Enthusiasts attending The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, get the first look at the limited edition 2011 Range Rover Autobiography Black. 

 

Combined Dispatches Edited by JOSEPH V. KUCA

So what’s a company best-known for the extraordinary off-road ability of its vehicles doing mingling with some of the world’s greatest classic and sports cars?

This past weekend, the folks at Land Rover joined the hundreds of thousands of old car aficionados from around the world who make it their business to take an annual pilgrimage and head to California’s Monterey Peninsula for the fabulous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance weekend.

The new line-up of 2011 Range Rover Autobiography models were showcased alongside priceless classics at the 'oh so social' and chic, hot-ticket The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, at Quail Lodge Resort and Golf Club in Carmel Valley.

The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering is one of the most renowned annual events to take place during Pebble Beach Weekend. It's truly a celebration of the finer things in life such as food, new cars and classic cars, so it was fitting that Land Rover received one of the most prestigious awards in the automotive industries category at the event.

Robb Report, the last word in luxury living, graced the 2010 Range Rover Autobiography with a "Best of the Best" Award in the luxury SUV category

The award, bestowed upon Land Rover from Robb Report, is for the original 2010 Autobiography, which remains available. This range-topping Range Rover really impressed Robert Ross, Senior Vice President and Automotive Editor, Robb Report. He said, "With the Range Rover Autobiography, Land Rover has once again raised the bar by offering the most capable and luxurious sport-utility vehicle in the world. It really is the Best of the Best."

Mr. Ross said that the Autobiography "wowed" every driver at the Robb Report Car of the Year event.

Ross continued, "It was a hands-down favorite of our editorial team in a field of very tough competitors. I know of no other SUV that transcends the category by delivering so many well-engineered and beautifully wrought creature comforts, with performance in league with the most potent sport sedans."

This is a great honor for Land Rover to have its flagship vehicle named a "Best of the Best" by the world’s authority on "best." Every day, the word "luxury" is seen bandied about haphazardly, describing everything from family sedans with an optional leather interior to hotel rooms that offer bathrobes. Robb Report's writers and photographers know true luxury when they see, taste and experience it, from automobiles to luxury yachts, travel, art, wine and state-of-the-art electronics. "Best of the Best" really means something coming from them.

Here, Land Rover also marked the global 40th anniversary of the iconic Range Rover with the first showing of the exquisite 2011 Range Rover Autobiography Black. With production limited to fewer than 200 examples, this is our most exclusive Range Rover ever produced.

Over at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, home of the new Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Land Rover even created a tough off-road course for race-goers to try out the 2011 Range Rover line-up. When the course was trialed at Laguna’s recent Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix superbike race, more than 1,000 visitors took test drives!

What both events do so wonderfully well is showcase the Land Rover line to exactly the right audience , those affluent consumers who love cars, are passionate about them, and want to understand the history, the design and engineering integrity, everything the Land Rover brand is renowned for.

And, if you’re in any doubt about the affluence and passion of these consumers, note that at the The Quail, A Motorsport Gathering, tickets cost $400 with attendance restricted to 3,000. The event sold out months ago.

At Quail, Land Rover had an enclosure on the show lawn for visitors to take a look at the new Range Rovers. And, just outside the enclosure, they could avail themselves of test drives on a specially chosen section of the Land Rover Experience Driving School off-road course based year-round at Quail Lodge.

So, folks in Monterey this past weekend, not only took the time to look at memorable cars, but many also took a memorable test drive in the world's most capable luxury vehicle, much to their delight.