As cars age, keeping them on the road gets increasingly difficult and maintenance costs have the tendency to swell as the years go by. One solution to futureproof and simplify a vehicle is to yank off the oily bits and install an electric powertrain instead. British company Lunaz is specialised in ICE to EV conversions and has unveiled its latest products based on the first-generation Range Rover: a droptop Country and a long-wheelbase Town.
The convertible takes after the car featured in Octopussy, a 1983 film and the thirteenth motion picture in the James Bond series. It will live a new life as a sailing yacht tender in Southampton, New York after Lunaz will work its magic on converting the original Rangie into an all-electric SUV convertible.
Classic Range Rover convertible and LWB electric conversions by Lunaz
The vehicle is going to be stripped down to bare metal and reinforced with box-section steel. It's also getting upgraded six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes with a regenerative function to juice up the battery. In addition, it's also set to receive upgraded six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes with a regenerative function to juice up the battery.
Other tweaks include a major suspension overhaul by replacing the original bushings and linkages with an adjustable coilover suspension benefiting from a long travel. The all-wheel-drive Range Rover convertible painted in Maya Blue will offer approximately 360 bhp and 450 pound-feet (612 Newton-metres) of torque.
Lunaz is installing Mocca Walnut flooring for the rear passenger deck where up to six people can sit. It's going to take more than 1,000 hours to apply a hardwearing satin weatherproofing lacquer finish on the wood. The fully open SUV comes equipped with a cool box and USB charging built into a custom centre console.
As for the Town commission, the LWB model receives the same restoration and EV conversion, along with a six-inch infotainment with Apple CarPlay and an upgraded sound system featuring a 1,300-watt amplifier. The owner wants certain types of wood to be used on the inside where a centre console has heated and cooled cup holders, a wireless charging pad, and a water fridge. Interestingly, there's also a watch winder for four timepieces.
The coral-painted SUV with a contrasting black roof will be mostly chauffeur-driven in Monaco. It's going to boast electrically operated massaging seats that are heated and cooled and wrapped in box-woven wool. Lunaz says it typically takes about 30,000 hours to complete a build, but it'll need more than 50,000 collective hours to finish the Town project.
Prices start at £245,000 and new orders will be delivered in the second quarter of 2023.
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Source: Lunaz