Classic car conversion company Lunaz is set to give 50 classic Range Rovers a new life with electric drivetrains, using circular economy principles.
Having tested the electric conversion waters with a string of Jaguar, Bentley and at least 30 Rolls Royce classic and vintage vehicles, UK-based Lunaz has announced it is ready to add a series of 1970-1994 classic Range Rovers to its portfolio.
The initial run of converted luxury SUVs will include both “Town” and “Country” variants, in response to feedback from customers, with a focus on both front and rear seat comfort for the urban model and a full suite of engineering and technology features for the country model to enhance off-road driving.
For those wanting something extra-special, Lunaz will also offer a “Safari” variant to honour the rare roofless Range Rover first seen in the James Bond movie “Octopussy” – and one has already been snapped up by a mystery European customer, says Lunaz.
Of the circular economy approach, Lunaz founder David Lorenz said in a statement that converting vehicles such as the Range Rovers ensure the resources embodied in classic vehicles are given the opportunity to continue as they were intended.
“By 2030, when the UK ban on internal combustion engine car sales will come into effect there will be 2 billion ICE vehicles on the planet,” said Lorenz in a statement.
“Without conversion to electric, this will represent mass redundancy of finite resources that could otherwise be re-used. Our approach answers the urgent need to extend the life of these vehicles for future generations.”
The classic converted Range Rovers, which will be priced from £245,000 ($A442,950 converted) excluding local taxes, will be aimed at the top end of the market.
For that price though, the customer will get a custom design tailored to exact requirements, including new materials that echo original interior colours to traditional materials such as leather and wood.
Modern technologies are also available for inclusion, such as infotainment, air conditioning, and touch screens, all integrated into the existing design to “ensure the spirit of the original car is maintained”.
“Re-engineering, electrification and upcycling are the solutions to the pressing need to further the legacies of the most significant cars in the world,” Lorenz said.
“Adding classic electric Range Rovers to the Lunaz portfolio answers sustained customer demand for a clean-air expression of the world’s definitive SUV.”
All vehicles will be designed and produced at the company’s Silverstone premises under the watchful eye of design director Jen Holloway, who has solid auto design experience from her time working for Land Rover, Aston Martin, Jaguar and Ford.
Lorenz says that Lunaz’ ability to draw in local talent is testament to the UK’s rich automotive history.
“In the face of a challenging year that restricts every business’s ability to collaborate globally, we have drawn even more intensely on the extraordinary talent-pool that exists in Silverstone, Britain’s automotive and technology manufacturing heartland,” he said.
“We are proud to fly the flag for our nation’s leadership in cutting-edge zero emissions technologies and more traditional automotive engineering skills on the global stage.”
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.