Reborn Range Rover from Jaguar Land Rover Reborn Series
Reborn Range Rover from Jaguar Land Rover Reborn Series
Reborn Range Rover from Jaguar Land Rover Reborn Series
Reborn Range Rover from Jaguar Land Rover Reborn Series

A first drive in a revamped Land Rover, Jaguar E-Type and Range Rover


  • English
  • Arabic

"We are in the business of fulfilling dreams," says Tim Hannig, the man in charge of Jaguar Land Rover's Classics division. The idea that buying a classic Jaguar or Land Rover might be a purely financial investment is apparently "invented by guys to convince their wives it's a good idea", Hannig adds.

He might be right. If you want to make a quick buck, buy a limited-edition Porsche 911 and sell it straight on. If, on the other hand, you are in love with the character of the original post-war Land Rover or the 1960s E-Type, you must head to JLR's order books and wait your turn to tell your story.

The Jaguar Land Rover Reborn Series was launched two years ago. The project takes old Land Rover Series Is, Jaguar E-Types and original two-door Range Rovers, and restores them to their foremost beauty – fresh out of the salesroom, as it were.

This takes a lot of money, time and skill. First, a customer joins a waiting list with his specific request (and boy, do they get specific – one customer wanted the team to find the precise 1949 Series I that was exported to Botswana in May of that year. They failed to source the exact car, but did find another one from the same month).

The experts then go hunting for donor cars, preferably in dry-climate countries such as Australia, which has a healthy supply of old Land Rovers. They take them to the United Kingdom, strip the cars down to their individual components, painfully source replacement parts, or manufacture some themselves if they can't find any, and then build the cars without paint to make sure the shut lines are appropriate.

Then, they take the whole car apart again, check the engine, trim and body, put it all back together and paint it. The result is "better than the original", according to Hannig, the idea being that people buy these cars not simply as a curation of the past, but also in order to run them as modern, everyday cars, with the implied reliability and comfort.

All this comes at a significant cost, which means the cars go into the hands of real purists and passionate advocates of the two brands. "We do the bad news first, and that's the price," says Hannig. A Series I Reborn starts at £75,000 (Dh359,744), a Range Rover Reborn at £140,000 and a Jaguar E-Type Reborn at £295,000.

Even then, you'll have to wait: all three models were announced in limited-edition numbers of 10 or 20, and although the company has pledged to keep going as long as it keeps finding donor cars, the time from sourcing to handover is up to two years.

So, is it worth it?

We got a first drive of all three at the Goodwood Revival in southern England, a fantastic three-day classic-motorsport event that takes place every September. The Revival celebrates the glory days of Goodwood's motor-racing circuit, from 1948 to 1966. Fittingly, the first Series I rolled off the production line in 1948 and the Jaguar E-Type we drove was a pristine 1966 example. Only the original two-door Range Rover, which first appeared in 1970, sits slightly outside the period, but as it's such an iconic and wonderful model, we can gloss over that.

The Series I badge was applied to the Land Rover retrospectively, with the arrival of the Series II; when it launched, it was simply The Land Rover, built as a very simple off-roader with all the engineering in plain view and limited creature comforts. tHIS means that a Reborn example is still an extremely utilitarian car to drive, with no luxury of power steering, no synchromesh between gears, a heavy clutch pedal and stiff gearbox. A metal lever with a bright red plastic handle takes the gears into a low-range setting, which means that the 50 horsepower engine will chug happily up steep inclines, but you will most certainly shake, rattle and roll all the way.

Reborn Series One from Jaguar Land Rover Reborn Series
Reborn Series One from Jaguar Land Rover Reborn Series

Thankfully, Land Rover ignores the fact that the original example came minus doors and roof, and has applied both as standard. But this car, with its drum brakes and appetite for petrol, remains for lovers of the original, with a hardy sense of adventure.

A more luxe experience (relatively speaking) is the beautiful two-door original Range Rover. When it launched in 1970, such was its exemplary industrial design that it was the first car to earn a spot on display at the Louvre in Paris. We were allowed behind the wheel of a 1978 version, the first example off the Reborn production line.

This pristine example is painted in the original Bahama Gold (a fantastic 1970s mustard yellow to you and me), with four equally original shades of slightly clashing palomino (beige) inside. If you are a hardcore fan, you can specify the hose-down vinyl trim of the first cars (the more expensive, £170,000 Suffix A and B models of the early 1970s). But our version was thankfully decked out in brushed nylon, with a herringbone pattern, which came later and makes the rear bench seat seem a very plush place to cosy up.

You can specify wing mirrors on the doors, or in their original place on the bonnet. If you're going to have passengers, you can have seat belts fitted in the rear, although it rather ruins the pure lines of the thin metal bodywork and huge glass windows. The Range Rover was also the first car to use inertia seat belt reels, which means the front occupants' ones are embedded in the seats, with no headrests for support.

This is a great car to drive, although we did get into it straight from the truculent Series I, so our opinion might be tainted by the sudden leap from 1940s to 1970s engineering. There's a huge, thin, plastic steering wheel, a very plastic dashboard (the actual 1970s plastic was reproduced by Jaguar Land Rover) and a long gear lever that will eventually select a gear – our car had so few miles on it that first gear was entirely elusive, but the torque from the V8 engine means the car happily pulls away in second.

On the road, it's a stunning sight, both for passers-by and the occupants, who have so much visibility from the large windows, it's like sitting in an elevated greenhouse. It takes just a few moments of being inside the Range Rover to understand why this model is still on sale today, 40 years later. Once an icon, always an icon.

Speaking of which, the Jaguar E-Type Reborn will be, for many, the jewel in the Reborn Series.

Jaguar E-Type from Jaguar Land Rover Reborn Series
Jaguar E-Type from Jaguar Land Rover Reborn Series

While £295,000 may seem like a lot, original E-Types easily fetch half a million pounds at auction these days. Customers can choose from the full gamut of E-Types originally built: coupé, convertible, left-hand or right-hand drive, with a 3.8-litre or 4.2-litre engine. Not every wish is answered, though: "We wouldn't do certain colours as it's not suitable for the brand," says one of the development engineers. On the other hand, this car came out in the 1960s, so the standard pallet is extensive, and includes yellows and maroons.

The typical restoration process on an E-Type takes 14 to 16 months. Can you feel 3,000 man-hours of craftsmanship once inside the car? Yes and no. Yes, because it's simply gorgeous, with original seats covered in brand-new leather, and 80 per cent to 85 per cent of the original car returned to better-than-new condition. That elegant long bonnet sniffs its way instinctively around the corners, the suspension soaking up ridges in the road, but still taut.

On the other hand, the passion for the E-Type endures precisely because this was such a modern car in its day. Or rather, it was a timeless car when it was first launched – miles ahead of its time, but of its time; a celebration of the culture of the day, with nods to Jaguar's heritage and also the future. One might argue that all Jaguar essentially had to do is polish the crown jewels.

But then, who better to do the polishing than a group of men and women who are in many cases the second and third generations of their families to work on these vehicles in Jaguar and Land Rover factories? You can argue about the high cost of these cars, the long time taken to restore them, or even the length of the waiting list, but you just can't argue about the love, passion and integrity of the project. And that's almost priceless.

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Read more:

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Brief scores:

England: 290 & 346

Sri Lanka: 336 & 243

The%20specs
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What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Who has been sanctioned?

Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.

Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.

Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.

Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Kibsons%20Cares
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Important questions to consider

1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?

There are different types of travel available for pets:

  • Manifest cargo
  • Excess luggage in the hold
  • Excess luggage in the cabin

Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.

 

2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?

If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.

If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.

 

3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?

As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.

If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty. 

If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport. 

 

4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?

This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.

In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.

 

5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?

Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.

Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.

Source: Pawsome Pets UAE

What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases

A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.

One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait,  Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.

In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.

The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.

And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.

 

While you're here
MATCH INFO

Day 1 at Mount Maunganui

England 241-4

Denly 74, Stokes 67 not out, De Grandhomme 2-28

New Zealand 

Yet to bat

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

Marathon results

Men:

 1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13 

2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50 

3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25 

4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46 

5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48  

Women:

1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30 

2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01 

3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30 

4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43 

5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01  

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.

Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.

Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.

For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae

 

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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The biog

Favourite food: Fish and seafood

Favourite hobby: Socialising with friends

Favourite quote: You only get out what you put in!

Favourite country to visit: Italy

Favourite film: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Family: We all have one!