 3 and the new Range Rover Sport. It was incredible to see so many robots moving panels around between themselves whilst at the same time spot welding and adding sealant to make up a shell. The precision and accuracy was perfect - Not like the Land Rovers I have been used to!

The completed body shell then goes of to be painted before starting on a 'Track' that will see it transform into a complete vehicle. The 'Track' system can only be described as a large roller coaster ride that moves very slowly. As the body moves along the track it enters different areas where another piece of the car is added. The first area is where the dashboard is added. There is 2000 combinations of Dash for the two vehicles being produced and there is no set procedure for what car will be next along the track so the system has to work in order to get the right dash for the right car! A robot will feed the dashboard into position and then move with the car whilst being screwed into place by the fitters. I was amazed to see all manufacturing areas accepting ether a Discovery or Range Rover Sport along the track and being able to adjust the build process accordingly. As the body and interior are being prepared on one track, there is another track building the running gear. Again a complex mixture of Discover 3 and Range Rover Sport running gear are prepared with petrol or diesel engines, Manual or Auto gearboxes and different suspension set up’s. When both parts are complete they meet and come together to make the required car. Final jobs are done that include brake lines, fuel and oil levels etc! We finally stood at the end of the Track and watched a number of brand new cars drive off the production line.

The Factory employs over 8000 Staff and the site sits on 300 acres - The whole set-up is run like a small village with its own Fire department and doctors as well as a social club and other amenities.

After a VIP lunch watching Land Rover in action on the large screen we were ready for a demonstration of the new Range Rover. The Land Rover demonstration track was impressive and to some one who hasn’t been off-road before I’m sure they would want to buy a Range Rover immediately! The course was very staged but that is what Land Rover needs to be able to drive the cars round in all conditions and still impress. Land Rover have even built their own special trick piece of road... (See the picture above) We ventured out from the mud, round a corner and down onto what looked like a sea front jetty. At the end there were two large planks like found down old mine shafts saying 'DANGER' and 'KEEP OFF' only we drove on! As we approached the end the whole road tips and we continued to drive away under the danger signs. (Watch this space for a toy like this appearing on my Dads land in Nidderdale!) We moved on from the demonstration track to the Jungle Track. It would have looked really good in the summer months with all the trees green and the tracks passing through deep undergrowth but as it was mid winter all the trees were bare and the track was open. However the water was deep and the trees quite tight with hidden little obstacles making it an enjoyable drive round. All in all Land Rover put on a good demonstration and pushed the Flag Ship, Top spec Range Rover further than I would have expected making it an enjoyable Afternoon.

For anyone that is mechanically minded or is a fan of Land Rovers I would strongly recommend a visit to the Land Rover factory at Solihull in Birmingham - Home of the Legend!

Land Rover Experience

To find out more, or make a booking, contact them by phone on: 0121 700 4619 or via email to: hotl@landrover.com